A Great Conference

I just returned from a fabulous week at the Hand Weavers Spinners and Dyers of Alberta Conference. The truth of their vision statement was demonstrated in every way.

"A community that supports, promotes, educates and inspires Fibre Arts."



We started off the week with a 3-day Color Horoscope Weaving Workshop. This workshop just keeps getting better.


I have to remember to take group shots--next time.

The Intentional Design Class ---image below should be vertical, so turn your head to the side.

This is close to a group shot---the many shades of peace.

And below is the Woven Paper Collage class. I hope to have some virtual quilts as soon as I receive scans of all the woven collages.


Now pretend you are seeing a short film of everybody at the Conference waving to you.....

Saori Santa Cruz

"Consider the difference between a person and a machine"

Saori Weaving and the Saori loom is the polar opposite of the Jaquard loom. My visit to Saori Santa Cruz truly rounded out my total weaving experience.

I am sorry I didn't take any pictures of the exterior of this other-worldly studio tucked away in Felton, CA. Even so, we found it, and it looks like lots of other people have as well. Jill Nickolene Sanders, artist/teacher extraordinaire, gave me my first Saori weaving lesson. I am totally hooked and ready to trade my 8 harness, 48" Fireside for a Saori loom. Just look at the uniquely wonderful garments Jill has created on 2 harnesses and 18". And talk about portable! Check out the array of looms, tools, and yarn.


Here is Denise my new friend, student, and valiant driver modeling another Saori fashion.


Must dash.... off to my first ever trip to Las Vegas to see the "O" show

More Intentional Design

I couldn't resist focusing in on Diane Ayers loom and weaving. For all the years I have been teaching, I have never seen a workshop loom like this---especially for a 4 harness plain weave gal like me.

I really had to put all of reverse loom snobbery aside on this trip (grin). but when all was said and done, Diane decided that plain weave was the most effective solution.


With a thick chenille alternating with a thin cotton (still amazingly with plain weave), the perfect marriage of plain and complex weave.

I couldn't resist making a "virtual quilt patch"

There is so much to tell and so many chapters yet to written. I think I will be coming back to this workshop again and again.

Visit to a Consummate Complex Weaver

Following the presentation at the Central Coast Weavers, Sandra Rude whisked me away for an exciting visit to her studio.

It was amazing to see the marriage of computer, loom, and cloth so elegantly orchestrated by Sandra.

Although I rarely dabble in any weave structure more complicated than a simple twill, I have a deep appreciation for the ultimate in complex weaving done on a Jacquard Loom.

Many people don't realize that the computer of today had it roots in the industrial revolution in the form of a huge incredibly noisy Jacquard Loom. Click to see an old Jacquard in action.


Mind-boggling, yes!
Boys and girls, you may not want to try this at home.

Because I have yet to figure out how to upload more than 5 pictures per post, (and I have tried all the suggestions folks have offered) come back tomorrow to see the amazing things that Sandra weaves on her loom. If you can't wait, then check out her blog.

Hello from the Central Coast Weavers

Of course, now I am back in Montana after an amazing visit to the Central Coast Weavers. I don't usually like to back-track, but this guild has much to share. If you click on their link, the first thing you see is this:

Guild Motto: Friendship is the shining path we weave

Perhaps all guilds have a motto, but this is the first one that I heard more than one guild member say to me. (and I got to see it in action as well as experience it fully during my all too short stay). If you belong to a guild that is struggling, study CCW's model. Their membership has grown considerably since the last time I was there. I came away with a deep sense of gratitude and a feeling of optimism about the future of Handweaving .

I finally have moved into the 21st century with my first power point presentation. In addition to bringing my laptop, I brought a copy of the presentation on a disk and a thumb drive. I did this because I had yet to see a power point presentation where everything worked right off the bat---except for this one (grin)

My new lecture and workshop, INTENTIONAL DESIGN, focuses more on the meaning one weaves into cloth rather than trying to figure out what the finished cloth will look like.

Many non professional weavers tell me they are not creative. I believe creativity is like a muscle that must be exercised in order to become stronger. I provide a gentle creativity workout for all levels of creative fitness.

More to follow!

There and Back Again

I cut the weaving off the loom almost on the way to the airport. When I decided to finish it off in Columbus, I felt much better. It would become a part of the workshop. The students couldn't quite believe the difference before and after laundering. I'll attempt to get a nice picture of it being worn.

I got so caught up in the workshop that I really didn't take very many pictures---in fact these are the only ones. I just spent the whole evening trying to create a pleasing arrangement. I'm not sure which one I prefer. I love all the variations in the warps! Hopefully I will get to see pictures of the finished pieces.

There is only 1 block in the same position in both.

Which do YOU like better?

Next workshop: Color Horoscope Weaving
Location: Missoula, Montana
Date: November 13-14

I believe there are still a couple of spaces if you happen to be in the area and are looking for a colorful experience.

I'm in Montana Now

I'll be resurfacing soon. I'm much beyond this point. In fact I am actually setting up the loom. I wasn't sure I would be able to make a blog post as I am unable to send email (although I do receive it). More to follow......

It may be cloudy in the picture, but it was sunny, warm and beautiful today.

