When in Doubt....Blog

As my TO DO list grows by leaps and bounds, I seek refuge at the loom. Who knew weaving would become a form of procrastination?! But now I have to take a little break from the loom and procrastinate just a little more. When I view blogging as a form of procrastination, how much more fun!

Before I continue, please check out this lovely review of the Golden Gate Fiber Institute and see a lovely horoscope warp.

Although the Seattle Weavers Guild Sale is at the end of October, I must get some weaving done for this event since a picture of my lavender sachets is featured on the postcard.


My goal with this warp (besides cutting it up into 6" squares and sew into sachets) is to make each 6" square different. This is a very exciting design as you go (wefty) weaving.


My goal in the previous sachet warp was to design the whole cloth. Even though plan plan was to cut it up, I wanted it to hold together as a single design.

I'm sure this piece will be much more fun to cut up. In answer to Valerie, check out the shuttle below. This is my new shuttle I was lucky enough to win at Golden Gate. Winding weft by hand may seem insane (and maybe it is), but I have at least 2 valid reasons for using a rag shuttle.

1. Winding small amounts of yarn and frequent intervals forces me to take lots of weaving breaks. Next year I will celebrate 50 years of weaving. I owe my weaving longevity to this "slow" method.
2. Since I don't spin, I winding weft by hand give me an opportunity to handle every inch of yarn.
3. I am able to blend and design multiple strands of yarn (virtual spinning)

Now that I am finished procrastinating on my procrastination, I will go back and weave off this warp.

SLOW CLOTHES at the Golden Gate Fiber Institute

I sat down at the loom and as I began weaving my new lavender sachet warp, my mind drifted back to the profound and amazing experience I had in California. It has taken me almost two weeks to digest my time at The Golden Gate Fiber Institute and certainly longer than that to "get" the theme of conference---SLOW CLOTHES. I realize now it was probably just as well that my camera was lost as it has gotten me to re-create images in my mind that I never would have been able to capture in a picture.

The slow movement says, essentially: slow down and live better.

(I believe my approach to weaving is in line with SLOW. I don't even own a bobbin winder and never have)

But I digress---Although the setting for GGFI was rustic, angels brought me warm bedding, a foam pad for between me and the scout camp plastic covered mattress, and a handwoven rug for beside my bed (just to name a few urban amenities). I slept very well! There was indoor plumbing and lots of hot water AND fantastic food. What else could a gal want?! Point Bonita is not far from the big city, but seems very remote. I delighted in the cool misty weather as it felt just like Seattle in the spring. Meanwhile Seattle was having recordbreaking heat! In addition, the cool weather gave me an opportunity to wear a different woven shawl every day.

Because the conference was small, there was a level of intimacy I had never experienced at a Fiber event before. I sat with different folks at every meal enjoying a wide range of engaging topics (more on that at a later date).

The teachers were a lively bunch, and every evening teachers and students gathered for delicious show and tell AND some of the best and copious door prizes I have ever seen. (every night for six nights!)

One of the best parts of the week for me was that I got to actually TAKE A CLASS with
Jeane deCoster

knitter, weaver, spinner, designer, owner of Elemental Affects

Jeane deCoster is a life-long fiber junky who chose her undergraduate degree because sewing was the only thing she could stand doing for 8 hours at a time. Making clothes to fit was (and is) an endlessly fascinating puzzle.

Who knew I would spend several mornings running around with my top off in class?! (Here is where the imagination is better than the camera) . Students brought garments to alter and/or to make patterns from.

The garment I had with me (I didn't realize I was actually going to take a class, so I didn't plan what clothes to bring for the class), is the Huipil I wove and made in 1994 when I was president of the Seattle Weavers Guild. The panel to the left is Bette Midler's horoscope, Lily Tomlin on the right, and Mae West in the middle. I always like to wear this when I teach. It gives me lots of good energy.

The thing that was fascinating about this garment is that EVERYONE tried it on, and EVERYONE looked great in it, much to the amazement of all. Jeane had pointed out after we all took our measurements that most of us regardless of our size and shape have roughly a similar shoulder width, and the huipil has a strong shoulder emphasis.

I made a drawing of the pattern and gave it to everyone (and is here for you as well)

I consider myself semi-sewing challenged, and I actually sewed the huipil. In addition, I was 60 lbs. heavier when I first made and wore it.
If you are looking for an unique fiber experience, I highly recommend you give the Golden Gate Fiber Institute a try.

Tomorrow I will tell you about the things I learned (always a good sign when one goes off to teach).

Camera Arrives

I didn't realize just how much I love and missed my trusty Nikon Coolpix P5100! Although they no longer make this model (isn't it always the way), I found one on-line for less than I paid for it a year ago. My new camera arrived yesterday! I am a happy camper.

