Using eggs

 I’ve been trying, without much success, to keep organized in 2025. I have just a few more weeks to go. It’s not looking good for accomplishing my goal. No, I haven’t been trying to accomplish those tasks by using eggs. Although a good breakfast generally helps.

I have been working on how to store my tatting samples. That makes it easier to show people what tatting can be. One of the hardest types of samples to keep at hand is my tatting around eggs and ornament balls. They deserve to be seen. I have some windows that I can use. So far, so good. There’s the mantle in my creating room. The shelving has been taken over with books and supplies that don’t fit in the cupboards. I do enjoy this side of creating lace (displaying) and I really must do better (where is that display hook).

The other day I found myself looking at eggs with embroidery on them. This post started it all. They’re pretty. I see lots of potential. And also, I like the way lace can accent shape as it creates more shapes to see. I’ve several sketches to work on now! Perhaps by the time spring rolls around I will have some concrete ideas to work up.

Still not quite right

 

I’m slowly working on the new hair bun holder. This is a sample I’m working up that will end up as another cover for an ornament ball. Because it will not be flat, the ruffling should work out. The next round needs to have enough room for the ornament to slip in, so I guessed at the stitch count. Since my tatting time is limited, it may take awhile to figure out how to proceed.

It's a New Year!

 Happy New Year to all!!

I enjoyed taking the last 2 weeks off. Really. Despite the whole affair being thrust upon me. My calendar will take awhile to recover. All will get back to normal by the end of the week. Well, except the roofing work, and the painting. Oh, and the new-to-me loom waiting to be set up in the study. And the organ to be tuned so practicing is a bit more enjoyable (cringe).

I haven’t made much progress tatting as it was a case of correct 1 mistake, tat a ring, make another mistake, sigh, then set it aside for the rest of the day. Rinse, repeat each day for 5 days (!) until I got this far: 

Then I set it aside for a week. I’m trying out different ideas on my sample that will cover an ornament ball. I think I will go with what I used on this piece .

Simple gift

 I am very aware that I have been given many, many gifts. I am talented. I experience great privilege, I enjoy abundant (enough) resources. This awareness makes gift giving tricky. Simple gifts from the heart are usually good goals. But, what is a simple gift and what is a simplistic gift? Can a simplistic gift be turned into a simple gift?

As I gather my gifts to give this Holiday season, I will ponder that question. In the meantime, here’s one of my favorite gifts to give:

Ornament with tatted covering:

CR: 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 . MP

Round 1

S/R 6/6. BTS

LR: 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 3. RW BTS

|| :  SR: 6 + 6 .  RW BTS Join to picot of CR.

LR: 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 3 . RW BTS  : || for a total of 6 SR. Final LR worked as a S/R.

S/R: 3 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 / 1 – 1 – 3 .      

Ornament Cover CT & Rd 1

Round 2    

S/R: 3 – 1 – 1 + 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 / 1 – 1 – 3 . RW BTS

|| :   SR: 6 – 6 . RW BTS

LR: 3 – 1 – 1 + 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 + 1 – 1 – 3 . RW BTS : || for a total of 6 LR.

S/R: 6 / 6. Final SR can be worked as a S/R.

The pattern is not new. Many designers have adapted edgings to create a beautiful embellishment. It can be accomplished using shuttle or needle to tat. I like to use smaller balls as many of my friends and family have small tress to decorate. It’s easier to enjoy a smaller ornament year-round. I like to use metallic thread and/or beads. Tip: Green thread disappears when hung on a green tree. Go for contrast and catch the light. The photo is of a 1.2” ball with Frappe color of thread. All Central Ring picots are about 3 DS wide, all BTS are about ¼” in length. 

A simple blocking with fingers can help the picots lay nicely on ball. Use the tails to tie tatting onto ornament by threading the tails through the picots of the SR and tying together. It takes me about 4 hours to load shuttles, tat lace, block and sew on tatting, and wrap it to give. (I don't completely block the lace just dampen it with my finger dipped in water.)

If you need more information than this quick note, please comment with your email address and I’ll send a PDF of the pattern. I haven’t finished the diagram with round 2 but may soon!

Enjoy gift-giving!!!!

Christmas gifts

 

Christmas this year has been special! I received wonderful gifts!! The ornament is stitched by a good friend, the bag woven by another good friend, and the book came from my son and daughter. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I don’t plan on putting the bag away. I plan on using it year ‘round. The bands are just too neat and colorful!

Ninetta put together this short history and explanation of her Treble Tatting Stitch with help from Muskaan. Truly an international effort. I have read the introduction. Next to dive into the background and a bit of history. I’ll enjoy it tremendously! She walks us through her Swirling Butterfly Doily quite thoroughly. Perhaps I can master the basic motif early in 2024.

Have you finished your Christmas gift ideas?

 Tatting & Ornament Standlightweight Stores Flat - Etsy

To tempt you for those on that gift list 

The Tatting Toolbox 3D Printed Shuttle & Needle Caddy and - Etsy

….tatting gifts from Stephanie Cervi designs

Also in the pipeline, small tool to help with your SCMR.

 Photo coming soon!!

Practice while finishing a UFO

 I wanted to practice a few of the stitches before starting the companion piece to the Autumn Ornament. The mentor who started me on this adventure very wisely gave me a bit of canvas to play with. I needed a bit more than she thought I would. What to do?????

In clearing out more “stuff” I ran across this uncompleted bookmark from my daughter’s Girl Scout days. It needed the bit of border finished. I mused that it needed something after the exclamation point. A smiley face? Something with Spring in mind? My mind wandered to the final stitch I thought I would practice.  Hmmmmm will it fit?

I think it did! Now to find a home for it. I’m thinking of including it with a book I’m returning this weekend

It needed beads

 

As I mulled over what edging to put on this ornament (it’s supposed to be suspended from the center like a bell), I thought the stiff fabric would drape better with beads weighing down the edge. I chose yellow to tie in the “leaves” in the Blackwork section. It does. Now I need to puzzle out what to do on those corners……

I've finished this part, what's next????

 

Christmas Bells by SEBA Designs

I have a kit for a Christmas ornament. When it’s ready to hang on the tree, it looks like a small lantern. I see so many possibilities for this idea. Tatted edging….tatted motif mounted on a gossamer cloth…..beads and bling…..

The stitching for this side went fairly well….until I started in on the parts I stitched in yellow thread. If you can count past 4, I’m sure it was enjoyable. I’m a musician. Past 4 is a challenge for me to keep on task. J No, not really, but I did have to take out quite a bit. As I stitched the corner designs, I found 2 mistakes. They will stay mistakes and become design variations. J

I’ve already started tatting an edging. Just a sample as I think I might add beads.

Stay healthy and safe

 

With the emergence of omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, I’ve reluctantly decided to not make plans for travel or visiting until more is known. Please support those who are working in the health and science fields to discover facts so that we can live more wisely in community with each other. 

I came to this decision while helping out with the finishing of the ornament pictured here. Before you ask if I can finish your stitching, let me assure you I have A LOT to learn!!

Finishing a Prayer

 Well, I didn’t finish the ornament. I finished a prayer shawl instead. This one I started…..

7 years ago. (ulp)

What is that Jubilee concept? Every so often all is forgiven and reset. Well, now my Knitting Board is free to reset. I think I need to finish other projects first. Then, I'll maybe start another one. Oh yeah, the elephant......

Distraction

 Thank you to those who were curious when I mentioned I was distracted again. Curious or worried. Nothing to report thankfully. I was just caught up in getting the Moller fixed and getting my COVID-19 booster. Now it’s time to get busy on other tasks!

Like finishing the tree ornament.

Edging complete

 

If you’ve been along with me on this adventure of life, you know I can’t leave well enough along when simplicity is called for….normally. Sometimes in my old age, I get it simple.

This edging will go around the ornament I’m working on with the EGA stitchers. Check back before next week for a view of the ornament suitably laced.

Tree ornament with Rhodes

 

I know I shared a photo of this already, but……

So here’s how I finished the ornament:

I cut 2 pieces of white felt to use as padding and backing

I cut a piece of blue tissue paper (didn’t have felt in a nice shade of blue to use)

I sewed the felt to the canvas with the tissue paper backing the canvas

I twisted some crochet thread to create the cord and sewed it on leaving space to tack in the ribbon to use in hanging.

I’m sorely tempted to tat an edging to use also. Maybe it’s because I like the way Ice Drops looks on the tree. I recommend a fabric rather than felt. When I did a test fit on a live tree, the felt made it difficult to hang the ornament carefully. I will likely use a different thread to create the cord for the next ornament. The crochet thread doesn’t have enough sheen to the fiber. I like sparkle.

