Khumba Puja - Finished

Finished this piece now; have made and atached the prayer flags. Difficult to photograph but the close up gives a better idea of the effect.

It has found its permenant home now on the old stone wall in the lounge area of the kitchen where there are picture spots to light it properly.

Lark Ascending - First piece finished

Finished the first piece, the foreground, depicting the larks in rising flight. After several trial attempts, I settled for a warp varying from 9 to 30epi across the width using 20/2 cotolin. Weft was the same and by separating the reed from the loom, the variable fell angle was used to create a rising zig-zag pattern. The central part remained very open and the 'birds' were woven into this using beads and ribbon, rising through the clouds (alpaca fibre) to the sky. With the warp-faced bands at each selvage, the piece has good shape and stability.

The Lark Ascending

I heard and saw this performed last week and immediately had the idea for my next piece. Having thought about it since, it hasn't changed a bit, so that is a good sign. I have quickly put the necessary detail on the idea and even ordered the yarn.

Probably the best piece of English classical music; possibly the best known; and definitely the piece that paints a picture most readily in the mind. I still haven't woven a tryptych, even though several of my ideas started off with that in mind - so this will be the first.

It will also have a background and foreground layer

I think each background piece will be about 14" wide and the pattern is an 8 shaft twill based on a pattern I found when researching Network Drafting as a technique to make vertical curves; part of the imagery to support the picture of the ascending flight of the bird. Each piece will be in a different colour pallete to reflect farmland, moorland and seashore - three habitats of the skylark. I have found a space-dyed wool which I really like.
I have also found a wool/cotton blend in variagated colours which will give a similar effect but the colours are more subtle and taken from the different heather colours at different seasons.

The foreground layer will be a near transparent layer to allow the background to show through and it will not be as wide as the back panel. Each of these foreground panels ( I have not decided if there will be just one or one per panel) will have a ascending birds woven into the open weave structure...each one showing a bird at a different point of its ascent. I will also weave-in a complementary spiral into this piece, showing the birds path up, as if it were leaving a trail as it climbs or falls. If i am really brave, i might do these by weaving in beading....if not, I will use the tapestry weaving techniques or pile loops I used in the Khumba Puja wall hanging.

I am hoping the finished piece will be three vertical hanging weavings with a 2nd layer, hung side by side, showing larks at stages of its ascent, against a background of a different colour suggesting the different habitats in which it is found.

The yarn should be here before the end of January, but I have the yarn for the foreground so I am going to warp this and experiment until i have the three skylark silhouettes I am happy with.

Back on Track!

I just wasn't inspired by my last idea. the more I got into the design, the more forced the result became...so i have abandoned it. Maybe on returning to it another time, the simplicity I originally had in mind will return.
As is often the case' create a vaccum and it is quickly filled...I have a new, and exciting idea!!!

Back Online!

Well after several weeks with no computer to operate the loom I finally have the laptop back, cured of its virus, and I now have the loom software running on it again (Phew!)... a good job cos I only have 2 months after xmas to get the exhibition piece done :-)

Weavers Block?

Help! Where has all the time gone too????? I really must MAKE the time to warp up for this project...it's all there but the time!
The way the weather is going we are going to miss Autumn and Winter all-together this year, and I was hoping Winter would be riding and weaving :-O

Expo Expression Sonere "Tubular Bells"

I have the concept design for the piece for the 2012 Fils et metier Expo in France. It's called "Tubular Bells" as the expo theme is "Expressions of Sound".
The concept is of an array of fabric, tubular bells incorporating electro-luminescent wire, suspended in an ascending scale array. The array will react to external sounds by emitting light depending on pitch and volume, giving a sound-to-light effect. It's a great opportunity to work in mixed materials and 3D sculpture which is commonly a feature of this particular exhibition; the interactive materials will, I hope, be a first!!

The main design feature will, of course, be the woven tubes. Colour....COLOUR .... MORE COLOUR!!! I will weave a series of different length tubes in double-weave with randomly irridescent-dyed silk warp and a weft dyed on hanks which are wound to match the tube length - that will enable me to control the way the weft colour pattern develops.
The electro-luminescent wire will be would into each tube.

I need to get the silk yarn and the dyes when I go to the UK next week, so I can get cracking when I return at the end of the month......
Meantime it's onto detailed design and choosing the weave structures.