Inspiration struck....again....whew!

 Months ago I started looking at a Fantasia BWV 572 by JS Bach (surprised at my choice of composer? I hope not!).

The composition is a fine example of the Fantasia form in the Baroque era. Classic (pun intended) ABA with brilliance in the first and last sections with solid harmonies in the middle section. I like puzzling out the structure of the harmony and using the bit of Music Theory I’ve learned over the years. That can usually give me a good basis for putting the music into thread.

Except this time.

Until last night….about 2 AM.

A foray into the thrift shops yesterday uncovered a lovely little doily. I’m in the process of blocking it now so I’ll share a picture later. The center section can be recognized as tatting with a bit of crochet between it and the tatted edging. I’ve worked the edging many times. It’s a simple ring and chain that meanders from edge to center to edge and is fun to work.

That edging inspired the A section motif. I’ll use stacked chains for the B. (chortle with glee can be heard)

Another pair for Cristmas

 

Garnet Set by Nina Libin

Well, actually, 2 pairs.

 

Garnet Set by Nina Libin 

Doesn’t this look like a fun pattern? It’s available for free on the Lace Museumwebsite. I worked this set with pearl beads quite awhile ago. I wear them occasionally so I decided I should make a pair in Christmas colors.  I decided to omit one bead on each split ring. I think they look better when all the beads are on the same plane.

Oh, and if you’ve signed up for the classes I’m teaching nextmonth sponsored by the Lace Museum and you need to order the beginner kit, it may not arrive in time. Packages are sporadically on time coming from SCC due to the increase in COVID cases. Our regular carrier (in the next county over) has had to take some time off awaiting a test result. Thankfully it was negative, but that set back a couple of packages that were coming to our house. Even if you do need materials, there are do-it-yourself options that will be perfectly fine for the class. Email me or the Museum and I’ll send you the instructions.

If you haven’t registered for a class…..

What are you waiting for? Come join the fun!!

A new pair just in time

 I saw this pattern on Bernice's blog Knot Vortex. I needed an elegant pair of earrings for a family Zoom Christmas party.  Thank you for sharing your pattern!

Worked in White metallic DMC 3 ply thread with pearl beads.

Ya wants some whine with that?

 Quite a few of my Holidays find me gettin’ real whiney. As a church musician, December is non-stop performance. The music requested runs the gamut: 13 th century to 21 century; obscure sacred text to the latest poem by a “star”; and when someone actually is courteous enough to ask me to pick the music, I never know if it will please the listener. This year is no exception! Even without the in-person option, I’ve fielded enough requests for something everybody likes (read secular kids songs) to something easy (read a favorite of theirs that I’m sure to butcher). So, I’m whiney. When I allow myself to talk. Hint: if your musical friend isn’t saying much it’s because their just tired of the demands made on them this time of year. If they share anything, don’t talk, just listen. They really, really don’t care to know that Aunt Tilley loved the way Uncle Arthur sang O Holy Night. Let them celebrate authentically. You’ll enjoy their company a lot more, trust me!

OK rant over. I’ll know who has been around musicians by how loudly you’re laughing.

I spent time yesterday playing with beads and thread. My beaded version of Dissent is shaping up nicely. After several hours of notetaking, math problems, and researching bead packaging, I determined I have enough beads to start loading them on tatting. Who knew 1000 beads weight just a few grams? I should have pictures to share next week. Unless I change my mind. We’ll see what the future brings.

Because there will be a future. I promise to fill it with music and tatting. Really. Just give me some wine time!

How to fill in?

 I’m back looking at my idea for the Challenge Doily: Threadsthat Bind. With the Shelter in Place order active again, my calendar has been cleared once again without my permission. I talked on the phone yesterday about the situation, the loneliness of the others was palpable. My response was to play a bit, then pick up my shuttles. 

I really must try to put my design idea into thread: 
Once the geometric “pineapple” shape is complete, insert motifs in a contrasting color depicting a home.

Here’s my start:

May I ask a favor today? Pick up the phone and call someone who doesn’t follow a blog, tweet a thought, or have extended family they can safely meet with. Sing a song with them. We’ve all been practicing “Twinkle” or some other way to time how long to scrub our hands with suds. Reach out beyond what your habit is. We all need a bit of joy.

