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  • Blog 2014-2021

ATA Tiny Tapestry Day

1/21/2020

 
Picture
Or officially:
Small Tapestry Media Week:
a 'media tour' on Instagram.
hosted by 
 ATA (the American Tapestry Alliance)
in anticipation of their 13th annual
unjuried, small format exhibition, Renditions.

Picture
Six weavers (with Instagram accounts) each get a day
to share an aspect of weaving small tapestries
that particularly appeals to them--
(or rather, us).,
​ and if you comment on any or all of the posts
you stand a chance to win a prize.

Rebecca Mezoff devoted yesterday
to talking about looms
(totally worth checking out all of her Instagram posts
as well as the accompanying blog post)
and today is the day for me
to crow about this fabulous form. 


NOTE: I think you have to have an Instagram account to comment but if you do not, you can still look and read-- just  click on the word Instagram and you'll get to my page, then click on the photo on the top left and there you can find the list of artists and links to all of their pages
Picture
Bottle of Red; hand woven tapestry; 9" x 9"; hand spun wool, natural dyes ©Sarah C. Swett 2008
The thing is (as you probably know), 
I've been enraptured by small tapestries
for so many years
and have sung their praises
in blog post after blog post
(including my ATA Blog Tour Post four years ago)

that I have found it awfully hard
to pick just one aspect to celebrate --
and I've been thinking about it for ages.
Picture
Finally I just started a list,
and while that was certainly helpful for me
I still couldn't choose just one
so decided to share the whole thing--
but by then it was too long
 for Instagram's format
(such a surprise).
So instead of cutting it down
or breaking it up into pieces
I am putting it here instead.
It is Tuesday (blog day) after all
and hopefully those of you who have hopped over
via the link on Instagram,
will enjoy the ride.

So here goes:
​
​Tiny Tapestries ARE:
Picture
​—Portable: they can, and do, go everywhere --
pocket, purse, backpack, glove box, suitcase.
The one pictured below lives permanently in my billfold
and 
whenever I have to pay for something,
I catch a glimpse and give it a little pat.
Not only is this emotionally pleasing
(I wouldn't carry it around if I didn't like it)
but it also serves as a reminder about priorities:
"Do I like/need this thing I'm about to buy
as much as I like/need time at the loom?"
Sometimes there is no choice.
But sometimes there is.
Picture
​—Ripe for experiments: when the warp
is only a few square inches
 why not try
-that smidgn of iris cordage,
-a foot of milkweed yarn,
-this bit of shiny fiber from the Canadian thistle stem,
-a few yards of kami-ito
spun from variable annuity semi-annual report
dyed with indigo? 
-a little embroidery?

Or, I know — a tiny house. 
​(
No need to do that more than once).
Picture
— Repetitive: at this scale it is no biggie
to try ten approaches to the same ‘what if,’
all the while zeroing in
on the part that is actually the most compelling
(rarely the aspect I think I’m going to love --
the tiny house thing was a total surprise). 
Picture
—Economical (budget): no need to buy or store pounds of yarn
when a few ounces or grams will do.
And with the the four selvedge warping technique
there are not even thrums to compost.

NOTE: if I absolutely had to pick one aspect of tiny tapestry weaving I couldn't live without, it would be four selvedge warping. Indeed, without it, I probably would still be weaving big.
Or perhaps not weaving at all.
Though luckily, I don't have to do that experiment.
Anyway, if you've read this blog for any length of time
you probably know how I feel already. 
If you  haven't though, or weren't aware of my passion for this technique, here is a link to FRINGELESS, the class that Rebecca Mezoff and I teach -- because I think it, the technique, is sooooo freaking important and cool. 
Picture
—Economical (materials): the perfect way to celebrate
that unrepeatable six inches
of bright, warm yarn
spun from a coffee filter
colored by ten grams of orange ochre
gathered at a road cut
near Bearmouth, Montana
and pounded into pigment by Jodi Gear.
Picture
The Plum Shed; hand woven tapestry; 9" x 9"; wool, natural dyes ©Sarah C. Swett 2008
—Economical (space): easy to store tapestries/ looms/tools;
 in even the tiniest of dwellings.

