It's not working for me

 This plan for life right now… it’s just not working for me.

Part of me wants to rejoice in a more freedom of movement and a more open environment.

Part of me wants to hide a while longer.

That’s because I won’t be eligible to sign up for a vaccine for quite some time: too young, and too healthy.

So for those who wish me to share my talents and creativity in person: I’m waiting a while longer. This plan is not working for me.

Please be patient a while longer. 

In the meantime, let's walk along the Bay together. Just let me grab my mask.

Ok, ready!

All wrapped up

 

The picture is from a “shrug” a friend made for me. It’s cotton, which I like, and adds just the right amount of warmth on most days in Monterey. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit like I’m tying unwanted knots in my tatting thread. I actually threw away some of what I tatted the other day. There wasn’t even enough to snip and decorate a card with! Sigh!!

I need to get a gift finished. Perhaps that will turn the tide.

Replacements

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I would replace should I lose everything. It happens when the fires get close. You see pictures, talk to people, and realize you really should take care of details. I did take care of a few:

 - Updated my contact info with some of the family. Not that they didn’t have it, but I needed to remind them they are our contact from out of the area.

- Replaced the earring I lost. Back in February I lost one on a trip. I decided I really needed to tat the replacement. It would be much easier to pack a pair of earrings than to grab beads, shuttles, thread, scissors, beading needle, crochet hook, you get the idea!

- Cleared dead leaves and plants from around the house. This is an ongoing chore, but I pushed to complete as much as I could.

I’ve yet to take care of reviewing our household inventory to update pictures and to delete those pieces we’ve repurposed to new homes. I’ve yet to repack the current practice list of scores. I’ve yet to verify where certain information is. That last detail usually involves going to the bank. With the Pandemic restrictions in place, you need to make an appointment for that. I just haven’t thought it worth the bother. The fires don't wait for you to not procrastinate.

I’ll be glad when things settle back into a less stressful routine. Do you have a plan? Could you evacuate? At least take the time to gather important info. Here's to many more years of tatting......

A use for Direct Tatting

I’ve come to accept the term direct tatting in shuttle tatting to mean that you simply wrap the stitches rather than flip the stitches. I find I can only execute it without getting confused when using 2 shuttles. Depending on which shuttle I’m holding, the chain will naturally curve one way or the other. The technique is quite useful in designing.

Recently, I lost one earring of a favorite pair. I’ve finally gotten around to making the replacement. In my zeal to bling the pattern up, I’ve added silver sliver thread to the final round. I wanted to wrap the curled rings at the outer edge with the bit of metal thread, but not the chains between those curled rings. The first time I tatted the ring, I used the clumsy technique of holding the two shuttles together while tatting the half dozen stitches for the chains. Very awkward. 

Enter the direct tatting technique! I have changed to wrapping both threads for the core and using the single shuttle to form the chain DS. Voila! It means you’re switching shuttles to lock join and such, but I don’t end up dropping shuttles either! Now, I just direct tat the chains and manage just fine. Pictures once the sun comes out again.

The fires are still burning in the area. The smoke is getting bad inland. I took this picture mid-morning in the direction of the closest fire. Resources are getting stretched pretty thin. People and animals are being evacuated. No word on how much we've lost for crops and such. Our neighborhood is in the opposite direction from where the fire is spreading. We're trying to help as best we can by  staying out of the way and let the professionals do what they train to do.

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!

Nature can be stubborn

I like living in a climate where things grow year round. We never have snowfall at my house. We do get rain enough to not be classified as a desert. Most days we can be outside and not be in peril. Of course that means that there are garden chores year-round. If we had lawn, we would need to mow it about 50 times a year. We have 2 crops of citrus each year. There is no dormant period for roses. Some bulbs must be forced in a refrigerator. It’s possible to grow fresh veg in your own yard year round. We always have yard chores.

Most of the time, I just try to coexist with the plants in my yard. I have never had success controlling what grows where when. That can lead to things getting out of hand. It’s a fine line between “weed” and “cultivated” plants. I’m waiting for a sit-com to have a scene where two gardeners argue whether a plant is a weed or not.

Today, I must try to find a better place for these beauties. Perhaps I’ll put them in a bit of soil at the curb and mark “free” for those walking during our Stay-at-Home time.

Oh, and if you can tell me what kind of succulent they are, please do. Apparently, there are NOT fairy wands.

Time out

I took time out yesterday. The sky looked so gorgeous I couldn’t sit inside! 

