Maybe Life is One Long Series of Digressions

So I just spent the past 6 hours sewing 108 labels onto 108 silk 5" squares that will become the backs for 108 lavender sachets I am making for the Seattle Weavers Guild Sale. (See link to the right).


Keep in mind that I leave to teach a workshop in St Louis on Friday. Why am I doing this, you might ask? And why am I doing this now?

1. Since the lavender sachets are featured on the guild postcard, it would behoove me to have some to sell at our guild's wonderful sale (and it is totally wonderful).
2. Once I get back from St. Louis, I leave again in a week for the East Coast and another teaching gig in New Jersey.
3. I return from the East Coast on October 13th, and the guild sale is October 22nd.

Stay tuned...

But I Digress...

As my "to do" grows by leaps and bounds, what's a body to do? Learn something new! When the opportunity to have Syne Mitchell teach me the "ins and outs" of a rigid heddle loom (coupled with Indian food), who could resist. Workshop and lecture planning, proposal writing, and 104 lavender sachets----well, there is ALWAYS enough time.

I was going to call this post: CREATIVE PROCRASTINATION RIDES AGAIN or YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG....


This wonderful picture of Syne and I was taken by Syne's delightful son, Kai! I do have to admit that I actually made a threading error (perhaps exactly at this moment). It made me laugh when I sat down to weave later that day.


Syne let me use some of her own dyed warp. I decided to put my lavender stems to good use. I am about to create 108 lavender sachets for the upcoming guild sale, so I have been collecting lavender from friends. Some friends give me lavender all ready to use and others have given me great bundles. At various points in the de-stemming process, my apartment has the aroma of a field of lavender. Oh well, I had to stick in that random stalk of yarrow.


It's funny, when I first started weaving back in the very early 60's, weed weaving was all the rage. So literally I am going back to my roots.


I just tacked it up on the wall without finishing off any of the ends. All in all, a totally satisfying event. I can't wait to see if I can manage to weave a Color Horoscope Weaving on a rigid heddle.

BUT I DO DIGRESS....

Oh, by the way check out my other blog

To Plan or Not to Plan----

I've been distracted with ruining my carbon footprint.... I feel like I have a tiger by the tail.

Calendar

September 19-20
Workshop: Color Horoscope Weaving

Location: Weaver's Guild of St. Louis

http://www.weaversguildstl.org/

September 23

Lectures: Turned Weft Ikat and Exploring Not So Plain Weave

Location: Weaver’s Guild of St. Louis

http://www.weaversguildstl.org/

October 7

Lecture: Turned Weft Ikat

Location: Jockey Hollow Weavers

http://www.geocities.com/jockeyhollowweavers/

October 8 & 9

]Workshop: Exploring Not So Plain Weave

Location: Jockey Hollow Weavers

http://www.geocities.com/jockeyhollowweavers/

October 22-24

Show and Sale: Seattle Weavers Guild

Location: http://www.seattleweaversguild.com/sale.asp

November 14 & 15

Workshop: Color Horoscope Weaving

Location: Memphis Guild of Handloom Weavers

http://www.memphisfiberarts.org/weave/meeting.html

Seattle Sachet Summer

This weaving is really going to be difficult to cut up! These will not be the only pictures of this cloth---just the first.


I can't begin to describe what the cloth feels like! Well, yes I can. It feels just like a cashmere sweater--actually like lots of cashmere sweaters.


Each color change represents a different sweater.

Oh, by the way, pictures were taken outside the Asian Art Museum in Seattle, WA. It is closed on Mondays so I didn't have to fight with any kids for a seat on the camel. When I first moved to Seattle, the camels (there are two of them) were marble. They were moved indoors and replaced by these concrete ones.

My Favorite Part

Of course it helps to have an elegant pair of scissors (grin).

Confession: I am semi-ambidextrous. I cut with my left hand which makes it extremely easy to snap a picture with my right hand.


This warp will yield 104 lavender sachets--more pictures to follow.

Now I have to turn my attention to all the OTHER things I have to do before the end of the month.

I thought August was supposed to be slow month!

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).