Trifocals

Ah! It is off the loom! Now to solve the next little quandary. I wove enough for 2 scarves (one for the client and one to sell). The client wants 5" twisted fringe, but in order to get 2 scarves from the warp, only one of the scarves will be able to have twisted fringe. I am awaiting her decision, the right or the left. I like the motifs on the right a bit better, so if I don't hear back from her in the next 24 hours, I will assume she will like the one I like.

ACTUAL: TWO SCARVES
VIRTUAL: ONE SHAWL (grin)
My Color Horoscope Weaving is all threaded and ready to weave. Once I have gotten the weaving underway, I will point out the new idea.


WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING FOR "aruba" TO ARRIVE. I can't seem to stop playing with the blessing words for the blanket. Here I have joined the 3 different colorways of each blessing word to create a colorful parade. They remind me of tiny little quilts.

Getting Back in the Groove

It's taken me several days to sink back into a schedule. I like to take advantage of holidays to get work done because it is so quiet with very few distractions. I stopped weaving for a bit and went up on the roof to try out the fireworks setting on my camera. It is a lot trickier than I thought it would be, plus the outline of a huge pine in the lower right corner....

Then today I finished the second scarf on this Woven Words warp. I will wash them both tomorrow and take appropriate pictures.

At last, I got this merino wool ikat piece on the loom. It is most interesting working with wool in the summer. I was not trying to actually match the sample draped over the harnesses, but rather re-create the same feeling. It remains to be woven if I have succeeded.
And I am in the planning stages for a Blessing Baby Blanket. I'll be talking about this lots in the weeks to come.


AND I leave again on the 27th! Focus!

Way to Go

The mountains of Western North Carolina are beautiful! (but you have to know where you are going). We put 500 miles on Irene's car during my visit. She lives at least an hour away from everything, good if you want to get away and bad if you don't drive.

We visited Penland, John C Campbell Folk School, Earth Guild, Yarn Circle, and the studios of Catharine Ellis and Kathie Roig. This list goes on, but I seem to have misplaced my list.

I took several wonderful pictures, but I thought this one summed up my experience. I went to North Carolina with expectations of having a life changing experience, but once I was able to put them aside I had a lovely time. I don't have any pictures of my high school reunion, (for which I had no expectations) but I had a blast!


The "Meet Up" in Asheville was jolly fun!


I have to admit I sorely missed the Northwest climate and arrived back in Seattle to perfect cool sunny weather. While in Baltimore with my mom, we un-knitted 20 more sweaters. Note the sunlight sneaking through the shades.


I must have evolved into a "mole-person" because I couldn't wait to get back on the loom with the sounds of the Gay Pride celebration echoing in the streets below.


I couldn't resist tossing in this picture I found of my mom and I circa 1945. We had a really good visit.

Now Onward to prepare for a Color Horoscope Weaving Workshop at the Golden Gate Fiber Institute on July 27th.

Ready to Fly

Saying goodbye to my studio for a while always fills me with mixed feelings. Leaving projects unfinished assures that I will attempt to return.

Here is what's on Grace. Perhaps I will know which colors I want to use for weft the next time I sit down to weave.

My little "Seeds of Hope" are ready to hop into the suitcase.


I'll try to post while I am on the road.


All I really want to do right now is head over to Weavolution and form a group. I can't imagine you haven't been there, but it not.....well it's what the weaving community has been hungry for.

Getting Ready

I ran out of the sample swatches I put in every kit, so this is Mary Meigs Atwater's horoscope weaving warp chains. I will be weaving this to cut up into little strips. I am using Bambu 7.

Below is a Woven Words piece I am weaving in exchange for 10 cashmere sweaters. It has been such a long time since I wound this warp I can't remember what words I am weaving. The recipient selected her favorite colors, and I made the wrapping for her before I wound the warp. And I have the perfect color of cashmere to weave through. Of course I will experiment with some of my other colors---especially beige and gray.


HEALTHY HAPPY FAMILY are the words in the warp. I just had to look it up. I will have a nice picture of the PEACE scarf that I recently cut off the loom, but I am working on a better way to photograph a scarf.

JUST 6 MORE DAYS OF THE MARY MEIGS ATWATER SPECIAL!

Out of the Washer and into the Dryer

Above: before laundering---Below: after laundering


I don't usually measure, so this was interesting for me. The Many Shades of Hope
just off the loom measured 28" wide x 146" long. After washing in cold water on gentle, it measured 27" wide x 138" long. Just out of the dryer (delicate, low heat), it measured 25" wide x 124" long.

Cashmere come from a goat and is not like merino wool. It doesn't felt. (easily) I found this out from a friend of mine who was trying to get cashmere to felt by washing in the machine and drying in the dryer. She was having trouble getting the sweaters to felt up so she could cut and sew them into patchwork scarves.

Here is another interesting tip I learned from another weaver in my guild. Put 3 tennis balls in the dryer, and the weaving doesn't become all twisted up and wrinkled. I am waiting for my next door neighbors to complain about all the drumming, but it really makes a huge difference.

