Save the Date

October 19,21,23 2020 Beginning tatting offered as a virtual class through the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, CA

October 24-25, 2020 Tatting workshop focusing on the edging of a vintage mat in the collection of the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, CA. The workshop will be offered using a virtual classroom.

Details will be posted on the Museum webpage soon!

I’ve been finishing, sorting, organizing, tidying a lot lately. Here’s my version of the Challenge Jon Yusoff created last Spring. I’ll be adding my bits soon.

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.

Preparation is important

I love to teach. Full disclosure, I have little patience for Administrators who tell me how to teach. I get that’s their job, but me thinks they’ve not taught enough. So, I do not teach in a formal school situation often. Experiences when I’m teaching where people don’t “have to” learn are usually my shining moments. Recently, a teacher aide in a more formal situation wondered aloud how I prepare for students I don’t know and have no objective.

Three points: Teach the skill, present the possibilities, and affirm the successes achieved.

Part of that preparation is not being perfect. When I demonstrate how to tat, I talk about several different ways to make the DS. I’ll even use thread or tools that I don’t like to use. I talk about what is logical and readily available. Often, that means I fail to make pretty lace. Not perfect. But, students seem to gain courage from that. They overcome frustration faster and usually succeed in making lace with less stress.

Part of that preparation is samples with mistakes. I usually show pieces I made when learning. One isn’t even finished. The discussion of what is wrong with it usually gets students past seeing their own mistakes to creating more lace. I’ll remind myself aloud that I am my own worst critic. I have a heart I made that is missing a part of the pattern. One “shoulder” is too flat. These make good samples.

Here’s my sample for the upcoming Lace Museum classes:

There are quite a few mistakes in it. It’s not finished. It’ll do just fine. I’m looking forward to affirming the students having success.

Registration is open!

The Lace Museum of Sunnyvale is offering classes next week. They are scheduled to coordinate with

UnCon 2020 of IOLI.

I will be teaching a beginning tatting series on 7-22 through 7-24 (Wed, Thurs and Fri) from 9 AM – 11 AM Pacific time (4 PM – 6 PM GMT). We will cover both needle and shuttle techniques. This is a real bargain for $35. Register on the Museum Shopify page here .

If you have mastered the basics, consider joining us the following weekend Sat 7-25 & Sun 7-26 from 9 AM – Noon Pacific time (4 PM – 7 PM GMT). We will be recreating a portion of the pretty mat (below) in the collection at the Museum. The inset works nicely as a coaster or ornament. The borders of the mat consist of repeating a portion of the inset worked with a lovely edging on both sides. We will be exploring several different paths to execution, designing with color, and adding embellishments. Come join us for a lively discussion and tat up a surprise. Offered also at $35 for the two morning sessions. Register here

I look forward to greeting IOLI members attending the UnCon sessions. Treat yourself to a morning of tatting fun sponsored by the Lace Museum of Sunnyvale!

Just a quick peek

This is my interpretation of the inset on the mat in the Lace Museum collection.

 

We will focus on this motif as a part of the classes offered in a couple of weeks. Registration link will be live next week. Class size is typically limited, but it will be virtual, so who knows how many we can host for tatting fun!

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!

Of vintage and new

Remember this intriguing mat from the Lace Museum collection?

Mat with tatting from the
Lace Museum in Sunnyvale

 My interest was pricked not just by the use of lace with a cloth mat, but by the question of, “could this be tatted by a machine?” Since Santa Clara County has ordered all museums closed, I was not able to examine it in person. The photographs shared were very well done and gave me quite a bit to go on. After hours of searching online, thank you Google Scholar, I concluded that there were patents applied and granted for tatting machines. There is excellent research work out there. More should be done.

I kept going back to the mat. From the photograph, it looked like it was tatted with only chains, no rings. How would I choose to tat it? I sent emails, studied the photo, made notes, picked up my shuttles and created a sample. The staff at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale is interested in offering a class to recreate this piece. So, I’ve been creating the written pattern with diagrams, tatting samples, and pulling together a kit list for them. Target date is in July. Anyone interested in joining the fun?

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!

