Progress has been slow on my experiment to use Birgit Phelp's 2003 SweetHeart as a base for a bigger heart. What you see above is my third try at round two. While the round has potential, it is not working right for this project. The design gods are laughing.
It might be time to confess that I signed up for the new design-tat beginner course. Having tatted off and on for almost 30 years, I figured it was high time I actually learned to design.
Two Celtic tatting shuttles, plus a free spool of Olive Green DMC Cotton in size 80. Woo Hoo! Celting tatting here I come!
However, before the first design-tat lesson was complete, I go and upset the applecart with my Big, Lofty Idea. It is a curse to have a brain that leaps ahead instead of learning step by step.
Design-Tat lesson 1 homework
In this case, as I tatted out a simple ring-and-chain homework assignment I contemplated both the best way to achieve a straight edging and what role mathematics might play in achieving pleasing compositions. Sounds complicated, doesn't it?
It would not be surprising if my tombstone read: Done in by BLI's.
One of the other students in the design-tat class mentioned wanting to tat Moorish-style designs. I was immediately intrigued! Which led my over-eager brain to leap about spouting random bits of geometry and music theory.
By no means am I an expert in either category. Far from it! But as geometric shapes danced in my head, I mulled over how they might be used to their best advantage. Imagine a heart shape as a triangle with two half-circles on top. See a snowflake as either a cluster of triangles with a core hexagon or a spoked wheel or a spidery web.
I also toyed with bits of music theory, namely ABA rhythm structure. Could ABA structure be a signpost to Moorish-style design?
Honestly, I get these ideas and then cannot resolve them, because I don't have the necessary in-between information to get to the logical conclusion. That's why I need the design-tat course.
But it is not right to bewilder the other design students with my BFIs. So I will table them for now.
On a lighter note, I got a package in the mail this week. Wanna see?
Two Celtic tatting shuttles, plus a free spool of Olive Green DMC Cotton in size 80. Woo Hoo! Celting tatting here I come!
Luckily, I'm a simple-minded person who's better off following someone else's directions! ; )
ReplyDeleteI love my Celtic style shuttles. I hope you like yours! Can't wait to see what you make with them!
I am glad you are feeling better. Pretty edging--is it on a hanky? I love that edging pattern, it works up quickly.
ReplyDeleteDiane, I'm betting you are a fantastic designer. Am I right? As for the Celtic tatting, as soon as I find my missing Celtic tatting book, I'll be in business! Don't know where it could be...
ReplyDeleteJB, thanks! I'm still feeling tired, but not nearly as fatigued as before.
As for the hanky edging, I love it too! The colors flow so gracefully and this pattern turns corners on a dime. Well worth memorizing so it can be tatted anywhere.
Nice shuttles! The hanky edging is very pretty! Looking forward to seeing what you do for the design course. Are you taking Sharon's? I wish I had more time for that right now!
ReplyDeleteHi 'Chic!
ReplyDeleteYes, I am taking Sharon's design-tat course for beginners. I have read the blog a couple of times from the previous session and really learned a lot simply from reading over the blog posts. So I hope to learn even more by working through the lessons.
There never seems to be enough time to tat, is there? I really struggle to carve out little bits of tatting time.
Just noticed that really pretty edging. Now that I am doing a hankie for the first time, of course I see them everywhere! Lovely delicate colours.
ReplyDeleteI also ordered that shuttle and received a gold one - I had ordered a brass one, not that it matters much.... not sure what I am to do with it!
If you don't already have a source for it, I can send you pattern instructions for the pretty edging in the Celtic tatting shuttles photo.
ReplyDeleteWatch for my upcoming posts (Not sure if I will publish it on TTT or the Thursday after. I'm still writing it.) for sources for the pink and white edging too!
I pored over all my tatting books looking for it, and found it more than once. So chances are good that you might already have it in your tatting library. :-)