Did you hear that sigh?

 We’ve been experiencing supply chain issues lately. And there seems to be another round of COVID cases happening in my neck of the woods. So, I’m not surprised I cannot find a source for more of the bead caps. Really. Just disappointed.

I’ll be reaching out to my bartering friends. But, I don’t have much hope.

I’m disappointed because a friend has been helping me with stitching projects. I can trust her to give me straight, useful feedback. She is experienced enough to know what’s hard, what’s easy, and how to correct the mistakes she sees. And honest enough to give me accurate feedback. I wanted to tat a pair of earrings for her. I don’t have any bead caps without tatting on them. Well, this pair:

But, I’m not sure if they’re her style. I’ll offer them along with some others I tatted up.

If any of you know where I might pick up some bead caps for 4 mm beads, let me know.

It's a.....

 Pair!

Lace Day earrings designed by Muskaan

I like this pattern a lot. Thank you Muskaan for taking us down a rabbit hole curtesy of Frau Endrucks. The beads add just enough to the design, don’t you think?

In the metallic thread, with the pearl drop, it’s a bit large and heavy for earrings on my face. I know I have a big mouth, well at least large teeth, but I’m more of a petite earring person. Ears are not the only thing I decorate with thread tatted into lace, though…..

It was popular to decorate with lace, macramé, and quilts at the time when our house was originally built. I don’t succumb to the siren call of all things frilly, the wood work is rather plain. There are quite a few touches of lace and airy fabric. So, could I use these Lace Day Earrings in the home?

Yes!!!

We need to replace window coverings in several rooms. How about a very neat, tidy and practical blind that allows us to open the transom for air circulation? And just because I can, decorate the blind with this wonderful Lace Day creation!

More later as the blinds arrive…….

A bit of a detour

 I’m always intrigued by vintage patterns revisited. Muskaan adapted a pattern from a wonderful book written in German published originally in 1920. She added beads which inspired me. Besides, I just received some of the Liz Metallic in Frappe and I had 2 faux pearl drop beads. The second earring should go faster…..should….if I keep my concentration!

Lace Day earring designed by Muskaan

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!!

A new pair just in time

 I saw this pattern on Bernice's blog Knot Vortex. I needed an elegant pair of earrings for a family Zoom Christmas party.  Thank you for sharing your pattern!

Worked in White metallic DMC 3 ply thread with pearl beads.

We’re just fine, thanks.

One of the joys of living in California is earthquakes. (Sarcasm intended!) Tuesday about Noon, I felt another one. Usually, I’m moving around when they hit, so I’m never sure and seldom feel them. This one I did feel the shakin’. 

Two jolts: as though someone smacked the house. No damage. The cats didn’t even stir off the chairs. Just lifted their heads, looked around, and stretched back asleep. If you’re curious, you can see the data on the USGS website, or any of the major schools in the area like Cal Poly or Berkeley. I’m sure some of my neighbors were reminded to look over their emergency supplies. That’s not a bad thing!

Giggly earrings

In all honesty, our house stands to be damaged more by wildfires than by earthquakes. And that’s only if there’s a really hot, fast moving fire that starts in the gulch the next block over. So, I and my shuttles and organ are pretty safe.

Here’s a picture of the jewelry I’ve been working on from Ninetta’s post.

I’ve been making careful notes, so I should be able to retat if asked…..should…. 🤭

Bracelet and Giggly earrings

Back to....Success.....

The organ works again! I’m so relieved!! Replacing the organ was looking to be very, very expensive. A peek at Ebay last month gave me pause: Most of the organs of similar size were listed for several thousand dollars. I lost a bit of sleep over that, but resolved to do what I could to get my baby back working.

After a trip to an electronics parts shop, and several days of puzzling out the schematics, my repairman took a deep breath and plugged in the soldering iron. A few minutes late, things were sounding back to normal. There are still components that are not working, but success!!!!

I’ve also been having success getting back to the designing. No pictures as yet, but plenty to try out with the shuttles. Here’s what I can share:

These will replace the pair of earrings I’ve worn so much they are stained and looking rather sad!

Hair bun holder is finished!

It is done! Ready to wear on our trip. Pictures when I return.

Now on to finishing other projects. Maybe I’ll get back to the Monster Doily. Maybe I’ll complete an earring or two. Oh! And there’s the Bach Fest Piece to design and tat.

So much to tat! So little time!!!

Two Hearts in One completed

Two Hearts as One by Martha Ess (front)

Here is the version in olive and deep red:

I’m glad I tatted this beauty. Thank you Martha Ess for giving us a great design to tat!

For my next version…..

Two Hearts as One by Martha Ess (back)

I considered tatting the pattern with picots only where necessary. Using beads, of course, and joining. But then I realized that it would be that much harder to tell which side is the front. And it would complicate the pattern just enough my brain might short-circuit. No explosion, but too many mistakes that would need to be dealt with. Not worth it.