Finding the Hidden Rose

 Last year, Muskaan floated the idea of Hidden RoseSnowflake.

I was very tempted to tat it, but totally intimidated by the suggested path for working this beauty! Not because of the lock chains. I have mastered them and I really like the effect. What stopped me from grabbing the shuttles was the thought of digging out clips to hold the picots for later use. I know how to use picot holders, I have managed patterns that use the technique, but keeping everything sorted never turned out well and those clips were stressful to tat around. Not something I could do in the car or watching tv. But, I really liked the design. So, it went in the to-tat pile for “later” and continued to draw my eye.

Well, 2020 has been a year of finding a different path. I was thinking about what I’ve learned this year while sorting through the to-tat pile to find a snowflake pattern for a friend. I thought to myself, “what if I started at the outside and tatted in?” What do you know, it worked! At least for me. Anyone else want to try?   

Hidden Rose Snowflake ready to block

Here’s the short story:

Tat outside ring of R: 5 – 5 .

Tat the 3 lock chains leaving a mock picot at the start of the first lock chain of 7 DS. I also found it useful to use a lock stitch to create a very small picot between the two longer lock chains to use for joining before the inner ring.

Tat the regular chain towards the inner ring, join to that very small picot, then tat the inner ring of R: 5 – 5 . This inner ring will be joined to during the next repeat.

Complete the rose bud with the other regular chain joining to the first ring. Tat the outer chain with TOR and you’re ready to begin the next bud.

These very sketchy directions are not complete. I will get back to tatting this more completely to determine which element is tatted holding shuttle 1 and which is tatted holding shuttle 2. Or for that matter, are the repeats tatted with the shuttles changing positions? Could color emphasis of parts of the piece be easily accomplished? How to place beads on thread to end up where you want them?

A worthy project, but alas, I cannot make it a higher priority than preparing for the classes next month, preparing music for Christmas, or completing several challenges. I will place it in the to-solve pile.

Home again, Home again.....

 Our county is under a Stay At Home order again. That will not impact me a huge amount. I work from home, only meeting twice a week outside the home in very safe environments. I do not have to be in grocery stores, hospital/doctors’ offices, or any other “essential” businesses. I can stay home and reduce the possibility. Have I experienced COVID-19 symptoms? No. The closest I’ve come is the temperature spike during a hot flash. But…..

Asymptomatic people can spread this virus. I was very sick with a respiratory illness a year ago. I know I picked it up visiting in another city and trying out a VR headset. BTW it was worth it to have a cold for a week or two. But, this virus? I’ll not tempt fate. I wasn’t as sick as others got. I seem to shake off colds and bronchitis quickly. I’ll not take the risk that I could be exposed and spread this virus.

Please search your heart. Ask yourself if what you wish to do would be wise in a war zone. Because, until we consider that we are under attack and behave as though we are at war, we will not all survive. If you have to be out of your house, please behave as though you are in a war zone by wearing a mask, limiting your contact with others, and make it possible for the helpers to help.

Thank you!

Challenge completed….but it needs more

 Remember back before we really understood what 2020 was going to hold for us?

Remember when Jon Yusoff challenged us with Threads ThatBind?

Remember when I said I wanted to depict what it all meant to me? Oh right. I haven’t shared that yet. Well, I finally have worked down the mess of projects enough to get back to coming up with my edge for the Challenge. I set myself several parameters: Use vintage threads, find a way to use color to highlight parts of the design, learn how to use a 2 bobbin shuttle.

This is my Round 14  

The threads are all vintage size 30 (nominally…I think the yellow is size 35!)

I felt like softness, not boldness was needed when figuring out how to highlight the pineapple sections.

I used pink and blue in the dual bobbin shuttle for the outer round.

So, check!

But it needs something……

I’m currently adding small motifs that bring a house and small trees to mind. I’ve got some ideas on how to tie those in, but need a few more evenings to get to that point.

What do you get the tatter who has everything?

 A seat in a virtual workshop! Scroll halfway down the page.

$65 reserves your spot along with the documents. Fun thread and shuttles/needles are available for purchase from the Museum gift shop for a reasonable price.

Come join us Saturday, January 16 & Sunday, January 17 from 9 AM PT to Noon PT.

We will be looking at heart patterns. Christmas Heart by Anne Bruvold and Basic Split Ring Heart by Georgia Seitz will be offered. Bring a pattern you've had in your to-tat pile for awhile. 

