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