Here fishy, fishy, fishy

 

Beaded Fish designed by Jane Eborall

I tatted this up over the weekend. It was fun!! Thank you Jane for another pattern that makes me smile!

Fox marks the Spot

 That title is not original. More than one person made that pun. I think it fits!

Thank you Jane Eborall for such a fun way to start a New Year!! I always enjoy your Tat It And See!!!

Here’s my finished critter looking forward to marking a place in a book. Right now I’m reading my current magazine issues. Maybe a fox would like to look at new organs installed in places around the world? We shall see……

 For sign-ups for the next round of my classes. These will again be held via Zoom hosted by the Lace Museum in Sunnyvale, CA. The link is at the end of the class description. Scroll down about half way and you’ll see both classes.

The deadline that is 10 days away is for those who will need to gather materials for the Beginning series (starting Feb. 13, 2021) With the disruption to shipping that normally happens in the winter, if you do not have a shuttle or needle and the recommended thread, register now so that you have time to order. The best deal is through the Lace Museum gift shop. Some of you are lucky enough to live close to a store that stocks shuttles and good thread. For the test of us, we need to plan, order, and then….wait….

I look forward to seeing lots of previous students signing up for the Continuing class to be held the first 2 Saturdays in March. I’ll not be specifying the thread size or color or fiber. Here’s a chance to try out that linen or silk thread you’ve wanted to explore tatting with!

Final thought: Jane’s TIAS 2021 Day 5:

Jane TIAS 2021 day 5

I really can tell my left from my right....really!

 Even though I read the Introduction and even talked about it with a fellow tatter, I still mixed things up. It’s recoverable. Here’s my sample so far:

 

So, what did I mix up? I wound my shuttles “wrong” for the TIAS. I will need to add thread later on. I can do that!

Getting ready to celebrate

I’m getting ready to party! 

Santa by Jane Eborall

December is always a busy time for me. I’ll be practicing daily again. I’ll be writing cards and notes. I’ll be creating and buying gifts and then wrapping them. This year I promised myself that everything that comes into the door will be used. I’m not going to stow it away “to use later” but used it now. Kinda “later is now” is my new attitude. And I do Attitude in December!

The picture is one of the gifts I’ve created. Not sure who will be receiving this one. I may just make several! For the pattern, visit Jane.

I hope your celebrations this month are full of joy and wonderment at the gifts you have been given!

HIT

HIT – Historically Informed Tatting (today’s a bit of a rant)

I am doubly motivated to pursue designing in tatting that is historically informed.

1. I am the Queen of Repurpose. If I can find another use for something, I will. This leads to boxes and boxes of bits of thread, pieces of paper, pretty bags and boxes, etc. Mighty convenient I live in a Historic home.

2. I look to the past in my music. Those who do not consider how music has been written/performed/composed in the past are doomed to repeat mistakes. Unlike several of my older colleagues, I do not pursue historic performance for the sake of historic performance. I am content to play using current instruments with current knowledge. I just like to fill the air with beautiful sound.

So, when I design in tatting, I spend a good deal of time trying to find out what others have done with the kernel of idea that I came up with. How have tatters created lace based on 8 repeating rings or motifs? I am constantly asking tatters who have extensive libraries if a design idea I’m working on has appeared before. And, I’m always trying to recreate lace I see in pictures or museums or antique shops.

(Here’s the primary rant)

HIT is important. We must honor those who have tatted before us with the respect as graciously as possible. Innovation is important. But, how many of us twitch and have wide open eyes in surprise when an instrument other than a clarinet opens our favorite Gershwin tune?

All this is my way of following in Jane’s footsteps, Georgia’s footsteps, and others; justifying why I don’t have a ton of designs posted, or pictures every single day; spending hours in museums and looking through books; innovating in (I hope) a historically respectful, creative way.

‘nuff said. I’ll go to the corner and pick up my shuttles.

After a cuppa. Join me? There’s enough hot water here for a ton of people.

Swimming, swimming, swimming

It’s finished. Jane’s TIAS 2018. Pretty little thing. Easy to tat up, a mystery until the last, and just plain fun. Doing these tat-along projects keeps shuttles in my hand. I tend to want to rest after the flurry of snowflakes that seem to fall off the shuttles every December. Thank you Jane and Renulek for putting your designs out there for us to discover and join in the fun. I’m still working on Wiosna 2017 adding beads to the pattern. I’m playing with color in a big contrasting way. We’ll see if the end result is something to be held up as an example of what not to do when confronted with colorful thread and crazy beads.

I’m also considering starting a smaller doily. It’s only 2 rounds. I found it in the Handy Hands Winter 2018 Newsletter. Barb reprinted a Coats 1941 booklet. The unnamed designer, perhaps another musician who tatted away listening to others play, named the pattern Sonata. I’d like to use one color thread and several colors beads. We’ll see how that works out.

