Out early on the deck Monday morning before it got too hot
First zinnia bud
Any minute now the hibiscus will burst out
Here comes a bell pepper
Sorrel. Those three heart shaped leaves go with it.
This is a potential lucet stand in
I thought, speaking of fiber arts tools, you might like to see a few of mine.
I wove this scarf on the back strap loom I improvised from dowels, PVC pipe and a bathrobe belt, using the shuttles you see above.
I've used all these and taught using some. You can substitute large drinking straws for weaving sticks, good for kids, because the handmade wood ones are $$.
There's more, and more items I've made for use, but this is probably all you're up for just now.
All these tools are great to handle, especially knowing someone else made them by hand. It's all part of the pleasure in process.
It took me, Impatient Ida, a long time to learn the joy of slow deliberate movement, and I'm still learning. As you see, three substitutions already while waiting for my lucet.
One thing that's common to all the handwork I've done including fine art, is the joy of certain moves.
Lifting a print and seeing the margins, likewise taking the painter's tape off a water color. Adjusting the weaving sticks as you go. Making that repeat turn with the lucet. Letting the drawing pencil drape across your hand. Giving the spindle a twist. Doing the return row of Tunisian crochet. Packing down the row of weaving.
There's so much life in the process.
Happy day everyone, enjoy process, it's good.
Then evening happened
The flash flooding is very scary - hope it isn't too near you.
ReplyDeleteYou have so many ways of working with wool that I've never heard of and I didn't know we had darning mushrooms and you have eggs!
We had a couple of inches of rain, but our drainage in this neighborhood is very fast, so though there may be trees down, the roads are passable.
DeleteI don't know whether I love your greenery or your art more. My mother taught herself bobbin lace and I have and treasure some of her spindles.
ReplyDeleteBobbin lace is very complex. She certainly had some talent.
DeleteImprovised tools are sometimes the best...personalised to your body and the way you work
ReplyDeleteYes, your hand size and strength are to be taken into account.
DeleteLOts of interesting little tools there. I have a darning mushroom, and think maybe an egg would be a better shape. I love the scarf you made, beautiful soft colours and pattern.
ReplyDeleteDarning needs a few tools, depending on the size of the repair. I use my phone sometimes.
DeleteEarly is the way to be these days. It was coolish here yesterday morning and pretty good here at 6 today.
ReplyDeleteRight now the humidity is very high, so it's less cool feeling.
Delete"There is so much life in the process". There's also so much process in life. We learn as we go.
ReplyDeleteTrue, too.
DeleteI’m surprised to see you describe yourself as impatient. I love, love, love that woven scarf. The tools are all pieces of art on their own.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the nice words. I was pleased with my back strap venture. And yes, handmade tools are works of art. I should keep them out to admire.
DeleteI enjoyed seeing all these mysterious weaving/spinning/darning tools and implements!
ReplyDeleteThey're some of the most beautiful tools there are, mostly in wood.
DeleteBeautiful tools. I have so little understanding of any of these fabric processes, but I agree, slow down and enjoy the process! Then you will also get the finished product!
ReplyDeleteThere's so much to learn in the fiberarts, if you let them in.
DeleteI have always thought that creation is the most enjoyable and magical part of human existence whether that creation is of art, a meal, a song, a poem, a child.
ReplyDeleteNo debate here!
DeleteYou have so many interesting tools, some of which are somewhat of a mystery. I've never gotten into weaving and spinning so have had no need to use those tools. They're certainly beautiful to look at though. One of my favourite 'tools' I have is a simple piece of 1/4" doweling that has one end broken off at an angle. It's worked smooth from so many years of using it when I'm stuffing dolls or turning corners. I would be lost without it.
ReplyDeleteGlad the flooding wasn't in your immediate area. There's so much of it this year., We, on the other hand, are in serious need of some rain.
The dowel is a vital tool, especially when it's worn. We had inches of rain, but my immediate neighbourhood has excellent rapid drainage, so we rarely get floods at my house. Surrounding roads get closed though.
DeleteI also have little understanding of the fiber arts, but you are teaching me.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're interested in following along.
DeleteA friend of mine searches out old wooden-handled gardening tools. They feel so smooth and so right in the hand.
ReplyDeleteYes, that human wear is so much friendlier than new.