Dalai Lama Weaving and Sunflowers

Although I brought the Dalai Lama weaving with me on my trip to the East Coast, I didn't show it around very much.
But when I got to these magical fields...well, you get the picture.


Whenever I feel overwhelmed with the move, I look at this picture and can't help but smile.

It puts every in perspective---don't you think....

I am living the experience of "Right Livelihood", a blessing to be a Weaver in this time.

The following is a brief excerpt from the piece by Susan Crowell, writer, and
ceramics instructor at U. Michigan, Ann Arbor:

"For craftspeople, this making special emphasizes both the making and the
special. Reversing the terms - special making- rings even truer when speaking
of craft, for which the process of handwork is an essential component. As our
perception of time becomes more precious and the time-intensive nature of
craft increases its value, craft may even come to represent the preciousness
of time itself, embodied in an object."

First Visit to the Garden

Even in a picture, it is hard to imagine the scope of Garden, the amount of work that has already been done, the amazing speed in the which the garden is taking shape, and the vast amount of work yet to be completed.

Seated at the center point of the Garden of 1000 Buddhas is the 25-foot figure of Yum Chenmo, or the Great Mother. In the Sanskrit language she is known as Prajnaparamita, or “Transcendent Perfection of Wisdom.” She is depicted in feminine form because it is said that it is this perfect wisdom that “gives birth” to all of the Buddhas, as well as the bodhisattvas,those who are striving for enlightenment to benefit all beings.

Here I am with Konchog Norbu, the Buddhist Monk who is overseeing this grand project. He gave me a most welcoming tour of grounds, and took me into the barn where the 1000 Buddhas
are being made and stored.



Here is a Buddha still in the mold.


And here is the just shy of 600 Buddhas.

Although it doesn't look like it, it does smell like a barn. Konchog told me the property used to be a working sheep ranch. I just found out that the land for the Garden was acquired 11 years ago, and it has taken all this time to get to this point in the process.

We unloaded the loom in the garage, and I will be back on Sunday to thread the loom to be ready to begin the weaving on Monday.

To read all about the Garden, click here to tour the beautiful website.

The Journey Begins---

Where is the line between excitement and hysteria (grin)?

Grace is happily packed and ready to go.


Onward into the future....

The trip was somewhat of a blur, and in the next post I will be of my initial visit to the Garden. I didn't take a single picture during the drive over (must have been because I didn't get more than 3 hours sleep) However, if anyone really wants to see some road shots, I will fish some out from previous drives to Montana. I promise to post pictures of Arlee, the Jocko Valley, Flathead Lake, and the Mission Mountains as my Montana saga progresses.

WEAVING IN THE GARDEN

I know that I have posted this image before, but since the original photo was taken of me dancing in a field just outside of Arlee, Montana in 1970 (I can't believe it is 40 years ago!), it is extremely relevant to "Weaving in the Garden"

When I got my first digital camera, 8 years ago, I practiced learning how to take pictures of framed artwork. When I shot this, I didn't realize my reflection would appear on the glass of the frame.

To me this image speaks of time, ideas, and the eternal.

When Roberta told me about the Garden of 1000 Buddhas, I knew immediately that I would weave the Dalai Lama's horoscope as my contribution to raise money for the completion of this amazing project.

So when I announced: A JEWISH WEAVING PRIESTESS IS GOING TO THE GARDEN OF 1000 BUDDHAS IN THE HEART OF THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION IN MONTANA TO WEAVE THE DALAI LAMA'S HOROSCOPE FROM THE NEW MOON TO THE BEGINNING OF RAMADAN it set in motion many unforeseen events.

Details to follow.......

Garden of 1,000 Buddhas Part 1.mov

My dear friend Roberta sent me this little movie a couple of months ago. After watching it, I decided to Weave the Dalai Lama's horoscope as donation to help raise money for the completion of the garden. Once I made this decision, my life began to change in ways I could never imagine.
More to follow:

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.

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)

Amazing Memphis

I am sure this was my best Color Horoscope Weaving workshop ever. I know I say that every time, but they just keep getting better. I believe having students come to class with their looms all warped and ready to go is the best way. Since the workshop was postponed at the last minute from November (when I got the flu), it really gave everyone plenty of time to get ready.

I don't know why I didn't take pictures of the students at work. I just took a close-up picture of their weaving. When I returned home, I had to play around with the images and came up with this---a virtual Memphis class quilt.


And Kaaren even finished her weaving in time for me to actually take one picture of a student.


Everything they say about Southern Hospitality is true. The biggest surprise for me was that the workshop actually took place in Mississippi. I would have gotten low marks in geography. It did make me feel a little better when everybody I asked in Seattle "What state borders Tennessee to the South?" nobody knew the right answer. (grin) I also liked the fact that when it rained, nobody blamed me as if I brought rain with me from the Northwest.

The only slight glitch is the baggage inspectors busted the zipper on my (used to be) trusty workshop suitcase. I won't be able to use it again. But everything else was perfect.

How Many Golden Orb-Weaving Spiders Does it Take to Weave and 11 by 4 Foot Tapestry?

