What I learnt along the way while preparing for Japonisme. In no particular order, just thoughts as they come to me.
No matter how much fabric you think you need weave an extra metre or two. It makes the planning and cutting so much easier, and you always need more.
Set yourself a finish date at least 3 or 4 days ahead of actual delivery time. The finishing takes longer than you think and the paperwork including artist's bio and statements take forever. Allow time. Do it as each piece is being worked on while the passion is there.
Be passionate about your subject. Research, study, investigate, sketch, draw, play.
Allow plenty of time. If your working life is already chock a block either have a very understanding boss (as I did) or don't book the gallery too early. You cannot manufacture time. There are only 24 hours in a day.
It reinforced that I love weaving; OK I'm obsessed with it. Not so much the making it into something else once it comes off the loom. So maybe that's why I've stuck to scarves, wraps, blankets, etc. I've always sewn; learnt on a Singer treadle machine when a tot. When given a choice of party or sewing machine for my 21st birthday I took machine (which probably says something about me)! So now I find it strange to realise I didn't enjoy the sewing side so much. I have a couple of projects I want to make for myself and I'll see how they go without the pressure.
I enjoyed collaborating with a friend. It did take the pressure off by sharing responsibility but also it meant I felt more committed to doing as perfect a job as I could. We didn't live in each other's pockets. Every now and then there would be a flurry of emails, we had one get together at my son's home to share ideas, but most of the time we just got on with it. It wasn't until delivery to the gallery that we saw each others works and they all worked together.
No matter how much fabric you think you need weave an extra metre or two. It makes the planning and cutting so much easier, and you always need more.
Set yourself a finish date at least 3 or 4 days ahead of actual delivery time. The finishing takes longer than you think and the paperwork including artist's bio and statements take forever. Allow time. Do it as each piece is being worked on while the passion is there.
Be passionate about your subject. Research, study, investigate, sketch, draw, play.
Allow plenty of time. If your working life is already chock a block either have a very understanding boss (as I did) or don't book the gallery too early. You cannot manufacture time. There are only 24 hours in a day.
It reinforced that I love weaving; OK I'm obsessed with it. Not so much the making it into something else once it comes off the loom. So maybe that's why I've stuck to scarves, wraps, blankets, etc. I've always sewn; learnt on a Singer treadle machine when a tot. When given a choice of party or sewing machine for my 21st birthday I took machine (which probably says something about me)! So now I find it strange to realise I didn't enjoy the sewing side so much. I have a couple of projects I want to make for myself and I'll see how they go without the pressure.
I enjoyed collaborating with a friend. It did take the pressure off by sharing responsibility but also it meant I felt more committed to doing as perfect a job as I could. We didn't live in each other's pockets. Every now and then there would be a flurry of emails, we had one get together at my son's home to share ideas, but most of the time we just got on with it. It wasn't until delivery to the gallery that we saw each others works and they all worked together.
