Do you ever find
at the end of a medium-big project
that your mind is particularly vulnerable
to the enticement other ideas?
at the end of a medium-big project
that your mind is particularly vulnerable
to the enticement other ideas?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It didn't take long
and was hugely satisfying--
for what's not to love about a stack
of naturally colored paper?
and was hugely satisfying--
for what's not to love about a stack
of naturally colored paper?
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."
"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."
It was kind of like creating
my own box of crayons--
unsurprisingly addictive.
my own box of crayons--
unsurprisingly addictive.
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).
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).
As I twisted the linen warp ends
and sewed slits,
I wondered how long
I could I gaze upon
those freshly spun coffee filters...
and sewed slits,
I wondered how long
I could I gaze upon
those freshly spun coffee filters...
For not only did I want to see
that amazing color
neatly tapped into
weft-faced splendor,
that amazing color
neatly tapped into
weft-faced splendor,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
in whatever material
is an amazing thing
to get to do.
