VIVA Gallery

From

Carole Austin; fellow weaver and I are guest artists along with Nick Smolen, a blacksmith, this month at VIVA GalleryOur opening reception was this past Thursday; what has become their monthly first Thursday gathering of VIVA members and local art patrons. The food and wine was a lovely addition to what to turned out to be a larger than I expected, crowd. I can hardly believe that I forgot my camera. The gallery looked great and I feel honored to be a part of such a group of incredibly talented artists. Go to VIVA's blog to see more info on this great gallery.

Deflected doubleweave

From Kindred Threads

From Kindred Threads

From Kindred Threads

Not too sure about this project at first. I mostly just wanted to play with the weave structure. Something about doubleweave fascinates me. But the whole felting process has not usually been some of my brighter fiber moments. Of course if I had done some sampling I would of had a better idea of what would felt and what wouldn't. I knew I was probably going to be creating an "arty" piece when I read one of the yarn labels as being shrink resistant. Of course after I had warped up the loom. As it turned out the black alpaca/silk that I was sure would felt, didn't even pretend to try to felt. I have been kind of warming up to its uniqueness gradually and after seeing it worn by a lady at the VIVA artists reception, I think that I actually like it.

From Kindred Threads

The yellow stitches join the long edges of the shawl while it is felting so that it felts evenly.

From Kindred Threads

Looks a bit like my calico cat if she had been put through the washing machine.

From Kindred Threads

playing...not producing

From Kindred Threads

From Kindred Threads

From Kindred Threads

Instead of just finishing off the tail end of my linen purse warp in a timely fashion; I decided to use my stashed; handspun in Nepal nettle yarn, to make a loopy scrubby cloth. This was calling to me after reading about a "spa cloth " on one of my favorite emagazines called weavezine.
After an hour plus...plus? of loopy madness I decided I loved the effect, but this will not be an item that I would be willing to sell. There is just not enough time in m world for that.

So that was fun, but in the end I am just procrastinating from getting inventory built up for an upcoming featured artist spot at VIVA Gallery for the month of November. Carole Austin, another weaver (hopefully more productive than I);and Nick Smolten; a damascus metal worker, will be sharing the featured artist spot with an opening celebration from 5-7 on November 5th. Come and join us, I think I will get some pictures printed and have more of a virtual show, if I don't get busy soon.

gatherings

From Kindred Threads Our 2nd Monday gathering this month was at my house and despite a miserable snow/rainy day we stayed warm with laughter and my somewhat too spicy butternut squash and pear soup. Thanks to my hubby for a couple of his great apple pies. Susans wool potholders and linen scarf (above) are lovely and Carole showed us her bamboo and cotton runners, just off the loom.

From Kindred Threads

Carole's spectacular stained glass coat made with recycled felted wool sweaters.

From Kindred Threads

The top pics, are the ever productive Barbs, wool gansey and linen purse. At our last gathering she mentioned that she wanted to try knitting a gansey sweater and of course she was wearing it to this meeting. I hope to soon....finish the sweater that I have been working on for the last couple of years. Hope springs eternal, as they say. The chart on the table is for a pair of fingerless mitts that Barb and I both would like to do for xmas gifts. I predict we will see Barbs at the November meeting. The bottom right pic is a cotton and alpaca scarf that is wonderfully soft and woven by Jan H from the Milwaukee area. I hope we see her at many more gatherings.

From Kindred Threads

Jan has finally finished her camel and silk and it is beautifully spun and plied into a very fine fingering weight yarn. The lady likes to spin thread. Here she is getting some spinning help from my new puppy Molly.
As always these get togethers provide me with a good burst of creative energy; to keep me inspired and hopefully productive.

Apple Days

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Kindred Threads

Fall is apple season in south western Wisconsin and the Gays Mills orchards are a feast for the senses.

Linen bag

Seems like impressive yards of material to make just one of these strip purses. This one contains pearl cotton, bamboo and linen. It sold at the Driftless Fair before I had a chance to admire it much. Good thing that I have one more on the loom.
I do so enjoy working with linen. It has such a crisp elegance; yet also a timeless appeal that makes me feel connected to the women and men of yore that grew the flax and retted the fiber before spinning it into yarn. Ancient connections with modern uses.

Driftless Art Fair

This last weekend Carole and I shared a booth at the Driftless Area Art Fair. It was a beautiful fall weekend full of art, music and friends. Once we got set up we were relieved to finally be done with the frantic preparations that seem to consume the weeks before a fair. Once again I vow to build my inventory in the winter so that I am not so frantic the week before a fair. And with two back to back fairs, I am looking forward to not touching anything remotely fibery for a bit.
Not for long though because Carole and I will be featured artists for the month of November at VIVA Gallery in Viroqua. I hope that you can stop by on the first thursday (Nov. 5th) gathering of artists to see if we have managed to get back to our looms.
Thanks to the fair organizers for pulling off another wonderful fair. The meal Saturday, that was catered by Monique Hooker, for the artists was exquisite!