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

A Backward Glance Before Stepping Forward

I've been going through my old slides and beginning the slow process of converting them to digital. I should probably be doing this in some orderly fashion, but instead, I am selecting 20 slides at a time that just happen to strike my fancy. Around this time of year I always think back to when I moved to Seattle in January of 1980.

Back in the winter 1979, I was living in Missoula Montana and preparing to move to Seattle. Before I left, I decided to take some slides of my current work. I was just starting to develop Color Horoscope Weaving. My model is displaying a very early incarnation of the horoscope shawl woven in merino wool.

Then, in January I got a ride over the pass bringing with me just a couple of suitcases of basic necessities to see if I would like the city.


The first thing I noticed was that it was spring in January! Of course, was is still spring in July.


The random striped green and purple shawls were a combination of merino wool and mohair. It is easy to see the similarities to the weaving I do now. Perhaps I am just a slow learner who is easily amused.

I am now going to work on my 09 list:

1. Those things for which I am grateful
2. My accomplishments in 08
3. Those things still languishing on the back burner
4. Accomplishments I desire in the year to come
5. Things I am ready to release

But first I have to cook something with black eyed peas in it. (I am told it is for good luck.)

Remembering The Big Commission

Remember the Big Commission? Well, here are the Big Commissioners posing with said mantle in their Rocky Mountain Home. It is summer and their 5^th Wedding Anniversary (and they are clothed). This picture just arrived in my inbox and did much to warm my heart on this cold winter night.

When I think back over this past year, I am most pleased with having completed this, my largest weaving.

Quiet Celebration

I received one of Syne Mitchell's temari balls! I was so excited because each morning I chant my mantra "No New Crafts- No New Crafts" I thought I would never have one if I didn't make it myself. I did break down and make the object above, however. A friend of mine taught me to make them some 40 years ago. What I like about them is that there is no take, glue, knots or any sort of fastenings. Very cunning.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, I made a "wreath" of recycled cashmere balls.

Actually, it is the weft for the horoscope weaving I have on the loom.


I'm about 2/3 done. It is really fun to change wefts every 12 picks or so. I can't wait to see it off the loom. I have made an extra yard to use for the woven sample in the kits.

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.......

The Other Mary Black

I can't imagine that anyone who reads my blog doesn't also read and listen to WeaveCast, but just in case you haven't and don't...I would like to plug the current episode "The Other Mary Black".
Since I am also the sponsor of this episode (#34) and was interviewed on #9, I can hardly say enough good things about this wonderful resource for weavers and weaving lovers.

I met Mary Black the same day I met Virginia Harvey. They were best friends for years and years until Virginia passed away. I had read and treasured Virginia's books and also Mary Black's, but Mary was quick to tell me that she was the other Mary Black. Although she was never "famous" in her own right, she knew everybody in the weaving world and was there at the birth of HGA. I am happy to say that she is my friend too.