Area Exhibition: "Hands on Fibre" Part 1

The Nelson Marlborough Buller Area exhibition opened on Saturday at Refinery Art Space in Nelson. THE EXHIBITION HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED BY TWO WEEKS; IT IS NOW OPEN UNTL 21ST/22ND-ISH OF OCTOBER.

Here are some of our weavers' woven pieces.  

Chris' scarf and Sue's tunic

Chris's rug

Rose's baby blankets.  She also had a black cotton scarf, which, in spite of about a dozen tries, your truly just could not photograph well. But you see it at the back of Chris's rug above.

Joan didn't want me taking a picture of her in front of her lovely scarf. but it turned out this was a good move.  We now know that by the time this photo was taken, she had already lost her necklace! 

There are a few long shots here.

Meg

September Meeting: Rag Weaving, Part 2

Still on rag weaves - more that have stood the test of time.

Bag by Sue, finished with a fancy button and chain handle.

Cushion by Tricia with sample of the fabric strip attached.

A more complex cushion by June. Making the twisted cord for the outside took her the whole length of the house and them some!

Tricia contemplates the bolster-shaped cushion she made out of - guess what - cushion covers!

Chris made this 'up-to-the-minute' waistcoat for her teenagedaughter. Did she wear it? No!

A pity because it is lovely, and beautifully made.

Rose

September Meeting: Rag Weaving, Part 1

Here are some photos from the September Weavers' meeting.

The topic was rag weaving and it was amazing what appeared and how long some of it has been in fairly constant use. Most of these items were woven about 20 years ago.

Betsy's charming bath mat, woven on a point twill threading with a weft of soft fabric offcut strips sold in garden shops for tying plants.

Chris's brilliant (in all senses of the word) picnic rug, woven double width from re-purposed curtains.

The rest, to the best of my knowledge, are Sue's. They have had constant use and constant washing and are probably in better condition than the washing machine Sue used to stuff them into - some of them are quite large!

More to come.
Rose

Weave It, Felt It

Win's handwoven wool wrap and Rose's indigo-dyed cotton tray cloth.


Sue's window hanging, inlay in fine white wool.


Chris's "Blue Yonder" throw rug showing changing blue tones.


Judy's "Two Greys" scarf in deflected double weave


One of Denise's "Seaweed" Necklaces


One of Katie's stunning felted collars


Christine's felted animal print bag with plaited leather handle, and scarf to match.
And Adie's triangular felted bag.


Wendy's collection of colourful felted balls was popular and
rather depleted by the time I took the photo.

by Rose Pelvin

Table Runner, by Sue Timpany

At the beginning of last year, after a break from weaving of about eleven years – due to travel overseas and other commitments, I finally had all my loom bits and pieces in one place and the loom reassembled.

It was with a bit of trepidation that I sat down at the loom for the first time – a warp on and ready to weave. I had built up such an expectation (with myself) about the enjoyment and satisfaction that I gained from weaving – what if it actually wasn’t like that. Maybe I was about to be very disappointed. But everything was all right

It was just as I remembered it and it felt like coming home after a long absence.

After a year I am only about to embark on my 4th warp. Finding the time to weave isn’t always easy around a full time job and study as well, but as my loom is one of my most treasured possessions; just having it assembled in my living room is satisfaction enough some days.

My first project was a table runner. Its execution wasn’t without difficulties but the fact that the end result was a usable piece that has pride of place on my dinning table is extremely pleasing. I look forward to many more enjoyable years at my loom.

by Sue Timpany

Bag, by Sue Timpany

Joan inspects Sue's bag, in cotton.

By Meg Nakagawa