Back in the Groove*

*(=studio)

I have acquired a new studio assistant; Tapestrybrits Aphraminta Splodge joined us here on 22nd March.  She and Doglet are each coming to terms with the existence of the other.

I have spent quite some time rearranging and streamlining things in both the studio and the rest of my home, including the creation of a writing nook.  You may remember that a couple of years ago I applied to do a funded PhD and was unsuccessful (or maybe I did not blog about it); I have rewritten the proposal (hence the writing nook), sent it in three weeks before the deadline (I know, I can’t believe it either!), and I have been invited for interview on May 1st!  I am delighted to have progressed a stage further than last time (at a different institution).  

With one thing and another, my studio time had been constrained, and not very productive in terms of new ideas, BUT I have just had three really good studio days (and another one tomorrow); new work done, and loads of ideas to develop further.  I love the creative process; when choosing to be disciplined and do something, anything, leads to so many possibilities.  

Oops!

A scaled down phot that you you can actually see!

Lavington Plantation, West Sussex

Another tiny (5 x 5 cm) tapestry from the Purl and Loop Wee Weaver.  I am still experimenting with textures and map making.  I am teaching two courses at West Dean later in the year; April 17th using a tiny loom as a sketchbook, and July 10th making a tapestry cuff.

‘Geode II’ is still in progress on the Ashford Loom (aka Aragorn)........

Penbury Knoll

As promised, the first trial in my ‘Ritual Landscape’ series; the focal point for Neolithic burials that is Penbury Knoll in Dorset. The tapestry is 5cm square and includes Ghiordes Knots for the trees, soumak for the paths, verdigris copper wire for contour lines, and beads to mark the high point (hidden in the trees) and a spring.  Next up, Gussage Down.

I am building up a textural vocabulary to make pocket maps of sacred places - the ‘thin places’ of the Celts.

Things I Have Been Doing Since June

1. Finding interesting images for journal (see above)
2. Doing important Chaplain things (meetings, services, visiting)
3. Parting company with The Beau
4. Going on walking / research holiday to Dorset
5. Planning new series of small works as a result of 4, *, **
6. Revisiting research proposal, prior to rewriting
7. Weaving
8. Knitting
9. Reading Improving Books
10. Finishing a small commission

How I feel about the above:-

1. Neutral
2. Content
3. Surprisingly OK
4. Delighted
5. Excited
6. Pleased
7. Myself
8. Satisfied
9. Smug 😝
10. Chuffed

* I finished weaving the first one this morning; it is currently undergoing the verdigris process.

** Now, of course, I have to bind a new sketchbook for this 'Ritual Landscape' series. I have approximately five million*** in the drawer, but none of them are quite right.....

*** May be a slight exaggeration!

Location:All Over the Place

Of Scaffold Looms and Junk Shop Barglins*

*word coined by nephew =bargains

My dear friend D recently moved to Hastings, and now has a lovely studio to put a scaffold loom in - she has been waiting for this since she and I were at WD together eight years ago. Now that I have Lemminkäinen, there were most of the components in my garage, which were sent over by van a month ago. (This photo was when I had it in my studio in Northants)




Last Tuesday was Loom Building Day, hoorah! I have discovered a very useful scaffolding supplier, so headed off to acquire the missing components (one pair prop-bracing double couplers, and an 8ft tube) armed with my long spirit level and a big spanner. I had taken spare rope in case the tube was too long, but my little car can fit said 8ft tube, along with dinghy mast and boom (of which more later). Little jig of joy!

After a very pleasant drive along the coast, and a welcome cuppa, we unloaded the goodies and began our task... Upon realising that we needed some carriage bolts, D took me to a splendid old-fashioned ironmongers, where they still sell nails etc by weight, and wrap them in newspaper. Oh joy and rapture - I could have spent hours in there, but we had an important job to do..... Short detour to a community charity shop where I found my barglin - a hairdresser's saddle stool for £3.50! The very thing for saving my back when at desk or loom. Another little jig of joy!

For those of you who wish to build your own scaffold loom**here are the ingredients:-

2 Acrow props
2 Scaffold tubes (length as required or to fit space available)
2 prop-bracing double couplers (pbdc)
2 swivel couplers (sc)
2 short scaffold planks

Large adjustable spanner
Long spirit level (another junk-shop barglin, £3 eight years ago)
Second person (D is exemplary)
Step ladder

1. Bolt lower sections of acrows to planks
2. Insert upper sections, adjust height to fit under ceiling
3. Fit pbdcs to lower section at height required
4. Fit scs to top section, ditto
5. Add scaffolding tube to pbdcs, loosely
6. Add scaffolding tube to scs, loosely
7. Check levels, correct if necessary, then tighten all bolts.
8. Drink tea and congratulate self

I was thrilled to bits that first the lower tube (now beam) and then the upper, were both spot on level. Three cheers for me / us! And another jig of joy.

**I am available for consultation, supply, and construction.

We then decamped for a fish and chip supper and mooch around Old Hastings, which still has proper junky antique shops.

The final task was to put a practice warp on, which we did. Final jig of joy.

A splendid day! Drive home, Gabapentin, and sleep.......

Handling Warps of a Different Sort....

.....or, what to do if the boatyard 'forget' to install the main halyard before stepping the mast. Do as the Beau did:-




1. Buy a safety harness
2. Ascertain that girlfriend (=me), henceforth known as First Mate (FM) is available as winch woman
3. Hire some ladders (mast has no steps) Wait for tide to ebb so bilge keels settle in mud and boat will be still.
4. Manoeuvre ladders onto deck with FM; lash to anchor post and shrouds
5. Make and drink tea
6. Don harness, attach safety line (the Genoa halyard), climb up ladder while FM winches you up
7. FM ties off safety line, Cap'n lashes ladder to mast
8. FM releases safety line and pays out while Cap'n climbs down ladder
9. Cap'n ties new main halyard to harness
10. Climb ladder while FM winches you up
11. FM ties off safety line; Cap'n hauls up new halyard and feeds it through the thingy at the top of the mast**
12. Repeat step 8
13. Secure new halyard to piece of chain and stow in the lazy jacks
14. Repeat step 10; undo lashing at top of ladder
15. Repeat step 8
16. Make and drink tea and eat teacake
17. Remove lashing at bottom ladder, Cap'n and FM carry ladders onto pontoon then back to hire place.
18. FM moves car which is in 2hr only spot.
19. Make and drink tea.
20. FM makes whipped, thimbled eye splice in the new halyard (her first eye splice in nylon rope, and first with a thimble, and all after a year's gap since last one)
21. Congratulations all round.

Now for the rest of my Studio Day!

**technical term temporarily escapes me

Location:Emsworth