I’d like to wish all readers and customers a very peaceful, health filled and interesting new year. Life can be very hard indeed and it breaks my heart that so many people suffer so much in our world.  A friend said to me some time ago that I was lucky I have weaving. And yes, I am lucky to have weaving, but I always weave best when the planet is on its axis and my family is intact and connecting together in life.  When this isn’t the case I could nearly break a loom with my heavy beating! Well not really, but weaving sails along better when there is harmony in other areas of life. I know this is an unlikely introduction for a new year but there it is and mostly there is little we can do about most things but just watch situations unfold. Gone are the days when I even pretend to have control over directions in life! Lucky I have weaving and there is some control in what yarns, colours and patterns I can use. I sincerely hope your year is one where things get better and more joyful and create renewed energy and…weaving.

On a lighter note you must check out issue 22 of Down Under Textiles. I’m very happy to be a columnist for this very inspirational mag. This issue holds “Fruits of the Loom’ P12-13. All about my attraction to little weaving which naturally grows into more! Really love writing about weaving and more. Next issue will feature finding your textile ‘tribe‘.

Inspired by Dominique’s towel weaving I got weaving on some of my own. With my stash of 22/2 cottolin I worked up some stripe magic and went to work on the four shaft Saori loom. The loom is perfect for this type of weaving. I used a plain weave threaded over the four shafts. With this type of work I like have the option of four shafts to introduce twill patterning here and there. This is a pretty conventional type of weave but so much fun to do and satisfying to complete and give as gifts.

New Warps

If you are after some pre-wound warps for a dream run on your loom, check out the new collection in stock. They normally go very quickly as I only get a few of each. The white warps are very nice and perfect for dyers and I’ll be using one to create more freestyle woven shibori.  There have also been a few price increases and decreases in the Saori catalogue for 2016.  All looms have risen in price, however the cost of the WX60 (unassembled) at $1825.00 will be fixed until the current stock of looms are sold.

Japan Textile Tour 2016

The other very exciting news is that I’ll be leading a  Textile and Crafts tour to Japan in September 2016 for 14 days. It will be a comprehensive and rich saturation of Kyoto, Nara, Okayama, Naoshima Island, Osaka and Okinawa Island. It will include three hands-on workshops of which one day is at Saori no Mori. It will be a great mix of the ancient and modern which sit together so easily in Japan.  Australian and international travellers are welcome. See here for more information.