While I was waiting for the camera's arrival, I finished dressing the loom for the blessing baby blanket.


And finished winding the warp for another series of lavender sachets I will be selling at the upcoming Seattle Weavers Guild Sale in October.


I finally figured out why I like setting up the loom so much. It is always a complete surprise to see what the warp is going to look like. I don't have to wait until I begin weaving. I don't even have to wait until I thread it through the reed. Just a few minutes into the raddle, a quick lashing onto the bar and voila!

If I weren't planning to cut this warp into lots of 5" squares, I might have paid more attention to the overall look of the piece, but I am rather charmed by the carefree look of it.

More to follow

THE RENEGADE WEAVERS ASSOCIATION

If you live long enough, straight lines have a way of bending to make a circle.

Back in the 70's when I lived in Montana, I had some weaving students. Since I was not affiliated with any weaving guild at the time, I decided to call ourselves The Renegade Weavers Association.


There was no membership fee and only one qualification to become a member.


QUALIFICATION: To have never woven a place mat!


In the years that followed, (in moving from hubris to humility) I finally wove a place mat and forgot all about the Renegade Weavers.

Phillipsburg, Montana 1975
from l to r: Carol, Bonnie, Karrie, Carole

Recently, I fished out these pictures and sent them to the ladies, much to their delight. We have scattered to the winds, but now we are planning a reunion.

The Renegade Weavers Ride Again!

If you wish to become a member of the RWA, send me an email.
The one and only qualification is that you believe you are a Renegade Weaver. You know who you are (grin)!

I'm Back---Sort Of...

I had a wonderful trip, workshop, adventure and visit with friends-relatives. I learned a lot, ate a lot and met lots of wonderful people. Sadly my camera was lost, so you will just have to imagine the fantastic scenery and amazing spinning and weaving. My new camera has been ordered. Now I just have to wait patiently for its arrival.

Although the Nikon Coolpix P5100 is no longer being produced, I managed to find some online. I really love this camera.

Meanwhile I will be dipping into my photo archives and will discuss a most interesting subject that came up during the workshop.

11th Hour

As I zip up my suitcase and put on my traveling clothes, I am once again amazed at the effort it takes to present a workshop on the road. If you have ever done it, you know exactly what I mean.

I am pleased to report the warp chains for the baby blanket are complete and will patiently await my return in 2 weeks. The yarn I was waiting for arrived yesterday, so in lieu of packing....


And I finished the Bambu 7 Horoscope Weaving! It is quite yummy. I wrote down the before washing dimensions although I am not sure where. Oh, here it is 24 1/2" x 111". As for the after, I will have to post it when I return as I have packed the shawl. Curiosity just got the better of me, and I just fished it out. 23" x 96".


Of course, I had to take a nice close-up. Bamboo is very drapey, especially the Bambu 7.


I won't be near a computer for many days, but I am bringing my camera and hope to have some wonderful pictures and stories when I return.

Small Steps

Public Notice: If you leave a comment and I do not reply to you it is because the email came with "noreply" that means that you told blogger not to reveal your email. When this happens I go to the blog, but some of you don't have a profile either! So I am stuck without being able to reply!

Color Horoscope Weaving, what's it all about?
It's a long story that began in 1979 when I discovered the point intersection between weaving and astrology. It is a story I have yet to write, but I love to tell and teach it in seminars, workshops, and through my kits. Color Horoscope Weaving is an experiential color exercise. I never get tired of weaving my own horoscope because I continue to learn something new with every warp.


INSPIRED BY KAREN! When I taught Color Horoscope Weaving in Sacramento back in February, one of my students wondered what would happen if one put an ikat stripe on either side of the planet. What a great idea!! I couldn't wait to try it. Since Karen signed up for my upcoming workshop at the Golden Gate Fiber Institute, I thought it would be great to weave up this idea.


Instead of dyeing some real ikat, I got some variegated Bambu 7 from Cotton Clouds and created an ikat effect using the same winding technique I use in Turned Weft Ikat. I can't wait to see this piece off the loom.

Back to the Blessing Blanket color wrappings.... ALL of the wrappings have arranged themselves into a Spirit Doll. This is still very much a work in progress, but I am amazed to discover it has turned into an art piece which will continue to evolve as the blanket progresses. One of my friends saw this picture and thought it looked like a totem. Dimensions: 6" x 26"


I am still waiting for some yarn, but I started to wind the blanket as much as I could. I don't expect to really get started on it until I get back from teaching, but it is good to make a start.

Monday I begin putting my workshop together for real!