Dissent finished and submitted

 To see what other lacers have created out of their stash, visit this link:

IOLI lace challenge 1: stash

To see my quick photo of the necklace, you can scroll down almost to the bottom or just search for my name.

Now for earrings to match. I have 4 great ideas. I usually try to come up with 5 sketches before I start putting the ideas into thread. I can’t wait this time!! One is a crackin’ goodun.

In the meantime, here’s my Day 7 of Jane’s TIAS:

I take refuge in creating

 Most of the time, I don’t follow the news. Occasionally, I find myself looking in on what’s happening. Last night, I watched with shock the report on the events of the day in Washington DC. Now, if you say, “Washington” around my family, you are generally understood to mean a state in the Pacific Northwest. The other Washington just doesn’t enter into our daily life much. But, it is a significant place where significant events happen with significant people involved. I’m glad I’m not that significant. I can choose to live without such events in my daily life!

My evening continued with a calming activity of creating lace. Here’s a picture of what I accomplished yesterday:

header row of Dissent by Marilee Rockley

Statement

 

Organists make a statement when they play. Especially when you can see the pipes. We can shake a concrete building with our pinky finger!

Personally, I’m not much for “statement jewelry” that tends to be clunky and sparkly. I prefer pearls. Just a simple strand. I’ve never had a diamond ring. They just don’t appeal to me. I love the soft luster of an opal or pearl. And things that stand out from my hand just get in the way of playing. Things that are full of sharp edges don’t really work when you are tatting.

I am tempted with this statement piece: Dissent

I can think of quite a few people I know who wear statement jewelry who would love a chance to honor RBG. Time to get crackin!

Christmas earrings

Iris Neibach pattern

Here’s the earring pattern by Iris Neibach that gave me inspiration:

Anything that appears to have a grid as its structure always reminds me of tablature or notes on a staff. I definitely need to play with this some more.

Up next: bracelet design with 5 long lines of beads and something else for the other direction.

Ready to go.

It took me a few days longer. That’s because I got “guilted.” 

I know the difference between talent and success is hard work. Legacy is built not of thought, but of lasting results. Ideas remain just ideas until there is communication and documentation. It’s details! It’s stuff! It’s al’ dat mind-numbing, boring, tedious minutia! So, I’ve been spending time tending to the Administrative side of my creative endeavors. I have to say that it’s been worth the energy. I slept better last night knowing I will have a clearer path today through the many, many distractions I collect for myself. Still have quite a number of loops to close, but just like a ring that refuses to snug up, settings things aside to rest has made it easier; just like a passage your fingers refuse to execute, playing something else has made the mistake show itself. Better late than never here!!!

I can’t resist showing you detail of the big project for the Fair:

It’s lookin’ real nice!

Filigree bead

Look what I found in our local store.

 I’m so used to being disappointed with what I can buy locally; I seldom browse in our local craft store. But, I needed something to go with something I already had to make something. So, I hopped in the car (Not my typical mode of transportation lately with so much within walking distance.), promised myself a reward if I looked thoroughly (the pastry was yummy!), and braved the aisles. It came with a half dozen or so on a string, so I promptly played with some thread and beads to see what I liked.

I like it. More to come…..

planting

Still struggling with adding beads to designs with curled rings. I found some small crystal type beads yesterday. I’ll be trying those today. Hopefully pictures will soon follow.

A distraction lately has been relandscaping a strip in the garden. It was past time to redo. We decided on succulents. 50 feet can host a LOT of plants!!

In the meantime, I found some star-shaped “connectors” to use on the flag. Unfortunately, just one package. So, unless I find more, there will only be 20 states represented. Not.

Another Debut

Another version of Marilee’s pattern Dazzling Debut:

Dazzling Debut by Marilee Rockley

I like smaller earrings. The version I did last week didn’t look “finished” enough. So, I used size 40 thread instead of size 10, and added the two rounds from the necklace pattern. I like it better.

Today starts the busiest 4 days in most organists’ lives. I wish all a successful run!

Dazzling roses

Here’s a trial of the pendant that Marilee designed to go with the earrings. It's from the same book, Tatting with Beads Jewelry. I rather like it!

The large pale beads are difficult to photograph. They are acrylic 8mm beads that I cut from a necklace I’ve had for ages. I never wore it as it was too plastic looking. I thought framing them with thread would help, but dark thread just made them look even more plastic. Same color thread looks better, but I’ve realized I don’t like how shiny the beads look. It’s not a glass shiny, it’s a plastic shiny. Ah well. I can say I’ve got the pattern down now. I really do like it!

With Holy Week next week, I likely will not be posting. Sitting at the computer never is relaxing. I cannot risk activity that leaves my back and shoulders tense and sore. Back the following week with more fun!

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

Ain't house hunting fun!!!

Well, it is fun to imagine and see where other people have chosen to live at one time or another. It’s another experience to actually start the process of buying/selling and moving/relocating. It’s exciting, scary, and rather nerve-wracking. I have to keep telling myself that I can stay calm through it all. Tatting helps.

 I took the time to locate where my bead stash is. I have been itching to tat more earrings. I also need to clean or replace a pair that I wear often. My photo didn’t turn out well at all. When I finish the replacement pair, I’ll scan them before I finish them with the wire. I like using jump rings and such to attach the tatting to a wire. It seems to put the focal point of the design at the height that compliments most people. Just my opinion……

I think I’ll go pick a pattern idea from the sketch book. That should calm my nerves and focus my imagination.

