Nothing to see here.....

 Shhhh…….

I’m working on big projects…….

Like skylights, window coverings, and lots and lots of dusting.

When I do sit down with my shuttles, I’m working on the first 2 movements of the Saint-Saens. It’s been awhile, and I thought I should finish off the design.

Jelly and Spring

It’s raining today. I’m not complaining!! We need the rain. We’ve only measured half the “normal” rainfall for the season so far. We don’t get snow here in Monterey, so we depend on rain to replenish the ground water supply and fill the reservoirs. I doubt 6 inches will fall in the next 2 days, but it would be nice to get a couple inches.

Last weekend, I walked down to the bay to watch these: 

This one broke the surface of the water as though it needed to breathe!

Such a graceful swimmer

My phone doesn’t do justice to the spectacle. These Jelly fishs were just spectacular. So easy to watch, and an otter swam right in between them and the dock! I wasn't fast enough to catch a picture of that, but this picture shows a bit the size difference between an otter and a  boat. I would like to find time this weekend to tour the new displays at the Aquarium. Perhaps I’ll find answers to questions from last weekend’s walk.

Boaters on their way to breakfast passing an otter groaming after eating.

In the meantime, I’ve loaded beads for a trial through of Dazzling Debut by Marilee Rockley. It’s in Tatting with Beads Jewelry. I’ve wanted to try curled rings forever. Since I had most of the tatting projects well in hand, I dove right in.

One of those projects is the next round of Renulek’s Wiosna 2017 doily. I know, I know. It took me long enough to make a decision! I think I’ll like it. With all the other demands on my time, It’ll take me a month or so to make enough headway to show a picture.

One of those demands is on the organ bench. I’ll be playing at St. Paul’s Friday at Noon for those local to me. Bach, Franck, Walther and Saint-Saens. Not in that order. Or maybe. Come and find out!

Just before the otter swam through

Just after as the otter dissappeared under the dock

See what can happen when you're distracted?

Yes, I got distracted again. I decided to tat the second motif we discussed Monday inclass: 

I wanted to see if I liked it in 2 colors. I think I do. The next time I’ll make sure to have enough thread I won’t need to SLT to finish out the last chain. ;)

Then, I wanted to see how it would look in size 80:

The folks who come by for the Tatting Tuesday Study Group favor working with tiny thread. Mostly in size 80. I can’t say I gravitate towards it now, but they have pushed me to giving it a fair trial. Ever since I worked on the SaintSaens doily, I haven’t really enjoyed size 80. At the time I just thought it was because there are so many cool embroidery/quilting threads out there and what I had in my stash in size 80 looked so boring. Anyway, it’s closer to the size I like for earrings, but a bit too round for my tastes. Three more shuttles are empty now. I’ll have fun choosing what thread to use for the square motif.

Update on the fire is available on CalFire website. It sounds like most of the homes are escaping the inferno. It’s still a threat as the winds will be picking up today and could blow it out of control. Perhaps that will discourage the crews working with the jack hammer in the street. Either that or they will finish demolition. The walls are thick enough the sound isn’t excruciating, but the windows let enough in. No tatting on the front porch until the dust settles either. Maybe I’ll just have to walk down to the beach!

Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Consider yourself lucky…in a way.

First, the good news:

The Saint-Saens worked in blues is back and framed and hanging on my wall. I enjoy it so much! I don’t think I’ll ever sell this one. Call it my “first” that I consider a lucky charm.

Next, the shawl angel is coming along. Here’s the second version worked in some old size 20 (hence the stained thread).

 

 

I've still more work to do on this design. I'd like to see how big it will be in size 80, so I guess that's the next step.

Now for the whining:

This living in a house that is staged for sale is not fun. I’ve lost track of so much. The 2 hours each day I spend cleaning and primping is tiring. I’ve decided I will never try to be a full time maid. It makes the characters on Dowton Abbey that much more real to me. I know there are those who see such drudgery as a step up and a good choice for a career, but I’m outa here! I soooo want to be messy for a day or so!!!