I know it is scary to toss a weaving into washer and even scarier into the dryer, but try it with a sample first.

The first time I put a merino wool blanket in a front loading washer on regular wash cycle and watched in horror as it shrunk 40% before my very eyes taught be a valuable lesson. Somewhere I have pictures. I'll have to see if I can find them while I continue looking for the missing piece of paper.

On Grace, Off Gary

It seemed like "The Many Shades of Hope" had been on Gary forever (actually only a month) , but today it jumped off the loom and chased me across the apartment.

I was experimenting with various random cashmere wefts.

I will toss it in the washer and dryer tomorrow and then take some sexy pictures of it.


"The Many Shades of Hope", as a lark, climbed onto Grace. You can see a little bit of the warp "Peace" peaking through. I'll tell you more about the peace scarf soon.


Now I have to go back and continue my search for a missing document. I know this has happened to you, a piece of paper goes missing. Grrr

The Many Shades of Hope

Shortly after the election back in November, I noticed such a outpouring of hope I decided to create a weaving entitled "The Many Shades of Hope". I rarely begin a weaving with a title, but we live in rare times.

It has taken a couple of months of thinking and designing to come up with a plan. The idea is to weave a shawl or MobiQ and have enough left over to cut up for little lavender pillows. The radom space-dyed yarn between the words will be used for the seams. I don't know if you can see the little red stripes, but they are the cut lines. The goal is to design something to cut apart but looks good as a whole uncut piece. It was challenging to have such variance of color. I moved the sections around quite a bit, but I think this configuration is the most pleasing.


I settled on 5 different mirror imaged color ways of the word HOPE. I used the 4 favorite colors of mine (second from right) and 4 of my friends.


I like to show my back to front warping (using a raddle), and I love taking pictures of warp through heddles


I actually like having both looms set up this way since it is so easy to photograph both warps at once. By the way, I just finished weaving the smaller warp. Pictures to follow.

Stepping Forward

Here is a glimpse of my studio on New Years Day. My apartment is like an extremely well appointed cave. Although it is midday, I still have to use lights except for when I weave on Gary who is right in the alcove with windows on 3 sides. Don't get me wrong, I kind of like the cave effect. I know my yarns will never fade.

Speaking of which----my first accomplishment of the New Year. You cannot believe how this feels! I used Bambu 7 for the warp ( sett 20 epi) and combined it with recycled cashmere in 19 different shades.


I made this piece extra long so I could cut swatches to send to those ordering kits from me.
I haven't taken the scissors to this yet, but I will as soon as I finish this post.


And then I quickly re-warped Grace for a Woven Words Commission.


CHEERFUL/ TOUGH/ INSIGHTFUL

Which brings me to my New Years List....
I wasn't sure I was going to post it, but what the heck. (I have inherited Meg's long posts)

1. Those things for which I am grateful
My creative mind; good health; NIA; my cute apartment; my 90 year old mother; my brother's help; my new and old friends; Seattle weather; the blog world; convenient organic foods; Weight Watchers; The Weaving Goddess; good neighbors; spiritual unfolding; helping hands
2. My accomplishments in 08
The Festival of Moving; reducing my possessions by 1/3; Finished The Big Commission; Order Color Horoscope Weaving Kit on Blog; The Un-knitting Factory; Progress with Woven Words; Scarves for 4 friends who are long term cancer survivors; Healing project at St Marks Cathedral; Published ikat article in WeaveZine; Dye Days
3. Those things still languishing on the back burner
Saving the world with weaving; volunteer work in my craft organizations; updating my website; organizing my papers; selling stuff on ebay
4. Accomplishments I desire in the year to come
Just 3 simple words: COMPASSION COMPANIONSHIP COLLABORATION
(Actually it is a long and boring list which I promise to reveal as I accomplish each one)
5. Things I am ready to release
Self Doubt; Procrastination; Fear; Unwillingness; Constant need to Dine Out

Christmas Wrapping

I didn't feel like weaving but rather to watch It's a Wonderful Life for the umpteenth time, but what to do with my hands. I have several warps in mind for the upcoming year, so I thought it might been fun to do some wrapping. For scale, the widest are 1" x 6" although I can imagine them being large enough to be a room divider.

Most of the wrappings are words and colors selected by clients.

From left to right the words are: mirror imaged UNFOLDING in two different colorways; TOUGH, CHEERFUL, INSIGHTFUL; mirror imaged my last name TARSES in my colors and then my mother’s colors; ENLIGHTENMENT; OHM (repeated 3 times); FAST, ENTHUSIASTIC, CURIOUS; ENERGY, BALANCE, WISDOM; INTELLIGENT; INNOVATIVE.

I have come to believe that single words repeated or mirror imaged make a stronger statement.

The single word I am taking for myself and everyone into 2009 is HOPE. I think I will go and wrap it right now.

More Carpe Diem

Like Connie Rose, I get to do a lot of my best work over the holidays.