For those that need a beginner refresher, or would like to encourage a new tatter, there will be a beginner series of 3 classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning the week before. Jan. 11-15 from 9-11:30 AM PT. 

See you in class!

Beads in a group

 Discussed in our group this week:  

Star in 2 colors by Madsen

Beads added to the Star pattern.

Penelope adapted by Kendra Goodnow

How blocking can really help.

Penelope

 One of the benefits from regularly meeting with tatting friends is being inspired to tat patterns again, and again, and…..

This snowflake is the featured pattern in the Fall 2020Helping Hands Newsletter published by Hand Hands. Kendra Goodnow adapted it last April. It reminded me so much of a mum that I had to tat it in pink. We’ll discuss in today’s meeting how color can make a big difference in whether you think snowflake or flower.

Incidently, the current Winter 2020 newsletter has a favorite of mine: Square medallion adadpted again by Kendra Goodnow. Remind you of a mat I worked up for the Museum classes earlier this year?

Registration will open soon for the January classes at the Museum. Same online format; same beginner series of 3 classes followed by a dive into a pattern. I have received permission to teach a couple of simple hearts. Simple, but you can add beads or use intermediate techniques to zing the patterns up. Join us!

Group Tatting

 I am so fortunate to have a local tatting Study Group. I treasure my online tatting friends. When I can, I try to connect with them. But, having a local group is a lot of fun!

We meet each Tuesday for a couple of hours. Lately, we have been bouncing around snowflake pattern ideas. I was reminded of a lovely celtic style pattern in this blog post from Bernice. I remembered tatting it. Just couldn’t remember when and where the pattern is. I don’t have this book, just her Tatted Animals book (which I love). After quite a bit of digging I found the sample I had. Using that, I tatted up this new Star:

I really must keep from getting side-tracked! But this was great fun!!!!!

It's All about the Dog

 This Organ Duet (for two organists at one organ) is just too tempting for me. Tatters can get SAD (shuttle accumulation disease) and weavers can get LAS (loom acquisition syndrome). Musicians accumulate music. Some they will never, ever play in public. Some they play frequently. Duets are hard to do without the cooperation of another musician; and we musicians tend to be loners. But, I just had to get this!

Of course as soon as it arrived I played through a bit. I see a tatting design in the structure of the piece. I’ll be working in 2 colors of course. I will be using what I’ve learned in 2020 about combining colors. Thank you to all who have patiently explained all you know about color and shared all your wonderful pieces as examples. I’ll keep you posted on what the “Dog” shows me! 

The Basics

 I’m drawn to simple things that turn out to be complicated.

Simple: Driving a straight road.

Complicated: Keeping your attention on the road when it’s straight for 35 miles with nothing but fields on either side.

Simple: Plagal cadence.

Complicated: Double the fifth in the bass (pedal) with a suspension on the top.

Simple: Classic square motif.

Complicated: Sewing thread that needs extra joins to keep the overall shape correct.

Remember this cross? 

Here’s a bookmark I’ve been working on.

Another few hours of tatting (and forgetting picots) and untatting (using my handy, dandy, magnifier) and I should be ready to see if it’ll work as is or will need to be in sleeve to be used wisely. (I DO NOT starch bookmarks! One time of trying to resume reading after the book had sat in hot humid weather taught me that lesson!)

All wrapped up

 

The picture is from a “shrug” a friend made for me. It’s cotton, which I like, and adds just the right amount of warmth on most days in Monterey. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit like I’m tying unwanted knots in my tatting thread. I actually threw away some of what I tatted the other day. There wasn’t even enough to snip and decorate a card with! Sigh!!

I need to get a gift finished. Perhaps that will turn the tide.

Mistakes

 I have no pictures of tatting to share with you. Too many mistakes!!I seem to be very distracted lately. Perhaps it’s because the rains are starting and I really, really want to get new plants in the ground pronto to take advantage of what few drops fall before the weather gets colder. Nawh…..

Perhaps it’s because I’m trying out a bunch of new ideas most of which are NOT working. Nawh…..

Perhaps it’s because I’m helping a church discover an organ they’ve had, but not paid much attention to. Nawh……

I just haven’t been very focused lately. Just too much to distract and not enough concentration.