Answer: One Million!
How long did it take? 4 years
How many people worked on it? 80 (I think those were just the number of people it took to collect the spider silk!)

Back in October, I got a real weaving treat. I went to the Natural History Museum in NYC to see the ultimate labor intensive weaving extravaganza. I was surprised to find there were no signs advertising the weaving. I asked a guard how to find the spider weaving. He said, "Go down this hall until you come to the giant mosquito, turn right and go until you get to the big canoe." And there is was tucked into a corner of a giant room with no hoopla or flashing lights or anything.
Click here to see my first reaction.


What I didn't realize is that is was woven in strips like Kente Cloth. So I imagine many different weavers contributed a strip. Wouldn't you have loved to tried your hand at weaving with this stuff? The main threads consist of 96 twisted silk lines. The brocaded patterns in the tapestry — stylized birds and flowers — are woven with threads made up of 960 spider silk lines.

The band at each edge was woven separately and attached. It looks like the fringe was also attached after the fact. I loved the braided fringe. The braided part of the fringe is about 18" long, and then there is at least 20" of chaos.


I would have give a lot to have been able to touch it. They say it feels like cashmere, but you would think it would be sticky.

Forth and Back

I had a grand whirlwind trip to Bellingham to spend a day with some of the Whatcom Weavers.
Turned Weft Ikat is a 3-day workshop--that is if one wants to do any actual dyeing, but I did it one day. I opted for "virtual dyeing"


I brought 25 lbs of already dyed yarn, some commercially space-dyed but much of it was ikat dyed skeins I have dyed over the years. I had 2 different weights of bamboo, merino wool, rayon chenille, 8/2 cotton, 20/2 cotton, and 3/2 cotton. Students selected the yarn they wanted to work with, and each person got enough yarn to wind a scarf warp.


Each student also wound a 1 oz skein of undyed Habu bamboo and wrapped it for dyeing (to be actually dyed at home after the workshop).

I got so caught up in trying to get everything done that I didn't really get many pictures. I was trying to give everyone a taste of ikat. It will remain to be seen how successful I was in inspiring the group. I will know if they weave their scarves (grin).

All of this happened in the middle of our first big storm of the Northwest--all very exciting. And now I am home getting ready for yet another trip out into the world. Friday---to Memphis.

Exploring Not So Plain Weave with Jockey Hollow Weavers

I am an hour away from leaving to teach a Turned Weft Ikat Workshop in Bellingham WA, but I couldn't leave without posting about the delightful workshop I taught to a more than delightful guild in New Jersey, the Jockey Hollow Weavers. I'm still not exactly sure where exactly I was in New Jersey, but I am sure this is a great bunch of weavers.

What a fabulous wall hanging, a work of art!


Usually I plan this workshop to last 3 days, but this one (a round robin) was a mere 2 days. I was certain the group would be unable to complete all the samples, but miraculously they did! The 13th warp didn't make it into the picture, but it got done. The main thing I learned is that I need to wind all of the warps myself and send them ready to go on the loom. It would have saved me and each student lots of time and effort although it would have increased the supply fee. In talking to the students afterward, they all agreed it would have been worth the extra money. I learned how to do leno in an efficient way, thanks to Barbara Herbster (grin). I learned that I should have brushed up on inlay, so I might appear to know what I am doing (another grin). I learned that students can get a lot more done than I think they can.


But mostly I am awed by the inventiveness of my fellow weavers and grateful for the opportunity of time well spent together. What a great bunch of ladies!

Pre-Packing Plather

Here are just a few of the supplies I'm bringing for my upcoming workshop EXPLORING NOT SO PLAIN WEAVE at Jockey Hollow Weavers in New Jersey. This will be a "round robin" style workshop if you know what that is. There will be 13 students, 13 looms, and 13 different plain weave variations. Each student gets to weave a sample on each of the looms and ends up with a sample notebook. Tons of fun for the students. Tons of work for the teacher.


The white skeins are bamboo from Habu. The bag of little balls is a lb of assorted un-knitted cashmere. The tubes are Bambu 7 from Cotton Clouds.

I leave first thing tomorrow morning.

I still don't have a lap top computer, so I won't be blogging until I return.

Mothers of Invention

Meanwhile back in St. Louis I show students how I warp from back to front. One of my goals for this year is to get some YouTube footage of me winding a warp and dressing the loom from back to front. I may have to move that to my goal for 2010, but it is coming. Let me mention Peggy Osterkamp. Years ago she gave me a copy of her first book. Since then she has written much more. I thought her information was excellent and always meant to tell her so. Peggy you are a MOI


For those who arrive at the workshop without their loom warped and ready to go, there is always an inventive soul ready to jump in.


Again let me say hoe thrilled I was to see a Rigid Heddle loom show up at the workshop. This student decided to weave her horoscope in 3 panels. She actually got 2 panels woven during the workshop. By the evening of the lecture, she had all 3 woven and pinned together. Pretty cool!


Here I am at the lecture---Exploring Not So Plain Weave. I like to wear this huipil showing what to do with little scraps of leftover handwovens. I don't have a picture of the back, but it has different scraps. When I am teaching a 2-day workshop, I just turn it around for a new top.