I've received a jab

 Yesterday and today will therefore be rest days. I spent some time, when I wasn’t sleeping, reading an article on marking your scores by a respected organist. I agreed with the opinions expressed in the article. (Not unusual as I tend to consider all opinions as just that: opinion. I tell my students why I agree and then give them permission to explore, test, and decide.) The bottom line for this organist is that if you mark your score well, your repeat performance will be more accurate, less stressful and more musical.

What has that to do with tatting? Well, I still prefer working from a copy of a pattern printed on paper. That’s because I always, always mark the piece of paper with my notes on thread size, shuttle or needle, finished size, amount of thread used, where I found the pattern difficult to reproduce consistently, any other tidbit that I think I may want to know in 2-3 years when I decide to tat the piece again.... you get the idea!

Mark your score. Mark your pattern.

Your tatting will be more consistent, more enjoyable and prettier.

Next week: how I mark my patterns.

Piecework is fun to explore

I realized Monday that I had not put up a post on my recent pattern browsing.  Quite some time ago, I put 2 CD’s of Piecework Lace Issues on my shelf. I finally got around to cracking open the wrapping and exploring them. On one of the Cd’s, there is a lovely article about a bedspread. Included in that particular issue is a pattern for the basic motif used in the rather <huge> bedspread. I must try it out soon!

To read or not to read.....

Those of you who live around me know I love reading. I don’t mention it much in this blog because, well, reading is a hobby of mine that’s morphed into professional development lately. I have 4 magazines that come into my home on music and fiber arts each month. Articles in those send me to the internet regularly. I do read for fun some, but not as much as when I was younger.

I have been following the Great American Read program. It is fun to see what books made the list, what books they feature in the Fall shows, and what I am drawn to reread or finally get to reading. I’ll be looking into a way to read and tat just as you can tat while the TV is on, or your waiting for something to happen in an office or meeting. A good way to test out design ideas!