It is so hard not being able to show the weaving I'm doing for the exhibitions. Yes there is an "s" on the end of the noun. As announced in the latest Creative Fibre Magazine (produced by New Zealand Creative Fibre Society) I'm guest exhibitor at the Tauranga Creative Fibre Annual Exhibition at the end of May, my own exhibition opening on 2 July at Inspirit, combining with a group of weavers from the Waikato to exhibit in Te Awamutu in November and the work for the Professional Weavers Network exhibition has to be ready by March 2011. I keep asking, why has it all happened in the same year, spread it out, why not!
At Inspirit I'm sharing with a painter from Tauranga, Colleen Dewhurst, who does bright Pacific-y style work. Not so keen on the religious pieces but love the ladies and fish.
I better get on with it!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Old Socks!
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.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Fabric
Enough of the dog already.
Next weekend is Professional Weavers Network annual seminar in Auckland and after seminar we're having a workshop on designing/styling fabric/garments from handwoven cloth with Sue Scarf so I thought it time I got out my fabric stash and fulled it, finished it and had a jolly good look. Both pieces have been maturing in the fabric stash cupboard for some time. Do you know they do improve with age! I rather like them now, can see possibilities.
This is wool, teal and anenome stripes with a variegated stripe every so often. For some reason I threaded it and wove it with a space every 2 inches of about half an inch and of course the threads moved to fill the gaps. I can imagine it with a contrasting (maybe hot pink) lining peeping through the spaces. There is at least 5 metres. A jacket is the obvious style but maybe a long tunic top.
The second bolt I wove so long ago I couldn't remember which loom I used until I saw the network drafted pattern so it must have been on the dobby and that must be two or three years ago. Yikes!
Its mostly cotton with one acrylic thread which didn't shrink and has made little loops at irregular intervals - I think that's why it was never made up. Again there is about 5 metres and I had planned to use a Burda pattern for a shirt with a tie feature at the front. Hmmm. Apologies for the photos but if I went back to try again this would never be posted. You can just see the networking on the blue bolt.
Next weekend is Professional Weavers Network annual seminar in Auckland and after seminar we're having a workshop on designing/styling fabric/garments from handwoven cloth with Sue Scarf so I thought it time I got out my fabric stash and fulled it, finished it and had a jolly good look. Both pieces have been maturing in the fabric stash cupboard for some time. Do you know they do improve with age! I rather like them now, can see possibilities.
The second bolt I wove so long ago I couldn't remember which loom I used until I saw the network drafted pattern so it must have been on the dobby and that must be two or three years ago. Yikes!
Its mostly cotton with one acrylic thread which didn't shrink and has made little loops at irregular intervals - I think that's why it was never made up. Again there is about 5 metres and I had planned to use a Burda pattern for a shirt with a tie feature at the front. Hmmm. Apologies for the photos but if I went back to try again this would never be posted. You can just see the networking on the blue bolt.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Ben
Look what I've got!
Actually he's just on loan for the night. He hates cars and his Mum has to go to Auckland once a week and if he's left at home he does naughty things and if he's taken in the car he gets up to mischief. So his Mum says he can go to a caring home where he doesn't have to travel or be left on his own. I'd keep him myself if I wasn't so transient.
On the fibre front it's a bit dismal. Went to the Whangamata market on the last Sunday of January (Auckland Anniversary weekend) and sold absolutely nothing. Mind you the humidity levels were very high (who wants to touch wool), the day had been changed from the usual Saturday to Sunday, and as it was wet the organiser had crammed tables in. I'm in the foyer with 4 stalls in all, this time there were 7! Shall I try again at Easter - million dollar question!
This weekend just gone the Katikati Art and Craft Trail had a special two days. Every studio had to be open 10 - 6 each day. I didn't mind the hours as I got a lot of work done but I only saw two people on each day and no sales. I am 20Km from Katikati so guess that's not going to work either.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Exhibition weaving and spinning
I'm still weaving away most days. Have 4 sofa throws ready to go to Pauanesia next week and am working away at the clear filament projects for my exhibition later in the year. It is so slow! I can't see if the threads are crossed, I place them neatly in the shed, close and beat, and sprong, they're all over the place and the selvedges ... just don't look, organic might describe them. I seem to remember from the last time I used this fibre thinking if the shuttles (stick) drop one more time the whole lot's going out the window. I was pretty close to it this afternoon! So what do you do? take a long walk along the beach, that's what. Relieves the spirit and the muscle tension.
Found this on my camera when looking for another photo. This is the filament warp before winding on the loom, with many choke ties.
Remember the pile of compost (thrums) in a previous post, about three posts back I think. Part of it is now yarn mixed with all sorts of things I found in the cupboard, combed silk, sari silk threads, Italian silk throwsters, slivers I deconstructed to pinch the blue. I plied it with a very fine (Tex 1/18) navy blue cashmere I had to hand to emphasise the handspun variety. I have about 220 metres so what will that make?
Remember the pile of compost (thrums) in a previous post, about three posts back I think. Part of it is now yarn mixed with all sorts of things I found in the cupboard, combed silk, sari silk threads, Italian silk throwsters, slivers I deconstructed to pinch the blue. I plied it with a very fine (Tex 1/18) navy blue cashmere I had to hand to emphasise the handspun variety. I have about 220 metres so what will that make?
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