After Six Days Away from the Loom....

...went into the studio today.  Finished all the English text and a lot of the fingerprint background, and am only about five inches from the top.  This bodes well.

Weaver's Log, Stardate 221211

7 pm Yesterday

5.30 pm Today

I am about 2/3 of the way through this first panel, which is great, as it means that it is possible to make five panels in the time available.  No more weaving on this until 28th; I have my Boy home and we are visiting family for Christmas.

Status Report

Yesterday, 6 pm

Today, 5 pm

This is where I had got to at 4.30pm today.  I am going in to the studio over the weekend to help with workshops, but hope to get some more weaving done too.

On the Way...

 Tracing a section of my fingerprint (with 'help' from Henry the standard Poodle and his muddy feet - he will keep digging holes in the garden, and then being sent inside in disgrace)

 A little trip to Staples first thing yielded an A1 of 'nefesh' and A4 of the Hebrew characters.

 Overlaying the stylized fingerprint; it is there, honest.

 Stitched to the selvedge of waste weft that I put in yesterday, having warped up all by myself - would have been easier with a helper, but good to know that I can do it.  150 trips (half way) up the ladder, some 450 metres of warp.  The hideous flowery thing is the back of the South Downs quilt which hangs behind the scaffold.  It was the stitched petition made by different groups wanting the area to be designated National Park.  The front is much nicer!

Loaded bobbins resting on my lovely vintage Welsh double cloth blanket.

I was then able to start weaving.  It will grow quite quickly, but I need to keep up the pace with four more to make after this one!

Catching Up....

Friday: 'Forget what did' (With apologies to L.M. Alcott) during the day.  Hosted birthday supper with Eleanor at WD.  We made about a million (well 20) custom pizzas for our friends.  It was lovely to see everyone and catch up on the news / gossip.

Saturday: I went to the Weaving Day at Jane's studio in Angmering.  A lovely bunch of ladies, and a delightful day.  I started a new piece on the Glimakra frame.  In homage to Richter it will be a dark grey figure, 'dry-brushed' into the grey background, but in order to avoid any hint of misery and woe, there will be occasional threads of copper sparkle (I think) woven in.  There is an Italian Jewish proverb "No matter how dark the tapestry that the Almighty weaves for us, there will always be a thread of grace".  So the title of the piece (if it works!) will be 'Thread of Grace'.  I have kept the cartoon very simple so that it can have the spontaneity of brush strokes.  I have the luxury of weaving every day, but it is particularly nice to weave alongside others again; I do miss WD for that.

Today: Popped into the studio for a couple of hours to prepare the scaffold loom for warping tomorrow (energy and light levels too low to tackle it today).  It will be my first time warping a big loom single handed, so I have commandeered the stepladder, and will wear my running shoes to facilitate scampering.  I brought the easel home so that I can weave 'Thread of Grace' in the evenings if I need / want to, and to allay any suspicion that I am trying to take over all the space.

This afternoon was the Candlelight Carol service at church, and I was in the choir.  Very enjoyable, and so were the mulled wine and mince pies afterwards :-)  Next Sunday it is 'Beer and Carols' in the village pub; sounds like fun.

Tomorrow?  Warping up, cartoon work for 'Identity' and some smaller pieces. and beginning editorial work for Tapestry Weaver, the journal of BTG.  Feb's will be my first edition as Ed, so I need to make a start and a good job of it before time runs away.  I have had a good few articles submitted, so a nice lot of reading to do.....

'Not One, But Three', the robin hanging above my bed.  It has a story attached, one of hope in the midst of despair, light in the midst of darkness.  Another thread of grace.

From My Sketchbook

The much described sett samples.

The chosen one!

Photoshop 'sketch'.

Had a lovely morning at Mill (no "trouble at t'mill", so no Spanish Inquisition :-)) with Margaret, talking life, weaving and everything.  The exhibition space is lovely, and no problems with a place for a 3D hanging piece.  Hoorah!  No more excuses; warping tomorrow.  She also told me about the monthly Saturday weaving day, and invited me to join them this Saturday.  An opportunity to try out my new miniature tapestry frame, of which more later.

