stone road studio

2011-05-31T16:10:00.000-04:00

experiment with the background tabby weft color

2011-03-10T09:39:00.000-05:00

summer and winter dukagang

tie up

2011-01-30T10:14:00.001-05:00

I would like to find a way to space the treadles farther apart...any advice?

2011-01-27T18:31:00.000-05:00

Summer and Winter

2011-01-27T17:55:00.006-05:00

this is some sampling

settling on blue, purple and pink

first pillow in progress...

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T10:44:00.004-05:00

Resolution time!
This year I will be spending 4 days a week in the studio. With the help of the Carolina Fiction and Fiber weavers, I have learned the value of keeping records of projects, planning projects and being part of a lively and fun-loving community, where there is no such concept as "the right way" when it comes to weaving and to life. For example, I dyed this linen yarn (after it was made into a warp) for the Pillow Project, where participants make pillows and exchange them with each other. I had spaced out the idea was to dye the weft, not the warp. O Well.
I am now off to get a task lamp and some light bulbs for the overhead spotlights. Threading the heddles in dim light is a bugger........

WARPING

2010-09-15T16:05:00.001-04:00

How I look forward to the day when it is simple and easy to dress the loom!

varpapuu en route to studio

2010-01-19T16:19:00.008-05:00

these pictures were taken last year in March when I drove out to Stone Road to visit my mom and dad and to pick up the loom, a Varpapuu, a beautiful old Finnish loom. Above, are photos of the loom parts on the car. Amazingly, they didn't fall off during the trip from Oakham. Below you can see the very first things that were moved into the studio: Varpapuu parts, shuttles, yarn and Blue.

varpapuu

2010-01-19T16:07:00.004-05:00

Finally, the Varpapuu is being brought to life, after resting for quite a long time. Jan and Ellen came to the rescue last week, and I am so grateful for their help. It's not quite ready to go, but getting there.
Texsolv heddles and cords are being used here for the tie-up

2010-01-19T15:27:00.013-05:00

(If you click on the photos you can see more detail). I put on a 15 yard ivory and pale green striped warp back in November, made several scarves and now I'm looking at it all - trying to gather what I like and scatter what I don't like. I learned a lot about color, stripes, my way of composing, and other intangibles. I'd like to continue working with these colors and this "Forrest Crook's blanket weave" threading. It seems a shame to move on to a new threading when the ideas here are still fresh. On the other hand, it would be fun to do something completely different. One thing I will change is the sett- it's a little close for a scarf or shawl at 12 epi. This warp was also a little too wide for comfort (12 inches when finished.) If I redo this threading, I'll skip the stripes and go with 6 inches at 10 epi. I will also aim to make each piece more unified. The look of many of these pieces says "sampler" , which is not necessarily always desirable. I've got to get over this need to improvise every 6 inches or so.
Or not.

this is the warp in the process of being chained and taken off the reel.

to the left is the whole warp all chained. it looks like a large snake.

above is a view from the back of the studio looking west. what good light this is to work in.

Open House

2009-12-03T17:36:00.004-05:00

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.

2009-11-17T11:54:00.006-05:00

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.

2009-11-17T10:24:00.004-05:00

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

2009-10-01T09:24:00.003-04:00

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)

2009-08-19T13:53:00.002-04:00

2009-07-03T13:02:00.007-04:00

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

2009-06-12T14:54:00.004-04:00

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.

2009-05-19T21:54:00.001-04:00

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.

2009-05-15T09:41:00.002-04:00

view through tent mesh

working on density

2009-05-13T19:00:00.003-04:00

2009-05-13T18:20:00.000-04:00

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.

2009-05-13T16:14:00.002-04:00

approaching 123 main

2009-05-13T16:03:00.000-04:00

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

2009-05-07T08:21:00.000-04:00

looking beyond the tent
looking beyond the warp
sleyed
threaded

2009-04-23T11:34:00.000-04:00

deep in the woods

2009-04-23T10:26:00.000-04:00

what about these damp woodsy April colors...

2009-04-09T10:20:00.000-04:00

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.

2009-04-09T10:18:00.000-04:00

2009-04-09T10:17:00.000-04:00

2009-04-09T10:16:00.000-04:00

2009-04-09T10:15:00.000-04:00

6:45pm

2009-04-09T10:12:00.000-04:00

2009-04-08T11:16:00.000-04:00

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

2009-04-08T11:11:00.000-04:00

in context

2009-04-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

on the wall

2009-04-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

in the window

tuesday morning

2009-04-07T08:22:00.000-04:00

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.

2009-04-03T09:31:00.000-04:00

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."

2009-04-01T15:33:00.000-04:00

April Fool's Day

2009-03-26T12:54:00.000-04:00

time to face the task at hand

wednesday

2009-03-26T12:21:00.000-04:00

view through the curtain

multi-fiber warp

2009-03-23T22:12:00.000-04:00

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

2009-03-19T10:24:00.000-04:00

inspiration

2009-03-17T08:05:00.000-04:00

inspiration is not a requirement for going to work. all you need is to get out the door and put one foot in front of the other. the earlier the better.

Monday

2009-03-16T19:51:00.000-04:00

I went to work today in the studio. I am almost done moving all my stuff, so today I worked on dressing the Macomber for my class at RISD. It was late in the afternoon. The light in there is great. I am very happy to be able to work in this beautiful and lively space. Light and life prevails here! I am grateful to be doing this work.

Tomorrow I go back to spinning class. I will ask for help with Lena's black fleece...

samples

2009-03-11T09:13:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I finished weaving on a pale pastel striped warp. It turned out to be a long sampler. I had hoped to discover a color scheme that I could stick with, but I was continually tempted to try different combinations. The threading was Joseph France Huckaback. I used two different treadlings, and often used a finer yarn for the tabby shots.
The parts I like the best would make good pillow coverings. I need to get my sewing machine going.
Photos of this sampler: it's funny how a photo lets you see the piece differently, more simply...

roof rack

2009-03-08T10:37:00.000-04:00

With the help of Ralph and Nancy, the loom parts were strapped to the roof rack and I drove them home. It was getting dark when a good friend came to help me bring them to the studio. Thanks, Maurie!! I'm psyched that they didn't fly off the car on Rte. 146

now comes another challenge: putting it all together...

loom parts arrive safely

2009-03-08T10:22:00.000-04:00

varpapuu

2009-03-06T11:35:00.000-05:00

is the name of the Finnish loom I will put together as soon as the two main frame parts can be picked up from its old home on Stone Road. They are too big to put in the back of my car, so I am getting help from my husband to tie them to the roof rack. Then will begin the work of assembling it.....
Meanwhile, I am weaving off a warp at home on the Macomber 4 harness loom. It is a lovely pale striped warp which has given me a chance to experiment with a lot of color combinations.
I recently took a class in Shelburne Falls at Vavstuga, a Swedish weaving school/studio. I stayed with a good old friend. I told her I'd like to learn more about color principles. She showed me a book by Joseph Albers- Interaction of Color, which I recognized as one of my old text books from my college days! I never learned a lot about color then, but my experiments are teaching me a lot now. The main thing is to explore and follow one's own thread. Allow room and time for experimentation and play.

2009-03-04T16:49:00.001-05:00

Blue is patient.

2009-03-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

2009-03-04T16:42:00.000-05:00

loom parts and windows

moving in

2009-03-04T15:49:00.000-05:00