 

 

Another step in the framing process

Ever find yourself in a loop of chores and repeating tasks? That’s how I feel right now. The house process is stuck right now. Everyone involved seems to be mulling over the next decision. I don’t mind that, but I mind the inactivity.

Today I plan to lace the blue Saint-Saens onto the foam core and get it back to the framer. We’ll see how far I get. I may end up getting distracted by house stuff. That wouldn’t be so bad if the sales/purchase was moving forward.

finally!!!!

Well, in the process of finding my pattern sketches, I remembered that I still needed to finish tacking the Blue Saint-Saens piece to the black fabric so I can get the thing framed. Now this is usually when I struggle to finish a project; when the thing is almost completed. My perfectionism usually rears its ugly self and causes me to wish I hadn't made THAT mistake THERE and how should I FIX it. I’ve committed to framing it for my studio wall, which means there’s no deadline, which means I procrastinate since I feel a lower sense of obligation to myself than to other paying customers. BUT….

Yesterday I pushed through all that and finished the tacking down. Wahooooo!!!!!!!

Now, to get to my favorite frame shop and get a frame picked out so that I can measure the foam core that I’ll lace the black fabric onto. Then it’ll be time to get out the tweezers and magnifying glass and bright light to extract all the cat fur that has worked its way into the project. I’ll try hard to get a photo of it, but can’t make promises. The camera was packed away when we staged the house. Getting to it, getting things set up, and then tucked away again may just not be in the schedule.

Tonight I’m taking time to sing in an Evensong service. The ancient sung prayers have a way of creeping into my soul and calming my mind and centering my energy. Something a house hunter needs!

Shawl angel coming along

I finished the head, body and wings of the angel.

 

Shawl angel head, body and wings

If my math is correct, when I work it in size 80 thread, it will be a little wider than the labels that are sewn onto each shawl and blanket and lap robe and scarf. It will be a tad longer I think. I’m not sure because I decided not to work on the skirt yesterday. I chose to work on tacking down the Blue version of the Saint-Saens. That task won out over sorting for the move as I decided that I didn’t want to move with the doily still in the hoop. I think with 2-3 more days it should be ready to go to the framers. Whew!!!

 

Starting the process for mounting

Here’s a look at the process of tacking the Saint Saens doily onto fabric in preparation for framing:

 

starting to mount

I found out the hard way, I need lots of accurate guidelines to make it look nice. It can take several hours to sew in those lines, but well worth the trouble.

Then, I start sewing down the tatting. Yes, each and every picot gets a tack down. I try to make sure gravity will not pull the tatting out of shape over time. So, that means a tack at the top of each element, either side of beads, and wherever it makes sense. Probably the trickiest part is making sure I don’t pull too tight and make the tatting buckle or the fabric pull out of shape. Oh, and the wood circular frame is not true. It’s just a smidge out of round. So, I’m constantly measuring from a rather arbitrary point that I call center.

More later.

So, now I know

I figured out why I was stalled on blocking the Saint Saens. I wasn’t confident there wasn’t a huge mistake. Yes, that last sentence had a double negative. Doubly upset is how I felt Tuesday evening.

 I went ahead and blocked the doily once. I figured I’d be blocking it 2 or 3 times. There’s a lot of negative space and different techniques. So, I really haven’t examined it closely. Well, closely enough. I knew the individual motifs for Round 2 were correct as was Round 1. I knew things got connected well as Round 2 was finished. I knew everything was correct enough to do Round 3. But, it wasn’t correct enough.

I joined one of the D motifs to the wrong point of an A motif.

Several factors stalled me Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning:

I needed to prepare for the Executive Committee meeting of the AGO chapter I serve.

I hate cutting out sections as that means patching in new tatting and hiding ends (like 6 ends)

The area with the mistake is all split rings. I hate unpicking split rings. Not even calling it retro tatting helps me to feel calm about it.

