Tapestry Artist Donna Loraine Contractor, Weaver of Fine Art Contemporary Tapestries

Happy Year of the Dragon!!!!!!!

2012-01-24T09:40:00.000-08:00

Yes! The year of the Dragon! One of my favorites. I do a whole series of tapestries based on Feng Shui

( let me know if you want to special order one, all sizes welcome for commission),

and the dragon is one of the most used "cures". Here are a few of mine.

Accomplishments for 2011 were many, 3 pieces accepted for a public Art competition, 2 solo shows, 2first prize awards, over a dozen new tapestries created and over 20 sold.

Of course there were many setbacks and problems, a studio flood, a home burglary, a husband falling off a roof ( he survived with only 3 broken ribs, lucky)

and my poor website person was diagnosed with leukemia which has delayed our plans for revamping my website, which we are finally back to. The domain is now registered to me and we are switching to a Wordpress site so I can add and edit at will.

But since I haven't posted to the blog since november I better get back to it if i want to keep up to date.

I'll announce it when it's all ready

Back to the new year,I prefer this Lunar New Year to the Solar one , which is just too close to all that Christmas etc stuff and the end of the year. Speaking of christmas here are some pics of our tree this year,we bought a tree cutting permit at the Jemez Cultural Center ,drove up through the beautiful snowiness, then hiked in to pick and cut the tree.

Since the middle of December I have completed 3 large tapestries, 2 medium sized ones and 4 10"square "smalls" here are the smalls and mediums in progress . I think I was too busy weaving away to document the large ones

These are from a new show i am putting together called "NEW MATH" where i am revisiting m "Universal Language Series, doing some previous designs in different colors as well as exploring some early female geometers and new fractal patterns. Sick at home today, so instead of my usual, "Back to the Loom" It's, back to finishing the little straightline spirals (left0, take a nap, work on website, take a nap, post on TAFA http://www.tafalist.com/, take a nap.

On Being Busy!

2011-11-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

Yes , being busy is a good thing but there is that saying. "Too much of a good thing" I've finally finished with most things, work and Life. Shutting down the pool and the garden which was extremely productive. I became a mini farmers market to friends , ate fresh salad everyday , April to November 2cd. I picked the cute little pie pumpkin and it's waiting for my daughter, the baker of the house, to make it into Thanksgiving pie. The zucchini really got away from me with giants hiding under huge leaves. Ate lots of zucchini bread.Yesterday I roasted the huge tomatillos and picked fresh celantro that hadn't frozen and made some yummy ,all from the garden , salsa.
Then I packed up two boxes of these green tomatoes to ripen throughout the winter.

I had to reinstall one of my Public Art pieces as the state changed their guidelines. And the installer for the St Vincent Hospital put it up upside down and had to redo it.Here it is right side up. Oh the trials and tribulations! Which continued as the state government was bogged down and it took 2 months to get paid.
But I soldiered on , weaving another big piece in my Fracture Square Series. Here are some pic's of it in progress. I took these photos partly to keep track of those pesky beginnings that get all rolled up . It's 77" long so a lot of rolling happened. A little warp was left after this piece so I quickly made 2 little pieces for the Weems Artfest.

Here is Ida, who helped last year, helping me hang the pieces. Sold most of the little pieces but this year no one took home a big tapestry . One year at this show I sold nothing at the show itself but actually had my best show because of the large number of orders. So now I wait. But I was awarded one of the 10 BEST of SHOW blue ribbons for this Red Fractured Square so that was very nice, especially when you think of the 220 other artists,showing paintings and sculptures as well as clothing and pottery etc, and that they pick just 10 pieces of art.And here is a cool picture my husband took with his new I phone. He scanned the booth taking almost a video and then it compressed them all. I had about 5 different facial expressions. I want my picture to be taken like this always!

Now I must put on a new 10 yard warp that should last 3 months or so. I made the two chains and now must tie knots to the dummy warp and beam on. Gallery sales have been good this year and they are running out of my long skinnies ( running out of runners so to speak) So I'd better get going on those as well as getting started on a possible show of new math pieces ( to be entitled "NEW MATH") and I'm teaching a Tapestry Class at the Village Wools here in Albuquerque in December- January, so I will soon be too busy again.

and so back to the loom!

Dog Days of Summer ( I mean really!)

2011-08-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Dog Days of Summer ( I mean really!)
What does the dog days mean? I immediately think of way too hot and way too tired! And I "ve come to the conclusion that 2 solo exhibits and one Art Fair weekend may be my limit. I am too tired and too hot!
We are over 4" behind in rainfall here and we are in the high desert so that is a lot to be this far behind. So it's me out there in the garden watering morning and night. The lettuce only just bolted and there are still peas on the vines, feels a bit miraculous. The tomatoes are ripening and the squashes are coming on a bit too strong so it's time for the annual garden gifting to begin. I managed to save some carrots from my grand daughter who just left from a surprise week long visit, ( I thought she was coming the next week). She delighted in the surprise of not knowing how big they might be, some were small but they did need some thinning. She also finished her shawl that she wove start to finish on a Easy Weaver that I found at the Thrift Store for 10 bucks,
( it came with 10 stick shuttles so a true bargain!) Here's a pic of her wearing it.(right)
She even learned the finishing technique quickly and finished it herself. She was very proud and I am too as you can tell.

