Sprang Technique Conquered

At last I've conquered this elusive technique. It took a class with Linda Hurt at the Art League to figure it out. She presented it in a clear manner and waited patiently as we struggled to get the threads in the right order and then having to work backwards to start over and over. The trick to getting it is using two colors of yarn. Then you. Match the colors and it's much more obvious how it functions. Here are a couple pics of my bag from class, then another bag I made in Hufflepuff colors. My goal is to make more in Harry Potter house colors! And check me out at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter back in January! 

Backstrap Weaving Report (a year late !)

Well, a year ago, folks, I tried some backstrap weaving, but just now am getting around to writing a post about it...have I actually finished the weaving itself ??? NOOOOO, but at least I'm finally posting about the effort ! My bad :-[

Anyway, over a year ago, during the second East Coast blizzard, otherwise known as "snowpocalypse", I decided to try Travis Meinolf's (AKA "Actionweaver")Pocket Weaver he had posted on his blog. I have a photo series of my effort. I also took a class a month later with Laverne Waddington, the master of Andean backstrap weaving. Have I finished that project either ??? NOOO again, and now I'm wondering how much of it I can remember ! Too many projects, too much procrastination !

Colors of the Oasis Exhibit

OK, I know I probably shouldn't have taken this pic, but I couldn't resist. I went to see the exhibit of Central Asian Ikats at the Textile Museum of DC last week, and was truly awestruck with the beauty on display. The range of color and pattern was immense, and there seemed to be no end to the creativity of the designers and weavers who produced these works of art. It's definitely an exhibit I would like to view again before it closes on March 13, 2011. And finally, after years of putting off joining the Textile Museum, I did it. I was still on the fence with the $60 membership, but in the museum shop, there was a sign with a special $50 rate for signing up on location. Hopefully, I'll find ways to take advantage of the membership...maybe a reception, curator talk or other event somewhere down the road.

Fiber Optic Weaving

Recently I helped fund an outdoor mural project through Kickstarter, and so I get updates about other Kickstarter projects. Here's a new one that certainly looks fascinating. It's woven panels made of fiber optic threads which will be linked to the internet and change warp and weft patterns based on Twitter feeds and airplane flight times.

Weaving Hope

In the town of Occoquan, Virginia where I was a member of a co-op gallery for several years, there is a little weaving shop that has been offering hope to mentally challenged adults for almost 30 years. The shop is called Spinaweb and was started by a caring weaver named Erna Gilker. In the early 80s, she offered classes to residents of an intellectually disabled adult activity center and they responded with excitement. The shop employs a small staff who warp the looms and do the weaving. The program is supported by ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens of Prince William County, VA). Through the years, visitors from around the globe have brought handwoven gifts to their home countries, and orders have risen. In addition to handwoven shawls, ponchos, scarves, purses, tea cozies and other gifts, they also offer a selection of weaving and knitting yarns for sale. Spinaweb is nestled in the lovely historic community of Occoquan, on the banks of the Occoquan River. Shop hours are 9 to 4 Monday through Saturdays. For more info, call 703-491-7422 or visit Spinaweb .

Woven Delights From Blue Loom Designs

This is another post to showcase the creativity and talent of members of Potomac Craftsment Fiber Gallery.

Today, I would like to introduce Ruth Blau and Blue Loom Designs. I have known Ruth for the past five years since I joined the gallery, and have always found myself gravitating towards anything made by her when I gallery sit. As soon as I have finished all the details of opening the gallery on my day, I head towards the beautiful handwoven scarf display. Inevitably, the first scarf I reach for is one of Ruth's. Her sense of color in the handpainted warps and impeccable weaving skill is something I can only dream of being able to do. Then as I look around the gallery at the wearable pieces, jewelry and handbags, I continue to find more of Ruth's handiwork. Many days, I stand there astonished at the number of different techniques she does so well including kumihimo and inkle weaving. She often shares her knowledge and once gave a talk about fiber identification to our beginning weaving study group. I learned a great deal that day and appreciate her interest in educating us. I hope you will take a look at her website to see her beautiful creations and if you are ever in the Washington, DC area, will take the time to visit our gallery.

Springwater Fiber Workshop Closing Sale !

It's very sad news for all the fiber enthusiasts of the Washington, DC region but the longtime source for classes and supplies is closing up at the end of the month. They are selling off yarns and equipment this weekend so check here for open hours.

Ghanaian "Enstoolment" Ceremony

Here is another installment of my cultural adventures living in Washington, DC. This story starts back a few years with the meeting of our friend, Nana Frimpong, the world class drummer and musician from Ghana. Fast forward to last night, and his invitation to us to join him at the "enstoolment" or enthroning of a Ghanian queen mother, Nana Gyamfuaa Pokuaa II at an event in Silver Spring. MD. Not knowing what this entailed but quite intrigued, we heartily agreed to see what it was all about. Knowing that Ghanian time runs on a different clock than DC time, we planned on being out very late.