We needed to pay attention to the computer I use for Picotsnkeys tasks AND the computer I use to pay bills and keep track of our budget. Both are aging. As my daughter puts it, “that laptop is working because of duct tape, rubber bands, and spit.”

I just don’t have much patience left over trying to navigate the next 5 years of transition in my life.

All told, I didn’t spend a lot of mental energy on figuring out my next step until Wednesday morning. After mulling it over and thinking hard, I deduced that 30 DS needed to be got rid of. That’s how many DS are in 5 split rings in this part of the pattern. So, after I spent 4 hours with scissors and pointy things and magnifying glasses, I’ve gotten to the point I think I need to be to repair this effectively.

I woke up achy this morning after all that upset and work. I’m not sure I’ll have what it takes to correct it all today. I’d like to attend a Guild meeting at the Lace Museum and Rehearsal. We’ll see what I accomplish today. Regardless, by next post I’ll have it fixed and the doily blocked. Maybe I’ll even get it mounted. So, more then.

Progress on Round 3 SS Blue version

Still not blocked as I would like. Still not mounted as I would like.

 

Round 3 finished but not blocked

 I seem to have stalled again. I think my stall is partly due to the other tatting projects I’m mulling over.

 

 I’m still working on a motif to be glued to the ornament ball. I’m finding it hard to tat knowing that it will be soaked in glue and stuck on something. I’ve never liked starch. So, using glue on thread is difficult for me to do. But! I will succeed in finishing at least a few ornaments for the museum to sell.

I’m also mulling over getting started on an earring pattern. That will involve dragging out the supplies, spreading them over the family table, deciding what to use and then finally tatting. Oh, and putting everything back. I’m tentatively planning on tackling that tomorrow. I promise to share both the ornament pics and the earring pics. Since I figure both projects will be 3D, that will mean getting the camera to work as I would like it to.

First, off to block.

Looking for Round 3 ideas

Round 2 is done.

Saint Saens in blue Round 2 completed

I’ve dug out the score and am looking at the final section. There’s some ideas running around in my mind. Right now, the running around I’m doing is catch up from not taking care of details over the last few months. That and I realized Christmas is coming.

I usually have our gift list out by now. I usually have decided what I’m making for hand-made gifts. But, this year, it all crept up on me. Sitting at the keyboard and computer to finalize Round 3 will have to wait a few days. Oh, and there’s a house we want to look at in Monterey. That takes 4+ hours to drive down, tour, and drive back. Of course, I get to tat in the car. So, I’d better get some ideas on paper.

Progress in blue

4 of Round 2 motifs attached but not blocked

I’m halfway done with Round 2 of the Saint Saens in blue

The hard part is done. Here’s a detail of the final motif I connected.

detail of Motif A

 

I know I labeled it A. yet, it’s the fourth motif I connect. That’s because of the way the music flows. Saint-Saens started this movement with an introduction. That’s the massive chords on the organ you hear. Then, he introduced a lovely melody (the one I labeled A). It’s so likeable, it was used for the movie Babe. Then, he took off on a romp through sections that I’ve represented with these motifs. Three of them recall themes from the other movements, then he romps through his A section again. For good measure, he repeats all 3 exposition sections; then, tears through a final section with 3 parts.

That music inspires round 3. Yes, it’s coming. When I created the version in white thread using 2 colors of beads, I settled on a rather open design. I knew it would need to be mounted to work. I think it does, but you never know......

For this version in blue, I haven’t decided exactly how to work in the different bead colors. I’ll be using the lighter thread; and all colors of beads as all instrument sections are playing. Mmmmm

Off to play with thread.

On to connecting the next motif

So, here’s how the corrected motif came out.

better join around C

I ended up getting out the scissors and starting over. I think this will work much better. Now on to connecting the next motif.

