Leola's Studio

Complacency and creativity.......

2012-02-24T22:23:00.000-08:00

As usual I have left such a gap between my posts - there just has been so much going on in the studio, teaching seems to be what I do and not much time to do much else. Lots of ideas of course, which is what I love the best and when one completes an idea, there is muchsatisfaction!

So many ideas and moments of sure joy - not a great picture, but just seconds before there were about a dozen geese swimming in and out of these trees. The water is so high (Shawnigan Lake and just down the hill from home) and I have been doing a daily photo record as an exercise - "what do I see" - kind of exercises - form, colour, movement, it gives me a good start to the day and ideas abound.

I chose the title to this post due to one of most wonderful experiences that I have had in the studio. A week or so ago, a woman came in - someone I knew - and had read the article in the Voice about Leola's sStudio and felt that this was the place to be gifted something she had. Had I heard of Theo Moorman, yes I said and wished I had responded as Barbara had answered her some years back, had she heard of Wayne Gretsky??? So she put in my hands, the Weaving as an Art Form, which I love and have a couple of copies that I love to lend out, another book on permanent loan, Theo Moorman 1907-1990: Her Life and Work as an Artist Weaver. I hadn't seen this book, so I was very excited. But then she placed another gift in my hand wrapped in tissue - a piece of Theo's weaving done with a fan reed............it was quite an emotional moment. Helen, then told me that Theo had been her mother's best friend in Leeds and had visited her mom who lived in Chemainus - she had been here in the valley!!!! I knew she taught internationally and had been in Banff because my old weaving partner Christine had taken a workshop with her - and took Theo sightseeing around Banff. I have done a few pieces of the Moorman technique and loved this "poor man's tapestry" technique.

The book

The little weaving done by Theo using the fan reed

The fan reed that I made years ago and that is broken but will still work I am sure!

But why the title.........
Theodora Moorman quotes: ..."One is, of course, aware that complacency strikes death at the heart of creativity, but it is not so easy to accept failure as a step towards progress. The rare occasion when something comes off the loom that one knows in one's bones is good is a matter for rejoicing. To realise a positive side to one's failures is much harder and needs a lot of courage. Courage, persistence and an exploring and adventurous mind are our greatest assets. It is good to 'push out a little into the deep'.

This all came about after watching Archie Brennan cut up a woven tapestry! I love it when my students lose a cross, or make mistakes - as I always tell them it is an opportunity for new design and gives me a chance to teach and I learn as much as they do - and there is always room for potential 'new' mistakes.

Barbara really wants to have a Theo Moorman workshop in the studio, so we are looking at a Theo Moorman Birthday Party and Tea - May 25th is her birthday, so we will letting you know of further developments....let us know if you want to take part. If you have some pieces that you have woven please let me know as we would love to showcase them.

And what other amazing things....

Community Tapestry is coming to town!!!!

Anne Clarke and I have begun to get ready for the community tapestry. We have decided on a design and over the holiday, Anne took the design to Island Blue Print and had it copied onto mylar, so we have our cartoon at the ready. It seems that there is tapestry happening in the studio more than ever and another tapestry loom is coming our way - so plenty of opportunity to create. I am very excited abou it as I have studied tapestry over the years, and have mostly worked on community tapestry and minatures. It has been some while since I have 'indulged' and my fingers are itching to do so. It is so much fun to work big and although this first tapestry in the studio will only be about 34" X 50", it will be a beginning. However I am the holdup, as I still haven't warped the loom - after the Spin In at Metchosin on February 25th (as in tomorrow!!), I can settle down and get it done.

A print of a detail from a larger oil painting done by my friend Lucy Schappy, and sent to me when I first opened my studio - I have loved it from the beginning and always thought it would be a great tapestry. The photo doesn't do it justice, but it is from a painting called Steppin' Out. Perfect for spring don't you think?

http://www.lucyschappy.com/

The cartoon on mylar - the floor boards are showing through!

I just read on the MIWS blog that Sarah Swett will be conducting a workshop in September - I admire her tapestries so much AND Archie Brennan, Barbara Heller, Jane Kidd, Sarah Swett, Murray Gibson etc etc. etc...........Sarah weaves grocery lists!!!!!! http://www.sarah-swett.com/

So I am going to just add some photos now - getting tired and still need to get ready for the Spin In tomorrow....

The Comfort Shawl in action. A first time weaver, Megan weaving a comfort shawl for her sister who was to undergo surgery - she went home with a beautiful handwoven gift.

Catharina's Liquid sky - thrums and rags!

My Valentine attempt at summer and winter hearts - 8 harnesses, with mistake!

Jenna brought me some eggs, I was weaving on Ray's warp, the colours fit - a little lichen, beautiful eggs, one of the eggs was olive coloured, the weft was the same colour of linen and I just happened to have my darning egg in my pocket that my husband had carved out of arbutus, with a heart on it - "for my love, for my socks" is what it says. But the whole 'nest' was perfectly coordinated with the warp - so very cool.....

Speaking of Ray - he has a contract with the Weavery....30 yards of handtowels....

Perfect edges, perfect beat....and weaving for only a couple of months.

Devon's first blanket warp - beautiful

I walked out of the studio one evening to this amazing sky..........

And I have saved the best for last - a very old picture - about 30 years ago, in my hippie gear (I was known as a hip-pie tomato at one point in my life!) a handwoven shrug with handspun mohair I grew myself, and a little girl I also grew myself (not such a happy duo here), but I swear I could see better with those big glasses..........

Tribute to Trudi!

2012-01-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

I Love the Loom

Check http://www.ilovetheloom.blogspot.com/

The Loom - 38 years and going strong!

Chills and Twills.....

2011-12-23T23:41:00.000-08:00

On my way to my fabulous diesel mechanic's shop I was completely surrounded by a frosted environment, and my mind then went into winter twill land. I am always looking at my surroundings in any case and recording future warps or designs that may play out into a structure of some kind. My husband then picked me up and we continued on to the studio - passing by the blueberry farm where the twill was so obvious in the regimented planting - Glen wouldn't stop for a picture, so will post one later if I manage to capture that image. It truly was a wonderful way to begin the season.

An 8 harness twill

detail from 'dancing leaves' - a straight 8 harness twill....

Later on the same day, I had a wonderful conversaton with a local guild member about the remarkable world of twills and how one can explore for a century and never exhaust the simple threading on any amount of harnesses (excuse my calling harnesses harnesses, I have never got into the habit of calling them shafts - after all my looms have horses........).

The Glenora Farm Christmas Fete was lovely and the weather was sunny and bright. Lots of textiles there and of course the Weavery had plenty to show. I bought yet another couple of handtowels and another tea cozy. Leola's Studio will be carrying some of their weaving, so if you cannot get out to the Weavery located at the four corners in Glenora, you can come to the studio.

Bucket bags, Deanne working hard as usual and incredible rugs.
My friend Ann runs the Weavery and the participants weave spectacular projects.

Lovely handwoven towels at the Glenora Farm Christmas Fair.

Our newest additions to the studio....

A tapestry woven with rags....

The studio has new weavers. Catharina has her loom set up and is weaving every day. The above tapestry is a study inspired by a card that she purchased at the Guild's show. It is quite lovely and from every angle we see something new. It is about 28" by 45" (I think) and quite fabulous. Catharina isn't sure that she likes using rags as her weft, but had fun anyway. Her husband Ray comes with her as well. I asked him one day if he would like to weave and he said he always wanted to try. He sat at the loom and it was if he was born to weave. His edges and beat are precise. Ray has diverse abilities and is challenged only by filling the bobbin. The studio is made richer by this couple.

Catherina, originally from Belgium (she makes great waffles!) then Galiano and now in our warm valley. Lucky us.

Ray on handtowel duty!

Detail of tapestry

It is hard to keep up with all the goings-on in the studio. I have fifteen students from Shawnigan Lake School

that come every week, half on two afternoons and all of them on another afternoon. They are industrious with their knitting and very creative.....

Drinking tea is a must, felting, embellishment, knitting, quilting (with hand dyed fabric) and weaving are just some of the techniques we do.

The rag rug looms are busy every week and all one must do is book a day - it is fun. We have a new blanket warp on - very neutral and just calling for a weaver! The comfort shawls are warped up with a new bird feeder by the window, books with great writings and just the special private place to weave for some one that requires comfort. This project is by donation - some kept for materials and the rest to Hospice or Care Givers. Please pass this information on. It is a win win project.

In January, tapestry will be alive and well in the studio. Ann Clark, a fabulous tapestry artist, and I have joined forces and we will be initiating a community type tapestry. Our first design is in the works - a detail from a painting by a wonderful painter friend of mine, Lucy Schappy....the painting is called "Stepping Out" and is just so darn happy! The cartoon will be approximately 36 X 50 inches. We will be warping up in the next few weeks. I will keep you informed. Strangely enough, Catherina has come into the studio, Lynn brought her tapestry loom in to share and then another tapestry loom came in just the other day.....wonders will never cease!

I was having lunch with Gaye down in the Bay, and I got a frantic call from Ann that I had a felting crisis waiting for me! I came up to find my friend Evee with this gigantic felting project not felting so great....hmmm is about all I said (I remember Wanya expressing the same way, so now I actually know why..), anyway, the only thing I could think of was elbow grease with added hot water and soap - so we set off on a very cold but sunny day. The next day the whole darn thing was frozen, but we kept at it and lo and behold it felted rather well and the much smaller piece is being embellished as we speak - a floor mat for her son. I was kind of sore for a few days - a great work out.

May you have a wonderful new season, the light is coming and soon spring will be here. Happy holidays and please come and share the space - would love to see you.

Open House

2011-11-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

Although the studio is always open, we are having an official Open House and Christmas Sale.

Please join us. We would love to see you.

Playful Processing...

2011-11-10T17:25:00.001-08:00

This my attempt to be quicker and shorter with my postings. Playful processing is my

bloggity blah blah blah today.

In order for me to process any little inspiration, I have to play - whether it be flowers, leaves, bark or a passing conversation, I have to put it down into a collage, a drawing, a photo montage, a meal or a poem. Sometimes years go by for me to actually understand what drew me to that particular moment of 'buzz' in my head. The off shoots, or as I sometimes call them, my sidebars, are often part of the network that one small leaf, bug or moment can produce. A warp most often results, a theatre set, or just a simple arrangement of some collectibles.....a moment of design, colour and composition. All of us are composing without awareness, so we are practiced. The next step is to somehow record it, if you wish or translate it in some fashion- it isn't necessary, but it sure does assist in creating and developing our art. It is like anything we learn; one practices, one gets better.

During a week of thinking of little art pieces to enter the Portals (Cowichan Valley Arts Council Gallery) Teeny Tiny Show, I attempted to do the above - and I had a great time. However my photos aren't that great (good excuse anyway), but I had a great time with this small goal I gave myself for the week. And did I learn something from this? Yes, I want to do more!!!

This is one of my exercises this week - the cedar bark, I will post the resulting piece but it isn't a great photo. The technique is thread painting on raw silk using my sewing machine as my brush, oh, and it somewhat an abstract piece! The small piece of 'cedar' gave the 'reader' a clue as to what it might be. The best part was it was fun to do.

The other piece was also fun to do - my virginia creeper. Again, same technique and my photograph which I took outside my studio, I changed it to black and white and printed it off on some silk - it is almost a hologram (I think that is what it is called), with the structure of the silk - very subtle, but when you see it, it is like a little surprise. One has to see it in person to understand. So my inspiration....

and the resulting piece...you can see a little of the above picture on the silk background and the 'leaf' is of course all raw silk....

