Sherri Woodard Coffey

Many of us own this book. For many of us, me included, it was the first weaving book we ever owned. I still pull this book out and look things up. I turned to this book the first time I wove a weft-faced anything, a saddle blanket for my father. I flipped through its pages, wanting to try everything, to know everything. 

Later I took my first dye class from Rachel Brown at what is now called Southwest School of Art. I knew nothing about dyeing, but that class sparked a desire to know more. Now that I actually do my own dyeing, I realize that Rachel taught us a rather unconventional method that she used to obtain her beautiful, multicolored skeins. We took a skein of yarn, twisted it up tight, tight, tight, and then stuck it back into itself like you always do with a skein. The tight twisting essentially caused an ikat effect. After the tightly twisted skein obtained the desired color, it was removed from the dyepot, untwisted, and twisted again to expose a different region. Then it was dyed in a second color, which was added to the same dyepot. This process was repeated until the skein suited your fancy.

In her book Rachel explains a very efficient method of dyeing that conserves water, starting with the lighter colors and moving towards the darker colors, all in the same water. It takes planning, but it’s well worth it.During Convergence a couple of years ago, I took this picture of Rachel and her granddaughter Teresa. Beside Teresa is the Rio Grande wheel, which Rachel is responsible for developing, along with the Rio Grande walking loom.

I didn’t really know Rachel, but from what I understand, Rachel was a huge advocate for fiber artists in New Mexico. I know of weavers who saw their first loom at Weaving Southwest, and knew they had to become weavers. It’s amazing how much influence this one woman has had in our weaving world. She will be missed.

Well, when you weave four or five hours a day, there’s really not much to write about. The biggest excitement I have is the audio books I’m listening to. They have ranged from Sue Grafton to Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth. I’m told that Pillars has weaving in it, but I haven’t reached that part yet. It is a good tale and easy to listen to while weaving.

I posted a pic of the weaving, but the colors may be too analogous to show up good in a picture while it’s on the loom. However, since I now own an iPhone, I wanted to try a picture from it. Have to admit, it takes a pretty good picture! Of course, I had to fiddle with it to make it a size that would load well here. Now it’s time to go back and needle weave all those weft ends in. I’m also thinking about what to weave next as I weave.

I wrote about the the color wheel above earlier. It’s on my studio wall, but is going to have to be moved so that I can read it more easily. It’s crammed with information. Now, thanks to Donna, I know about Joen Wolfrom’s blog. She’s got some great exercises to play with color. As a dyer, this will be helpful, I think. Plus, ever since I read about Matisse and his paper cut-outs, I have thought about coloring my own paper and then using those papers to cut out shapes and explore designs.

This also reminds of notan, the Japanese designs, something else I would like to explore more. Kit Eastman does beautiful katazome. On her blog, she has a couple of pictures of notan. Kit is teaching classes in both katazome and notan at The Textile Center in February. Wish I lived closer!

Even though I am so NOT an interior decorator, I enjoy reading a few blogs relating to interior design and color. One of my favorite is called Color Me Happy written by Maria Killam. There’s always lots of pictures, lots of information, and Maria is so knowledgeable about color and undertones.

Thanks to Donna Kallner I got to add another blog to the list—Colourlovers. Check it out.

The blogs listed below are not strictly about color, but include design inspiration.

• http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/
• http://spadystudios.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things-colourlovers-com/
• http://www.textile-blog.com/
• http://tracizeller.com/blog/
• http://www.designsponge.com/

You might also want to check out Donna’s Spoonflower page. She’s designed some great fabrics. I may want to try that myself someday. Hmmm…if only I sewed—long story there.

This is not a blog, but couldn’t resist ‘cause the colors are so great. It’s from Oprah’s website—who knew? There’s a whole group of pictures with teal goodies.

And then there’s this by Joel Cooper, found on Colossal Art and Design. Isn’t this wonderful! Made from one sheet of paper! Take a look at his masks, seen at the above link.

In weaving news—I finished the new piece in two weeks! That’s a first for me. AND the next warp is tied on, ready to go, only waiting for the yarns to ball themselves. Between the long weaving days, sorting files, organizing, and regular stuff, well, there’s not time for anything else.

Way back in October, I wrote about joining Surface Design and subscribing to Fiber Art Now. Today I made a rare trip to the post office to pick up my mail. Rare because there’s usually an empty box once I peer in. Today was a bonanza. I first issue of the Surface Design Journal awaited me, along with a sale catalog from Dick Blick. Well, as the saying goes, they had me with the cover. This is by Anne Wilson, called Walking the Warp, a performance with the Hope Stone Dance Ensemble. I haven’t read this article or any others yet. I think the first article that will get read an article called Painting in the Round about Elizabeth Whyte Schulze. This is a link to the artist’s page with the pieces in the article. I love these! By the way, the surface design organization sends out a nice email newsletter several times in between issues of the journal.

Arriving a week or so ago was the winter issue of Fiber Art Now. Above is the Table of Contents from that issue. There’s a nice couple of pages on tapestry weaver Linda Wallace. I like Fiber Art Now because all kinds of fiber art is included, from rug hooking to weaving to well, just about any kind of fiber art.