Do not flip..........

Still prepping for the workshop. I’m down to winding sample bobbins of thread. I find that’s the best way to give folks a good length of thread to use as they learn the DS. Should finish tomorrow. It’ll be nice not to be up late the night before teaching stuffing the kits!

I took a break yesterday to master a technique that has been intriguing me now for years: Tatting without the flip. Some have been calling this Direct tatting. This is simply NOT flipping the DS as in the second half of a split ring. It intrigued me because it allows a small section of chain to be tatted as though you switch shuttles without having to cut from the ball, load a shuttle, switch shuttles, forget which shuttle is shuttle 1, waste thread having estimated how much for shuttle 2, and generally easier set up for patterns.

I just couldn’t really execute the technique well. Call it unflippingitis. Yep, I kept flipping. Sigh!

So, when Muskaan related that she used the Direct method for the inner chains on her Brussels squares, I sat myself down and learned how:

These were done with much smaller thread as I wanted to use up what was on the shuttles. I’ll be using some size 30 DMC thread I think. That seems to work out to the correct size.

Oh, and here’s my TIAS:

February in Monterey

Well, Crosby weather hasn’t hit yet this year.  It’s been so wonderfully warm and sunny that the roses are very confused. We decided we needed to push the annual pruning up a few weeks. Glad we did. It would be nice to get one more day or so of gentle rain. It’s just so dry. And you know how they say, “Never say never.” Do to that and the other normal homeowner chores we do, there hasn’t been much time with the shuttles. Just Jane’s TIAS.

Day 9

I think we may be tatting someone from the sea. But then again, that just may be my choice of thread.

I’ve almost got everything prepared for the Workshop next week in Salinas. I asked that they cap registration at 20. It’ll be a fun day. Hope your weather is cooperating to make a fun Spring possible for you!

Another milestone

Halfway through another 100 posts. Who’dathunk……

Not much to show as I’ve been cleaning up, organizing, and dreaming up another design. Soon, I promise! In the meantime, here’s my version of Jane’s TIAS 2017: 

Jane E TIAS 2017

She is worked in color Carousel. I thought these colors would be "Jane" and I think they fit nicely!

Crosby weather continues

Life has settled into a routine lately: A day or so of storm, a day or so of cleanup, a day or so of Spring Cleaning (yard and house). What I need right now is a day or so of tatting to finish off these designs! Soon….I hope.

Jane's TIAS 2017 Day 10

I have been tatting 

Oh, almost forgot to explain the title of this post! For many years, Bing Crosby hosted a golf event he called a Clambake. It still brings wonderful fun to our area. The best in Pro golfers come and play spectacular courses. Part of the event is a Pro-Am tournament that raises money for charities. Lately, Bill Murray has been entertaining all while making his way around the holes. Various sports celebrities also join in. The weather usually throws a bit in for the fun. The long-time residents call it Crosby weather. They will say with a wry grin that if it is going to rain and storm in February, it’ll be Clambake time.

This year is no exception. Rain, wind, and general chilliness are forecast. As I write this, the wind is howling, the rain is coming in sheets, and it’s just dank and cold. A good day to rest, tat, and sop up the water seeping into the basement.

Needing a walk on the beach

TIAS 2017 Day 8

Well, the design thoughts are coming fast and furious! 

I’ve not got much to show, just sketches on scraps of paper and several trials in thread that got binned fast. I’m hoping a walk on the beach will help focus me.

In the meantime, here’s my version of Day 8 TIAS 2017: 

post storm....

Jane's TIAS 2017 Day 5

While there’s a break in the storms, I’ll through up a couple of progress pics:

We are feeling a bit waterlogged. Trees are coming down because the ground is so wet that the wind just blows them over. The roots can’t hold on in water. So far, our neighborhood is OK. I think that’s because of the underground stream we have on the hill; the one that’s seeping into basements. It always amazes me how water can break up cement and concrete.

I hope to finish a few more projects and designs in the next week. So, while the sun is shining, I’ll walk a bit and then pick up those shuttles!

Needing a bit more work. Adding pearls and sewing in the beads.

look what I found!

start of my nametag

So, here’s what sifting through my beads uncovered:

I found this pattern while looking at things Shuttlebirds. Shortly thereafter, it was mentioned in class, but I was in the throes of finishing up my TAT binders. Now, I’m finally getting back to it!

Oh, and here’s day 4 TIAS 2017:

Day 4 TIAS by Jane Eborall

Jane's TIAS 2017

Thank you to all who commented on my 5 Year Anniversary Blogging. Not only did people leave comments here on the blog, but I even had someone stop me while on a walk and let me know how much they've learned reading my blog (rants and all!)

Now for today's topic:

I’m having great fun with this!

