Chenille Scarf (click to enlarge)
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”- Thomas Merton
Chenille Scarf (click to enlarge)
Sorry I haven’t been posting lately! It has been a wonderfully busy time for me! I have been taking a weaving class from Robyn Lynde of Meridian Jacobs farm in Dixon, CA. The class, my friend Kathi and I took, was a beginning class where we learn basic theory, look at samples, pick our yarn, figure out basic stuff, math, warp out on a warping board to get our length, transfer it onto our looms and weave a sampler of varying patterns. Of course during that entire process you run into problems, questions, concerns and Robyn guided us all along the way offering her 30+ years of experience in a gradient, digestible, manner. She is a very open, caring, giving instructor and we had a fabulous time.
She has a Wednesday Weaver’s Workshop that we will begin attending. My past experience with Calligraphy is that it is indeed one of the best ways to learn your craft. To meet with others engaging in the activity and see their projects and listen to their success and frustrations. Robyn and the group will offer their expertise in solving the problems and learning from one another. So we are excited about this new addition to our journey into weaving.
Yarn on the loom ready to begin
Kathi has a busy summer on and off so we decided to jump into the next class we wanted from Robyn quickly, which is her Chenille class. Her chenille scarves and shawls are simply works of art. They look amazing, they feel amazing and she has been featured both in galleries and in the latest Handwoven magazine. Chenille is both beautiful and problematic for the weaver and the wearer. Robyn has figured out a lot of the dilemmas concerning creating useable, durable, fabric from it and Kathi and I are anxious to learn more as we both have been using chenille in our scarfs and having “issues”.
Before I could start the class last week though, I had a scarf order to finish for my friend Allison. The yarn she had carefully picked out for all her friends was very late in getting to me (2 months!), so suddenly I was slammed against the time clock in order to make it for her reunion weekend in Blacksburg, VA. I barely made it to the UPS store just in time for our local driver to wait for my package. They all arrived and the ladies loved them and Allison was very pleased! I was wiped! So lessons learned in that project! Love Blue Heron yarn, but cannot use it if it is ordered and time sensitive. No way.
Scarf for Allison's Weekend Event (click to enlarge)
Anyway, the scarves were all different colors from pinks to violets, to greens and blues. It was fun to see the different yarns. All had shots of chenille in them and lace patterns, essentially the same design for all, but in their chosen colors.
I have turquoise scarf on the loom now that was bought while I was working on it by an acquaintance.
I will be warping up my Baby Wolf loom shortly and starting with a dish towel project which is a great way to learn some things as well as come away with something beautiful and useful. I’m researching doing lace panels for my home window treatments. I have to decide which loom to do them on and materials and patterns.
Other News…
In a few weeks we will head out for Montana’s graduation and I will visit my family in NE Pennsylvania, then come back and help her move into her apartment. I will be gone awhile and no internet in PA at the farm.
Dave continues to do really well. He is happy, his energy is good, he is working hard, he laughs and teases, he moves through his days in a way that one could be envious. I’m very proud of him. He looks to me to be dropping a bit of weight (he got very pudgy through this process).
Our son Hudson is doing well in his new job in Miami. Same company, but he has moved into Business Development (outside Sales) and is having some good success. It takes time to build up your reputation, but he is enjoying it and doing well.
My friends in Little Rock are getting good results from the new drug pomalidomide. We are happy to hear this news. Nothing new yet on the killer cells for him. Crossed fingers.
Be good to yourself. Take wins and successes each day, no matter how insignificant they may seem to you. It is important to acknowledge your improvements.
Agree…….beautiful scarves!! And I would imagine too, like Sandy, that these art projects are so healing. Very good news about Dave’s progress; Jeff too is enjoying better days 🙂 I’m sure you are both looking forward to these special times ahead with your family. Nice hearing from you again.
The scarves are beautiful!!!!! So great to have another post from you. Miss you!
loved hearing all your good news! so glad your manny-man is doing so well, back to enjoying your life together, and able to do so much. creative energy in full bloom must feel so joyful and fulfilling to you; and knowing you will see the kids soon, must have you in happy and excited anticipation. we will miss you, but are thrilled for
that you are going to have such a wonderful time away.
Great to see a post from you…..and know that you’re doing okay and enjoying life. And, that your honey is still doing good.
Keep weaving!!
Good to hear you haven’t weft (great play on words) but are weaving soon.. but will return it seems. And good that Dave is doing so well. And having an art project is such a healing activity that it should be required for all caregivers for recharging of the batteries!