Lace that didn't need translating

I was gifted this book. I do not speak Russian, nor have I learned the alphabet this language uses. I have learned to recognize how tatting patterns are notated…a bit. The book has both diagrams and written directions. I tried to puzzle out a couple of motifs in the first part. One was successful, the other not. I learned that I tat differently.

The motif that didn’t work up well is notated as though you tat the chains without flipping the stitches, what some have called “direct tatting” as is explained here by Ninetta Caruso “I'm tatting the chains in "direct method tatting", that is tatting reverse stitches, not flipped, like in the second side of a split ring.” There was nothing in the text to indicate such a method. I gave up. I set the book aside.

Then, a tatting friend made a wonderful scene including some tatted fish that won ribbons at the Fair. The piece makes you smile!! I remembered there are other pieces described in books. Notably, a wonderful cherry tree with blossoms in a meadow. I was privileged to see this piece  at Lacis in Berkeley many years ago. * It’s gorgeous.

I happened upon the Russian book last week and saw the scene included in the back of the text. There are sheep and horses and cows and a shepherd and sheep! The pattern for the sheep looked a little less cryptic, so I had a go. The red thread was on a shuttle that needed emptying. I think I’ll tat another one in a more appropriate color. I used chains with flipped stitches, small joining picots (except for the ears) and a SCMR with a TOR for the legs. I like it!!

* Anyone remember the artist who tatted the cherry tree picture? I have a photograph, but a quick search online didn’t reveal the image. I do not want to post without being able to credit the artist. Please help out??