The three of us arrived at approx. 12:30 pm at the high school gym which was decked out like prom night. The room was filled with round tables festively decorated. Lovely Ghanaian ladies wearing their finest handwoven fashions with towering head wraps and elegant gentlemen were sitting patiently. Some of them were nodding off. Men were scurrying around wearing miles of gorgeous kente cloth textiles wrapped around the body and over one shoulder like togas. They were constantly hoisting the fabric up. It didn't seem logical to have to carry all that fabric around, and it looked like they were trying to carry a whole roomful of heavy draperies. I guess the reason is to show the status of the wearer.

We kept debating about leaving since it was already so late and there seemed to be no time table. Finally, large numbers of people appeared dressed in more finery and a small group of musicians started drumming. The MC announced the queen's arrival. All the guests stood up like the arrival of the bride at a wedding. A long line of men in their colorful togas, two female dancers in bare feet wearing gold fabric and a line of women with colorful skirts and white eyelet cloth draped over their bare shoulders made their way into the gym. The women clustered into a tight group and inched their way around the open area at the front as the drummers' rhythms got faster and faster. The queen found her place on the "stool of authority" and the women sat closely around her. As things settled down, we checked our watches and it was close to 1:30 am. Time to slip out. I don't know what I missed but I was thrilled to get a glimpse of a very important event for a wonderful, friendly, community of people I am privileged to have met. Not to mention all the fabulous handwoven cloth all around me.

Weaving demo in Nanjing, China

Brocade loom, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I was fortunate enough to see some interesting demonstrations on my trip. At the Confucious Temple marketplace in Nanjing, we went into the museum of historical crafts where we discovered a fully operational silk brocade loom being manned by two weavers. The number of spools the weaver was keeping track of was mind-boggling. She had an assistant sitting up in the "rafters" of the loom, counting out some threads for either the warp or heddles, not sure quite what they were.
See all the loom photos

Favorite Fiber Art non-profit saved by pledge drive

The Springwater Fiber Workshop, a mainstay of the Washington, DC region's fiber communtity, almost went under last month and 22 years of operation. After a frenzied pledge drive brought in over $100,00 in pledges, the non-profit will be able to stay open. Read more about it
here.

FFF-More "Friday Fiber Finds"

Time to search for the next woven "goodie" on Etsy and here's what I found today: Copper Wire Creations-Large Basket . I love the burst of colorful spirals and the obvious attention to the craft of wire weaving in this basket. She has many more cute and interesting wire decorative items.

More Paraguayan Lace

On Sunday I went to the Hispanic Heritage Festival in the Mount Pleasant area of DC. Our band Batala Washington performed in the parade. It was one of the best festivals I've attended and I enjoyed seeing the magnificent costumes of dancers from many Latin American countries. There were vendors selling handmade goods from Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Columbia and many others. I found these adorable lace earrings made in Paraguay. Some of the costumed performers wore dresses that were completely or partially made with this type of lace. I also enjoyed seeing costumes made of woven textiles from Mexico and Guatemala. One of these days, hopefully, I'll make a "pilgimage" to the weaving centers of Central and South America.

1st Weekly "Friday Fiber Find"

I've decided to share my favorite Etsy fiber find of the day every Friday. Every other Friday, I staff the gallery at Artists' Undertaking Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia and we recently got wireless internet in the town. So while I'm gallery sitting, I plan to do some Etsy-surfing. Here's what I found today: Peaks and Valleys Art Basket by johnsbasketcase. I just love the way this basket looks like it created its own personality. Check back next week for my next "FFF" and happy Etsy-surfing this weekend !

The Ultimate Fiber-Related Website

I found this site a couple years back and refer to it for all sorts of info. The problem is, it's one of those sites where you can get easily side-tracked ! Check it out:
http://www.allfiberarts.com/

My Christmas Present to me !

After our last Potomac Craftsmen Guild weaving study group meeting http://potomaccraftsmenguild.org , I ordered a DVD on warping your loom from The Mannings http://the-mannings.com . One of our members showed portions of the DVD and the instructor, Tom Knisely, explains everything in detail in a soft, relaxed manner with plenty of closeup shots so you know exactly what you're doing. Since I am trying to teach myself to weave, I need all the help I can get, and sometimes, pictures in books just don't cut it. My group members are wonderful, but I need alot of repetition of the process to get it in my head.

The DVD is titled "A Comprehensive Guide to Warping your Loom from Front to Back" with Tom Knisely and sells for $44.95. If you are looking for a good fiber-related road trip, The Mannings is the place to go and drool over the huge selection of yarns for weaving, knitting and everything else. It's located in East Berlin, Pennsylvania, just south of Harrisburg, between Gettysburg and York.

10/7 & 10/8 Fall Fiber Festival in Orange, Virginia

I keep hearing about this festival but haven't been able to check it out: http://fallfiberfestival.org My fiber guild http://www.potomaccraftsmenguild.org
friends tell me that it is a really wonderful event, much smaller than the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and definitely worth the drive.