Slow progress

Well its been such slow progress, Ill health and just life stopping me getting on with what I want to do. This long weekend I didn't get near what I wanted to do, but small steps. 
Sorry about the bad photos I have taken them at night and the lights are hopeless in my studio room, you can see the end of the torch I have been using to see the headles to thread. I have 1 mistake to fix Grrrrr. 

Threading stripes. Black and white thread is rayon and red is silk. Hopefully interesting double cloth coming up.

Look Mel I removed the seat but but couldn't get the roller off. (sorry about the mess)

A gift from the Island of Lembata

Spindle with hand spun and dyed cotton

 

Spindle with hand spun and dyed cotton, detail 

Spindle with hand spun and dyed cotton

Julie Ryder has just been on an amazing trip to the Lesser Sunda Island on a textile tour with Sue and David Richardson This is the woman who sold Julie Ryder the spindles with hand spun and dyed cotton on them and I was the lucky recipient of one, thanks Julie. The spindle bit is bone, not sure what of....but this village, Lamalera,on the South Coast of Lembata island is one of the last whaling villages in Indonesia.  

Its a start

Well another week gone and not enough weaving done. Where does the time go? I need to be more disciplined but between  those beautiful grand sons and work time just goes.

The blanket has to be woven off this weekend and another one started.

Brighton waffle weave, Belinda Jessup

Brighton waffle weave, Belinda Jessup

Another white warp

Here we go again! I love colour, pattern and texture and again I am doing a white or just off white warp. I am weaving some baby blankets for friends and family. But I am planning on doing  some colour and texture with the weft threads. The warp is 100% wool and I plan on doing the weft wool or maybe add a little silk in with it. I was planning on using up some of my stash with these blankets but decided nice soft Bendigo Woollen Mills  wool would be best on baby skin.  Again its thanks to Mel for all her help in getting the 10 mts long and 120cm wide warp on the loom. She really is my loom fairy that appears and helps me regularly thanks Mel.

Warp Finished

Belinda Jessup, double warp 2015

Belinda Jessup, double warp 2015

Belinda Jessup, double warp 2015

Well I have finished the double warp. Finally!  It has been 
finished for a few weeks and I just haven't had a chance to post the 
finial images. Mel took some photos as I was cutting the warp off which 
was lucky as I didn't think to. I was at the point of I just wanted it off 
the loom. I have been working on some machine embroidery so I haven't 
as yet put another warp on the loom but hope to in the next day or so.
I am thinking some baby blankets so a new grand baby and a few extras
for some friends having babies. 

update

Thanks for popping in this evening Mel. We had a quick dinner of lamb steaks and stir fried vegetables and some lively discussion.

First thing is an update on my last post. Yes I cleaned out the pantry although there is a pile on the kitchen bench of sweet treats my daughter has to deal with. Its mostly hers.
The kitchen benches and dinning table has been cleaned and use so many times they almost need another clearing after a big weekend of wedding sweets table and other paraphernalia that came into the house. So I will do a quick tidy of both of these before bed. Can you believe that I have been told which chocolate Easter Rabbit to get. I said NO chocolate but seems we have to have our Easter egg.

Table is tidy when I look at it, I must put the Christmas candle branch away although I do like it in winter as our christmas is hot. I need more candles which are hard to find in the correct size.

I have almost finished the warp ( one beautiful grand son always takes me away from the loom. I should be more disciplined),  so much has happen over the past few weeks I am not sure where the weeks went and what I did in that time. I am about to hit the loom for an hour before its to noisy for the neighbors as it is already 8.10pm.

So thoughts are now focused on the next thing to weave although I have some study to do at ANU and it involves machine embroidery. I do need to weave some blankets so if not a blanket warp I will have to get a least a scarf warp on the loom as its getting cold and everyone needs scarves in winter. Will keep you posted on how both progress.

 

Back to work and a busy 2015

Well Mel its that time of year and really time to get back into the swing. Today being Sunday I have to deal with my chores before another week starts. So it's clean the kitchen, clean the dinning table ( although looking at it most stuff is not mine for a change). Do floors and general tidy up and clean through out. 

Looking at my pantry it needs its yearly clear out as this year is the year of no food waste I have been putting this off, I should have done it before the end of 2014 so there is no guild about throwing anything out, and that's my problem I hate waste. 

I have told the girls no Easter chocolate as there is still last years in the pantry. 

Yuk what a mess!

Now for the good stuff, weaving! What is on your loom? This weeks challenge is to weave off what ever warp/s are on our looms and at least plan if not wind the next warp to go on and that has to be finished by the end of the month.    This is going to be a busy month with my Uni project to do as well.

Last of the 50 mtr silk warp, although i am re thinking the 50 mt bit

There is way more felting wool warp left than silk ! 

Felting wool warp. now have to think what to do with all the left over wool warp?????

Looms day

Well I know its not New Years day ( looms day)  but today is the 1st day I  have had to think about weaving and I will be off over seas next week so need to get this warp off the loom.
2015 is starting to shape up as another busy year in more ways than one. I am heading back to uni to do a research project  ( using machine embroidery and I hope to blog about it so will add a link when I do) and maybe look at further study. Mel and I have 1 maybe 2 exhibitions planned. I am hoping to get a new production range under way, a new website and that's just the start. So Melly what are you be planning for 2015? What is on your loom today Mel?

Looms day 2015, Belinda's weaving

My loom waiting for me to finish this warp before I leave for O/S

I know there is a mess in my weave room but I am renovating my house and have had family visiting over Christmas and New Year so things are moving from one room to the next to make room and rip carpet up and remove old built ins etc. The boxes on the bench contains a gift from Sharon Peoples to use in my research project. Thank you so much Sharon they are so precious and I will make some thing special with them.

The start of my thread collection for the research project. A gift from  Sharon Peoples

The start of my thread collection for the research project. A gift from  Sharon Peoples

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas

Crossed Warps hopes you all have a very happy Christmas and very best wishes for 2015

Marquetry Draft

So I'm spending a couple of days winding down from the mad month that was, but apparently I can't help myself when I see this on Pinterest - direct link

I personally call this kind of thing 'marquetry weaving' but I'm sure it has plenty of other names.

So Elizabeth, just for you -
16 shaft (as is in the pic) -

 8 shaft-

and even a teeny-weeny 4 shaft, using the same principles - 

Another similar and fun derivative is 'Pinwheels', created just by having equal warp and weft stripes -

16 shaft -

8 shaft - 

4 shaft - 

 Hope that helps :)
--melly

Undercurrent at the National Portrait Gallery

A very fine day was had by all - great weather, great people and a hugely great number of stalls!

And just because I couldn't help fiddling with something while I was chatting to people -

--melly

Mel and Julie at Modern Market

Modern Market will be held in Canberra today. Mel will be there with her beautiful hand woven scarves, she has been playing with colour again! Textile artist and designer  Julie Ryder will have a stand with hand screen printed tea towels, hankies and hand dyes 100% Australian wool socks.

Saturday, 22 November 2014 @ | NewActon Nishi
Time: 2:00pm – 8:00pm
Venue: Ground floor and Level 8, Nishi Building, NewActon
Address: Phillip Law Street,  NewActon, Canberra

Melanie Olde Hand woven scarf (detail)

 



Julie Ryder designed and hand screen printed tea towels

Modern market Melanie Olde

Modern market Julie Ryder



APM progress

A bit more playing now to fix ends and copper pleats.

Belinda Jessup 2014

Natural Wonders - Julie Ryder

Julie Ryder
Natural Wonders | 22nd October 2014 - 9th November 2014 

Natural Wonders, natural dyes on paper and textiles by Julie Ryder.

Natural Wonders is a mixed media exhibition consisting of works on paper and naturally dyed and stitched textiles derived and inspired by organic materials drawn and collected from sites that hold personal significance for the artist. Her daily journey from home to studio, and the many bush and urban walks she takes have inspired her to look at the native and introduced flora of Canberra, delving into its history to determine the impact that white settlement and the urbanisation of this designed city had on the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal. Textiles have been dyed with plants from specific sites, during specific seasons of the year to build up a colour profile of the territory, and showcase the beauty to be found within.

Gallery Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 11-5pm.
Opening Night: Thursday 23rd October, 6pm.

http://www.barometer.net.au/?type=Exhibition&id=79

http://julierydertextiles.blogspot.com.au/

http://julieryder.com.au/Julie_Ryder/About.html

APM second progress report

Although this is not the piece used for APM exhibition I am still playing with it. 

Painted warp is woven with copper weft in pleats and a selection of different threads in the "squares"

Silk, metallic, rayon, wool and copper wire as weft threads

I also participated in CraftLab at ANU a few weeks ago and have started a stitched piece to follow up from that experience. 

Creating a ground (base) to work on.

 

The ground so far is linen, ends of a warp (wool and silk)  as padding  and an end of some weaving 

 I was trying to get the last of the warp woven with colour samples. There were to many threads going aery so I stop weaving. This is the very end colour sample with lime green silk and gold metallic thread on an Ikat warp.

Spinning wheels for sale

I have 2 spinning wheels for sale. The Louet came via Canada a long time ago. I have used it happily over the years but I don't have time to spin any more and they are taking up space I don't have. I was giving the wind wheel many years ago and have made some lovely yarns on it including some for my graduate work. 

There are the links to the wheels if you are interested or may know some one who is please send them the links.

Louet Spinning Wheel

 http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/city/miscellaneous-goods/louet-s10-spinning-wheel/1051906612 

Ettrick Wind Wheel

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/city/miscellaneous-goods/ettrick-wind-wheel-spinning-wheel/1051898963

And something way off field for textiles is a set of 4 vintage Tessa T7 rust velvet chairs.

Set of 4 rust coloured velvet T7 Tessa armchairs. Designed by Fred Lowen and purchased in the late 1970's. Generally in good condition with some wear and tear.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/canberra-region/collectables/tessa-t7-fred-lowen-armchairs/1050714573

Sunday afternoon play

Silk space-dyed warp, gold thread, ostrich feathers.

So soft.


--melly

Fresh Scarves

Fresh off the loom!


--melly

APM in progress

Its a bit hard to see as this is woven with monofilment and the warp is being painted as I go, so a little slow. More later.

Wrap Up closed

From L to R, Belinda Melanie, Julie, Belinda and Melanie

Left Julie Ryder, hand screen print on silk and cotton, Right Belinda Jessup, hand woven silk, wool and cotton

We would like to thank everyone for visiting us at POD in LST over the past 4 days. We had a very successful pop up and hope those of you who visited enjoyed our work. If you didn't get to pop in you can see some of our beautiful scarves and other textiles at the Craft ACT shop  on Julies website and blog. Mels website. Belinda and Julie at Craft ACT.

Keep an eye on Julies blog  and Mels website for new workshops coming soon.