Thursday, December 31, 2015

Still here, still weaving!

It's the first project on my new-to-me Shannock Loom!

Sunflower Tapestry : A work in progress


Hello very neglected blog. It's the last day of 2015 and I haven't been here in a very long time.

Well, I'm back. I think. I've got a lot of things in the works these days, but it's all good.

My current project is a tapestry of a sunflower. This is the first tapestry on my new-to-me Shannock Loom. She's a beauty. I still haven't got the whole treadle thing working the way I want, but I don't mind picking the warp as I go.

This project is special not just because it's the first on this loom. It's special because of the yarn I'm using. Most of the weft was spun and/or dyed by the late Helen Bryant, a friend of mine, and a very creative weaver, spinner, dyer, potter, and basket maker.

Helen was very opinionated about, well, just about everything. She had no use for chemical dyes, and was often seen collecting dye plants in the wild. She had no use for purples, blues, or pinks. The blue yarn is some that I spun and dyed myself. I figured she'd forgive me the use of blue in the piece since it was hand spun.

When Helen went into an assisted living facility, a friend brought me several bags of her yarns. I've been hanging on to it for a while. When I was casting around for a design for my new loom my eyes fell on Helen's yarn. I'd been growing sunflowers in my garden, and loved them. It seemed like it was meant to be.

Here's the current project. I've been working on it for over a year now. But hey, I'm in no hurry. Just enjoying the process...


Gratuitous weft photo

Where I left off today, 31 December 2015.
I'm almost to the halfway point. So maybe by this time next year it will be done!

Have a Happy New Year world. I wish everyone peace, happiness, and lots of time to do the things you love!

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