I’ve had ideas for my Bach Fest piece. Last year was so much fun. And the bookmark continues to bring Joy. I’m seeing where a fugue subject takes me this year!

The results are in!

The County Fair is always great fun! This year, my entries were well received. Except for one and more on that one next month.

2018 ribbons

The best of show is the Needlebook.

The other First Place awards are for the other tatted pieces, snowman earrings, bookmark using the cluny loom, and an ornament I decorated with "binned" bits. 

The Third Place is for a bookmark I made out of my sample band I wove at the workshop.

Now on to the next project…..

experiments successful

Pictures of the garden haven’t been easy to catch. The weather has been blustery, dry, and cloudy. The area doesn’t look much different than it did here, so I won’t post until it does look different. That’s positive, really, as my track record with plants is not as good as with tatting or organ. I should stick to what I do best.

Adding a lot of beads to the Dazzling Debut design has been successful. I can’t share pictures here until after the whole project is finished and delivered. Sorry. Take the word of the other tatters that see them: Wow! Nice! They add to the design. I knew Marilee’s design would be a great foundation for this experiment. I have the book on my wish list. I don’t think the friend I borrowed it from to tat this pattern will let it go. I do hope Spring comes soon for Marilee soon. I really like her new colorway also. Check it out: http://yarnplayertats.blogspot.com/

I don’t typically work in dark thread. And I like the beads to show up in contrast to the thread. But this pattern isn’t typical. The musical piece is a warm, gentle work. I like the way the beads and thread are gentle on the eyes. Now to add the outer edging.

After watering the new plants, blocking the earrings, and practicing for Friday. I’m playing at St. Paul’s again.

Chords

No, that not a misspell. I know, I know, I have difficulty spelling in English! I’m not talking cord as in heavy thread or twine. I’m talking music: a group of notes. This is a long post (for me), so get out the velcro you use in class. There’s links to go to, concepts to think about…..

The pattern I’ve been playing with designed by Marilee Rockley uses curled rings. Muskaan has several excellent posts on this technique. Ninetta also has posted excellent tutorials: http://www.georgiaseitz.com/2016/ninettaalternatemethodsofcurlingrings.pdf  Both of these fabulous tatters have freely shared material and patterns with the OnLine Tatting Class. Thank you ladies! And a huge, awestruck Thank You to Georgia for all her work over these many, many years!

Back to Curling…. No, not the sport. Rings.I tried working up the examples in Ninetta’s tutorial many moons ago *2016*. The fault wasn’t Ninetta’s. I just didn’t really try. I claim too much on my plate. Not a good excuse! The truth is I was still in the first blush of having an organ to practice on whenever I pleased!!!

Marilee’s book caught the eye of one of my advanced beginner tatters in the Tatting Tuesday Study Group. Zanie, as we call her, has produced wonderful jewelry with beads in a class at the local Community College. We worked through a couple of the patterns, but nothing really grabbed us. I kept gravitating to Dazzling Debut. So, there was nothing for it but to try it out again! I’ve had success this time!! This is the size 10 version sitting beside the size 40 version.

Back to chords…. If you scroll down to page 5 of Ninetta’s PDF, you’ll see what I wish to use: stacked curled rings. I see chords. I hear music. I’ll let you decide if I’m crazy! No wait….I know I’m crazy…about tatting AND the organ!

Purple square study finished

I finally finished it! 

This pattern is really cool to do. Workbasket is a great source for fun patterns. The techniques I used were a little more advanced, but I think the result warrants the effort.

Workbasket scarf square

Adding the beads was unnecessary to the design, but I think really set things off. I kept thinking about the pansy I made several years ago with Marilee’s excellent help. That got me thinking about making some snowman earrings for myself. I’d like something whimsical to wear this time of year.

I’ll get to it right after I finish practicing, preparing for the renter, and decorating for Christmas.

Surprise!

Whenever I tat a larger project, I end up with several smaller projects along the way. I’ve been tatting a geometric pattern in a variegated thread. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how consistent my stitches have been. The color change is occurring in pretty much the same point in the pattern as I work around the edge. You see, I so fail at knit and crochet because my tension is so erratic. A wise knitting teacher offered suggestions for how to develop a consistent physical motion. I’ve decided that unless I have an aural crutch of music running through my head, my body doesn’t repeat itself. But, with this project, I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

corners in herbal garden thread

These are the little corner motifs of the pattern. As the edge is worked, these will be joined to and worked into the overall pattern. I rather like the shape of these corners. I’m thinking of tatting another set and turning these into earrings. Unfortunately, the colors do nothing for me for clothes/jewelry, so I’ll probably change my mind or use different colors.

one down and one to go

Thank you Jane  for the reminder of using coil-less safety pins! I remember you finding a use for them several years ago. And yes, they work well for that task. Thank you!

My challenge last week: find a way to use them with tatting size 80 thread. It didn’t work well. But…..

