What's going on in the studio??

Firstly many apologies for not updating weeks ago. Now I have the studio, I am always in there when I have time...so less noodling about on the internet, which, is a very good thing.

I finally finished the big tapestry I started months ago, all my instagram followers are probably sick to death of seeing updates, but it was quite an achievement for me, mainly because it's the biggest thing I've woven since uni.

The tapestry is still on the loom, and that's why it looks a little bit skewd, it's actually pretty straight on the sides.

The studio is starting to look really lived in, which is great for me. I don't seem to get comfy unless there is a bit of muddle about.

I've been trying out a lot of different ways of doing things. It started back when I started putting the warp on differently. That's why the big octopus tapestry is still on the loom...got loads of warp left.

The studio is part of a converted wool factory...so coincidental.

That little red string is reminding me where the middle is.

When I was a bit stuck a couple of weeks ago I started with collages again. An old trick from uni...when in doubt, make a collage. Works a treat for creative block...or brain re-jig.

I just have to say so many thanks to the kind folk on Instagram for all the nice comments and all.

I know from time to time I have been very vocal about my concerns about tapestry as a medium, and especially at the moment, when it's so popular as an activity...rather than an expressive, narrative artform, (as I see it).

If anyone is interested in what those concerns may be, please feel free to email me and I'll tell you all about them!! : D

I guess because of these concerns, I had set myself the task of compiling my  "how to" notes from uni, and making them into a little book (75pages!?!). This plan was going great until I got that dumb bug (cough, temperature, headaches...Blah) a couple of months ago. The plan is still on, but later now, because of all the lead up till Christmas. So, for anyone who's hanging out for it, it's coming.

PS: (Because of the Troll who went berserk at me, I do not air these concerns anymore...I can tell you right now, Texan teacher, I'm glad you don't teach my children! At least I speak it how I think it, and not veil my ideas behind a wall of chic, retro, nicey nice speak...while secretly leaving negative, uninformed opinions on people's personal blogs.) 

It feels good to get that off my chest...I've been seathing about that for months.
That's it, no more bitching about that.

Hello!

It's been such a long time since I've said hello here!
Lots of things have been happening. The biggest joy has been moving into my own studio, a childhood dream. It is the best.

It's great being able to get the wool out...and somewhere to put the GoT guys.

I've started some big work, which has also been great. I haven't done anything big since I worked at the Australian Tapestry workshop, and that was someone elses work.
 So really, it's been years and years.

Also, I've been exhibiting for Craft Cubed at Boom Gallery this month, it finishes up at the end of this week.
You can view the show here, at my website , look in the "work" tab.

I think I was put off blogging for a while because of the TROLL who went kind of passive aggresive berserk at me. I know who it is, and really, the young lady should have known better...perhaps had a little look at the blog before telling me I can't express what I think.
Oh, and if you can't beat 'em.

also, stay tuned for this lovely......

all woven on a table loom.

eyes and dyes

This is new.

Having a lot of good results from spinning my own wool, and dyeing it too.

Had a go with Landscape dyes , very effective.

Also, over Summer, I managed to raise some Woad...yep.

Now I'm trying to get it to turn it into dye too.

The grey in the face above is some wool I spun.

Update on that warp

Remember the tutorial I did on that warping method...it was new to me, anyway. Well, I've been weaving on it and here's where it's at.

Firstly, I ended up putting leashes on, it really is way easier and quicker. When you're doing something as time consuming as this, you really need as much help as possible to get it done quicker...I'm not patient, at all.

 This is where I'm at with this tapestry. I have a little piece of tissue over the face of the tapestry to protect it from dust, and to stop the bobbins brushing the surface. Too much rubbing, touching, will cause the surface to become fluffy, and possibly get a felty appearance...yuck

 This is the work without the tissue.

 From the back. I have been able to loosen the tension on the loom and push the tapestry to the back. It turns out, I have enough warp to weave something else on top! Not as big, but still, hardly any waste.

Here you can see all the space at the top.I've only got a little bit to go.

So, it works really well, this method of warping. And I definitely think I'll do it again .

Cheers.

R

new work in progress.

My one and only TUTORIAL***** Warping*******

The other day, while I was reading this book , I saw another way of puting on a warp. I know about a rolling warp, and to be honest I always felt like there was a hell of a lot of tension on all the parts of the loom and the modifications didn't really work for me. I know others have no problem with it, it's not for me.
This method, that I will attempt to explain, this time with photos, unlike the disaster which is my Tapestry "yap" page of FB (you can find here) It seemed most people were scratching their heads...Anyhoo, here goes.

 Please keep in mind, I am not at all TECHNICAL....this is huge for me to even investigate this stuff.

* Also, what I am showing is the first time I have done this...I made a few mistakes, and fixed them...read it through before you attempt to do this.

This is what we are trying to achieve...(not the vertical foot loom...ignore that)
I'm not exactly sure what this method is called, but what this method will allow for,
 is this:
1. to be able to use almost twice as much of the warp.
2. Much less wastage.
3. Portability, (you could transport weaving from home to Uni, without having to take the whole loom.)
4. Making more out of the equipment you have availabe to you.

First you will need

A loom, frame. This one has tension adjusters at the side, I see no reason why you couldn't use a frame without tension adjusters.

Seine twine, or what ever warp thread you use.

Some dowel rods, cut to the width of your loom

and

PaddlePop (popsical) sticks

1.First, you should have your artwork, measure it. Theoretically, it could be at least the height of the loom. For example, my loom is 34" or about 86cm. My artwork, that I intend to weave is 28" or 72cm high.
Normally, if you were to put on a warp by just wraping it around and around, you could only comfortably weave about half the space inside the loom -eg-15" or 40ish cms.

2. Make a generous estimate of the length of warp you will need, remember you need to tie knots and have enough space to weave. For the sake of this experiment I measured all the way around, just so I knew I would have enough..

3. I put the pieces of measured warp on like this.

I think this is called "Larks head". The first photo from the book has the warp just looped over.

I measured and worked out how mant groups I needed. I also used tape to secure the groups.

4. Next, you have to connect the warp to the other rod...this is my first mistake...what was I thinking? This is not very weaver-ly...this knot eventually has to go.

5. Here you can see, all the warps are now connected to the rod, and I'm about to bring it up, and tie it to the other rod.

I used hair ties to keep the rods in place while I tied them with some warp.

I worked evenly over the warp, I think I ended up tying about seven loops

7.To create tension on the warps insert the sticks, and twist...See the first photo to help explain.

When I do this again, I would make my warp a little shorter and the loops connecting the rods a little smaller too, to take full advantage of using this method of tensioning the warp.

I had to make up the difference using the tension device on the loom.

Now to re-tying the warp, in a much more weaver-y way.

With the point of my bobbin, I undid all the stupid knots I did to begin with, and replaced them with these. kind of a reef type knot, that starts at the back, and finishes up on the front of the warps. So much better, and firmer. All the warps have a similar amount of tension...

8.Now that all the warps have been re-tied, loosen the tension a little bit, and push the rods to the bottom of the loom, like this picture above.

9. I have put in the "floor", and begun to weave the "bed". I'm just weaving on the warps on the front surface.

I haven't put in a shed, mainly because I intend to weave over a different amount warp at a time, and I find a shed a bit anoying when I'm doing that. Also if you like to weave with leashes, you can put them on as normal too.

 I hope this has been a little bit interesting, 

I will keep my reader posted as I eventually get to work on this...I have something else on another loom at the moment.

Cheers

r 

x