Making progress

I think I have the stitch count correct on the sole of the baby bootie pattern. I like the way it looks in the variegated. I may need a bit more thread. I’ve used this colorway for quite a few projects.

I wonder if I can.....

So many of my tatting adventures start out that way. I get an idea for using thread to embellish something and then pick up the shuttles. I often don’t have a clear picture of what I need to tat. Most of the time I’m using a variation of a pattern I used for a previous project. Most of the time….

This is a limpet that I’ve had for awhile. I thought I would tat around in the Ice Drop style. This shell is just so sweet. I will need to tweak the pattern for the oval shape. Hmmm………

After a couple of false starts, I came up with this backing.

Not perfect, but I think it will do for this gift.

Now to complete the top portion.

A favorite

This is becoming my favorite pattern for cross bookmarks. It is Pernille from Tatted Bookmarks by Lene Bjorn. I’ve tatted this several times in several different threads. I even tried to use my 2-bobbin shuttle to make all the rings one color and the chains another color. That didn’t work out. I do enjoy how the colors pool when I use a variegated. This will be gifted to a special friend. 

Today is the day!

 Today is the day I lead another Orgelkids session. I don’t have enough time to let the group build, play, and un-build the organ. I will do my best to engage them.

I have been asked to bring the Orgelkids Do-organ to Fresno, CA and present it to the Music Teachers in 50 minutes. A challenge! Just 50 minutes. I’m sure there will be pianists there. I think I’ll even have a couple of organists. That makes things easier as I can move more quickly through the concepts. The vocabulary won’t be so foreign. Questions should be more specific and easier to answer. I'm sure they will want to play a bit, so the time will move very fast!

I’m really looking forward to it!

Building Blocks

 While tatting a portion of the booties pattern, I got to thinking about blocks. The wood blocks I played with as a child, the Lego blocks we still have from my childhood, and all the variations I saw in the lab at the Architecture school. Creating lace with a shuttle is a lot like creating objects with blocks.

Each ring and chain I tat can be part of a larger item. As I was tatting a ring, I forgot to put in a picot to use while joining the next ring to my new ring. Ooops. That picot serves much the same purpose as those thin Lego 4X1 blocks. Each block can be a part of a larger item.

I’d like to say that I realized my mistake BEFORE the ring was closed. I didn’t. I ended up picking up the scissors, letting out a big sigh, and snipping away. Time to pick up the blocks and remake that item!

I'm Grateful.....

 For where I live.

This is the view from the top of a hill near me. You can see the bell tower of Carmel Mission Basilica with the Pacific Ocean in the background. We started our 4+ mile hike at the beach. A short walk along the water with a short walk up the hill and voila.

I got back to the shuttles after a quick lunch. Still working on finishing those gifts. I blew one pattern completely and needed to start over.