Here are some pics of my show at the Jonathan Abrams Gallery at the UNM Hospital.And you can see a pic of the reception in the news article below them.As you can see it is an interesting venue , being in essence a long hallway. You rarely get to see your own work this way and I was happy for the opportunity.
Exploring a new venue means reaching a whole new group of people and in this instance it means potential clients who usually are too busy for artfairs and galleries.I've already had contact with a few Doctors and Nurses, some who are interested in particular pieces and some who just wish to express their appreciation for the beauty my work has brought to their workplace. This venue is especially gratifying in that patients are constantly going through the space everyday and I,ve received several thank you's from them for having raised their spirits.
Here are some links to some press the show received as well as an article from their in house press.
http://hsc.unm.edu/som/medicine/recognition.shtml
http://www.local-iq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2064&Itemid=55

Remember that the Taos Wool Festival is coming up so If you know someone or are someone who wants to explore an easy to learn style of tapestry, ( that can be done on a Baby Wolf type Loom for heavens sake)
using a floor loom and exploring a less is more style of design please recommend my workshop at the end of September. It's a great deal for a 5 day class, it's always lots of fun and Taos is breathtaking at this time of year!Follow this link to learn all about it and register online, it's easy!
http://www.taoswoolfestival.org/2011-weaving-workshops/
And also do check out the TAFA group, a great international group of fiber artists, of which I am a member. A great group to support and easy to join.Here is their link
http://www.tafalist.com/p/membership.html
and check my previous 2 blogs where I'm offering great deal to help them out a bit.

Here is a new piece from my UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE SERIES "Simple Oscillating Structure- Lattice 1"Hopefully for a solo show next March with a whole new show of Math pieces. I am already booked for 2012 and have a possible solo exhibition with teaching gig possible, out of state for 2013. We'll see if i can shrug off this exhaustion.But since all my galleries are clamoring for new work , I'm going to try and finish this piece today soooooo it's Back to the Loom!!!

More Tapestries for sale!

2011-07-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, again especially for those coming from the TAFA site, but also for anyone interested this piece is from my UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE Series. All about math and math concepts. You can read a bit more about it on my website. This is my interpretation of the ROOT TWO SPIRAL 54"x40 " It usually sells for $4,200 Special sale price 3,800 and again 10% goes to TAFA , ( see their link in the last post)

Tapestries for sale!

2011-07-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Especially for TAFA a new sale of some of my older pieces that I would love to move to make room for the new. If you don't know about TAFA here is their link TAFA and they are a great textile group from all over the world , check them out.

The piece below is from my "Architectonic" series and was originally $3,200 but now , through TAFA I want to move it at a reduced price of $2,800 and I will donate 10% of the sale to TAFA. Go to my website to find out about the details of my tapestries.

"WINDOW LEDGE" 62"x40" Hand dyed wool tapestry, fully finished on both sides , suitable for free hanging, all pieces have finely finished fringe which is looped to fit clear acrylic poles, ( provided) for hanging.

June is almost over! ( and still no rain!)

2011-06-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

   Yes it's the end of June, I almost missed a post, yikes . And we have had no rain in recent memory it seems.The fires are flaming and the wilderness burns,WE NEED RAIN! I went to get my vacuum to clean up the ash and there was ash ON the vacuum, I had to clean the cleaning machine!!!!!
But my pond is flourishing and the lilies look happy. In the garden I have to wash the plants off constantly and I have been eating garden salad all month and corn is growing taller.

  May and June were teaching times
with a class at Village Wools, our local yarn shop, with three lovely ladies who requested a class.
Here they are in progress and finished. One student, April,(Top left)
had some scheduling problems which were fixed by a class
here at the studio. Here is her first circle attempt.
  There was much discussion recently about where does an artist look for validation? In Guilds, Master programs, the public , our peers? I have had a lot of problems with the so called BIG groups, such as HGA,( a venue I was closely involved with, on advisory board and initiator of their weaving pillar in their exhibit schedule( which no longer exists) was literally stolen during Convergence. Another group enlisted a weaver to teach at one of my galleries and this weaver had just delivered the "cease and desisted" document to my lawyer about a "blatant " ( Lawyer's words) copyright infringement. This same group copied me on a scathing email about my work after I inquired about getting someone from the group to review my Solo Show for their newsletter.
What do you do? The best thing is just to take what is useful to you and leave the rest.Look for professional behavior, act professionally and leave the rest. The hot wind continues to blow here in NM and I keep remembering pruning. The weak limbs fall, the strong persevere. I am lucky enough to have fantastic galleries who appreciate me and marvelous and loyal clients who collect my work.
   And I love my work, the product and especially the process.
Installing the Art is as much of the process as the creation of the tapestry. Here is my wonderful installer, my husband Devendra installing the tapestry " Reds, Blacks & Golds, Fractured Square Series" at the Zimmerman library on the UNM campus in Albuquerque.Below is all done ( took us 3 hours whew ! but it's done Yay!)
It was a very busy month and a half since my last post and June was my birthday month ( My Fibonacci Year as I turned 53 in 2011, ..........0,1,1,2,3,5 , any one else with a Fibonacci birthday? If you are my age you did, let me know in the comments box below) I tried to give my self mini vacations on several afternoons to swim and lounge by the pool. Designed several pieces in the pool! So was it work?.
But all that lounging has set me back some from getting ready for my next Solo Exhibit at UNM Hospital's

Jon Abrams Gallery July 22cd- September 9th with a reception on July 28th. Designing the card, getting it made, putting my mailing list together all steps in the process and done! YAY!Her are some "littles" for the show and next post I'll show some bigger ones.

