Backstrap Weaving Workshop

So, I'm catching up from March 8th which was the start of a fun-filled women's weaving

 weekend in the hills outside of Santa Cruz. We have all shared this room and our lives

 in bits and pieces over the last two years, meeting for this, our fourth time to study

 backstrap weaving with Laverne Waddington.

Some of us keep in touch and see each other at other times, but the group workshops 

when we come together are a real treat! 

Each time Laverne has to come up with a combination of techniques that will keep this group entertained and amused for three days. We all work at different rates and in different ways.

The room is small for a group of 8 weavers and one teacher, who often has to crawl under someone's weaving or the table to make it all the way around to visit everyone.

We are sort of unruly and our teacher has learned that she might as well just wait until we

 are done talking and ready to listen before she tries to make herself heard above 

the constant enthusiastic chatter and joking and running commentary on life and weaving. 

This workshop focused on two techniques, supplementary weft overlay (brocade) 

and two-heddle intermesh.

These are Laverne's examples of the two-heddle intermesh. 

These two photos capture me working on my piece. Rather than try all sorts of motifs as a sampler, I like to do the same thing a few times to get it fixed in my head. I like the result! 

This is a fine example, woven by Laverne, of the weft overlay technique. 

And my experiments.

At the end of our weekend, we all put our samples together for a family photo.

Laverne also wrote about the workshop and has more photos here on her blog. 

 Laverne brought copies of her latest book, which we were all happy to add to our libraries. 

It's available here on Patternfish in a digital version. 

The Circus Belt

Last year, I was contacted by a buyer for a very famous circus asking if I could replicate a belt for one of their costumes. I did. They liked it. This year, I was asked to make 2 more because this is a long-running show in Las Vegas. So I did. When I asked, I was told that I could not use their name when showing this online. Maybe one day, I'll make it to Las Vegas and see my belt perform!

By using the big loom, I was able to weave the two belts on one warp.

It has a lot of colors, ones which I probably would not have put together, and not in that order. This is the beauty of doing custom work! 

I liked the way the original belt was finished with the thick braids and wrapped ends. It was fun to use do them this way, as it is different than my usual finishing methods. 

Custom Sashes for Mountain Men

A couple of days ago I received this note in an envelope with a check, final payment for a custom order.

What a nice reward! I'm glad that he likes it. 

I also think that the color combination is gorgeous.   He wrote "I want something colorful (long winters up here in North Dakota). And I'm wondering if you can weave a tassel on both ends to give it a Metis flair?" So, I looked at some photos of Metis sashes and was inspired by their use of bright primary colors. 

This is a closeup of the sash which was 3" wide and 108" long.

This is the musket strap. 1 1/2" wide and 40" long.

The following 2 photos were sent to me by another customer who I've done several pieces for.

I've come to refer to him as Tim of Alaska. I really enjoy seeing how these things are used.

Tim wanted his colors to be such as would blend into a wooded setting.

The colors in the strap are just perfect for this  powder horn. 

This is a nice looking outfit all put together.

This sash was even longer at 132"! 

Here is a closup. Another good color combination. 

Sari Silk Strip Strap

Some time ago, I bought this most interesting skein of "yarn" at the Espanola Valley Fiber Arts Center in Espanola, NM. It is made from strips of silk fabric, remnants from sari making. Oh the colors!!!

Here's what the yarn looked like when I took the paper wrapper off.

Here's what it looked like warped on the loom with a companion Amaranth pink cotton. The cotton is one I like to use which has been discontinued by the manufacturer; it's Reynolds Saucy Sport. I"ve been finding and buying old stock on Ebay and Etsy. 

Because of all this fuzz on the silk strips edges, the weaving went very slowly. 

Here's the finished guitar strap. Oh, I'll have to be sure to photograph it in sunlight next time so you can see the silk in all it's glory!