One Adventure Leads to Another

I was getting ready for a trip to Texas when I got a call from Ann. We met and talked about the Mirrix Looms at Fiber Christmas. She decided to come over to my house and purchase an 8 inch loom and get started right away on a couple of Leather Wrap Bracelets. We had a great time and I expect she will be ready to try another project soon. It was a good opportunity for me to try out this class that I would soon be doing in Texas.

Two days later Lynn was picking me, the looms and supplies up. We were going to stay with her sister-in-law Elona and help some friends try out the Mirrix Looms and make bracelets. Elona was going to be hostess to all of us for the weekend.

Normally when we take trips to shows I am busy driving but this time Lynn was behind the wheel so I had to get otherwise busy. I took pictures of myself...

my knees,

my scarf,
the highway,

and Lynn. I think Lynn is beginning to feel like my son Josh who learned to be careful about sitting down in front of me because I would start drawing him.

The next day we were sitting at Elona's table with our looms and starting with the leather wrap bracelets. Here is Elona working on her first one.

Here are the two first bracelets to come off her loom that weekend. When we left she had gone on to the affinity style bracelets and had two of them started. I felt confident there would be a steady flow of beautiful things coming off her loom when we left.

This is Janet working on her first bracelet,





and a couple of shots of the first one finished.

 Ann said she had seen these bracelets and been wanting to make one. Now she has!

Here is Ann's modeled with her watch.

Janice came a little later to the party and had to leave a little early but wasted no time making a pretty single wrap.

Aren't these colors great? This is a collaborative effort with Lynn at the loom and Libby designing.





Lynn

 Libby...

and the bracelet.

I even managed to finish a couple over the weekend.

 Creating together is the best kind of bonding experience.

Sometime during the weekend the talk turned to my looking for a space to teach more classes and have the shop supplies available and displayed all the time. Someone in this lovely group mentioned buying a building and moving it to my place.

A couple of days after returning home we went to look at possibilities and ended up having one built. Yikes! We came back home and realized that before we could even get the building moved on we would have to move an old boat and trim lots of trees and... So the next adventure begins!

A Great Time at Fiber Christmas and Beyond

 Happy Fiber Christmas! We had a great time this year and enjoyed talking with all the visitors to the Fiber Studio. It was fun to be doing a show pretty close to home. Our next show will be Kid'n Ewe in Boerne, Texas. See the shows and links for more information. I hope to see some of the folks we met last year and some new ones. I will be sending out a coupon closer to that show so be looking for it if you are on the newsletter list. I know my newsletter offerings are few and far between but there have been no complaints about clogging email accounts. Thanks to all who sign up!

Here is a photo of Lynn, my right hand, cool head and navigator for all the shows we have been visiting this summer. The plain truth is I couldn't even get where I am going without her.
















Set up is a good time to take a break and see what other vendors are up to. Here is Donna Hilton whipping  the booth for Weaving at Indian Meridian into shape.

Mary Berry of Fancy Fibers Farm showing off a new shawl kit at the entrance to her area. We were neighbors this year.

Here is Kate Lowder of Lowder Colours Farm and an organizer for the event. Beside her is Rose Brickley, Massage Therapist. I got to know Rose at the Yellow Rose show last spring. Doing a show without a massage seems unthinkable now!

There is always lots of beautiful spinning fiber and wheels of every description. Here is Lori Brown of Diamond B Sheep Farm with a cute one. I managed to sell my Lady Bug at the show too. I am so glad it has a good home. Don't worry I am not spinning deprived, there are three more wheels at home waiting for some attention but the available space issue needed some attending too.

One of the things I liked about this show was having a generous area  for visitors to sit down, try out my looms or bring their own and learn a new thing or two. This is not always an option but it was wonderful to have a spacious learning/demo area.

All this and I managed to get the month of July completed for my daily practice tapestry diary! I am ready for August.

 I will be doing a little class on the wrap bracelets in Texas next weekend. I hope to have some pictures after. When I return I am going to weave a small piece for an international tapestry project,
http://tapestryline.blogspot.ca/2013/06/fate-destiny-and-self-determination-is.html. It is very small and there is still time to send one before the end of the year.

 Also, very busy on the Mango Hunters every little minute I can spare. It is a little like coming to the end of a good book, do I really want it to end, will I find another one as good, how can I wait to see the conclusion...

Thats what I'm talking about!

More tapestry news soon...

Ymmyarns 50 Gram Tapestry Yarns Are Here, New Progress

The new Ymmyarns 50 gram balls are here and they are gorgeous. I took a photo after I had them organized and now they are safe in their boxes. Beautiful yarns are so appealing, so full of promise for future plans.

Having the entire color range in the 50 gram balls is a sign that Fiber Studio Tapestry and Bead Weaving supplies is growing. A special thanks to all the tapestry weavers that have purchased Ymmyarns from me. It is because of you that I have this lovely stash of tapestry yarns and I do not think they will be here long enough for me to become attached.






