onward and upward--a month after the accident

My hand is recovering well.  I've had three physical therapy sessions now and have another one in a week. After that I'll probably be on my own.  I've been weaving almost daily since the accident happened although slowly at first.  I'm still not putting in as much time at the loom as I normally can but knowing that I'm going to be able work the way I want to again is very encouraging.

Yesterday I decided to put a warp on the Baby Wolf loom (now named Cujo) and so I decided to use 12/6 cotton seine twine in a deep red color.  I want to use it for tapestry in which I combine setts and also use thick bundles of weft.  The warp will show somewhat, I expect, and the colored warp will be less distracting than white or natural linen.  It's now tied on, header is woven and a cartoon is stitched underneath.  I'll talk more about the design for that once it gets underway.

Today I also made a warp for the Fireside loom and beamed it.  I'll thread it later in the week.  Having warps ready for weaving is like having blank canvas to paint on.  I don't like to have looms sitting empty for too long.  I also wanted to see how my hand would hold up to warping and dressing the looms.  So far, fine.

Yes, those are C-clamps and a hammer hanging from the warp bundles for weight!

During the past two and a half weeks I've been working on a challenge weaving... I'll call it a "stream of consciousness" tapestry because that was what was suggested to me by my challenger.  I'm weaving approximately 5" square each week with no predetermined plan in mind.  I set a few rules for myself, sort of like I do for the daily tapestry diary.  For instance, I'm only using wefts from my left-over bins and baskets for the weekly pieces.  Here are two weeks completed and a couple of days of weaving on the third week:

Not all my time has been in the studio over the past couple of weeks.  I was able to spend a lovely day and night with friends last weekend.  Here we are at my friend's property in Western NC:

Noel, Denise, Tommye, and Erika sitting by Dorothy's Falls

And one last thing has taken quite a bit of my time lately... the roast and toast for charity that my husband and I were part of happened on the 17th.  Am I ever glad that's over with!  What a lot of work went into the event by everyone involved including Thomas and me, the roastees.  Quite a bit of money was raised for the effort, though.  And that was what was important.  Thomas and I, before the roasting started (my red cheeks are from rushing around throughout the afternoon to help with set-up--not from drink--that's water in both of our glasses!  I was in my work clothes about 30 minutes before the photo -- just rushed home to change and get back before the start of the festivities.)

An essay worth reading and re-reading

I am stunned by news of the earthquake and tsunami causing devastation in Japan and elsewhere now.  I just read an essay by a philosopher, Richard Van Ingram, that says some things that I am feeling and I want to share it here.

James Koehler--in memory

Last summer I was given the gift by fate to be a member of James Koehler's workshop in Santa Fe.  I say "given" because truthfully I'd wanted the other workshop when I signed up.  But I was too late with my registration and so was assigned a space in James's class instead.  However, I went willingly because I know that there's always lots to learn from whomever I study with and I've been an admirer of his tapestries for many years.  So... off to New Mexico I went, ready for an adventure with sixteen other participants in Koehler's class, July 26 through July 28, 2010.

In James Koehler's studio with fabulous wall of hand-dyed yarn behind

James Koehler had become legendary in his teaching and many who studied with James took workshops with him whenever they could.  And, once in the workshop, I immediately began to learn why.  His gentle nature put everyone at ease right away.  His insights into concepts for design were inspiring.  The handouts he gave us held gems of ideas.  In the handout titled Quality he said:

Only by acting consciously and methodically can one attain some quality or value in life and in work.... The creative process is an unceasing metamorphosis of the quantities of our experience to a level of quality, an awareness of the mundane to an awareness of the essential. 

Here are photos from the workshop and also the visit we were able to make to his home/studio.

Last week on March 3, 2011 James Koehler's time in the world came to an end.  Those who were very close to him are heart broken.  And for those, like me, who'd just begun to know him--our hearts are also hurting.  His untimely death has left a large hole in the world of tapestry as well as in that of his friends and family.  But how brightly do his gifts still shine through his wonderful tapestries and in the teachings shared with so many.

weaving more each day

I'm certainly not back to stamina or speed for weaving as before the accident on the 20th--but I am weaving.  I've woven on the tapestry diary each day except for the day of the event and the day afterward--and for a couple of more days when I was out of town.  I completed February's diary and have begun the one for March on a frame loom.  There's more warp on the loom above February and I'll use it either for another month later in the year or for a small piece unrelated to the diary weaving.

February, 2011

March, 2011 has begun

I've been challenged to work without predetermined plan on something larger than each day's diary bit and I was able to start that yesterday.  I'll be checking in each week for the next month with my challenger to show what I've done during the week and to discuss it.  This is part of an effort to shake myself up and move into other ways of working.  It seems that my concepts and design ideas have been stale for sometime.  Even my trip to West Dean wasn't enough to move my thinking around--although some things from my time there will show up in future work, I know.

No plan... just action... where will this lead?!

I'll see the doctor for a follow-up visit tomorrow and maybe he'll take out stitches.  It will be nice to have my hand out of the gauze mitt and I hope that's on the agenda tomorrow.  Fingers feel good and the strength in my hand is improving every day.

Now... for the more fun stuff!  Thomas and I will be Roasted and Toasted by the Sunrise Rotary Club here in town on St. Patrick's Day as a fund raising event for many of the charities to which the Club donates--all in good fun (I hope!).  The photo was taken by NGCSU art major, Trevor Morris... and, yes, Thomas & I DID look that scary!  He couldn't find his pitchfork and I couldn't find anything other than the bird of paradise apron.  Plus, it was cold as ... (put your own "cold as ...." comment here) when the photo was taken.