Later, when I needed to prepare a small loom for display during last year's exhibit at the Focus Gallery in Asheville, I did a simple cartoon based on a drawing of leaves I'd done while in my last residency at the Hambidge Center and began weaving the interior of the piece. So, bit by bit during various demonstrations the tapestry has grown.
In January this year the loom went with me to John Campbell Folk School where used it for demonstrations a few times while there:
And just this past Sunday I took it to the Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild's Open House for a demonstration:
I'm using vertical soumak for the stem of the leaves... color being used in the soumak is a bit strong for the piece but that's OK... I'm ready to complete this small tapestry and move on. I can't agonize over the color at this point. I'm now determined to complete it during this week... maybe!
You made me feel a bit better now about the tapestry that has been on my loom for almost three years now. I am diligently trying to finish it when life doesn't get in the way (a child home with a fever this week, dr's appt for other child, etc.) Thanks for the inspiration, beautiful work.
ReplyDeletesusan
I love the play of colors on that piece. I know that you are thinking that you only use it for demonstrations, but I think that piece is striking!
ReplyDeleteLovely, Tommye. And I actually really like the lavender in the stem! How big is it?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Susan...yes, good to finish off "old friends" on the loom.
ReplyDeleteLou Ann, thank you for your thoughts about the color of the little tapestry.
Kathy... thank you, too! The piece is 12+" wide and will be about 18" high. I've got to design the finishing border -- am not sure if it will be a repeat of the diamonds I began with or not. I completed the leaf area yesterday so I should be able to actually complete it before the week is over!
I like it very much! and look forward to see it finished - it's always great to finish something!
ReplyDeleteOh Yum, I love all those warm colors, especially on this cold snowy day. And doesn't it feel good to finally finish something that's been hanging around? I feel like my unfinished tapestries are weighing on me, and soon I hope to finish them.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Tommye! Not sure you are still active in this blog, but I wanted to let you know I got your book and am so inspired. I am about to begin part 3 of Rebecca Mezoff's Warp and Weft class, so I'm still a beginner. I've so enjoyed the Wednesday Zoom with Kathe Todd-Hooker and am learning so much. I've been weaving my extra warp with a small design (yes, my own) and wanted to practice techniques in the borders. It's really to small to do much, but then I noted your 2021 diary and it was an ah ha moment for me. So, I am going to try to do something similar. I think I'll need to do it bigger than what I have - 7"x7" and using Harrisville Shetland - so my borders are 1" around. I am doing what I can though. I have such a mess in the back and will be trying to figure that out if I am to accomplish something like your piece. Would so appreciate any direction or teaching you have on this. I don't travel, so if you have a book or ATA reference, I would be most grateful. Thanks - and will see you on Wednesdays when you can attend.
ReplyDeleteHi Kimmy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning that you've gotten my book! Great to know you're doing both Rebecca's courses and zooming with Kathe.
About the back, I trim wefts to about 1/2" to 3/4" inch, and any that happen to be near the edges, I stitch toward the interior with a couple of whip stitches and regular sewing thread.
As far as the borders go, it depends on if you're weaving across the width as you go up the tapestry or if you build shapes. If you're doing shapes you'll probably want to either use stitch as you go along edges or use interlock of some kind. A 1" border is pretty small to not be attached to the body of the piece... don't know if this is helpful info or not! Practice, practice, practice -- always a good thing! If something doesn't work, try another approach. Once you've determined what works best for you then you've got one more design tool to use for future tapestries.