Metallic sewing thread works well. I picked up this thread years ago in a sale bin. Probably at the Lace Museum during one of their vintage sales. I loaded some of the thread onto a smaller shuttle, dropped the shuttle through as I was making picots to be used in the joining later, and voila picots marked plainly and Round 2 tatted gracefully! Sigh!!!!

I decided to tat the second earring before sewing the beads for the eyes and mouth on ANKARS style. I may even use something for buttons. I’m getting excited to see these guys dancing on the wires (earring wires that is).

Progress on the snowman...

In white thread it’s looking more wintery and less quacky. I know, that’s not a word. But sometimes tatting turns your brain….well….quacky.

What’s making me squawk? The joins in the body section.

 I wanted lots of picots for fluff. I’ve got that. I wanted to use size 80 for proper scale. I’ve got that. I wanted to make the center dense. I’ve got that. I’ve been so effective in working those goals into the pattern that I can’t tell where to join! Nothing new in tatting, I know. So……

From my sewing experience, I yearn for pinning or some marking chalk to mark the joins. Think marking darts; ease points; buttonholes/zippers/fasteners. You get the idea. I understand there are stitch markers in knitting. Maybe……

Gotta come up with something or I’ll go completely quacky. Ideas anyone?

Ain't house hunting fun!!!

Well, it is fun to imagine and see where other people have chosen to live at one time or another. It’s another experience to actually start the process of buying/selling and moving/relocating. It’s exciting, scary, and rather nerve-wracking. I have to keep telling myself that I can stay calm through it all. Tatting helps.

 I took the time to locate where my bead stash is. I have been itching to tat more earrings. I also need to clean or replace a pair that I wear often. My photo didn’t turn out well at all. When I finish the replacement pair, I’ll scan them before I finish them with the wire. I like using jump rings and such to attach the tatting to a wire. It seems to put the focal point of the design at the height that compliments most people. Just my opinion……

I think I’ll go pick a pattern idea from the sketch book. That should calm my nerves and focus my imagination.

Progress on Round 3 SS Blue version

Still not blocked as I would like. Still not mounted as I would like.

 

Round 3 finished but not blocked

 I seem to have stalled again. I think my stall is partly due to the other tatting projects I’m mulling over.

 

 I’m still working on a motif to be glued to the ornament ball. I’m finding it hard to tat knowing that it will be soaked in glue and stuck on something. I’ve never liked starch. So, using glue on thread is difficult for me to do. But! I will succeed in finishing at least a few ornaments for the museum to sell.

I’m also mulling over getting started on an earring pattern. That will involve dragging out the supplies, spreading them over the family table, deciding what to use and then finally tatting. Oh, and putting everything back. I’m tentatively planning on tackling that tomorrow. I promise to share both the ornament pics and the earring pics. Since I figure both projects will be 3D, that will mean getting the camera to work as I would like it to.

First, off to block.

earring list

Recently in Sue’s Design class, I promised to share a couple of my favorite earring patterns. I like smaller earrings as I am rather short and of a fine boned build. So, I use small thread like size 80 or quilting thread; small beads like size 12 or 14; and simple, one-element patterns. On my pattern page, I’ve posted my pattern for around a bead cap. I saw this little doodad in the finding area of a local bead shop. I liked the filigree look and the outer spaces were easy to join to with a small crochet hook.

earring around bead cap

A variation on this uses celtic chains for interest around another bead cap.

celtic chain earrings

I was challenged last year to create a larger earring to celebrate the Fourth of July. Here’s what I came up with:

starworks earrings

They are worked in DMC metallic embroidery thread and perhaps my least favorite as they are large…..about 2 ½” with the wire. I’ve never gotten used to them brushing my collar. I do like the star shaped doodad. This one came from the spacers area of the bead store.

I hope this stokes your creativity and that you find a way to express yourself with tatting to wear.

organ concert after Evensong

I had the great pleasure yesterday of experiencing great music. Evensong is a wonderful contemplative service; Just the ticket for mid-Lent. The space at St. Andrew's Saratoga is a singing space. It's easy to pray in song there.

The concert performer and Evensong accompanist was James Welch http://www.welchorganist.com/index.html . I know I risk being labeled as a “groupie” by some of my musician friends that read here, but if you do get the chance to hear Jim, please do. He’s a wonderful organist and plays both new and standard repertoire equally well. The new music last night was a piece by local organist/composer Lothar Bandermann. http://www.lotharbandermann.com/index.php I’d love to hear it again. Any takers?

On the tatting side of life, I continue to make progress on several PHD items. I also found some size 15 beads in primary colors. I have all kinds of earring ideas for them. We’ll see what make it onto this blog.

Please find time to get out and enjoy spring. It has sprung in full force here. The blossoms on the fruit trees are lovely and fragrant, the buds on the mulberry trees are getting bigger, the ground looks wonderful and ready for planting!