DeleteI find the fiber lessons fascinating, Boud. Innovative for sure!
ReplyDeleteStick around. More to come.
DeleteSuch a beautiful post dear Boud 🤗♥️
ReplyDeleteI loved the positivity reflected in this which shows your gentle spirit my dear friend 🥰
I felt happy and grateful for your blooms and veggies growing so well by the grace of God🙏
I totally agree that art is therapeutic and heals our souls 🥹🥰
The quote is lovely as well and so true 👍
Thanks for bringing joy to my day 🤗♥️♥️♥️
Hello, Baili. Thanks for visiting. Yes, you definitely get it.
DeleteYou have reminded me of the small loom I have in the hope chest that we used to make potholders. I should get that out again but where can I get those loops I need to weave? I'll have to check into that.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm joining another protest this week on Thursday 7/17 - Good Trouble Lives On - I'm just spreading the word so others can check out their local areas - here's a link: https://goodtroubleliveson.org/
You can still buy the loops and the looms! I've used mine for other weaving forms, too.
DeleteThanks for spreading the word about the upcoming protest.
Just remembered: Harrisville still makes the good metal potholder loom and loops.
DeleteI have seen most of those tools but have never used them, myself. I have seen and used more knitting tools but that's been many years ago. I do know the joy of removing tape (and masking fluid) from watercolor paper, though...and finally finishing the last coptic stitches on a handmade journal. There is such satisfaction in the processes and finishings of so many things in life. :)
ReplyDeleteOh,yes, Coptic stitch. That's a satisfying one, because you can open the book flat. It's good art and good engineering too.
DeleteThat flooding -- wow! Hope you're OK where you are. I saw some crazy scenes from Plainfield and areas up north.
ReplyDeleteI eagerly await your hibiscus, since we have none of our own!
Yes, flooding quicky resolved here though we did get heavy rain for hours.
DeleteAny minute now the hibiscus will be out.
Looking at those tools I am sure that something akin to your Lucet-ty thing was in amongst all the loom band parephenalia that my youngest was obsessed about when younger. I misread your "darned egg" and had a little cackle to myself.
ReplyDeleteThat darned egg! If anyone has an unwanted lucet lying around I can house it...
DeleteQuite a collection and all used by you - not merely ornaments. I recall you blogging the progress on that scarf. It looks stunning in this photograph.Your own spun fibres and great colours.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes the beauty of tools is really in their use. I did enjoy that scarf weaving, learned such a lot, with encouragement from Joanne and Caro.
DeleteI sent that Vonnegut quote to my step-daughter. I told her she could use it to shut me up whenever I'm asking her why she's not selling some of her artistic creations.
ReplyDeleteYou're a nice guy! As a lifelong artist with a successful meaning juried into good places, respected, etc, offered great solo venues, it's jarring when people equate success with $$. In art it's a different world. I've always held a day job so as to keep my art free of pressure from buyers. I didn't need to sell pieces, though they did sell, out of my shows. And I routinely refused commissions. I didn't practice my art in order to take orders better!
DeleteThanks for educating me on all the tools you use. Before I read this post all I would have known are "needles".
ReplyDeleteThat's funny! This is only some of them. There's crochet hooks, knitting needles (!), small looms, rigid heddles, and more.
DeleteYour fiber arts tools are so interesting! I ended up reading through a very long explanation of how to make one's own back strap loom (on the website of weaver Kimberly Hamill), after seeing the lovely work you produced on one. It was educational!
ReplyDeleteI made a very simple back strap loom, which worked as well as a complex one. You can simplify a lot of fiber arts processes if you aren't aiming for perfection!
DeleteCome to think of it... We could simplify a lot of LIFE if we aren't aiming for perfect. Words to live by, so thank you!
DeleteWow so many tools!
ReplyDeleteIt’s a whole new world. Waiting to be discovered
It's a world, yes, unknown to a lot of people.
DeleteYou're a talented and versatile artist. Gives me hope that there's still time for me to learn, because there's so much to learn.
ReplyDeleteAlways time to learn. I learned the lucet this week and I'm nearly 87. So yes, you have time. Here and there anyway. You also have responsibilities, I know. You and Jack might learn stick weaving together. I've taught kids just a bit older than he
Delete