Catching up...

There is a lot to share and I am so behind in just about everything, that it is hard to know where to begin. So I thought I would start by my pictures that I transferred to the computer that I am writing at.
I also have to do a tribute to my Shawnigan Lake School students, so will be uploading my pictures very soon, for those parents that may be waiting to see said pictures.

The studio has been exceptionally busy which has been wonderful. Thank you all for the encouraging comments and for participating in activities in the studio - the studio is not just mine, but all that wish to experience a teaching and working studio.

So, the above triptych is of the triangular shawl that was a community effort - everyone warped a stripe or too, in the mirror image warping technique, so it would be balanced, and we proceeded to weave it. For those of you who don't know about this fun activity, it is very easy and it is done on a wide floor loom rather than the triangular loom that is quite popular these days. Simple as 1, 2, 3, one weaves the warp as the weft and beats 50/50 (very important). We are starting another one, so if you would like to participate, phone the studio, 250 597-0820.

And of course our other community activity is the tapestry..........affectionately called CAW and you will have to come to the studio to hear the story! Ann Clark has been amazing in her support and enthusiasm - it would not be off the ground if it hadn't been for her energy. I have to wait for two weeks between visits and weave a bit by myself - so much fun working together. I have the fortune also to be attending a tapestry workshop in September with Sarah Swett. I am very excited.

And the garden is in with indigo growing and the flax growing gangbusters - I am not sure that I have a recent picture of the flax, but it is about 8 inches tall now - I only planted it about a month ago - same with the indigo, so I will post a new picutre soon. There are three varieties of flax, Evalin, Marylin and Wendylin (my spinning friend in Metchosin!).

My husband has built me another raised bed for madder root, dyer's chamomile and other dye plants. If anyone would like to share some cuttings I would be so happy!!! I have seed for a few dye plants, but I won't get them in this year. I also planted some tomatoes that came my way - all heritage plants, and a zucchini and bean trees. And if you want some heavenly scent, smell the sweet peas when next at the studio or The Loom - right near the teapot garden......the smell of summer.

You may have guessed that this is not in any particular order...but here I go with some other things that have happened in the studio - I will let you know another time about some paranormal folk coming in too!!!!!

Recently, I have had some equipment come my way - another Cherryville Loom which made me very happy and the loom also came with a white cotton warp threaded through the reed and heddles and all nicely rolled up. We made short work with first putting up the loom (only 14 minutes) and tying the warp on and beaming it on. A white warp is something that is foreign to me - so I painted it. Hadn't done that in many years and it was such a joy and only a little bit got on the loom. I have been inspired by my grandson's art of late and the flower just needed to be painted.  I thought it would be fun to do a pseudo tapestry to keep my fingers limber using linen.....and so, well, I am just having too much fun.

And a another linen project, traditional linen face towel with a little overshot - Davison's Yin & Yang

The studio was given a lot of undyed wool - masses. So I started making use of it right away and made a couple of blanket warps which I then dyed and quite unevenly as well due to the bulk. The first blanket I did like an overshot using a space dyed kid mohair for the tabby from Fleece Artist and another wool that has a nice long colourway, Merino Stripes by Crystal Palace - very woodsy and the colour changes in the warp just aren't noticeable, or I grew used to it or something. The second one I am weaving in the classic crackle with three shuttles (Italian Manner) and I am using a variety of blues and blue greens, and to be honest I am not sure I know what I am using as I am using several fibres per shuttle........Fleece Artist, Sublime boucle, Berroco alpaca etc. etc. looks good anyway.

The warp is quite green, but the one picture makes it look quite yellow.......let me see if I have another - oh well. I love Crackle - does anyone remember Miss Marjorie E. Hill? Wasn't she just a crackle expert. I did learn a lot from her, but later learned a lot from Mary Snyder at Banff - more of a contemporary style. One can never exhaust this system of weaving.

And the rag rugs keep being woven - I challenge the experienced weaver, to come and spend a day in the studio and weave a rag rug and leave with one. Guild members 10% off of course. There will likely be a dye pot on, perhaps the next triangular shawl will be on its way and of course the tapestry needs weaving - or just come and have a cup of tea. And the following picture - this young woman was a very happy weaver - her first time on a loom.

Another first time weaver, Karen,  wove a rug so carefully, that she got a reversible rug...

Oh yes, and we are dyeing more Eastwin mohair as well as The Loom's new local Cowichan Valley Pollypay (yes, I spell it incorrectly - it should be Polypay, but it sounds too much like polyester) - I love the Pollypay - a worsted weight and it just gets softer and softer.

And I have been having a great time weaving with linen and alpaca and loving it - can't let go. For some reason they seem to like each other.....this is about the fifth one  - I just keep tyeing them on - I must admit though, I am slower at finishing this one, but only because I am on another jag.

Kypert's Twill

Earlier in the spring I had the most amazing two days - I had to go to the Weavery in Glenora to borrow a key from Ann as I had locked mine in the studio - I never have much time to see and do other things, but it was a lovely gift for me to have this opportunity to visit the Weavery and remind me of other fabulous weaving going on in the Cowichan Valley.

And one of my favourite pictures of all times that I took with my trusty iphone, and one of the best uses of rayon chenille that Ann my partner in crime designed - bolsters or pillows.

The next day I went to Victoria with Betty to have lunch with the TAPIS group - Tapestry Artists of the Island  - I don't think I have that quite right but it was an amazing day - and I would love to just do a blog of these fabulous artists.

I am still moved by the above - I can't remember the details, but it is fantastic - I will make sure I find out the information, as it is just beautiful - not enough words to describe it.

Unfortunately my trusty iphone wasn't doing so well, so some of my pictures were out of focus, so my apologies to the ones that I didn't include here.

I love show and tell - please please bring your creations to the studio - I would love to see your pieces.  I have many more creations to share with you and I will endeavour to keep up this blog - I am sure that you have heard that before!! I leave you with one more picture...my new garden that I was inspired to do one day...

One of my students, Rita, suggested I use cardboard too, but I started with the Island Parent Magazine - and it was expired - and newspapers - anything I could find in the local stores that was old.....and of course it looks quite different now - I will be sure to take a picture of the summer garden.

Aldered state of mind..................

What can I say - the move towards spring has been full. I have been struck by everything around me near bursting - the alder trees speak of this with their catkins changing ever gradually to their full colour as we enjoy the 'feathers' of alder, a backdrop against the hills that are still dusted with snow and it is all about the subtleties that express the need to design....

All in one day - from alders to raspberries to cloth...

And it continued into other designs.....I have had this scarf that I purchased from the guild sale, one, because it was woven by my friend Trudi and the other because I loved the bubble effect - using cotton and wool and then felting it a bit and the cotton  bubbles up - very cool.........and it was in the back of my mind for some time when during this 'aldered' state, I also came across a print that another friend of mine had - a birch tree forest. I made a warp of alpaca and a linen blend and on an 8 harness twill, in equal stripes attempted to weave my birches. In the weft I used a linen and an alpaca and wove a couple of yards and I love the drape and the effect - a gentle bubble, but I didn't want to full it too much more as it was a lovely weight. I realize that I have been in a natural mode as far as colour and I am limiting myself with colour and technique - going for the fibres and how they react with each other. I am loving linen and alpaca together - it just works.

And spring continued to burst - we were blessed with a beautiful grandson, Cale McNie, joining his sister, Belle Emily Rose and cousin Easton Witt - what can I say, except that the I didn't think I could feel so much more joy.

Oma welcomes Cale McNie

Lots more to come and I am working on it as we speak - the student work is outstanding!!!!!

Complacency and creativity.......

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!

I Love the Loom

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

The Loom - 38 years and going strong!



Chills and Twills.....

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

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.