I Want a Dog Like This

He is the skool dog from St Custard's, alma mater of Molesworth et al, my heroes.

Today's News

A good day in the studio.  I did another sample using the chosen wefts and a thicker warp at a coarser sett, and it was just the look that I wanted. Hoorah!  Popped out to the printers to get a poster size print of my fingerprint.  I took the pic with my digital SLR (10 megapixels), cropped it in Photoshop and increased the resolution to 600, but it was still a nice surprise to be able to have it printed at A0! I will trace the patterns and stylize it somewhat for the five cartoons.  In the afternoon I played about with fonts and text placement for the five words overlaying the fingerprints in the panels: nefesh, neshamah, hayyah, ruah and yehidah.  I may also include the Hebrew characters on each panel, but don't have them all yet.  I am really excited about this piece!  Sent samples of yarn to Weavers' Bazaar for colour matching, and will pop up to Town on either Wednesday or Saturday to visit Handweavers' Studio for the soft greys of the background and more Richter; I may also fit in the Grayson Perry at the British Museum.  On Thursday, a visit to the renovated mill where 'Identity' is taking place, after which I can finalize the panel designs and get going.  Although I may warp up the loom tomorrow for the first two.  Happy times!

And I came home to find a tree planted in my front garden!

A Woman's Work is Never Done.....

...especially when her brain is positively fizzing with new ideas and rediscovering old ones, and she keeps stopping what she should be doing (clearing the borrowed second garage of stuff: Boy's drum kit, various spare drums, keyboard, chairs-which-we-don't-have-space-for-but-don't-want-to-get-rid-of, etcetera, etcetera) and instead, drawing or writing in my journal, making owl mascots....  The robin is my personal 'totem bird', but because in Greek myth, Athena invented weaving, and the owl is her bird, I am collecting owl pictures for my studio space.  One is a postcard of an Athenian coin from 4BC, and the latest a kitschy owl from Paperchase.  One day (!?) I hope to weave a tapestry owl.  I have made a couple of steam punk ones from bits and bobs at Time Machine.  Perhaps I should post photos?  Anyway, the garage is NOT cleared and the flat is NOT hoovered.  Where is Jeeves when you need him?

My little cat, 'helping' with a drawing, 2006.  She is on my lap as I type.

I Survived

Well, after a good weekend spent hanging out with Mum and visiting Dad in hospital, I made it to Tate Modern with only 45 minutes until closing.  Nowhere near enough time to fully enjoy the Richter, but it gave me a taster and I will have to make a return visit with more time.  At least I have a Members card, so it did not cost me.  I did also buy the exhibition catalogue, so I can enjoy my favourites in the meantime.

No Weaving 'til Tuesday. Will I Survive?

I finished a sample for 'Identity' this afternoon, and started another one at a closer sett, but won't be back at the loom until Tuesday afternoon.  I am off to a BTG committee meeting in London tomorrow, then northbound to see my lovely Mum and Dad in Northamptonshire.  Back on Monday, hoping to get to the Gerhard Richter exhibition at Tate Modern.  His 'Cage' paintings ( Cage 1 above) are among the most beautiful I have ever seen, and I am really looking forward to seeing 'September' (below) in the flesh; I have the book and love what I have seen there.

Robin III

I admit to being rather pleased with him, but then I do really like robins!

Today I:
Booked a rail ticket 'home' to see my Dad at the weekend; he is in hospital for knee surgery
Baked a loaf of bread
Cleared the working area of rejected yarns and stuff
Made an A4 cartoon of a full size section of the potential design for 'Identity'
Warped up the sample loom
Wove a decent section of the sample, and am itching to get back to it tomorrow
Ate lots of fruit
Drank lots of tea
Had a good chat with my friend Stevie

Off to do  a bit of sewing now, then a lovely shower.  I do have a nice life!

