progress on Wiosna 2017

I’ve completed a few projects that came to light last week. Nothing very big. Nothing to show here. If you were in Pacific Grove last Sunday, you may have heard me play. Thanks, Laurie, for coming up to talk afterwards. I do plan to pursue the Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza. I’d like to expand the program to include adults, physics students, and other geeky musicians.

So, back to what’s on the shuttles. Another Candle Cuff is just a short chain away from being finished. I’ll use that chain to demonstrate hiding ends and blocking to the Study Group next week. This week we’re taking a break and I’m listening to a lecture about symphonic music given to non-musicians. I try to keep up with YouTube offerings, and have quite a bit of notes for myself. Today should be a great opportunity. More later.

I’ve begun Round 10 of my monster doily designed by Renulek:

I think things will pull together color/thread/bead with the next 2 rounds. This round is not as fiddly as the previous, but with a TOR and 3 BJ per repeat, it’ll take a while to complete all 24 repeats.

Another way to mark picots

I spent some time yesterday looking for a notebook. It has my notes from meetings with the Concert Task Force. I didn’t find it. I did find a few UFO’s. A Prayer shawl started years ago (yikes) and an angel pattern left unfinished. I always wonder about what I determined was most important to do the last time I held the project in my hands. Truth be told, sometimes it seems most important to reduce my stress by setting it aside until I get inspiration to solve whatever problem came up. Not the best priority of my attention.

I’m still working on the snowman pattern. I started a version using size 80 thread. I hope to use them for earrings. Really. While I was loading beads on, I grabbed a bit of leftover thread to use as markers. Remember this idea? (insert link) Well, the brown thread I grabbed was rather slippery. I think it’s waxed button thread. Bad idea. I ended up without markers as the knots untied themselves and the thread fell away from the beads. What to do?????

Here’s my solution: 

I took another piece of sewing thread, used my crochet hook to pass it through the picots in the order that I would need to find them. It’s working out better. I can see them much easier. Still need the magnifier with size 80, but I’m working my way around joining those 11 picots! I hope to have one finished next week to show. I’d like to wear them while working on Jane’s “final” TIAS.

Another critter

Well, so much for organization. I did make some progress. Unfortunately, the mess is too big to see my progress. But,…..

The hummingbirds are migrating along with the Monarchs. Several sightings of each throughout most days. I enjoyed a visit from another feathered friend:

Quail always seem so sedate and cute. They hung around in the shade feasting on something. Maybe termites? I’ve seen some wings stuck in the ever-present spider webs in the garden.

But, enough daydreaming….

Back to the shuttles and keyboard!

productivity in what matters

It’s been a good week so far. I’ve found all 15 shuttles I typically use. Several live in a tin that serves as my Demonstration Box. A couple need some tlc work. Most are the Clover shuttles.

Nothin’ fancy, just good basic shuttles. I still need to gather all the patterns into a folder. And I’d like to wind shuttles for a lanyard to go with my tatted nametag. A couple shuttles are set up to tat another Joy bookmark. Several shuttles are dedicated to my design idea bag.

I’ve found it’s a good idea to set aside time each week for specific tasks. Designing falls into this category. Why? Because I could easily get lost in the task and spend way too much time. If I return to the task for short spurts each week, I am much, much more productive. Just how I work best. It’s important to go with your brain flow. Fighting yourself can leave bruises.

I also spent some time yesterday on the harpsichord. I came to the conclusion that I need to get proficient at replacing strings. Another string broke during the last week. I think because they are vintage strings, (no surprise there) and the wood is responding to the higher humidity here (no surprise there) by swelling. That pulls the strings tighter and week ones snap. I tuned it down almost a half-step yesterday. I figure after another week it may just stay at 415 or so. We’ll see.

