Friday, January 2, 2015

A Tapestry Journey Through 2014



I have been putting in some long days getting the 2014 tapestry diary off the loom and the new 2015 tapestry started. I have been wondering why it is taking so long  and then it struck me, the 2014 tapestry is almost six times as wide than the 2013 tapestry. Measured off the loom today it is 33.5 inches by 40.5 inches.

This is the end of my second full year on the diary series and my whole year is stretched out before me. The 2014 tapestry is  my journey through the year and the many paths I've taken. It is Oklahoma country roads and city streets, flight paths to Rhode Island and hi ways to Georgia  woven around long weekends with friends and many days observing the world through the window of my studio. I've been looking at sunshine and shadow, watching things grow, bloom and fade and noticing the changing parade of color and weaving all about it. I have been learning some new tapestry techniques in classes I've taken and books I've read and weaving all about it. There have been days when I couldn't wait to get started and days when I couldn't wait to finish and many many days when I thought that if there was just one more thing to do everyday and I would surely explode. A year can seem incredibly long one day and impossibly short the next.


Before I cut the tapestry off the loom I had a clean up session, putting yarns away and clearing off the table. Laid out on the table my first impression is color, or is it movement? I am not sure.


I like the red squares that designate the months and the pattern they create.


Each day has a pass of contrasting color that separates it from the next but on December 31, 2014 in the upper right corner I decided to leave a path open in one spot to ease the transition to 2015. It has been a good year but it is time to move on.


I have been getting my warp in order and the foundation laid for 2015 and I hope to be posting about it soon. I am always looking for the perfect warp. The perfect number of threads laying next to each other in perfect harmony, nothing crossed or twisted, no empty or doubled dents, nothing in front that should be in back or vice versa and no do overs. Now I know how those surfers feel looking for the perfect wave. We know its out there, that stunning junction of mathematical precision with the proper planetary alignment and a smidgeon of serendipity. I'm still waiting.

12 comments:

  1. I have really enjoyed watching this particular tapestry diary form over this year. It is so lovely. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Both movement and color are wonderful.

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  4. Janette, the 2014 diary is beautiful, full of color, movement, and when I look at it I see "snapshots" of your journey. I look forward to creating my own diary, perhaps next year, but meanwhile, I look forward to seeing your 2015 tapestry diary. (Previous entry deleted because of a typo.)

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  5. Beautiful, love the sense of movement and the colour.

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  6. Thank you Debbie for taking a look and making a comment!

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  7. Wonderful, wonderful! I love the last paragraph about warp, so very true for all weavers, yes, but especially for tapestry weavers.

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    1. Yes Tommye, I decided to go for an eye exam after this last one!

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  8. Wow!!! Found a comment on my blog you left when I was taking Charles Reids class at Cheap Joes...great class...that tapestry is just awsome...something I have never done...weaving i guess its called?? And not on my bucket list but since I love wool...its just darned delicious...

    Sorry I didnt answer sooner...been out of town for TWO months and forgot to take my computer...no access to comments on my cell phone!!

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    1. Yes, a class with Charles Reid would be great! I sounded wonderful. I am so glad you stopped by Common Threads and enjoyed the tapestry. I am working on the finishing now.

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