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| The damp linen Purificator is stretched out on plate glass, then rolled hard in both warp and weft directions, both sides, and left to dry. When dry it is peeled off the glass, folded and is flat, shiny and ready for use. |
Oh, another finishing up from last post: 141-feet down and $8,000 later, we have running water again. Hurrah! and ouch.
As to actual progress... selling enough weaving through the Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery to keep my rent paid is a very encouraging thing. Here are two recent sales, obviously related. The first was a commission for folks seeking a 'hide' for their electric-service-box. The second was an inspiration from the remaining warp coinciding with the first crocuses showing themselves (over the septic tank).
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| The first, "Organics - Symphony and Fugue" on the wall of the new Stepanski cabin - photo by Stepanski. |
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| The second to sell, "Organics - Crocus in the Snow" The colors of the first are similar to this, in reality, just different lighting. I don't know where this one now lives I photographed this in our breakfast room.
The Complex Weavers Seminars in St. Charles, IL, mid-June was like a great international family reunion. It began with an overnight with Julie Hurd and husband Al, then a luxurious ride to St. Charles with Linda van Andel driving and Julie navigating. I was spinning on my Hansen mini in the air-conditioned back seat.
The Pheasant Run Resort was a lovely choice of venue with spacious and clean accommodations and a cheerful staff. The food was pretty good too, especially the plated dinner with cloth napkins. It seemed appropriate that there were weave patterns on the walls and carpet. See illustrations below.
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| Julie and Al, between bites and laughter, the evening before. Distances in northern Michigan are considerable and I was honored to stay with these talented (weaver/gardeners/woodworker) before our early-morning start for St.Charles.
My roommate, Patrice George,
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| Patrice shows the beautiful shawl from her collection, of Tussar silk & cotton - she just learned that more like it are available at http://www.original-women.com/scarves/natural-tussar-silk-and-organic-cotton-stole |
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| John Malarkey, http://malarkycrafts.com/ another of the Seminar leaders, wears his band-weaving, here, very cleverly lining his shirt pocket, another band formed his shirt collar. |
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| Linda, Julie, Marion & Cathy (friend from my years with WG of Kalamazoo) share fiber talk Saturday night before the fashion show. |
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| After-hours room party at CW Seminars, St. Charles. Note the reverse-twill wallpaper and the plaid carpet. Julie and Linda gave a highly-acclaimed seminar "Beyond Scarves and Shawls: Planning cloth" using their award-winning garments with couture sewing to inspire us all. |
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| In my Long-Eye Heddle seminar, the students played the parts of the missing loom frame so my 'Draw-loom in a Bag' would actually work. Patricia Martin took the picture. |
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| Our current Complex Weavers President, Lynn Smetko, takes a turn with 'Betty', the TC-2 loom at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center, where Seminar attendees were bussed to view the CW Juried Exhibit "Complexities" on Friday night. Images of Lynn's delicious Shawl 'After Midnight' in silk and merino, can be seen, along with other work in this impressive show, in the pages of June 2016 CW Journal, and coming up at the at Riverside Artists Association in Milwaukee July 30 to August 8, 2016. |
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| Lined up for the Informal Fashion Show following the plated dinner on Saturday. Here guild-mate Marion Cook Jagst and the next-in-line model wait their turns.
Another real treat was meeting and studying with CWJ Editor, Ruth MacGregor in her 'Silken Pursuits' seminar. Then I was privileged to have her in my seminar 'Through the Long Eye of a Heddle'. Of course we did some hanging-out before and after, discovering and enjoying our many common loves - only she lives in France most of the time.
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| CW Journal editor Ruth MacGregor leads her seminar "Silken Pursuits" at St. Charles
The 'Poster Sessions' introduced at CWS this year was something totally new to me, but apparently common in academia. It was interesting to see glimpses of research from around the globe and talk to those involved. After dithering and procrastination finally gave way to jumping in with both feet (with encouragement from Laurie Autio and Ruth MacGreggor), I prepared a poster and packed my own samples of Erica de Ruiter's tubular woven selvedges that have now been published in Complex Weavers Journal June 2016 Nu 111.
Another treat at the Seminars was the "Off the Runway" display where we all could see up-close and personal some marvelous weaving, including Tien's 'Musk Oxen'. The conference was so well organized and coordinated all by VOLUNTEERS! We are so fortunate that there are great executive and organizational skills within the Complex Weavers Community. Hats off and shuttles up to everyone involved! |
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| Here the folks from Northern Michigan load the big car (for the return home.) Kati, driver Linda, Marion, and navigator Julie
We packed up Monday morning to return to Northern Michigan from Pheasant Run Resort, but not before a quick walk around the grounds where I actually saw a pheasant running into the tall grasses on the course and spied a beautiful stump on the fairway.
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Back at Treehouses Studio: Last year I purchased a whimsical painting by gallery mate Pat Manning
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| A charming watercolor by Pat Manning - since it was not framed, I could afford it. |
And I have now interpreted her painting in a warp for towels and placemats - and sold a set, with runner, to a gallery mate. Love my gallery friends!
Our energetic Pat started a clever 'bouquet of owls' as a neighborly gift to new business the 'Owl Café'. Among the owls of felt, paper, ceramic, metal...is one I formed from a bit of a tablet-weaving, but better-received was my inkle band with the words "Owl Café" woven in.
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| The "Owl bouquet" imagined by Pat Manning for the TBAC Gallery's new neighbor. You can barely see the inkle band in dark green around the base.
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| Sam and Jack Cook remove their new runner from the Peacock loom after hemstitching the final picks. Yes, Sam did the hemstitching! |
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| Weaver (and Master Gardner) Julie invited the Northeasters to her garden party and she and Marion conspired to celebrate my birthday with a chocolate castle cake flying Michigan tartan banners from all four turrets. It was glazed with caramel and served with whipped cream. YUM! |
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| Turning 75 with fiber friends is the absolute best way to celebrate. |
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| The mold that shaped the castle cake. Al reported that Julie despaired when it wouldn't come out of the mold, but the woodworker's 'dead-blow hammer' brought it loose in glory. Keep those woodworkers and their tools close-by! |
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| Julie's absolutely glorious (taller than I am) "Queen of the Prairie" - just one of the beauties she and Al nurture. |
Now, as I prepare to attend Convergence to pick up our Aussie, Kay Faulkner, I am seeing what I can produce for a new juried show called 'Black & White'.
Deo volente, I will have some pictures for next post. Kati 7-29-16
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