Words and Pictures

the exhibition runs from 1st - 11th August at the Post Modern Swindon

A Big Thank you

At last but not least before I sign off for today I would like to say a big thank you firstly to friends and family who helped me set up couldn't have done it without your car space and strength :) second to the lovely people who came in and had a go especially the ones who bought me lunch! and last but not least to my lovely husband who helped me tale the whole thing down today despite suffering from jet lag. Thanks again to all and the Tale now continues in my garage as I attempt to finish the weave before next weekend - I'll keep you up dated!

The professionals

A couple of pictures one of me on the final day of weaving - very sad to take the whole thing down, but there is still work to be done as the weave is going into an exhibition at the Post Modern http://wordsandpicturesexhibition.wordpress.com/ Ok not sure that link worked but hopefully you can see the blog for the exhibition based on song lyrics. Oh and there is also a cheeky picture of James my nephew and youngest weaver!

The loom trainees

The trainees at the loom all of them did really well and I have little strips of others work in my piece of weaving. The weaving process can be a little difficult to explain but really its a matter of lifting the leavers that lifts the shafts in the right order which comes down to counting! So as long as you can count your half way there!

The weaving continues

There has been a few days of weaving now! And lots of people have had a go inculding my 6 month old nephew! One more day today of weaving and I shall post more pictures later. But for now it's back to the loom still quite a lot to do!

A close up of the workings!!

The Weave begins

So here it is the first patterns going through, my plan for this warp is just to use lots of colour and pattern and let anyone that wants to have a go pick what they want to do! already had two people take up the challenge and very well they did too!

Threading up

here they are pictures of the threading up process. It looks complicated but you are following a set design so you just need to keep to the pattern. The yarn then goes through the reed - the comb like thing, this keeps everything in order and is also used to beat down the weft. Finally you tie the warp on to the front beam and its ready to go!

First Day in the shop window

So here it is winding on the warp - this image gives you an idea of the layout of the stripe. A bit thank you to Alex who took the picture as of course I forgot my camera! Today I wound on the warp with a little help from Ivana and Alex thank you very much. and i have also threaded up the headles (pictures to follow tomorrow when I do have my camera!). Now all that I need to do is thread the reed and tie on then the weaving begins so please come and visit! p.s. I also freed a lovely spider who'd set up home in my loom sorry spider but you will have to find a new home!

safety first!

always best when dying something to where a mask the dye powder is not very nice if it gets in the lungs!

Dying and winding

so here is the bit I can't do in the shop front, the dying and winding of the warp. As you can see I've gone for nice bright colours I think everyone needs cheering up in this miserable weather! I've wound the warp so it looks a little like a rainbow but with streaks of the different colours in each section to mix it up a bit.

The Yarn

They may not look much but soon these yarns will transform into multicoloured stripes for my warp. I just have to wait for the dyes to arrive now!

The Poster!

OK here it is the poster for the residency! so the 1st thing is done, now I need to design what I am going to weave which starts with finding the yarn.........

watch this space for news of my residencey at the no.9 shop in Swindon!