And the pieces all need to be delivered on Monday the 18th!?! Sooo it's Back to the Loom!

Finally!!! It's raining in NM and I'm posting a new blog entry!!!

2011-05-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

After more than 100 days with no rain it rained all night and still is though the sun is trying hard to come out. Nothing more dramatic than the light during an intermittent storm at these high elevations. Beautiful!
And I've finally figured out how to post ( with pictures )on this laptop so here goes.
I have been inordinately busy and of course that led to some kind of bronchitis that I'm just getting over.

I finished weaving all the work for my solo exhibit in Taos NM at the Weaving Southwest gallery on Saturday, finishing,steaming and photography on Sunday and Monday,delivered it on Tuesday and attended the opening on Saturday. When I got there I was a bit worried as the Gallery Owner, Theresa Loveless, ( Rachel Brown's Granddaughter) was the first gallery owner to take on the challenge of free hanging my tapestries , as I finish the back of all my work. As I walked in I was bowled away by the impact of it as well as the clever use of space she made. Each piece was hung on angle so that each could be viewed on it's own and all were staggered in space to give a beautiful flow.You almost felt as if you were walking past invisible walls, a lovely and natural maze like feeling. All the other artists represented by the gallery were on the wall, artfully arranged in color ways that lent a beautiful background to mine in the center of the room. Here is a link to a you tube video of a portion of the opening . http://youtu.be/XWY0e_wPAK8 You really feel as if you are there, but no food and the food was wonderful!

(And the fellow

in the traditional long Indian shirt is my husband Devendra, who you will see more of in the next blog or two as we install the pieces that I sold through the NM Public Art Program.)

We had a really successful opening and sold the largest piece in the show! (The one closest to the food table, far right in picture on right).

And since the opening I have been trying to put a new warp on and get ready for my next show (FULL SPECTRUM) which begins July 22cd and will have an assortment of tapestries from my various series with an emphasis on my Feng Shui Series , especially the GREEN WOOD to augment health.
Also I was asked to teach another Beginning Tapestry Class at our local yarn shop, Village Wools so that has been taking my weekends and I have had another new student in the studio. So much work, so little time!
When I went to put on the new warp I saw there was just enough warp left to eke out 4 little 10" square pieces ( I'll try and get some pictures of these for the next post) so I hope to finish those today and get that pesky new warp on soooo BACK TO THE LOOM!

Celebrate the Spring!( Warping F to B, African textiles, Healing Art update)

2011-04-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post as i try frantically to get ready for a show. I figured with Spring here it feels more like New Year's and so I started a diet and exercise program using my I Phone , There's an App for that!!! And so 12 pounds in 2 weeks! Part of the exercise program is gardening, my oregano and strawberries are going great guns, peas, radishes and Asian greens are up!
I got behind in my posts to the various groups so here are some answers; I always warp front to back when i do Tapestry BUT when I worked in a Production Studio for Joyce Wilkerson We had many separate Back Sectional Beams that lived on a rack and we carried them to the loom as needed. These we warped on the racks using cone holders and tension boxes. We also had many sets of the 16 harnesses we needed for each fabric ( only had the one AVL loom) We threaded these as Dummy Warps and tied knots for the new beams. All that was too fast for me, hence the switch to Tapestry which has it's own issues of complexity.
There is a Marvelous book on African Fractiles that covers the Math of african Design , Ill link to that on the side. It gets one a little deeper than just the visuals.
I received many responses to my request for "Art and Healing Stories " and I will post a few here when I get done with this Solo Exhibit. ( got another one in July, I'm getting tired already)And I've had a new student as well, no wonder I'm exhausted!!! I would love more especially about any experiences with Art in a Public healing location having powerful effects or stories of your pieces in similar places uplifting people. Please use the comments box if you can.Speaking of which I received the GREAT NEWS that 2 of my entries for the New Mexico Public Art 1% for Arts Competition were purchased , ( they wanted all 3 but 1 had already sold) And one will be installed in the Emergency Room of St Vincents Hospital in Santa Fe. Hopefully I can collect some stories on this one and I will post installation pictures when that happens in 2 months or so. The other piece, ( a very large piece that was previously pictured on this blog last summer when it was on display at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History) will be installed in the Main Library at the University of New Mexico ABQ campus.
So I should go back to work on the red fractured piece in progress but here are some peeks of some new pieces for the show, let me know what you think in the comment box below please.

And NOW Back to the LOOM!!!

SPRING!!

