Handwork and The Craft

Mistakes and Forgiveness

It seems to me these days that we live in a world that condemns everything and forgives nothing. It is rare when making a mistake -- even an honest one -- that we are allowed to fully repeal it or get past it. Except here in this sampler I started years ago and only recently have returned to thinking about adding to it. But there is that second strawberry-- a row out of alignment and it's making me crazy. 

So forgiveness, and undoing of a miss-doing. To be then start over, a clean slate and make it whole and right, Would the world were so accommodating. Some patience was needed in picking out the threads, for they were tight and true -- just in the wrong place. 

Stay tuned for the new version -- as it should have been...

More on the Dash Tea Towels from Amanda Rataj

I have been working on a new warp for a set of really interesting tea towels from Amanda Rataj, which have lots of interesting weaving elements in them. I am hoping it will stretch my skills at just about all aspects of the weaving process. The set up was challenging as the Maurice un-mercerized cotton is rather sticky and each thread wanting to wrap around all of its cousins, making the process of smoothing everything out a good harder. But once up -- the warp is beautiful and promises some lovely towels. I will also be using two shuttles -- one for pattern and pone for pick -- so another skill. 

In this second photo I managed to get a picture of me -- due to the ever present 1970s closet mirrors! 

Ready at last -- and boy is it fun to see these lovely design ideas start to pop out. 

Usher in the Fall with Baking and Warping

Yes, it's a bit past the actual date for the first day of fall, but as we rose before dawn and did a four mile walk, the cooling air, the clouds over the dawn seemed to inspire my husband to bake great things....all at once. A molasses whole wheat loaf and an Italian Almond cake... and I think I hear him rustling up something more. The house is filed with sweat and yeasty aromas. 

As for me....I escaped to the studio (but not the lovely smells rising through the floor boards beneath my feet) to work on a new warp, which right now resembles stripped candy. And there it is again...food. 

A Week of Textiles From the Trunks: Chimayo Blankets

 

I have been going through all of the vintage and antique textiles, embroideries, stitched and crocheted, woven and printed that are a part of my family's tradition and thought I would share them on the blog. 

 

Monday's  piece is a beautiful Chimayo blanket that was woven by an elder weaver of the Ortiz family in Taos, NM for my mother in 1959. She asked for a traditional pattern instead of the fancier and more brightly colored patterns that were appearing as part of a new tourist industry. The blanket he wove for her was an old pattern of thin stripes of natural wool and a bit of color from a dyed indigo stripe. It is so wonderfully soft and the stripes are so perfectly woven. It was damaged a number of years ago, but a terrific weaver in Tucson, Matina Garbotz, did an amazing job of restoration and it is impossible now to see where the damage occurred.

 

Last Minute Mending

On my way to Sunday mass, and all my jeans except for one pair with a ripped knee were in the wash. A quick mend using vintage fabric from my mother's childhood.