I promise to do better…..

In the meantime, I’ve received requests to do a class in taking design ideas and creating new pieces. Think edgings to bookmarks to hearts to snowflakes to magic squares to whatever you dream up. I really like that idea. May take more than just a few hours though.

Looking to 2021

 I know, it’s far enough in the future I really shouldn’t focus on 2021, but 2020 has been too crazy! Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t changed my tune. For those that know me well and have worked with me on the bench, I still plan my music well in advance. I have Christmas just about learned, the weeks in between need just a bit more fine tuning, and I have my practice list for the next 2 weeks. I’ve also figured out what I want to work on for designs. The music is just about analyzed, and the broad outline is worked out, and the details are falling into place. What I still need help with?

What do you want to learn in 2021?

I view teaching as a dialogue. I have no set group of pieces or patterns to teach students. I make it a point to ask questions and listen and suggest. It drives some of my students kinda nuts! “Just tell me what to do!” Well, I'll be glad to, but help me out here...... please? The Lace Museum is taking suggestions for future classes/workshops. Please fill out their form for tatting ideas: techniques, patterns, general project descriptions, historical pieces, whatever draws you to thread to tat. That will make 2021 a lot more fun!!

Tatting at the Edge

I tatted up a thank you gift:

Pernille by Lene Bjorn

It is found in Tatted Bookmarks – Cross Shaped by Lene Bjorn. My friend likes to read also so I’m tatting a straight bookmark, no side sections. I’d like to teach a class on edgings turned into bookmarks. I must explore the collection at the Lace Museum for possibilities!

Camel hunting

 Before I make a statement, I need to make a camel.

Christmas Camel by Dolly Hollander

I love gift exchanges. Not because I usually receive really unique, personalized gifts, but because I can spread more tatting in the world. I always try to get the thought out there that I don’t mind people re-gifting my gift IF they request something from me to replace it. I often get it wrong picking out what to create for someone. This year, I’ll be creating this camel to put on something for the kitchen. I’m going to have fun!

Statement

 

Organists make a statement when they play. Especially when you can see the pipes. We can shake a concrete building with our pinky finger!

Personally, I’m not much for “statement jewelry” that tends to be clunky and sparkly. I prefer pearls. Just a simple strand. I’ve never had a diamond ring. They just don’t appeal to me. I love the soft luster of an opal or pearl. And things that stand out from my hand just get in the way of playing. Things that are full of sharp edges don’t really work when you are tatting.

I am tempted with this statement piece: Dissent

I can think of quite a few people I know who wear statement jewelry who would love a chance to honor RBG. Time to get crackin!

The knot doesn't care how you make it.....

Beaded Bracelet by Kendra

 I’ve been practicing my needle tatting as I taught the class last week. One of the patterns comes from Needle Tatting Techniques & More Edited by Barbara Foster:

The needle I was using is too worn to use for another project. My hands wear off the finish quite quickly. But it turned out just fine!

So, that mistake I asked you to find?

 The last ring in the picture has a join to a “previous ring” that is only clear in the diagram. Well, clear if you look. I joined to a previous, previous ring. Nothing for it but to take it out and retat the ring with the correct join! Here’s the finished trial:

Snowflake from 5 Point Star by Sandy

The beginning tatting class is going well. All the students are learning enough they will be able to join in on the weekend class if they wish. I’m eager to see how the students like working on the mat. After Sunday, I think I will use it on our table for a while just to see how I really like it.

Can you see the mistake?

 

Truth be told, there are many mistakes in this piece. This is the start of my trial tat of a new pattern. I wanted to try out different ways of tatting a “simple” pattern. The thread is Omega thread. Overall, fine to tat with. 

The blue color just does nothing for me. I’ve tried using a complimentary color with it, a couple of colors for a tertiary combination, I’ve pulled out a turquoise similar in value (both lighter and darker), I’ve tried adding beads in various color combinations. It just doesn’t work for me.

I know I don’t see color as well as some people. My daughter sees colors very accurately. She’s been helping me to train my brain to see colors better. It has helped. It’s taught her patience and empathy. I know we’ve hit the wall in a session when she says, “Mom, I love you but……”

So, what is the mistake? For those who have a print 2020 catalogue from Handy Hands, the pattern is in there. All will be revealed Thursday.