2011-03-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

Yes, Spring is here, or almost. Spring is an elusive thing in the high desert South West. But these daffodils from my south facing bed do portend it is almost here! And no wind today!
Recent beginnings, like spring and my article in the Taos magazine about my work and upcoming Solo Show, and endings, the passing of a tapestry artist who had a great influence on my early career in tapestry and my recent flood and burglary, ( most of the adrenaline has left my system), reminds us to be grateful. The family is all well, the shower was nice and hot,the cat gave me a shoulder massage last night ...AND these pieces are almost finished.I was worried about making them work , and I was definitely needing SPRING! They remind me a bit of the old Rainbow Sherbet I used to get as a child. Still juggling finishing one house with intent to move (?) and getting other house ready to rent, along with daily chores and weaving and taxes and the business end of things. Easy to feel overwhelmed but the practice of tapestry teaches "Baby steps" ,"slow and steady wins the race" and my favorite from my Dad,who in a way started all this,

( see the taos magazine March 2011 issue soon to be on my website) , "It's a cinch by the inch, it's only hard by the yard!"
I am firming up 2 workshops for beginning/intermediate Tapestry Techniques _"Using Your Floor Loom's Beater Bar
for Line by Line Weaving" One at Village Wools in Albuquerque May 14 , 15,21,22,28&29 and the other right before the Taos Wool Festival September 24th-28th.
Some essential books for tapestry to recommend this time as well as a few local writers books steeped in New mexico flavor especially for any of you going to Taos New Mexico, either in April for ATA activities or in May to see my Show.
And now BACK TO THE LOOM! if I want to finish these , and I do.

February is Almost Over and Tax Time Looms Closer

2011-02-20T11:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's a short month with just a week plus one day left. I wanted to thank everyone who contacted me with their warm wishes after my Studio Flood and Burglary. I do want to remind everyone that I would appreciate your posting to the comments part of this blog as well, thanks in advance. And feel free to ask questions or suggest things you would like me to concentrate on in these posts.

I think things are looking up and a good sign of it this beautiful flowering Cyclamen that i bought last year and several times it threatened to die but it is back and thriving. My beckoning cat may have helped as it welcomes clients, students and apprentices at the door.

Accompanying them is my Shrine for my 1960's era Kokeshi Doll from Japan. The shrine was made by my good friend, the well known sculptor and basket maker, John Garrett who lives here in Albuquerque. She looks so happy ensconced in it.

It occurred to me that my Glass Collections was in a post way far back so here is a picture of two different pieces,they are placed here to distract from the air conditioner and it's also where the studs were.

I also forgot to post a picture of my Warping Board and the warping procedure. I have stationed it underneath my Ribbon and Awards Board which is a great shot in the arm when you are slogging through the warping which , although it has a wonderful rythm can be somewhat daunting and the feeling of potentiality can be a bit depressing . This way I can remember my past accomplishments which helps me imagine a bright future

I have now become an official collector of Mirrix Looms. I cannot say enough good things about them and so I have recommended them at the link on the left. Just push BUY and they are yours!! I started with a 12" which is so portable and easy to make a shed , WOW such a graduation from my little navaho- esque deal that I had to needle weave on .

And now I have just purchased a 32" Mirrix.Here it is sitting on my 6 foot Shannock that I still have to rewarp. (Students! Call me to schedule your class to light a fire under me to get this Warped!) It is perfect for a new study group I have formed that involves Shaped Tapestry Studies and a Group Collaborative Project. Any one in the area who is interested and contact me and join , the more the merrier. A pleasant group where no snide comments are allowed, mutual respect for all levels of experience and a desire to learn. We meet one Sunday afternoon a month and drink tea and weave, great fun!

And this Mirrix is wide enough for the Shaped Tapestry , AND a small demonstration type strip on the side .Perfect, Beautiful and highly recommended!!

I actually finished these pieces right after the photo, well the same day anyway as I had only 5" to go. I am so enamored of this size, ( 20" square) and the fact that they took 6 days to weave that I am doing 2 more, and maybe 2 more after that.

The weather here in New Mexico is once again grey skies and wind, LOTS OF WIND!, and i think my color influences and choices right now are in the other extreme. They are definitely Brighter than usual and with that comes the , " Gee I hope I can pull this off" feeling which actually makes the whole thing a lot more fun.

Be sure to check out my new RECOMMENDED READING as they have a definite " Get Down To Business" Theme , what with Tax Time rapidly approaching. There is a great Legal Guide for Artists, and a wonderful book by ArtBiz Coach Alyson B Stanfield and a few fabulous others.

On that note, with the majority of my taxes done, ITS BACK TO THE LOOM!

Its the Middle! ( Almost) and it's 2/11/2011!

2011-02-11T17:17:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd try a mid month post instead of the clumping together I have been doing with the beginning and the end.
They say bad things come in threes so I hope I am done with all bad things. it started last summer with a copyright infringement problem which is solved with a cease and desisted statement by those involved in selling a way too close "Copy " of one of my designs.
Then came the artic cold here in new Mexico with a burst water pipe in my STUDIO!!!! High levels of adrenaline got yarn and tapestries to safety. My cosy floor rugs became giant sponges and now I'm chilling out on my cold concrete floors. Then 2 days later a break in at my residence. Computers gone! 20 year art jewelry collection 1/2 gone, something must have spooked them. Back door destroyed! YIKES!
Cats and Art are all OK as are we all but with shaken nerves.This was all last week.

But now I'm back to work and behind schedule , getting ready for May and
July Solo Shows . So of course I ran out of warp after these 2 little pieces
( 8"x20") were completed .

I double damascus edged them , braide and looped and put on the poles,
steamed them, photographed them and took them off to the gallery ( Mariposa Gallery) check it out when you are in Albuquerque, it's right here in Nob Hill.These sell rather well , these 2 are $300.00 each.
And here is my Dummy Warp, ready for me to pull the knots through the reed , cut them off on the breast beam side and retie my new chained warp. And no mistakes in measuring!
The winding on went perfectly and I am tied on and ready to start weaving tomorrow. I always let the new warp as well as the new tie on rest a while and I will weave two small pieces to test it out.
be sure to check out the newest recommended reading. They are mostly from my favorite little book series, the Wooden Books. Small size packed with information. Kind of like a TARDIS in Dr who. Enjoy and it's Back to the Loom ( tomorrow)

Happy February!