Tatting by Zoom

That sounds like credits at the end of a vintage tv show. The Tatting Study Group met this week using Zoom. It’s a very popular app right now. It was fun to see everyone.

On a sadder note, the workshop in Sunnyvale is postponed. We’re talking about an online component that will be a much different format. More as that progresses.

I decided to start the Challenge doily over. I made several mistakes in the first few rounds. I’m liking the way it looks now. Picture as I finish the next round.

Shuttlebirds cancelled Lace Museum still on tentatively

We spent yesterday discovering what the flooring was like under the carpet in a bedroom. All things considered, it is in pretty good shape.

That took my mind off the fact that Shuttlebirds will be postponing their Tat Days until April 2021. I will plan to teach and enjoy getting to know them in a year.

The Lace Museum in Sunnyvale is still operating, so I hope that we can still hold that workshop. We’ll see what the government decides.

In the meantime, I’m making progress on the Elephant canvas. I think by this time we were to be stitching the final section. I’m just finishing lesson 1. Hope to share a picture soon!

The tough get tatting

The cancellation of the Noon concert took the wind out of my sails yesterday afternoon. I had to sit myself down and remind myself that the Lace Museum workshop is a month away. A lot can happen in 5 weeks. While the news from Sunnyvale and Santa Clara County is grim, so far, I have hope that all will be well in 5 weeks. I also have hope that all will go as planned 2 weeks later at the Shuttlebirds Tat Days. I have not finalized my travel plans, but need to soon.

As I was contemplating the next few days, watching a squirrel under the oak trees, my biggest fan commented, “Well, when the going gets tough, the tough get tatting.”

I’ll be tatting today!

Substitutions

Since my injury, I’ve been on a journey of last minute gigs for organ jobs. I’m the substitute in the wings colleagues call when life happens. Almost each time it is for a happy event: babies coming early, winning a trip to a wonderful location (Paris!), and receiving a gift of time with a treasured friend. Sometimes the events are not so cheerful. Last week I received one of those breathless "I have good news and a request" calls. I filled in Sunday, will fill in Wednesday and a few Fridays. More information on those Noon concerts in a later post. Right now I must gather my music and shoes and get busy!

Good thing I finished all the samples for the workshops last week!! Pictures have already been shared as much as I’m allowed. You’ll just have to sign up for Sunnyvale Lace Museum or Shuttlebirds Tat Days to join in more fun with those patterns. Classes are filling, so get your application in (scholarships are available for new tatters).

Lace in Sunnyvale

I spent a wonderful day Monday exploring the Lace Museum inSunnyvale, CA. They were in the process of photographing some of the recent donations, so I didn’t get out my little phone and get in the way. I'll be teaching there in April: here's the flyer. We’re going to have great fun looking at vintage and heritage patterns to update our imagination. If you will be in California just before Shuttlebirds, consider attending the 2 day workshop I will be leading at the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale. You will receive my Sonata pattern with one-on-one help tatting up the doily. I’m looking forward to learning a lot from those who come to tat with me.

Gift idea!

Treat your favorite tatter to a workshop!

I offer these two possibilities:

 Adapting Tatting Patterns using Sonata in Sunnyvale, CA at the Lace Museum. I’ll be guiding students through looking at vintage tatting patterns, taking inspiration from music for tatting designs, and step by step guidance through my pattern Sonata. Side trips to area museums and local attractions will be encouraged! I plan to visit San Francisco while I’m there.

Celebrating in the woods close to Spokane, Washington with Shuttlebirds. The theme is Mardi Gras. I’ll be teaching my Joy bookmark pattern, a snazzy way to decorate candle sticks, and guiding students through my motif inspired by a Bach Cantata. I hope to get lots of ideas for ways to use tatting in costumes for Laissez les bon temps!

Both of my classes at these workshops will be taught using needle and shuttle techniques. So, rest assured, the lace maker in your life will be creating wonderful lace! You can find the registration form on the LaceMuseum website to use as a gift registration for the Sonata workshop, or create a coupon to be redeemed for the weekend in the mountains. Registration will open beginning late January on the Shuttlebirds website.

We’ll see you there as we have tatting good fun!

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………

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!