I Don't Know Where My Brain is, but It does not appear to be in my head

I finished Robin III today (because the car lives, hoorah!) and took photos, but left the camera at the studio.  Doh!  Also managed some Photoshop experiments, and some colour weaving samples.  Good Day.

Snarl!

I loaded up the car with iMac, yarn samples, packed lunch etc ready for a nice design-ey day at the studio.  And the car WOULD NOT START.  Not so much as a cough.  Flat battery!  Cause diagnosed from 30 miles away by APB - boot lid left ajar since Saturday (how could he possibly guess that?)  Kind neighbour loaned a charger, and has been trickling all day.  No life at 6.30 so decided to cycle to the advertised meeting of Fishbourne 'Stitch n Bitch' to check it out.  Cycle lights defunct.  Thought it wd be OK to cycle on the footpaths, only to find that there are none in the lane, nor streetlights.  Arrived at the Centre to find that I was in the wrong place.  Poddled to the Bull's Head (lights on that part of the cycle path :-)).  No club there either, not since before the summer.  So I walked home, pushing my lovely Miss Marple bicycle.  At least it was not raining!  Hopefully the car will work tomorrow.....

although I could cycle to the studio, as long as I leave before it gets dark.

Give me a 12" Adjustable Spanner and I am a Happy Girl

In a change to the advertized program, after blocking Robin III I started on a major sort out, inspired by Paul dismantling old tables and assembling new ones donated by a closing down museum.  I knew that I needed to adjust the scaffold loom before starting anything new, so, without ceremony, cut 'Curvaceous' down, and set to with the spanner.  The upper and lower beams are now lower and closer together, giving me the option of a continuous warp without excessive waste.  'C' is face down on one of the old tables and has had her ends trimmed, Robin III is drying.  Measuring 'C' showed me how much I had crept in with the 'soft' warp (note to self "Tighten Up!!") so severe blocking session necessary. Hey Ho.

Fickle Pickle

The stylized robin was OK, but a little steppy, so I warped up again and wove it sideways.  Result!  Photo later once he is blocked and his feet have been stitched on (?).  He may go into production (or at least 'made to order').

In the meantime, inspired by the upcoming BTG South East Group exhibition 'Identity' in April next year, I have made a new sketchbook and started working up some ideas based on the Jewish concept of 'You-ness' having five elements, namely Soul, Spirit, Life, Breath and Uniqueness.  It has been bubbling away in my brain since I first heard of it last year (thanks DB), and now seems the ideal opportunity to work it through.  I shall take the iMac into the studio next week and do some Photoshop layering and such of handpainted text and a photographed fingerprint.  I love this stage!  Plan to work quite large - five panels 12" wide, so need to get a wriggle on....

Fickle?  Because I have ditched the plans mentioned in the last post for the time being.

Not blogging but weaving

I have been having a 'play' with my rigid heddle loom, making a length of fabric for a poncho to keep my shoulders warm in the studio (from Curvaceous' darker weft) and a couple of scarves as potential sales items.  Yesterday I got an urge for robins so worked up a cartoon from a photograph and made a 4" square warped at 6epc woven double - I do like my double warps!  The beak has come out a bit big, so no photo until that is remedied - a cut out and needle weave job off the loom I think- but otherwise OK, just time consuming.  Today I made a more stylized version, and have started weaving that on the same warp.  My little Glimakra frame has a peg system and is very quick to warp, so great for sampling on.  I am trying to find a quick to weave but aesthetically satisfying range of tapestries to make for sale at reasonable prices to go alongside my bigger speculative work.  Writing of which, I think that I shall enlarge my 'Matisse' nude (she has the most gorgeous curvy derriere!) to A3 and weave her in my signature style alongside the commissioned 'Fear No Evil'.  There is room on the scaffold for both, even though they will be woven sideways.  I can then swap between grey and colours depending on my mood.....