Jane’s patterns are a breed all their own, fun, and whimsical! Seeing what everyone guesses is fun also. But the most fun???? The ripple effect of digging up a shuttle or 2 and some thread and maybe some beads!

So, thank you Jane! I’m so glad to be part of the fun!!

Christmas Break inspirations and projects

The crazy part of Christmas is over. Consumers are no longer jostling at the stores. The right gift is no longer occupying people’s thoughts. The feasts are all laid out and washed up. Now it’s the part of Christmas that allows me to feel connected with my heritage and people throughout the ages. Any parent can relate to the story of birth and the first few days of a child’s life. Any creative person can relate to how traditions came to be. I hope you have been able to pause and enjoy a brief break.

We have been taking advantage of the time off from work to do some badly needed painting and sorting of boxes. The studio looks more like a storage room in the dim reaches of a theater. There’s instruments, stacks of boxes and furniture, paint cans and oh yes, a loom or two. Not much practicing or tatting lately. I did find more inspiration on a walk: 

 One of my walking buddies has picked and cooked mushrooms for years. She no longer pickles them or fixes soups daily, but she will tell you which mushrooms she likes to use for these dishes. I’m not as creative in the kitchen, so it’s alright I’m learning the Russian names for all these.

It’s almost time to get back to creating with fiber. I think I’ll practice again today. With Epiphany around the corner, I’ve dusted off Wie Schon Leuchtet again. I need to finish the angel. Oh, and I’ve only got a few more squares to complete in my Weave-It study series. Several of these yarn creations remind me of quilt blocks. Mmmmmmm

Oh, and Jane’s TIAS is coming. Now, that’s a gift we all enjoy!
Merry Christmas!

A feel good story

More distractions from tatting with good organ stuff. The December American Organist arrived. Usually, the cover story is about some new organ. Lately, some of the cover organs have not only been spectacular to look at, but also have a sweet story to share. I have a bucket list of organs to listen to. It keeps getting longer and longer with each magazine edition! Anyway, this is a gem that was literally rescued. If you follow links on the website, you should be able to read the story until the January cover story replaces it.

I’m still working of Mark’s angel for our tree top. I've added a bit more, but to pictures as I'm not to the assembly part. I’m still working on a stripe of the flag. I am gathering supplies for the TIAS next month. And, of course, I’m still dreaming up new pieces based on pieces.

Right now, I’m off to practice for next weekend. More later…..

From Concept to Art

Has it really been 2 weeks since the last post? Mmmm Guess I didn’t realize how little I’ve been keeping up with. Or, I have been juggling too much on the calendar. 

I cut out a good bit of tatting on 1 project, haven’t figured out yet how to finish a second, rearranged the creative “stuff” in the house, and been supporting creative folks in the community. I promise to write posts on those activities soon.

Today, I’ll be reporting on yesterday.

Who: Tatting Tuesday Study Group

What: Tatting display with examples of tatting from all over the world.

Where: Lacis in Berkeley, CA

When: Only a few short hours looking at the tatting after many long hours in the car driving there and back.

How: Thank you Joan and Zanie for helping pull off this adventure!

The display was wonderful. I’ve seen photos of many of the pieces on my computer screen. I recognized almost all of the names. So, seeing the tatting in person was just plain awesome. Plus, there were quite a few impressive vintage pieces. Not much information for the curious on who tatted with what thread from what pattern. But, the museum does their best to curate what they have; and their focus is lace which includes tatting and all things lace. If you can find a way to Adeline St., please do. They are only open from Noon to 5 PM which makes avoiding traffic a bit tough, but the journey was worth it. 

A Better Bunny

Remember my sad looking bunny? Well, I went to trim the whiskers and clipped part of the picot holding the bead. That being the fifth error, I decided I really needed to tat a better one. Now, since most of my thread and bead stash is in the construction zone, I opted for the pink thread with smaller beads. 

TIAS 2016 by Jane Eborall

Looks much better, huh?

I also finished a heart that I started thinking I would do a basket like Cyn describes: tatting 3 or more hearts and joining them down the sides. Again, too many errors to compete the total project. I’ll be starting another set soon. 

Julehjerter by Anne Bruvold

2 more motifs for my challenge! Whew!!!

25 motif challenge

I’ve recommitted to the 25 motif challenge. 

So far in 2016, I’ve completed

Ornament cover:

Pattern # 10 by Nadine Nunnelley

10 shawl crosses: 

Wild Rose: http://picotsnkeys.blogspot.com/2016/01/wild-rose-22.html

And a snowman: 

Snowman by Melanie Cervi

Shawl angel

4 down and 21 to go.

On the shuttles now:

Jane’s TIAS

Another Shawl angel

Flag http://picotsnkeys.blogspot.com/2014/10/flag-with-red-stripe.html

That’s pretty good for me! Just 3 UFO’s!!

That encourages me that I can tat 25 motifs in 2016! Off to the shuttles……