Keeping track

 

I encourage students to consider “mistakes” are really just variations. Most of the time, what we see as mistakes aren’t really that bad: the odd loose stitch, a small picot instead of a larger one, or a larger instead of a smaller, a forgotten ring or chain section, or added extra. You get the idea. When tatting up my sample for next week’s class, I knew I wanted it to be rectangular to use with our oval table. So, how many squares to tat per side? All was well until the second long side. I kept second guessing where I was at. You guessed it, I made mistake after mistake. I finally made a small chart in frustration:

I have included a similar chart at the end of the pattern I’ll give to the students. They can use it, or not. It will be their choice. Me, I need simple and clear and ways to reduce the noise as I tat;  a bit like using a bookmark when I’m working through a text. I love post-it notes!

Oh, and bookmarks….

Is it any wonder that I like bookmarks…..and have tatted a few…..just a few….?

If you need the link to sign up: https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html

Classes begin next Monday!

 I'm ready for the fun! Thank you Lace Museum of Sunnyvale for sponsoring and hosting the classes.

Starting Monday, we will start from the beginning. I know of at least one needle tatter who should be signed up by now. (If you haven’t taken care of that, ahem!) I'll be guiding students through working with shuttle also. By the end of Friday, you will know enough to tat most of the pattern I’ll discuss in the weekend workshop (Sat & Sun morning). My classes are half way down on the Workshop page on the Lace Museum website: https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html

Here’s a picture of the finished mat sample as a teaser:   

Sample of vintage mat pattern

I will pick up where I left off in July. We only looked at the insert square in July. Now, we’ll look at the edging and briefly touch on finishing. Don’t panic if you weren’t in the July workshop, the insert square is essentially repeated many times in the edging.

See you in class!

How I learned

 I dislike relating how I learned to play the organ or how I learned to tat. I do tell folks. I just don’t see it as important. What I do now is more important to me. Incidentally, now I play the organ for the enjoyment of people, to enhance a worship service, and to share music I think everyone should know about. Now I tat to express what I see in life in thread. I also teach. And that is why I have begun to tell people how I learned to play the organ and to tat.

I began playing the organ as a preteen. My peers hardly understood it. Adults thought it was cute. I just like playing the organ.

I began to tat as a teen. I like working with fiber. I fail at knitting and crochet. I can’t sit still. A relative, who didn’t tat, had a shuttle and a book. I figured it out.

There! That’s how I learned.

Earlier this week I recorded another 30 minutes of organ music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Here’s the Youtube channel link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9Xvh2eadS0KrPu8bAOsBQ/videos .  The church is always empty except for the gentleman who films me. We both wear masks. That doesn’t mean that nothing is happening. The church is still very involved in the community. They support food banks for seniors, they provide assistance for Spanish speakers, and maintain several Zoom based discussion groups. They are not closed, just not meeting in person. They deserve to be supported.

Thank you for reading my rant/plea. Now on to practicing and tatting!

Challenge progress

 October is shaping up to be quite busy. I’ve taped two playlists for St. Paul’s for the Friday concert. I’ll be teaching a series of tatting classes/workshops for the Lace Museum. And it’s the time of year to put new plants into the ground so they can benefit from the rains and get a great start. That means lots of time spent trying to figure out the landscaping we wish to maintain and enjoy. So, I don’t have a lot to show for tatting. Just a trial for my Day 14 of Threads That Bind:

My inspiration is doilies from Jan Stawasz’s book TattingTheory and Patterns. I thought the motif looked like a house. Considering all the time we’re spending working from home, I wanted to try it out. The blue version will be the “house” with a roof added and the black version will be expanded in green to represent a tree. It may not work at all, but I gotta try!

My pipe organ adventures

 

I’ve had fun recording a short 30 minute concert this week. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has hosted a Friday Noon concert for many years. It is a way for them to share with the greater community. A local junior college encourages students to attend, so we often have people popping in for a few minutes. Some bring their lunches and (respectfully and neatly) munch as they listen. I have been invited several times to play and enjoy it greatly!

Since we’re all recording and posting online, that’s what I’ve done for this Friday. This is the page where the link is posted: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9Xvh2eadS0KrPu8bAOsBQ/videos

I try to pick music for each concert to showcase a portion of the organ. This week, I also challenged myself to play pieces written in the key of G. It was fun looking through the repertoire. I hope you enjoy!

