Joining the Big Commission

Remember the Big Commission? I just went back to find the date I began this project--February 2, 2007. Some things take longer to complete than other things.

The only parameters I received from the client was to weave a blanket 90"x100" with a bamboo warp and recycled cashmere sweater weft. I knew I was going to weave panels and join them together, but the size of the panels, the weaving technique, and the colors were all left to me. I had recently seen a textile show of the Sarawak weavers of Borneo and became enchanted by the concept of having the design come to me in a dream rather than plan out a design on paper. So that is what I did. On the side bar of this blog under LABELS is the topic Big Commission with 12 entries. (if you want to track my progress).

Then I ran into a couple of snags which stopped me cold. When I had completed 5 panels, the design seemed finished although I had only 74" in width. When I washed the panels, they became 88" long. So I waited for a dream to tell me how to proceed. That was back in March.

In March my world went into high gear with putting the condo up for sale and moving. I still continued to wait for the next chapter of the dream. As August draws near, I realized I just need to join all the panels together and finish off the top and bottom and call it finished at 74"x88"

I am not great at tailoring, but I am a fabulous joiner. It takes me between 3 and 4 hours to join 2 panels together. It is a great way to catch up on movies or recorded books. I know it is not generally a summer time project, but it is raining and in the 60's here today.

The book shown below is a fabulous book (out of print), but I was lucky enough to find a copy. I used to check it out of the Seattle Weavers Guild library, and I was the only one to ever check it out.

And what about the folks that have commissioned a larger blanket than they are getting? I have spoken to them at length, and I believe they will be thrilled with a blanket this size. It weighs almost 5 lbs as it is. I know they live in Montana, but a 7 lb blanket is just too heavy to deal with. I will be weaving them each a bamboo cashmere scarf, so they will get their extra inches in another format.

My plan is to ship the blanket on August 4th to get there in time for their 5th wedding anniversary. I will ask for pictures, but you never know.

Progress at St Mark's

Ev and Diane weaving

Big excitement! Action! The first panels of the altar cloth come off the loom. Here are three wise people: the photographer, the priest, and the weaver.

I always think this is the hardest part--releasing the warp from the front bar. I am always so excited at this point that my hands fail to work efficiently.


I must run. I am off to warp the loom for panel #2.

Success

"What is success?" asked Ralph Waldo Emerson, "To laugh often and much. To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty. To find the best in others. To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeem- ed social condition. To know even one life breathed easier be- cause you have lived; this is to have succeeded."

I found this quote in my inbox upon my return. It is even better than my definition of success:
"Success is the ability to not become discouraged between failures."

May we all have a successful day!

Oodles of Bamboo

Imagine the pleasure of opening this box of yarn! Good friends did much of the packing ( I mean really good friends). They did such a wonderful job.

I had wound this warp before I moved, so it was ready and waiting for me (and Gary). I had been weaving other people's healing words, so I decided I would inaugurate my new apartment with my own words: LAUGHTER//FORGIVENESS.

I am heading off on a quick trip to Baltimore early tomorrow morning for a family reunion, but laughter and forgiveness will be waiting for me when I return in a few days.

Summer Weaving Project at St Marks

Update

A loom donated to St Mark's by Janet Fesq and one loaned by Bonnie Tarses have been moved into the nave at St Mark's. On July 10, Bonnie and Ev warped the 2 looms. One will be used to weave both a white and a green altarcloth. The other holds the warp for 6 stoles. We will weave weft "story yarn" stripes into all pieces.

As weavers, we are offering the congregation at St Mark's an opportunity to weave a healing cloth with a new vision from the memory yarns of the past. Members of Seattle Weavers Guild are working with members of St Mark's on this project of a web of life.

A sign by the looms has this hymn,
"Let Streams of Living Justice", lyrics by William Whitle

For healing of the nations

for peace that will not end,

for love that makes us lovers,

God grant us grace to mend.

Weave our varied gifts together:

knit our lives as they are spun;

on your loom of time enroll us

Till our thread of life is run.

O Great Weaver of our fabric,

bind church and world in one;

dye our texture with your radiance,

light our colors with your sun.

We are at the looms on Thursdays 12 to 4 and Saturdays 10 to 2. Stop by to see the progress, hear the stories, or throw a shuttle or two. We are also collecting yarns with a story. Add yours.

Ev Tuller evtull@rockisland.com

If anyone has some special yarn (with a story) to contribute, please feel free to send:
Weaving Project
c/o Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
1245 Tenth Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102-4893

Grace's Spiritual Experience

Seeking a touch of order.....

When I began to contemplate my new smaller living space, I thought it might be easier to have just one loom while I was getting settled. An opportunity to lend out one of my looms appeared and Grace jumped at the chance. (She has traveled quite a bit during 36 years of service. Less than 10 of those years has been with me.)


In all of my many years of weaving, here is a first for me!
Weaving in an Episcopal Cathedral....
Accompanied by this amazing instrument....

WEAVING SPIRIT---- who knew?

Story to follow....

A Touch of Order Amid the Chaos

From within my cedar chest came the call of the Bamboo/Cashmere blanket panels--so decorative--so wanting to be completed. This will be the first order of business in the creative arena. The blanket will provide the perfect project to balance out the unpacking process.

And, of course, I had to display my current scarf series. It is interesting to look at them against a not white wall.

It is fascinating to experience my possessions in a completely new context. I have so many useless objects. More on this later.

In the Door

See my office
Some might mistake this space as an alcove. Believe it or not, my computer is now set up in this space although it doesn't look much different.

These pictures were taken right when I moved in---a week ago!


And this this my kitchen! I have finally unearthed the sink, but there are many pieces to the puzzle yet to be fitted.
And the living room, dining room, studio...


There is also a bedroom and bathroom which I may or may not show you at a later date.

At least I know what to do when I get up in the morning.
Who knew the Festival of Moving would continue? Who knew I would carefully move boxes of "stuff" that are of no use to me in this new space?

I am loving my new space. Gary has been making impatient sounds. Perhaps he will be up and running within the next week. Stay tuned.

Out the Door

One last look at Gary and Grace's old home

I am writing from my new place, but I was having trouble uploading all the pictures. I will try again later. I am now into the next phase, unpacking.

I won't bore you with all of the details, but the Festival of Moving was a huge success. I didn't cry once, and laughed several times. The loom is still buried under a mountain of boxes.

But now the fun begins: how to arrange my many possessions.