Now, my little pieces have a neighbour - an Alison Irwin paper weaving - absolutely delightful and I feel honoured to have such a neighbour!

Alison sent me this photo to replace my inadequate recording - this sets it off perfectly. The title is Black Poppy.
So enough for today. Play - it is good for you!

Having way too much fun........

2011-10-28T00:25:00.000-07:00

The last two months have been incredibly busy with classes, weaving, dyeing, and well, most people know that transition from summer to fall busyness. A great way to sort out priorities and projects....

Virginia Creeper was the inspiration for the dyed fleece

Indigo ready to rock and roll!

There was a lot of activity around dyeing this past month. We had an indigo dye day - several of us had indigo plants that Barbara had provided - such beautiful plants - and we put them together and proceeded to go through the process. Barbara had done a test run a few weeks earlier and got the most glorious blues. Unfortunately, although we did exactly the same process, we did not get any blue - just a hint. So we have had a few explanations. The only thing different were, the water (high iron content), the time of picking - were the plants past their prime? and the heat - were we accurate enough. We will try again next year - all of us have plants beginning to seed and they will be next years experiment. We were disappointed, but the exploration of this wonderful colour, although elusive, was still fun and magical.

Jenna, Betty, Alberta and our team leader, Barbara hard at work preparing the sacred indigo...

The Juan de Fuca Fibre group came up for a day in the studio - wonderful spinners. Pots of tea, and a couple of dye pots were the order of the day. It was another fun time with women passionate about their fibres. We were having the time of our lives, dyeing raw fleece (local Churro from my friend Gaye) and overdyeing some roving.

Happy Hallowe'en!!!

I admire this group as they are so devoted to their spinning. It was a fabulous day. All guilds and interest groups are most welcome to come and spend a day in the studio. It is a pleasure to share the space I get to work in, and it is a joy to have like-minded people in the studio. And we all learn - wow, how much more fun can we have?

My youth textile artists have been busy. One in particular just produces and creates lovely projects and already has sold a piece! So not only are they becoming textile artists, they are also becoming entrepreneurs!

Morgan is 12 and won a first in the Cobble Hill Fair for her needle felting and then promptly sold it. She is saving for a sewing machine.

Her 'Snowy Winter Morning' scarf admired by all.

The community rag rug looms or the 'girlfriend' looms have been going strong. One week I had two separate groups of friends, six in all enjoy learning to weave and going home with a rag rug. They were all lovely as were the participants. The comfort shawl loom is almost ready to go. We are preparing a lovely space for the project, so there will be privacy if required, music, lovely books of support and a comfy chair to take some time to reflect on the gift you are making. We provide the warp and you can weave with your chosen weft and all we ask is for a donation towards the fibres and anything left over will go to hospice or some other charity. Just book a week or so ahead. Due to all the generosity we have received, we would like to give back.

Blankets!!!!

There have been about 15 blankets woven in the last couple of months - maybe more. I am losing count.

Absolutely beautiful warm blankets that had everyone drooling.

Jewel has woven about 3 projects previous to these blankets. Her confidence in designing and warping is phenomenal. She wove two big blankets in two days along with her little shadow, Little Bear who sings to us on occasion!

Little Bear on his new rug, one for home and one for the studio...woven with Pendalton blanket selvedges...

Another blanket weaver, Lori has made three rugs in the last month, each one unique and beautiful. Lori's sense of design and colour is awesome, each blanket well thought out for the personality that they will be gifted to. Lori is quite petite, so it was fun to see her working on a 60" loom - the blankets spoke of greatness!

The first two

and the third.....

The Cowichan Fleece and Fibre Fair was this past weekend and there were lots of people enjoying the many fibres - I believe everyone went home inspired. Good job Annie and Kathy. I didn't get around to take pictures but managed to get a shot of our booth. My dear dear friend, Joy, that I learned to weave with in Cherryville came down from Cortes Island to help and brought her beautiful Romney yarn. And the vest was a hit - soon to be kitted up and quite possibly be available in the studio!

Joy's Wool

I finally met Jane Richmond, a fabulous knitter and designer. http://janerichmond.blogspot.com/ and she took some great photos of the fair and of the most beautiful buttons by Franziska, who will be providing buttons to the studio as well. Check Jane's blog out - tutorials and everything. Great stuff.

The booth

And now for some random pictures

The ladies

The little goat...

My dear friend Ann loves goats as do I and so I knit her a little picture - it was fun! and speaking of fun, a final picture of my crazy girls who disappeared one day out of the studio, and although I didn't capture the perfect shot, I think I captured fun in the best possible way - carefree, happy, dancing in a field and learning all about fibre in the studio!!!! Now that's a lot of fun.

Breaking News!!!

2011-09-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

The space looks so big! But already it is getting filled with looms.

We are now into September and I have taken the day off to make blueberry jam, bread and do a much needed clean up at home - well so far the jam and bread are done and a quick sweep started, but I got sidetracked sorting out some wool and things for the studio - I miss the studio!
And the breaking news??
Leola's Studio has expanded again! There are now three studios of which all are full and busy. The original studio I partially use for my younger students and the overflow for The Loom with spinning and weaving supplies, the second for classroom with a dye kitchen out back, and the third for classroom and a Gallery - where handmade beautiful things can be purchased. Please come and have a look - we are going to have an official opening soon. Join us and create on the community looms - rag rugs, hand towels, blankets and our new warp will be for comfort shawls or prayer shawls for those in need of a special 'wrap me up and soothe me' shawl. We are hoping to make it a true community loom, we provide the warp and you provide the weft. A donation will be accepted and then in turn a donation will be made to hospice or other charity, as well as to purchase more yarn if needed. Please take part, as there are a lot of people that require comfort. Meanwhile the rag rug community looms are in high demand and I need to warp another rag rug warp for three friends coming to weave - we have named them the girlfriend looms. It is a wonderful way to experience a working studio - no, you do not have to have prior weaving experience.

A rag rug in progress

Debbie at work......the room now has about 6 looms and the front space is
for our retail

A beautiful blanket woven in the new
expanded studio by Debbie who will be assisting us

Slocan Lake

I think the last time I posted was just I before I left for the Kootenays where I had a very restful time, sleeping, swimming and reading nestled on my beach surrounded by my mountains and quiet. The highlight of my visit was a wonderful day with my weaving teacher Wanya Twan. I drove over to Kaslo and spent the day talking non-stop reflecting on just about everything. It was inspiring - one of the reasons I am doing what I am doing is because of Wanya. Her teaching style is unique and beautifully traditional. Wanya has an aura about her that is healing as well as instructive. She is from Sweden and learned at the H.V. school and Lila Lundall was her teacher. I was fortunate to study with Lila as well in Stockholm. I had the opportunity to apprentice with Wanya, so I feel very fortunate to have had her as my foundation teacher. Cherryville was a place of such energy and creativity.
The day was so rich and full, that it is hard to explain. I can only say that it strengthened me in my focus and my goal to teach and share as much as I can with what I love best.

Lunch on the porch.....

I took pictures of weaving and other textiles and Wanya gave me this amazing felted piece that blows everyones minds....

Yes, it is wool, wet felted - it is hung now in the studio. Come and see it in person!

Kaslo is a lovely little town on Kootenay Lake, just 30 minutes from New Denver on a delightful road, saw a couple of bear and missed a moose by 5 minutes acccording to some tourists.

A lot of the houses are Victorian in Kaslo and Wanya was intrigued and delighted by some of the old wallpaper in her house - made of linen!

Yes, woven with rags.....

I have many more pictures and will post more later. One of my favourite pieces - a tapestry woven with rags that Wanya purchased in Sweden. I took tapestry weaving with Jane Kidd in 1972 (yes I know that is a long long time ago!) and I didn't have any money for supplies, so I decided I would just weave with rags. I have always been rather partial to rags and now I want to weave tapestry with rags - just something to do!

Dolls made by 7 and 8 year olds - aren't they delightful?

August was incredibly busy in the studio - I didn't take but two days off in three weeks. It was exhilarating and it was hard to stop. I had lots of kids for 'textile camp' and it was really fun.

Sophie's Story Pillow
a special pocket in the back for
a bedtime storybook

My grandson learning to weave!

Hailey's blanket with the source of inspiration,
The Crane's Wife. This blanket won first at the Cobble Hill Fair!

The kids were all felting as well, and a couple of the students are now making coffee cozies to sell in the Gallery. Another student also won a first at the fair for her needle felting, but I didn't take a picture yet - she is also selling it because she is saving for a sewing machine - I guess my teaching extends to entrepreneurship too!

Speaking of felting, here I am fulling with my feet. Thought I would try it and it worked to a certain extent! And it was fun.

And right next to my dye kitchen is a Cowichan carver currently working on a totem. The studio does not lack for creative energy. It is truly a small community of creative folk.

Herb Rice, Cowichan carver

The fibre fairs are just getting better and better. Fibrations, a new fleece and fibre show held in the St. Ann's Academy Orchard in Victoria, was fabulous. We had so much fun and we worked hard. The 'Shawnigan Girls', Devon, Sandy and myself were next to each other and we didn't stop the whole day. It was great and I am still getting calls from people that want to take classes. What a great great day. And so I think I will end. I have a busy day tomorrow in, where else? The Studio!

Complicated Simplicity

2011-07-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

Ocean Spray - we have some in out solar dye kitchen!

Lily's loom is now quiet - her wedding fabric is finished.

This is my second attempt at writing this blog - the first was inadvertantly posted by my dear husband after pointing out my obscure fragment thoughts and spelling mistakes......well, I deleted it and am beginning anew.
So complicated simplicity is my ramble for the last couple of weeks. There are so many beautiful simple weavings happening, but with some complicated twists. From a 3/1 straight twill in fine mercerized cotton from Peru and becoming a wedding dress, to a plain weave linen warp being woven with simple but a complicated pattern inlay. And then a little variation on plain weave called shadow weave, a colour and weave effect that although simple drives us crazy at times. So how to celebrate the complicated simplicity. For me I am always thinking in terms of layers - not so that there are layers such as double or quadruple weaving, which I am always facinated with, but with layers of colour, on top of layers of texture to the 'layered' weaving. That can be as simple as a straight twill threading interspersed with a variation of twill threaded in 'stripes' - so another layer appears as the weft changes in those stripes. And then the kicker - everyone is facinated by my 3/1 twill broken which ends up with two sides, a weft face and a warp face - which my Cherryville loom loves to weave - one of the most simple simple weaves, but often confuses even the more experienced weaver...........

Alberta is almost finished her 'simple' project that is quite simple, but time consuming and concentration is needed - the champagne is on ice as of this moment, there is about 3 inches left to do. There will be much celebration what with the HV project completed and the wedding dress of Lily's also done.

The shadow weave is deceptively complicated by its simplicity - two colours, two blocks, dark and light (the mohair loop is just a bit of a added layer. A blanket in wool and the weft is mohair. Ann and I have been weaving it and we blame our eyes which makes it more complicated!! We can hardly wait for the blankets to be fulled and brushed.........

And then a little technique that is very simple....

A simple way to tie the warp to the breast beam stick that takes less warp and less time than re-tying - seemingly complicated it is very quick - under 10 minutes, no fuss, no muss. Before cutting your finished project (towels in this case sold right off the loom), weave an inch or so, insert a strong stick or rod, weave another inch or so and then cut your finished project off, then lash the stick to the beam stick - continue to weave. There are other methods, but I haven't had any tension problems with this method - be brave.

