4x4 Tapestry Finished !!

Four inches by four inches that is.  I have been working on a little 4x4 tapestry to send for the members group exhibit of Tapestry Weavers South.

Here is a photo in progress on the loom.  I decided to use my Border Collie, Laddie as my model and started by doing some sketches on the Brushes App. I enjoy doing quick sketches on Brushes and this is the second time I have woven a small tapestry from one. This was also my first experiment with using linen for the warp. It did feel different but I like the look of the linen. Unfortunately my choice of linen was more textured than I would like so I will still be looking for the perfect linen warp. I also used some of my hand spun yarn as the red back ground weft.

The yarns in his face are mostly Ymmyarns and a little white pearl cotton.

This second picture is finished but still on the loom.

Once the tapestry was off the loom it seemed so tiny and somehow unfinished...

... so I decided to add a little beaded edging.  He actually measures about 4 1/4" by 4 3/8 inches with the beaded edging but still within acceptable limits I think.

I have only to box him up and send him along. Wish I could go with him...

Tapestry Bead Cuff Class

I have a few pictures from the Tapestry Bead Cuff class that I taught last weekend with help from Lynn Tedder.  Everyone was able to weave a bracelet and pin and complete most of the finishing.  The results were all different and wonderful. I don't have pictures of all the projects yet but here are a few.

Since most of the people in the class are also interested in tapestry weaving we went over several weaving techniques in addition to the placement of the beads that could be incorporated into the cuffs like horizontal lines, pick and pick and basic hatching.

Here is Pam working on her new Lani Loom.



















Here is a shot of Susan's bracelet on the loom with a nice addition of pick and pick and horizontal lines so far.

In this one Becky has already completed a bracelet and is weaving a pin.

















To the right is her bracelet being attached to the cuff blank showing a nice hatching pattern.


Here is Robin's bracelet during the finishing process, also with some nice hatching.

Following are a couple more of Robin's bracelets with the beaded edging complete.

Here are Annie's projects off the loom. So pretty even without the beaded edge but I would also like a picture with the edging completed.












There is some time for putting that beaded edge onto the pin at the end of the day.

Finally, a couple of my samples for the class.

Progressing into March

 Here is a photo of the entire month of February and the first of March. The pick and pick seems to be working well to mark the months on this years diary. I will be adding in some greens for the month of March. There are a lot of little stories in February, weaving at night, playing Frisbee with Laddie, the heart shaped landscape for Valentines day, snow days and windy days, a card weaving workshop and a family birthday; all memories woven in time.

I have also been adding some new shows to my schedule. In addition to the two already listed to the right I will also be going to the 2013 Route 66 Rendezvous in Edmund, Ok on June 8 and if I get my form in on time I'm going to do the Prairie Winds Midwest Weavers Conference in Emporia, Ks June 20-22, 2013. I will add information to the list when they are confirmed.




I have also been weaving away on the Mango Hunters. Here is a picture from March 1 with the bobbins in place.  The mangos are coming along pretty well and it is about half way complete now.

I thought it might be interesting to show the drawing. I am getting ready to start the large plant in the pot. I have made a few changes to the tapestry from the drawing. I decided to leave out the flower as it is pretty distracting and I have changed the wood spoon in the bowl to another Mango. Also I plan to take some of the elements from the right side out into the border area as I did on the left.

Here is a photo with the bobbins moved and correctly turned.  I will need to turn the warp soon and can use this for reference  later.

Here is a detail that does not include the borders. It often seems like I am weaving and not getting anywhere but I can see that some progress is being made.

To finish, here are a few pictures from a card weaving workshop I took recently with John Mullarkey. It was a small group and we had a great time. John is an excellent teacher and we all came away much more knowledgeable about weaving with cards.

I don't have many pictures but here are a few.  These are all from the first day. We were working on threaded in patterns.

You can see the small sampling looms that John brought for us to use. They are similar to an inkle loom without the heddle bar.










John also brought a large number of very inspiring samples for us to study.

Here is Lynn weaving her Running Dog pattern...




and to the right is a detail that shows the pattern reversal.










On the second day we worked with Egyptian Diagonals and studied card manipulated designs. Obviously I was pretty wrapped up in my work because I have no photos yet of these designs.

Romancing the Earth

Happy Valentines Day!

I am calling my little entry in todays tapestry diary "Romancing the Earth" because the forms remind of land and sky, water and mountains all in a one inch high by two inch rectangle.

Here is the month of February to date and also a couple of days at the end of January. The new red violet colors are working their way into February and I am having a lot of fun with the little rectangles.  I have been romancing pick and pick lately too! Maybe there is a pick and pick post in my future.

Mirrix Contest and Studio News

A new shipment arrived yesterday of beautiful Ymmyarns wool and silk for tapestry weaving. The colors are so, ...well Yummy. The photo shows just the wools but the silk is dyed to match.  Also in the mail was a new box of hand turned brass tipped bobbins from John Moss. I now have the 5.5 inch size and the mini bobs available.

Would you like to win an 8 inch Lani Loom from Mirrix, or how about some of these gorgeous Ymmyarns?

 Here is a picture of my Lani with it's current project. Normally I weave jewelry on it but now I am getting ready to weave a four inch square of my Laddie boy.



 Mirrix has a contest underway and here is the link to find out more about it.

Win an 8" Mirrix Lani Loom!

Always wanted to try weaving beads or tapestry? Ready to upgrade your loom? Mirrix Tapestry & Bead Looms is giving away a loom to one lucky entrant in their latest contest. What do you have to do to enter? Be creative! 

Create a piece of art with up to ten words that answers this question: What inspires you to create art? The piece of art you create can be of any medium, or mixed mediums, but must be an original work of art by the entrant.

This contest is all about creativity, originality and sharability. You can see the current entries here: http://www.mirrixlooms.com/winaloomentry.html.

Visit Mirrix's website for more details on other prizes, the panel of judges, how to win and the official rules! http://www.mirrixlooms.com/winaloom.html

Tapestry Study Group

Last Saturday was our second meeting of the Tulsa Handweavers tapestry study group. We had a pretty good crowd. Some of us brought looms and projects that were underway.

Our main goal for the day was to give people a chance to make their own copper pipe frame loom for tapestry weaving and to talk about warping those looms . We published several informational files about making the looms and warping them along with a basic sett chart for cotton seine twine. If you would like to see them go to www.tulsahandweaversguild.org and click on the study group. They should be available for a couple of months there.

It was also an opportunity to get together, talk tapestry and learn from each other.

I demonstrated a few things like cutting the copper pipe, and fitting the pieces together.

The written files that were available prior to the meeting seemed to make the process go very smoothly.

Some team work was required!

Some elbow grease was needed too!

Of course with this group it is never all work and no play.

After the loom building I demonstrated warping the looms...

and preparing them for weaving.

Here is mine set up on my sketch box easel and I am talking about headers and half hitches.

At the end of the day, the satisfaction of a job well done was apparent everywhere.

January, Day by Day

Here is a quick post with the completed January diary. It is coming along and It is really giving me a chance to experiment with the Ymmyarns color blending possibilities and just get to know the palette better. I just got the word that my new yarn order is on the way from Australia and that is good news!

I am also getting ready for the second Tapestry Study Group meeting. Hopefully I will have some pictures to share this time.  We are going to be making some copper pipe looms and talking about warping for tapestry. If you are in the area and interested in tapestry weaving come and visit the Tulsa Handweavers. There is more information on the link to the right.

Fiber Studio is going to Texas again for the Yellow Rose Fiber Producers show in April. I will place a link on the blog for more information about the show. I hope to see some of you there.