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

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.

In a time warp...

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....



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..........



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