January in the WI Northwoods brings snow, ice, subzero temps, and occasionally, whatever virus is going around. My family had a late (Jan. 7th) Christmas get-together with three grandchildren, who I found out later, had been sick over three weeks. Within a few days of that gathering, four of the six adults present were sick. I was the first. For days my life was sleeping, sitting, water bottle, a little TV, kleenix, and cough drops. It has taken me 17 days to get over this and finally feel almost back to normal, just a bit of cough hanging on.
16″ plus snow waiting to be shoveled.
During the time I was sick, it snowed three times. My stepping outside the door was limited to taking the dog out 4-5 times a day, So, there is currently a good 16″ of snow on my sidewalk that I am starting to deal with today.
One of my snow gauges, the stump from what was a beautiful red pine.Icicles I had previously knocked down are back!Single Unit Drawloom.
At the start of the new year I set a few new goals for the studio, including weaving on my drawloom, daily, even for just a few minutes. On better days while sick I did manage to add a few rows. There are new weaving habits to be created, and this is one. Right now, it is a bit of practice, tweaking, deciding whether to re-sley.
Reorganizing weaving, spinning, felting, and other fiber-related books.
A lot of my weaving books had migrated up to the second floor living room over the past 4 months or so, and are now back in the studio. To provide breaks from chairs and loom benches, I’m reorganizing my weaving/spinning/felting/fiber books, keeping those I will want to refer to within easy reach. Some will be packed for the move as I have run out of shelf space.
Time to get back to sorting, packing, tossing, and trips to the thrift stores.
So as I write this, it is January 26th, the month nearly gone, and I am so far behind on what I’d hoped to have done. Looking ahead, I am planning my work, and aiming to keep a balance between creative work/studio, and work on home, deep cleaning, packing, etc. Yard work will be waiting for me in spring.
Now, there is a warp to beam on the band loom, a new scarf warp to be made for the Standard loom, a warping trapeze to learn to use, and a lot of weaving to do. I’d best get to it!
P.S. Right after posting this, a five minute phone conversation with my daughter-in-law left me once again with almost no voice, thanks to whatever has been ailing me. Her last words were “Mom,… call someone!” So I did, and was able to get in 45 minutes later. The nurse practitioner is calling is bronchitus, and I returned home with an antibiotic and something for the cough. I’m hoping in a few days this will all be a distant memory.
The old year went out not at all as I had planned, and I’m attempting to start this new year by making good on a few resolutions.
On Dec. 26 I received an email, which I didn’t see until the 28th, from Hand/Eye Magazine (online) asking if I would like to contribute a piece to be published. My work had been seen on TAFA – The Textile and Fiber Arts List. The deadline was January 2nd as the next publication date was today, January 4th. After my initial shock I replied yes, and the next day was thinking about what I could possibly write, followed by three days of rewrites, revisions, tweaks, and locating photos, all sent off to the editor just before 9 PM on January 1st. My thanks to Rebeca Schiller, Hand/Eye Online Editor, for this opportunity! The article is titled “Mystery Weaves.” An exciting way to begin the new year! Visit Hand/Eye Magazine at http://handeyemagazine.com.
I’ve spent days thinking about what I would like to weave and accomplish in 2018, what to continue, what new areas to try. Lists are in progress, deadlines are on the calendar, and it is a matter of keeping it fun, interesting, and a healthy dose of self-discipline to make it all happen, something I was lacking last year. It is time to change that!
Woven shibori and embellishment possibilities.Years ago someone I knew told me I needed to focus on ONE area of weaving, forget everything else, create a body of work in ONE area, create my own style. I’ve never forgotten that discussion, and that is what I’ve been attempting with woven shibori. I will be continuing to explore that technique in scarves/cowls and other items that I sell. I also hope to take it in areas new-to-me, larger works, and continue that body of work on a new level.
I will also be incorporating some Norwegian/Scandinavian weaving, into my year. And by “Scandinavian,” I a using that word in a very broad sense. Traditional and contem- porary are both of interest, as are the looms/traditions. My drawloom has long been neglected and that must change. And woven shibori can be woven on a drawloom!
A Rosepath table runner, I wove long, long ago.
This table runner was woven from a project/recipe in a Swedish weaving book. It has a seine twine warp, and was woven with Berga wool weft yarn from Sweden.
Bandweaving, particularly Scandinavian, has become a stronger interest,… plain weave bands, inkle, Norwegian pick-up, Sami, tablet weaving, so many areas that can be explored over time, and again, can be used in combination with other types of weaving. Right now, I need more plain weave bands to use in the studio. For example, to tie the trapeze uprights to the loom to stabilize them, my preference over clamps.
New color sequence for a plain weave band, ready to beam.
At the same time, I rebel against being told to only have one interest and work only in it. I have never been able to do just ONE thing! I like to learn, and tapestry weaving has long been at the top of my list. This may not go anywhere beyond learning basics , or may go into some depth, but until I try, I will never know if I could learn it, become competent.
Many, many years ago, knowing nothing about tapestry, I warped a Schacht tabletop tapestry loom with navajo wool warp, spun and plied the yarns, and wove two small tapestries. That was the beginning of my wanting to learn more.
Two tapestries woven on Navajo wool warp, using my own handspun yarns for weft.
I know I’ve mentoned it on this blog perhaps two or three years ago. After years of searching I even found and purchased a Regina tapestry/rug loom nearly three years ago, signed up for Rebecca Mezoff’s 3-in-1 tapestry classes, began working through it, then put the entire thing on hold. Some people just dive into new ideas and projects, I quite often seem to need time, often a large chunk of time before beginning. I believe it is mostly fear or failure. Well, the time has come to sit down at the loom and begin. I’ll share the good, bad, and ugly with you. I have added a medium Hokett loom and signed up for Rebecca’s Small Tapestry class. Also a Mirrix Zach loom, so I have no more excuses. Tapestry weaving will be for my own enjoyment and learning.
And now, it is time to make a warp for new woven shibori scarves, I have new ideas to try!
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My Woven Shibori works, as well as Scandinavian weaving will again be available at Eagle River Gallery, 836 W. Pine Street, Eagle River, WI. Please check this link for days and hours open. The gallery will be on the Northwoods Art Tour in 2018, July 27-28-29, and Oct. 5-6-7, 10 AM to 5 PM. Gallery artists will be present on these dates providing demonstrations of their arts.
I will also have work again very soon in my online Shuttle Works Studio shop on Big Cartel.
I will also have five Open Studio weekend,… May 19-20, June 16-17, July 14-15, Aug. 18-19, and Sept. 15-16, 10 AM to 5 PM. Shuttle Works Studio is a working weaving studio with several Glimakra looms, as well as spinning wheels, and a 1908 Gearthart sock machine. Demonstrations will be available on those weekends.
The only thing that would remove these dates is if my home/studio sells, and I move during that time period. When that happens there will be a big announcement on the Home Page, my FB Page and more. I suggest before driving any distance, just make a quick check to confirm the date you were planning to visit is listed. Otherwise, I will be here, weaving!
SHUTTLE WORKS STUDIO 