Shiny

 

I’m supporting a friend who is job searching. She’s easily distracted while looking at websites as she works as a Web Designer. My role is to hold her accountable for “shiny time” and celebrating “job hunt time” as she scrolls through all those job listings! I’m fortifying myself with chocolate!

I’m still exploring different fibers. I wanted to compare the two of the metallic threads I’ve used in the past. The one in the middle is what  LizMetallic looks like, the smallest at the bottom is Beading thread that is waxed I think, the top one is DMC Metallic. Since the DMC has rayon, it handled differently from the rest. I would love to know how the Beading thread is spun and finished. Anyway, the shiny distracted me!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled tatting/practice!!

My Fantasia has begun

 Remember this design idea?

I’ve been poking at learning the piece. I find it harder to learn such music as I get older. I vow to keep trying though! Just don’t ask for a recording…..

Spinning Wheel Glass Mat
Designed by Mary Konior

I will be adapting this wonderful pattern to use as the center of the doily. The final section of the Fantasia has short runs going up through the hands. This spinning row idea is just the ticket!

Now for the idea for the middle section of music…….

Canon

 Canon - Noun derived from a Greek word meaning "rule" Definition at this link

Talk to a musician about hearing a canon and you get one definition of the word. #7 of the definition entry in the link above.

Talk to a philologist about seeing a canon and you get a different definition. #2 definition

Talk to a historian about what a canon is and you get yet a different definition. #4 difinition

I’ve been thinking a lot about the word lately. Lately, when I show up to work, the building is empty, really empty. The old joke is if you shot a cannonball through the pews, it wouldn’t hit anything. I choose music to play with care. Not always from the Canon of organ literature I was exposed to and learned in college. Sometimes I play canons…or fugues. Sometimes I play new works that haven’t yet been accepted into the Canon.

So, what about my tatting work?

What is the Canon of tatting? What pattern must everyone, who wants to say they can tat, must learn to tat? As a teacher of tatting skill, I try to choose patterns with care. You what is the hardest part? Patterns that look interesting are almost always too difficult for the student. So, I start with simple rings only patterns (JoAnn Stearns Dove, Butterflies are Free, Hen and Chicks) and progress to simple chain and rings (like the body part of the fox bookmark, any number of earring patterns) so that students can not only learn to tat, but learn to pick out patterns to work on next and to create lace they like. Will my suggestions come from the Canon of tatting? Probably. Will other teachers use the same patterns? Maybe. Bottom line: Enjoy making lace!

Fox marks the Spot

 That title is not original. More than one person made that pun. I think it fits!

Thank you Jane Eborall for such a fun way to start a New Year!! I always enjoy your Tat It And See!!!

Here’s my finished critter looking forward to marking a place in a book. Right now I’m reading my current magazine issues. Maybe a fox would like to look at new organs installed in places around the world? We shall see……

Preparing is exciting

 

I’m in the last throws of preparing for the round of classes hosted by the Lace Museum. I always feel a bit giddy and definitely excited as I pull together the materials. Today I’ll refresh my camera skills and make sure the computer will still play with the webcam the way I want it to. I know, I know, it’s software... not a kid. But for something that stays still, there are a lot of “moving” parts!! I’ll be ready Saturday for sure!

Our game with Jane’s TIAS is taking shape. It’s definitely a critter of some sort…..

Monday Start

 Some calendars start with a Monday start to the week. Other calendars start with Sunday. Me, I prefer Monday.

Why? Because when I’m playing a service on Sunday morning, my practice time for a piece generally trails off after that Sunday morning. Also, I have come to use Sunday afternoon to plan and set up for the next week or month. That’s when I am collected enough to not get too distracted and side-tracked. Oh, and there’s the habits I established of cleaning and clearing up after the rest of the family went back to their “day jobs” of school/office. So, I start on Monday.

Yesterday, I started…..nothing new. Perhaps that is why I was grumpy this morning! Well, it could also be because I’ve lost the last bit of Jane’s TIAS I completed. We’re to add to it for Day 14. I may have to find 3 more beads and tat a second Part II. Grrr. Perhaps the ceramic Axolotl ate it. I wouldn’t trust that grin!

Creativity

 Recently, I came across a quote I can get behind: “Creativity flourishes not in certainty, but in questions.” Now, if I told you who is quoted, you will immediately have assumptions that I don’t consider relevant to this blog post. Allright, I’ll tell you who later.

Let it suffice to say that the quote spoke to me because I always tell my students, and myself, that if I’m making mistakes, I’m learning. It’s when I make the same mistake repeatedly that I really need to pay attention and correct the mistake.

Part of that process is trying new skills, techniques, and well….ideas.

Another part of that process is repetition.

And the final part is critiquing your creative output. My adventure with the Dissent necklace is still ongoing. I asked for a critique from a highly respected designer. She pinged me on some obvious points. I was a bit embarrassed as I know to finish a piece better than I did. I was just too excited to share my creativity. Other points she made I hadn’t considered. For that I am very grateful. My adventure will continue….

With questions.

Honing skills in 2021

I’ve been on an adventure in fiber lately. Nothing new, I know, but this adventure is designed (pun intended) to stretch my tatting skills. I prefer tatting in tight twist cotton. I have tatted in paracord, and boucle yarn. I decided to tat using a silk/bamboo yarn.

That’s the larger butterfly. The smaller butterfly is size 10. I tried several different movements of shuttle with the yarn. Some paths worked better than others. I tried tatting using my trusty size 5 needle. That worked, but again, I needed a different technique.

Now, if I channel Muskaan, I would meticulously post about it all. I’m not up to that task. Muskaan, you have the stage.

 I’ve decided to pull together my thoughts, observations, and recommendations for a future class. If you’re signing in to the Tatting Tuesday group, you’ll get the preview. If you are interested, but not part of the study group, watch the class listings on the Lace Museum website. I hope they’ll be interested in sponsoring a class exploring these fiber options.