Tomorrow is the British Tapestry Group AGM and South Eastern Group day - my first.  I shall get to meet some local weavers; should be fun.

She is done....

 ....apart from the finishing knots, the cutting off, blocking etc, etc

The ending was delayed by lots of visitors to the museum over the weekend -which is brilliant - but I got the photos done and the entry form posted in time.  Took myself off to see Sweeney Todd at the Festival Theatre as a reward.  Excellent!!

Not Quite Yet...

Late start today because I went to collect a bobbin rack ('Free to a good home', thanks Hilary!) and popped in to see some of the WD crew on the way back.  Visiting friends meant that I did not really get seriously weaving until about 3.30.  Fuelled by tea I kept going until 7.

I have discovered the joy of handknitted wool socks for keeping my feet really warm in the studio, so have started another pair, this time in yummy grey alpaca.  The pair I wore today were started three years ago; I hope to make swifter progress this time!  The incentive of toastie toes should be compelling.

Saucy!

Talking to (interesting and interested) visitors reduced weaving progress today, but the cartoon is only showing her shoulder and hip to the world.  I aim to finish the shoulder tomorrow, and hopefully most of the hip, leaving just the background to finish on Friday and the weekend......

What an Interesting Day!

We had a pair of small boys in this morning.  They spent an hour or so working with Paul dismantling cameras and learning about how they work, then we did battle axe fighting (with sponge axes!), learning about the origin of the word 'berserk' along the way. Then the older one (8) settled down to play GO with P while I started some painting with the younger (5).  He was very interested in colour mixing for his painting of a ruined castle (and he told me the whole tale of how it was ruined and what the King and Princes were going to do to stop it happening to the new one they plan to build), so we did a bit of colour theory (the PIGment who swallows some coloured light and reflects others - must work on some illustrations....).  He then decided to make a sheep, so I found one of the Henry Moore drawings to show him.  The finished beast looked like road kill, but hey ho.  I taught him a bit about tapestry and he added a couple of passes to the sample loom.  Finally, gave the older boy a fencing lesson in the car park; he armed with Granny's stick, and I with his plastic sword.  What larks, Pip!

This afternoon I did some more on the Grey Lady.  I should be able to make it for the ATB deadline...
We were visited by the Food Health people, who gave us the pass certificate we need to serve tea and coffee etc to visitors.  Good job we had hidden the poison mushrooms, ha ha.

Playing Hookey

I had a lovely day yesterday; away from the loom but still weaving related.  I drove up to Twickenham (via Ham and Petersham) to help take down the BTG exhibition which has been at the Stables Gallery, Orleans House since July.  Efficient planning by Mike et al meant that we were finished by lunchtime, so my WD chum Pilar and I went off for lunch together, which became a walk along the Thames, a drive through Richmond Park, tea and then supper at her house in Putney.  We reminisced about our time at WD, but also talked a lot about what we are doing (and planning to do) in our present studios, exhibitions we must go to and so on.  Left London at 9.30 and had a clear run back until the A27  bridge 'behind' my house (I think of it as MY bridge because I go over it almost every day, and under it fairly often), where bits of concrete had fallen or been knocked off, and were being repaired.  Frustrating to be less than a quarter mile from home and not able to get there!  Intriguing to ponder how it happened.  Not too long a delay, so home and in bed by 11.30.  Back to the Grey Lady today, although being half term we may have lots of visitors at Time Machine who desperately want to learn to weave.  We shall see.

At the End of the Day

We had a few interesting visitors today - including another weaver (cloth) who remembered seeing Lament at West Dean, and who used to be a tutor there many moons ago.  I still managed to get quite a bit done of the fiddly area of the upper thigh (6 bobbins / butterflies in about three inches; I feel like a lacemaker!).  I am planning to go in to the studio tomorrow morning to work on the neck and shoulder area.  The lines all slope to the left, so it has to be filled from left to right.  One of Paul's 'regulars' is a good and keen photographer and is going to bring in a tripod and help me with photographing her for the exhibition entry - he has already provided me with an adjustable height stool to work from, so no more Wurlitzer or Portsmouth FC leftovers for me.  The  3 mile drive through the wooded lanes to the studio is a delight at the moment.  I intend to cycle it one day.  Hold me to that dear Reader.

