Saturday, March 10, 2007

Virtual Blogger Continued

The following relates to the postcard image I posted a few days ago. Gary insisted I re-tell the story adding the pictures.

Several years ago, I volunteered to weave samples for the Seattle Weavers Guild Bulletin (360 samples, 3”x3”ea.). I decided I would use my faux ikat technique—used commercially space-dyed yarn and created the look of warp ikat. Not to go off on a technical rant, I decided to design a cloth in such a manner that each 3” square would be different and each would be a unique miniature abstract painting. Then as I was weaving, I realized just how beautiful the cloth was as a whole. I started to feel bad about the fact that I would have to cut it into little squares, but as I was weaving I started to think about those Tibetan Sand Painters. They spend a week creating a beautiful sand painting and then they just scatter it to the wind. I realized what I was doing in cloth was exactly like the sand painting. I could hardly wait to being cutting.

I can't remember now, but I think I put on a 4 yard warp. There are 11 squares across.

By the way, did you know 11 is a weaver's dozen? :) If you are a fiber person, no explanation is needed. If you are not a fiber person, well, all too often one falls a little shy of having enough.

1 comment:

Christa Giles said...

Hah! That's awesome.. and I have indeed fallen short on some self-designed projects in the last year :) I'll learn...