2011-02-02T16:08:00.000-08:00

Yes , it's February, the month that's hard to spell.
Just a quick posting with pictures of my 2 commissioned pieces finished on time! And the clients are thrilled!
Keep checking this blog and my website as I implement a lot of changes for the New Year! Happy Metal Rabbit! It sounds a bit like Japanese Anime.

This first piece was an adaptation of a smaller piece that the client gifted to someone else and then missed it! We both agree that it is even more powerful as a bigger piece, this one is 50"x 24" and retails for $2,500.00. Commissions are always welcome.

This second piece was designed with the client who wanted an assortment of spirals , as in my Universal Language Series Pieces ( see the website)

and the colors of the ROOT TWO SPIRAL ( again see website)

And now after too many meetings and not enough weaving it's back to the loom!

Happy end of January!

2011-01-29T10:16:00.000-08:00

Yes, January is almost at an end and I've almost finished the 2 commissioned pieces on the loom. I do them side by side as you can see and I hope to finish today as one of them is due on Monday!?! Yikes , I must hurry with this post and get weaving. The picture showing the wrapped around part of the tapestries is quite an interesting pic. One piece, on the right of the loom is a long runner type wall piece with 4 spirals, 2 Baravelles top and bottom and a Root two spiral followed by a Golden Mean Spiral. I love spirals! To me they represent so many things , among them the never ending "Learning Curve" where each time you follow a path you learn a little of something new and ascend in your knowledge.

I have also been experimenting with book recommendations and will soon have , hopefully , a second page you can access to direct order from Amazon the books that I have taken years to find and recommend as useful and fun tools for not only Weaving but Design and Color Theory and Creativity Building. Check out the 3 previous short posts and click on the BUY button to easily get the fantastic books I've recommended so far. LOGIC and DESIGN is my all time favorite as it is a wonderful mixture of eye candy and design theory and science and math and more! A beautiful book that all Artists and Art enthusiasts must have.
The 2cd book is an origami book . What is a weaver doing recommending Origami Books? Check out the PBS Documentary "BETWEEN THE FOLDS " available on instant Netflix to find out. ( watch it then order the book , from this blog please, as you found it from me, thanks).
And finally the book on collections! Talk about creativity! If you are anything like me you have collections too.

Here are some of mine from my Glass and Nipponaphilia to my cool shoes and my love of Brushwork. and eventually, hopefully, they find their way into Mixed Media Pieces. There have been some interesting discussions lately on What is The Nature Of Originality? For me the answer is different for my Tapestries than for my mixed media work. The Tapestry on the left of the loom shot was ordered as a larger version of a piece the client already purchased. As I weave it I am capturing the same spirit but some changes have to be made as the size changes. Definitely fun and a challenge and original as was the original, so to speak. In mixed media, I did not make the puzzle pieces , nor the mask or little boxes, but i consider the whole to be my original art piece.
And I love my brushwork , from the Ink grinding to the simple movements of wrist and elbow, it and the mixed media are what I do to change the pace , especially when I have weaving deadlines.
Speaking of which , due to a Gallery Glitch, where the gallery booked 2 shows at the same time , My SOLO SHOW at the WEAVING SOUTHWEST GALLERY in TAOS NM will be May 3- May 31st with an opening reception MAY 7th, a Saturday, from 6-8.
My SOLO SHOW at the JONATHAN ABRAHMS GALLERY at the UNM HOSPITAL will still be JULY 15- SEPTEMBER2 .
And now I must get back to WEAVING! BACK TO THE LOOM!

Some More books!!!

2011-01-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

This is fantastic.see what you think!

Another book recommendation!

2011-01-24T12:43:00.001-08:00

Sorry to be doing this one at a time but these are fantastic books and this is the trial run. These will be on a whole list on my website coming soon as a newly revamped site. It will be in it's full final form by may so keep looking as it changes and let me know what you think.
Meanwhile, enjoy this book as well!

Book Recommendations for you!!!!!!

2011-01-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

I've put up a new feature of recommending books that I've collected over many years,as wonderful resources for weaving and designing. Here is just the start , a test if you will.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!! ( it's only 8 days old)

2011-01-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

Just when I think I can't get any busier I do.

Made it through the holidays intact with many visits and fun distractions from work. My best apprentice , my grand daughter Giovanna came to help me out , ( she's the shorter apprentice)

The other is Billye, a great help and good friend now after 2 years as an apprentice. She works as a nurse practitioner at the Acoma Pueblo and helps me out on the weekends).

I was approached last year by our University Hospital inquiring if I would donate a large Tapestry to their very extensive and magnificent Contemporary Art Collection, and have a solo show in their Gallery Space, the Jon Abrams Gallery so that is scheduled for July 2011.Here are pics of the piece I intend to donate in progress and finished , on January 1st!! What a nice feeling to have completion on the very first day of the New Year! It turned out to be 77" long, longer than any since my 16 footer for an atrium of an office building a while back.

After Christmas I was asked by Weaving Southwest Gallery in Taos NM to have a Solo Show in April and I jumped at the chance. And have been busy with interviews and arrangements for the show and an accompanying article in the Taos Magazine that will come out in March. Now I really need to chain myself to the loom!

