Ideas

I have nothing to show yet but am thinking about designs and colours and have some outline ideas. I've warped the Mirrix loom and woven in the base of plastic to keep the bottom firm and straight (at least that's the idea!). It's the day after Winter Solstice so I'm going to sign up for the exhibition online and then it's a case of sticking with it and keeping the Gemini part of me in line.

Beginnings

This is my first post - just before the Winter Solstice, a time where the old is finished and the new begins.

My beginning is a journey through the art of Tapestry Weaving. I am a complete beginner, self-taught, and my intention is to record my journey from that point to, hopefully, someone who can call herself a tapestry weaver.

The moment I decided to start recording my progress was the day this week when an email newsletter from American Tapestry Association (ATA) dropped into my inbox with notification of an Untitled/Unjuried exhibition for 2014. The only requirement is small format (up to 25cm square) original recent work.

Recent for me means I must start now. Small format it may be but it's still a huge planning exercise before I even start weaving. So, sketch book first for the design followed by cartoon and then weaving.

My entry must be in by January 31, 2014 and the tapestry by March 31. I am going to fill in the entry form on Sunday which is the day after Winter Solstice therefore, for me, the first day of the new year.

This was a sample I did a little while ago - not something I'm proud of but a good reminder of how far I have to go!

Midway: Message from the Gyre

This just has to be watched. It's horrific. What are we doing to our fellow creatures!


MIDWAY a Message from the Gyre : a short film by Chris Jordan from Midway on Vimeo.

Sloe Berries

The sloe bushes at the bottom of the field are absolutely laden with berries this year. The first time I walked past I thought I must take a bag and collect some before someone else does! But the next day I had a closer look and they're nowhere near ripe enough to pick yet so I just picked a small branch so I could draw them. It's said the best time to pick the sloes is just after the first frost so I'll be lurking with my carrier bag in the wee small hours one day soon.

From the Fields

I collected a couple of bits & pieces from the field where I walked Rosie today. This one looks like an Oak Apple but I'm sure it isn't because it's too late in the year. The leaf is certainly oak-like but the acorns are growing now so this can't be oak.

This one is definitely a meadow thistle - so delicate and pretty. Both sketched on Khadi paper which loves water and is quite happy to be stitched into which I may decide to do. I'll post the results here if I do.

Metamorphosis

I left a couple of my leeks in the ground when I noticed they'd started to develop seed heads. I just had to see how they were going turn out.

And this is what happened - isn't it beautiful! I'm not sure what will happen next but I'll make sure to photograph it.

Results of an online course

These are a few of the experiments that resulted from an online course I recently took. It was great fun but I didn't quite finish it because there was an unexpected break of one week just before the last two weeks' classes and it threw me. I am very easily put off finishing things but was going great guns on this course until the halt and I just couldn't get myself going again.

This something that I must address - again!