Open House

We're looking forward to opening the studio this Saturday, December 5, from 2:-00-5:00, for an open house. Tom Hughes will be there, along with me and a friendly group of family, old friends and neighbors. This will be the first open house at the studio, and will feature paintings, (oils and watercolors, landscapes and portraiture) by Tom, as well as an opportunity to see my looms and weaving. The paintings are for sale, and portraits may be commissioned.

This shawl-as -table runner is more purple than it looks in the photos. i recently moved it -it's now hanging on the wall in the studio.

This is the purple shawl/table runner that i started in the summer, after a couple of individuals said they liked the gold and red weavings i had been working on, but would prefer , for themselves, something in lilac or violet. I decided to pretend that i had a commission, and made this cotton and wool warp. (The white is the cotton.) I was not terribly inspired, but created a striped warp, then wove it in plain weave with the purple (wool) yarn. Yesterday I completed the finishing, fringe and washing and it is now is sitting on a table in the dining room. It's destiny is to be a shawl for my mother in law. I learned that it is more enjoyable to work on a project that comes directly from my interests: colors, size, design. But also that I could probably do commisions if requested.

link to Tom

Am getting ready for an open house at the studio in the month of December on December 5 from 2:00-5:00. This party event will be an opportunity for friends and family to see the studio space and what I've been working on for the past few months. In addition to the looms and some weaving, there will be several paintings by Tom Hughes for sale, as well as a slide exhibit of his portrait work.

Go to Tom Hughes's website to view some interesting work, including portraits by following this link:
http://www.tomhughespaintings.com/links.php?54429

Anni Albers panel from Woonsocket (detail)

If you click on the photo, you will see the individual strands that make up the warp. there are 310 lengths each 9 yards long...ask me about it! Click the "back" arrow to restore photo to its original size.

Here are a couple of pictures of the warping mill, which I recently put together and started to use. It is an upgrade from the warping board. It saves time and is more fun to use . At the bottom is a photo of this 9 yard long warp, all chained and tied and ready to go.

permeability and reflectivity

The warp on the loom now is another study of density and permeability. What is allowed in, and what is kept out. As a curtain, this textile lets in a lot of light from outside, and also allows outsiders to look in. In places there are denser areas which break up the visual field. Depending on the time of day, one can see out through the weaving as if there is barely any filter. When darkness falls, one sees the textile itself, with little sense of anything beyond it.

these were taken late afternoon and show the reflective and transparent qualities of this sample. the gold area especially shiny- it's a mercerized cotton. the more see-through pale areas are a super fine unbleached linen.

view through tent mesh

working on density

if you click on the photo, it will fill your screen. to go back to the original, click the back arrow at the top of the page.

approaching 123 main

this is where I heard the sound of dropping blossoms yesterday.
today the sound has stopped.
Here is one of the density samples I've been working on:

Early May

looking beyond the tent
looking beyond the warp
sleyed
threaded

deep in the woods

what about these damp woodsy April colors...

walk to class

i was on my way to class after working on a new reeding of the lace weave sampler. the sun was setting. the sky was misty and cloudy and luminous.

the trees are coming to life.

6:45pm

lace weave in the sky...... since i have been learning about lace weave, i see it everywhere, especially now that spring is upon us.

lace weave sampler

in context

on the wall

in the window

tuesday morning

often times, the studio is a world of obstacles. it's a laboratory where experiments can falter or present unforeseen snags. if there were no studio, one might live in a world of no challenge. the studio presents hundreds of chances to practice patience, determination and observation.

the warp sampler i am working, for example, brings seven different ways a warp end can get stuck, fray, or snap. i am seriously considering converting to string heddles. these metal ones act like razor blades on the rayon ends.

i'm looking forward to setting up the rug loom in the near future. a friend may be able to help... i give thanks to all of my friends, family and teachers for their encouragement and support.

I went on a field trip yesterday to Stone Road in Oakham. I shared lunch with my mom and dad and my uncle Len and aunt Lynn. We did some spinning on the Louet I had brought from home and the wheel at the house, a Country Craftsman. This wheel is a replica of an antique flax wheel. I was reminded that spinning and weaving are traditionally communal activities, and hope to bring that into my studio space. Would like to have a spinning area there and invite other spinners.

A reminder from our spinning teacher: "progress, not perfection."

April Fool's Day

time to face the task at hand

wednesday

view through the curtain

multi-fiber warp

I finally got the warp on! It took several days of painstaking work to get it together. This is an assignment for the Risd class. It has 7 kinds of fiber, all white or off white and one orange, and one is copper. They are Rayon, Bamboo, Mercerized Cotton, Merino, Superlamb (a non shrinking wool), Linen, Wool-Silk blend. We are doing a sampler with a threading which is kind of netting pattern, which could be a nice weave for curtains. Now that I'm weaving on this warp, I'm out of the woods. There were several hurdles and hoops to navigate. I believe that these difficulties will become less tedious and painful the more I just do it. It's so satisfying to watch the cloth grow. I'll add a picture tomorrow. Tonight, J and I and supper downstairs with M. It was so relaxing and joyful. How great to have a French Bistro underneath my loom!

real red & turquoise