Fantasia idea almost done and dusted

With the coming of Easter, and securing a vaccine appointment, I have been able to return to the design folder. I began this pattern idea in 2020. The center fell into place nicely. The middle section is sketched out. The outer round needs a bit of tweaking. Now to tat a sample with all 3 ideas connected into one piece of lace.

I think I’m closer to performing the piece than completing the design!

Time is marching on

Changes are afoot. I am beginning preparations for a new tatting class series (online only right now). No dates yet, but I think it will be exciting. I need to narrow down the possible pattern: edging for the mat from the Museum collection, edging for your fabric mask, earrings, door decoration in para-cord, cover for ornament, etc.

I’ve also decided I really must complete some of the projects for the house that I started too long ago to admit. That will involve a sewing machine. So, I must organize that part of the house. No, I won’t be sharing pictures! Well, maybe.

I’ll be reminding myself of this story when I get discouraged: 3 years to clean and reinstall the grand orgue in Notre Dame. I won’t take 3 years. Honest.

Oh, and time was extended last weekend. The bidding for the Art Auction to support Carmel Bach Festival will close tomorrow at 3 PM Pacific (11 PM GMT) . I hope whoever wins my piece will let me know. Maybe they’ll even send a picture to me. Well, one can hope.

Class pictures

In case you haven’t noticed, I love it when tatters learn new tricks! Here are pictures of the pattern we looked at last weekend:

Inset tatted by Natalie Rogers

Inset tatted by Joyce Martin

 Just 3 more days left in the auction. I do hope people are bidding. I’m sure some of the artists are confident their pieces will sell for a tidy sum. Me, I just hope someone enjoys my piece for many, many years to come.

Art of Music Raffle

I’m adding to a common refrain today: support artists and musicians who have not been able to earn money.

Each July, in Carmel California, musicians gather to create a special Festival centered on the music of JS Bach. Heaven for this organist. Brigadoon for many of the fabulous musicians arriving from all over the world. The quality of vocal music and caliber of musicianship is so high it often takes my breath away. And I’ve heard some of the best in my time.

To help fund this yearly event, the community gets creative. Artists join in. There is an application process and the pieces are donated, with most of the artists living here really enjoying participating. It’s definitely fun to see what is inspired by the music we hear! Previously, the art was hung in the gallery at the main performance space: Sunset Center. This year, the show is presented via the main website: bachfestival.org

Above is my humble piece. I knew it would be difficult to photograph well. I like how the photographer captured the colors. The short description: I tatted 4 elements to be displayed on an ovoid ornament. The swirls of color represent the musicians and the audience. The rest is inspired by the Sunset Center hall: the gray by the lighting structure, the red by the seats and the beige by the marvelous stone floor of the lobby. I chose not to fill the ornament as I look forward to a future when we will gather together again to celebrate music and art and Carmel and….

Please consider bidding on any of the artwork, especially Ornamentation. Please support the musicians and artists as much as you are able. Please continue to celebrate Bach. There are videos offered daily on the Festival website to keep everyone in touch and inspire audiences and musicians.

July in the Pandemic Age

Well, our County is back on hold. For 3 weeks we’ll be hunkering down again. I am not surprised in the least. Our little corner of Paradise is a frequent R&R spot. People in relax mode aren’t as careful as they are at home. And when the wind kicks up every afternoon, it’s hard to remember masks do help. Anyway, I’ll be focusing on remote teaching, designing new patterns, and promoting tatting when and where I can.

Here’s the commercial for today:

The Lace Museum is putting together more on line classes. My tatting class will be part of the excellent line up of all things lace. I’ll be focusing on basic skills, skills needed for pattern such as the vintage mat in the Museum collection, and where to use all the tatted treasures.

Our Tatting Tuesday Study Group is meeting each week. We are a low stress group. You bring your projects in progress, we celebrate the successes, and support the quest for solutions. The first visit is free, membership in the Carmel Crafts Guild allows for regular attendance. We meet in the afternoon. Come when you can, leave when you must. For information, inquire on the Guild website, or leave a comment (which will remain private).

The Art of Music auction to support Carmel Bach Festival will be starting soon. There will be links available soon to view the pieces up for raffle, buy tickets, and dream of how the art will look wherever you enjoy Bach!

Back to the regular schedule of tatting adventures!

What makes your tatting art?

The question arose again as I told a friend about my donation piece. I have no authority like a degree or financial success to argue that my lace is “art” or even that it is not a “craft” to be relegated to various pigeon holes. In my quest for trying to talk about what I do, I’m usually reading something about music or art. I’m currently trying to read a Google Books version of Eye of the Painter by Andrew Loomis. The author makes a distinction between “pretty art” and beautiful art. He talks of the difference between commercial art and fine art. Of course, this method is focused on painting only. He even says something can be pleasing as in a piece of embroidery or a design on wallpaper, but not really art. My reaction: Sigh!