Please consider supporting St. Paul’s or a local church with such an outreach. They are not “closed” and still offer many opportunities for community. Many are struggling to see a way to fill the many needs. To donate to St. Paul’s, click here: https://www.stpauls-salinas.org/donationsdonaciones

St. Paul's Salinas

Class Material

what to learn next???

I am a life-long learner. I count learning as a hobby. I’m addicted to finding out new information. Yes, that means there’s always a pile of stuff to read, “small” projects to do, and entries on the calendar for talks, conversations, documentaries. Some people’s lives are never boring due to drama. My life is never boring due to curiosity. And yes, I do know curiosity can kill a cat. The older I get, the more things available on the internet, the less energetic I feel, the safer my days are. Honest!

I’ve been pulling together my Class Material for the Lace Museum series. Teaching is a sure-fire way for me to learn. I learned a great deal tatting the sample. I learned which point of the pattern my mind consistently wanders. Valuable information. I plan to pass that on during the weekend classes. Join us!

To register, visit the workshop page and scroll down about half way: tatting workshop

Full Speed Ahead! Avast!!! Ye mateys!

 

Fandango by Jane Eborall

I’m back to full speed. I’ve finished the tatting for the mat. I’ve finished a Fandango square to 4 rounds. I think I’ll stop there. I started it thinking I would send it to a yarn shop that wraps a tree. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.

If you haven’t signed up for the classes on the LaceMuseum’s website, hurry on over:

https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html

Time out

 I needed to take some time out the last few days. I did manage to get the edging for the mat very close to finishing. It was slow going as I didn’t want to take out any more mistakes. No, I’m not going to share! About the mistakes that is. I'll share a photo of the edging when it is blocked.

I will return to full speed by Thursday.

I know how to do that!

I'm big on self-talk.....

I try to teach by encouraging, not criticizing.....

I know how to do that!

 I have to keep telling myself that. 

I have a bad habit of seeing something in my brain or hearing something in my brain and before I can get the music in the air or the thread into lace, I talk myself out of trying. 

Perhaps that’s why I jumped at the chance to recreate the vintage mat in the collection at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale. It’s much easier for me to read the printed score or examine the tatted lace. At any rate, I’ve enjoyed the journey with this mat.

To register, follow this link to the Lace Museum: intermediate class

I’ve finished notating the pattern for the edging. To be clear, this is not the only way to tat a similar edging. It’s the path I saw and used tatting the example. Just a bit more and I’ll be able to block and sew it onto the fabric with the inset.

I also know how to do other “advanced and complicated” tatting techniques. I know how to wrap picots for a daisy picot. I know how to add beads. Just being able to claim that knowledge helps me to persist in learning how to couch and finish stitching the Elephant. Thank you to all those who are cheering me on! I will complete the projects!

Oh, and to register for the beginning class, follow this link: beginning class

Progress and a milestone

 

Maharajah's Elephant
designed by Mary Long

I completed more of the elephant. The next parts involve couching. I know enough to recognize the technique and the basics of how, but not enough to thread the needle and start stitching. So, I’ve asked for help.

I’ve also completed the second round of the edging. The final bit shouldn’t take long to tat. I know how to do that. Look for the promised picture on Thursday.

I blame the smoke

 I know it’s lame. Our air here hasn’t been as affected as other places in our County. I shouldn’t wine. But, it was bad enough the other day that I just didn’t accomplish much. So, not much to share here. I didn't find a picture I wanted to link to either. Photographs do not convey how wrong things look. I'm sure you can find a story from a reputable news source to read. 

Yesterday, the air at my nose level wasn’t bad. The upper atmosphere was very smoky. The orange tint to the sky upset the animals. If you’ve ever witnessed an eclipse of the sun, it was like that. For the whole day. The sun burned through a bit, but looked like the orange ball you see just before it drops below the horizon. Up over your head at mid-afternoon, it just looked “wrong” and creepy! I tried to keep busy. I keep working on the sample for the October classes. I’ll be sharing an in progress picture next week. I promise!

For today, I’ll be demonstrating an organ for visitors from out of town. We all will be wearing masks and staying a respectful distance apart. The room is large and airy. It will be fun to play a different organ. Yes, I love the Rodgers, but it’s still fun to play something different every once in a while.

