It's All a Learning Process

Georgia is off the loom! In the past, I have talked about the "Fudge Factor"--- knowing where you can fudge and where you can't. After so many years of weaving, you would think I would know better, but noooo.

Back story: What I am trying to "learn" in this weaving is "Can I weave a shawl long enough with just a 3 yard warp?" (trying to bring the price down on the Color Horoscope Weaving Yarn Kits) So there I am just about 4 inches from the end, and a thread breaks. Rather than take the time to fix the broken thread, I cut the piece off the loom. Duh! The length of the shawl just off the loom is 80". Generally I expect to loose 10" in the laundering process---not the end of the world, but a tad short.

I decided to wind another warp, the same Georgia O'Keeffe horoscope, the same 3 yard warp, but to make it interesting use Bambu 12 (doubled) for the warp. And this time weave every inch.
Here is the Bambu 12 warp chains draped over the Bambu 7 weaving. The color choices in Bambu 12 are far more limited than the B7. It will be interesting to see the difference. I have to say that I actually like weaving with the B12 doubled and sett at 24 epi better than the B7, but that's just my preference. I just wish the colors weren't so wonky. In way, though, it does point out that the exact individual colors don't make as much difference as I think it will. Once the piece is woven and the colors all blend together in the most unexpected way, it just looks right.


I know I can get this done in time to take with me to the Weave A Real Peace meeting next weekend.

ONWARD!

Weaving Along

The Georgia O'Keeffe Horoscope Shawl in Bambu 7 is coming along really well. I hope to get it off the loom tomorrow. I can't wait to see what it looks like. I actually wrote down the weight of the weft cones before I began, so I'll actually know how much yarn I used in the weft.

Weave A Real Peace

Weave a Real Peace (WARP) serves as a catalyst for improving the quality of life of textile artisans in communities-in-need. I recently joined WARP and am preparing to attend their annual meeting being held at Spirit in the Desert just outside of Phoenix.

I have heard about WARP for years, and am finally going to see how my interests interweave with theirs. I can't wait to report back. I leave on Friday April 30.

Irene Schmoller, of Cotton Clouds and I will be rooming together and hatching some plans.

WARP's Core Values

• Textiles are an important component of the human experience.
• Providing support to textile artisans from communities-in-need gives them tools to shape their own destinies.
• Networking and sharing information creates an environment for constructive action.
• Making connections between textile artisans worldwide promotes positive social change.
• Interacting with people who have similar values enriches our lives.

No Weaving Block

It took so long to load these pictures that I don't have time to write about them now, but enjoy them. More to follow

Bla Bla Bla Blog On

Bla bla finished weaving before trip. Bla bla someone bought it off my neck. Bla bla woven another.

Bla bla great trip. Bla bla flu after trip. Bla bla writers block. Bla bla taxes. Bla bla Mercury retrograde (grin)

You fill in the blanks.
The beauty of blogging is moving ever forward, so I am.

Why Blog

It seems like ages since I last wrote. This year has felt so different. Time has moved so rapidly. I am now visiting my 91 year old mother on the East Coast, so I am away from my computer, looms and images. I did bring 15 cashmere sweaters with me (actually I shipped them ahead), so I would have a lovely project to work on with mom.

On the plane (besides sleeping) I thought a lot about Weaving Spirit, where it has taken me and in what direction I want to go. Stepping away from my studio allows me time to reflect. Why did I begin blogging 3 incredibly short years ago? The answer was simple. A woman emailed me and said, "I read about you on Sara Lamb's blog, and I would like to buy a horoscope weaving." Well, I was instantly hooked. 1. Blogging is a selling tool.

For years I had been urging myself to write. 2. Blogging is a good way to flex and strengthen the writing "muscle".

What I discovered, much to my delight is 3. Blogging creates "the spiral of creativity". Rather than taking time away from my loom, blogging seemed to urge me on. I take a picture of what is on the loom, put it up on the blog, and then I would have to race back to the loom to complete the project so that I could take a picture of it and put it on the blog (or at least that is how it was for the first couple years).

Another exciting discovery is that I have been able to not only connect with weavers from around the world, but 4. to act as a source of inspiration to weavers who do not have the luxury of a weaving guild and other weavers close by.

This is as far as I have gotten in my reflecting on "Why Blog?" If I have missed anything, please don't hesitate to remind me.

Oh, I almost forgot! 5. My readers have been a source of inspiration to me, for which I am deeply grateful. (toothy grin)

A Puzzle with No Wrong Pieces

...But some pieces are more right than others.
I'm trying to find the most effective arrangement for this series of 22 wrapped blessings. This is a surprise gift (I hope they don't read this blog) for an old friend. The blessing words were gathered by friends. Once I settle on the order, I will give a rundown on the actual words. Plus I will tell you how I do my wrapping. As to why I do them.... well, it started out being a tool to see what a warp colors would look like next to each other. Then for a long time, I created lots of brooches using scrap silk ikat dyed yarn. It was probably then that the wrapping began to seem like "objects" unto themselves.
The actual size is 8" at the widest and 16 1/2" high.
I'm not so happy with the one below, but it's different.


This one is interesting to me. I wrapped 22 sticks, but there are actually only 11 blessings. I wrapped each blessing twice.
Example: 1st wrapping stick 1" wide. L.O.V.EE.V.O.L
2nd wrapping stick 1/2" wide E.V.O.LL.O.V.E
Then I place completed wrapping 2 on top of completed wrapping 1. Now the finished piece will be 8" wide by 11" high

I'm not sure whether this one is right side up or upside down.

I am just finishing the piece on the loom, so I will have some actual weaving to show off soon.