Catching Up

Here it is May 20th and it has been over a month since my last blog post! It has been a busy time so I have decided to do a recap of some of my adventures and bring the current projects up to date.

After we left for the Yellow Rose Fiber Producers show in Seguin, Texas we stopped for the first night in Salada. While there we stayed at the Stagecoach Inn, a very old and charming place that my traveling mate remembered from childhood growing up in Texas. By the time we arrived almost everything was closed, which was probably a good thing for our pocket books as there are many nice art studios and shops there. We did find a colorful Mexican restaurant open and we sat down, looked up and found the tapestry you see here hanging on the wall. We were able to enjoy it as we feasted on excellent fish tacos.

Here is a little detail of the restaurant tapestry showing some areas of exposed warps.













After dinner we decided to walk around the area a bit and happened on a park with ruins of Salada College 1859. It is unusual to see ruins in the US so we walked around and took dozens of pictures. I kept thinking there might be an idea here for something.

Here is a view of the college...

and a sample of some closeups I took.


















When we arrived in Sequin we had the task of setting up our booth for the show. Our thought was to spend a couple of hours setting up the booth and then get some sight seeing in.  In reality we spent the entire five hours setting up the booth, went back to the room and retired for the evening.

Here is one picture as we were setting up. The problem was changing out minds about how and where to place things.

I think this represents close to what we ended up with. The tapestries and the Ymmyarns make a nice display.

The beads are always popular too! It was a lovely show, well run and great venue with good lighting and facilities and we are planning to return next year.














After returning home and getting things back in order I was busy getting ready to do a program for the Tulsa Handweavers about the tapestry- bead bracelets and preparing for the Tapestry Study Group. At the same time as we were gone for the show in Texas, Tapestry Weavers South was having a great exhibit at the Quinlan Art Center and though I was sad to miss it my little four inch tapestry of Laddie did attend. After all that was accomplished I felt pretty determined to get back to the studio and do some weaving!

Here is a shot of the April diary.






I finished January through April as the first panel of the yearly project so I also have a picture of the finished panel on the loom. I decided to make a new warp and tie on to the old one so that I could put all three panels on the loom together. So I rolled up the finished one and started the second panel with May.








Here is a shot of the new warp added on. I took several shots of the process of warping and adding on the new warp so I may write a separate post about it. I am so grateful to Rebecca Mezoff for her great blog post about warping the Gobelin Loom as it has been very helpful to me. There is a link to the right if you are interested in checking it out.
















Next is a photo of the May tapestry diary coming along.









My next big ambition was to make some progress on the Mango Hunters.

Here is a photo of the work completed after the first turn and before the last.

Here is the progress to date.











A detail of the completed bowl of Mangos which makes me happy.

A photo which shows the END of the cartoon which makes me very happy. I feel like I have been running a marathon and the finish line is in sight! Only a few months away!

One more shot just to emphasize how exciting this progress is. I am already thinking about the next one. My optimism knows no bounds!

On the Road Again

Just a few words before we hit the road for the Yellow Rose Fiber Producers Fiesta in Sequin, Texas. It should be a nice time of year to be driving through Texas and we are looking forward to doing this show for the first time.  The plan is to leave early Wednesday morning. Today I have the challenging task of loading the car before me. I haven't started packing any clothes yet and that will depend on the nooks and crannies that are left after the shop stuff is safely inside.

 A picture I snapped this morning of some things that are waiting for me. I am almost finished gathering it up!

Here is an update on the April tapestry diary. I have woven the road for today as that is what is on my mind. April is warming up now and beginning to feel like spring in Oklahoma.

I have also done a little spinning for the Sheep Breed Sampler tapestry and I am planning to bring it along to demonstrate at the Show on my 16 inch Mirrix with treadle. I have four sheep ( yarns) ready to go including Gotland, CVM, Bond and Shetland to add to the 12 already grazing.

I have also made several bracelets new for this show and I have two tapestry bead cuffs to demonstrate on the 12 inch Mirrix, an Affinity bracelet on the 8 inch Mirrix and a no warp ends bead project on the 5 inch Mini. A nice variety. I also have a couple of hat bands to display and several tapestry pieces.

Here is a small update on the Mango Hunters. I am closing in on those Mangos. I should be further along and hope to be back to steady progress in May. It has been a very busy Spring!

By the way, the second place winner in the Mirrix contest was Laura Arena from Port Charlotte, Florida not so far from my birth place, New Port Richey. I have sent her a selection of wool and silk Ymmyarns in colors she seems to like very well. Congratulations Laura! I hope to have a picture sometime in the future.

I haven't posted in a while about the Tulsa Handweavers Tapestry Study Group primarily because I am usually to busy to take pictures. As a little follow up though I am pleased to say that the guild has agreed to buy the Archie Brennan/ Susan Maffei DVD set. This is exciting news because I know we have members that will benefit from the wonderful instruction they offer. I know I have greatly benefitted from my set. There is a link to the right if you are interested in more information about them.

It is always my intention to do a little blogging from the road but it doesn't always work out that way. The pesky need for some sleep gets in the way sometimes but I am planning to try.

Marching into April Pick by Pick

Here is the latest installment of the 2013 tapestry diary. It starts on March 1st in the lower right corner and goes through April 1 in the upper right corner.

One of the things that I have been experimenting with in this years daily practice is pick and pick. This is a pattern that is usually introduced early when studying weft faced weaves as a way to achieve a vertical stripe pattern. In concept it is simple, one pick of a color followed by one pick of another color will create a vertical stripe. It is a good way to illustrate the visual effect of the physical reality of plain weave. One pick covers half the threads, the second pick covers the remaining threads and it takes both or one pass to weave a pattern repeat in plain weave. Like most simple things it can be a powerful tool if understood and manipulated with skill.

My favorite reference for pick and pick is Carol Russell's Tapestry Handbook. The entire second chapter is devoted to a sampler of pick and pick. In this sampler the suggested practice will not only introduce the pattern capabilities of this technique but the many color blending possibilities that can be achieved.  There is even an exercise for creating an isolated area of pick and pick within a larger ground which is very useful. While pick and pick is pretty simple to weave, complications do arise in keeping the edges neat, beginning and ending wefts so that the color sequence remains correct and avoiding draw in.  One of the most impressive offerings in this book is the wealth and variety of tapestry work illustrated and there are several images that show a creative approach to using pick and pick techniques within a larger work. One of the most exciting things shown, is how by changing the relative values of the colors wonderful effects of light and atmosphere can be achieved as well as a variety of patterns.

In several of my older diaries there are experiments with pattern using pick and pick. In the example at left are tree trunks and windows in buildings.

In this little scene it becomes a fence.

In this detail from the Mango Hunters it becomes pattern for a textile within a textile.

In this one the subtle value changes suggest light rising at the horizon.

Here are a couple of leaves from the Mango Hunter that suggest a hint of shadow or flickering light with pick and pick.

I use pick and pick as a decorative technique in many of the bracelets too. Here is one that shows a standard vertical stripe pattern.
















In the next series of photos pick and pick, dots and horizontal lines are used to transition  from a pale gold to a red violet and back
on a recent bracelet project.

Starting at one of the ends...

moving around to yellow orange, orange and coral.

Here are some darker values toward the center.











Then moving back into the oranges and golds...

and ending back in the golds once more.

















Concluding with another shot of the February and January diaries from this year it is easy to see a variety of pick and pick both subtle and bold. It will be even easier if looking at the details I suspect.

I am even planning on doing my initials in pick and pick for this years diary.

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.