Big Loom Country and More Weaving

I had the great pleasure of visiting and having lunch with Barbara Hand (and I believe introducing her to the blogasphere and visa versa). It seems that Barbara has been so busy weaving on this 13 ft. Glimakra that she hasn't gotten around to blogging about it. I am sure this isn't the biggest loom in the world. In fact, I think I saw one at least as big in New Mexico, but it may well be the biggest loom in Montana. Oh, please correct me if I am wrong.




I will be happy to to tell you more about Barbara, who has been weaving in Missoula for decades. In fact, she actually lived across the street from me the last time I lived in Missoula. (30+ years ago) I snapped this picture with my phone, so you will have excuse the lack of detail.

Now back to my weaving. I have been totally entranced by the accidental patterns


I decided to use them as random accents.


Each time I weave an accent, it is slightly different.


I know you can hear the last paper dropping off the warp beam. I will complete the weaving tomorrow for sure.

Surprise and Delight

Here is the next installment as promised. What you see below is where I am at this moment.


I am somewhat stymied as to weft selection.


So when in doubt, try them all!


I am particularly delighted with the patterns created by the variegated yarn. (especially when I think of the hours I spent carefully placing each warp end to create a design) (wry grin)


Last night I sent these pictures to the client to see if she had any preference. I had thought the blue would be her choice, but she selected the greenest shade (not pictured in close-up) with occasional variegated stripes.


I need to complete this fairly rapidly (must ship by the end of the week) although my inclination is to linger and enjoy the ever changing shades and nuances.

Commission Inspires A New Palette

There is nothing like a new set a parameters to spark new ideas.

My client wants a shawl she take traveling with her---
1. light weight
2. neutral colors
3. with almost ikat
4. dimensions similar to this but the almost ikat shouldn't be as blocky

She likes the look and feel of the bamboo yarn, so I suggest we try a Color Horoscope Weaving but in a neutral palette. I sent her a Bambu 12 sample card, and together we created this palette



I learned from experience that it is best to wind all the planets first. I spent many (far too many) hours shifting the stripes at 4-end intervals to soften the effect.


If I was going to do this again, I would dye the yarn (or have someone dye the yarn) and do "turned weft ikat". I could achieve a much more interesting effect.


I was very nervous about this piece. Although I had been thinking about a Color Horoscope Weaving in a neutral palette, I really didn't know what it was going to look like. (But it is true that I usually don't know how a warp is going to turn out until I wind it back) I wrote to my client and said "Now, if you don't like this, I will weave you something else." I actually say that to ALL of my clients, and so far I have only had 1 person take me up on it.

Once I got the 10 planets wound, it didn't take very long to wind the rest of the horoscope. I believe I ended up with 16 warp chains. (biting my nails)


And then the moment of truth! I couldn't believe what I saw....so many rich subtle variations....

Since I still have not figured out how to load more than 5 pictures (and thank you all for your past advice and suggestions, but I am just not able to) stay tuned for the next installment.

I will say that it gets better (grin)

Also, I have had 2 people take me up on the towel exchange. How exciting!

A Towel Exchange to Start the New Year

I don't know how many remember my ongoing Towel Exchange---it goes like this: You send me a towel of your own creation, and I will send you a towel of mine. Imagine my surprise and delight on the Solstice to receive a package from Syne Mitchell! Among the delightful goodies was a towel (and what a splendid towel it is!) (details of Syne's towel will be featured when I finish my towel for her) All of this has made me remember just how long I have been blogging and how long it has been since I've written anything above and beyond the blog. Here is the last time I did ikat dyeing and taught a turned weft ikat workshop

So pulling the remaining threads together (so to speak), and using Syne's towel as an inspiration


I begin a new year of weaving.


Grace is chosen for the project.

The loom gets dressed.

But wait! I have a rush commission! So towels will have to wait (half-dressed) while Gary steps forward to receive an interesting new warp----

New Years Picnic Anyone?

I snapped this picture on New Years Day (out my back window) on my way to bed with a winter cold. I am well over it now, but I couldn't resist showing this picture.

My looms are almost dressed and ready to roll. Pictures and story to follow.

Origami Boxorama

In searching for the perfect little square box to house the 72 mini self portraits, I recalled some little folded boxes I learned to make at a Seattle Weavers Guild (hands-on) meeting. Interestingly enough, I brought one with me in my recent move. I must have known I would need to know how to make them, so make them I did. I printed some of my weaving images on regular computer paper, and it worked just fine.

Then I discovered that I couldn't stop making boxes---until I had made over a hundred of them.

So here is my holiday tree (grin). I know there is a reason I have entered into box-making madness, and I will tell you as soon as it is revealed to me.

The looms have been resting up for another round of weaving. The snow continues to pile up, and real winter is setting in. I have selected a word for the coming year---SIMPLICITY. (more on that later). If you are interested in selecting your own word for 2011, click here.

Have a meaningful New Year (grin)

Facebook Holiday Greetings

The warmest holiday greetings to all! May my smiles brighten the season! I look forward to sharing my latest projects, ideas and inspirations with you in the coming year!

What do you get for your 92 year old mother who has everything?--a photograph of ME! In trying to decide on the perfect picture to send (and incidentally the perfect facebook image), I began searching through every picture of myself (scanning in old photographs) . Here are 54 of the 72 images I gathered. I cropped the pictures to just my face (2" x 2") and then arranged them in chronological order. I taped them together into a long strip (144" long) , folded them in accordion pleats , and placed them in a handmade box with the most recent picture facing out. It doesn't pop open like a jack-in-the-box, but it does come spilling out of the box---the years slipping backwards until I am 6 months old.

Making this montage was as good as a year of therapy! Hey folks, I had a happy childhood, my young adult years were a nightmare, and I am growing old gracefully.