Hey, I'd love to get you started on needle tatting if you're really interested! 'Fraid I won't be out your way any time soon, but here are some tutorials (picture OR video) by one of the ladies who inspired me to learn:

http://www.instructables.com/member/TotusMel/

Here's the book I bought to teach myself how to needle tat:

http://www.hhtatting.com/detail.cfm?ID=1

And here's the pattern I used to make those ornaments last year (Of course, I used tatting needles instead of a shuttle, but the pattern works pretty much the same way with either):

http://tatsittatsall.blogspot.com/2008/10/makena_16.html

There's also a wonderful internet group out there under the name 'InTatters' ... full of experienced tatters who are ready and willing to help anyone learn their craft!

Jo, I love your comment so much! Thanks for the thorough answer, now I have no excuse to not get started. I'll let you know if I ever have the guts to try tatting out.