What a weekend....

I’ve been having fun with organs in this area. So much, I’ve not picked up shuttles much. A friend of mine traveled down from San Jose to play a concert on the Dobson organ at St. Dunstan’s. It was so much fun! Those who missed it will have another chance. She definitely wants to play here again.

Then on Sunday, a local organist played a bang up concert on a new Allen in town. I neglected to snap a good picture of the organ. I did take one, but I didn’t catch that it was very out of focus. How does that happen using my phone? I mean, it’s so easy to get good pictures on the phone until you really want them to turn out! Anyway, the concert was fun. He invited good friends who sing in a barbershop quartet to sing. Not your average church concert!

I’ll miss posting the rest of this week. I’ll be preparing to visit an organ museum. I promise to check my phone to make sure I have at least one good picture to share. I hope to finish 2 tatting projects while traveling. One is up to that fiddly finishing stage of the last few elements and hiding ends. The other should only take 3-4 hours to tat….once the shuttles are free.

In the meantime, those here in Monterey can enjoy “locals weather” and the less crowded streets. The sunrise was spectacular this morning!

Long overdue

I made these samples many years ago. 

They’re from the examples Cyn uses in the New Tat classes. I found that touching the samples helped to cement the lesson. So, what else have teachers prepared and passed out to help students learn?

Earring challenge

Remember this challenge? 

Well, an earring a week was just a bit too much for my tat-load (workload of tatting projects). But, I’m thinking an earring a month will work. I decided that when I found a list of earring patterns I made a couple of years ago. There’s 9 on that list. Add to that the patterns I’ve discovered in the last year or so. And voila! An earring a month!

To motivate myself and convince myself I can actually meet this challenge, I’ve created this display.

Most of these entries were finished by the time summer began. Several were in the “because I can” stage when I registered to enter. Two entries weren’t finished in time. Two pieces I entered weren’t really finished either. I’ll be reorganizing my tatting display items next week.

Sighting in Carmel

Normally that phrase is followed by a description of some celebrity, rare automobile, or something haute…(couture, cuisine, etc.) that costs a bunch of cash.

 My sighting yesterday was free. I saw a pod of dolphins just off the shore while walking on Carmel Beach. There was a whale off the point also. This year, the sightings have become quite common. Whale watching in a boat is thrilling. Kayakers report close encounters all the time. 

Yesterday was the first time I personally have been in the right place at the right time. I knew better than to try to capture anything in a photograph with my phone. So, no picture here. You’ll just have to come for a visit. (grin!)

Progress with crotat Carmel doily

Here’s my progress on figuring out this doily:

I’ve noticed some fundamental design differences between the two doilies I’ve attempted using Cro-tatting techniques:

The doily in pastels fills every chain with some crochet edging stitches. The doily in white/cream leaves the chains bare. I may have also misinterpreted the cream section. It’s just too difficult to tell. The tatter in me thinks this section may just be picots between every stitch then crochet into the picots to create the chain effect. 

Mmmmmmm must experiment some more. 

Anyone else game? A normal crochet hook can work, but the tool I'm using has a smaller hook section. Tatting thread is easier to draw through the stitches to close rings than crochet cotton. It’s a pleasant puzzle to work.

Comments from the Judge

My items from the Fair, both exhibits and display, are back home. Boyhuey was it hot out there today. Fortunately, the wind is off the Bay so the house is staying cooler. I don’t envy those packing up the carnival rides.

As I stowed all the little tatted pieces, I took some time to look over the comments from the judge on the Needlecraft and Fiberwork pieces. I didn’t have a comment sheet for the Bux2Bach piece I entered in the Fine Arts 3-D show. I’m happy with 2^nd place. The piece that won 1^st place is very nice. Good execution, design and craftsmanship. I have already decided I need to enter the juried division next year. And perhaps a jewelry piece.

Anyway, back to the comments. Most of the observations were spot on. For instance, the piece that won best of show (insert jpegs) earned all 100 points possible.

 

“Beautiful stitches. Wonderful use of color and beads. Excellent.” I’m very happy with that. Now to add the other 7 rows. What color to use next? And beads or no beads????

I plan to help with the Entry divisions and classes list for next year. I really hope more people enter some tatting. And maybe even some crotatting!

Fair 2017 time!

A busy few days! I’ve enjoyed sharing my love of fiber arts! It’s so much fun seeing people get excited about creating. So many people wandered in and left with a bounce to their steps. It’s just plain fun!

The marketing team for the Fair has focused on the anniversary of 1967 Summer of Love events that happened here in Monterey. I was not here. I lived in Oregon then. I was begging my Dad to take my training wheels off my bike. I was not participating in the newsworthy events here.

It’s been interesting to hear what people are focusing on. I’ve heard stories of teen escapades, family and friends exploring the World, and sad, horrible stories of tragedy. To those families, I extend support to move on and make the world a better place.

Personally, I have no wish to return to that era. I like living in the present. I have a hard time with Living History. Maybe it’s my life as a musician playing 7 centuries worth of music in one day on a regular basis.  I don’t like dressing in costumes and using modern tools to tat. If I really wanted to be true to technique, I would be limited to post 1970 era. That’s not to say that tatting hasn’t been around a long time, just that I use modern shuttles, modern thread, modern joins, modern colors, etc. The future invigorates me. I go crazy trying to recreate the past. I get crazy creating the future.

Today, I’ll be helping out with the Embroidery Guild table. They’re a great group of ladies and several men who love fiber. There are those who stitch who spend a lot of energy “doing it right” and there are those who create and learn and dream. I’ve enjoyed learning with them. Time to pack a tatting bag and a stitching bag!