I invite you!

 To sample a trunkful of lace techniques. Most are closer to a bobbin lace pillow or needle than a shuttle, but it will be fun and beautiful!!

IOLI UnCon virtual convention: The Silver Lining

This link will take you to the list of events open to the public.

See you there!

Be prepared

 I am prepared….

For the Hearts class. I really like these patterns. They are in my “frequent pattern used pile” and I have many examples. I’ve even made a basket with 3 of them. I’m looking forward to sharing them with the students who’ve signed up. If you would like to join us for 2 Saturday mornings (Pacific Time), head on over to the Museum website and sign up. No particular materials needed, just a ball of thread you like working with and 2 shuttles or needles.

Preparing is exciting

 

I’m in the last throws of preparing for the round of classes hosted by the Lace Museum. I always feel a bit giddy and definitely excited as I pull together the materials. Today I’ll refresh my camera skills and make sure the computer will still play with the webcam the way I want it to. I know, I know, it’s software... not a kid. But for something that stays still, there are a lot of “moving” parts!! I’ll be ready Saturday for sure!

Our game with Jane’s TIAS is taking shape. It’s definitely a critter of some sort…..

Honing skills in 2021

I’ve been on an adventure in fiber lately. Nothing new, I know, but this adventure is designed (pun intended) to stretch my tatting skills. I prefer tatting in tight twist cotton. I have tatted in paracord, and boucle yarn. I decided to tat using a silk/bamboo yarn.

That’s the larger butterfly. The smaller butterfly is size 10. I tried several different movements of shuttle with the yarn. Some paths worked better than others. I tried tatting using my trusty size 5 needle. That worked, but again, I needed a different technique.

Now, if I channel Muskaan, I would meticulously post about it all. I’m not up to that task. Muskaan, you have the stage.

 I’ve decided to pull together my thoughts, observations, and recommendations for a future class. If you’re signing in to the Tatting Tuesday group, you’ll get the preview. If you are interested, but not part of the study group, watch the class listings on the Lace Museum website. I hope they’ll be interested in sponsoring a class exploring these fiber options.

Two steps forward, one step back

 I know I promised a peek at earrings, but after 3 test tats, I’m still not completely sold on a design. I have one more idea to try. Look for a picture next week.

What else was I going to post about? Ah yes, there are still spots open in the classes. It’s a bit late to order supplies with confidence they will arrive in time, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Perhaps Hobby Lobby has a shuttle or needle and if you can’t find the Lizbeth, any size 10 thread will do. The tighter the thread is spun, the easier it will be to learn the Double Stitch. Do visit the Lace Museum workshop page and scroll down past all those complicated classes. Join me for tatting fun!

I’ll close with a photo of my Day 8 of Jane’s current TIAS:

 For sign-ups for the next round of my classes. These will again be held via Zoom hosted by the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, CA. The link is at the end of the class description. Scroll down about half way and you’ll see both classes.

The deadline that is 10 days away is for those who will need to gather materials for the Beginning series (starting Feb. 13, 2021) With the disruption to shipping that normally happens in the winter, if you do not have a shuttle or needle and the recommended thread, register now so that you have time to order. The best deal is through the Lace Museum gift shop. Some of you are lucky enough to live close to a store that stocks shuttles and good thread. For the test of us, we need to plan, order, and then….wait….

I look forward to seeing lots of previous students signing up for the Continuing class to be held the first 2 Saturdays in March. I’ll not be specifying the thread size or color or fiber. Here’s a chance to try out that linen or silk thread you’ve wanted to explore tatting with!

Final thought: Jane’s TIAS 2021 Day 5:

Jane TIAS 2021 day 5

Another pair for Cristmas

 

Garnet Set by Nina Libin

Well, actually, 2 pairs.

 

Garnet Set by Nina Libin 

Doesn’t this look like a fun pattern? It’s available for free on the Lace Museumwebsite. I worked this set with pearl beads quite awhile ago. I wear them occasionally so I decided I should make a pair in Christmas colors.  I decided to omit one bead on each split ring. I think they look better when all the beads are on the same plane.

Oh, and if you’ve signed up for the classes I’m teaching nextmonth sponsored by the Lace Museum and you need to order the beginner kit, it may not arrive in time. Packages are sporadically on time coming from SCC due to the increase in COVID cases. Our regular carrier (in the next county over) has had to take some time off awaiting a test result. Thankfully it was negative, but that set back a couple of packages that were coming to our house. Even if you do need materials, there are do-it-yourself options that will be perfectly fine for the class. Email me or the Museum and I’ll send you the instructions.

If you haven’t registered for a class…..

What are you waiting for? Come join the fun!!

What do you get the tatter who has everything?

 A seat in a virtual workshop! Scroll halfway down the page.

$65 reserves your spot along with the documents. Fun thread and shuttles/needles are available for purchase from the Museum gift shop for a reasonable price.

