End of year wrap up.

My last completed tapestry for 2015 has gone to a new home on the other side of the world.

What started as a day dream, turned into one of the most popular images I put on instgram this year.

Many thanks to all the gorgeous people who have been great supporters of mine.

xxx

My website and a new book

I haven't gone back on my word to write better posts...about real things. But, I have to tell you about the book I've put together about the fundemantals of tapestry construction and the little update in the web shop.

In the future I intend to post more in the website blog, apparently it's better for searches and so on. Especially that's where all the meaty pictures are!

So, I'll be listing a few experimental pieces in the web shop. I'm also working on a little zine that eventually will be finished, you'll be able to get that from there aswell.

A little note about the book/course notes...there was a teeny mistake in the contents page numbering, and I apologise to you who have this first run...It's been noted and future copies will be all perfect in that regard.
Plus, a huge thank you to the weaving army on intagram! you all rock! Also, please contact me if you need any clarification on any of the things that are hard to adapt to your looms etc. I'm available.
x

I want to talk about the phenomenon of the "workshop" next....any interest?

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.

Support please x

this tapestry is currently for sale in my web shop $upport studio practice

keep an eye on this spot, in the future, there's going to be some bargains.

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.

I've started a new piece

The new website is done!

So, it's up and running.

I will still be making posts here, I thought about starting a new blog, and just thought it was way easier to keep plugging away here. 

This is like the cupboard that has too much stuff in it, that you have to hold everything while you quickly close the door...a bit messy.

The web site is all tidy.

I thought it might be useful to make a page here about the care and maintenance of woven artworks, wall hangings and other textile objects for the wall. I'll be working on that this morning.

x

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.

Rumble...all the words.

Not wanting to flog a dead horse or anything...but (Re: Kate Derum Award) my artist's statement was edited ...quite a bit, and I thought I might have come off sounding kind of mean or un-loving about my dear children, who I love a lot.
So here it is in it's entirety

“Rumble”

As part of male guinea pig’s ritual of asserting their domination, they growl or ‘rumble’. Part of the performance involves yawning at each other. Caught in a moment, this natural yawn becomes a silent scream.

Am I the guinea pig in my domestic environment? Mother to two young children, I often feel tested and scrutinized, trapped and claustrophobic. (this is where it ended in the catalog) New and unproven ideas are often on the menu of a new mother…

I looked at our new pets, and found them interesting and funny to draw. While I was painting, and then weaving this image I realized I felt much more akin to these little guys than I realized.

It’s an artificial world that this guinea pig inhabits; menacing shapes lurk on the horizon. It’s beautiful and strange.

Cheers

r

sneer part 2

So, this week, I've been plodding through this tapestry...it's really hard. I'm determined to make this look really interesting. You can see my exploration into "weaving" the weaving, now that's been a thing. Getting back to last week's post, and question...Can you go too far? Well maybe? At this stage, I'm pretty happy. Maybe going too far gets you to a really rad place?

Speaking of rad things...

To old students of Kate's, this here book may look familiar. 

I picked it up at our local book shop for a steal about 6 months ago. I always thought everything in this book was just over the top, crazy old school...now as time has marched on, something has settled in my head, and now I get it, and also I can see why Kate liked it too.

sneer part 1

So, I've been working on this tapestry for a few weeks now, and in light of the ranty cross post from last month, it is a surprise that I'm showing you little bits and pieces of it. 

I guess I'm interested in the way to simplify the way I mix colours, making mixy blends to get every transition of colour, might not always be the best way to get a strong finished piece of work. Because my work is very fine, and looks very fiddlie, the last thing I want to do is weaken the whole thing, by going too far...can you go too far?
When I have a few more pieces under my belt, I will start to explain where all this is going, I'm a bit tentative at the moment, because it's just talking in the air. I hope I will be taking you to an exciting and strange place. 

Kate Derum Award for small Tapestries 2013

Monika Beniulyte, With Love.....14x20cm

I love this tapestry so much, and I was very happy when it won the prize for the

 Irene Davies Emerging Artist Award.

I like this tapestry because it embraces new(ish) technologies, of I think, laser or ink jet printing onto a beautifully woven surface. How exciting to see something utterly contemporary in a tapestry show.

Anton Veenstra won the main award with his tapestry Everyman clown. 

Here are some pictures from the exhibition.

I also really liked Tim Gresham's piece Acqua scales, which is hanging above mine.

So sorry it's blurry...I was a bit blurry too, not alchohol, weepy tears...

when people started talking about Kate, I just went all sad....I guess that's ok.

I liked this one too, mainly because of the fabric-y nature of it.

Shubankar Ray, Man in meditation

And how fabulous to meet this lovely artist Kyoko Imazu! She is currently doing a residency at the Australian Tapestry Workshop. Learning to weave too! She is a very good artist, and you can see her work from the link.

There was a lot of build up for me, just getting around to doing my work, now, I just have to get on with making more work...work work