Wind, Thread, Weave, Cut, Sew

At the gallery where I have been a member of since it's founding days we have decided that everyone needs to explain their work process.  And whatever else might lead you to do the work you do but especially how you do it. Customers want to know and it really is good for the artist to sit down and think about the process that precedes a finished piece.  I'm thinking...

In the meantime, work has been happening in the studio.  All roads lead to the Driftless Art Festival this weekend in Soldiers Grove, WI.  How many years have I done this fair?  That will take more thinking but I look forward to it, it's always fun to have people in your little tent shop, to have them take time to look, feel, and maybe even try on.

Here's a look at what will be at what's been going on in the studio with the art fair in mind.

A warp that almost covers the back beam.

I was thinking marigolds as this jacket was woven.

Just off the loom, before the washing and before the cutting.

One of the finished jackets from that long weave on the floor above.

Two more finished from different warps, wound, threaded, cut and sewn.  All Good!

Process

The Warp

Winding it on

Finished.  Ready to wear!  OK - lots of process steps were skipped in this post.  Sometimes you get into the work and you forget to take the pictures 😐

Gone for Gold

Any one of these handwoven scarves with this dress 

Imagine having an occasion to wear it . . . just dreaming ... big.

why not??

husband says ... but - a scarf would cover up her assets

well, I say . . . it could bring more attention to one's assets.

The scarves are woven with Tencel, silk and gold lurex.

Rose Paths

". . . no feeling of emptiness about her.  She was an object lesson on the essential luck, whatever hardships come their way, of those born to make things."  from a book by Diana Athill

Rosepath, a lovely name for a weave pattern.   Runners are woven in rosepath  (the diamonds) and plain weave.  I love a project that calls for putting lots of colors together in one piece, time slipped away without notice while I wove. They are made with a cotton warp, cotton and cotton blends for the weft.  

Native Prairie Grasses in a Handwoven Runner

Just finished twisting the fringes on this Reppweave Runner, woven with antique whites and slate colored pearl cotton in the warp,  pearl cotton and native prairie grasses in the weft.  It measures 5'5" long and 13" wide.  Big Bluestem and Indian grass are harvested from the land we live on.  These tall prairie grasses, harvested in late summer and early fall  give this piece uniqueness and durability.  The reppweave structure adds to the beauty and strength of this piece.  

Linen/Silk