The community rag rugs are very popular. I have my Diva Weavers who just want to weave and nothing more - a pleasure to have in the studio - never touched a loom and already two rag rugs each, a couple of handtowels and a shawl - and coming back for more. I plan on having tiaras ready for them - they love weaving.

A rag rug in progress - they really do look great and what a perfect recycling project. Now this is really simple and the only complication is choosing rags. The warps are bright and fun, so the success rate is 100%!! Everyone, whether new or experienced can come in and weave a rug in one day and experience the joy of creating in a working and teaching environment.

One of the many leaf prints made in the studio by my young students - another way of dyeing, hammering the leaf into cotton and a taste of spring is forever captured on cloth. It is good to dip the cloth in alum to fix it. This was just plain simple fun!

Now this is simple, something anyone can do - heal with textiles! I recently had surgery and had to spend time in the hospital which for me I had to psych myself up to going to the 'spa'! I had a lovely pedicure the day before, and brought my medicine bag, a picture of my girls, a picture of my wonderful Kootenay mountains, flowers from home (Treasure Trove roses), a linen tablecloth for my table, my knitting, paper,colours and my camera, a handwoven blanket especially made by my friend Ann and some great tea. I forgot my handwoven linen towel which bothered me no end! This is a simple way of healing which I learned when I had to spend time with my Mom in hospital. It sped the healing time up for her and accomplished some healing for those around us. It benefits all, for those who visit and are worried, your roommates and the lovely angel nurses. All I can say is that the Cowichan District Hospital is the best. Textiles make things so much easier.

And now I am on my way to have a little holiday before our new August expansion! Yes, another space to be added - we are very excited and we will now have a bigger retail space for all the lovely weaving and spinning that is being produced. Come for a visit and enjoy the courtyard at Whippletree.

The Slocan Valley - my solace

I leave you with a little picture of a wonderful woven Monk's Belt and Dukagang from Sweden that hangs in the studio - it is my favourite piece that I found in a little curio shop in Stockholm years ago. Alberta has been eyeing it and I may have to hide it!!! See you in August.

HO VAY!

2011-06-13T23:10:00.000-07:00

My tapestry bobbins work well in this weaving technique

The new greeting in the studio this past couple of weeks is Ho Vay! And it feels great to say it and it is also a wonderful technique that Alberta jumped into with an enthusiasm that has us all inspired and excited.....now a bit of background. The H.V. Technik is named after the handcraft school in Stockholm, Handarbetets Vanner - a school that I had the opportunity of attending during a personal weaving sabbatical. It is an inlay technique that piggy backs in the same shed as the tabby foundation or background shed - another name being a 'half tapestry'. Alberta was moved to weave using this finger manipulated weave, after seeing a vintage piece of weaving from Sweden that I was given years ago by my friend Ann, back from a yearly visit with her family in Sweden. Alberta is 'reflecting' the older piece with a newer one, using a linen warp (yes spray the warp with water as the linen delights in a moist atmosphere!) and her beautifully grown Shetland wool, hand grown, hand dyed in the fleece and then handspun......we all watch the progress with anticipation.

The new 'expansion' is keeping me busy and there has been a lot of weaving, spinning and other textile art happening in both studios. We are on our second community rag rug warp and we are setting up a community blanket warp and handtowel/runner warp. If you are interested in spending a day in a working studio and weaving, let me know. It is an inspiring and exciting place to be.

Jenna is weaving a rag rug and practicing her clasped weft weaving for a future project, although rugs are in the offing as well. Especially after we opened up an amazing box.........!

Gay, our Navajo Sheep Shepherdess, brought a few fleeces round in case were interested.........it literally was one of the most beautiful fleeces I have every seen and one of the biggest, a ram and as clean as can be. It literally was like a fleece of silver as it glinted in the sun - a truly spiritual moment somehow.
The dye kitchen is steaming almost every day! Our newly designed dyepot is here, with four compartments with separate spigots for draining - awesome!

My friend Heidi oversees my booth.....

And then we all drove up to the 100 Mile Fleece and Fibre Fair in Parksville/Coombs.... We had a great time, all of us and the reception from the organizers was beyond superb. It was so much fun. Thank you Women of the Fleece!

So there we all are from the Cowichan Valley, Leola's Studio had Eastwin Farm Mohair, Sandy with felted West Coast mammals and sheep, my Cowichan sister, Liz with her beautiful handspun, handknit wares, Becky with Shetland fleece, Jenna with Pacific Sun Alpacas, Jan and Meghan with beautiful Romney fleece from Dunedin Farm and Devon from Hummingbee Farm with alpaca and mohair - we were all within the 100 mile zone! The Loom was also there with equipment, book and hand dyed fleece.

So again we are always amazed by the connected threads that make up our daily lives and the generosity of opportunity we are presented. This past month, Lily, a student of mine came back from Peru where she was visiting family and brought back some very beautiful cotton. She booked in for a consult on her second project. A wedding dress! I believed she had mentioned it to me at one point, but I filed it away. So we planned it out and found that she might not have enough for both warp and weft. I said that I had a huge spool of fine cotton that someone had given me and it came from the Dominican Republic. Lily was overjoyed as that is where her future husband, Emerson and she met! So there was a little belt on a table loom in the same weight of cotton, so we re-sleyed it and everything was perfect. Now what loom......I had been rummaging around my old studio at home and discovered a loom that had belonged to Lily Bolin, a well known Victoria weaving teacher .......well yes, you can imagine the perfection of this tale. Peruvian Lily is small and so is this little loom - although 36 inches, it is just right for our Peruvian Lily - and it is already set up ready to go. Emerson has had to assist in making some extra pieces, but we are all loving this story and hopefully we will all get to go to the wedding - we all feel so involved with this story. It is 30 epi and a straight twill - Lily wants to weave it 3 against 1.The loom is an old Glimakra. Lily tied all new heddles for the project - what a weaver. Lily has gone from being a scientist to an artist and will be attending the Kootenay School of Fine Arts studing the fabric arts - wow!

Can you guess what this is?

This is an old metal ceiling tile I use as a lid for my dye pots - very rusted and paint peeled, but I had dumped out some dye and it settled into the pattern and well, it just has to go into the inspiration book - isn't it beautiful?

And last but not least - I have a hundred other things to write, but already this is too long. In the last blog, it was so long, one had to realize that there was a 'read more' sign at the end of the first couple of paragraphs in order to read the whole thing. So much happens in the studio, that I feel remiss in not telling you everything.

Again my young students give me great pleasure. I have a home school family that is delightful - ages 5, 7 and 12 and they are all weaving, sewing, and printing with natural plants. Brandon and Aiden's first weaving is great.

Other projects to have come off the looms

Sax Point Blankets by Jewel

And Mary's handtowels - a sampling

Until next time..........

EPI, LOL, PSSO, PPI, and other acronmyms that further tangle our minds!

2011-05-16T23:45:00.000-07:00

In this day of texting and abbreviated thinking, it leads me to a place of some comfort in some ways - I love my Iphone touch, it is handy, it is fun and efficient. I can be in the Loom and communicate with my students in the studio - epi? lol ttyl - basically, what's the sett laugh out loud, talk to you later....not really, but having my handheld computer phone allows me to be connected in yet another text-tile way. We have been 'texting' for years with our knitting patterns and the like - that really puts us ahead of the times! The only difference is that we basically were communicating with ourselves and our knitting needles - now the world is at our fingertips in yet another digital way - at least our fingers are active with communication of some kind I suppose.....my friend and I spent a morning laughing at the acronyms new and old and we agreed that SNAFU was one of our favourites - from the second world war I believe (situation normal all fouled up - although another word is used for fouled!!!! LOL!)

A spring collection of texture and colour to add to the bulging inspiraton book! Can you guess what they are?

So the month was full and inspiring - not a day goes by that I am not exhilerated beyond my wildest dreams (I am sure that there may be some eye rolling at this statement, but it is true, it really doesn't take much to excite me or give my brain yet another combination to think about, or a problem to solve - trouble shooting is one of my all time favourite excitements - how to best make something work.....). We had an exceptionally lovely warp come off the loom in the new studio - have I mentioned the new studio??? I will elaborate a little in a bit....but ah yes troubleshooting - it is my middle name and I love a challenge big and small. This one wasn't a mistake, but more of 'pushing light into dark'. A dark warp that needed some light without compromising the dark. That is when you manipulate the sley - don't you just love that - you could call it MTS! So one can add subtle stripes by adjusting the sleying of the reed and in this case added an undulation as well when using a lighter weft. The warp being black alpaca and a black handspun alpaca/wool blend. By reversing the twill threading on one third of the warp, it added yet another element to the piece giving yet another 'colour' - these subtle manipulations contribute to a more unique and as I call it layered design. Another great MTS will give you added width as well, if you somehow miscalculated which never ever happens to weavers!!!

The weft is Berroco Lustra that was overdyed from ivory to charcoal grey - the sheen is quite lovely.

The beautiful Shetland/alpaca blend was exceptional and the photo just doesn't do it justice - the first warp off in the new studio classroom.

And the next projects off were the rag rugs - the community rag rug warp is available to all - bring your rags and weave.....these are particularly beautiful.

The warp weaves to about 28 inches and we are allowing about 45 inches long for each. The warp is a cotton blend and threaded to a straight twill. Depending on your skill level, it should just take you a day to weave in a very magical and creative place.

I have been reminiscing quite a lot since the second studio has opened. When I learned to weave, I learned in a barn and was surrounded by other women all with the passion of learning something new and wonderful. The last few years I have been leading quite a solitary weaving life and it wasn't until opening the first half of my studio did I realize that it felt so much more 'right' to be in a group of women. Banff was the same - all day we would weave and breathe the world of weaving and only in the evenings did we chance that Mary wouldn't be by, and put some music on. Sweden was the same - no music. Cherryville was musical enough with horses poking their noses in, cats lying about, the goats checking in and folk singers often outside serenading us. Music is pretty important to me I have to say - and poetry. With my young students they will indulge me my Ting Tings, Lucinda Williams, Joni Mitchell and Christina Aguilara, but my 'older' students also have a liking for diverse music, so the mix is great... and the music of the looms is exceptional - there is nothing like the beat of a beater against a rag rug and the sigh of beat against a soft warp - never mind the creaking of each loom each a distinct sound of its own......ahhh, the magic of weaving lives together, eh? Speaking of reminiscing............I was telling my friend Ann about my pillowcase - which I hadn't seen for a couple of years and then found it on the ground outside my old Benz - my husband cleaning it out of old mildewed fabric etc........and there she was, lying on the ground stained and ripped........all 1700 threads - 64 epi, all 25 yards that I myself warped in the heat of the hot Okanagan summer, and threaded - the life of an apprentice...........but I lovingly washed her - my little pillowcase that I first slept on when on my honeymoon..............

The pillowcase is under the cat and a student's scarf. It was a cotton warp with a linen weft threaded in rosepath....

Yes, one needs their spectacles to see the count. I kind of want to do something like this again - wish my eyes were young! Perhaps another community project - anyone game?

And my new favourite poetry at the moment is an Interweave publication - the Very Stuff by Stephen Beal: Poems on color, thread, and the habits of women - does that not just pique your interest..... 3047 (a straw colour) is my current favourite:

This color is calling out to me.
It is calling, "Do not let me go unnoticed, unrecognized, unsung.
I am humble, I am useful,
....."I am of the stuff that helps you make it through:

and I just wonder if that is why I am weaving the above - just realized it now - natural and solar dyed ( bracken and St. John's Wart) Eastwin Farm mohair and a commercial silk and mohair and silk and linen blend - a 6 harness huck variation.

