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!

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.

Envelopes....where ARE the envelopes???

Short post today as I’m off to the Carmel Bach Festival Office to turn in my application for the Art Raffle. Last year I focused on Joy and Buxtehude. This year is Sonata time! I’ll hear in a few weeks if my little bit of thread will be displayed to tempt ticket buyers.

Post Fest glow

            After a wonderful month of activities, the Carmel Bach Festival is finished. The art donated for the Raffle has been carefully distributed to the lucky winners. Those who win a piece of art are encouraged to write a thank you note to the artist. I happily wrote my note for the book I won. It’s an exquisite handmade paper book with two quotations. I love paper making, so this beauty is now displayed on the ledge in the windows by the harpsichord.

I wonder where my bookmark has landed? I count the whole Festival Raffle experience a resounding success!

            Before I go, I’ll share a bit of my success with the cro-tat technique: 

 This yarn is marketed for baby things, so it has a bit tighter twist. It’s also 4 ply which helps also. For this pattern the color way actually works too.

 Mmmmm beginner’s luck?

Fun!!

The Bach Festival is almost over. There’s been a lot of music. A lot of fun, fun, music; a lot of fun socialization. I’ll confess that most of my social time has been spent networking. I’m such a work-a-holic! Well, that’s what happens when you get to mix your passion with your career!

I’ve really enjoyed everything. Even the music I don’t typically enjoy. Mostly because I found myself busy with other activities when those pieces were being talked about or performed. But, when the level of musicianship is as highly trained and offered as what I’ve witnessed, it’s not hard to listen. These people know how to “music” as one of the kids said. He was corrected by the older lady walking with him, but we both knew what he meant. Truth be told, I liked his phrase. There’s more to creating art than technique, knowledge, skill, creativity, dedication, the list goes on and on.

            For those local and Festival visitors, the Raffle continues through next weekend. Then the tickets are drawn, the art taken down and distributed, and hopefully all get to enjoy more art in the future. I have confidence the music will continue. I look forward to experiencing more, creating more tatting, and inviting more people to join the fun!

Wallwalker

Preparations for CNCH at Asilomar are coming along. I’m calling this warp my “murphy” warp. Every weaver has one. Mistakes creep in at every step. Most are recoverable. Well, almost all are. The consequences are just that little bit more “handmade” look in the cloth that comes off the loom. THAT is all I’m saying on this.

The noise in the schedule will really pick up the next few weeks. I won’t be sharing much here. There will be little time at the computer, and until after the Raffles, I will not be sharing what I’ve donated. I wish I could. I think the pieces will raise lots of money. At least I hope they do! When things calm down a bit, I’ll be sharing pictures and such.

Part of the noise was an adventure one of the cats had. The walls in the house are very thick. There are actually 2 layers of plaster with lath and a sizeable space between them. That dead space makes the temperature and humidity pretty constant. I’m getting used to 62 – 65 degrees F. The space is large enough for a small animal, like a rodent, to use. So far, we’ve been able to discourage extra critters with 4 cats in the house. The cats don’t have access, but the presence has been sufficient.

Well, a wall was open during the bath facelift. And yes, a cat found her way in. That space in the wall is open to the crawl space under the house which is open to our tiny basement/cellar. After frantic meows, the toy finally coaxed her to where she could be relieved of the cobwebs she picked up. Her new nickname is Pixie the WallWalker.

I’m looking forward to getting the loom warped for CNCH, getting back from the framer the donation, getting the bathroom functional, getting the fence fixed, getting the front landscaped after the tree is gone, getting back to regular walks at the beach. I’ll have lots to share then!