The DC Big Flea Market was held this past weekend. My sister was looking for stuff (no other word to explain what she was interested in!) to use in the assemblages that she creates. I was planning on looking for items from the 50's and 60's. Until I got there and stopped at the first booth where I found lots of vintage clothing. I found a very fun 60's style evening wear with feathers and sequins, a leopard print coat, black velvet hat and the piece de resistance-a Victorian dress.
The dress is absolutely so much fun to study and understand how they made clothing during the Victorian times. Needless to say, those dresses would cost a pretty penny if they were made today!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Sale of Japanese textiles
For those of you who are interested in Japanese textiles and related items, John Marshall is holding a sale until March 9th on some select items. See the offerings here at his website.
Several years ago I took a class from him on clothing design. This summer he will be offering it at his studio in Covelo, CA in August.
For those of you who are interested in Japanese textiles and related items, John Marshall is holding a sale until March 9th on some select items. See the offerings here at his website.
Several years ago I took a class from him on clothing design. This summer he will be offering it at his studio in Covelo, CA in August.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Exhibition of SAORI banners
As part of a SAORI explorers community on Yahoo, I have had several opportunities to provide a weaving for exhibition. The most recent event occurred in August 2010 in Worcester, MA where 66 banners were created to cover two bridges in Elm Park. The banners were displayed August 25-29 in the Park. To read about the event see Nat and Mihoko's page on the display. You can also see the individual banners here and even buy notecards of the display here. I am banner number 29.
We were provided the widths and lengths of the banner but the colors were left up to us. I decided that I would weave mine in two widths and then join the two by tying the fringes. Alas, this did not really work. To make the pieces look pulled together, I had to keep track of the lengths and colors that I wove on the one loom to use for the second loom. The free form style was lost a little by having to track the lengths of colors and then there was always the fear of running out of a color before I had woven all of the second piece.
The fringes were too loose to tie together so I ended up sewing the two pieces together which created a ridge down the center. To me this added a 3-d look which I will use in future pieces.
As part of a SAORI explorers community on Yahoo, I have had several opportunities to provide a weaving for exhibition. The most recent event occurred in August 2010 in Worcester, MA where 66 banners were created to cover two bridges in Elm Park. The banners were displayed August 25-29 in the Park. To read about the event see Nat and Mihoko's page on the display. You can also see the individual banners here and even buy notecards of the display here. I am banner number 29.
We were provided the widths and lengths of the banner but the colors were left up to us. I decided that I would weave mine in two widths and then join the two by tying the fringes. Alas, this did not really work. To make the pieces look pulled together, I had to keep track of the lengths and colors that I wove on the one loom to use for the second loom. The free form style was lost a little by having to track the lengths of colors and then there was always the fear of running out of a color before I had woven all of the second piece.
The fringes were too loose to tie together so I ended up sewing the two pieces together which created a ridge down the center. To me this added a 3-d look which I will use in future pieces.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
free form weaving
Some of us in the weaving world, don't follow patterns or the traditional style of weaving, such as select your warp and weft colors. We prefer to weave from the heart/mind choosing colors as we weave rather than a pre-designed set. I have been known to pick whatever colors I like for the warp, put it on the loom and then once I decide to start weaving, select the colors for the weft.
This style of weaving first surfaced in Japan many years ago. The style of weaving is officially known as SAORI. Mihoko and Nat, Worcester, MA have a great explanation of what SAORI is and who can use the term. ( http://saoriworcester.com/what.htm )
This style of weaving first surfaced in Japan many years ago. The style of weaving is officially known as SAORI. Mihoko and Nat, Worcester, MA have a great explanation of what SAORI is and who can use the term. ( http://saoriworcester.com/what.htm )
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