I'm getting excited!

 The class is listed. Registration will open soon!!

Mar inset with corner of edging  

https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html (scroll down a bit)

Come have fun with us!

Boustrophedon

A common way of writing in stone in ancient Greece   Alternatelines of writing are flipped, or reversed, with reversed letters.

I came across this in my reading thisweek. In this Pandemic time, I resolved to learn more Bach (Fantasia BWV 572 for video see this post); finish a monster doily begun *ahem* several years ago; catalogue my music; etc. Oh, and learn more about teaching left-handed people to tat. Several veteran teachers have shared how they teach “lefties” and I have my own experiences to ponder. Because my right hand has suffered the most damage over the years, I try to learn new skills left-handed first, then if I just can’t manage, I try right-handed. I still write in my journal using my right hand as that’s not a *new* skill. J I was alerted to this article by Marjorie Mann written for Needle Arts (publication of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America. The series is on Left, Right, Up, Down, and Around in stitching. I found her insights very useful for teaching tatting.

In the second article of the series, Ms. Mann wrote of the concept of Boustrophedon in stitching. As she describes it, the stitcher economizes on thread by stitching “right-handed” one row, then “left-handed” the next row. In her opinion, the technique is both handedness neutral and handedness inclusive. I immediately saw that. It explains what I’ve observed watching a good friend stitch! Incidentally, weavers must learn to throw the shuttle with both hands. One learns which side is easier to keep a good selvage and keeps that in mind planning for the next warp.

So, shuttle tatting…..

In my opinion, lefties have an easier time learning the flip. They’re used to holding things in their right hand and moving them around. They have an easier time relaxing their left hand on command and usually find individual finger movements easier. I encourage a leftie to hold the shuttle however they feel comfortable. I’ve even encouraged trial tatting with me providing the hand with ring thread wrapped and ready. Only one person has decided they needed to hold the shuttle in their left hand. Taking the time to establish that made all the difference in the world for her!

It’s good to know the challenges stitchers face in handedness. I will be exploring boustrophedon in the future.

My motto: The knot doesn’t care how it’s made, the thread just wants to be lace!

Happy September!

With the start of a new month, I’m hopeful.

Hopeful I’ll finish my tatting projects.

Hopeful I’ll learn the music.

Hopeful I’ll regain my stamina.

Hopeful we’ll all be able to meet up soon.

Until then, stay safe and well.

New Music

I bought some new music yesterday! 

It feels fun to indulge in some retail therapy. What did I buy?

It is program music. In more ways than one. The composer based it on a poem from “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S.Eliot. She focused on Mr. Mistoffelees. Now, if you’re familiar with Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber, you will be hard pressed to consider the Overture by Rachel Laurin without prejudice. A bit like looking at tatting with cluny elements without thinking of a favorite trim or edging. The effort is worth it. She gives a table of some structural and musical characteristics related to the poem. I’m really looking forward to learning and performing this one!! Here’s a link to a performance that will have to suffice as a world premier in this time of COVID. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deD27fKCesc

And yes, I’ve already made some sketches of a tatting design I see when I consider Mr. Mistoffelees!

Replacements

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I would replace should I lose everything. It happens when the fires get close. You see pictures, talk to people, and realize you really should take care of details. I did take care of a few:

 - Updated my contact info with some of the family. Not that they didn’t have it, but I needed to remind them they are our contact from out of the area.

- Replaced the earring I lost. Back in February I lost one on a trip. I decided I really needed to tat the replacement. It would be much easier to pack a pair of earrings than to grab beads, shuttles, thread, scissors, beading needle, crochet hook, you get the idea!

- Cleared dead leaves and plants from around the house. This is an ongoing chore, but I pushed to complete as much as I could.

I’ve yet to take care of reviewing our household inventory to update pictures and to delete those pieces we’ve repurposed to new homes. I’ve yet to repack the current practice list of scores. I’ve yet to verify where certain information is. That last detail usually involves going to the bank. With the Pandemic restrictions in place, you need to make an appointment for that. I just haven’t thought it worth the bother. The fires don't wait for you to not procrastinate.

I’ll be glad when things settle back into a less stressful routine. Do you have a plan? Could you evacuate? At least take the time to gather important info. Here's to many more years of tatting......