Michigan Weavers Guild

Friday was the dyeing workshop from the Debbie Copper shibori workshop.  I couldn’t wait to find out how it turned out.  I coaxed the drying out by putting it in the dryer after the first set of rinsing.  Pulled the supplemental threads this morning and followed by another rinse and then some more dryer helped.  I was pretty pleased.  I have one more scarf on the loom which I plan to make a bit less colorful but this one is a good reference for ideas for the next one.  I may just have to invest in some of my own dyes.

Sue L

Great presentation today by member Lois Bryant on inspiration and what you do with it.  Very interesting to see pictures of color studies and magazine cut-outs she had done in grade school or college and how you could see the tie in to current work.  She had us do an exercise where we cut out squared of color or pattern from a magazine and mount it.  She sometimes uses these as a take off point for shapes or colors for her weavings.  What was interesting was how different everyone’s was.  It would be an interesting exercise to do it again trying to change the color pallet or look.  A quick way to try to break out of a rut.

Sue L

Tonight I was on my way to the Roots store to buy my traditional Winter Olympic hat and I saw a loom in the window of Optiks on Maple in downtown Birmingham.  I go in and they have two different fund raisers for different weaving project.

The Namtegna Project is sponsored by Cranbrook Kingswood Weaving Studio. They assisted in building a weaving studio in Namtenga Africa.  Their weaving for sale their is in cotton and of simple patterns.  They can be worn as scarfs but I may go back and get one as a table runner.  They also have some beautifal wool scarfs and shawls made with vegetable dyes and woven in India in a village in the Himalayans.  You can tell they have been weaving longer than the African group but they are both interesting.  I will try to bring a sample of the scarf I purchased to the next guild meeting.  If you are in the neighborhood – stop by and take a look and perhaps support one of the groups.

The window design is quite clever so I thought I would share some pictures I took of the display

Hi I’m posting for Chris J. for her friend who is destashing an estate:

YARN (AND SOME FABRIC) SALE

When:               Saturday, January 23, 2010
Time:                10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Place:               342 Westchester, Birmingham, Michigan 48009
(Westchester is between Cranbrook and Southfield Roads, south of Maple)

This sale of a former weaver’s stash includes mostly coned yarns in a variety of fibers, textures, and colors.

All yarn is priced at $2.00 per pound.

There is also some fabric suitable for quilting or rag rugs

A couple of antique spinning wheels and a few antique baskets.

Looking at todays weaving digest email s and saw a reference with some suggestions for weaving alpaca.  The reference took me to someones blog who talked about Margaret Windeknechts Color and Weave books with the following quote “Her article, “What IsColor-and-Weave?” in Weaver’s magazine #20 (1993) is the best concise explanation I have come across about this topic.  Her work has inspired me so much, and I’m sad she passed away in March, 2009.”  It is good to see that she is still remembered and that her work continues to inspire people.   You can see the reference at: http://evasweaving.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/color-and-weave-medley-on-4-shafts/

SueL

Shibori on the Loom Workshop with Debbi Cooper.

This is a 2 part workshop, first day taking place on January 22. Second date to complete the work is March 19.

For complete information and registration, please visit http://www.michiganweaversguild.org/workshops.html

From: Hope Gruss <hopefulmee@yahoo.com>

Date: December 10, 2009 2:45:21 PM EST

To: slolli@comcast.net

Subject: Spinning wheels…

Hello:) I was looking at the guild website, and I was wondering if you knew of anyone who is currently selling a spinning wheel? Thank you! Hope Lansing, MI

A lady is parting with her mother’s loom. She’s going to try to get me proper dimensions, make and maybe photos later this weekend. The loom was originally 2 shafts, and she said her father converted it to 4. She told me on the phone it was approx. 4 feet wide, tall and deep. Please feel free to call her for more info.

Pam 248-647-3097

Submitted by Mary Rios, information given to me from Nubia

See my blog from 11/21 for a sample of the first attempt at encaustic from a workshop I took from Leslie Sobel.

link

Sue L