In preparing some pictures of the Mango Hunters for todays post I began to reflect on how helpful having photos of my work, finished and in progress is to the process of making things. It is not only a way to admire my work or to show off the new "children" to friends and acquaintances and it is not just for the professional purposes of having images to send to shows or competitions. When I am feeling unproductive I often look at the photos from the previous months and manage to convince myself that I am accomplishing something, but I also use the photos as a tool to help with my working process.

Here is a photo of the Mango Hunters as it appeared on the loom this morning. I am really getting excited as it seems this may meet my goal of being finished by the end of the year.

I often find that looking at a photo gives me a very different perspective than looking at the actual tapestry does. Condensing the image and removing yourself from the physical presence of the work can help to see details that are more difficult to catch otherwise. Especially in tapestry where parts of the work are no longer in view it can be a way of checking the continuity of the work as well.

Since the Mango Hunters is woven from side to side one of the things that is helpful is just to rotate the photo and get a good at it from the proper perspective. I see a couple of details in this one that I might want to change, but first I decide to go back and look at other views before each turning of the warp.





To the right is a photo of the same scene a few weeks ago.










This photo shows what it looked like before the last turn of the warp.
















Finally,
here it is back at the very beginning. This photo is a little dark but it does help me to see how the design is progressing.















This last photo is from just a few minutes ago. I have made some slight changes from the first one in the series based on what I saw from observing the photo and now I am ready to turn the warp again and move on.

Now I see one or two small things I may change a bit but I think I will turn the warp first and so it goes.

Half the Year in Tapestry

Half the Year in Tapestry and a start on July has me reflecting on the process of weaving everyday again. For this diary project it is not so much about just doing some weaving everyday but creating a small bit of weaving that actually has relevance to that day. What occurs to me is that this practice is a means to promote living in the present while preserving the past. It is a daily challenge to find a symbol for the present, the past is already woven so it is "finished".  I keep finding insights through this process all the time.

Here is the month of June with a little transitional pick and pick and the first of July. There were lots of memorable events in June, Fathers day, the Midwest Weavers conference and my 40th wedding anniversary!

When I first started the year I was very aware of how using a 1 by 2 inch rectangle would limit the possibilities. Now I find myself thinking that I can't believe how many possibilities are lurking in that rectangle and this tapestry is set at 8 ends per inch.

Some days have less sparkle than others of course and some symbols are better left unexplained but I was pretty happy with the Pineapple Upside-down cake I wove/baked the day before Father's Day. The woven version could have used a little more value contrast between the pineapple and the cake but I liked the weaverly approach I managed. The baked one was spot on and one of my husbands favorite desserts.

To the right is a detail of the cake in the middle.

The day before I left for the conference I wove my Spinner suitcase on the road, more of the road on traveling day, and then the up and down elevator for the first vending day. Then the stage where several events took place, and the Kansas storm rolling in on the day we returned home. I was happy to leave it behind as we drove into Oklahoma.

The last two days of the month I noticed the big pile of leftover wefts I had been accumulating and decided to do something about it so I wove the last two days of the month with them.

That gave me an idea for July. I decided to take my new color of the month which is a coral red range of Ymmyarns and use that and my pile of thrums for weaving July.

Back at the beginning of the year I mentioned that one of my goals for this years diary was to become acquainted with my palette of Ymmyarns and that has been working nicely in this way.

I suppose using these leftovers could seem way too thrifty but it is also an interesting challenge.

After I spent some time organizing my piles of threads the project seemed more user friendly. I spent an evening organizing these and the thrums from the Mango Hunters.

To the right is a detail of the last two days of June and some transitional pick and pick using the red range and mostly grey thrums. I must admit it was slow beginning and ending so many wefts for the pick and pick that goes across but I do like the effect.

The smaller rectangles, like the first of July, should be easier to manage in this way.

I should be posting on the Mango Hunters soon - almost ready to turn the warp again. 

Coming Soon, New Tapestry Bobbins and Yarn

As soon as we returned from Midwest Weavers Conference there were some new things to attend to at the Fiber Studio. John Moss had sent me one of his new bobbins to try and I liked it!

I took a comparison picture of the two I have been carrying and the new "Slim" in the center.  The Slim is a little longer then the 5.5 brass tipped bobbin and a it has a slimmer profile. I found it very easy to slip through the warp and to catch after. I think this will be a very user friendly bobbin for those who are beginning to use them. Being slimmer the yarn capacity may not be as large although the extra length to the shaft may equal that out some. I found it ideal for me as I change colors frequently. On the right are the popular mini bobs for comparison.

This picture shows a comparison of the brass tips. On the top is the straight tip. It's design makes it a very efficient beater and good at keeping the threads separated with sufficient weft.

On the bottom is the tapered tip. The tapering makes this one good for beginning and ending threads with pigtails and half hitches. It makes manouvering the threads easier.

In the middle is the new Slims tip. The base of the brass tip stays wider longer than the tapered tip and retains the tapered design at the tip. I have been weaving with mine for a couple of days now and I really like this tip! I love good tools and tend to notice these things.

The good news is that the new Slims are coming soon as well as some new magnetic necklace awls.

Also coming soon, a full color selection of Ymmyarns in 50 gram balls!

Here you see the 20 gram ball in front and two 50 gram balls in the center. I will be having both sizes in stock and available soon. Of course that hefty 100 gram ball in the back can still be special ordered.

