Tag Archives: weaving

Tapestry Course, Part One

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Final Project, Part One

Final Project, Part One

I’ve completed Part One of Rebecca Mezoff’s Tapestry Course, and couldn’t be more pleased. The course is well-written, and Rebecca is a wonderful teacher. She responds to all questions so quickly, and her answers are very thorough. The video/PDF combo makes all the techniques very clear.

Sampler, Part One

Sampler, Part One

I find weaving so relaxing, even meditative, and designing the final project was great fun! I’m happy with the finished tapestry, despite its mistakes, and ready to warp the loom for Part Two!

Texas and then some

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I went to La Grange, TX last week to visit my dad:

My dad is a man who knows how to enjoy a cookie!

(a man who knows how to enjoy a cookie!)

I brought him Rose‘s Chocolate Chip cookies, as he was cheated out of his birthday cookies. Can you see any of the cookie under the ice cream and syrup? No? They were good, and I especially liked her use of  browned butter, a technique I plan to steal for my own chocolate chip cookies!

I had a wonderful visit with my dad, had lunch with one of my favorite people, went to Yarnorama (spoiled thing that I am, wait ’til you see what I was gifted there from my generous father! But that’s another post), and even found some weaving time:

(Have Hokett loom, will travel)

Since my return, there’s been some other baking:

Triple Layer Brownies

Triple Layer Brownies

Rose calls these “the perfect expression of chocolate.” Well, I’m not so sure about that claim, but these dense brownies with nuts (pecans instead of walnuts for mine), topped with white chocolate buttercream and finished with a dark chocolate ganache were very, very good. My apologies for the awful picture.

And for anyone who was concerned about my son having one cold foot:

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Ravelry link 

 

Jilly Edwards

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The ATA (American Tapestry Alliance)  released their biennial publication, CODA recently. This one is available to everyone, not just members, and featured one of my favorite tapestry artists, Jilly Edwards. I first saw her work in issue #246 (Jan/Feb 2014) of Crafts magazine (article here), including some of this series:

Ms. Edwards wrote a fascinating piece about preparing a show for gallery display and how she creates:

My “work has an element of the landscape, whether I am walking to the corner shop, or on the beach, or travelling through unfamiliar countryside, by train. However, it’s not about the landscape, it’s about my feelings, thoughts, memories that the sights, words, and sounds evoke in me.”*

Well worth a read, and a visit to her website for a closer look at her work!

 

*Jilly Edwards from CODA: A Biennial Celebration of Tapestry Art Today 2015. p. 23. Dorothy Clews, editor.

 

One down

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The first scarf is off the loom, blocked, fringe trimmed and ready to wear. I’m really very pleased with this one!

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It has a lovely drape and is incredibly soft.

I love the way the 3-1 twill creates such distinctive sides:

Front and back, post-blocking

Front and back, post blocking

Best compliment, from Son #4, “You could wear this and people would ask where you bought it.” High praise, indeed!

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Details: on loom- 13 1/4″ x 73″, 9.8 PPI

Off loom- 13 3/4″ x 68″

Post blocking- 13″ x 65″, 12 PPI

Ravelry link

So, on to the rest of the warp, choosing a different weft and perhaps a 2-2 twill this time?

Endings & Beginnings

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Wrapped and burned Tulle, found bolts and washers, wire

Wrapped and burned Tulle, found bolts and washers, wire

After over a year spent working on the Foundations: Textiles course from OCA, I’ve realized that it isn’t taking me where I want to go. This is a mixed media art course, rather than a purely textiles course, with minimal teacher/tutor support. While this may be perfect for many students, personally I need a bit more guidance, a more hands-on, textile-based practice. I’m withdrawing from the course, though I plan to finish the last assignments independently, but without the time & expense of submission and the lengthy analytical posts. (What, you’re not sorry to be denied my artistic navel-gazing?!)

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I’ve learned a great deal this past year, been introduced to amazing artists and found some wonderful resources that I will continue to use. Understanding the important role research and sketchbook work can play is probably the most valuable thing I’ll take away from this experience. However, weaving is the area I really want to focus on, and am looking forward to Rebecca Mezoff‘s Tapestry Weaving course, starting in September!

Burnt edges

Burnt edges

Progress

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About 36" woven

About 36″ woven

The warp is long enough for two 72″ scarves, so this is about halfway through the first.

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Very pleased with the 1-3 twill, it makes each side of the fabric very distinctive.

Right side detail

Right side detail

Originally planned for a balanced weave, with warp at 22 EPI, but my weft is more like 13-14 PPI. Feels right, but we’ll see how it is after blocking!