But then wouldn't you know I received 2 orders from 2 different people that were the right sizes to do together , ( How Serendipitous! Rarely happens!) Their deadline is January 31st. Last week I had an appointment with a student to evaluate her 2 looms and help her set one up and give warping lesson. I provide this service locally although I have been able to evaluate some looms by photographs , but they need to be extensive.

Now with these obligations out of the way it's back to the loom!

Happy December!

2010-12-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

Year is winding down so I thought I'd post a whole lot of pictures

, of the "Buddy' class with Ida and Jeanne , ida's 1st and Jeannes's second class.

I especially adapted the class for Jeanne to help her fill her toolbox with more tapestry tools that she will use in a design she is working on.

Pictures of my booth at the Weems Artfest. Jeanne and Ida helped me set up and each came a day to help me . I actually had lunch outside of my booth! and My apprentice , Billye came on the last day so help everyday, Thanks so much to all of you.The first day was very exciting as I won a "BEST IN SHOW" ribbon and prize money for my newest "Fractured Square " piece. Then I sold a big piece from my Universal Language series ( left side of booth, top right) and a medium sized piece ( right side of booth, top left).

Really made my show!!

And then the Friday after Weems ( I did take Monday off , went to Taos on Tuesday, and cleaned the studio wednesday and Thursday) a new student, Barb, came to take a 4 day class. A very talented student , who caught on quickly, with just a little weaving experience.

Now it's back to weaving, preparing to move my household yet again in the New Year, and working on revamping my website and Blog. So much to do , so little time soooo Back to the Loom!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010-10-31T10:13:00.000-07:00

What a busy month! Almost missed a blog posting in October when I should have had 2! yikes! and oh well, c'est la vie! And what a vie, feasting now on the great quantity of winter squash that 3 little vines turned out. And all the teaching this month. My Taos Wool Festival class was full and successful. Judy(below Teri) Margy and and Teri (above)rented looms from the Festival

and were able to finish their pieces.

I recommend the rental method , especially if the student has a floor loom with a beater bar they want to use at home to do their tapestries. I teach this method exclusively, a line by line technique instead of the build up method. I teach students to embrace the grid rather than fight it, at least initially, and I teach a design method of getting the most impact for the least outlay of technique, time and material.

The other 2 students brought their collapsable ( so cool) rigid heddle looms, because that was what they will be using at home initially. Yes, you can weave tapestry on a rigid heddle, not so easily and the tensioning is not as tight as I like but it works. The festival treated me well, putting me up right where the classes were, feeding me breakfast and letting me use their microwave for my cheap dinners in my room zoning out watching HBO. A fun working vacation that I'll try and do again.I encourage all you students out there to come to Taos next year for a great experience.

Then home again to a month of frantic weaving to get ready for my biggest show of the year the WEEMS ARTFEST, this year November 12-14, a beautiful show chock ful of high quality art for those of you who might be here then, at the State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque.

Here is a pic ,of a new "Fractured Square" piece , which will be 72"x 40" and hopefully finished tomorrow, what a way to start a month! . I'm feeling the pressure of needing to remain chained to the loom as so many of the new "Fractured Squares" have sold.

But first I must conclude the class that has been here at the studio, every weekend of this month. Again , students, this is based on my other classes, minus the full day of warping as work ( still line by line) and is done on my 6' Shannock upright . 2 students can work at the same time, which is happening right now behind me, so buddy classes are very popular and remember B&B's and hotels are moderately priced and ABQ is close to good skiing and sight seeing, might as well throw a tapestry class in, as I am available with a flexible schedule, week days as well as week ends, moderately priced, and can tailor to individual levels, beginning to advanced.

Next month I 'll try and keep up and post pics of this class as well as the Weems show.

But now it's, scarily enough, Back to the Loom!!!

Happy Autumn!

2010-09-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, Fall is here ( at least in the Northern Hemisphere) and

it's my favorite season,

cool temps and no WIND! I took advantage of the 90 degree weather on the last day of summer and took the afternoon off. What a great recharging idea, I'm going to keep it up, one afternoon a week just lying about.

While I was relaxing I started wondering what happened to the Mantis that lived in our yard? I think I've become a nature whisperer as this happened with a hawk earlier , Lo and behold , I spy this enormous preying or is it praying? mantis. I snapped the shot and went back to lounging when sure enough along came a hummer!

Oh they had a good 10 minute duel and I really think the mantis had high hopes, but eventually she went on her way and the hummer had a drink and I had a nap.

I have been extremely busy with a student in the studio these last 2 weekends along with dropping pieces to shows , meetings and trying to get weaving done.

Here is Jeanne working away,
and her finished piece!

I am going to The Taos Wool Festival in early October to teach a 5 day workshop and this was great practice.

The idea is to do a sampler that is also a viable tapestry on its own, learning the basics,selvedge to selvedge, I teach dovetail joins because of their strength, (joins are around a warp, not suspended between)

stair steps, 2 different angle slopes and combining the last 2 , a curve.

I teach primarily for students who have floor looms and want to use their beater bars, so it is all line by line, even though my teaching loom is a Shannock upright and we use a beating fork.Here is a picture of tying a

warp onto the dummy warp so I never have to rethread the reed or the shafts! Especially good when you are really busy.

