“Big and Small”

 Meg has been not only thinking but also working big . . .   She writes:

For the last six months I locked myself in my basement, figuratively, and worked on one large and one small  project for a joint exhibition in Nelson. The large project was something I saw in my head 30 months ago, a series of large pale pillars. They are in four to five kinds of gray and undyed wool in a swirly twill. 

 . . . and small. . .

The smaller project more or less came to me suddenly; I thought my chin in a self-portrait looked like a profile of a middle-aged body shape, specifically, mine.

“Beginnings” exhibition is held at Refinery ArtSpace Gallery on Halifax St, Nelson, until 26 October.

SO looking forward to seeing this exhibition Meg.

For the Tapestry Weavers

Here is a link to a short video of a recently opened tapestry exhibition in Washington USA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5kAum_CvDM&feature=share

As well as seeing an overview of the tapestries it is interesting to note the way they are displayed and the 'hands on' looms and yarns.  It is just over 3 minutes long so doesn't show many close-ups of the 40 exhibits but I thought it worth a look.

And here, just to make you envious, is a whizz-bang state-of-the-art free-standing tapestry loom imported from USA by Lesley Longhurst.  Watch this space for results from it.

September Meeting : Colour

 Jan led the September discussion on colour, giving us a different viewpoint from the way we have worked in the past. She has attended various design courses and showed us some of the interesting material she has accumulated. Here she is, flanked by Nancy and Tricia. Note Jan's music embroidery in the background.

 Barbara and June discuss some of the books in our Guild library relating to colour.  Nancy watches and listens.

 Win, Beth and Noelene deep in conversation.

 New member Jen is making good progress and getting to know the rest of the group. Here she is with Betsy.

Tricia, Rose and Chris have a multitude of resources to work with.

Chris's show and tell was a table runner made with the three-shaft petit point technique and this photo shows both sides with the colours reversed on the back. Chris said it was faster to weave than she expected it would be. Well done Chris.

Weaving Workshop

"Small Stuff" was the title of a weaving workshop held at Bobbin Cottage on Saturday 15 September.  Seven looms were warped up with narrow sample warps, all with the same yarn and sett. (An eighth loom from a previous project was brought along by Tricia for an optional extra.) With hindsight, it may have been easier weaving and better for the participants done on a larger scale but the lovely wool yarn was donated and it seemed like a great opportunity to challenge people with 20 epi.  The jumping off point was a number of different small drafts used by Rose for a collection of scarves.

Here is Rose, armed and dangerous!

And here are 'the troops' working on a round robin system, trying out the samples.

Betsy gets to grips with mock leno.

June is enjoying a refresher of patterns she knows well.

Tricia (in her lovely hand knitted jersey) is ready for action.

Jen is our newest weaver but she managed to get around all seven looms to weave samples.

Win has completed the seven samples and is now catching up on the three shaft petit point technique we studied while she was away (swanning around in Italy no less.)

Not in the photos but also present were Beth, Barbara, Noelene and Chris.   Thanks to Chris for these photos.

Congratulations!

National Adult Learners' Week was launched in Blenheim on Monday evening. Our very own Jen Smith was presented with an award for "Outstanding Adult Learner," and her tutor June McKenzie was awarded "Exceptional Adult Learning Provider." Congratulations to these two and to all who are prepared to teach or learn new skills.

Thanks to those who made an effort to join with the rest of the Guild to put up an impressive display at the Stadium on Tuesday as part of the Adult Learners' Week. It takes quite an effort, and quite a bit of weaving time, to do these community activities but it is important that we wave our creative flag and make ourselves known.

More Show and Tell

These items made it to the August meeting only as photographs as Rose was away.  The four scarves in the first photo are made from a beautiful fibre blend; 55% silk and 45% cashmere.

This is a very lightweight throw in thick brushed wool and a  very fine synthetic yarn.

Chris has added further colour variations to her collection of blankets.  Some lucky children will receive these and probably keep them as favourites for many years.

August Meeting - Fibres

The meeting was held at Barbara's home and members were asked to bring samples of various yarns used in their work and examples woven with them. Here are some of the woven fabrics using both natural and man-made fibres.

Betsy brought along her lovely soft lightweight throw made with merino, possum and mohair fibres. It is woven in a rosepath twill which shows a completely different pattern on the reverse.

Here is a close-up of the yarns, with the space-dyed warp showing up prominently in the fringe.

Joan's warp repp table runner is made with very closely set rayon.

A natural fibre we don't often see in loom weaving is phormium tenax (New Zealand flax or harakeke). It is seen here in a wall hanging by June in which she has used many hand manipulated lace weaves.

This beautifully knitted shawlette was knitted by Nancy and of course the fibre is alpaca.

Not Weaving, but just have to share

Weavers need a break now and then. When Chris was in Christchurch recently she found this 'gap-filler' sculpture display and it's too good not to share.

Continuing the piano theme, how about this one displayed in the Museum .

Or this, from some place unknown. Maybe not weaving but it least it has a textile component.

Happy weaving. I hope the wet weather has given you an opportunity to get to your looms.

Guild Meeting 8 August

Chris showed her small menagerie of animals - an update on the three-shaft pick-up weaving started at the July meeting. Here we can see the side uppermost on the loom (top) and the reverse (lower).

At the Guild meeting Nancy demonstrated what can be done with a niddy-noddy, a plastic plate, some yarn and a few odds and ends.

Jen and June collaborated on this model.

Looking forward to Christmas?

July Show and Tell Part 4

Rose produced a baby wrap made with chunky threads in plain weave, finished with a wide crochet edge.

And a larger throw in different colours, woven in a texture weave suited to the slub yarn.

This wrap has a silvery thread incorporated in the yarn used in both warp and weft in a complex twill pattern. It is finished with a silver-grey satin ribbon along the edges and a silver rat-tail cord to enhance the ends.  This is a UFO that has finally become a FO.

That wraps up the July news but there are more pics to come so keep watching.

July Show and Tell Part 3

Chris shows one of her lovely generously large throws. In spite of her intention for it to be a 'stash-buster' Chris confirms there is just as much stash as ever. Stash-busting just never seems to work!

Here is a close-up of the clever colour blending and the goose-eye type twill construction.

Again, Chris goes for generous size and bold colours for this baby blanket. The crochet edge makes a good finish.

A close-up showing the huck blocks within plain weave squares with a light-coloured outline. The crossing of the colours gives a multi-hued effect.