The picture doesn’t do it justice, but the water looked like Hawaii. The bay was clear. You could see fish swimming in the kelp. And the air was clear. We could actually see buildings in Capitola/Santa Cruz. That’s about 25 miles as the crow flies. After weeks of cloudy/misty skies, I just couldn’t help but walk down and linger looking and recharge my soul.

In the Program

Those local to Monterey may have figured out that I review concerts for a website. I don’t consider myself a journalist and I ALWAYS ask for my text to be proofread before submittal. As my daughter said once I don’t “grammar” well. She admonished me to stick to playing music and tatting lace. Don't let a teenager limit you. 

I was pleasantly encouraged to read a column by a restaurant reviewer this week. Raul Nava will be writing for the Monterey Herald. In his column, he wrote of his vision. He wishes to “avoid the traditional parade of critical commentary on dish after dish.” That sums up my vision for my reviews. 

I could write words detailing every mistake, expressing my own personal bias, or slamming the venue. But, I like encouraging people to play music, buy tickets to hear music, and to explore compositions they haven’t yet come to love. Sure, I’ll be attending concerts that will be a negative experience. I’ve played some concerts and services that I’d really, really like a do-over! Sure, recordings are available for free. I recommend newbie concert goers listen to the music at least once before settling in their seat and perusing the program.

I’ve decided that will be my “by-line” for these reviews: In the Program.

I hope if you see me at a concert, you’ll let me know you read this blog and give me feedback. Oh, and invite someone to explore the music with you. There are plenty of people out there who hesitate to attend a concert, and would be glad for the encouragement!

Orange is happy

Orange is not a color I have gravitated to. I grew up when orange was usually used in psychedelic prints. I also grew up stopping on the way home from school to practice in churches. I didn’t have time to change, so I had to wear “church appropriate” clothes those days. Given my pale Germanic skin and dirty-blond hair, orange wasn’t in my closet much.

As I’ve gotten more familiar with color theory, I’ve dipped my toe into orange. Blue works nicely with orange, there’s lots of blue around here (sky, ocean), so my shuttles have been wound with different orange thread. Taking inspiration from my surroundings has led me to work with all those colors.

I’m getting used to it. It does make me happy to sit down with my shuttles wound in cheery thread!

I’ll snap a picture of Joy in orange after I snack on an orange from our tree. Promise!

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………

Getting ready

I’ve decided I’m cursed with always being in the process of getting ready! That’s not a bad thing! I rather like all the activity.

I spend hours practicing for that 1 hour of playing for other people.

I spend hours tatting that 1 small snowflake or earring.

I spend hours cleaning and straightening for that 1 day hosting.

Currently, I’m spending hours preparing the Elephant canvas, preparing an application to teach another workshop, deciding what I’ll be doing to celebrate the Holidays…then preparing for all that.

Lest you think I’m grumpy about it all, I would rather be planning and preparing than caught flat-footed and miss the chance to play the organ, give a gift, or welcome friends to my home.

So, I’m off to prepare to host the Tuesday Tatting Study Group. After a walk along the Bay.

Fair results

I am very lucky. I live in a beautiful place. I have great music opportunities on the organ here. I have a great group of tatters that meet weekly. I live a charmed life! I’ve been able to connect with tatters and organists around the world through the Internet and through Guilds. I am very lucky!

A friend, who doesn’t play organ or tat, asked me the other day how I liked participating in the County Fair. It’s a positive experience for me. Lots of people see lots of creative items. The friendly competition spurs my creativity. There are things that are not to my taste: the crowds, how it manages to be the hottest weather all summer, people reacting to my tatting in a negative way. But overall, it’s positive because it encourages people to try tatting. (Get the picture here? It’s all about tatting for me. J)

This year, for Monterey County Fair 2019, I filled out entry forms for 4 items….just 4. Not a lot, I know. When it came time to turn the items in for judging, I couldn’t find 2 of the tatted snowflakes. They are here in the house somewhere. I hope to find them for decorating in December. Since they are missing, I did not have anything judged in the Tatting Division. There were quite a few pieces entered in that Division. They were magnificent! 

The 2 items that I did turn in were entered in Household decorations. These Cuffs for Candelsticks and my version of Martha Ess Two Hearts as One. They won ribbons: 2^nd place for both. I regret I wasn’t able to see the displays as I was wrapped up in Tat Days. I hope to find out exactly how many tatted pieces were judged and how many won ribbons. I call it another successful year for tatting at the Fair. 

What will be created for next year???

Play Time coming up!

