A New Range of Table Lamps

I have had several designs for table lamps made entirely from fabric for some time in my notebook and finally got round to doing one - I have to say I am VERY pleased.
I have woven some linen with a subtle lace pattern and also a transparency, like the "Lark Rising", with beads inset.
The vitrification of the linen for the lampshade worked first time! None of the texture of the cloth has been lost as it was moulded around a plastic tube - the inside surface is hard and shiny from the vitrifier, but the outer surface is unchanged in texture and colour - Brill!!

I used the same process for the base as I want my designs to be entirely in handwoven cloth. Using the transparency-woven cloth to mould it freestyle around a 'boss' which will take the lanp fitting. The combination matches the rather 'gothic' aspect of the design theme I want to pursue.  This was only meant to be a practice but it worked first time.

With the lampshade in place, I just love it!!

We will see what Joe-public think when they are on the craft stand on 21st July as I should have the whole range (12 designs based around the same theme) to display...Not for sale as I have my own exhibition planned for September.

Busy for the Craft Fair on 21st July, La Tour Blanche

Been busy the past 2 weeks; initially on paper designing some things for the up-coming craft fair and then lots of weaving. Gail has booked a stand for weaving at the fair - standing all day chatting is not my thing really so I am doing most of the items and she is going to 'man' the stand and pracice her french :-).
Got a nice range of designs for handbags, make-up bags. Also, finally woven some of my ideas for table lamps - they are now a reality rather than pretty sketches on paper.
Will post about these seperaely later.

Here are a two of the bags. I have done 5 so far - awaiting the materials to do the handle and am doing the satin linings at the moment - Me! Sewing! lol

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 :-)