Tapestry Exhibits

Even though I haven't gotten my copy yet, I've heard that the ATA small format tapestry show, Grand Ideas catalog is being sent out and that it is a wonderful exhibit. My tapestry of aspens is in there and this is the first time I've had a piece in a printed catalog so it is really exciting for me. I wish I could go to the exhibit in person but these catalogs still have a lot of energy and inspiration. I love non-juried shows. They are unpretentious and every one I've ever gone to, no matter what the medium, has had an exceptionally high quality of work and an energy that you can just feel in the air. I think it gives artists the opportunity to do something that they really want to work on without the inhibitions of thinking about judging criterion which is always subjective anyhow.

Also this week, I found out that the Wish You Were Here fiber art postcard exhibit also has both a printed catalog and an online gallery at www.tohonochulpark.org. Someone on the tapestry list said there were at least 20 postcard sized tapestries in this exhibit. I've only gone through it quickly online but there are so many wonderful postcards that I know I will be spending a lot more time looking and enjoying. I'm glad I made the effort in January to finish the 2 tapestries for these exhibits when I was also preparing to move.

Finally I finished the 2 inkle and tapestry bags I was working on and will have photos soon. One uses a larger tapestry than I have used on previous bags and it works great as a tote. Hey, I wove that one in January too! Now with these done, I can work on my larger trees tapestry which I am really happy to be weaving on again.

Spring Morning

This is a view one morning from our deck. I love living in this new place and having this beautiful view all the time. It is almost too distracting but I'll learn to deal with it!

The last couple of days I've spent constructing two purses. Both have tapestries and woven inkle bands combined. One of them is a little larger, about the size of a tote and the tapestry on it is about 8" x 11" or so. I'll have to get photos of them as soon as they are finished. Once they are done, I'm going to get back weaving on my trees tapestry. I might have several projects going at one time but it seems like I need to focus on them one at a time. I usually have a high concentration project going for when I can pay attention and then something like spinning for when I'm too tired to think much.

There are lots of weaving projects floating around in my brain now. I'm trying to get them solidified and then will write about them.

Weaving, Unweaving and Reweaving

Last week I got the loom warped for my trees tapestry and got a good section up one side woven. As I looked at it over the weekend, I realized that it just wasn't right. I am still not sure if I changed from my original plan or had simply gotten mixed up somehow but the placement of the shades of color was just not right. I hate unweaving. I tried to think of any way at all that I could keep what was there and change it from that point on, but deep down I knew it would have to come out. So yesterday morning, first thing, I just starting taking it out. I had to unweave because I might need that yarn and didn't have a whole lot of it. Already, the weaving is way past where it was and is so much better. Now I am really glad that I took it out and did it right. It could have been worse and been further along than it was. I am going for a misty, foggy look and now I think that is coming across in the few inches I have so far.

The last two weekends we have gone hiking in the mountains. Spring is finally here and the snow is mostly gone up there but I haven't seen any wildflowers along the trails yet. I saw some dogtooth violet plants starting to poke up through the ground and even some buds on the holly-grapes but nothing blooming yet. One part of the trial had snow that was about 2' deep and we could walk along on top, but every now and then, we would fall through to our knees. It was so beautiful and the creek was full and running swiftly. I took a lot of photos but still have to have them developed. I hope I can make some drawings from them for future tapestries.