more woven bookmarks

Here are the bookmarks. It was interesting to experiment with combinations of yarns in the weft—almost like mixing paint colors. The warp is cotton/linen and the wefts are cottons, rayons, and a fun novelty "eyelash."

I wove them, one by one, on my Schacht "Baby Wolf" loom.

small and simple...

I have another group of woven bookmarks ready to take to the VAAM gallery tomorrow. It's so interesting to experiment with different yarns, colors, weights, textures. I've also been making simple cards. I think I will stay with all things small and simple for awhile now. Photos coming tomorrow.

at the VAAM Gallery

The VAAM Gallery Holiday Gift Show is open. Here are a few images of the weavings I have there...

My scarves are displayed with lovely jewelry by Susan Shepard and a beatifully crafted teddy bear by Glorice Schafer.



Nestled between pottery by Wayne Conyers and Leanne Kilmer is my set of linen, silk, cotton, rayon "luxury" mugrugs to cushion a drink.

Below, another display with Wayne Conyers' mugs and bowl and my fiber landscape, "Country Road" and mugrugs...

Detail shots of mugrugs

Linen, cotton, rayon

Wool and cotton

All cotton

My second cotton and linen shawl displayed with a gorgeous pearl, shell, and silver necklace by Susan Shepard. My big thrill last weekend—someone purchased the first shawl.

Desk-top Mobiles: "Finding Balance" series

above, "inner strength"

below, "mystic moment"

coming up for air

I'm finally coming up for air (a little) after the busy month of October, when everything took place in one month. One of the highlights of the month was Susan Shepard's Fiber Workshop on October 25. We experimented with cord-making (fast and easy!), working with "solvy," hot-fix angelina, layering, burning/distressing, and needle-felting. I'm not ready to show what I made yet—needs more work. My horizons were definitely broadened! Now I know what to do with all the tiny snips, short pieces, samples, and thrums I've saved for the past 20+ years! ...not to mention beads and other stuff (proper term is "embellishments") I've accumulated. I'm also eager to try transitioning parts of my weavings into other forms.

busy, busy

My posts are always very intermittent--I've just been busy with warps for wool scarves and bookmarks and the VAAM Gallery blog. Last weekend was the "Artful Taste of Autumn" at John and Chris Hershberger's Italian villa! Beautiful! The art and the foods and the wines were superb! Last night, we had a great reception at the VAAM Gallery for the current show "Fiber Art - Form & Function" and "Art Inspired by the Blues." Met, connected, and reconnected with lots of interesting folks!
Now, to get ready for the Birger Sandzen Gallery gift show and the "Festive Holiday Market" at the McPherson Opera House! More photos are coming soon.

another shawl is finished...

This shawl is actually off the loom and all the fringes are knotted. Tonight I'll wash it. I know it looks a lot like the first one, but the weft is the cotton boucle alone. No intricate weave structure or pattern—just the texture of the eight different yarns in the warp and the boucle weft. I love texture!

I also have another wool scarf coming off the downstairs loom—tonight?

my weavings in the VAAM gallery

My weavings are displayed with the floor cloth by Michaela Groeblacher, McPherson, and glass by Rick Garnett, Buhler, and wall hanging (above) by Susan Shepard, McPherson. This display was designed by fiber artist Shin-hee Chin. This is all part of "Fiber Art: Form and Function - Invitiational" at the VAAM Gallery, McPherson. Be sure to see the wonderful array of fiber art on display. The entire show was hung by Betty Jo Houchen, Elizabeth Liljegren, David Brock, and Shin-hee Chin.

Finally! I finished weaving, knotted, and washed the shawl that I warped last June! The new Fiber Invitational Show has just been hung in the VAAM gallery today, but I don't have photos of the show taken or posted yet. My shawl (or is it a wrap?) has found a home there, along with the Blues #2 scarf. Photos will follow soon. Stay tuned. Hopefully tomorrow!

Blues #2 scarf from the blues warp

The scarf is off the loom, this time with a different weft combination. I was trying to keep on task to get the fringe twisted—tedious. Here, one side is twisted and the other is about to be twisted.

Finally, all the fringe is twisted. The scarf is washed

and lays out to dry along the edge of my diningroom table.

It's longer than the table, so the fringe hangs off the side.

Small side trip I took...

Finding Balance: Inner Strength

Finding Balance: Mystical Moment

Finding Balance: Serenity

Desktop mobiles?

The blues scarf

The scarf has found a home in the VAAM Gallery.

Yarns become scarf...

The 60" scarf is finished, washed, and drying flat on my diningroom table. Tomorrow it will view the world from its post in the Visual Arts Alliance of McPherson (VAAM) Gallery.

Art in the Garden, Saturday, June 21

Yes, this is me at Art in the Garden on Saturday.

Lori Martin-Price, who makes jewelry, was in the same garden as I was.

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Wayne Conyers also displayed his pottery in the same garden.

Wayne integrated his pottery in the landscape.

This is a huge and beautiful garden overlooking a small lake. Wish I had photos of the other five gardens on the tour too!

Back at home...

Yes, I did get the loom warped and even wove this much at the garden! Alas, I never did get the shawl woven, or even start the weaving. But it is warped up, ready to begin.

Another project underway

Last Saturday, I took my turn "minding the store" at the VAAM Gallery. While I was there, I wound another warp to put on the smaller portable loom. I set up my warping board right next to a display case full of Susan Shepard's beautiful jewelry. I hope to bring the small loom and weave this warp in the garden I will be in during "Art in the Garden" on Saturday, June 21. As of today, the warp is almost ready to wind on the back beam of the loom. A photo is coming...

Winding warp on the warping board...

More yarn from my stash.

Finally, ready to weave

Note the Christmas wrapping paper

between layers of warp.

Hope the red doesn't rub off!

Ready to go...

Yes!

Yes! I really do have the shawl warp on the loom now. The heddles are threaded, and last night, I got all 8 yards or so of warp wound on the back beam. I ran out of corrogated paper to use on the back beam, so I used wide, red Christmas wrapping paper straight from the roll. It should be fine, I think, as long as it doesn't get wet while it's wound up with all that cream-colored yarn. (Now, how could it get wet?) Tonight, I tied the other end of the warp on to the front apron bar! It should be about 30 inches wide. There will be a photo tomorrow.

what I'm up to now...

I gathered up eight cotton and cotton-linen yarns from my stash to make some shawls.

Close-up of the yarns, measured and wound in chains, and ready for the loom.

Each pair of two yarns is on separate lease sticks.

Sunday night, I finished slaying the reed with four of the eight yarns. Maybe I can do the other four yarns tonight? Better get to work! I'd like to have at least one shawl finished for the VAAM Art in the Garden on June 21.

Will I make it?