I am a musician (organ) and a tatter (shuttle mostly) living in California. I have dreamed of combining both of these passions.
I’m continuing to work out the design for Piece d’Orgue BWV 572 . I’ve completed a good portion of the pattern. The next part has puzzled me quite a bit. The music is full 5 voice chord progressions wandering around several different key centers. I think the ticket is to use TDS developed by Ninetta Caruso. I like that it looks so similar both from the front and from the back.
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| TDS from the back |
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| TDS from the front |
This summer I will be staying local. There is more than enough activity to keep me occupied, refresh my creativity, and inspire new ideas.
I’ll be attending Carmel BachFestival. I help by donating a tatted piece for their fundraiser. I’ll be attending the convention of the Music Teacher’s Association of California. I help by staffing a booth for our local Chapter of American Guild of Organists. I’ll continue to teach. My adult students have really been stretching themselves in theory, composing, and designing. I know I should block in a vacation. It will be busy and exciting and fun!
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| Wiosna 2025 to Round 5 by Renulek |
I finished Round 5
of the Spring Doily Renulek created for us. I liked tatting it a lot. I’ve just
not been focusing on it lately. So, I finally have this part done.
I paused actually
tatting yesterday to pick what I wanted the next few rounds to look like. I
will use the dark brown thread. Maybe a bit of the variegated too. Once I get
the next two rounds done, I’ll decide where to add beads.
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| Balloon Dog Doodle by Sarah Nielson |
What to do with a couple of yards of thread? Create a doodle. This came up in our Study Group yesterday. I had great fun tatting!
I’ve fixed the bungled join I shared in the last post. I haven’t yet finished the Round.
I’m still tweaking
the stitch count in my design.
I’m still sorting
through all the stash I was asked to distribute. I did share some really cute
little crocheted treasure chests. I think one Grandma will make some
Granddaughters very happy.
Yesterday afternoon
I sat down with some bits and pieces of size 5 Pearl cotton and a fun canvas
design. After a few minutes of sorting out what looks good with what, I came up
with these colors for the project. The original design calls for 5 different
colors. I couldn’t help but throw in a few more!
One lapse of
concentration and look what happened. I’ve been working on this in the evenings
after I finish my goal in other projects. I won’t have a problem untatting the
chain. I think I can convince the picot to let me open the ring enough to pick
out the last DS of the ring. I’ll be looking at this when I have the afternoon
light coming in the study windows. There’s one more repeat and then round 5will be finished.
I’m often asked, “How do I block?”
That’s usually just
after the student notices the lace isn’t looking particularly tidy and
symmetrical. I will generally hasten to say something along the lines of
blocking is not mandatory, but it helps a great deal. Yes, I even block my 3-dimensionalpieces.
Just polar grid templates that help me square up my lace. Since they’re plastic, I can lay damp tatting on them without fear of the printer ink coming off on my thread. They won’t stand heat, so no ironing is allowed. I figure they’re large enough to handle most snowflakes and the ever critical first few rounds of larger doilies. I’ll be using them frequently.
It’s April. That means Carmel Bach Festival preparation is well under way. The Season Passes are just about sold out. The applications for Art of Music items have been sent out. Some artists have already returned their form. (I’m one!) I’ve brochures for my students to look through. Most of them prefer to look at the onlineversion. I’m still a paper kinda girl.
With all that, it’s
time for me to finalize a design to tat up. I’m still leaning to BWV 572.
I will be celebrating with local tatting friends this year. Several are new to tatting and I’m trying to adhere to the KISS principle. I will mention how many people tat around the world; perhaps the tablet will be showing websites and blogs of tatted lace from overseas. I always leave a few books out for them to browse for their next challenge; those books will be published outside of English-speaking territory. My focus will be on what they are creating. Each tatter has adopted a slightly different method of producing DS. All the lace is lovely. We will be celebrating!
