Finally, some pictures of the Learn to Weave in a WEekend class

I don’t think I’ve already posted these, but here are two pictures of the same scarf. It’s from the Learn to WEave in a Weekend class. This was a really pretty scarf, and the lady in the pic is me, not the weaver. The weaver is the one who shot the pictures. It’s probably a lesson about plying the fringes.  Don’t you love the scarf?  She did a great job.

Busy, Busy days

I can’t keep up! The studio is constantly busy. I’m working on a tallit commission right now, and need to get it done within the next couple of weeks. I’m also finishing up the blue and teal alpaca/silk scarf, and a couple of tapestry/rug warps.Sorry I haven’t posted pics in such a while. That should be an indication to you of how busy it is.  The show ,”Unsighted, the Tactility of Textiles” closed on Sunday, and I’ve got to go pick it up and it will travel.

In the studio, we have a couple students working on tapestries, and one doing a twill sampler as placemats, one doing a textured scarf, another working on some placemats to felt, and another on a chenille shawl. The sewing students are abundant also.

Some of you know I’ve been looking for a “ministry”, or  way of using my gifts and talents to give back/glorify God, and a friend who is very generous is making clothes for children in need. It sounds like something I really want to do, so I’m going to open the studio to volunteers once a month to make clothes for kids in need. This is for kids who don’t have clothes. I’m not talking about kids who want more clothes, but kids who really need a new set of clothes because they haven’t got clothing that isn’t falling apart. My friend is doing it for a mission in Kenya. Maybe I can jump on that effort? If you want to get involved with this, contact me, and I’ll let you know the first work day. It’s my hope to have 3 people cutting out, 4-6 people sewing and 2 others to keep us going (maybe pinning, etc) we would be doing girl clothes one odd months: Jan,Mar,May,July,Sept,Nov. and Boys clothes on even Months: alternate.

Cherri

Crazy fun Week

It’s been a crazy fun week this week. One student just had a ball on Tues. She fell in love with one of my looms, and just had to have one. We spent the next 24 hours scouring the nation for one, and found it fairly close to home on Wed. We chatted back and forth with the seller, and on Wed, my friend bought a loom. (actually, it’s “another” loom, but she doesn’t or may not yet realize she has been infected with LAS, and I don’t want her to know that I’ve passed on this horrrriiiiibbbbbllllleeee illness to her…shhshshshsh)

My friend, the loom buyer and one of my traveling companions to the Grand Canyon, is also having an open house this weekend, and we want the studio to look it’s best, and have warps on as many looms as possible, so I’ve been warping her Glimakra Ideal-like ancient loom. I’m almost finished, and I hope to share photos of the beautiful warp with you. Tomorrow, I’ll finish threading the heddles, sley the reed, tie the warp on, then do all the counter-marche steps to finish setting up. Then I’ll re-assemble the Macomber 12 shaft loom, and hopefully, get a warp on it. The Leclerc Colonial may just be the nudist in the bunch, as I don’t think I can dress all 3 looms before the open house. I love the studio, and enjoy spending time there. She has 5 or 6 dogs, and one of them always likes to keep my company in the studio.

When you combine all that with 3 new sewing students, many returning sewing students, 75 yards of fabric purchased 10 for myself, and a valance class, it’s just been way to much fun for real life.

More later, when I can add pics.

C

Learn to Weave in a Weekend

Wow, again, it’s such a blessing to teach. There are 4 students in this Learn to Weave in A Weekend class and each student is eager, attentive, responsive and creative. The work is technically and aesthetically lovely. We had a long day yesterday, with 9.5 hours of instruction. The weavings are generally about half way complete, and our 3 hour class today is just right to complete each piece.

Each student chose to do a scarf. They are all out of washable merino wool. The color combinations are earthy for the most part, and reminiscent of woods and sky and mushrooms. Check back later and see if pictures have been added;0)

Don’t forget, I have a Learn to Weave in a Weekend – Rigid Heddle Workshop coming up Nov 21 & 22. Registration closes Nov 12, so download your registration form from the box.net box to the right, and  sign up now. You might also want to drop me a line to let me know to expect your registration.

Returning to the Studio – Wed. 10/28/09

Ahhh, we are almost home! We have been on the road since last Sunday at the crack of daylight, traveling to Grand Canyon with all kinds of fun stops along our journey. We found ourselves ‘Standing on a Corner on Winslow, Arizona” just yesterday, gettin’ our kicks on Route 66 the same day! We visited the Grand Canyon, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, toured the Celestial Seasonings plant, and Schacht Spindle and Loom Company in Boulder, and much more.  It has been an awesome trip. We traveled 700+ miles today, and will do the same tomorrow, finishing our trip on Tues…. a day early….. with a little over 600 miles (WHEW!).  Total miles have not been calculated, but it looks like 4000+ miles for the 8 days.

Don’t ask me how few I drove;0)

I’m looking forward to being back in the studio with you all on Wed. and then Thurs and with the folks in the Learn to Weave in a Weekend class on Sat. and Sunday. I still have an opening in the weaving class this weekend, and a couple of spaces in the Wed. night weaving classes beginning in Nov. Hope you will join us in my weaving and fiber arts studio in Richmond, VA.

C

Vacation

Hi everyone. For the next 9 days, there won’t be any posts about my exhibition, Unsighted, at the Cultural art center at glen allen, weaving classes, spinning classes, or felting classes in Richmond, VA. Instead, I’ll be on vacation.

Two girlfriends and I are crossing the US from Virginia to the Grand Canyon in an RV. You can track our progress at:

http://troisami.wordpress.com

come see our progress, encourage us and enjoy.

C

new spinner in the studio 10/2/09

There is a new spinning student in the studio.  I’m posting pictures of her spinning, and of some of the Northern lights varigated pencil roving spun up. It’s lovely.

The student’s yarn is corriedale, but her real interest is in spinning and raising alpacas;0)

Wonderful Opening Reception

Tonight, Unsighted opened.  The reception was sponsored by one of my students. She and her husband provided lovely wines, and a beautiful board of delicious cheeses.

We had a nice turnout, and the visitors seemed to enjoy the exhibit.  It’s a little difficult for folks to get used to the idea of ‘touching’ art work.  Thanks Betsy and John, and thanks to the patrons who bought the “Motherhood” piece and the piece on Sat.

Lillstina Owners Manual

I now have a copy of the Lillstina Owners Manual for you to download. It can be found in the “box.net” box to the lower right on this webpage. Hope you find it helpful.

C

“Unsighted” is open and the reception is Thurs. 9/17/09

The show opened on Thurs. Yesterday, I went over to the art center to demonstrate tapestry weaving before and between performances a political parody. A lot of people go into the gallery and visit during those times.  It was a good time for me to talk to people about my work, and what inspired the various pieces, how they were made, and why I enjoy what I do.  Several people just couldn’t overcome their ‘correct thinking’ that typically, you don’t touch things in a gallery. Other people just dove in!  It was fun.

If you are reading this, please come to the opening on Thurs. It’s from 7-9 pm on Sept 17. My youth after school classes begin this week, and I’m looking forward to that as well, as sharing pictures with you of what we are doing in them.  Sewing class is meeting today just to get the lay of the land at Hancock fabric.

What are you weaving?  Did I mention that I’ve started a blog for the sewing students and sewing enthusiasts?  It’s a wordpress blog. and the url is http://sewdelightful.wordpress.com It’s so fresh now, that there isn’t much up, but I’ll build on it as we do more and more in the sewing classes.

If you are working on some great sewing project, please visit the other blog, and link me up to some pictures!

Cherri