If you are interested in ordering Ymmyarns the wool and silk color cards are now four dollars each. It is easy to order by number if you have the cards, just send me an email at jmeetze8@aol.com
There are some new colors that have been added recently also.

We had a great time at the Midwest Weavers Conference. Here is a shot of Jeannine Glaves (keynote speaker for the conference) and Donna Hilton (owner of Weaving at Indian Meridian) having some lunch in the University cafeteria.



The keynote talk that Jeannine delivered that evening was inspiring, encouraging and infused with humor. I wonder how many husbands will find themselves patrons of the arts when all the participants return home?

Earlier that day Lynn and I had set up our booth at the Vendor Hall. We had a nice roomy spot so we could demonstrate and socialize as needed.

It was a great time of meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

The Kansas Guild did a great job of hosting this event. We really appreciated the help with getting our things up to the hall and back down again. It made a huge difference!

I had fun taking some pictures of new Mirrix Loom owners. I can't wait to see what Cindy does with hers.

There is nothing like a Mirrix Loom to bring out some smiles.

One Mini went home as a special gift.

Our next show is Fiber Christmas in July in Kelleyville Oklahoma, July 26 and 27.

Come and say "Hello"

Prairie Winds Midwest Weavers Conference Here We Come

We are getting ready to leave for the Prairie Winds Midwest Weavers Conference at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. The boxes are waiting to be loaded into the car and last minute challenges are almost met.

We will have all the usual items for tapestry weaving, including some demonstrations and a few new things. The beautiful bobbins from John Moss arrived in time and a couple more of my favorite necklace awls as well.

I have been experimenting with doing the leather wrap bracelets on the Mirrix loom. My last update showed this one on the loom with the leather cord used as warp and here it is finished. It has aventurine stones, crystals, tourmaline, sterling silver and size 8 and 11 Myuki beads.

Another view. I have added several colors of leather cord available by the foot...

and some lovely rustic sterling silver buttons to the items for sale.

Here is another one just off the loom with tourmaline and size 8 beads.

The back view with pretty silver button. There will be another one at the show that went to a new home without a picture and I hope to correct that soon. It had dark purple leather and amethysts with size 8 seed beads.

These bracelets are really comfortable and fun to wear and can be used as a necklace or a decorative holder for your snips.











Since Fall is just around the corner, at least when it comes to hand crafted/ woven items I have been thinking about an exhibit coming up for the Tulsa Handweavers Guild at the Dragonmoon Tea House. The items to be shown are Tea Towels and so I have warped a loom with some Summer and Winter towels.

I am hoping to make some progress on these when I return from Kansas. I have some nice colors to work with so it should be fun!

Here is a quick peek at the progress on the Mango Hunters. I am working on the plant now. I have been making quite a few changes to the design as I weave. There was a wooden spoon in the bowl of mangos that has turned into another mango instead. Also there was a beautiful flower on the plant which unfortunately had to go to strengthen the overall design. It will be a leaf instead.

The grande finale, a few pictures from Rendezvous in Edmund, Oklahoma.

There were many spinning wheels singing with their partners at the show and many friendly, spirited fiber folk to catch up with.

Below are a couple of pictures of the  Fiber Studio display.

A final shot of Tom at his loom with a tiny peak of Donna from WIM behind.

We had a great time!

Tapestry, Shows and June

Here is a shot of the completed tapestry for May. The new color was blue green and there are lots of references to the weather. We sure have been having some this Spring! This will be the first month on the new panel of daily practice for 2013. Many of these symbols are not apparent to anyone but me. For example the grey rectangle on May 11 stands for new Apple laptop. Yes!! My little robot head is about how I felt coming down from a very busy month or so, no time to think, just do... the tornado shapes, rain and shine and wishful thinking, it's all here.

June is underway with yellow green as the new color of the month. I imagine I can see the mellowness unfold as I have had more time to work on my tapestry the last couple of weeks. I am feeling optimistic about reaching my goal of having the Mango Hunters off the loom this year!

Next weekend on June 8 I will have a booth at Rendezvous in Edmund, OK. This will be the anniversary of the first show I did last year with the Fiber Studio. So much has happened in a year! Towards the end of the month I will have a booth at the Midwest Weavers Conference. There is more information about both of these shows to the right under scheduled shows. My good friend Jeannine Glaves will be the keynote speaker for  Midwest and I am looking forward to that and being a first time vendor there.

June first was the meeting of the Tulsa Handweavers Guild and we were honoring our 60th anniversary. Here is guild president Margaret Lee and Ruth Morrison, one of our long time members and incredible mentor for all of us taking a picture of...

the cake.

Finally, a photo of a new bracelet on the 16 inch Mirrix loom. It is a wrap bracelet with leather cord as the outer warp. It is quite long, hence the tiny warp on the 16 inch loom with the extenders in place. My plan is to have five wraps with each section being a slightly different design. It has silver beads between each of the five designs and will have a silver button closure. I plan to get another warped on a smaller loom for the show next weekend if I can pull away from the Mango Hunters in time.

Hope to see some of you at Rendezvous next weekend.