Poignancy

 Over the last few days, I have been spending my tatting time sorting through a pile of “stuff” given to me after a house was cleared due to the owner passing away. Sifting through your own unfinished projects can be emotionally draining, so I understand wanting a stranger to do so. Most of the items are supplies erring on the thread side. This creative person organized their embroidery floss into a binder neatly labeled with DMC color number. Not a whole skein, just a sample. I’ll be using it myself to dip my toe into thread painting.

What I figure shouldn’t (ahem) be added to my stash will go to a friend for her work with schools and fiber arts. She’s so creative and really, really good at unleashing the creativity in others. Nothing will be chucked before the creative potential is thoroughly explored.

May we all find time to explore creatively.

What sets you back on track?

 Ever get the feeling you’ve wandered off the trail and are crashing through the underbrush? Your progress towards your destination slows, you may even lose your direction, or you realize you’re standing in poison oak in the fall. Life has a way of happening, doesn’t it?

Well, last week I lost the trail and found myself in the middle of a thicket of errors.

This week?

I’ve found the trail. I figured out what needs to happen to finish off the doily with lots of beads. I should have pictures soon.

In the meantime, I took a moment to enjoy sunrise and walk by the Bay.

It's all wrong!

Warning: this post is created by Miss Grumpy.

My efforts with shuttle have produced a mess. My efforts with needles have produced knots. My efforts with marketing my teaching have produced snarky. My efforts at organizing my house have produced piles of boxes.

Sigh!!

But…..

I like organ music because it is innovative: you pick your stops based on criteria that changes with each instrument.

I like tatting because it is innovative: there is no “right” way to create the lace.

I like living in a historic home because it is innovative: when a component is no longer manufactured, or custom built how many years ago, you must create a new way.

When you innovate, you make mistakes.

Maybe my mistakes will yield a new innovative way to ???????

At the very least Miss Grumpy needs to leave so I can enjoy life!

Tree ornament with Rhodes

 

I know I shared a photo of this already, but……

So here’s how I finished the ornament:

I cut 2 pieces of white felt to use as padding and backing

I cut a piece of blue tissue paper (didn’t have felt in a nice shade of blue to use)

I sewed the felt to the canvas with the tissue paper backing the canvas

I twisted some crochet thread to create the cord and sewed it on leaving space to tack in the ribbon to use in hanging.

I’m sorely tempted to tat an edging to use also. Maybe it’s because I like the way Ice Drops looks on the tree. I recommend a fabric rather than felt. When I did a test fit on a live tree, the felt made it difficult to hang the ornament carefully. I will likely use a different thread to create the cord for the next ornament. The crochet thread doesn’t have enough sheen to the fiber. I like sparkle.

I am of an age

 This post has no music, no lace, and is rambling. There! You’ve been warned!!!

I am of an age to remember a girl in my town who had suffered paralysis from polio. The adults admonished us to be nice to her. Other adults clucked their tongues and mourned she would never marry.  Thanksgiving was always expressed that she didn’t die. You don’t forget that.

I am of an age to remember getting a polio vaccine with the rest of my class in school. It was terrifying! The dose was delivered with a tool that sounded like a miniature pneumatic nail gun. We were lined up along the side of the room after moving the desks to clear space. I knew one of the nurses from the church choir. She was trained on the battlefield….literally. She never lost her bark. They marched into the classroom. There was no privacy, no coddling. One nurse rolled your sleeve up for you; the next nurse wiped down your arm with a swab; then the final nurse delivered the poke. The boys bragged they didn’t cry. The girls whimpered. The teachers shushed us and directed us to sit at our desks with our hands folded until all was calm.

I am of an age to remember and take action. My first action each day: prayers of gratitude that I live when and where I do with the gifts I have been given.

Remember

Rhodes on ornament

 

The stitches worked in blue thread are Rhodes stitches. I couldn’t help thinking about Rhodes scholars when I was stitching this. There is lots of counting and double checking to do with this pattern. I felt like my brain had got a workout when I finished. It was fun to add the pearls. 

Next up: a Christmas tree pattern with beads to mimic ball ornaments and lights.

Nothing to see here.....

 Shhhh…….

I’m working on big projects…….

Like skylights, window coverings, and lots and lots of dusting.

When I do sit down with my shuttles, I’m working on the first 2 movements of the Saint-Saens. It’s been awhile, and I thought I should finish off the design.

Still adding beads

 The doily with a ton of beads is still on the shuttles. There’s 22 repeats in this round. Each repeat has about 6 beads that need to be added at a join, so it’ll be slow going.

Add to that, I’ve been helping to get our house to the next stage of remodel.

So, soon I’ll be getting back to the designing phase of my tatting life.

Stay safe and healthy!

Interwoven Picot Medallion finished

Interwoven Picot Medallion by Cajah Reed

Thank you Cajah Reed for sharing your wonderful pattern. And thank you IOLI for publishing it in the Bulletin. I had fun adding beads to the outer round!

Next up is finishing another doily with lots and lots of beads!!