I've been enjoying color blending in a free unplanned way. I am using colors selected by the client which makes it rather challenging, risky, and exciting.

Again, Happy Holidays to all. May this be a thoughtful time. I plan to reflect on the successes of the past year, my areas of flagrant procrastination, ideas for the upcoming year, and my highest wishes for self and world.

With laughter and forgiveness.......

Mobius Maxima

I am very pleased with the results (although not completely thrilled with the picture). I don't have a back view at all. This weaving is made for a woman who is bigger and taller than I am. I had her try on my first version of the MobiQ and saw that I would need to add an extra yard of length. I think I will reposition the drape to come from the opposite shoulder because I believe the fold is covering up my favorite part.

I was very nervous about washing this piece, but my worries were for naught. This bamboo/chenille piece went through the washer and dryer without a hitch. One time I washed a chenille scarf and one colored stripe collapsed ruining the whole piece. I have never figured out why this happened, but it has left me feeling uneasy whenever I have had to launder chenille.

I really MUST weave one of these for myself!

HAVE A BALL

I had to put this second picture of my mom posing with a basket of un-knitted cashmere sweaters. I've been sending this out as a virtual holiday card with the caption (naturally, HAVE A BALL). It really says it all.

I was going to name this post CARPE DIEM to go with the picture below. Yesterday I began warping Gary with those Woven Words. The humorous part is that I have been procrastinating weaving this piece for months.


The colors were selected by the person I am weaving for. The ikat separates the words "carpe and diem" and I have mirror imaged the words with the letter "C" in the center.

Below is a horoscope warp chain. I just love this picture, so it is more of just eye candy.


Warp is Bambu 7.

Gary: Not to be Outdone

It's a good thing my room is long. It has taken me quite a long time to pull this piece off the loom. I usually make my warps 4 yards long, but this one was 5 yards. I am nervous about laundering this weaving. Every once in a while some of the chenille will do something totally wonky.

Slowly But Surely

I seem to be weaving at a snail's pace. In case you have forgotten, above weaving is Woven Words, bamboo warp, variegated rayon chenille weft.

I am leaving on Thursday the 20th for a 2 week trip to the Unknitting Factory (aka. a visit to my folks on the East Coast). My plan is to have this off the loom. I probably won't have the piece below finished however.

Below is the beginning of a Color Horoscope Weaving, bamboo warp with a cashmere weft.
It is a Christmas order, so I do have time to weave it when I return. I noticed after I took the picture that I still had the beater tied to the castle from moving Grace back home.


Below is the very beginning of an idea to be explained as it unfolds. The working title is "The Many Shades of Hope" inspired by the outpouring of hope I witnessed on November 4th.

Now A Step to the Side

I don't really understand why these pictures have come up in reverse order, but I don't have time to fiddle with it, or start over. I will just have to tell the story backwards. Here is a detail of what is currently on the loom. The warp is Bambu 12 doubled and sett at 20 epi. The weft is a variety of variegated 1300 rayon chenille.


This weaving is a commissioned Mobi-Q like the one I had recently made except this person is sensitive to wool, even cashmere.

I decided to move Gary. The picture below shows where Gary is now. I weave with my back to the window which gives me wonderful light during the day. The picture above shows the wall where the loom used to be. I would have been sitting where the baskets are. I am about to move the baskets to make room for the warping board which is located on the wall where Grace will go.

I'll show more pictures as I prepare for the arrival of Grace. She will return the week of November 2nd. She is still at St Mark's and will be there until after All Saints Day. It remains to be seen if there is really room for both looms in this space. They will have to discuss this amongst themselves. If they decide that one of them has to go, I will let you know.

Periodically I decide I should sell Gary. I write up a little pitch and put it out locally. Nobody has ever expressed an interest (except for someone else who has a Fireside loom and wants to sell theirs). I keep thinking the right person will step forward, someone who wants to be my apprentice, and they will "earn" the loom through their tireless assistance to me. That is my true desire.

Two Steps Back

Before I wove Jill's weaving, I wove this pink one for Dara. I can't believe I didn't post anything about this scarf nor did I take any other pictures (setting up the loom or having Dara model the finished piece). I am getting lax in my old age.

Now here are a couple of shots of Jill's weaving on the loom, but I don't know why I didn't snap a picture of a further back picture that showed the whole loom.


The only reason seeing the entire loom is important is because I have moved the loom to a new position, and I can't find any pictures of it in the old position. I am slowly getting the studio ready for the return of Grace.

I am up to my eyeballs in meetings, so I am off to bed to rest up for the cluster of meetings tomorrow.

STAY TUNED FOR THE ONE STEP FORWARD....

Back in the Saddle

I've pulled out the bamboo yarn and am winding a Woven Words scarf. I really like this unusual palette--not my usual.

My ladder display has a new layer of weaving. The top 2 pieces are towels woven by students. I will present more about this later. The 3rd one down is the first weaving I did here in the new place. I haven't laundered it yet. More pictures to follow soon.


And here is the first section for a towel in turned weft ikat.