Finished Head.....

This was how she looked at lunchtime yesterday.  Pleased with myself, so had a bit of playtime with COLOURS, revisiting the optical colour mixing tapestry that I have in mind.  I also added a bit more to the sample loom that I have set up in the studio so that visitors can try weaving.  Strictly speaking I had to subtract somewhat; at the weekend when I was elsewhere, a child had done a whole section in the most marvellous (and presumably accidental) double soumak!!  Very nice, but unhelpful to anyone who wants to try authentic plain weave.

Back to the Grey Lady today, as although I had the closing date for entries to ATB9 in mind (31st Oct), what I did not have in mind is how far October has progressed already.  Doh!  She will be finished (if not cut off the loom - we want to have a ceremony / open studio for friends and guests), it is just whether the post will get there in time......

If you are in the vicinity...

the studio address is

The Time Machine
Funtington
West Sussex
PO18 8EF

I am usually there 10-5 Monday to Friday, but it is worth calling first just in case.  Weekends by appointment.

We like visitors, and treat them very well.

Where I Have Got To....

 A bright shaft of sunlight warms her feet.  Admire my lovely weaving bench (and the Wurlitzer stool stage right)

 Detail of head progress, ready to resume next week.

Her crossed ankles and right foot.

We have had a lot of visitors in the last couple of days which has slowed things down a little, but it is good to talk about work and 'educate' the public as to the work of an artist and the techniques of tapestry.

We heard yesterday that we have funding for the sensory garden, which includes two commissioned tapestries; an upright 'landscape' of textures and found objects, and a floor-based touch/soundscape of contrasting textures and materials which produce sounds when touched.  This is all part of Paul's vision of a resource for full spectrum families.  It is such a privilege to work in such a space.

Better Late Than Never...

 Lady on the loom; I have now completed her feet and am half way up the torso and head.  Working from a platform 'wombled' from Portsmouth FC.  Before that I was perched on a pile of cushions atop a Wurlitzer organ stool.  Precarious and reminiscent of the Princess and the Pea.....

 South West corner of the museum...

 North West corner (I am but mad North - North West...)  These are the old projectors from the cinema at the now defunct Graylingwell Psychiatric Hospital.

 Some marks on the top of Lament

Lament hanging between two trees.  There are plans to take her on tour; watch this space.

Lawks! Is it really that long?

On August 18th I moved into my new home, and last week I moved into the Time Machine and started as the Artist in Residence.  No internet for a while at home, but no real news to post either until now.


'Lament' is hanging in the grounds at the new studio.

I have ordered new business, change of address and post cards.

I will normally be in the studio 10am - 5pm Monday to Friday, and visitors will be most welcome - and may even find themselves with fresh baked bread or a cream tea!  The Time Machine is a most fascinating place ( I will link it, and post some photos next week).

I have also found a Life Class locally, and the discipline of drawing has generated some new ideas already; I have about five tapestries in my head, and lots of thoughts about more accessible and affordable (i.e quicker to make) works too (a girl has to find a way to pay bills).

And I love living near the sea.

All-in-all, I am as happy as a clam.

Which will be good news for those who thought my email silence meant that I had fallen off the edge of the world.

The Beginning of the End....

Today the 'men in the white van' (Paul and Andrew) came and loaded up all my studio stuff - stored in three different locations; the print room, my bedroom and the back of my car - and transported it to my new workplace at Paul's 'Time Machine / The Clock Trust'.  The loom will move down at the beginning of next month.  I have a piece to finish (the Reclining Nude which has been posted before) and then some optical mixing / colour study pieces that I want to sample on the easel loom and then make larger versions on the scaffold loom.  In parallel, I shall begin with some drawing and photographing of the collection and develop some designs to turn into tapestry and print.  I have a part-time job application in progress (uploading a CV to a recruiter has taken ALL evening!!) and will keep my eyes peeled and my ear to the ground (now there is an interesting image to conjure with - and the reason for no photos in this post).