Which brings us back to the studio classroom. We now have a warp for rag rugs, a warp made for handtowels and/or a table runner (or whatever you wish to use the woven piece for) - we just have to get it on the loom. We are going to thread it to Ms and Os, so you can bring your own weft or use some of ours. The plan is to have a chenille warp for all your thrums, a twice woven rug warp, we have currently a double corduroy bath mitt warp (yes, double corduroy tested out as a 'towel' instead of a rug - have to keep pushing the boundaries) which is cottolin warp and suggesting a linen, tow or otherwise, hemp or combination. Most projects we book you in for the day. A formal announcement will be made as soon as I post this - just trying to get the last month straight and on here. So much has happened that I feel quite behind in communicating, but my goodness it has been busy.

And just to break up the monotony of my chatter, I thought I would add a little colour to the mix - what comes first the inspiration or the product? I often work backwards...actually more often than not.

Spinning at Providence was great both April and May - I still don't have the pictures from the last spin-in, so I will combine them here. I didn't spin yesterday, but managed to get some solar dyeing on the go for future dyeing - lichens. Thank you Sandy for taking the pictures. I think I need to put an album together as there are so many pictures to share.....and there were some new faces as well, all the way from Qualicum and Victoria and our wonderful Karen Miller who does so much for our island fibesters. I hope that she knows how grateful we are for her work. If you want to join her list, $2 buys you a Bradley Center membership and you can pay me at the studio if you like and I send your email on my
I-phone right away!!!

Our wool source for Providence

We had a great tour of the Loom Room where all the 'action' really happens - twice woven rugs using roving instead of chenille, a lap blanket with our spin-in handspun, rag rugs and all under the wonderful direction of our Betty. And Betty wove a wonderful upholstery for a collaborative chair project - the crystals were sparkling just like the mercerized cotton of the ripsmatta - beautiful.

And we cannot forget the
100 Mile Fiber Fair at the end of this month - how exciting it will be. It is the 29th of May and already there are 35 vendors. Quite a few of us will be attending. Ann and I are going crazy trying to get lots of her mohair blend wool dyed. We have rigged up a new system which we have been thinking about for about a year, and in 10 minutes and searching the junk drawer, we managed to get it done...we laughed and laughed at how skilled we really are, but sometimes we take longer to act upon the idea. It needs some tweaking so it will work even better - I am hoping for remote controls and all manner of no extra physical labour!

Our new system - SO much fun! Going into the dyebath......

What can I say - I am in heaven - this is just too much fun and we dyed the whole day long. We hope to have our dyed yarns available at the 100 Mile Fibre Fair on May 29th in Parksville at the Bradley Centre. Leola's Studio presents Eastwin Farm Mohair locally grown and dyed in the Cowichan Valley - how cool is that?

Just a little note regarding the picture at the very top of this blog. These are handtowels that my Shawnigan Lake School Textile Art students created - each student chose a colour, warped their stripe (in the half the threads, twice the length warping method HTTL (groan...had to somehow tie the beginning of the blog into this diatribe!) to get a mirror image), sleyed and threaded their stripes and we all took turns pulling the warp on..........everyone wove their towel with a different weft and voila! a beautiful array. This is a great group projects and great fun - it doesn't matter what colours you use - it is the wonderful collaborative and community project that everyone can enjoy.

And I think to end this endless chatter - photos of my students' work, in process, and finished. Please

e-mail or phone to reserve a space at the community looms, or if you wish to join us and rent a space in this special courtyard studio, let me know, we would love to have you.

Mary's design process and the warp - very strong and very beautiful

Jewel's Saxe Point Blanket warp - stunning!

Gabriel's first warp - a table runner - very beautiful and I happened to take a picture of this door and thought of her warp and also an idea for dyed yarn................

Mary's design process table runner and handtowel warp - I can hardly wait...

Alberta's project - 3 against 1 twill - reversible with Shetland handspun wool as the weft. The lovely 'roll' of the neckline is one of the reasons I love this pseudo satin weave as well as being reversible. This poncho/wrap/shawl has been baptized as the Leola Rap. An LR.!!!!This warp was very interesting in how it came to be - a lonnnnng story!

And my 'foody' picture. When Ann and I work together, we require good treats - Dutch apple pie and blood oranges on a lovely linen runner - this has to become a warp one day.

In a time warp...

2011-04-08T03:56:00.000-07:00

Driving the highway to the studio often leaves me in a 'time warp' - my brain is already working towards a creative project of some kind and sometimes when I tune into my direct surroundings I find I am literally trapped........case in point, the other morning after checking the state of the lovely willows that I gaze at waiting at the stop light, I continued on, passing Dougan's Lake checking to see if there were any swans and then I was trapped!!!! It could be that I was thinking in terms of neutral combinations for a warp, or it was an awareness 'thing' - I was trapped by grey - grey highway, all the cars around me were silver or grey, the median was dirty grey, the sky was grey. Hmmmmm, where will this take me I wonder....

Later........I saw a beautiful hawk today and last week I made a warp that is very neutral for me - I feel less trapped now, especially when I witnessed the hawk take flight...........

So, the month went by so very quickly and as usual lots of 'action', projects galore coming into the studio and going out of the studio. New spinners, new weavers, new knitters etc.

But the Unfinished Project Project was a success and now it is finished for this year.
We met in a lovely space in the courtyard at Whippletree Junction, to finish projects we started or start something new. There were a few things people could explore. Tamari balls and spinning for Providence were very popular. We had a silent auction and grab bags of yarn and the amount totaled about $1500 - all for Somenos Transition House. Every year we hope to make more for the cause, so mark your calendars for next February or March depending on the weather!

Tamari Balls

Belle is making signs for us - we pinned affirmations
on creativity around the room and Belle did too!

Little Miss Belle, my grandie, was the belle of the ball. A three-year-old that was completely at ease with the event and kept us all on track!

She also took a lot of pictures which were quite amazing of course as they were all at her level, so the perspective was quite interesting. Never underestimate a three-year-old's take on the situation. All-in-all, it was a lovely couple of days with many people coming and going.

Belle's photography

My husband took me out to Mill Bay Fish & Chips for dinner with gift certificates we bid on at the Silent Auction - a perfect way to end the day - I took a picture for the owner - who weaves beautifully and just bought her first loom! Michelle is the reason I have a teapot garden - she gifted me with a few teapots injured in her chippery - great for plants said she!!!! All history now. And everyone else seems to have foody pictures on their blog - so there. Now if I could only design a warp around the above.....hmmmm and mmmm.

Thank you all for attending and remember the studio is open all the time, so do keep dropping in - and of course there is much to see at The Loom - new wool coming in every day. There is a lot of weaving cottons, linens, bamboo, Tencel etc. now in the studio for your perusal!

A new yarn - linen and cotton lace weight - 400+ yards for $6.99!!!!!!

Attended a Jackson Browne concert - took me back, but what was wonderful I sat next to a knitter who brought her knitting with her - and me, I came without and kicked myself because we went early and I could have done a few rows as we waited for the show to begin - one must always bring knitting to while away sit down time.......

We had our second Spin In for Providence and we spun and chatted and spun and contemplated - it was great. Our next spin in is Monday April 11th - 10 until 2 - bring a lunch and spinning wheel. Wool and refreshments will be provided. Betty is the best hostess and the farm is a fabulous place to spin - just wait until it is warm enough to spin in the gardens - heaven!

I have uploaded my first video - Alberta spinning at Providence.

Our 'hardwork' for the day - wool and wool and alpaca blend

This was an interesting yarn. I spun an alpaca/wool blend z twist, and an s twist alpaca and then plied them together in an s twist and got this very elastic boucle - very cool

This is where the wool comes from - Providence breed!

I had yet another wonderful experience this past month. I attended the Ruth Anstey Memorial Lecture presented by the Victoria Weavers and Spinners Guild. Barbara Heller was the guest speaker and I must admit that is why I went. Barbara is a tapestry artist that has a studio on Granville Island for the past 30 plus years. She is internationally known and her work is superb. I first met her in Medicino at a Tapestry Symposium and was wowed by her weaving and then I had the pleasure of working with her and many other greats, on the Dr. Peter tapestry in Vancouver one summer. All I can say is wow - she is awesome.

It was a lovely evening and I was quite nostalgic. When I was a young weaver of 20 I came to Victoria and was welcomed into the guild and made a fuss over. Edith Niven, Ruth, Miss Marjorie E. Hill, Mickey Jossel, Jeanne Wallace and countless others that fed me, gave me materials to weave with (I was poor to say the least) and supported me in my quest for learning. I in turn helped anyone that needed a warp pulled on or threaded. I have a soft spot for the guild and am eternally grateful for those early days.

The studio has been busy with lots of students both young and 'up there' in age. A great bunch of weavers came through from Sooke which made my day - what a great group of women - thanks for making my day.

Some warps that are being woven in the studio - they never fail to amaze me with the thoughtfulness and 'stories' that they tell. My students inspire me every day and I am overwhelmed by the heartfelt beauty that they create. I am certainly blessed by the energy of my students and by the visitors I have come through my door. Thank you thank you thank you.....

This one has been on for a while but almost complete - 2/2 Broken

Undulating Twill

"On Alder Pond" - a facinating design story by my friend Kate. Handtowels like no other and I can hardly wait to see each one - the pond in all its different lights.

When all done, I may do a whole blog on this warp.

A little meet and separate with pretty ribbon

I have been dyeing both spun yarn and fleece - having a great time. This lot was dyed in the same dye bath in stages - mohair and wool blend and mohair fleece as well as nylon ribbon. Trying to get a 'fix' on a series....I loved the richness of the colours - and of course all of this had a story to begin. Michelle again actually. She needed a weft for her second blanket and we couldn't find anything in the goldy range.......of course I dyed seven skeins and it just didn't really look that great in her blanket. I threw in this big ball of commercial mohair into the dyepot and it was the winner. The mohair wool blend from Eastwin Farm is beautiful and I am knitting some socks with it - they look great.

I have been a little obsessed by the Cowichan River these days....I travel by it a couple of times a week and have taken many pictures of the colours of the river and of course the colours around it - I have no idea where this design idea is going, but I love the contemplation. My little still life above is a 'gathering' of objects that remind me of my small exploration. I encourage all of you to collect your ideas and enjoy the journey. It may not result in a project, but the process, the moving forward of your thoughts will result in something. Just remember that we have all these gifts surrounding us encouraging us to be inspired.

I love my young students - some are weaving, some are knitting and some are sewing. My first young student, Hannah is constantly drawing in her 'idea' book and coming up with awesome ideas. Her kite flowers that she designed and then transferred onto fabric embellishing with free motion embroidery has now become a quilt for her sister. We used these wonderful Pentel dye crayons that I just happened to pick up at Opus - my grandson and I had a great time there - it is almost as good as The Loom.......

I had quite a few weaving and spinning retreat participants come through this last weekend which was so much fun. My friends from Metchosin came through so happy and enthusiastic about their weekend in Nanaimo that it was quite infectious - although they make me happy every time they come through.....and their sheep sweaters were wonderful.....

Well I have saved the good stuff until last!!!!! Leola's Studio is expanding. I will be bringing you up-to-date with all the news as soon as we organize ourselves. But already looms are being loaded into the new space. So now there are two spaces, the original one and the new one around the corner where we had the Unfinished Project - guess the Unfinished Project matured into something else! There will be workshops, rent-a-loom, on going rag rug warp, and lots of ideas being generated daily by all my regular weaving friends. If you are interested or have suggestions or want to teach a workshop, let me know.

Thank you for your continued support. I am so happy to be doing what I am doing.

Design - As you like it....