With the stringent weaving schedule I’ve set for myself and the organizing that continues, I don’t seem to have time to read much lately, but I can look at the pictures!           

Last night, after waking with a leg cramp, I realized that I need a cup holder on my loom. You know, cup holders are a deal breaker when it comes to buying cars! Instead of installing a cup holder, I am going to set my phone alarm for every hour. Then I will get up, walk for a bit, and drink some water.

Now for some amazing fiber art…Take a look at this site. No, this is not some strange plant growing in the woods. It’s felted. Poke around here a little and look at other award winners. Beautiful and interesting. Here is the artist’s website for the piece above.

I’m weaving a design that I’ve woven before, with a few modifications, lessons learned from the first time. I don’t know why this particular weaving is so satisfying to me, but it is. Maybe it’s because I love the colors, the design engages my brain, or maybe it’s just that I’m listening to a fairly interesting book as I weave. But I also have to admit that I wonder if I’m “cheating” by weaving something I’ve woven before. Guess it doesn’t matter at this point—I’m doing it! Weaving along at the rate of one inch an hour. At this rate, it will take me twelve 5-hour weaving stretches to finish. But that won’t happen; I can’t weave everyday. Life gets in the way.

I am also reading a book, which does cause problems occasionally. The two get intertwined in my head sometimes. The book is Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger. One of the many reasons that I like to read, is that I learn things, even if it is “just fiction.” In this book, a major even happens–a storm called a derecho. I had never heard of a derecho, although I did recognize the Spanish word for right or straight (as in direction) or derechos, as in derechos humanos. It is the straight definition that lends its name to this storm. The winds are hurricane strength straight-line winds. The leading edge of the storm appears like an arc, as seen in the picture above, comes from the NOAA. More can also be read there. Evidently a huge derecho came out of Minnesota in July, 1999, causing much damage along the way, traveling all the way east to NY, out into the ocean and back to South Carolina. You can see more derecho pictures here and find more links to check out if interested.

While grocery shopping yesterday, I came across this container of veggies. Aren’t they gorgeous? The last picture includes the sign for these green wonders. They are called Romanesco (If the Wikipedia is down, they are closing for a day in protest of SOPA, so here’s another link.) and are described as a “fractal member of the cauliflower family with a mild creamy and nutty flavor.” I admit that I don’t really understand fractals, so really don’t know if they qualify, but they’re still pretty interesting, and probably qualify for that Fibonacci thing.

It’s Stock Show and Rodeo time here in Fort Worth. We’ve had this event since 1896. During this three week period, those of us who live here see an influx of horse trailers, many more cowboys in their Wranglers, many more shoppers in the stores, diners in the restaurants, and drinkers in the bars. One can occasionally see boots and spurs in the grocery store at any time of the year, but during stock show season and cutting horse events, those spurs are almost the norm. 

The crowded streets makes this a perfect time to weave, although our weather has been great the last few days. I’ve set for myself a pretty stringent weaving schedule for the next few weeks. I want to get two pieces woven, finished, and photographed in time for an entry on March 15. I’ve plotted out on my calendar what I can possibly do, weaving at my current rate of one inch per hour, that is if I don’t get sick and tired of sitting on that hard loom bench for hours at a time. This is when I wonder if a walking loom would be helpful. I’m still working with the organizer (and may be for the rest of my life!), but on those days I can work in the morning. I have to admit, if I can get those two pieces done in a timely manner, I will be pretty proud of myself! However, I am also not going to beat myself up if it doesn’t happen. There is real life out there, and one’s psyche does need other outlets.

I wrote about Pantone’s color of the year in one of last week’s posts. Below is a quote from the person responsible for these colors. I’ve highlighted the portion that most interested me. So, the color of the year seems to be not a fashion statement or forecast, but a representation of our thinking or feeling.

Will orange become ubiquitous? Probably not, Ms. Eiseman said. “What we’re trying to do is get the feeling of the zeitgeist, to use an overused word,” she said, speaking by phone from her home on Bainbridge Island in Washington. “What are people talking about they feel they need, that color can help to answer?For us, the color of the year is not the hot fashion color, but an expression of a mood, an attitude, on the part of the consumers.”

I love the graphic quality of this photo accompanying a book review about parking lots. Some of the lots in the photo slide show are pretty neat!

Yann Arthus-Bertrand/Altitude

A sea of Green? A working lot at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. More Photos »

And then there’s this headline, also from the NYTimes. Obviously I couldn’t post the photo, being xxxxx and all. It’s from the time when London was an outpost for the Romans. And, obviously, since it’s xxxxx, I can’t post a picture! Check it out by clicking on the headline. You’ll like it. Instead, click here. Never mind, I can’t give you the link, even though it comes from the NYTimes. Facebook won’t allow me to post the link to my blog post because “The content you’re trying to share includes a link that’s been blocked for being spammy or unsafe…” I have removed all links, but still am not allowed to post on Facebook. Hmmm….