Carmel Bach Festival 2019 is completed.

Now back to my regularly scheduled life.

No seriously, I do love the Festival, but I’ve not been keeping up with the rest of my life. I have a concert to play Friday that needs more practice…..yesterday! I have 3 workshops to prepare for by Tat Days…..this week! I have a house to clean and guests to prepare for in 2 weeks. Oh, and there’s the 2 sub jobs I have to prepare for. Fair entries to get ready for display. Lots to complete.

 I think I’ll take a walk by the Bay first……

Christmas in July....musically!

Snowflake by Lena Bjorn

I’ve been so tempted to sit and tat snowflakes during Bach Fest this year! You see, they have presented all 6 parts of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. That’s about 9 hours of music if you played a CD without stopping. There have been quizzical comments along the lines of what are they thinking? Christmas???

Most sacred musicians just smile. We have to choose music well ahead of time. If we choose something that requires parts to be ordered, or even written, we must give ourselves plenty of lead time. Some musicians even have to raise the money with special offerings before they can realize their planned Christmas celebrations.

Most tatters are constantly thinking Christmas, or at least cold and snowflakes. Tatting a snowflake takes hours. If you want to decorate for Christmas with snowflakes, you better start tatting in July!

Since I’ve not started my snowflakes yet, I guess I’ll be coming up with other ideas for Christmas this year! 

Can tatting thread hurt ears?

Earlier in July, Ninetta posted about tatting with silk thread. That brought to mind something I read somewhere about thread hurting the ear. I couldn’t remember the details, but Ninetta talking about hearing a sound that resembled a violin stayed with me.

Many of the concerts during Carmel Bach Festival are general admission with no assigned seating. You must find a pew to plunk down in. The Fire Department usually gives a maximum number of people allowed in the building, so that’s where they get the maximum number of tickets. The trick to getting a good seat is to arrive several minutes before the doors open and join the line, if there is a line. I don’t mind sitting and waiting; especially if I have some tatting to work on. I figured taking a tatting book to look for that quote would be wiser than the projects I’m currently working on. No beads to lose down the aisle!

I found the quote!

Taken from the Author’s Note in the reprint of All New Knotless Tatting by Dora Young. (It’s about half way through the edition I have on my desk. What would be page 22 if the pages were numbered in succession.

“During my illness, most threads ‘grated’ on my eardrums and made them very sensitive, but I had no difficulty working with D M C .”

So, Dora Young’s had very acute hearing. No ear bud damage or tinnitus. Thank you Ninetta for helping us understand more about this wonderful tatter from earlier times.

Mark your Calendars

April 18-19, 2020

Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, California USA

I will be teaching a 2 day workshop. The pattern focus will be Sonata. I designed this after being introduced to it through Bach Festival. The basis is part of a vintage pattern. Since Bach lifted much of his thematic ideas from several other composers, and many designers use vintage patterns as a spring board, I dove in. It’s been fun to tat and to teach this design. I will also spend time on techniques to make tatting these designs easier, embellishing adding thread and beads, and display techniques.

To register, please contact the lace museum. Flyers should be ready by the weekend so the web page should be current within a week or so. Limit is 12 attendees. A $25 deposit will hold your spot!

If you’re in the area, you may have enjoyed their lace making demonstration as part of Hiller Air Museum’s Steampunk Extravaganza. Wonderful outreach!

Where I am.....

Disaster almost struck! The Marjorie Evans gallery at Sunset Center where the Art Auction items are displayed is a wide hallway. Actually a T shape. There are 2 cases in the long section either side of the door to the parking lot. You can just make out one in the photo on the website (link above). The display surface is quite nice for size and height. Each case can comfortably hold 6 or so pieces of small art. The very, very heavy glass on top is a huge upside down box. I’d show you a picture, but I have been told other artists don’t like pictures of their art out there. So, I try to honor the spirit of community. (I don’t get it to be honest. Once I donate a piece, it’s not mine. And I frequently am surprised in good ways!) As the pulling of the tickets gets closer, I’ll sneak a picture. Promise!

The disaster was this: someone lost their footing close to the case and fell into the pedestal jostling everything. I was assured they were not seriously injured. My piece wasn’t affected, but a small picture on a stand toppled. It landed right side up thank heavens! And the very, very heavy glass sculpture stayed in place. Disaster almost struck!

I’m continuing to receive positive comments about the piece. I’ve got plans to tat the design again. I’m thinking larger thread so that it could be a door wreath. Must experiment…….

After the Festival ends though. I’ve already attended 4 concerts.  I have tickets to another half dozen or so. 

Time for a walk by the bay to clear my head. I’ve an ear worm of the opening of a Bach piece from Sunday. It is so similar to the piece I played for Postlude that morning. Both are Fanfares and very Festive!

Tatting: An (lost) art

The Art Show is open. Tickets are $10 each or 7 for $40. My box is on the very bottom, right next to the floor. I’ll be curious to see how many tickets make their way into that wee slot. Apparently, a good friend from out of town called the Carmel Bach Festival Office, asked for 7 tickets to be put into the box. I wonder if you can get tickets over the phone. I shouldn’t think so, but maybe…..

The Opening reception was fun. Lots of people in a small space. The artists are mostly sometime professionals and hobbyists. Quite a few have been participating for many years. That means there wasn’t anyone dressed to make a shocking statement which I appreciated. For this show, it’s not about the ART, it’s about MUSIC and specifically raising money for the Carmel Bach Festival. ‘nuff said…just fun!

My title for this post comes from the frequently heard comment, “Isn’t that a lost art?” We’ve all heard that when tatting in public. I’ve also heard something along the lines of, “My Aunt tried to teach me that.” Even a wistful, “I wish I could tat.” Well, last night I heard, “I’m glad tatting is not a lost art. I think your piece is ART!" That made me feel like I’m on the right track. I am not (no raised voice, just humbleness) highly trained, not crafty, not a bored housewife. I am an artist who represents music in thread. I am aware there are some who have a hard time calling anything that isn’t a painting art. Their loss! I choose to enjoy music, thread, and tatting!

Come by the show in the gallery off the raised patio. It’s open most days. Tickets can be bought just before, during, or after Bach Fest events at Sunset Center. Stuff that box! Win some art! Support the Festival!

Tonight is the opening….

Last night was the first concert: A lovely organ and trumpet recital at St. Dunstan’s. Here's a link to my review, but so much is happening I’ll probably forget.

Tonight is the Art Gallery Opening reception for the Art ofMusic Raffle fundraiser. I’m excited to see what else is available. The cover of the Festival program book is a fun drawing/caricature of all things Bach Festival. There’s a seashell, a boat, several instruments and of course music symbols. I can’t wait to see the original drawing!

For those local, raffle tickets will be available starting Opening Night, this Saturday and continuing until Best of the Fest on July 27. Volunteers can help you through the filling out of the tickets, but won’t tell you which box to put them in. I will…..my box!!

Here’s a picture of the piece before going into the display case: