Apr 17 2008
A Forest of Heddles
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| I’ve been busy with one thing or another – the big one being my daughter Teresa’s bithday. She’s 26! For a mother this records the many changes that we go through in life. A child is like a live dairy that reminds you continually with each birthday. It seemed such a short time ago that she was in my arms as a cuddly toddler, then in a stroller, learning to walk, starting school. Now she really is an independent adult who experiences and takes responsiblity for the events and decisions that unfold in life. The unexpected perk of being a mother is that I actually learn lots from my daughters. They know and experience different things to me.Rather than being an extension of me they are their own entity! Well duh. I guess that should have sunk in a long tome ago when they refused to wear that dress that I thought was really perfect for them. |
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| Teresa’s birthday centred around the Archibald Portrait Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney. I don’t like seeing the prize here as the gallery is pokey and crowded, but the paintings are worth it. IMHO the best place to see it is the Lake Macquarie Gallery in December.
However in the foyer was a large tapestry of Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly. It was woven in Portugal at the Portalegre Tapestry Workshop. It was a finer weft than usually seen woven in Australia but it made me think that perhaps Australian tapestry weaving is quite special and developing in wonderful ways. The weaving techniques here create detailed shading and textures even though a thicker weft is usually used, at least for large works in public spaces. |
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Forest of heddles |
| This is where I’m up to in weaving. Weaving White. I find it very difficult to weave in white but I’m determined to do this sett sampling for my very fine bamboo yarn. So it’s back to the loom to weave white.
I see so many fantastic sites on the web. Inspirational weavers, textilers and other artists give me so much hope and inspiratation. Here are just some: Small Scarf Virtual Exhibition This is a proposed exhibition by NZ weaver, Meg Nakagawa. What a great idea. You can contribute via blog entry or photo submission. Virtual Tour of Bonnie Tarses Studio in Seattle.This is just the most wonderful way of getting to know an artist from afar. The studio is an extension of ourselves and our work and you can see more artists here. Weaving Finlander is the blog of Elsa Eriika and the photos are a feast for the weavers eye. |
Happy Birthday, Teresa. 26 is a good age!!
Thank you for your thumbs up, Kaz. I do hope I get a few submissions.
Soooooo, do you think you’ll come across the ditch for a wee visit sometime?
Black would be even more difficult! Thank you for sharing the Weaving Finlander blog site. Indeed, the photos are beautiful.
Hello! Thank you for linking! I am happy to have visitors there also! I really enjoy this new thing in my life to communicate about weaving with people around world! And i am happy to find so many blogs that are interested about weaving! Thank you!
Ditto on black! I did a 1300 end warp in black for suiting fabric and swore never, ever again.
Thanks for the link to Meg’s small scarf virtual exhibition. I might have something to send to her!!
Hope the white bamboo is weaving well.
I so agree about the thrill of beginnings and trying something new!
Currently, I’m working on a piece in satin weave, a new experience for me, and am just delighted with how it’s turning out and what I’ve decided I would do differently, etc.
Those first pieces, like your towel, are so precious, as they really let us see our ‘weaving roots.’
Cheers!
Jane