Making progress

I think I have the stitch count correct on the sole of the baby bootie pattern. I like the way it looks in the variegated. I may need a bit more thread. I’ve used this colorway for quite a few projects.

I wonder if I can.....

So many of my tatting adventures start out that way. I get an idea for using thread to embellish something and then pick up the shuttles. I often don’t have a clear picture of what I need to tat. Most of the time I’m using a variation of a pattern I used for a previous project. Most of the time….

This is a limpet that I’ve had for awhile. I thought I would tat around in the Ice Drop style. This shell is just so sweet. I will need to tweak the pattern for the oval shape. Hmmm………

After a couple of false starts, I came up with this backing.

Not perfect, but I think it will do for this gift.

Now to complete the top portion.

A favorite

This is becoming my favorite pattern for cross bookmarks. It is Pernille from Tatted Bookmarks by Lene Bjorn. I’ve tatted this several times in several different threads. I even tried to use my 2-bobbin shuttle to make all the rings one color and the chains another color. That didn’t work out. I do enjoy how the colors pool when I use a variegated. This will be gifted to a special friend. 

Today is the day!

 Today is the day I lead another Orgelkids session. I don’t have enough time to let the group build, play, and un-build the organ. I will do my best to engage them.

I have been asked to bring the Orgelkids Do-organ to Fresno, CA and present it to the Music Teachers in 50 minutes. A challenge! Just 50 minutes. I’m sure there will be pianists there. I think I’ll even have a couple of organists. That makes things easier as I can move more quickly through the concepts. The vocabulary won’t be so foreign. Questions should be more specific and easier to answer. I'm sure they will want to play a bit, so the time will move very fast!

I’m really looking forward to it!

Building Blocks

 While tatting a portion of the booties pattern, I got to thinking about blocks. The wood blocks I played with as a child, the Lego blocks we still have from my childhood, and all the variations I saw in the lab at the Architecture school. Creating lace with a shuttle is a lot like creating objects with blocks.

Each ring and chain I tat can be part of a larger item. As I was tatting a ring, I forgot to put in a picot to use while joining the next ring to my new ring. Ooops. That picot serves much the same purpose as those thin Lego 4X1 blocks. Each block can be a part of a larger item.

I’d like to say that I realized my mistake BEFORE the ring was closed. I didn’t. I ended up picking up the scissors, letting out a big sigh, and snipping away. Time to pick up the blocks and remake that item!

I'm Grateful.....

 For where I live.

This is the view from the top of a hill near me. You can see the bell tower of Carmel Mission Basilica with the Pacific Ocean in the background. We started our 4+ mile hike at the beach. A short walk along the water with a short walk up the hill and voila.

I got back to the shuttles after a quick lunch. Still working on finishing those gifts. I blew one pattern completely and needed to start over.

GIft giving season

 For me, Christmas time is not just a time to give gifts, but a time to share lots and lots of music. So, in October and November I usually practice a lot. So, I have no pictures to share of tatting. All the tatting time is taken with finishing up gifts. Kinda hard to photograph practice time. If you’re local, keep an eye out in the paper and your email for all the fun starting in a week or so.