1st Workshop Weaving with Natural Materials

These are some of the pieces I have made and show how they can be either a brooch or magnet. The workshop was two 1 hour sessions in a beautiful Art deco building in Richmond, Victoria. Which I feel added to the experience, as it was light filled (skylights) and how the building had been modernised. This is my idea of using nature in weaving, along with 4 selvage method of warping and weaving. This allows for an other styles of brooches.

Bark, twigs, firm grass's, leaves and flowers have been used, with awareness of the flower may breakdown sooner. The people at the workshop came away with the one they made and seemed happy. A fun project to do, with the people from (EEEC) Sharing the Journey conference. Thank you all who participated in the day and my two helpers.

Close up of just a bark piece which is lacquered.

One of my favorites, yet I do like them all.

Bright Warps



On the loom.

This bright warp is to be made into brooches, bookmarks, and scarf using a comb reed. A nifty idea with a interesting reed that is 5 dents per inch.

I worked at using the comb reed over these two warps and I had these bright yarns to play with, along with the weather getting sunnier - what a way to greet Spring. 



Bookmarks from two warps.

 

All weaving is work in progress.

 As the warps were randomly wound, it brought out many combinations and pattern in colour. I am a very much flow with the yarn type - I often just want to see. In this case what these 4 ply yarns would look like. I did not work out the set, for this would mean decisions made by me at the beginning and I want the yarn to be involved. I sample via using the warp, this allows for the yarn and I to see how much can be gotten from a ball/hank. These warps are straight drafts and on 4 shafts. I can Do SAORI weave if the idea doesn't work and I will play again. Having fun is one of my main goals when weaving.

Brooches - needing finishing.

I started with the more red/blue warp and with the comb reed (a reed without the top bar so you can lift warp from one dent to another) and wove the scarves then re-dented closer to a rep weave type set and out came bookmarks and brooches at the same time side by side on the loom. Yes I divided the warp used two shuttles and wove, why not is how I think.  



 

With the Second warp the very bright yellow, greens. etc I learnt it is much harder to do brooches and bookmarks first then a scarf, As when I re-dented and wound on it affected the tension of the warp but a few sticks and patience when weaving the scarf. The lifting order came from the Handweaver's Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. Which is the kind of book I keep Handy when weaving patterns as it has so much choice.

 

Two different -4 shaft patterns.

 

Rolled up scarf - 4 shaft pattern



 

 

A few explorations for small pieces

Brooches

The brooches I have been making for some time now, have evolved and now I realize is going to be about the different ideas I have, than about one style. I like making brooches as it gives myself the chance to try out some ways of doing and giving people a taste of what I am exploring at that time.

woven

zigzag

This method was shown at a workshop I was attending, and we were told bring it into your own by how and what I do with the method. I know this sounds a bit confusing, but I just needed to put this in.

BOOKMARKS

Wool

silk and cotton part double weave

I had learnt a method of dying yarn early 2010 at a friends place. This introduced myself to bookmarks and how to make them interesting. I have made a few in different types with the blue by using different wefts and lifting order to see what happens and so far so good. I thank Kaz for her method of starting and finishing the edges, so I didn't have to sew or hem stitch the edge.

I am having a market on the 17th December at Castlemaine (Artist market) with stephen who makes glass fused plates and we are looking forward to meeting anyone who comes up for a chat.