My time at West Dean has been wonderful, and I know that I shall be very sad to leave.  I also know that it is time, I am ready to do so, and the next phase will be just as exciting, scary and challenging as the last two years have been.  I am so looking forward to cooking and entertaining again!

Show Week

Fourth full day of the show has just ended.  We had a successful Private View on Friday evening, and a busy weekend as we coincided with MedFest, a West Dean Gardens event.  Three sales (not mine) and one theft (one of my small handmade sketchbooks) so far!  There seems to be lot of interest in 'Lament' and what it represents; it resonates with people and makes them think it is 'about' particular events that they find meaningful, which means it is working as memorial to universal grief as I hoped.  It was strange to have the official photographer wanting me to stand by it grinning.....  I have taken lots of photos of it in different light conditions, and will post them soon.

Nuff Said

 Porters

 Adrian taking the strain as it is lowered to insert a longer cross bar

 Hauled and being fastened by Gary and Nick watched by the artist

 As it will first be seen by visitors to the show

And this morning, with the usually dark slits pierced by bright sunlight

We did it!!

Mourning?

I have finished weaving 'Picasso's Tear', cut it from the loom and wrapped it to keep it clean during the great clear out.  I feel a curious sense of finality, or even loss; no more weaving now until I get back home, and I may not have time even then, with packing and such to do.  I can see the half built frame for 'Lament' from the window here.  It really is close to the end now.

We are having a celebration barbecue tonight, off campus.  I will have left WD twice in one day (Dr appointment this morning)!  And then tomorrow we have to clear all our stuff from our spaces so that the technicians can move the furniture and partitions on Friday and Saturday.  Sunday is 'paint the walls and floors' day, and Mon / Tues we hang.  Watch this space.....

Thunder and Lightning!

The poles were ready to assemble into a frame, the tapestry is ready to go onto a frame, but thunderstorms made it inadvisable to start waving four metre iron poles about outside.  Or any length poles for that matter!  A lull late afternoon made it possible for Gary and Dell to start making the frame - they are about half way, so we should be able to hang on Thursday, the next day that they have available.  That will indeed be a frabjous day.
Picasso's Tear is well on the way, I have ordered new business cards and did a whole lot of etchings today - inky fingers once more.  I really enjoy printmaking, and hope to be able to continue next year, using the print room here in exchange for 'services'!  I made some small book pages with drypoint images and text, and experimented with copper plate etching on to printed photo backgrounds and chine collé.  Need to do a lot more to become a real adept, but am pleased with results so far.  The prints will not go into the show as such, but will be available for sale.  I also used the super-whizzbang printer to print some high quality A3+ images of drawings from earlier in the year, also for sale.  This one is called 'Embrace 2'.

The Final Tapestry (of my MFA) is Underway

I started weaving Picasso's Tear (12cm at its widest point) yesterday, and have continued today, interspersed with beginning to pack things for the move out of here to make room for the Show.

We had a visit from the professional weavers this afternoon, who braved rain and hail storms to get here, so Diana went and acquired a coffee cake from the café to have with tea and chat.

We are planning to open a bottle of champagne ( left over from the birthdays in December) at 6pm. Partly to celebrate the end of both my tapestry and Diana's, and partly to obey the dictum 'Drink Champagne for no reason'. Seemed good to us!

Finished!

I finished weaving 'Lament' at 1.05pm on 21st June. Interestingly enough (to me at least!), it was 21st June last year when I completed the weaving of 'Megalith'. I have been up to the Old Sidings with GB and an angle grinder to liberate (hem, hem) some rusty acrow props and iron water pipes for fabricating the support / frame in the next few days. I was photographed last week ready for the press release, and they are coming back once it is hung to take some more photos of the finished piece in its temporary location. The good news is that they are hoping that I can put it into the tree circle after the show, and leave it there until after the Apple Fair, so that it will be seen by all the garden visitors between July and October. Hop-te-tooty!!

