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the lure of color and paper

11/19/2019

 
Picture
Do you ever find
 at the end of a medium-big project
that your mind is particularly vulnerable
to the enticement other ideas?
Picture
Well, that's how it was for me anyway,
As I finished weaving
the Digestive Biscuit Tapestry last week,
the pile of multi-hued coffee filters
my friend Jodi had collected
in the process of making
her amazing watercolors
--
a pile of luscious color
that​ I had carefully stored in a cupboard
to avoid just this problem--
would not stop calling to me.
Picture
Handmade Watercolors by K. Jodi Gear made from foraged rocks and plants.
Clearly, 
the out-of-sight-out-of-mind strategy
is only temporarily effective.
Ignore them though I did
as I cut the tapestry from the loom,
no sooner had I set down the scissors,
than I put the tapestry aside to rest,
dismantled the loom,
and made a tiny indigo pot.
Picture
Indigo-dyed pigment-stained coffee filters oxidizing on a willow and grape vine sphere.
And why not?
The sun was shining,
the chickadees were chirping,
and I could take the drips outside
(wearing two sweaters and an apron),
to turn some of those
yellows (from rabbit brush),
pinks (from Cochineal),
and vaguely off-white ones (from coffee???)
into a range of greens, purples and blues. 
Picture
It  didn't take long
and was hugely satisfying--

for what's not to love about a stack
of naturally colored paper?
Picture
Then I thought --
"The tapestry 
 surely would like
​to rest a little longer--

which leaves me time
to cut a few of these into strips
and add some twist.
"
Picture
It  was kind of like ​creating
​my own box of crayons--
unsurprisingly addictive.
Picture
It was also,
I noticed,
​ a great way to avoid
the inevitable finish work
 on this fringed tapestry 
(my first in a couple of years
that was  not warped
using the four selvedge technique).
Picture
As I twisted the linen warp ends
​and sewed slits,
​I wondered how long
I could I gaze upon
those freshly spun coffee filters...
Picture
For not only did I want to see
that amazing color
neatly tapped into 
weft-faced splendor,
Picture
I also wanted to examine--
on a tactile level--
whatever it was that had led me 
to make the mid-tapestry leap
from linen to wool

a few weeks ago.
Picture
Color Card; Hand Woven Four Selvedge Tapestry; 3 1/2 " x 3" ; hand spun linen; hand spun paper/kami-ito; natural pigments and dyes
Alas, this was not a large enough experiment
to come to any great conclusions,
so more experiments will hopefully ensue. 

Here's, however,  what I did note:

1. that weaving with wool
is familiar, forgiving,
elementally comfortable
and I LOVE it beyond words
(and in the midst of weaving words).

2. that I'm still super  interested
in my ongoing cellulosic adventures--
in pursuing materials that come my way
friendly, familiar,
and easy to weave
​​or not.
Picture
Dan's Digestives; Hand Woven Tapestry; 25" x 19"; Linen Warp; Wool and Linen Weft; natural and synthetic dyes; hand and mill spun yarn.
​3. That weaving tapestries
in whatever material
is an amazing thing
to get to do.
Jodi link
11/19/2019 12:25:08 pm

Seeing those filters all stacked together like a rainbow makes me supremely happy! Love the indigo mixes!

Linda murdock
11/20/2019 10:18:05 am

Not sureI am in the right place to ask a ? I just purchased 2 bks from you. Paid with paypal and I am waiting for the downloads to load. Not sure what is hoing on. Love your stuff and can't wait for the downloads to activate.

Sarah
11/20/2019 10:50:07 am

Hi Linda — I’ m so sorry for the confusion!
You should be able to download the patterns by clicking the links on the receipt you hopefully got from me/ A field Guide to Needlework.
The links are under the words “download information” right under the words Thank You.
I will send you a regular email in a moment to make sure all is clear.

Patti Kirch
11/19/2019 12:45:42 pm

Congratulations Sarah, just to let you know, i only can imagine your cutting off celebration 💕 i love how every ..... in your studio is potential for exploration. Big smiles from infront of my loom that twasn't 4 selvedge warped.... sneaking in some weaving time💕

NancyB
11/19/2019 02:49:56 pm

The siren song of coffee filters. Who would ever have thought it? They are lovely, and what you do with them is astonishing to me. And I agree: you need more (many more) experiments. Yes, you do. Of course.

