Ode To a Table Saw

Great table with blades ablure
which severs wood from wood
and makes great boards into shrunken planks,
such a void is there in life without thee.

Projects, long put aside for want of thy blade,
pile up in dusty corners and along crowded walls;
thier voices cry out for completion
that only thy masterful mechinisum can provide.

The Jig and Scroll lack they acuracy,
and the mighty Miter is set skew
when thy glistening teeth are brought forth
Raised from within thy bowels.

Yes, predominant power tool,
immense is thy size and great is my need.
Oh, how plane and unproductive is my art without thee.
I await your coming, consument cutter.

And when you art come to my home
shouts of "finaily, I can finish this!"
Will ring through the air like
the peel of bells upon the New Years day.

*****************

I think I need to get out more.

Proficient at Unmaking

I have, out of necessity, become quite proficient at unmaking lace.  I spent almost and hour at Lace guild yesterday undoing the tatting I had done the first hour and then re-tatting in the 3rd hour back to where I had been when the mistake was made.  I think that in any artistic endeavor one learns as much or more by fixing mistakes then in any way else.  I'm just glad that it could be fixed; I've had to cut whole section off tatting because they couldn't be fixed.  The lesson learned is to pay better attention to the pattern.

Speaking of patterns; the wonderful Margie has invited me up to her house on Friday to riffle through her bobbin lace pattern stash!  It's good to have friends.

5 Handmade Gifts Challange

I took up a challenge on facebook this week to make 5 people a hand made gift.  I have my best friend K, and old friend Lucy,  a mission companion - Mindy, and then 2 newish friends - Rachel and Lisa.  I have some ideas, but it comes down to...book or lace!?  It's a tough choice.  Good thing I have a year to do this.

Reticella Lace

Finally!

My book of Reticella lace making came.  Unfortunately the authors assume you know how to make all the stitches and know all the jargon *pout*  So, now I have to find another lace book that has the needle lace stitches and glossary of terms.  I may just try online, but I'll not hang all my hopes on that.

To give you and idea of the kind of lace I am aiming to make take a look at these lovely paintings.  The first is Reticella that is "floating" by itself, the second has the lace motifs set into linen.  Most lace in paintings from the 16th Century is a variation of this kind.  Fun fun!