Come join us Saturday, January 16 & Sunday, January 17 from 9 AM PT to Noon PT.

We will be looking at heart patterns. Christmas Heart by Anne Bruvold and Basic Split Ring Heart by Georgia Seitz will be offered. Bring a pattern you've had in your to-tat pile for awhile. 

For those that need a beginner refresher, or would like to encourage a new tatter, there will be a beginner series of 3 classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning the week before. Jan. 11-15 from 9-11:30 AM PT. 

See you in class!

Penelope

 One of the benefits from regularly meeting with tatting friends is being inspired to tat patterns again, and again, and…..

This snowflake is the featured pattern in the Fall 2020Helping Hands Newsletter published by Hand Hands. Kendra Goodnow adapted it last April. It reminded me so much of a mum that I had to tat it in pink. We’ll discuss in today’s meeting how color can make a big difference in whether you think snowflake or flower.

Incidently, the current Winter 2020 newsletter has a favorite of mine: Square medallion adadpted again by Kendra Goodnow. Remind you of a mat I worked up for the Museum classes earlier this year?

Registration will open soon for the January classes at the Museum. Same online format; same beginner series of 3 classes followed by a dive into a pattern. I have received permission to teach a couple of simple hearts. Simple, but you can add beads or use intermediate techniques to zing the patterns up. Join us!

Looking to 2021

 I know, it’s far enough in the future I really shouldn’t focus on 2021, but 2020 has been too crazy! Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t changed my tune. For those that know me well and have worked with me on the bench, I still plan my music well in advance. I have Christmas just about learned, the weeks in between need just a bit more fine tuning, and I have my practice list for the next 2 weeks. I’ve also figured out what I want to work on for designs. The music is just about analyzed, and the broad outline is worked out, and the details are falling into place. What I still need help with?

What do you want to learn in 2021?

I view teaching as a dialogue. I have no set group of pieces or patterns to teach students. I make it a point to ask questions and listen and suggest. It drives some of my students kinda nuts! “Just tell me what to do!” Well, I'll be glad to, but help me out here...... please? The Lace Museum is taking suggestions for future classes/workshops. Please fill out their form for tatting ideas: techniques, patterns, general project descriptions, historical pieces, whatever draws you to thread to tat. That will make 2021 a lot more fun!!

Can you see the mistake?

 

Truth be told, there are many mistakes in this piece. This is the start of my trial tat of a new pattern. I wanted to try out different ways of tatting a “simple” pattern. The thread is Omega thread. Overall, fine to tat with. 

The blue color just does nothing for me. I’ve tried using a complimentary color with it, a couple of colors for a tertiary combination, I’ve pulled out a turquoise similar in value (both lighter and darker), I’ve tried adding beads in various color combinations. It just doesn’t work for me.

I know I don’t see color as well as some people. My daughter sees colors very accurately. She’s been helping me to train my brain to see colors better. It has helped. It’s taught her patience and empathy. I know we’ve hit the wall in a session when she says, “Mom, I love you but……”

So, what is the mistake? For those who have a print 2020 catalogue from Handy Hands, the pattern is in there. All will be revealed Thursday.

Keeping track

 

I encourage students to consider “mistakes” are really just variations. Most of the time, what we see as mistakes aren’t really that bad: the odd loose stitch, a small picot instead of a larger one, or a larger instead of a smaller, a forgotten ring or chain section, or added extra. You get the idea. When tatting up my sample for next week’s class, I knew I wanted it to be rectangular to use with our oval table. So, how many squares to tat per side? All was well until the second long side. I kept second guessing where I was at. You guessed it, I made mistake after mistake. I finally made a small chart in frustration:

I have included a similar chart at the end of the pattern I’ll give to the students. They can use it, or not. It will be their choice. Me, I need simple and clear and ways to reduce the noise as I tat;  a bit like using a bookmark when I’m working through a text. I love post-it notes!

Oh, and bookmarks….

Is it any wonder that I like bookmarks…..and have tatted a few…..just a few….?

If you need the link to sign up: https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html

Classes begin next Monday!

 I'm ready for the fun! Thank you Lace Museum of Sunnyvale for sponsoring and hosting the classes.

Starting Monday, we will start from the beginning. I know of at least one needle tatter who should be signed up by now. (If you haven’t taken care of that, ahem!) I'll be guiding students through working with shuttle also. By the end of Friday, you will know enough to tat most of the pattern I’ll discuss in the weekend workshop (Sat & Sun morning). My classes are half way down on the Workshop page on the Lace Museum website: https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html

Here’s a picture of the finished mat sample as a teaser:   

Sample of vintage mat pattern

I will pick up where I left off in July. We only looked at the insert square in July. Now, we’ll look at the edging and briefly touch on finishing. Don’t panic if you weren’t in the July workshop, the insert square is essentially repeated many times in the edging.