I warped up a borrowed scaffold loom with fine red linen this morning, in order to begin weaving 'Picasso's Tear' this evening. Today has been too full of Prof. Prac. interruptions and questions. The peril of having lived through the process once I guess; I have a role as End-Of-Year-Show panjandrum.

Getting Above Myself!

For the last few centimetres I am perched on a triple platform so as to be above the weaving line. It means that I can peep over the top of the scaffolding at passers by. What larks, Pip!

Random photo of fungi because the Tapestry is NOT Finished....

....but only about 10cm to go. Many distractions last week - a day printmaking, various Prof. Prac. activities, AND, I have a studio space for the next months! More on this in a later post. Solving this 'problem' helped in my decision to accept an offer on my house in Northamptonshire, and reserve a property down here. Suddenly things are beginning to fall into place, and at a time which will enable me to concentrate on them fully once the Show is over. I find myself more than a little scared (but excited too) about the prospect of a new location and future, but equally certain that it will be OK - this is what I came to WD to prepare for - building up my practice as an artist. If I do not at least try to make a go of it, then I will always regret it. And I comfort myself that they cannot shoot you for failing!!

Latest....

We did the final 'pull for the shore' yesterday afternoon, and I finished the head of the standing figure last evening. I plan to go about 50-60 cm above the head and then finish. GB is primed to make the steel armature next week. It really is nearly there! After two years, there are only a few weeks to go until graduation and the big wide world. Plans are moving ahead a little on that front, with a potential studio space and possible movement on the relocation and finance front. Things may actually be falling into place, but I will hold my breath for a bit longer.

Moving Megaliths..

..is not just for Obelix.

Gary B, who built the armature last year came with a van to help me move 'Megalith' to her new (temporary) home in the circle of Quercus ilex. It did not take long, and I have left her to settle in. I have to go up there tomorrow with some signage, and also create some flyers for the Gardens Visitor Centre, to direct people to find her.

Progress Report

At the beginning of yesterday:

and at the end:

After a few days away from the loom (recovering from the epidural-for-my-back, and then handling warps of a different kind in the Solent), I came back pain-free, full of vim and made excellent progress yesterday. The end is now definitely in sight. Tomorrow I shall be working off the double platform (wooden box atop carpetted metal) to a height of about 2'6", then a final 'pull for the shore' and work as far as the tightness of the warp will allow. Aiming for the end of next week, allowing for interruptions and another weekend afloat (hopefully). No weaving today as we had an all day life class. I drew this morning and modelled this afternoon - both activities are strangely exhausting, and I do not think that I will be in the studio late tonight. The weaving edge is all marked up ready for tomorrow morning, and I have made the necessary adjustments to the cartoon. When I finished last night it was with pondering over exactly how best to represent the lines of strain in the neck of the upright figure; different wefts, cording, staggered slits? I am going to try cording on the morrow, and see whether it gives the right effect. The joy of tapestry is that unpicking (or evaew-ing) is a possibility.

Passing the Two Metre Mark....

....and ready for another 'pull for the shore' session tomorrow. The end will then be in sight, and it may not need another roll around if I can work off the platform up to the top. I am back to full weaving strength, so have been able to do two 7 hour weaving days - the other days I have done other things too! I had an interview for a Residency yesterday, and heard today that I had not got it. Rather disappointed, as it would have been a good place to be and a good opportunity to widen my skills, but not to be. Looking onward to the next thing....

We decided today that 'Megalith' should be moved in advance of the End of Year Show in order to allow the grass to recover for other exhibits. She is going to relocate to the tree circle where 'Lament' should have gone before Easter, so I will have a presence there after all. Need to organize a Land Rover to get her up there, and some flyers to explain her presence to WD Gardens visitors.