I've got two showsin Santa Fe coming up , one in the Rail Yard District for Santa Fe Design Week that is sponsored by the NM chapter of National Museum of Women in the Arts.

If you have a chapter nearby they are a great group to join.The one here does a lot of lectures and workshops and shows where you have the opportunity to put Tapestry Art on an equal footing with more traditional art forms, and its great for networking.

The other show is an Alumni Art Exhibit at St John's College, also my 30th reunion. Oh boy! I'll have my newest fractured squaresat the railyard and 2 of my math pieces at St John's.No wonder i love Math and Philosophy so much. ( We read and had to understand,ancient Greek and original Papers by Einstein, a varied education for which I am very grateful)

This top photo to left is my newest fall inspired "Fractured Square" and it will be part of a Solo Show I have been invited to do next year at UNM Hospitals prestigious Gallery and I will also be donating a large

( really LARGE and I'm planning on getting larger and larger with my work in general) Fractured Square Tapestry to their permanent collection which is a phenomenal collection!

This little one was done after winding the new warp on as a tester. Yes, the warp went on well, i probably could have started the big piece but better safe than sorry.

Now back to Fall, a time to harvest, a little bittersweet, like the japanese idea of Wabi Sabi, Ephemeral and beautiful , partly because of its fleeting ways.As you sow so shall you reap(spiritually as well as physically so apologizing for those squashed toes and stolen ideas and hurt feelings is in order), the garden harvest was pretty good,Still more beets and zucchini and those winter squashes look tasty. I have lots pesto cubes ready for quick winter dinners so I can weave away, Which I must do now, Back to the loom!

Happy August! ( Yikes its almost over!)

2010-08-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, that was a fast month, before I knew it was here ,... it was over, or almost.

I survived the influx of Convergence with it's share of stepped on toes ( ouch!) and noses poked where they didn't belong, but it had its share of bright spots. One such bright spot was a visit by a Tapestry Artist from Providence RI, Jan Austin.Here is her link, austintapestry.blogspot.com/ (The color has changed and I don't know why? Bloggers?)and Thanks Jan for your link to me in your last post.

The proverbial photo of photo taking referencing infinities ( see jan's last post for a Pic of me taking this) and one of Jan posed in front of the sister piece to the Weaving Southwest photo from the recent article in USA Today http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/summerroadtrip/index.( I was a little nervous about these images of my pieces as I have had recent copyright troubles)

But the visit with Jan was great and she is a joy.

Then Mercury went retrograde and everthing possible broke from the fuse box which my air compressor uses, to no internet, no e- mail, to a broken board on the deck. I'm still trying to fix the light in the utility room. And then an influx of visitors, including my best apprentice, my granddaughter, who mastered dovetail joins quicker than I've ever seen. A quick trip to CA and back delivering college student and stuff and I'm back to the loom. In between I finished a warp , put a new one on ( 9 1/2 yards every 3 months) and reshuffled my show in Madrid NM(Left) to be able to put a new " Fractured Square" ( Reds Blacks & Golds) in a beautiful nook in the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History's Gallery Store, (RIGHT).

At the end and the beginning of a warp I do little pieces anywhere from 2-6 pieces at the same time. I ended with the 4 little "Feng Shuis" ( 10"x 10") $110 ea in brighter colors this time ,

and began the new warp with 3 little panorama pieces of "Fractured Squares" 7"x13". I hope to finish them today! YAY!

And another bright spot was my little Trader Joes $8 orchid that bloomed again and is still blooming!

Recently there have been so many disparaging comments on "Contemporary Tapestry" and Southwest Tapestry" As someone who creates works of Art in this genre using Tapestry as my mediumI feel compelled to respond somewhat to all this. Firstly, ERUDITE is a good word, not a put down (having or showing great knowledge or learning.) I definitely am drawn to bold graphic images and that is what I create . I never expect everyone to have this same aesthetic, it is my path and that is all. All truly authentic paths have equal value, however sometimes the distilled and simplified is harder to grasp and understand and often quite difficult to pull off.

I could go on and on but I'll end with a picture of my glass collection window. I found most all of them from the thrift store or from artist friends and I was inspired by a short story by AS Byatt.I love her writing and I love Glass!!

And now back to the Loom!

Time for a bit of a Rest and Catching Up

2010-07-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, the big push to get new work done for my Solo show"CONNECTIONS and INTERSECTIONS" in Madrid NM ( at the Tapestry Gallery through August) is over and now since I'm not frantically working 11 hours at the loom I can catch up on badly needed cleaning and R&R.

Doing a solo show with a deadline is a great way to fulfill the New Years resolution of restocking my inventory with New Work. You can"t enter exhibits if you have no available work.

The reception was fun and lucrative , having sold the piece to the right of the doorway.The show will constantly change as pieces find their homes so I hope to do at least one more new "Fractured Square " piece before end of August.

Plenty of friends and clients and Convergence and CW goers. It was a record breaker for the heat ( 101) so thanks to all the brave people who literally weathered the heat.

My R&R will be short lived in order to come up with more new work and fill orders from the last 2 shows( both of which are still up for viewing thru end of July, 10th floor City / County building Commissioner Stebbins Offices, directly west from Convention Center and at the Creative Albuquerque Art Space , Corner 1st and Gold.

Rest and recreation for me means working in the garden, which needs so much weeding!, and lying pool side after a swim near the lily pond and fountain.