My tatting strives to get people to think. About music, about how things can look, about remembrances of what they have heard. I hope it is pleasing to the eye. I hope it can be displayed in a home or office. I hope it stretches what people recognize as lace just a bit. Is it “art” or just…..?

I’ve decided I will create. For me. For the odd person who likes my ideas. I’ll leave the designation of “art” to others who seem more inclined to argue and parse than to enjoy.

Bottom line: Support the arts. Put in a ticket for my piece in the Fundraiser (link when it opens) and enjoy music represented in lace.

Turn in time

It’s time to turn it in: my donation piece to raise money for Carmel Bach Festival. As always, no pictures of the piece you can bid on, but here’s a small portion: 

Pictures of the full piece will be taken by a professional and posted when the show opens. I’ll be sharing links soon.

History really does matter

Those of you who follow this blog regularly know that Ialways keep one eye turned to what has been done before.  You also may have noted that I do not insist on any one particular method of tatting, not one particular method of learning music. Since the history of tatting has been obscured through time, and no two organs are alike, I don’t spend a lot of time on how to, I just try to focus on results and what works this particular time. Lest you wonder, I am highly critical of my own efforts. I record myself regularly when practicing, photograph my tatting from all angles, and seek out comments from those who know and from those who have never experienced the process. I may not have strict methods, but I operate on the knowledge that details matter. That’s where History comes in.

I feel we must know from where we come so that we can focus our energies and resources on what will matter in the future. It’s exciting to me to find out what other people have created. Sometimes I don’t like it. Sometimes I can’t get enough. So, I spend quite a bit of time listening tomusic, visiting museums, reading and watching and soaking it up. I hope that those efforts are not just wasted time, but the chance to discover what someone has found important. All that is to say, I don’t have pictures of what I’ve been tatting, I don’t have videos or sound clips of my organ playing, lately I’ve been playing with a lot of ideas.

I will share a link to a rather fun look at an organ competition: https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/videos/pipe-dreams/

This is a 55 minute show following several young organists as they compete in an International Competition in Canada. You’ll see a wide variety of organs, although nothing is shared about the individual instruments. You’ll see a wide variety of backgrounds, although nothing is shared about where the young people are now. You’ll hear a wide variety of music, although most of the clips are just highly edited snippets. 

If you want more, you’ll need to spend a fair amount of time on Youtube and other surfing. Since this competition is held every 3 years, you’ll have lots of time before the next one. In the meantime, please seek out local musicians and artists whether or not they enter competitions. We’re starting to get back to doing what we do best.

What fun!

This is part of the design idea I’ve had for a while. Not sure how I’ll use it, but it was just so much fun to create! I’m considering tatting a pair of earrings using this idea. But, what colors?

Another group of tatters loose on the world!

I had fun! And all tatters accomplished something. The most experienced student completed a study in thread size. The tatter who has been tatting just 6 months completed almost the entire pattern. She added beads in the center parts. Her choice of colors worked nicely too. The other 3 students came away with successful rings and chains. I can’t wait to see what else they create.

Celebrating those successes has made it easier to ignore the ugly in the world. Illness has not touched anyone I know personally, but the violence has touched where a friend works. He was “blindsided” as he and his family were unplugging to enjoy some R & R. I pray that his rest isn’t “left undone” for long. We will need all good leaders in the next few days.

I’ve also been immersing myself in a new design. I’ve almost completed a test tat. No pictures until the auction starts. That should be in July. More info, like how to buy tickets, as the time approaches.

A design idea during Shelter in Place

The last few years, June has always been an exciting month. It’s been my custom to create a piece to donate to Art of Music to raise money for the Carmel Bach Festival. Like all public events in 2020, things will be different this year. Even my design process has changed. I typically pick a composition that the Festival features and base my design on that musical work. Without the buzz of music being prepared, I was coming up with a blank. It was suggested that I try to evoke the unique events of 2020. I wasn’t coming up with a way to tat a COVID-19 virus. I wasn’t drawn to the colors that are typically used in graphics of said bug. I even contemplated asking the musicians for suggestions.

So far, this is all I have: a central ring with 19 points for joining rings of 20 stitches.

If it will be foolish to stand shoulder to shoulder to enjoy the Festival, we must find other ways to tell the world music matters. These rings that tightly encircle a central ring will have to do. Please find a way to say music matters in our world turned upside down by this virus.

Mark your Calendars

Announcing a virtual workshop:  May 25-29, 2020 Tatting with Melanie.

Register through the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, CA For a copy of the flyer click: Here

This will not replace the in person workshop that was to be held in April. I will offer an in-depth look at Sonata (BWV 1034) along with tips and tricks. If you are a beginner, do not fear! There will be plenty of time to help you learn to tat.

Announcing a virtual Art Auction starting July 18, 2020 and extending through August.

This Art of Music Raffle online will replace the show in the Marjorie Evans Gallery. I will miss the Festival concerts this year. I know the staff continues to work to bring music through the other programs the Festival sponsors and staffs. I hope my small piece of tatting will help to raise funds during this difficult time. More information as the time approaches.

My final event is one you, and only you, can decide what it will be. I encourage each of us to continue to create each day. Sit down with your instrument and play music. Sit down with your pencil or computer and compose. Sit down with your thread, needle, or shuttle and create lace. Share what you create. We can make this crazy world a better place!

Phantasy

That’s what I’m leaning towards for the name of this year’sBach Festival Art Auction donation. I try to come up with a specific art piece based on a specific composition. This year, I’m inspired by Phantasy by RalphVaughan Williams. The background for his inspiration is intriguing. He composed it as a challenge to himself. That's what artists do. Challenge themselves to create art. How successful each artist is will always be discussed and even argued about. For this piece, I’m using a traditional embellishment technique for the background behind the tatted piece. The Bach Festival does a fabulous job pulling together programs that help us understand how and why the music has been composed and performed. I hope my piece is successful in expressing this grounding in the past while creating something new. I’m excited to pull all these separate facets together.

We're still Sheltering in Place. I feel so fortunate that we are where we are. Not that we're trying to keep from getting sick. Just that we have the resources to live comfortably while keeping out of harm's way. I'm old enough to remember drills for Armegeddan in small fallout shelters. We have it much better right now.

In the meantime, I'm designing and tatting and redesigning and retatting. For breaks, I’ve learned two more stitches for the Elephant canvas; now to finish that part of the stitching. I’ve dusted off some music that I imagine will be needed for services in the next few months. Jon Yusoff has named her Challenge Doily Thread that Binds. I’m starting Round 5 of my second attempt. I didn’t pay close enough attention the first time I tatted Round 3 and 4. I’ll post a picture soon. We’re progressing on our Spring Cleaning to End All Spring Cleaning. And of course our walks.

Application for Shuttlebirds Tatting Workshop and Retreat is in

I’ve stepped off the edge AGAIN!

I turned in my application to teach at Shuttlebirds in Idaho next May. That will make the spring very busy. What have I committed to?

Singing/playing during Lent (Holy week in 2020 is April 5-11)

Teaching at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale (April 18-19, 2020)

Walking 5K in the Big Sur Marathon (April 26, 2020)

With the Workshop/Retreat in Idaho (April 30-May 3, 2020), that will make those weeks quite a flurry of activity! Truth be told, I just couldn’t resist a Carnival!

So, if you want to get away right after Easter for an in depth weekend looking at Sonata, contact Kim at the Museum.

If you want to walk or run along the edge of the Pacific, register now!

If my application is chosen, I’d be pleased to meet up in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest for a tatting party. Just bookmark here and watch for registration to open.

Grab those shuttles and join in the fun! Mmmmm maybe I should have something on the shuttles I can tat while walking in April………

Ready for Play

It is my custom to review what I do each day, each week, each month, each quarter……… You get the idea. I need to know I’m making progress, making the world a better place, meeting my goals…….

BWV 549 by Melanie Cervi

June, on that list, looks like one big celebration! When you glance at my blog posts, you see posts that seem to be wrapped up in just one project. I really was involved in more than that! Really!! (BWV 549)

Sonata by Melanie Cervi

(Sonata) July, on that list, looks like one big concert!Lots of listening and writing, not much tatting or playing. I did play organ several times. I set the date for my workshop in Sunnyvale.

August wasn’t so positive. The organ went on the blink. The snowflakes went missing. I played a lot, so the hands have been limping along. I’m determined to end with a more positive week!

Yesterday, I spent most of the day preparing for the concert at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salinas on Friday. Today, I’ll wrap up that preparation and work on repairing the organ. Tomorrow, I’ll be finishing my in-progress samples for the classes at Tat Days. (My classes are listed about half way down the page.) And Saturday is the last day of August! Whew!!

I'll be ready for some Play Time in September............

Carmel Bach Festival 2019 is completed.

Now back to my regularly scheduled life.

No seriously, I do love the Festival, but I’ve not been keeping up with the rest of my life. I have a concert to play Friday that needs more practice…..yesterday! I have 3 workshops to prepare for by Tat Days…..this week! I have a house to clean and guests to prepare for in 2 weeks. Oh, and there’s the 2 sub jobs I have to prepare for. Fair entries to get ready for display. Lots to complete.

