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…..

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!

Pivoting with picots

Talk to just about any designer in the tatting world and picots will come up. Yes, color and negative space are discussed too, but picots seem to always be in our minds. Picots connect rings and chains. Picots fill negative space. Picots can add shape and decorate any element. In doilies, picot size can make or break whether the piece lays flat, cups, or is symmetrical. Adding beads can be accomplished with picots. One picot can provide so much practical and decorative possibilities.

Perhaps that is one reason tatters can roll with the punches so easily. To be sure, we have honed our ability to stubbornly work towards goals. Anyone who has completed a doily with more than 3 rows (bigger than the average snowflake) and strung more than 15 beads (thinking of a Nina Libinpattern) uses that streak of stubbornness. But, particularly when we’re designing, we may start out using a picot to decorate or join elements and realize that it needs to serve another purpose.

So, to all those weary of pivoting and rolling with the punches as Spring 2020 turns to summer, consider a shuttle or needle and a ball of color. Release your inner creative mind and nurture your soul with thread. Joinus tatting!

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!

Heart set aside

I’ve had an addition to this week’s schedule. I need to spend most of Friday taking care of details. Ugh! I’d rather tat and play the organ than sit and wait and listen and decide. But, needs must!

I know I’ll be thinking of a problem I’ve been trying to solve. Remember Bux2Bach? I’ll be tatting another version soon. Problem: I can’t find my notes. Anywhere! So, all I have is pictures to go by. And it’s not enough! I cannot remember what I did 2 years ago and the stitch count isn’t falling into place! Argh!!

This afternoon will be filled with preparing for the EGA workshop on Ice Drop patterns. I've no idea how many of the people who come will need a refresher on how to tat. Only 6 signed up for kits, but I will prepare enough handouts for 15. Since everything I'll be using is available on the Internet, the most important handout will be my list of links. How does that Podcast put it? Related Links. That section of her Podcast is often 25% of the time. So, I'll be spending quite a bit of time preparing that document! I should have time to look for those notes while the printer whirs away.

Snowflake for gifts

I’ve been distracted lately.             Again.

A few weeks ago, a tatter posted a question on a snowflake pattern on NSAN. In the ensuing exchange, we chatted about patterns in 24 Julestjerner i Orkis by Lene Bjorn. I have been drawn to the 16 December pattern for quite awhile, but never tried it out. So, I finally tatted it up.

I like it. Here’s the first itteration.

16 December by Lene Bjorn

I think this will be our mail out gifts to family/friends. I think I will add beads. Maybe some bling. Maybe not. No pictures of what folks will receive until after Christmas though. Don't want to spoil things now do we??????

another class

I enjoyed teaching last night. My 2 students are experienced in sewing, knitting, crochet, and all things thread. I marvel at how quickly the students gain the concept of the DS with the waist band and legs; how quickly they can execute a weaver’s knot to understand the pop of a knot transferring from one thread to another. It’s amazing how much they enjoy twirling the noise maker when we confirm they got the flip!! I enjoy it all!!

In case you’re wondering what method I teach, I let the student take the lead. If they innately pinch with their thumb and middle finger, I fly with that. If they innately pinch with their thumb and second finger, I fly with that. If they feed the shuttle through like a needle, we fly with that and wrap the shuttle thread around similar to the reverse riego. If they wrap their brain around the slip and slide, we fly with that. You’d think there were lots of wings flapping in my classroom, but, no…..just the mantra, “The knot doesn’t care how you make it, just that you tat!” And lots of noise you might hear only on New Year’s. How sad to only hear it once a year! It’s such a joyous sound. WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only bleak spot in the evening was the realization that the store has sold all the better Lizbeth thread and all copies of Learn To Tat and so we’re reduced to the 3 ply crochet cotton that raises blood pressure and the patterns that I hand out in class. Thank heaven we have great resources on-line!! Thank you to all who share on websites and blogs!

current Bookmark

Well, the pollen count is up….and it’s grey but not rainy. Sniff, snuffle, ahhhchoooo.

And I’m not that much affected by what’s in the air….

The good news about the time change has been I’m awake more often before sunrise again. There have been some spectacular ones with the cloud cover lately. That always starts my day out better.

I’ve been honing my skill at Inkscape and graphic diagrams of tatting patterns the last couple of days. I need a lot more practice….a lot more! I wanted to work up a bookmark design for the class that had rings, chains, maybe beads (but not necessary) and tat samples for the Open House wall in summer colors. So, here’s what I have:

I'm calling this Chicks with Beads



the thread is called Carribean. Very summery!

We’ll see what is chosen and what folks sign up for.

Heart decision

I made a decision regarding which heart I felt would be good for the “beginners” to learn. I wanted a simple rings and chains heart. There are some very simple ones already designed. I haven’t been able to reach some of the designers to obtain their permission to use/teach their design. I feel it is only respectful to attempt to reach them. I understand one lady who self-published her design is no longer using the email on the pattern. So, I put out a request on the forums I monitor to see if anyone can put us in contact. If all goes well, I would prefer to use Butterfly heart designed by Irene Woo:

Butterfly heart designed by Irene Woo