To read or not to read.....

Those of you who live around me know I love reading. I don’t mention it much in this blog because, well, reading is a hobby of mine that’s morphed into professional development lately. I have 4 magazines that come into my home on music and fiber arts each month. Articles in those send me to the internet regularly. I do read for fun some, but not as much as when I was younger.

I have been following the Great American Read program. It is fun to see what books made the list, what books they feature in the Fall shows, and what I am drawn to reread or finally get to reading. I’ll be looking into a way to read and tat just as you can tat while the TV is on, or your waiting for something to happen in an office or meeting. A good way to test out design ideas!

On designing

This week starts up another year of trying (desperately) to mesh my passion for the organ and the music written for the King of Instruments and my passion for tatted lace. I’ve been working my way through some material on visual art with an emphasis on design. I hope to sit in on the Design Class and take a stab at designing a bracelet. I’ve several sketches, but nothing I could call a pattern. Perhaps the class will influence that gap in my portfolio.

I know, I know…..

Only I am responsible for that and can influence me!

Must catch lunch before class begins.

Another Candle Cuff finished

It’s very satisfying to finish a project. Especially when it will be enjoyed by Friend or Family. I’m still playing with the concept and coming up with more patterns. So far, nothing has percolated to the “to tat” list. I’ll admit, most of my design time is being taken by seeing what could be created to commemorate the anniversary of the composing of Stille Nacht. Again, nothing that seems promising enough to put into thread.

The Online class series is starting up! I have shuttles ready to enjoy new patterns! Each week, Georgia et al. present patterns that just beg to be tat. It’s so much fun to see what others are creating. Susan and her team will be discussing design concepts with tips and tricks galore. And I get a kick out of cheering on the Beginners that Cyn works with. It will be a challenge to keep shuttles at the ready for those design ideas.

Saga of Wiosna 2017 continues.....

I have been tackling this doily. I was hoping to finish Round 9 this week. Well, I’ve spent hours, and I mean hours, adding thread to the shuttles to complete the round. Each repeat takes me about 20 minutes to tat. Adding thread slows me down a lot! I can’t wait to get to the next stage. I still haven’t decided on colors. Soon………

Card Band Bookmark

One of the fun things about entering the Fair is getting the word out about workshops and encouraging each other to learn. The Tablet/cardweaving workshop was fun and sparked quite a bit of happy weaving time for me.

 I entered a sample from the warp finished as a bookmark. Not perfect obviously. The judge wrote some good comments. 

I’ve already tweaked the current tablet project in response. I like it better!

Next week some dreaming up new projects!

Ornament for the Fair

What do you do with tatted bits that can’t be used? Well, find a use for them!

Sonata for Bach Festival

Remember this? 

While tatting Sonata, I missed a crucial join in the next to last round. The result? Get out the scissors. I discovered this when I was very close to finishing the last round, so what to do with that tatting?

Experiment with covering an ornament ball.

Handy Hands sells these, and I picked up some glass ones during a sale. 

The black looked very nice against the redish metallic looking glass.

I had a shuttle with a bit of green left from the Candle Cuff, so get out some bling thread and put it all together.

The judge liked it too!

Moral: Don’t bin any tatting…….

Comments are good!

Just an out-of-cycle post to let everyone know I love reading your comments!!!!

I haven't been replying or commenting much because I didn't get notification when you left comments. My bad!! I promise to check more often as the emails aren't coming through.

Thank you all for your thoughts, encouragement, and interest!

Cluny Loom Bookmark

Here’s a picture of my bookmark using the pattern included in the Ulitmate Cluny Loom package.

Unfortunately, there was a mix up in the registration (my fault), that lead to a mix up in what division the piece was judged. I used needle tatting techniques for my version, not cro-tatting. First place is good, though. I thought some other tatters in the area would enter needle tatted pieces. I guess they didn’t think their pieces would win over mine. I think they’re mistaken!

Oh, I used DMC Pearl Cotton for my lavender place-holder.

The results are in!

The County Fair is always great fun! This year, my entries were well received. Except for one and more on that one next month.

2018 ribbons

The best of show is the Needlebook.

The other First Place awards are for the other tatted pieces, snowman earrings, bookmark using the cluny loom, and an ornament I decorated with "binned" bits. 

The Third Place is for a bookmark I made out of my sample band I wove at the workshop.

Now on to the next project…..