I’m looking forward to practice today as I have time on the Dobson at St. Dunstan’s. It’s always a joy to play that organ. I’ll be dressing in layers as it will likely be quite a bit warmer there than at the house. That will be my short spurt for practice time today. I can no longer practice for hours each day. Especially if I’ve done cleaning chores or yard work. I’ve become much better at studying the score and thinking through the music. If I can “learn” the piece that way even a little, I can cut down on the repetition at the keyboard. 

Creative Balance

Tatting time lately has taken a back seat to my organ time. 

No surprise there. December is always crunch time for those in Sacred Music. I’ve learned that I need to start planning for Christmas Day in July. If I plan hand-made gifts, those need to get done by November. If we host, the house tasks need to be planned by September. If we travel, the house chores need to be planned by October. That’s just so that I don’t get overwhelmed and fragmented with the practice and performance schedule. I know so many colleagues who do so much harm to themselves trying to have a life and work. I’ve come very close myself. Too close. So, what has been the organ time lately? Taking on a couple of small assisting gigs to allow 2 of those colleagues to pull off the impossible: work life balance as a musician. I’ll be playing a couple of wonderful instruments, sharing some 18th century French music, and celebrating with family and friends.

So, what about tatting?

The tree is almost done. I was able to work on it for 3 hours while the Superior Court of Monterey County decided that they didn’t need me to serve as a juror. I’m not pleased with the last few elements, so I’ll be redoing them. I hope to have it up so I can share pictures with Thursday’s post. Check back then! In the meantime, I encourage us all to create a little each day.

Celtic Knot Picot

Here’s my sample of Celtic picots.

This continues the trend of combining projects/classes:

OnLine class on 3-14-2016

Tatting Tuesday study group with Carmel Crafts Guild members

Using up the left overs on shuttles.

Well, the last isn’t an official project, but it does keep things a bit more tidy!

The pipes have arrived

Has it been a week? Yes, and what a week! We’ve been meeting with local people who help owners make Historical residences their home. Sounds pretty simple, but there are still a host of choices and decisions to make. I can understand now why some people just demolish the house on the lot and build a new house. It’s coming together and we’re making progress.

I’m making progress on the angel pattern. The learning curve will be very steep getting this one written down with diagrams using the computer. I’m slowly getting there. If I’ve learned anything after 35+ years of playing the organ, the learning of a skill is tedious and needs to be taken slowly enough your brain and body learn good habits.

I’m also making progress in the studio set up. Last weekend, we transported the pipes. They are resting in boxes on the living room floor waiting for the rest of the instrument to arrive. Next week I should be getting everything put back together. So much to do, so much to do……

Progress on studio 1.0

Today’s task: start the binder

ready for "stuff"

I’m having great fun planning and executing the studio preparation. It’s exciting! It’s also daunting! And the first thing I do when I feel overwhelmed: get stuff written down and organized into a folder/binder/file….whatever! I’m addicted to getting thoughts out of my brain onto paper. 

Getting them into a computer just doesn’t cut it. I need to pick up the paper, hold it, stare at it, take it with me to the store, put it in front of the expert I’m trying to communicate with….you get the picture (on paper!)

So, I’ve located an empty binder and an empty folder that can go into the rings. Now I’m ready to figure out what to do next. 

ready...set....ACTION

So, for years my blog has listed thoughts about organ music. I’ve not written much about organ music: the odd concert comment, a piece used as the basis for a tatting pattern, the occasional indulgence in playing for the fun of it. Well, I’ve realized that with an organ arriving for the studio, I’ll have to change that.  I have room in the “new” house to keep my music accessible. Maybe even at my fingertips. Now, if this had audio to where I’m sitting with my laptop, you’d here chuckles and chortles and sighs of anticipation. Even though it’s tempting to take music to the piano to polish up for the big debut, I’m forcing myself to keep focused on getting the house ready! Yesterday, I found more resources in a local paint store. I also checked some books out of the library. I found working on the last house, if you have no clue what questions to ask, you can't learn what you need to decide. So, the process has begun in earnest. Between organ pedals and tatting shuttles my life will be very busy. I must get organized (pun intended) NOW!!!