Happy Easter!

 As a Church musician, that greeting always sounded trite to me. By the time Easter dawned, I was usually tired. The few days before then are always very busy and exhausting. Easter day is always very demanding for producing music at the highest level you possibly can manage. Think Super Bowl at Dawn. Happy? I usually felt nervous, anxious, pressured; all on top of feeling sleep deprived and weary. Happy? I will feel happy after all the family obligations are done and I can rest for a few hours.

My body didn’t hold up to that stress. I landed on the injured bench, not the organ bench. I couldn’t push using mind over matter well enough to produce the expected excellence.

But, could I fill the world with beauty? Yes.

Could I inspire others to create beauty? Yes.

I just had to figure out a way.

I’m fortunate in that I have the means and opportunity to figure that out. I found a way to express my love of organ music without overusing my hands so much I couldn’t preform daily tasks. Happy Easter? Yes. Happy. If I stay focused and don’t let others bully me into entertaining them in THEIR desire for the perfect Easter.

Recycling

 You know I AM the Queen of Repurpose, right? If an object can be repurposed, I’ll tuck it away until I find a use for it. Boxes, Bags, Leftover thread, Abandoned tatting, Paper printed on only 1 side……

you get the idea.

One year I bought Christmas cards that came in a big, flat box. I store my doily/snowflakes in it. Another of the boxes found their way home to my stash in a later year. It now helps keep my shuttles organized between tatting session when I tat a Helix sample:

I can see many, many uses for the cord that I create. Starting with finishing this Wee Project. Maybe a lanyard for something. I like how I can do this as I listen to other things. The box isn’t as portable as my bag, but I decorated the lid to make sure people didn’t throw it out if I set it down somewhere. Or maybe they’d try to use it for pizza?

BTW, I do donate some things. Others that are past reuse are recycled if possible, at curb side. Not much goes away until someone else can treasure it or reuse it. I enjoy it all!!

Time for tea

 

I finished this sample yesterday. I’m not fond of the thread. It’s size 30 crochet cotton 3-ply. I intended this to be just a trial of the technique as I’ve several ideas for lace representing counterpoint. 

I like designs by Martha Ess. Her written patterns are clear and easy to work from. Her designs are well thought out and fun to create. Now it’s time to try out my design ideas using techniques she creates with. A very tall order!

Ready for finishing

 When the scissors come out to cut the thread after the final stitch of a project, I always sigh. What comes next depends on the project.

Most tatting projects finish with cutting, tying, hiding, and blocking. Sometimes I’ll mount the lace onto a piece of fabric, add findings so that we can wear the lace or frame the lace. Other times I just let it sit on a table or throw it into a box to enjoy later.

I have come to that decision point with the Wee Project designed by Freda Murfin. What do I want to do with it? I rather like how the colors play together. I could make it into a coaster. I could create a pillow with the square as the center of a design. I could add a hanger loop to enjoy it in a window. What to do???

I took time to experiement

 Once a month I attend a meeting of stitchers as part of the EGA (Embroiderer’s Guild of America) in the next town over the hill. I don’t stitch as much as I tat. I am keeping focused on my primary goal of creating tatting based on musical compositions. I really am. But, I like to learn from other fiber artists and this group has taught me so much!

Currently, we’re playing with Wee Project from Freda’s FancyStitching designed by Freda Murfin. It’s a small canvas work piece. I’ve enjoyed working the design. Best of all, I’ve been able to use up bits and such from my stash. I’m all about repurposing remember? Here’s a picture of my version so far:

I think I’ll add a background and some beads. I think it needs a bit more red thread too. More later…..

Christmas in March

 I’ve been sifting through boxes and bags of “stuff” that several creative people want to pass on to people learning to stitch and tat and crochet and knit. Some of the items will need some creativity to reuse. Some are past repair and thus not usable, some are just waiting for hands to get busy. I will keep some of the items. Including some of these books!

Here's to a wonderful year!

 

I finished tatting and blocked my dragon. I enjoyed tattingthe pattern. Thank you Anne!!

I hope everyone has prosperity and happiness.