 I think I’ll take a walk by the Bay first……

Mark your Calendars

April 18-19, 2020

Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, California USA

I will be teaching a 2 day workshop. The pattern focus will be Sonata. I designed this after being introduced to it through Bach Festival. The basis is part of a vintage pattern. Since Bach lifted much of his thematic ideas from several other composers, and many designers use vintage patterns as a spring board, I dove in. It’s been fun to tat and to teach this design. I will also spend time on techniques to make tatting these designs easier, embellishing adding thread and beads, and display techniques.

To register, please contact the lace museum. Flyers should be ready by the weekend so the web page should be current within a week or so. Limit is 12 attendees. A $25 deposit will hold your spot!

If you’re in the area, you may have enjoyed their lace making demonstration as part of Hiller Air Museum’s Steampunk Extravaganza. Wonderful outreach!

Where I am.....

Disaster almost struck! The Marjorie Evans gallery at Sunset Center where the Art Auction items are displayed is a wide hallway. Actually a T shape. There are 2 cases in the long section either side of the door to the parking lot. You can just make out one in the photo on the website (link above). The display surface is quite nice for size and height. Each case can comfortably hold 6 or so pieces of small art. The very, very heavy glass on top is a huge upside down box. I’d show you a picture, but I have been told other artists don’t like pictures of their art out there. So, I try to honor the spirit of community. (I don’t get it to be honest. Once I donate a piece, it’s not mine. And I frequently am surprised in good ways!) As the pulling of the tickets gets closer, I’ll sneak a picture. Promise!

The disaster was this: someone lost their footing close to the case and fell into the pedestal jostling everything. I was assured they were not seriously injured. My piece wasn’t affected, but a small picture on a stand toppled. It landed right side up thank heavens! And the very, very heavy glass sculpture stayed in place. Disaster almost struck!

I’m continuing to receive positive comments about the piece. I’ve got plans to tat the design again. I’m thinking larger thread so that it could be a door wreath. Must experiment…….

After the Festival ends though. I’ve already attended 4 concerts.  I have tickets to another half dozen or so. 

Time for a walk by the bay to clear my head. I’ve an ear worm of the opening of a Bach piece from Sunday. It is so similar to the piece I played for Postlude that morning. Both are Fanfares and very Festive!

Tatting: An (lost) art

The Art Show is open. Tickets are $10 each or 7 for $40. My box is on the very bottom, right next to the floor. I’ll be curious to see how many tickets make their way into that wee slot. Apparently, a good friend from out of town called the Carmel Bach Festival Office, asked for 7 tickets to be put into the box. I wonder if you can get tickets over the phone. I shouldn’t think so, but maybe…..

The Opening reception was fun. Lots of people in a small space. The artists are mostly sometime professionals and hobbyists. Quite a few have been participating for many years. That means there wasn’t anyone dressed to make a shocking statement which I appreciated. For this show, it’s not about the ART, it’s about MUSIC and specifically raising money for the Carmel Bach Festival. ‘nuff said…just fun!

My title for this post comes from the frequently heard comment, “Isn’t that a lost art?” We’ve all heard that when tatting in public. I’ve also heard something along the lines of, “My Aunt tried to teach me that.” Even a wistful, “I wish I could tat.” Well, last night I heard, “I’m glad tatting is not a lost art. I think your piece is ART!" That made me feel like I’m on the right track. I am not (no raised voice, just humbleness) highly trained, not crafty, not a bored housewife. I am an artist who represents music in thread. I am aware there are some who have a hard time calling anything that isn’t a painting art. Their loss! I choose to enjoy music, thread, and tatting!

Come by the show in the gallery off the raised patio. It’s open most days. Tickets can be bought just before, during, or after Bach Fest events at Sunset Center. Stuff that box! Win some art! Support the Festival!

Tonight is the opening….

Last night was the first concert: A lovely organ and trumpet recital at St. Dunstan’s. Here's a link to my review, but so much is happening I’ll probably forget.

Tonight is the Art Gallery Opening reception for the Art ofMusic Raffle fundraiser. I’m excited to see what else is available. The cover of the Festival program book is a fun drawing/caricature of all things Bach Festival. There’s a seashell, a boat, several instruments and of course music symbols. I can’t wait to see the original drawing!

For those local, raffle tickets will be available starting Opening Night, this Saturday and continuing until Best of the Fest on July 27. Volunteers can help you through the filling out of the tickets, but won’t tell you which box to put them in. I will…..my box!!

Here’s a picture of the piece before going into the display case: