Handspun Cushions - and Devore Scarf

The cushions have been sewn into the handspun cushion covers using ladder stitch and some Anchors Tapestry wool of a mid-grey. The thread worked well and it was easy to do. So that's another project completed.

The devore scarf is finished and off the loom with seamed ends. I attended a meeting of the Midland Textile Forum today and finished off the fringes which I have plaited in group of 12 threads. The scanned leaves from the garden were altered from green to yellowy/green/orange in Photoshop, printed out in various sizes and cut out. These were then 'artistically' arranged on the scarf. I am not 100% keen on the arrangement so it is pinned up at the end of the corridor where I see it often and have been moving a leaf now and then. The top has the fringe folded to the back but the top is where the cloth ends so the whole woven piece is visible.

I will not start on the devore bit for a few days while I make quite sure I like this. It is deliberately asymmetrical. Views and comments are more than welcome as I am unsure about this. It is necessary to have largish shapes in devore and not too many pointy bits.

At this moment in time, all three looms are empty but not for long. Tomorrow I will start warping up the Megado for the caladium leaves which has to be completed by 25th July. I actually only need 50 cms but must include a lot for colour experiments and I think I might put on several metres of this warp.

Had a good day at Midlands Textile Forum. Several people talking about their work including someone who is trying to set up a company to sell very desirable silk head squares.

Back to Textiles - and Bookbinding

I went round to the College today to see the Annual Exhibition. The drawing class either has a talented tutor or a talented class or possibly both. I was very taken with their work. There was stained glass, thrown pottery, constructed pottery, mixed media and, of course, the book binding class. Here on the right is a lovely book with Pop-up fans and a wrap around cover in black lined with red. The whole goes into the black slipcase on the extreme right.

Two books bound in leather with inlay. The left one is Robinson Crusoe, hence the bare foot on the slip case and the island on the front of the book itself. On the right is The Screwtape Letters, again with its own slip case.








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Some very decorative pamplets.

On the right is a repaired leather binding and, on the left, my two contributions, Alice and the Coptic book with enamels on it.
All very creditable.

I have every intention of doing a lot of Japanese-style books over the summer and will get round to it.

And now to weaving. This is the fabric for the devore scarf on the loom with the sample shown as well. The loom fabric has a weft of yellow merino plus Hunter's Green Tencel. It has not darkened the cloth very much  but then the Tencel is one third of the total yarn so changing its colour will only change the overall effect a little. Still it is better.  I have woven up most of it and hope to complete today.

I have just been reading the Convergence 2010 Gallery Guild and discussing the entries merits/demerits over the phone with my sister Dorothy.  As she said,'Isn't it amazing that two of us who are not going to Converge can read this guide on line and discuss it'. 

Third Opera

So we saw Rigoletto last night with Simon Keenlyside as Rigoletto - by far the best performed and produced opera of the three. The Hippodrome stalls were only 75% full though which is a great pity.

After so many nights going very late to bed, I was surprised to find I was not tired this morning and got up at 6 o'clock. I set about creating a Proforma Invoice, filled up all the forms and the Air Way Bill for DHL and then called them at 9 o'clock. It has gone. Too late now for second thoughts. The Voyager got some attention. It has the devore scarf on it and I have started weaving with Hunter's Green tencel which is much darker than the sample's sage green. The fabric looks much better. Since it is only tabby, I am making great progress, 20 inches already today. I might get a bit more done before bed. I could do with finishing it and then warping up for caladium leaves.

More Opera

I recovered from Cosi Fan Tutte by Monday but had real work to do (the sort that results in a cheque for me). Then Tuesday I went to Birmingham Hippodrome to see Bryn Terfel in The MasterSinger. Left home at 1400 and got back at 2300 having sat through 6 hours of music. Bryn Terfel was first rate as was the Eva (Amanda Roocroft) and the Beckmesser (Christopher Purves - last seen as a first rate Falstaff). My only complaint was that the producers had not made their minds up what century the opera was in. So the Mastersingers in Act 1 arrived in frock coats but the burghers in Act 3 turned up in 15th century stuff, wimples, high foreheads, brocade gowns (men and women). Oh and there were electrical light fittings in the cobblers shop as well as modern bound books on his book shelves.

And to finish off this five days, I am going back to Birmingham tonight to see Rigoletto with Simon Keenlyside. I am alarmed by the fact that it is set in a 1960s White House.  

By the way, this is Welsh National Opera's week at Birmingham and the tickets, like the Glyndebourne ones, were all bought well before Christmas. I cancelled a lot of things when it was clear Michael would not be going anywhere like that but I could not bring myself to get rid of these tickets so I took a Malvern friend.

So no textile work but I did have a good idea. I need to design the leaves for the devore project so I collected leaves from the garden and scanned them in. Then I created a 'scarf' in Photoshop, added the leaves and moved them about. I got something acceptable but thought about it and had a better idea. I have printed out the leaves in three different sizes and will cut them out. I will cut a length of cartridge paper from my roll to match the scarf and physically shuffle the paper leaves about. I will get there in the end.

I have parcelled up the Convergence yardage (masses of odd jobs to do, sew on label, fill up this form, write packing instructions for return) but discovered I need permission from HGA to send. WHY!!! Anyway I have asked.

Glyndebourne

Us in our glad rags just about to set off for Glyndebourne to see Cosi fan Tutte. Left to Right Dorothy (my sister), me, Maddie (my granddaughter), Anne (my daughter). The photo was taken on the balcony of my grandson's balcony in his Brighton flat where we stayed the night. We had a lovely time. The opera was well produced and well sung. The men were particularly good.  Lovely dinner during the interval and a walk through the grounds looking at what people were picnicking on and the clothes they were wearing. Tucked up in bed in Brighton by 11pm. We left this morning at 8 am and were in Malvern at 11. Dorothy had left her car packed and set off alnost at once for Dundee as she has to be back tonight.

I have generated a huge list of 'things I ought to be doing'. And have implemented one or two, like picking some red currants. Must go and do a few more things.


Added later

I opened the post which included a copy of the Complex Weavers Journal and was flabbergasted to recognise the fabric on the cover as mine!!!!

Lilies

We planted these martagon lilies in this spot a long time ago, 15 years? They have flowered reliably and don't seem to suffer from disease or slugs. This year they threw up these two enormous spikes. I do hope it is not a swansong!

This is from some photos taken in Japan by a friend of food trays. She had no idea what she was eating most of the time.  She also took a huge number of photos in the Kyoto Textile Museum, most of which I can understand but a couple bother me. I will report further when I have consulted with some experts. Some lovely fabrics done with pickup.

White Silk Jacket

The white silk jacket is finished - at last. The silk was woven just over four years ago!!. Every square inch has a fused lining and every seam is turned in! The hem at the bottom is finished with one inch bias binding. The ribbon  on the front looks fine. I considered putting some round the edge of the sleeves but decided against.  

The pattern is a twill variant on 32 shafts. This is a scan. The warp and weft were 90/2 white silk from Uppinghams. You can sort of see the pattern but the draft shows it up better.

This was the draft used. It looks as though I developed it from something else but I have no record of what. What I can see from my records is that there were a number of trials of which this was the last.

I have several yards of the fabric left and just as much ribbon as is on the jacket, so I think a waistcoat may be called for.








 My sister is here this week and we had a good time dyeing with Procion MX this morning. I intend to use my pieces of fabric to cover books with. I intend a lot of book binding before October when the class restarts. Two of my books have gone into the College Exhibition, Alice in Wonderland and the small Coptic book with enamels on sycamore as covers.