And look how my gardens grows with volunteer sunflowers and setting tomatoes and ripening chiles and oregano and lots of basil for pesto!

SHOW OF NEW WORK STARTS TOMORROW

2010-07-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Show "CONNECTIONS and INTERSECTIONS " Starts tomorrow with a reception from 1-4;30 at the TAPESTRY GALLERY in Madrid NM. So I am frantically getting ready after suffering some illness I seem to have caught after sitting the ATA table at SOFA in Santa Fe last Thursday. All that shaking hands stuff, not enough hand washing. So I missed helping out again on Sunday as I hacked out a lung and threw out my back. Felt a little better and worked 11 hour days just weaving to get the last 2 pieces done.10 days start to finish! Here is a peak as I start to finish them and also a picture of the damascus edging which is a simple half hitch right to left , right warp over left anchor;all the way across at which point all the warp points up toward the weaving . Then it's back again left to right, left warp over right anchor, all the way across and they all point back down. This creates it's own fabric which then
allows me to hang the pieces from the braided and looped warp without affecting the Tapestry.

And finally look at this orchid about to bloom, I'll post it when it does, can't wait.

Now for a swim as I'm all ready and hope to see some of you there.

Happy End of June

2010-06-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Happy End of June!

Time really is a jet plane! Whew.

A lot got done and a lot of fun was had. I'll give you a peek at the new large "Fractured Square " series piece and I hope for a cut off party soon. Only 13" left!!!!

It was my birthday month; I have recently graduat

ed from

birthday week to month for this and the next decade beyond which I will celebrate birthday years. Had my annual all girls birthday pool party and fun and sun all round with plenty of good eats and drinks. And the presents!!!.

My friend and apprentice Ruth presented me with the lovely large orchid in the picture. Two of my older orchids have decided to gift me with new blossoms as well.

My good friend Susan found this "Weave it" to cap off my collection, everything complete and pristine condition. I guess I collect looms, all sizes and shapes and these are so adorable.My husband and daughter got a DVD of the recent" Independent Lens "program called BETWEEN THE FOLDS, a fascinating documentary about Origami, Mathematics and Science. It's a WOW and I highly recommend it. I watched it twice from Netflix and exclaimed , "I must own this!" and I guess they heard me. Thanks to everyone for all their thoughtful gifts

Then I took myself to my local thrift store, I am a frequent shopper there and get office supplies as well as fun stuff so they feel like business excursions, and got a new mask for That collection. Yes I am a collector. This new mask came undressed I added the hat and neck piece when it joined it's fellow masks on the various sides of my loom. One is my alter ego as it keeps my name tag for me and the other holds my glasses and they all make me smile.

I am busy getting ready for my newest opening on Friday July 2cd , preparing inventory and paperwork, buying refreshments etc after having spent a while with my web master putting a calendar on the site so now you can check there for all my upcoming shows, receptions and workshops.

I'm also trying to finish this piece sooooo back to the loom I go

HAPPY JUNE

2010-06-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Yikes! It's June and I've been very busy getting my inventory up because of my solo show coming up in July , right before Convergence ( At the Tapestry gallery in Madrid New Mexico , reception July 17th 1-4;30). The Summer is coming on beautifully with lilies in the garden and lots of evening swims.

Sneak peaks only now and to see the full pieces you will have to visit one of my 3 Solo Shows available for viewing ( one mentioned above, one at my County Commissioners offices/ Gallery Space on the 10th floor of the City/ County Building directly across from the Convention Center , available for viewing through August, Mon-fri 8-5 along with a fantastic public art collection lining the hallways of which 2 are mine through prior Public Art Competition wins; and one mentioned below, (July will be busy!))during

Convergence , the Handweavers Guild of America's Convention ,being held here in Albuquerque.

I have enjoyed seeing other weavers postings about where to put their warping boards, in and out of use so this is my solution. I tie the board with strong twine to the back of my rolling cart, the kind you can get cheaply from Costco and it makes a cart and a shelf or one tall shelf depending. When I need to warp I roll up a chair with adjustable heights. When I'm not warping,the warping board is a perfect storage spot for finished tapestries awaiting their owners or trips to Galleries and Shows.

My board is now full , since this picture was taken , with pieces for my newest show opportunity.

I was invited by the group that I did the Valentine Benefit ( see previous postings) to put up a Solo Show in their new Offices/ Gallery Art Space. The have changed their name from the Albuquerque Arts Alliance to Creative Albuquerque and have wonderful new energy to go with it. This Show will be on display from July 1st- August 1st at their new downtown Offices , located at 102 Gold Ave SW, quite close to the Convention Center.

And a quick note about inclusiveness and tolerance which has been on my mind due to some comments I've recently heard. There always will be many variations of seemingly the same things, be it people , styles of tapestry, art, etc, or whatever. To make pronouncements about which "have problems" and which are legitimate does no one any good. We all strive to add tools to our tool boxes and we all choose what interests us. For me it is the challenge of design and execution using the least to get the most, "What is the highest impact I can get while simultaneously reducing complexity?" And while I admire the traditional tapestry artist if I had to do that style I wouldn't be doing weaving at all . There is room in this world for all and a broad and wide mind and heart is so much more beautiful than a narrow and shallow one.

This is my Birthday Week and I am planning to have some fun as well as get work done , sooooo

Back to the Loom I GO!