Another chord idea

I’ve discovered another possibility for expressing musical chords in thread. I don’t have anything worthy of pictures to post, but I will say thank you to Iris Neibach for the inspiration!

Tatting by its nature, is a rather rounded structure. It’s quite hard to express a straight line with just one tatting element. My brain seems to think more in a straight line than curved arcs. I’m getting better! Now to try some ideas out.......

Ankle still healing with a bruise on the foot to boot

I’m wondering if I need to resurrect the boot I used when I broke my foot several years ago. Thing is, It’s not good for my knees and hips to walk in the boot. I’m still hoping things calm down enough and I can begin walking again. More than just trekking up and down the stairs that is.

I’ve been tidying the studio and study lately. I’ve finished off a couple of projects. Mostly mending and sorting and stowing things in a better way. I have several gifts almost ready, so the Holiday season will be less hectic. I know, I say that every year just about. I really think it’ll happen this year.

Next week I’ll be working on relearning Inkscape so that I can diagram the patterns I’ve done lately. Almost have enough for a collection. I will be releasing some of them as they aren’t strictly patterns from my core portfolio idea. Look for them in January.

Concert cancelled

Those are words I do not like to utter or type or even think. And yet, I must get the word out.

The concert featuring Svyati Duo at St. Dunstan’s Wed. Oct. 24, 2018 has been cancelled. They have had to return to England due to illness.

When I got the word I was in the midst of staying off my feet to encourage a sore ankle to heal. I must push the ankle today to get word to people I asked to post posters and messages that things will be quiet next Wednesday. I hope the illness is not career ending. I wish an uneventful trip home to the musicians and a speedy recovery from the illness.

progress on Wiosna 2017

I’ve completed a few projects that came to light last week. Nothing very big. Nothing to show here. If you were in Pacific Grove last Sunday, you may have heard me play. Thanks, Laurie, for coming up to talk afterwards. I do plan to pursue the Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza. I’d like to expand the program to include adults, physics students, and other geeky musicians.

So, back to what’s on the shuttles. Another Candle Cuff is just a short chain away from being finished. I’ll use that chain to demonstrate hiding ends and blocking to the Study Group next week. This week we’re taking a break and I’m listening to a lecture about symphonic music given to non-musicians. I try to keep up with YouTube offerings, and have quite a bit of notes for myself. Today should be a great opportunity. More later.

I’ve begun Round 10 of my monster doily designed by Renulek:

I think things will pull together color/thread/bead with the next 2 rounds. This round is not as fiddly as the previous, but with a TOR and 3 BJ per repeat, it’ll take a while to complete all 24 repeats.

What should.......

It’s that time of year again. Ever since my kids started school, the first few weeks of school are a time for me to dream up what I wanted to see happen, what I needed to see happen. Then, figure out what I could do to get there. Some people call it a fancy “Personal Vision Statement” or “Mission Statement” which seems to motivate them, but I’ve never been a “statement” person…..except in making lots of noise at the organ console. I just don’t see the point in sitting and watching soap operas and eating tubs of bon-bons. I’ve got too much to offer. So, as the kids get used to changes, I try to figure out what changes I should make.

In the past, that has led to job changes, new volunteer stints, saying goodbye to other volunteer jobs, taking on or passing on new projects. You get the idea. Sometimes that’s painful and hard and doesn’t make friends and influence people. Other times, it provides a calming influence on the chaos of too much to do, not enough time and money. Sometimes saying yes can be more problematic than saying no. Most of the time saying no gives others a chance to discover more about things.

This year is no exception. 2019 looks to be another year of changes for me. I’m glad. Now I just have to figure out what changes I’m going to make sure happen.

What will stay the same????

I’ll still live in this great area. I’ll still play the organ and tat. I’ll still encourage others to explore the organ and lace. I’ll still continue to cherish my family and care for the house. I’m excited. Don’t ask me if you can read my Statement. I haven’t slowed down enough to write it out!

Learning as we age

I was raised to never stop learning. That can get tricky as your memory starts to get assailed. Remembering where the car is parked after working a 14 hour day with Inventory can be scary. So can remembering your locker combination after that awful test. And don’t get me started on making it through Bach by memory!

But, I continue to read and search out learning opportunities. What have I learned recently? Succulents like to be watered at a different time of day than roses. Systems to recirculate water have a lot of moving parts. People can misunderstand a phrase you grew up with.

I also have discovered a theory that makes sense to me: Multiple Intelligences

Developed in 1983 (why has it taken this long for me to discover it????) by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University (maybe because I’m not in education but the Arts???) to explain why people have different abilities. He proposed that eight abilities meet the criteria of specific modality (which I’m not sure I understand). These abilities are: Musical-rhythmic, visual-spatial, verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.

This discovery has spawned exploration of a rabbit hole for how to recognize the abilities, assess the grasp of each one, and how to develop weak areas. It’s been fun! I understand more and it makes sense!!

The journey the last few days have confirmed that I’m an organist, even though I’m no longer able to play as I could; an artist, even though I create pieces many view as craft; and I can meld the two areas of my life, even though it’s difficult to balance and explain it all.

More later!

A walk by the Bay

Yesterday was another one of those days where I got distracted. A storm rolled in. We had a bit of damage to an area on the roof. I think it was mostly because it hadn’t rained in so long. While driving back from a meeting, I drove through a squall. Of course there was a gorgeous double rainbow! There were lots of people pulling into parking areas to snap pictures. I gave thanks they pulled over and didn’t try to snap it while driving. I’m sure they ended up posted. Along with the story of breaching whales capsizing aboat and damaging another. Life by the Bay…….

I spent most of my work time organizing, filing, filling shuttles, pulling out Advent and Christmas music, and watching the computer get used to another monster update. Thank goodness the harpsichord is close to the computer.  Today I look forward to completing those tasks on the computer. Really, I do. Just hope I can keep the back happy!

I’ve set up Round 10 of Wiosna 2017. And the shuttles are loaded for Candle Cuff #5. And my practice list is chosen. Time to get busy…..after a walk!

More Candle Cuffs finished

I’m beginning to look at my pattern collection with an eye towards developing classes I could teach. I would have never thought I could do that without the experience and encouragement that I’ve had with the OnLineclass. Thank you for that opportunity!

I think this Candle Cuff pattern could work nicely. Like theIce Drop pattern or the Ornament covers, I see many, many variations. Gotta try some out……