a rose is a........smile

I have a few roses in my back yard here. Nothing spectacular. Not like the test gardens in Portland. That’s another of my favorite places in the world. Walking around the beds and seeing the blooms always brings a smile to my face.

 Anyway, I have some carpet roses and a climber. I tried to keep it simple. Every spring, we get over-run with aphids. This year, I tried to watch really close. We have fruit trees in our yard, so I’m reluctant to spray too much. I just may have to this year. Looks like I need a third batch of lady bugs. They have helped, but not enough. I also have the Peace rose I’m trying to get established. I think it will survive and grow. I think…….

I think I’ll take my tatting out onto the bench and see if I can cheer on the lady bugs. Go eat ‘em!

fixing Christmas

I’ve taken a break from the Saint-Saens to fix a Christmas ornament I gave a friend a few years ago. She was so sweet when asking me to repair. It gave me a chance to get feedback on bead choice. I was unhappy with the way the one metal bead has tarnished. Well, maybe not tarnished, but it’s definitely discolored. Nothing a bit of detail cleaning and then preserving couldn’t fix, but I was disappointed. Now everything is ready for the next Christmas tree!

of birthdays and bucket lists

I recently celebrated a birthday. Not one of THOSE birthdays. I am over 50, which I’m proud to have celebrated. You see, when I was much, much younger, it was recommended I have a lump biopsy. Thus began my “benign” dance with life. Even though I have never had a diagnosis of cancer, a biopsy is still surgery. It can throw a wrench in your schedule! And bring your dreams and hopes and aspirations into sharp focus: “someday” becomes “next year” and “after I finish” becomes “whenever I can”. I’ve been very lucky. I finished school, got married, raised 2 children, worked in several career fields, and generally enjoyed life.

So, what’s in the bucket list? I emptied that a long, long time ago! I decided a bucket list is for those who have not been focused in their goals. I’ve been very happy with my goals, adjusted them often, and accomplished what was really important. I think. Well, I did lose that folder of papers last month. Perhaps I should find it today. I think it was under that stack……….wait a minute…..is this important?? Well, yes….sigh!

continuing connections

I’m continuing on around with the connecting “chain” of rings/split-rings. There is much to do, but I’m thinking this really will work! Wahoooooo.

Round 2 B motif connected

 

connecting idea

detail of connection off Round 1 of Saint-Saens project

 

I’ve been playing with a way to connect the Saint-Saens motifs. This one has possibilities.

I’m really jazzed about this project. Normally, a huge project like this is difficult for me to finish. This one though, has some real traction to it. Lots of interested people who know music, lots who know tatting, and lots who just like to see me creating! Thank you all for your interest, support, critique, and guidance.

So, this last bit?.......... I think I will play with it some more, maybe around one of the motifs from round 2. Off to load my shuttles!

musings on music in thread

I had one of those surreal conversations lately. A while ago, I was chatting with an organist group. Of course my hands were busy with my shuttles, I can’t remember exactly what I was tatting, but I was using a variegated thread; probably the triangle in the post earlier this week. Anyway, I like that color combination and many have commented on it. My organist friend was impressed that the colors change so often and almost exactly the same distance apart on the thread. I explained that the thread I was using was machine dyed, HDT often isn’t that consistent. The response, “like vibrato” caught me by surprise. But, it’s correct…..sort of.

That got me thinking….I KNOW…..a dangerous occurrence!

What if I used variegated thread for certain types of music where vibrato is appropriate? I have already decided that I’m not inclined to use certain colors to represent certain music. It’s been done before, and I’m not that color savvy. I’ve decided to focus more on rhythm and the structure of melody/harmony. I am experimenting with color representing timbre of music (pink for strings, red for brass), but that is a slippery slope for my color sense. But vibrato…….or music of such ilk. Mmmmmmmmmmm

brushed acrylic yarn

Here’s the yarn I’ll be making my next prayer shawl in…..

brushed acrylic yarn for prayer shawl on knitting board

Since I’m using the Knitting Board, it’ll be a double knit fabric. So, the colors will have just a few stitches visible before they change. I’ll be interested to see if any pooling occurs. From this sample, I doubt it.