2011-03-05T23:11:00.000-08:00

Set for As You Like It

Just something I need to share. During the Unfinished Project Project, a conversation I had with two wonderful women that came over from Salt Spring Island today, spurred me on to explaining a little bit about myself and how I design......design things other than weaving that is. It is due to weaving that I design.

One of the areas that I like to design for, is theatre. From King Lear, my first set, to Hedda Gabler, Ugly Man, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Oliver, Les Belle Soeurs, etc. Lots of wonderful plays that I had an opportunity to work on. When I design for theatre, I am basically designing a warp - I know no other way. The beauty of it is that you are often using up to 40 feet by 20 feet to design that 'warp'.

Each scene had different lighting which the director, lighting designer and I worked on for hours!

Since 1978 I have been involved in theatre. Finding fear being on the stage, in 1991 I decided I wanted to make the plays pretty, or some such thinking. My first set was spare and dark and I loved it - strangely enough I used mill felt - a textile used in the mill in Crofton and made a 'yurt' as we affectionately called it and we used it for some years. It is hard creative work and one works with not only the director, actors and the other technicians of production, one also works with friends. And this is largely why I am writing - one of my favourite co-designers recently passed away and I am incredibly sad. She was someone that understood the passion of amber lighting; understood the small details like my glueing small bits of mirror into a set piece to capture the light suggesting water droplets - a set piece that was on stage perhaps 3 minutes; understood the depth of the actors and using the exact colour that would enhance the emotion of the scene; she understood that I really really needed to paint the floor in perspective to add depth to a shallow stage of a set and it was the day before the dress - and all the set crew said it would take 6 hours to do - we did it in 2; she understood the shadows that added just one more layer to the landscape......

The mylar stips were about 4-5 feet wide and 12-15 feet high

The day continued in other conversations and oddly enough about theatre. My friend Barbara and I both agreed about the beauty of the set being changed and how some audience miss the subtle change of the set and oh the sigh of light changes. For me, and my theatre buddies will roll their eyes at this, I live for the pre-set, the holding of the breath, the last time you see the stage full of all that creative work but without the actors - the anticipation of things to come and the music score creeping up to welcome the unfolding story. My friend Sandy understood this.

The set at rest as is my friend Sandy

I will still seek your input my dear friend - I will listen to my heart full of all you have taught me. Thank you.

Houndstooth on the loose..........

2011-02-24T21:53:00.000-08:00

From one breed of sheep - wowzers!

It's happening - there's the tooth!!!!!

Houndstooth on the loose - before fulling

It seems to me that there are just an amazing amount of fabulous warps out there - my students' work not withstanding, everywhere I look there is a beautiful warp, albeit not warped yet, but wherever my eyes roam I cannot help but notice a new 'landscape' to explore in colour and texture. My friend Alberta is one of those that has her natural environment speak to her - her wonderful Shetland sheep, (which I am sure that you have heard me speak of before), just seem to have an ability to present us with an array of colour and texture in the most natural of forms.

Vintage Cowichan

The Cowichan knitters were introduced to another world of fibre from a woman from the Shetland Islands - their wonderful Cowichan symbols were soon translated into beautiful knitted sweaters. The image on the right is a sweater that is quite vintage Cowichan. Interesting that the colours are similar to Shetland wool, but I am to understand that there weren't any Shetland sheep at that time in this valley.....wouldn't that have been a wonderful full circle! Might I add that the above houndstooth is all handspun warp and weft that my dear dear Alberta spun from her exquisite sheep. I am in awe...............

Isn't she the most beautiful sheep you have ever seen?

We are getting ready for the Unfinished Project Project - the 2nd annual. Saturday March 5th & Sunday March 6th from 10 - 3 in the courtyard at Whippletree Junction. My landlady has generously given us the use of an empty storefront, so it will be closer to the studio and The Loom which will have 10% off all regularly priced yarn for the day! So come and bring your projects to work on or trade, bring a mug and your lunch, and a few $ for the silent auction (some really neat things have been donated), and of course your enthusiasm for all things fibreous. All proceeds go to the Somenos Transition House, a safe haven for women and children that are abused or threatened with abuse. Also we will have some Providence wool for those who would like to spin for Providence and missed the first Spin In @ Providence. (The next Spin In @ Providence will be March 14th - bring a lunch and your spinning wheel 10-2). We did change the date of the Unfinished Project Project due to the uncertainty of the weather - it is supposed to snow this weekend which was the original date for the event. Hope we haven't inconvienienced anyone.

I had a birthday this month and as a treat to myself I took a basket weaving workshop with Kathryn Dice offered by the Qualicum Weavers' Guild - it was wonderful. It was held in the Guild's meeting place which is an old train station - very charming and welcoming. Thank you so much for opening up the class - it was great. Of course I wanted to make a hat.............

lovely, lovely cedar

I keep meaning to mention my Textile Arts program that I teach at Shawnigan Lake School....I have been teaching there for about 23 years and have taught many students, weaving, knitting, quilting, surface design, dyeing etc. I have had many studios on campus and I am finally in a 'new' one and although I have been there since the beginning of the school year, I am still in a muddle. I am not one for making order, except in my artistic endeavours and teaching! But, what is wonderful, is that we actually have a sign on the studio! This year, we are trying to use as much recycled materials as possible - woven rag rugs, wool that has been sitting around forever and the students have been great at using what we have - although we will never run out. One of my students has woven fabric for a backpack using plastic bags for weft.

Herringbone

The warp was made with anything she could get her hands on and she went to town with colour. This student is from Macau and is graduating this year and going i to be a doctor. She has made amazing projects for the last three years and I cannot tell you how much I will miss her when she leaves.

Spin In!! at Providence Farm

Apparently the 'p' fell off of the sign at one point, so we had a good laugh about that! Sinning spinners....there is a certain decadence about spinning I have to admit....

Valentine's Day brought about this wonderful heartfelt day of spinning at Providence Farm on Tzouhalem Road in Duncan. The Tzouhalem Weaver's and Spinner's Guild used to meet there many years ago and it is a wonderful place to see if you haven't already. The intention is to have a Spin In every month. The next Spin In is on March 14th. Betty has started a Textile Program there and the participants will use the spun wool and alpaca for weaving, knitting and crocheting. The participants have diverse abilities and will love the process of expression through textiles. I have the pleasure of being a consultant which gives me the chance to be a part of the process - what a gift to have been given. Thank you Betty.

The spun wool - we had 12 spinners and a lot of wool and alpaca to spin - all wool was grown on the farm.

Betty proves to be a natural spinner under the tutelage of Alberta.
Alberta is my favourite shepherd and has the Shetlands.....

Well I haven't managed to mention all that has happened in the last weeks - my young students that come every week are producing some amazing projects - such weavers, sewers, knitters and felters and I will have to do a special blog just on them, my wonderful women friends that come every Sunday for the knitting and spinning day or they just come and be.

My weekly sojourn at the farm.....................

And then of course my weekly sojourn to my friend Ann's studio - my time to be inspired, my time to contemplate and talk weaving into the night and then again first thing in the morning - what better time spent. Ann is off riding a horse for a month - a bit beyond my comprehension but I am learning more and more about the challenge of it. All I know is that I will have to wait for a month and think of all kinds of things to do when she gets back. So some pictures of last week's study. The above chocolate brown warp is a wonderful blanket on eight shafts - our favourite twill - Eastwin mohair hand dyed both warp and weft with wonderful subtle unintentional shades. And then a collection of beautifully dyed mohair locks on their way to Switzerland and a whole swack of mohair/wool lopi like for a local school. Ann is a crackerjack dyer and it is so much fun to dye with her.

We have put on a twice woven rug to use up her handwoven chenille and it is on the way too - I got to spend time underneath the loom and for some reason it felt right tying up the cords - a Swedish loom and I go way back to apprenticeship days where I swear I spent a whole hot summer underneath a loom - the only catch this time was, is that I had a big old black Labrador keeping me company!

Chenille

Ann brought out all kinds of handwoven linen towels that she brought back from her home in Sweden - heirloom pieces from her family. She gifted a couple of them to me which I will cherish forever. Ann's towel is the upper right hand, either done in one of my classes or most probably Cherryville. I love towels.

Enough for now - I will add some pictures of the Friesien sheep and the part Barbadoes sheep. The Friesien sheep have strange tails - no docked tails for these guys. Very pretty faces. I saw some St. Croix sheep today - they are lovely too, but the fleece isn't fleece - apparently the fleece falls out. It was like patting dog. Unfortunately they were on their way to auction - a whole family and my heart was heavy. I did take pictures of the beauties but will add them later.

Friedal

A Friesien sheep

In the pink.....

2011-02-11T04:21:00.000-08:00

Afternoon in the studio...

Pink epitomizes the pinnacle of quality, according to the http://www.phrase.org/ - Elizabeth I admired the variety of dianthus flower as we now know as 'pinks' where the idea of excellence comes in. Whether the colour pink came first or the flower can be argued, but the verb is rather interesting, and being all things to me are wrapped around textiles - the verb pink, means to cut or pierce - the edges of the flowers look to be 'pinked' - voila - pinking shears!

I have a fondness for pinks - my grandmother's garden had a mass of them, but it was the smell that swept me away. My first bouquet from my husband was a posy of pinks.......however, I love tulips as well and today this is what swept me away. That and pink of course - it is just that time of year I guess. And it is quite a wonderful colour I must say - I am quite tickled pink to be celebrating the colour.

The dressed window at The Loom - advertising the Spin In! at Providence Farm this Monday - which just happens to be Valentine's Day. 10-2

Come and spin wool for the new Textile Program at Providence using the farm's wool. Lunch and wool will be provided. Bring your spinning wheels and spin to your heart's content.

Now what else has been happening at the studio these days. I can see why people write regularly on their blogs, as it is hard to keep up with all the goings on. It is my students that are working the hardest these days. I know I am teaching, but what they are producing is nothing short of wonderful. Michelle is working on a blanket that is so rich that it

is almost hard to be near it! There are these little sequins that wink at me when the light is right - wool, rayon, and our new favourite yarn Berroco Lustra.........

The blanket is threaded to a goose-eye block - very electric!

One of the other fabulous students, Alison, wove her first scarves with beautiful Sublime and Little Flowers, Lustra and Mochi Plus. When I think of the fibres we had 35 years ago, so limiting that you had to spin for interest. Now with knitting being so popular, the fibres available are amazing. We are so lucky to have such a variety. Speaking of fibres - the studio is now carrying a line of linen - we have a distributer right in the Cowichan Valley.
Alison is now on her second warp for handtowels ready to weave her twill sample - a variation on each towel.

My best weaving friend Ann and I had a draw down night a couple of weeks ago, both hand and PCW - we had a great time, but one of the best parts of the night was this wonderful book on stripes which I will make sure I include the title in the next blog. I cannot remember the name of the author and I would like to quote some of the content - it is sure to make you look at stripes a different way. If I can figure out how to edit in after posting, I will edit it when I get to the studio. I used her 'harmonies' of stripes as an example of designing stripes with Alison and Kate (who hates stripes) - and the 'striping' they are getting up to is awesome.

And then my dear student Nadine....she has the ability to make things happen when they are supposed to - all the planets are aligned in the right order and the energy around her just makes things happen. Nadine had a warp on for some time to do cushion covers for her dining room chairs - a bold red and brown warp, with this electric blue thread running at regular intervals........but it just stalled. Along came Nadine and along came Gaye from the Loom with this wonderful sari strips all sewn together and wow - chair covers woven in no time flat and

they are fabulous. I look forward to seeing them on the chairs in her beautiful home.

I have so much more to write, but I am saving some for the next blog which I hope to do soon - my favourite Shetland wool will be celebrated with Alberta's most wonderful warp - stay tuned.

And I leave you with Gabriele's stripes - pre-stripe book - she has the stripes down - lovely Super 10 and a hint of cotton boucle....it will be a beautiful runner - perhaps the weft will be linen....

And don't forget to put the Unfinished Project Project on your calendar. February 26th and 27th at Whippletree Junction in the courtyard, 10-3.........bring your mug, lunch, projects, yarn exchange etc. etc.

email if you have questions or phone the Loom.

Happy New Year! Images from 2010 not yet posted

2011-01-03T23:40:00.000-08:00

I just found some photos that I meant to post throughout the summer and fall, but was too busy to do so. The above photo is so pretty, and although out of season, I was drawn to the colours. The yarn is all from Eastwin Farm - my friend Ann's mohair which I love - I used to also have mohair goats and I have a soft spot for mohair because of it. The white skein is the original of the solar dyed yarn that it nests on. What rose is that? It could be Mary Rose, Constance Spry or English Garden - probably English Garden. I am still enjoying these skeins and have something in mind, but have yet to get to it.

Cochineal dyeing was another whim my daughter and I had this past summer, which was really fun - but our favourite was hydrangea blooms - a lovely green. I have had second thoughts about dyeing with cochineal - something like 5000 pounds of the bugs are imported from South America a year - I really wonder if this is a good idea....would love to hear some comments on this.

The darlings of Eastwin Farm - aren't they so beautiful? I have to say, they are my favourite fleece animal. They have such dignity. My friend Sandy makes the most amazing little needlefelted goats that capture their sweetness - she also makes wonderful alpacas, sheep (Shetland, Churro, Romneys...). I remember reading in my old goat husbandry book that mohair could protect you from nuclear fall out!!!!

And a beautiful Queen Anne's Lace which is one of my favourite natural dyes - with just a handful of pennies to bring out that lovely green.

Gates, windows, doors - I love the symbolism of which they portray......Eastwin Farm again......

speaking of churro sheep...

During my days in the studio or working at The Loom, I am often visited by shepherds, especially my favourite shepherd, as I call him, my own personal shepherd - he brings gifts to me, like a truck load of Churro sheep, the Navajo rug sheep - my goodness they are lovely and the fleece colours are remarkable. I have quite a lot now, and although it is long and seemingly soft, it spins up coarse - a rug one day I am hoping. The history of these sheep leave me in awe...spinning this fibre connects me to the past.

Ann and I love to 'talk' weaving and pushing the structures into different perspective - don't know how to explain it, but between us we have about 75 years of weaving experience. We have both done sampling until we look like those samples - great little squares of weaving. And if you have studied in Banff, we all have those green binders full of samples that dear Mary Snyder made us mount and of course in the days that I was there, there were no computers, just hand written and well, some of the samples are pretty ugly.........when I teach, I encourage my students to sample, but the samples are project based. So Ann and I wanted to push the envelope around corduroy - instead of rug weaving, we were heading for towels............using cottolin and and linen naturally - our favourite fibre after mohair....this is my sample - when we were 'sampling', everything around us took on the look of corduroy - Ann phoned me on her way home one day to tell me that she was passing the vineyards and they looked like corduroy - we were obsessed - what better thing to be obsessed about, eh? I challenge all of you to take your samples and mount your favourites. I mounted the vineyards onto a painted canvas - used french knots to attach the little piece and the sample is there, a pretty little piece mounted - some of the corduroy is cut and some not. By the by, we made some face mitts, washed and dried and they are very soft and held up well. Now the next little 'sample' I am still working on after making a few scarves, is just a 6 shaft basket weave, but my sample is yet to be woven - I want to use text as the weft and just haven't figured out what to use - lots of ideas, just have to step into it - crossword puzzles are part of it though. It was an interesting little bit of weaving - used alpaca and silk and alpaca blend with a little ladder yarn and then Mini Mochi as the weft - the blend was quite lovely - sold in a heartbeat of course - hadn't had quite enough of it.

Anyway, it is time to end - I have lots of pictures of the last few months, but I will add them to the next blog - which should be soon, due to the sale at the Loom. I will endeavour to bring everyone up-to-date. Spring is on the way, it is getting lighter every day. Still have bulbs to plant, however!

Comfortable in Contradiction: Ode to materialism

2010-12-02T18:51:00.000-08:00

www.leolasstudio.blogspot.com

Open House at Leola's Studio

2010-11-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

This weekend, we are having an Open House. Come and join us or have breakfast at Pioneer House, stop for a bit of fudge at Beaver House Fudge (yum - they have the best Fudge Twizzlers...) and then have a coffee at Black Coffee and check out the paintings by Theresa Shand and some textile pieces by me, check out the yarn at The Loom, collectibles at Abby Gabby, consignment clothing at Gigi & Lulu's, the wonderful furniture, antiques and thrift store.........AND, Leola's Studio!!!!! where we will also have refreshments. Maybe Whip Whip Whippy the cat will be there and Bun Bun the rabbit! They appear when least expected, but do keep an eye out for them in the parking areas!

I will try to post a little more after this weekend, it has just been so very busy - lots of new ideas coming in all the time and many a wonderful student, learning about the fabulous world of textiles.

Craft fair-itis!!!

2010-11-16T20:31:00.000-08:00

Well it is that time of the year when one must be prepared to assist in the Christmas madness - at the studio we are just mad! Lots of activity, what with students wanting to learn how to weave and make a couple of projects for gifts, getting ready for craft fairs, packing up, setting up, packing up, and setting up - such joy there is in taking the studio out into the world - and the feedback we get is fantastic, so it is worth the extra work I suppose, but mostly I just want to be in the studio to create, explore, teach and share the world of textiles - that is my joy. Thank you all for contributing to that joy - without you it wouldn't be as exciting and fun.

The Fleece and Fibre Show was fabulous and thanks to Annie and her committee, it was a success. We did have fun and I met so many people - thanks everyone for being so supportive and encouraging. I met with the committee for next year and I am very excited - more on that when we have information - just be sure that it will be great and inspirational.

There has been so much happening that I can hardly think of what went on. Suffice it to say, that a lot of creating has happened - we have new spinners and weavers in our midst and the world is richer for it. Watch out weaver's guilds, as you will soon have new members. Oh, on that note there is a Tzouhalem Weaver's Guild Show and Sale in Mill Bay until December something

Fall Ahead!

2010-10-18T21:48:00.000-07:00

Fleece & Fibre Fair

Saturday October 23rd

10 - 4

Island Savings Centre

Duncan

Before I forge ahead, I want to remind all of you about the Fleece and Fibre Fair in Duncan this coming Saturday October 23rd at the Island Savings Centre - 10 - 4. See you there!!!

My friend Annie has done a superb job in organizing it and I saw her today in all her finery looking so very glamourous. Thank you so much for all the work you have done, I can hardly wait for Saturday - wish I were more ready!!!

It has been some months since I have written - not because I didn't want to, but because I have a difficult time finding time to do so. I was told recently that I should write something every week, but I can't work it in in my style of communication I guess. I value those blogs that are always updating - it is so interesting to read other's adventures but I cannot always read every blog either.

So I will try to keep this under 3000 words! Lots of pictures and how much time I have - my man towels are waiting to be hemmed!

The summer included lots of great discussion - one being the tea towel debate....having only sold traditional hand towels, I was surprised at what other weavers were selling their beautiful tea towels for. Poor Daphne and Karen had to listen to my diatribe for some time about the value of the weaver and the fibres and the structure and the length of time that they last whether cotton or linen etc. etc. So I held my ground and have sold all my hand towels for what I asked - weavers, you are skilled whether it be a tea towel or a scarf, towels should not go for less than they are worth - and they are a thing of beauty - a small art piece that women and men can use every day in a functional way - ahhh, such pleasure. Enough said.

The resident cat, Whippy, was scarce through the summer, along with Bun Bun the one-eyed

rabbit. However, they would appear when most of the tourists had gone for the day or early in the morning. I planted catnip in the spring for the cat, but it wasn't until this one day he finally found it and plopped himself next to for the whole afternoon, next to the cat teapot planted by Annie..........oh Whippy, you are a silly cat and so loved.

One of the best things I have had happen, is to have this wonderful young woman drop into the courtyard garden - Taryn, my new apprentice. Hardworking and a total joy to have in the studio, she is so very enthusiastic in learning anything and everything to do with textiles, especially weaving. Her very first warp was wonderful, she wove her first blanket in pink and the second blanket in natural colours and just recently purchased by a First Nations woman to wear in the Big House - now that is an honour.

This summer also presented me with a woman who is making a Leola's Studio adjustable weaving bench made from sustainable wood from the Cowichan Valley. It is a reasonable price and they are lovely. I will be bringing a couple to the Fleece and Fibre Fair this weekend - hey I will have a booth there too - I hope to see you there.

I have a few things to do before tomorrow morning so I am going to end here for now and continue after the Fleece and Fibre Fair. Leola's Studio has been open now for one year and we hope to have a little gathering open house near the end of November to celebrate the year and to have a Christmas show and sale as well - but more on that later. Hope to see you this Saturday! If you are interested in classes, let me know and we are still meeting on Sundays for knitting and spinning or crocheting or just come and have a chat.

Sundays at the Studio

2010-08-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

I have the good fortune of having a lovely and lively group of women that meet on Sunday to knit and spin and 'yarn' about anything and everything - and learning something new every time. I invite you to come and enjoy the fabulous women (so far no men, although the travellers that pass through have many comments!). We usually begin around 10 and stay until we tire. I pick up my Cowichan Knitting Sisters, and then the day begins.....

Now what have I been doing this month? - a month of plenty and some changes also. My studio is expanding!!!! Well, a little room is all, but what a difference it will make - but renos are a big upheaval and so far I have been patient, but I am getting antsy. The reno, the heat and the many tourists that have come by, have made the studio exceptionally busy. However, it will be great to have all the floor looms (except my Cherryville loom, as she needs to be the centre of attraction - she's my best friend in all the world and we have been together since I was 16...) in one room, the student table looms will be in the entrance and near the best light, the warping area will be in the floor loom area as well. And the little sewing room is in the new part - a very small space, but it works.

The teapot garden is growing more teapots! One week, there were seven new ones and even today I noticed a couple of new ones. Thank you to all that may have 'planted' one. Yesterday a family of ladybugs moved in....

August has been a continuation of dyeing. My friend Ann and I have gone just a little crazy since our cotton dyeing escapades, which we continue as we design double corduroy and discuss the 'king's road' in great detail and the whys of pile and shag rugs and how they might translate to other functions and uses. It seems we have gone more crazy with this but we are having a heck of a good time and I have to blame her for sleepless nights - it is just too stimulating.
We dyed a lot of wool, but we started dyeing these wonderful blankets that Ann gets woven in PEI from her mohair.........although we have only technically dyed three blankets, we have already prepared and designed about 50 more! Horse troughs and block and tackle are some of the future ways of assisting us in our elaborate designs. For the most part, we had a wonderful time and our artistic needs were being met.

These goats are the inspiration and their mohair provides many a spinner, weaver and knitter quality fibre to create beautiful projects. I miss having mohair goats - I still have fibre from them, but they have since passed on and I am fortunate to have Ann's goats to fill that emptiness. Aren't they so pretty? Oh yes, the blankets......well, when these blankets are wet and hot, they are heavy and uncomfortable to move around, so we had great fun dealing with this, and Binder Bob the dog, didn't help much either - he moved too close to the burners and singed his hair and continued to 'help' us throughout the day - we kept putting him outside, but forgetting there was another door open and getting back to dyeing these heavy blankets and there he was again. Gave us yet another laugh though.

We likened the blankets to Tony Onley landscapes - please forgive us for this, but there are shadows where we would dip the blanket in a little more, a little more and so forth, that would then give us all these hills and valleys - and you just have to have been there I think - we weren't sure that they were really weird or really beautiful - it is quite wonderful to work big though....

We managed to fit in some time to pick some transparent apples, the whole time planning the next project, the next dyeing binge, and the next weaving exploration. We met again to put a warp on and when we realized the extent of this one small technique - and the endless possibilities, we were like two children just discovering Christmas or something - luckily there were no witnesses to our dancing and screaming outside the studio - or maybe it would have been a great thing to see!

I had brought some apples to a regular Whippletree friend who told me all about the blackberry/apple pies she was making but had no more apples................well, the next day I received a pie which I shared with Ann - have you ever cut a pie in half with a pair of scissors?? It works like a hot damn.

I am also teaching younger textile students and my youngest, Hannah came for a class after holidaying, and made a great bag that was a felted wool sweater and needlefelted it with polky dots....we had a lovely afternoon together creating and also planning the many things one could make with a shrunken sweater. Never, ever, throw out a shrunken sweater!!!

One the most important part of August is the big sale at THE LOOM!!!! 20% off all regularly priced knitting yarns.......lots of beautiful fibres. It is not too late to get more for your stash collection if you can't decide what you need! Karen and I put a display in the window of all the new beautiful cottons, linens and cottolins available too - although not on sale, there are some lovely new colours. There is some new Fleece Artist spinning braids just in too, although I have one student, not to be named of course, that seems to be able to smell the new Fleece Artist fleece!!!!

Well, I think that is about it, there is so much that happens on a daily basis at the Studio, that I can't get it down - the conversations and the connections that happen surely would blow anyone's mind is about how I can only describe my daily life - everyone contributes to the creativity of the universe and I am so very grateful that I can be a part of that. The generosity that abounds is most amazing. Thank you all for being a part of it. I leave you with the latest solar dyeing - tansy and queen Anne's Lace. I put a pinch of iron in the tansy and the jar of liquid turned it squid inky and the queen Anne's lace is light celery green. It has pennies, but I think I will put a pinch of copper in with it to give a better mordant............has anyone heard of the pennies and ammonia method? Hope to see you soon.

July is almost over and it has been so full!

2010-07-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that this month is almost over and I have so much to share and so much to do - yikes!!! I will try to bring the last two weeks up to date - I believe solar dyeing and spinning were my topics. The wool was dyed and the colours are very subtle, but next to the original colour (I used Eastwin Farm mohair/wool), they were quite striking. The surprise colour was bracken fern - there is almost a mauve-y pink tinge to it. I didn't use very much and feel if I cooked the normal way, the colours may have been darker.

The market continued until this last week when we decided to stop and wait until next year and hopefully begin with a bigger vendor base. It was magical while it lasted and I really do think that it will be successful. We will work through the year to make sure of that. There were so many great positive comments and that will inspire us to work towards a great market for 2011. Thank you all for participating and supporting all of the vendors and enjoying the 'hidden jewel' of the courtyard. We will still continue to meet in front of Leola's Studio to knit and spin and whatever you would like to do, on Sundays. My Cowichan Knitting Sisters will be there too.

The Studio continues to be very busy and full of stimulating conversation and creative people. My friend Karen brought in some beautiful boas that seem to be quite popular already.

The wrap that it is resting on is woven with a cotton warp and the weft is Merino Stripes, one of my favourite wefts - Annie helped me weave it and it is quite a classy little piece, if I don't say so myself! Sure does look pretty with the boa, but the boa sold of course! The boas have gone to Kelowna and one to Newfoundland. I love the image of beautiful fibres travelling throughout the world.

Dyeing seems to be the July activity. My friend Ann came to the studio with a project that we felt we needed to do as we had been talking about it for months - cotton dyeing. I had my wonderful young Chloe (mommy to the beautiful sweet sheep that came visiting a week or so ago!), who tie dyed while we made skein after skein of cotton, linen, cotton chenille and cotton bias tape - which was gorgeous and oh yes, a small ikat warp (another resist method, the warp tied with plastic strips to resist the dye, then when warped on the loom these resisted areas will form a pattern - a pattern we worked on for hours - not!!

We stirred and tied throughout the day, and a young woman from Courtenay way dropped in to bring a book back about resist dyeing etc., and joined in the fun, so she went away with a bit of fabric tie dyed. One has to wait with tie dye for the colour to cure - so I didn't get to see how they looked. We did the ikat the discharge method as well.

The warping mill in action - I can hardly wait to see the warp - Ann took all the dyeing home to warp - so I have to wait. She is very busy too, so I will be patient, but maybe I will phone......the ikat will have cured by now. Our favourite colour was the ecru and lemon yellow together. We are using Procion MX dyes that are amazing in their intensity and I usually get them from Maiwa in Vancouver.

The ikat we made just a little darker, so one part more of ecru. The other colour was aquamarine and the last dye was 2 parts olive green and one of lemon yellow.

The finished 'nests' - I am so excited. It was so much fun and we were quite tired from the stimulation - the more we saw the fibre changing and becoming new fibre, the more we drooled and dreamt of all the things we could do.

So I thought Friday was stimulating...........the next day, whilst working at the Loom with Karen, our order that she and I worked hard on a week or so ago, came in. Gaye with her new hip drove to the store, picked me up and drove to the post office where we picked up the order, dashed back to the Loom and then Karen and I took it out back to the Studio and began to sort and more drooling ocurred...........cottons, linens, cottolin, hemp ..... what can I say?
And so some tea towels waiting for sister tea towels to be woven with the new beautiful colours.

So now we have dreams of tea towels , and sauna towels and runners and lovely shawls mixed maybe with some mohair or cashmere. Yes we fibre addicts can dream about tea towels - such a satisfying project, and especially if they are woven with some linen, they are pretty much guaranteed to last 100 years......

I love Lucy!!

2010-07-14T22:22:00.001-07:00

It has been some time since I wrote only because I have been so busy - and I am having a wonderful time being busy I must say. I will try to bring my blog up-to-date, so it may be somewhat longwinded.
I have been doing a fair amount of spinning and teaching spinning. The fleece I have been spinning most recently is Shetland and I am in love with Lucy's fleece. My friend Alberta, one of the best shepherds I know, has wonderful sheep with wonderful fleece. I have been spinning in the grease and it is like one long staple - it just doesn't end.

I plied it into a boucle and it looks very pretty - stockpiling for a future project. I have been combing different fibres together and getting some interesting yarns - will have to take some pictures.....

Then of course I have been talking about doing some natural dyeing, so I thought I had better stop talking about it and do it.....so solar dyeing came to mind, much like sun tea. I used to do it many many years ago, so now in the day where everything seems to be eco minded, I thought it would be fun. I picked St. John's Wort, bracken fern, yellow dock and sow thistle and put them in jars with water and let the sun do its work.
Ever the educator, I labeled and put examples of the plants next to the jars. I left them for about 5 days and then yesterday strained and put back into the jars along with some mohair/wool from Eastwin Farm. I used alum for them all and put some pennies into the dock and wort....they are quite beautiful already - lovely shades of green.

St. John's Wort - it looks yellow but it is quite green unless it changes tomorrow!!!

And Yellow Dock - which is my favourite - a lovely celery green. A fellow spinner came by and told me about buddlia being a great dyeing plant - so save your spent blooms for me!
Then there are marigolds, coreopsis, St. Anne's Lace, tansy, goldenrod, and on and on, never mind all the seaweeds and lichens - it is never ending and I want to dye it all. I have to look for my copy of natural dyeing by Jane Patrick - a very old publication that I contributed to, and it was full of different dyeplants that were tested for light and colourfastness.

Every day is rich with activity at the Studio and I meet many extraordinary people. Well I also meet other 'people'. I had a student of mine come by The Loom where I was working today and said she had to show me something...................

Yes, a couple of very pretty sheep came to visit - Clune Forest lambs all groomed and behaved as they had been at a 4H workshop for showing sheep. I did keep an eye on my roses that Karen gave me.....

One of the wonderful parts of my daily life at Whippletree is having coffee and goodies from Black Coffee - the best coffee on the island. And their soups are wonderful. My camera is always at the ready and I couldn't resist taking the following picture - Creamy carrot soup in the courtyard - nothing better under the cedar trees where so much happens on a daily basis - whether it be my Cowichan knitting sisters knitting on a Sunday, cool on a hot day because of the trees, to my spinning classes spinning in the rain but very dry under these dear cedars.

Market at Whippletree!

2010-06-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

Just a little reminder about the market at Whippletree - we have started and our third one is on this Sunday - we hope it will grow and become the place to get fresh veg and the best art and crafts in the valley. We are still small, but the vendors that come love it. The courtyard lends itself to this kind of market - music and belly dancers too! If you have something to sell, or would like to entertain, please email: marketatwhippletree@gmail.com

I will write later and put a picture on of the market.

Studio work and other textile joy

2010-05-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

I have been trying so hard to get to this blog, but I have been busy getting ready for the Baby Fair with Oma Gosh! Designs, so soon that will be finished with for a few months before the next one. And then we have the Market @ Whippletree Junction starting on the 13th, with the day before being the World Wide Knit Public Day all in the courtyard outside my studio! Lucky me - I am very excited. This photo is of a little poncho I am making today using Mochi Plus - a favourite yarn that has lovely repeats to it. Just imagine a little one with a colourful poncho on. I have made a few in the cream and pastel colours, but felt that colour was in order!

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of taking a spinning workshop with Anne Field from New Zealand - what great fun that was. It was all about exotic fibres and although I was nervous, I was able to manage very nicely and everyone was lovely and welcoming. Lucky me. I took a picture of my spinning wheel (a Schacht) - isn't she pretty and riding on a ferry!!!!

So now I am dyeing and spinning and picking and carding, and fleeces keep coming my way - so much wool and so little time to enjoy it. I was trying to spin at least 2 hours a day, but somehow I am doing about 2 hours a week. Expectations can be so high. Anyway, I am loving what I am doing and just wish I could do more.

2010-05-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Tartans

I have just visited an amazing website http://www.stonearabie.com/ for those of you that are facinated by the tartan. This man apparently has been weaving for only a few years and he is a genius. For me tartans have been too slow and too precise for my patience level, but I have been inspired to look into it again. One of my students is really crazy for them, so I put her on to this website so she can drool. Whenever I have done a tartan, I, of course would put crazy colours and threads together to maintain my interest - always breaking the rules! The tartan I have pasted in was the one I did for my mother-in-law many years ago - and I set it up correctly but I used shiny reds and greens and a boucle white. It was fun and fanciful rather than a 'true' tartan. I wish I had the stole that I wove for her - it would be interesting to see again.

The studio has been very busy with students, Oma Gosh! Designs and selling used weaving and spinning equipment. I love being in my space and sharing what knowledge I have and hope that I can be as inspiring as Tartan John.

2010-05-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

Imagine a day...

Imagine a day....
...when the peace of a forest
and the strength of a mountain
become a cathedral
for your heart...

This day has been filled with such energy that I am exhausted by it. And it is all extraordinarily good filled with generosity, goodwill, kindness and creativity. There are very good people in the world and I just happen to know some of them.