Rhodes on ornament

 

The stitches worked in blue thread are Rhodes stitches. I couldn’t help thinking about Rhodes scholars when I was stitching this. There is lots of counting and double checking to do with this pattern. I felt like my brain had got a workout when I finished. It was fun to add the pearls. 

Next up: a Christmas tree pattern with beads to mimic ball ornaments and lights.

Off on a new adventure

Rd 1 color 1 of Interwoven Picot
Medallion adapted by Cajah Reed

Because I like contrapuntal* music, I like tatting patterns that weave into 3-D pieces. Being able to work them in different colors is just what the organist in me wants. So, I’m off on a new interwoven pattern:

I found this in the summer 2021 issue (Vol. 41, No 4) of the Bulletin published by IOLI. The name is very descriptive: Interwoven Picot Medallion and Ornament. Thank you to Cajah Reed for adaption this from Serena Watson’s Twirly. 

* Contrapuntal: A piece of music with two or more independent melodic lines. 

Posted on IOLI

 Here’s a link to the posting of the Biscornu on the International Organization of Lace, Inc. website. 

They have been encouraging lace making for many, many years. Recently, there have been more tatting resources available through IOLI. I encourage you to check out their website and consider joining in the Virtual Convention July 25-August 1, 2021.

The next 2 weeks, I will be attending a class on Church Music & Hymnology. While it is virtual, I will not have unlimited time at the computer outside class. I will be sketching future designs for tatted pieces, perhaps a new ornament collection. Please forgive if I miss a blog post. June 2021 will be an exciting time for me!

Happy tatting!!

Time is marching on

Changes are afoot. I am beginning preparations for a new tatting class series (online only right now). No dates yet, but I think it will be exciting. I need to narrow down the possible pattern: edging for the mat from the Museum collection, edging for your fabric mask, earrings, door decoration in para-cord, cover for ornament, etc.

I’ve also decided I really must complete some of the projects for the house that I started too long ago to admit. That will involve a sewing machine. So, I must organize that part of the house. No, I won’t be sharing pictures! Well, maybe.

I’ll be reminding myself of this story when I get discouraged: 3 years to clean and reinstall the grand orgue in Notre Dame. I won’t take 3 years. Honest.

Oh, and time was extended last weekend. The bidding for the Art Auction to support Carmel Bach Festival will close tomorrow at 3 PM Pacific (11 PM GMT) . I hope whoever wins my piece will let me know. Maybe they’ll even send a picture to me. Well, one can hope.

Ornamentation tatted art featured

Posted Monday 7-27 by the Carmel Bach Festival on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bachfestival/

Ornamentation by Melanie Cervi

(In case you cannot get Facebook to show the post, here’s what they said)

”A potpourri from our art auction is offered for your review today. Don’t miss these small gems that will enliven your home if you are the winning bidder.

Tatting is handwork whose knots produce lace—a Victorian-era handcraft creatively used to make a Christmas ornament by Melanie Cervi. Does your Christmas tree call out for this unique addition?”

Bidding is done by sealed bid through the website here:https://bachfestival.org/product/melanie-cervi/

Auction will in Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. Art will be mailed to the winning bidder for a flat fee of US$15.00.

Thank you all for your support.

Art of Music Raffle

I’m adding to a common refrain today: support artists and musicians who have not been able to earn money.

Each July, in Carmel California, musicians gather to create a special Festival centered on the music of JS Bach. Heaven for this organist. Brigadoon for many of the fabulous musicians arriving from all over the world. The quality of vocal music and caliber of musicianship is so high it often takes my breath away. And I’ve heard some of the best in my time.

To help fund this yearly event, the community gets creative. Artists join in. There is an application process and the pieces are donated, with most of the artists living here really enjoying participating. It’s definitely fun to see what is inspired by the music we hear! Previously, the art was hung in the gallery at the main performance space: Sunset Center. This year, the show is presented via the main website: bachfestival.org

Above is my humble piece. I knew it would be difficult to photograph well. I like how the photographer captured the colors. The short description: I tatted 4 elements to be displayed on an ovoid ornament. The swirls of color represent the musicians and the audience. The rest is inspired by the Sunset Center hall: the gray by the lighting structure, the red by the seats and the beige by the marvelous stone floor of the lobby. I chose not to fill the ornament as I look forward to a future when we will gather together again to celebrate music and art and Carmel and….

Please consider bidding on any of the artwork, especially Ornamentation. Please support the musicians and artists as much as you are able. Please continue to celebrate Bach. There are videos offered daily on the Festival website to keep everyone in touch and inspire audiences and musicians.