SAORI SELFIE elfie elfie

I recently had the opportunity to visit Saori Berkeley and actually sat down and wove for an hour or so. I love Saori Weaving! It is very freeing. The only thing I focused on while I wove was to NOT pay any attention to my edges. (so much discipline!)

Then when I got back home I had to finish the little bit of warp that remained on my Saori loom. I had already woven some cotton Woven Words, but I had this idea about what I wanted to play with on the last yard of warp. I decided to wind together 5 strands of my recycled cashmere yarn to see how it would weave up with the cotton warp.

 

 I can't seem to get the words to be where I want them to be. Oh well, Anyway the cashmere was totally yummy. When I cut the piece off the loom, I was delighted to discover the whole thing was the perfect scarf length--although one half was bright cotton stripes and the other a subtle ombre cashmere. I thought, "What a perfect Piscean scarf! And to think, it is almost my birthday!" I thanked myself for the lovely early birthday present and looked around for a way to take a picture.The 3-way mirror in the bathroom provided an interesting "selfie". It has been snowing here for the past 2 days, and my new scarf is quite warm. I haven't taken it off.

 

 

BOTANICAL WEAVING

Way back in the 50's and 60's, weaving with weeds and sticks was very popular. Of course, I had to give it a try. Below is the weed weaving I created in 1961 while I was a student at Rhode Island School of Design. I had someone help construct a real frame loom, and then I used phragmites (those fluffy top reeds that grow in profusion on the East Coast) . I gave this piece to my mother, who kept in hanging in her apartment. Imagine my amazement when I discovered how wonderful the hanging looked 52 years later.

The hanging looks good hanging either horizontal or vertical and the dimensions are 25"x 48"



 I thought I would create some small botanical weavings for the holidays---using dried grasses and flowers mostly from The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas. I am using jute for my  6" wide warp  with dried lavender, lily pods, willow, and I'm not sure what other things are called.

          I just love all the subtle color changes. It is refreshing after all the color I usually work with.
                               
                                        

 Below is catmint and mullen combined with willow and ornamental grasses.
 

These little beauties are so much and easy to make that they make good projects to teach beginners as well as making charming gifts. The assortment below can be seen (and purchased) at Meadowsweet Herbs in Missoula, Montana

The other interesting aspect of Botanical Weaving is that gardeners can supply their own material from their gardens as a way to remember some of their special plants. Some plants can be woven in bloom and then dried in the weaving. (so you watch the weaving change over time). Those brown balls are the seed heads of bee-balm, one of my favorites. And there is no rule that says you can't combine a little leftover ikat yarn in the weft.

SILK BROOCHES

 From my large stash of ikat dyed silk yarn (some dating back to the early 80's when I first started making the brooches), I meticulously wrap and wrap and wrap. It takes me approximately 20 minutes to wrap each individual unit.  I use archival black core matte board and have my framer cut the board into an assortment of small shapes.

 
Once the wrapping is complete, I assemble the piece by gluing to a matte board backing and attaching a pin back.

 I can't tell you how much pleasure I get from creating these miniature works of art. The fact that I continue to produce a limited number of extremely labor-intense pieces (at an affordable price), speaks of a labor of love.

CRAFTY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

START FROM WHERE YOU ARE!
Although many things have happened since my last post, in Blogland one can only move forward--especially with the holidays fast approaching. This is just one of several gifty ideas I will be presently in the next several days.

My friend, John, calls these "smalls". I call them "thrumballs", (thrums are the yarns left at the end of a weaving). When I was weaving with chenille, I had LOTS of thrums. When I was watching a lot of TV, I used to tie my thrums together and reuse the yarn. 

 

The sparkly stuff in just a little bling. These ornaments are fabulous anywhere. Don't they look divine on my collection of mullen.

So for the first time in several years I am participating in a holiday sale---one of six All-Star Artists appearing for the first time at the fabulous China Woods (one day only!) December 7, from 11-5 (click on link for location)

Like snowflakes, each one is unique and make the perfect gift! And there are 108 ornaments to choose from Why 108, you ask (or maybe you didn't ask, but here it is anyway).

PRICELESS PICS OF WEAVING PEACE AT THE GARDEN OF ONE THOUSAND BUDDHAS

Although the 9th annual Peace Festival at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas happened over a month ago, I JUST got these pictures from my wonderful photographer/artist friend Marti DeAlva!



Imagine my honor and surprise when Namchak Khenpo stopped by my booth to give weaving a try.

"It's really pretty easy " I said.

Khenpo laughs, "Easy!"

 A priceless moment!

MORE PICTURES FROM 53 YEARS AND COUNTING

I never get tired of looking at this wall hanging with reeds and shells, date 1968.

Above and below are walls of work. You'll just have to ask questions if you want to know what you are looking at.  I am still in recovery mode. Tomorrow is back to work.

A GRAND OPENING

I don't have time to write anything, and I didn't have time to take pictures of the show. Well, that's not quite true. I took a few less than adequate images, so I will head over this week and take some acceptable pictures to show you. The Downtown Dance Collective in Missoula is a great place to display one's work. I just love the old brick walls although not all of the walls are brick. More later, she promised.