Old Socks!

Why am I showing a picture of leash sticks and my husband's holey socks on my kitchen floor?

Some time ago I read an article asking for submissions of unusual uses of weaving equipment in a non-weaving way but then couldn't find it again.  Turns out it was Weaving Weekly who asked and its been published in the latest issue of Handwoven.

My use is to attach an old (clean) sock to a leash stick with a rubber band and clean out the dust bunnies from under the stove, dish washer and fridge.  If the sock is wet it gives it a scrub as well.  My stove is dual gas elements and electric oven and the gas comes through a copper pipe.  Constant movement of the stove would weaken the pipe, hence my invention. 

Auckland weekend

My goodness, have two weeks gone by since we headed for Auckland for the weekend seminar of Professional Weavers Network.  The Auckland girls organised a wonderful four days with inspiring, stimulating events.  It was full on from the moment we arrived until the last piece of pizza at lunch on Monday.   I was so enthralled with all going on around me I didn't take a single photo!

We started at the Auckland War Memorial Museum where our group spent 40 minutes viewing some of the fibre artefacts in storage.  I do hope the staff make an effort to find out more about, and record information about, the pieces in their possession.  We could have spent 4 days there but we moved on to the Museum Library.  Who would have known there was such a wonderful resource available to the public.

Show and Tell is always inspiring.  It was interesting the number who had deflected double weave articles, some could understand how it worked and others like me, were still pondering the process.

We had an afternoon with Ailie Snow entitled "Between the Concept and the Creation" or Between the Idea and the Reality where we listened, did exercises, drew mind maps and played with leaves.  Different ways of progressing an idea to creation.

Susan Holmes, fibre artist extraordinaire, brought in many of her creations she has made for World of Wearable Art and installations for Textile Fibre Forums where she has been Artist in Residence.  An amazingly energetic artist.

Our final tutor was Susan Scarf, founder of the label Silkroad and more recently using her own name.  We had all taken along a length of handwoven fabric and had to design/style a garment suitable for that fabric and our body.  But we started by measuring ourselves and finding out what body shape we are and what styles suit us and surprise, surprise I discover I'm half way between sizes so no wonder everything is either two big or two small, I have square shoulders where I always thought they were round and I new I had a narrow back.  I designed a longish jacket for the variegated stripy fabric of a previous post then thought about where I live and my life style and decided a tunic would be more practical.  The way the wind has been blowing today and the autumn touch in the air I should be making it up!

In between all this we had our AGM and had much discussion about the next exhibition we plan on holding.  I was absolutely exhausted by the time I got to my kids place for tea.  Sorry I wasn't much company.  We cruised home on Tuesday calling on a couple of friends on the way.

Its always great to be away, especially to such an inspiring event, but just as wonderful to be back home.

Weaving and Knitting

First I should explain that the Professional Weavers Network (mentioned in the last post) is a small stand alone group of weavers in New Zealand who hold a seminar once a year usually alternating between the North Island and the South.  Much of the discussion at seminar is on exhibitions, either past or the next deciding what, when, how and where.  The exhibition is held every two or three years.  We also have very inspiring guest speakers and tutors.  The basic aim of the Network is "to further develop the art of weaving through pursuit of excellence and the promotion of handwoven textiles".  I can't wait for the weekend to start.

A couple of views of fingerless gloves.  The pattern was in a recent Vogue Knitting magazine and I've used a yarn of 50% wool 50% cashmere.  Just gorgeous!  I've borrowed a friend's slim arms to model them.