Saint Saens joins gone bad

Well, my adventures with the joins of this round continue. This version in blue thread had me stumped for how to join. Yes, I know, I wrestled with the white version at this point also. You see, the music doesn’t really bridge from one section to another here, but the sections are quite different. Thus, I wanted to design small motifs that were not alike and yet alike. But, how to connect them gracefully? Hmmmm. Because, well, the music is graceful in this movement; powerful, yet graceful.

I thought I had come up with a good pattern. In the dark thread, the connecting rings should disappear against a black cloth. The beads and such will still stand out. So, I’m pleased. Except when I try to execute and end up with this:

Saint Saens with a bad join

 

Not seeing anything odd? Don’t feel bad. It’s the small stuff here:

detail showing blue "blips"

 

Still not seeing it? Don’t feel bad. It’s only the one join between the two smaller parts. I twisted the one as I made my join. The one on the left should look more like this:

detail without blue "blips"

 

I’ll let you know how my attempt to cut out just that one little bitty knot for the lock join and fix it works.

Oh, a friend thinks at this point it looks like Mickey Mouse. What do they know?

Saint Saens in blue

I realized the other day that I haven’t shown any of the Saint Saens pattern worked in blue thread. So I’ll be sharing a few over the next few posts. Here’s up through Round 1:

Saint Saens Round 1 with connecting rings

 

The thread is Lizbeth Wedgewood Lt. and Wedgewood Dk. in size 20.

The previous version of the Saint Saens I used size 80 thread for the connecting rings as I wanted them to fade into the background and needed to use the same color thread. I'm not sure which version I like better yet. I think I'll reserve judgement until the tatting is finished and mounted.

It's August...already

Can you tell that the computer does not dominate my time?

With apologies to those who follow this little corner of cyberspace, I have managed to get back to a normal daily life. I think. More on all this as it’s appropriate. I have no wish to show you what I’ve been eating or talk about other mundane daily activities. I have set a goal to post Tuesday and Thursday; at the very least.

As a teaser, I’ll say the posts will include my progress on tatting the patterns in the Master TAT binder, working on the blue version of the Saint Saens, tatting a motif based on a Bach piece, and learning more about web programming to volunteer as keeper of the Homework blog. That should do it for, oh say, 6 weeks!

Round 3 finished

I’ve finished with the final round of the Saint-Saens. Here’s a detail picture of it. Pardon my photography skill.

detail of round 3

White thread….ugh!

Something I struggle with in tatting is my sweaty hands. It makes working with white thread challenging. You just can’t allow any of your skin oils to get into white thread. It just doesn’t bleach out. And as the lace ages, it turns an awful color of, well, brown.

It’s a challenge to keep white thread white. Especially when it’s warm outside or I grow older and, well, age.

So, I’ve been trying mightily to keep my hands clean and not touch anything except the lace (no nose scratching, eye rubbing, or forehead massaging) and to drop everything when I feel that heater kick on in my body. Several times I’ve had to drop everything mid-ring. Well, I occasionally don’t keep things clean:

Soiled rings of a Round 2 motif

I’ll be replacing that split ring. If I can figure out how. Hopefully while it’s still cool weather.

On a more positive note, I’ve decided on which clear beads to use. I’ll be tatting up a sample right after I use my scissors (gaak) and re-tat a split ring (harrumph)!

TIAS day 11

I spent most of the day yesterday playing with different option for beads for the Saint Saens final round. I think I’ll make a decision tomorrow, so tune in then. I’m leaning towards not using the crystals. But then, again…..

 

Here’s my version of the final section of part 2 of this year’s game:

 

TIAS 2014 day 11

What is Jane having us tat?????

On to round 3

I’ve been forced to take a break from the Saint-Saens. I need to carve time to try out some ideas for Round 3. That will entail a trip to the bead shops. I could order on line, but I try to support local small businesses considering I’m a kindred soul.

 

There are just so many leaves to rake and moving back in to the fixed part of the house. I will get back to it.