September is a wonderful time of year here by the Monterey Bay. The weather is usually bright and sunny. The tourist crowds have thinned. The school kids are out discovering new things. Occasionally, we get visited by jelly fish in the Bay. Remember this group? We saw another jelly on a walk last week. My picture didn’t come out great, but another person in our group took a video with a phone. 

Right now, I’m in the last throws of packing for Tat Days in Georgia. I’ve been tatting up in-progress samples of the patterns I’ll be teaching. They’re not usually pretty. I use contrasting threads so students can easily see the path of the thread. That is not usually pleasing. Some of those samples may end up in a larger project. Others will likely end up in a bag tucked in my “teaching box” for the next workshop.

I’ll have more details when I return from Georgia, but the next workshop will be in April at the Lace Museum. Here’s a link to theregistration information. If you have ever wanted to explore San Francisco, or Oakland, this will be a great time. So, for those who drool over the classes offered at San Francisco School of Needlework and Design, those that wish to shop at Lacis, those that wish to visit any of the dozen museums or so (including the Lace Museum), this is your chance to put together a fabulous trip! And if you plan a day or so in Monterey Bay, do let me know!

It’s almost the end of August and it’s time to reflect.

I had in mind to be looking towards the concert (which I need to print the programs for) and the Fair (which I won’t have time to really attend this year) and Tat Days (which starts in a week), but I find I must take a moment to breath. I’ve allowed myself to be committed to several big projects at once. That’s usually what happens when you’re a musician. I know how to prepare for everything. I can set my schedule to accomplish all I need to do and even some things I want to do. All that said, it means my schedule never becomes mundane, just a bit crazy. I like crazy.

Tomorrow I’ll pause long enough to share some of my favorite organ pieces at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salinas. Just a half hour or so of music. They’ll be the regulars. And a few eating their lunch. Maybe the PGE construction guys will listen for a few minutes. It’s great fun!

I miss helping out at the Fair. I’ve heard the atmosphere is quite different this year. I hope the gang is taking lots of pictures. I hope the judges liked the entries. I hope people discover new interests and celebrate hard work.

OK. Breathing done, time to dive in!!

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............

Repair needed

schematic similar to the organ wiring

Remember this beauty? My organ is showing its age. Half of the stops are not working. It’s electrical, or electronic. We need a schematic so we can figure out what to test. Unfortunately for us, but understandably, the organ companies do not publish repair materials. So, my very handy, and knowledgeable, husband is not able to research the problem. 

So, we will be literally stabbing in the dark. We won’t know what part(s) need repair/replace. You suggest calling the company? Well, they’re in the business of building and selling organs. I doubt they will be eager to help repair an organ built some 25-30 years ago. 

I have 2 more commitments to play this weekend. I’m loathe to start the process of repair until I’m past those services. Then, I’ll have a couple of weeks.

Of course next week is Car Week. We’re already seeing the cars roll in. Some are in huge transport trucks. Others being towed. Still others are rolling in with grins on drivers’ faces and thumbs up from the passers-by. Petrol-heads unite!

Me? I’ll be pulling together my materials for Tat Days. All the arrangements are in place; at least those that I’ve thought of. I’m getting kinda excited.

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……

Fair possibilities

By this time of year, I’m usually lining up what I wish to enter in the Fair for judging. Slight problem this year. 

I’ve nothing to enter. 

I’ve tatted things to be sure, but everything that is complete and ready for judging is in someone else’s hands or going with me to Tat Days in Georgia. Mmmmmmm Someone else will just have to win the ribbons this year. 

I’m grinning whenever I think that as tatting has become popular enough here in Monterey County to have several pieces in a number of categories. <grin!>

I'm ready....or am I????

Too many projects pulling on me for time and energy. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!

All will calm down soon though. Friday is a deadline, Sunday is a deadline, and Memorial Day is a deadline. Oh, and I think I’ve run out of time for framing the Bach Fest Piece. I’ll find out this week.

Time to get to the organ and the shuttles.

Afterglow and next......

I’m reveling in the good vibes from the last few weeks. It’s been busy, but the activities have all been wonderful. Or maybe my attitude has just been more positive. Anyway, it’s been fun, if a bit tiring. It’s been interesting with learning opportunities, if a bit nerve wracking. It’s been relaxing, if a bit boring at moments. Could be I’ve figured out what I want to do when I grow up!

What’s next? A Sunday substitute request, creating the Motif for the Art Raffle, preparing for a major change in the family schedule….nuttin’ much…..All that after a vigorous walk by the Bay.