See you in class!

Challenge progress

 October is shaping up to be quite busy. I’ve taped two playlists for St. Paul’s for the Friday concert. I’ll be teaching a series of tatting classes/workshops for the Lace Museum. And it’s the time of year to put new plants into the ground so they can benefit from the rains and get a great start. That means lots of time spent trying to figure out the landscaping we wish to maintain and enjoy. So, I don’t have a lot to show for tatting. Just a trial for my Day 14 of Threads That Bind:

My inspiration is doilies from Jan Stawasz’s book TattingTheory and Patterns. I thought the motif looked like a house. Considering all the time we’re spending working from home, I wanted to try it out. The blue version will be the “house” with a roof added and the black version will be expanded in green to represent a tree. It may not work at all, but I gotta try!

Class Material

what to learn next???

I am a life-long learner. I count learning as a hobby. I’m addicted to finding out new information. Yes, that means there’s always a pile of stuff to read, “small” projects to do, and entries on the calendar for talks, conversations, documentaries. Some people’s lives are never boring due to drama. My life is never boring due to curiosity. And yes, I do know curiosity can kill a cat. The older I get, the more things available on the internet, the less energetic I feel, the safer my days are. Honest!

I’ve been pulling together my Class Material for the Lace Museum series. Teaching is a sure-fire way for me to learn. I learned a great deal tatting the sample. I learned which point of the pattern my mind consistently wanders. Valuable information. I plan to pass that on during the weekend classes. Join us!

To register, visit the workshop page and scroll down about half way: tatting workshop

Full Speed Ahead! Avast!!! Ye mateys!

 

Fandango by Jane Eborall

I’m back to full speed. I’ve finished the tatting for the mat. I’ve finished a Fandango square to 4 rounds. I think I’ll stop there. I started it thinking I would send it to a yarn shop that wraps a tree. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.

If you haven’t signed up for the classes on the LaceMuseum’s website, hurry on over:

https://www.thelacemuseum.org/workshops.html

Time out

 I needed to take some time out the last few days. I did manage to get the edging for the mat very close to finishing. It was slow going as I didn’t want to take out any more mistakes. No, I’m not going to share! About the mistakes that is. I'll share a photo of the edging when it is blocked.

I will return to full speed by Thursday.

I know how to do that!

I'm big on self-talk.....

I try to teach by encouraging, not criticizing.....

I know how to do that!

 I have to keep telling myself that. 

I have a bad habit of seeing something in my brain or hearing something in my brain and before I can get the music in the air or the thread into lace, I talk myself out of trying. 

Perhaps that’s why I jumped at the chance to recreate the vintage mat in the collection at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale. It’s much easier for me to read the printed score or examine the tatted lace. At any rate, I’ve enjoyed the journey with this mat.

To register, follow this link to the Lace Museum: intermediate class

I’ve finished notating the pattern for the edging. To be clear, this is not the only way to tat a similar edging. It’s the path I saw and used tatting the example. Just a bit more and I’ll be able to block and sew it onto the fabric with the inset.

I also know how to do other “advanced and complicated” tatting techniques. I know how to wrap picots for a daisy picot. I know how to add beads. Just being able to claim that knowledge helps me to persist in learning how to couch and finish stitching the Elephant. Thank you to all those who are cheering me on! I will complete the projects!

Oh, and to register for the beginning class, follow this link: beginning class

Progress and a milestone

 

Maharajah's Elephant
designed by Mary Long

I completed more of the elephant. The next parts involve couching. I know enough to recognize the technique and the basics of how, but not enough to thread the needle and start stitching. So, I’ve asked for help.

I’ve also completed the second round of the edging. The final bit shouldn’t take long to tat. I know how to do that. Look for the promised picture on Thursday.

I blame the smoke

 I know it’s lame. Our air here hasn’t been as affected as other places in our County. I shouldn’t wine. But, it was bad enough the other day that I just didn’t accomplish much. So, not much to share here. I didn't find a picture I wanted to link to either. Photographs do not convey how wrong things look. I'm sure you can find a story from a reputable news source to read. 

Yesterday, the air at my nose level wasn’t bad. The upper atmosphere was very smoky. The orange tint to the sky upset the animals. If you’ve ever witnessed an eclipse of the sun, it was like that. For the whole day. The sun burned through a bit, but looked like the orange ball you see just before it drops below the horizon. Up over your head at mid-afternoon, it just looked “wrong” and creepy! I tried to keep busy. I keep working on the sample for the October classes. I’ll be sharing an in progress picture next week. I promise!

For today, I’ll be demonstrating an organ for visitors from out of town. We all will be wearing masks and staying a respectful distance apart. The room is large and airy. It will be fun to play a different organ. Yes, I love the Rodgers, but it’s still fun to play something different every once in a while.