Spinning and memories

2010-05-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

I was thinking today about how I have been spinning and being in the zen zone - lots of memories coming back. This spindle whorl appeared while I was looking for something else which was odd, as I had been thinking about Simon Charlie ( I believe I took a picture at the museum in Duncan (I'm not sure where I got this photo) and I believe it is Simon Charlie's...anyway...) I was thinking while spinning, about my Cowichan princess daughters and our visit with Charlie in his carving studio which is just down the hill from my studio. The girls really were humbled by this great man and I was glad that they had the experience before he passed away. So that is just one of many memories that passed through my mind while spinning some incredibly beautiful local wool.

Spinning out of control!

2010-04-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

Spinning seems to be my new obsession.......can't spin enough and the dyeing is getting a little out of control as well. I have carded wool I have dyed and I am also dyeing in the fleeces - getting it clean at the same time........and just spinning in the grease. I was given some Shetland fleece to play with and I am loving it - the natural colours are amazing - lovely browns. I will post some pictures tomorrow. I will be attending a spinning workshop - spinning with exotic fibres, so I am warming up and I am trying to spin at least 100 grams a day - a goal easily accomplished I think. Then my dear friend Ann came by as I knew she would and did we ever have a good gabfest and she told me about Gotland wool, so now I have to have some of that. My new friend Alberta who has the Shetland sheep knows lots about fleece and was able to educate me about Romney and then my friend Annie gave me this amazing fleece from Wales (the breed is from Wales) called Clune Forest (not sure of the spelling) - but it is amazing fleece...........so much fleece, so little time. Had two students today as well, and wow they made beautiful warps. I am so very satisfied with my life today. And welcome full moon - the Beltane moon.

2010-04-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

I am loom rich these days - but have been also been selling equipment - not mine, but others that have brought in equipment, I use it while it is residing in the studio and then when someone comes looking for a loom, or spinning wheel, off it goes.....works well. I have also been weaving double weave pickup, thanks to a local guild having a workshop and my demonstrating to a student that didn't know what it was, and I was pulled in by the technique. Hadn't done it in a long time - but it is so easy and so effective. I, of course do not weave it traditionally - had enough of that weaving with wool on one layer and linen on the other - the Swedish way! Loved it at the time, but then discovered other threads to use.....

The Studio has been busy with lots of tourists coming through already. I have been going to the studio earlier and earlier to get some concentrated work done...

I took a couple of pictures - an 'arty' picture of my newest teapot - the 25th one and it is a 25th anniversary teapot with wedding bells on it and all.

And the newest warp - bags with simple double weave pickup, or as I always called Finn Vav

Ms. Daphne has a brand new bag!

2010-04-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

My friend Daphne wandered in and I with my glasses off, (as I was sewing hats and literally had my nose to the machine), I flippantly said I am busy, but instantly remembered the long awaited bag - on with my spectacles and there the bag was in all its beautiful and colourful glory. What a glorious 'garden' of colour and beauty. This bag was knit in a technique called entralac (sp?) and is knitted basically from the top to the bottom, the tiers getting smaller and smaller - and the knitting this way and that.........a lot of work that only ones that have tried it know and really appreciate the skill involved - a priceless bag but at the right price........

It was a good spring cleaning day and the time to begin with projects for Oma Gosh! Designs. So the hat making has begun and a lovely day to organize our time for a baby fair and the coming Market at Whippletree, of which I will write about as I begin to feel we have enough details to share - it will be on Sundays starting in June in the Courtyard at Whippletree Junction, south of Duncan - there that is what I know so far!

Not a day goes by.....

2010-04-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

A busy week so far - lots of weaving done and I will post some pictures eventually - perhaps when finished. The teapot garden continues to get a lot of attention and the garden is full of weeds!!! I have good intentions of getting back to the weeds, but the studio calls. I managed to make a couple of little moss gardens in kitchen strainers! I planted a pansy in each of them. Gaye then told me I should have used some fleece to hold the moisture - I still can....

A few weavers have come in and told me they were taking a double weave pickup class with Alison - I want to take a double weave pickup class!!!! However, I decided I would play on my leftover twill warp and see if I could remember - I used to do a lot of it at one time - sure enough, this small voice echoed through my head, "pick up what you don't want to weave!" and away I went, and Goddess bless the weavers that were excited, I got excited too - so of course I have to do something but most probably nothing traditional (have had my fill of traditional all those years ago) judging by what I did on my leftover warp - sky's the limit!!! I love finger manipulated weaving and at one time that is all I did - where is all that stuff anyway?

I am taking a spinning workshop with Ann Field next month - the Loom is sending me. I am so excited as I really need a refresher and now with all the added knowledge too - like MICRONS. Thanks to Jennifer of Pacific Sun Alpacas, I have my micron card I carry around with me. And the class is all the exotics and I have a Schacht spinning wheel - I will really be 'uptown'.

My new friend Aurelia and I are getting together to view her spinning - maybe exchanging weaving lessons for spun fibres!!!! She is a crazy spinner and can spin in her sleep! She uses natural dyes (madder, cochineal, indigo etc.) - I can hardly wait. Loving her energy.

I guess what is hitting me today is that not a day goes by without people taking pictures of the teapots, but also not a day goes by without someone coming into the studio and inspiring me, motivating me and presenting me with gifts of potential textile art. I thank all of you for making everyday the best day so far!

Inspiration - Colour

2010-04-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

"Art is neither a profession nor a hobby. Art is a Way of Being." - Frederick Franck

Off to Providence this morning to help Betty put a warp on - we threaded the loom really quickly and rolled most of it on before I headed back to the studio. I have about 5 warps on the go, but felt I needed to finish with my alpaca phase. I spun some alpaca that Jennifer of Pacific Sun Alpacas gave me and then I busied myself with her beautifully dyed alpaca. I felt that I needed to use it immediately and so I did - everything was orange today and so began the Pacific Sun-set warp.......I even planted onions in my garden today which in my mind were very big orange skinned beauties already, instead of these spindly Walla Walla seedlings.

So I realized as I was making this Pacific Sunset warp that it was really like cooking - the stock or foundation which is the alpaca and then the spices or embellishments to support the foundation........I loved the colour although challenging in some ways, but the skein was full of colour - orange, yellow, coral, pink, gold, magenta etc............lots to work with - and so there is Cascade Merino and Paton's Classic Merino, Crystal Palace Party, one of those ladder yarns, Sublime (cashmere, silk & merino) - a great support system for the Alpaca. And so I am happy as the warp is happy. Now what to use for weft? Probably a beautifully dyed mohair from Creston - Riverstone Yarns and my all time favourite these days - Merino Stripes...........

2010-04-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

The day begins for me with Whipple the cat greeting me beneath the big cedar tree next to my studio.......I feed him/her and begin my day. Some days are easier than others - today I didn't have a student or Annie to structure my day, I had me, a tired me and that is when I bounce from one project to another........today of all days, I felt I should spin some alpaca, and my day began........part of my day is taken over by the people that are walking through the courtyard, often to the public washrooms, but also to peek into the stores and my studio. This of course colours the day with conversation, some sales and stimulation. Well, alpaca seemed to be the theme today, as no sooner did I play with the alpaca - I realized that I needed coffee and over to Black Coffee to get my java, then to say hello to Gaye at The Loom, I ran into these two amazing women - one being a ferrier and the other an alpaca shepherdess.......well, what a day the day became. I learned so much about alpaca (not like sheep at all!) and Jennifer came back with this beautifully dyed Grade 3 alpaca knitting yarn.......so interesting and to top the day off - I met this beautiful couple and their child from Denmark - he being a tattoo artist and when I say artist, I have never seen such incredible body art - he uses old techniques from the Inuit and Maori...I suspect that he is also rather well known as he travels the world demonstrating his art - didn't catch his name, but he said he would email me - I told him when I figured out the tattoo I wanted and where, I would give him a call - and a trip to Denmark would be fun!

One more teapot today and a new birdfeeder came my way. Tomorrow an early start at Providence to transfer a warp to loom for Betty and then my dear friend Annie will come and help me weave. I love having her in the studio - she motivates me.

Tea Pot Garden

2010-04-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

The teapot garden is growing nicely. My aim is to have at least 100 teapots blooming in the little garden. Already people are taking pictures of it - soon to be on the map of scenic travel stops!

2010-04-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

The New Look

2010-04-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

My fellow artist friend from the Whippletree Courtyard, Margitta from Margitta's Gallery, designed and painted my new business card which I love. We are a great little community at Whippletree and we all agree, we can hardly wait to come in to work - that says a lot about the place. Russell, our trusty coffee master, keeps us awake with the best coffee on Vancouver Island. Everyone should treat themselves to coffee at Black Coffee. I am learning a lot about coffee and can really tell the different beans.

2010-04-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile but I can honestly say I have been busy weaving and teaching. I was inspired tonight by another artist/potter/blogger, Hilary, to keep blogging - postie notes being a great way to organize thoughts! I got into the habit of writing to my grade two teacher by snail mail and thoroughly enjoyed putting my thoughts on paper and then quickly giving those thoughts a good crisp fold, place them in an envelope, seal and send it off in the post box - which is right beside my studio and hoping I have beat the postlady............I got out of the habit due to teaching and weaving, so perhaps this is the way I can get my thought energy out.

A Weary Weaver

2009-11-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

Getting very tired, but hope to have a sleep in tomorrow - just a little one. Still loving having a space to work and teach in. Had an awesome class today teaching tapestry - getting itchy to weave one...........and so many images are flashing by.......

Super Hero capes........

2009-11-25T18:43:00.001-08:00

Camille and I were making super hero capes for Oma Gosh! Designs today and we worked steady. Rainy outside but warm at the same time. The rain has been extreme in the Cowichan Valley the past couple of weeks wreaking havoc on the area and the many people that have been affected by the flooding. There is more rain expected and everyone is watching the tides.
I drove through the reserve on Tzouhalem Road and was amazed at how high the river is - there is something mysterious about this weather and its power. To the delight of both Glen and I, rounding the corner by Klem Klem Bighouse, two sea lions poked their heads up - very rare to see sea lions up that far from the bay. Even though we are in a temperate rainforest area, the rain has not been this 'bad' for many years. I think we have had more snow in the last couple of years than rain.
My looms were beckoning me today and it was frustrating not to be able to weave - however, Camille and I are getting our orders filled and getting ready for a craft fair.

Rainy day at the studio

2009-11-24T20:31:00.000-08:00

The day began with my feeding the birds - the lovely part of being at Whippletree is that behind all the buildings is a vista of wilderness - standing at the fountain looking out back, is quite beautiful. There is a resident one-eyed black rabbit, and many birds - also an aloof eagle that I hear, but have yet to see. The sense of history I feel is quite strong. The old buildings have come from various parts of the island and together stand strong in their character. There are some buildings from Duncan's old China town and I believe my studio is from Sooke and was a gas station....research to do as I try to sort out what I want to concentrate on artwise. I am loving teaching new weavers - both 4 harness and woven tapestry and I am itching to do a tapestry. Have some new knitters coming and a spinning student. Margitta's studio is full of beautiful art and it makes me want to paint!!! One of the highlights of my week is finding out that Margitta's piece from the Verse and Vision show was based on a poem written by an old friend of mine, Janice Young and the poem was called Tapestry.......felt it was a bit of a message.....ah, yes the warp and weft....

Welcome to Leola's Studio

2009-11-23T20:45:00.000-08:00

Leola's Studio has just opened and is located at Whippletree Junction south of Duncan, BC. It is a studio for working in the Textile Arts: weaving, knitting, spinning, dyeing, thread painting, crocheting, sewing etc. and also a teaching space where I teach the above.