And can I say that is an unusual recipe for a humble digestive? Might have to try it.

claudia link
11/19/2019 03:20:51 pm

I'm sure you have received this many times but I just want to say that getting your blog post is a big highlight of my week- my heart always leaps when I get a notification- thank you for your enthusiasm and the inspiration that inevitably ensues :)

Tina Clark
11/19/2019 03:34:00 pm

I love the digestive recipe tapestry! And the colors of the coffee filters make me drool. One question: I can't for the life of me find plain round coffee filters like yours. Can you tell me exactly what kind of filters they are and where you get them? Thanks!

elizaduckie
11/19/2019 06:45:40 pm

In the email that arrives with the blog post link you mention “being challenged to staying on task in the blog post” (I’m paraphrasing mainly because I can’t exactly recall the wording)...but I have to say my immediate reaction was, why? I enjoy your way of looking at the world immensely! Don’t change, be you, if you want to digress I’m sure we’ll all be happy to follow. It’s ALWAYS interesting! Like others here my heart too is so happy when I get notification of a new post. I love to read anything you have to say. Kudos on the finished digestives weaving! Oh, and the colors of the coffee filters were all luscious! I’m amazed by what you turn them into. Do you spin them on a spindle?

Sarah
11/20/2019 10:52:50 am

!!! Thanks! And the twist can be added with whatever twist-adding device you like — though best if not too much tension.
I use an Ashford Charkha because it is slow and I have it. Also spindles (but nothing to heavy — the paper is fragile when wet.)

Terry O
11/19/2019 09:59:03 pm

Sarah, I don't see the baking instructions on the tapestry recipe! Do we eat 'em raw?

Sarah
11/20/2019 10:50:52 am

Baking instructions in red half way up on the right: approx 15 minutes at 350 F!

Patti Kirch
11/19/2019 10:24:59 pm

The digestive recipe in tapestry, reads in red, 350° for approximately 15 minutes. Sarah's very good long time friend, Jodi sends her these filters. Amazingly, Jodi Gear makes her own earth pigments from found rocks and like Sarah shows the how 2's. Her instagram is @kjodigear i believe Sarah uses one of her spindles to spin the wonderfully, just a tad damp, cut filters. Sarah, posted the how 2's in earlier blog posts.

Sarah
11/20/2019 10:53:28 am

Oh gosh Patti— thank you for the clarification. MUCH appreciated.

Michiele R Elliott link
11/20/2019 06:18:08 pm

Sarah, I love your blog and your work. I too am intrigued by alternative weft materials. I have recently been spindle spinning newspaper for tapestry. What would you suggest if we do not have a talented watercolor friend?

Nannette
11/21/2019 03:18:09 pm

Hey there, I just wanted to say thank you.
I am in nearing the end of a large project and I loved hearing you expressing feelings and urges I understand; oh so well!

Thanks also for the rabbit hole. I know a lot more about Digestives now
and I just made a batch from your tapestry recipe. I used vegan "butter" and sweetened almond milk as my liquid(because I was afraid they wouldn't be as sweet as I hoped) and flax meal as I thought that was what was meant(not unground seeds...) They are wonderful!
I so very much enjoy receiving your posts. They bring joy to me every time.

Giuliana Bond
11/21/2019 05:22:06 pm

I have just resubscribed to your blog Sarah. This is second time lucky I hope😥 I had some issues with my broadband provider and during all the to in and fro ing I lost your blog. I resubscribed as soon as I noticed I wasn't getting your posts, but somehow things haven't been right, so I have just tried again. I so miss your blog!
I love the Digestives recipe tapestry and those coffee filters are great in both of the colourways. Looking forward to next week's post.
Warmest wishes for you and yours.
Giuliana in Australia

Jodi link
11/25/2019 05:24:21 am

The coffee filters are from Walmart, the brand is Brew Rite, they are white, the 8-12 cup size. I have been sending Sarah the ones I use in pigment making, but also the ones I use for coffee in the morning, the coffee dyes them a nice color. She over-dyes some of them. My husband bought another brand (Essential Everyday) recently, they feel different to me, I’m sending her a few to see if she likes them as much.


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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