Starworks away

Well, the earrings are finally done. I wasted quite a bit of thread, but thankfully no beads. I’m off in a few minutes to teach the class at the store, so I won’t say much about anything, just a picture:

earrings inspired by Hector earrings by Nina Libin

keeping my focus

Well, I’ve decided to not do a give-away as a celebration of my 100^th post. I’m not trying to be a party-pooper, but my budget just doesn’t allow for giving away of the magnitude that attracts attention in the blogosphere. So, I decided to rely on what I write and post to attract the attention I am targeting. I guess with a full house of family, I just feel like keeping my focus is a struggle. Not that they are making it difficult, it’s difficult for me under normal circumstances (tongue planted firmly in cheek!) and my tatting is important. So, what have I been doing lately?

Last week I continued to work on the Saint-Saens motif. I’m stuck. I continued to work on the earring using the star jump ring. I learned the hard way to let the thread sit a day before loading the shuttle, after loading the beads, it’s wise to take another break, and finally, when you’re tired after a long day of designing is not the time to try a new pattern.

So, after spending 4 hours demonstrating at the Jo-Ann’s store, I finished some samples from the class that fell off the offered list. Here’s the bracelet I was using.

False tatted plait by Gina Brummet

Now that I don’t have 4 shuttles tied up with that sample, I can use them to start more projects….No! I have to remain focused. See how easy it is for me???????

anyone?????

another adaptation of Beanile technique

Here’s another idea I’ve had.

Now, I’m putting these ideas out there because, they’re distracting me. My raison d’etre in designing will be taking musical works and interpreting them in tatting. These earrings are fun to make for gifts, fun to take ordinary findings and make something special from them, but working on these designs is taking time away from what I really should be doing.

Anybody out there want to run with these?

ideas I've been kicking around

Here’s what I’ve been thinking about lately. I’m having a lot of fun trying out these ideas. More later.

star jump ring idea

Teaching the earring pattern

Today is the day. I am the guest teacher for Georgia’s Monday On-going Online class (scroll down to the correct date). I’ll be sharing my earring pattern worked around a finding from a bead shop. (see pattern page of this blog) I’ve been looking forward to getting this pattern out there to other tatters. I see so many possibilities and I won’t have enough of me to try them all. Please, join in the fun!

back in the saddle again

I have been neglecting my blog. I had planned to post while on my trip, but I just couldn’t get sat down and post anything. Even though I had not been living “back home” for 30 years, there was a lot to think about and several people to reconnect with. And when I wasn’t visiting, I just didn’t have anything else to share. Now that we have returned from the trip, I have more of a sense of closure. The service was truly a celebration of my Mother’s life, the walk through the Rose Garden and visit with my God Mother gave me peace.

So, now on to tatting: While traveling, I finished another version of the squaresbookmark. This time I used the stitch count that makes a lot more sense. Thank you, Sue, for pushing me to reassess my pattern. It’s much better now!

Squares bookmark in pastel with white border

I also finished off a “chicks with beads”sampler. The gold beads began to lose their paint as I worked with them. I was so disappointed! But, in the tradition of teachers I’ve learned the most from, including my God Mother, I will use the sample as an example of what happens when you don’t use higher quality beads. I won’t post a picture as it really isn’t very nice looking.

I have my work cut out for me over the rest of the week. Preparing for my class on the earring pattern , finishing my ideas for the Palmettosfundraiser book, finishing my packet for the snowflake Idea at Jo-Ann (more on that exciting idea later), and generally getting organized for a busy summer.

organ factory tours and such

Well, my idea didn’t work too well. I just need to tweek it, but that won’t happen for a while. Other things to do.

Like visiting an organ factory.  Now, before you roll your eyes, let me say that I joined over 30 people on this tour! A bus was rented to get the group from South Bay to North Bay. That meant that on the way, we were treated to a DVD of a tour of another organ company’s factory, a short excerpt of a talk by a third organ builder, and plenty of time to chat with other organists and curious people. It was a wonderful day! I think the comment that I enjoyed the most was from a non-musician. And the commercial at the end of the DVD for the shows visiting other factories (over 300 have been taped) really “tickled me” as my Mom used to say. If you're in the Bay Area and love to see what people do working with their hands creating cool stuff, call and see if you can stop by. They don't always have an organ being put together, but they lots of cool parts.

Like tatting the earring pattern in Sulky “Piano Keys"

I need to finish another one to make a pair, but I can’t decide which one to match. I would like to wear the for the Memorial service this week. So, best get busy eh?

Like having fun at Exclamation Point demonstrating tatting and the different techniques used with different tools. I’ll be working on my supplies for that later.

Like cleaning house (ugh!) and paying bills (double ugh!) and maybe even completing another pattern in the TAT binder (I have to stay focused!). And there’s the list of errands…….

Tatting with paper

I’ve seen this phrase used several times now. I like it. If anyone knows who started using this phrase, please let me know. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like playing with thread and shuttle. I like just tatting and seeing where it takes me. I did that with the bead cap earring pattern. But, I also play with combinations on paper using Inkscape to see if it will remotely work before I pick up the shuttle. Sometimes it works. Other times, I come away with no more of an idea than when I sat down with the pencil or mouse. Sigh. So, that’s my challenge for this week: improve my tatting with paper.

Pattern page is live

Last week was very productive. I conquered Beanile style tatting, made good progress on some original designs (more when they’re finished nicely), and learned how to add a page to my blog with links for folks to download the documents. Just click on the bar above my picture and it’ll take you there. Whew!

But, no time to sit back. I have a demonstration to do today and it’s Mother’s Day tomorrow. And since we ran away yesterday to Monterey in celebration of 27 years of marriage, the chores have really piled up…..literally. Now where is the shovel I use for laundry????