Note: Every tapestry in this post was woven on a 1/4" or 1/2" galvanized pipe loom-- easy to make and when not in use (whenever that might be), the whole thing can be unscrewed and stored in a shoe box (with room for bobbins).
For more on tapestry looms, again check out Rebecca Mezoff's Media Tour posts
HERE on her blog  and 
HERE on Instagram
Picture
—Economical (shipping/transport ): pure bliss in this department--
and a total piece of cake
to get your new wee tapestry 
to the American Tapestry Alliance
unjuried small format exhibition.

or any place else that suits your fancy.
Picture
—Economical (angst): hard to get or stay worked up.
If  things don’t turn out as I hope,
 it is a matter of minutes
​to put on another warp and try again.
​
Picture
—Off the Wall and into the world: pockets, pillows, books, mobiles, ornaments--
Picture
—Life Changing: mine, anyway.
Never, in my days of weaving wall-filling mural tapestries,
would I have believed the bliss
of sinking into the vast and unknowable space
to be found within each tiny form--
the very constraints of size
throwing open
 windows of possibility
to  realms I'd ​never before imagined. 
​
Picture
Diana's Fire; hand woven tapestry; 9" x 9"; wool, natural dyes ©Sarah C. Swett 2008
—Adorable: literally.
​Did I say I kinda like them as objects?
Picture
And there you have it --
my  list as it stands today.
Tomorrow, and the day after
and the day after that, and the day after that
and  last but not least on Sunday
I'll probably have ten more.
And what's not to love about that? 
Thank you ATA, for helping us Celebrate.
Picture
Belinda Toby
1/21/2020 09:34:27 am

All precious and wonderful!
Belinda

MJ Lord
1/21/2020 09:54:04 am

Thank goodness!! The info at Instagram is not enough for me. Would love to know sett for these small pieces esp the 9x9s, and warp material used.

Vicki Aspenberg
1/21/2020 10:10:33 am

What a lovely post. You have taken my breath away with those lovely weavings. Thank you.

Jean Betts link
1/21/2020 10:21:22 am

love each and every one, so special when you spin and dye the yarn (as I do too). I learned to make kami-ito in Japan and am in awe of your paper woven pieces. Wish we could get your type of coffee filters in Canada, the yarn is brilliant. Thank you for this wonderful "sharing".

Linda Mesavage
1/21/2020 10:55:57 am

Loving the ATA tour, your pieces continue to wow me. I am going to finish weaving my yardage project and warp up for my own tiny tapestry today!

Eileen Van Bronkhorst
1/21/2020 12:13:41 pm

Sarah, these are wonderful! I love the stories in-between explaining and meandering your creative process. Thank you for sharing your inspiration!!

Anne Reaves
1/21/2020 01:35:08 pm

I love your small tapestries and how much inspiration they pack in such small weavings!

Sandra Weimer
1/21/2020 01:35:34 pm

Lovely, yummy pieces!

Sarah Lancaster
1/21/2020 02:44:33 pm

Just blissful!

Deb
1/21/2020 03:48:49 pm

Small tapestry is my favorite. Love to be able to sample quickly and try new things.

Sue Schwarz
1/21/2020 06:29:23 pm

I have enjoyed the journey to the world of fringeless and small tapestry that you and Rebecca have led me through.

Carole Penner
1/21/2020 06:53:07 pm

Sarah, I have been stuck in a place without inspiration, until now. I am a “less is more” person in general, and I believe I have found my path. Thank you.

Susan Herbert
1/21/2020 08:38:57 pm

Love the rhythm and joy of your writing! Your tapestries are amazing!

Suzanne M
1/21/2020 08:54:18 pm

Wow. Just wow. I would be hard-pressed if I had to choose a favorite. I am a lover of all things tiny, and theses are absolutely stunning AND adorable. Love the one in your wallet; always near, always dear.

Ayesha Barlad
1/22/2020 01:03:57 am

What joy! Exquisite everyone of them! I can’t wait to start on the Four Selvedge course my children bought me for my birthday as I won’t stop raving of your creations!

Deborah Pawle
1/22/2020 02:24:28 am

I love doing tiny tapestries as well, though not 4 selvedge ones. I stick them on cards and sell them at exhibitions. They are a bit larger than yours though I think.

Shishi
1/22/2020 08:02:15 am

Wonderful.....as always....so inspiring!
I’m going to explore the garden for some interesting plant fibers to spin as soon as the ice melts.

Valerie Young
1/22/2020 11:28:31 am

Lovely post! Is that last one for sale? It has such wonderful MOOD!

Sarah
1/23/2020 03:44:39 pm

Thank you! Alas (and happily too), it sold long ago....

Jennifer Bennett
1/22/2020 01:54:28 pm

Beautiful post Sarah! I love your experimenting approach in stretching our preconceptions of what tapestry is/ should be as well as being in awe of both your consummate drawing and weaving skill. You have been the most inspiring Weaver I've finally discovered over the last few years and your philosophy rings true. Thank you for showing all of us your wonderful woven and spun treasures.

Betty Kochevar
1/22/2020 03:19:54 pm

Beautiful work and so much good information of us.

Patti Kirch
1/28/2020 12:55:29 pm

Thank you Sarah, every picture, every word, together, alone or shuffled about send me to the moon then back to my loom💕💕💕


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    ​Sarah C Swett 
    tells stories
    with
    ​ and about

     hand spun yarn. 


    Picture
    Click for info on
    my four selvedge
    warping class
    with
    ​ Rebecca Mezoff  
    fringeless


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