The Crud

Have you ever had "the crud" ?  I had great plans to do some quilt making this weekend. I was going to finish this piece.

It needs backing, quilting and binding.  But it hasn't happened.

  Friday morning I had a vaguely sore throat.  I assumed it was allergies as I had cut the grass the evening before. So I just carried on.  By evening it was a bit worse and I was slightly grumpy.  ( I should have realized it then.) Saturday morning I was BLAH!  I have THE CRUD!  As I am rarely sick, this is a real pain to me.  Sunday I have been sleeping frequently, and when  awake drinking lots of hot tea (Celestial Seasonings Peppermint for the head clearing effect.)  When you are sick it is very important to stay hydrated.
So folks, I am going to be all right, but for now I am back to tea and rest.  Hopefully I will have something new to show you in the next week.
My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Happy Happy and Blessed

After attending the opening session of the Saori Conference, I really really wanted to take more classes.  I had discovered that you could have signed up for the Post Conference workshops only. But I was too late as all the arrangements for food and such had been final for a while - yes - it was after the cut-off time.   I really didn't know about the cut-off though. So I just emailed the conference organizer and asked if it was possible that I could come for the classes.
What a surprise!  She had a student who had to leave early and wouldn't be there for the Post Conference classes.  I had met this lovely lady while there earlier. She gifted me her classes.  When I found this out, I started looking for a hotel.
I found a hotel nearby and in my price range -although at the higher end of it. I was ready to book when I got a text on my cell phone. It seems the conference organizer asked a lady who lives in the local area if she had an open room I could stay in.   This is a lady who was taking a class and weaving a lovely scarf on the day I bought my loom.   She and her husband were an absolute delight!  I chatted with both of them on Sunday evening over supper. Then, of course I chatted with her during free times at the class and in between classes.  It was a delight.
I learned so many things that I can do on my loom.

We were also shown how to drape the woven fabric on a dress form to design clothing with minimal cutting of the woven fabric.  Masako, the lady who did the designing as we watched, is a genius in creative clothing design.
Here is a picture of Masako during the design process.

Masako smiled most of the time we were there.  She clearly is a joyfully creative person.  I know that the creative process brings much joy into my life. My wish is that you have the joy of creativity in your life also.

I will have more pictures from these classes as I have time to process them.


My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

A Fun Trip

On Friday, I went to a weaving conference opening session.  This session was free and open to the public.  One of the most interesting parts was a fashion show of clothing and accessories made with Saori woven fabric.  Saori is both a company and a philosophy.  In the USA it is a registered trademark.   The philosophy speaks about making things by hand in a way that a machine can not make them.  Errors are not seen as flaws but as adding interest in the designs.  It also speaks to learning from each other: "we learn together as a group."  Even the beginner makes valid discoveries and shares them with the masters.

But what of this fashion show?  Do you want to see pictures? I have to say that this gave me so much inspiration for weaving - and for sewing also.
Here are a couple to tempt you - then you can follow the link to my Flickr album.

My Fashion Show Pictures on Flickr.


My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.

Rich Colors

A friend contacted me to make something for a present. I got excited.  I ordered the supplies and could hardly wait for them to arrive.
Then they arrived and I got started on the weaving.

I had a difficult time putting this down.  The colors are richer in person than they appear on the screen.
Last night, I got it off the loom.  It still needs to have the fringe twisted.  Then I will wet finish it.
Here are the photos I took this morning under overcast skies.

two photos combined to save space!

 This scarf is roughly six feet long as requested and made of mostly wool. There are some cotton fabric bits added in. There is also a bit of acrylic and a wool/acrylic blend yarn in there since I needed the extra colors.


My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated.