It needed beads

 

As I mulled over what edging to put on this ornament (it’s supposed to be suspended from the center like a bell), I thought the stiff fabric would drape better with beads weighing down the edge. I chose yellow to tie in the “leaves” in the Blackwork section. It does. Now I need to puzzle out what to do on those corners……

This is what is next

 

I’ve been working on this small piece for a bit of time. I had stalled because it didn’t feel right. The cloth felt so heavy. It’s lugana*and is well made, just heavier than I like to work with. I’ve decided it’s because of the fiber content of this particular piece of lugana. Mind you, I may be way off base; I’m still getting familiar with the possibilities for stitching.

Anyway, I’ve decided that this square needs a tatted edging. I hope you’re not surprised. I’ve sketched out a couple of options. Now to pick up the shuttles and tat samples to confirm stitch count.

* lugana is a heavy, soft even weave fabric. The fabric I’m working with is equivalent to 14 count Aida. 

I'm playing

 No not another small concert. Not even a service, although I’ve been contacted to sub for someone who came down with COVID. I’m not recording anything either.

I’m playing with fiber. Perhaps because of my background in music and my love of libraries, the ordering of different types of weaving has always captured my attention. Most weavers don’t trouble about it all, they just enjoy creating. Sigh. Would that I could turn off the brain and enjoy to that extent! After several years, I think I understand the structure of weaving. I still don’t understand why some cloth is considered “complex” and other is not (what is it considered????). I still don’t understand well enough to name the structure of a threading/type-up. But, I think I understand enough to say what structure I’m drawn to. (No surprise to tatters) I am drawn to the structure of weave like Huck. Here’s an example:

 (Here’s a good article by a fellow lace lover. https://handwovenmagazine.com/the-lure-of-lace/)

Lots of negative space. That is more important than color or combinations of texture. Negative space rules!

Kinda like tatting……

I’m still playing with adding the heart to the cross stitch for some pop and texture.

I’m still playing with Venetian Picots and Vapour Stitch along with block tatting because negative space….Incidently, if you love block tatting, check out progress on Endrucks study.

I’m having to budget my time though; all of my students are continuing with lessons during the summer months. I’m not surprised. Each of them is taking lessons for a different reason. I’ll be continuing to refresh my memory on Music Therapy principles. Unfortunately, none of the teachers in my local area who attend the networking meetings of the MTAC & AGO are MusicTherapy specialists. A little like the weavers in my area enjoy weaving and creating without worrying about cataloguing and organizing. I may just have to find myself some workshops!

Life is getting complicated

 As we navigate post pandemic event schedules, I’ve found that life is complicated now. I have confidence that we’ll all find a way to be a community together. I’m still not sure what that will look like on the calendar, nor what it will feel like. I know one thing:

I will tat and create and enjoy!

Just in case you don’t feel like you’re in a fantasy land, I’m sharing pictures of real and fake plants:

Can you figure out which photo is not of a live thing?

I refuse to be seduced by Nostalgia

 From Eva Suarez: if seduced by nostalgia, “a person can fail to pay attention to the opportunities of the present” and also fail to anticipate a brighter future.

I like happy memories. I like dreaming of the future. I like seizing opportunities. I must remember to keep from sounding like a broken recording of nostalgia. I think I can do that.

I continue to work on those big projects. Not much to snap a picture of. I will also begin applying to teach workshops and classes in 2023. I will because we must begin again. Even if I end up canceling again, I must dream.

Legacy

 I have quite a few “newsletters” drop into my mailbox each month. I’d like to paraphrase the first line of this newsletter (EGA blog): Every time we take up our craft, we carry on a legacy.

Every time I slide onto the bench and start up the blower motor, I keep organ music alive.

Every time I load a shuttle, I keep tatting alive.

But, is it enough?

I’ve come to the conclusion that just doing isn’t enough. We must teach, put the materials into the hands of those around us, encourage learning complete with mistakes and successes, and most important, we must communicate.

I promise to finish my Ukraine SAL with my design variation. Some will consider my version a mistake as I am not staying true to the designer’s version. Some will consider my version silly as I am adding tatting. If you go to the link above and scroll down the page, you will see several versions. I like how some of these versions will be visible in public. That will help people find a way to support each other.  I will finish.

NB What constitutes a newsletter has changed quite a bit. Now, it can be a marketing pitch, gossip session, calendar reminder, random thoughts, or just a way to say hello. I think that’s good. I’ve had to change how I file newsletters. That’s good too. For me, the bottom line is that we communicate; as groups, as individuals, as businesses, and communities.

When all else fails....

Try it out.

I picked up the SAL of Ukranian ilk. The more I work on it, the more I feel sure. So, just to be sure, I tried on the heart for size:

I think it works.