(tiny) PAPER CRANE

2012-01-24T15:50:00.004-06:00

Let it go down in the record books that on this day, Tuesday January 24th 2012, my kickstarter fundraiser New Year's Weave has been FULLY funded with still 13 days left to go! We did it friends!

Hooray! Penland! This collection of textiles is very precious to me. I can surely promise myself and all of my backers that when I end my two month residency I will have created nothing less than the finest work I could possibly create.

Thank you with my whole heart to all of you out there who helped fund this project. And of course, the most special thanks of all to my Mike.

I will be at Penland from March to May 2012 and will be documenting work and posting it here.

<3

Henderson

2012-01-24T11:24:00.002-06:00

Over the past year I have often seen the most brilliant red male cardinal in my back yard or on the birch tree outside my kitchen window. Today he was nibbling on a tree with his girlfriend. I was only able to snap a photo of him and not she.

Today I decided to name the pair as they seem to live around my house. He is Henderson and she is Lisa. Cardinals are birds that mate for life so Henderson and Lisa will always be seen together or not far apart from each other. Romantique!

New Years Weave, update #6

2012-01-23T12:40:00.000-06:00

My New Year's Weave Fundraiser is 83% funded with 14 days left to go. Over this past week, I have woven 5 yards of fabric for coasters, the $25 gift level. This fabric is 100% un-mercerized, 8/2 cotton in colors, slate, lollipop, black and natural. Donate to New Years Weave on kickstarter today and receive a hand woven item made by me!

Tiger in a Jar

2012-01-22T12:13:00.001-06:00

Preparing food never looked so beautiful.

Beet Cake

Classic Pesto

classic pesto from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

The art of making bread

the art of making bread from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

Tiger in a jar

The Silas Capelet

2012-01-17T09:55:00.000-06:00

The Silas Capelet, handwoven and sewn by Dee Clements, 100% 20/2 cotton in indigo, steel and natural. The perfect accent to any outfit!

Shelter Protects you

2012-01-17T08:49:00.001-06:00

Karie Reinertson of Shelter Protects You might possibly be one of the coolest girls around. This talented lady residing in Asheville, NC (my personal dream home) creates beautiful back packs, purses and clutches. Her goods also feature Chicago's own Horween Leather, one of the oldest tanneries in the United States. Now and then I peruse Karie's Blog to see what beautiful work she is making and what wonderful things might be happening in her world. Karie's beau Robert Maddox is a designer and builder with an architectural degree. Together the two seem to make an unbeatable team of awesomeness.

The Rolston Bag

The Ripton Clutch with detachable strap

The Shelburne Clutch

A lovely post

2012-01-12T14:42:00.002-06:00

A lovely little post about New Year's Weave on Maura McGovern's blog I LIKE IT HERE-M.

Thank you Sweet Maura!!

New Year's Weave

2012-01-08T12:12:00.004-06:00

Hello Everyone!

I have a kickstarter campaign in the works and I would like to tell you about it.

I began weaving over 10 years ago while pursuing my degree in Fiber and Material Studies at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. As I continue to develop as a weaver, my focus is to create hand woven utilitarian textiles for the home and body. This year I am excited to introduce some new elements in my work. By blending the Japanese dyeing techniques, Kasuri and Zanshi with classic Scottish Tweed and Tartan weaving patterns, I'll be creating an original collection of textiles that combine both tradition and innovation. There are many intricate steps in the dyeing process and will require the proper facilities and tools in order to be made. The threads of the fabric are resisted in areas and dyed in other areas to create interesting, colorful patterns when woven. I will be using the dye and weaving facilities at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina to create this new work and I need your help. In order to make this collection happen, I need to raise $3,538 to cover the cost of studio fees, equipment rental and materials. As a token of my thanks for your generous support you will receive a special woven gift hand-crafted by me in my Chicago studio. Your help is greatly appreciated!
Below are a few images of the gift items you can receive for your generous donation.

Donate Here and THANKS!

Holiday time

2011-12-14T09:08:00.000-06:00

It is the holiday time of year when we all give special focus on the ones we love. Christmas to me has always meant spending time with the people who are the most dear to me and giving thanks for the joy they bring to my life. I usually give gifts when I find a thoughtful thing for someone and this is my first year with an actual shopping list for people. One thinkg that I care a great deal about is buying goods from small businesses, local shops and artisans. I like to know my money goes either back into my local economy or to a hard working artisan/small business. Here are a few lovely small businesses that I love and perhaps you will find a great gift for your loved ones.

Meow Meow Tweet Awesome handcrafted soap. In Chicago you can buy their goods at Renegade Handmade.
Wiksten Made An Iowa based online shop that carries simple luxuries from small, independent companies. The Wiksten clothing line is designed and hand made by Jenny Gordy in her Iowa studio.
Primoeza is a clothing and accessories label producing wearable pieces that combine hand-worked elements with knit fabric created on vintage knitting machines by Elizabeth Rayman Yong of Melbourne, Australia.
Shelter Will Protect you This is my most favorite of all, Karie Reinertson makes beautiful bags and other goods that focus on quality, sustainable local materials. Super dreamy! Karie lives and works in Asheville, NC.
Specks and Keepings is a small shop filled with fine handmade objects and design. It is a showcase of thoughtfully made goods that aim to inspire a simple lifestyle that is carefully shaped and chosen.
Rennes Julia in Boston makes gorgeous leather bags and wallets out of her home studio. She also has a delightful blog.
Ermie first began as a blog, and evolved into a small clothing collection. The garments are made by hand in limited editions in Los Angeles, CA. The garments in the current collection feature original prints digitally printed in North Carolina and San Francisco using water-based pigment inks on natural fiber textiles. No additional chemicals are used in the printing or preparation process. Wash by hand / on delicate setting in cold water using phosphate-free detergent, or dry clean.
Poppytalk Handmade is a monthly online market that features handmade goods of emerging design talent from around the world.
Wolfbait and B girls A nod to an amazing local Chicago shop in my neighborhood Wolfbait & B-girls Showcases the wares of over 170 local artisans as well as Chicago-based fair-trade companies. 3131 W. Logan Blvd. Chicago, Illinois 6064, (312) 698-8685

<3

Home made Christmas tree

2011-12-12T09:40:00.000-06:00

This year Mike and I decided to put a spin on the traditional faux Christmas tree and make an original one of our own. Mike made the inside armiture out of wooden dowels, wire and string and I sewed up the outside. We went to our local Joanne Fabrics for some Christmas sale fabric, strung our lights on the inside instead of outside and wallah!

Ladies Skill Share: Frame Loom Weaving

2011-12-08T09:58:00.001-06:00

A few months ago I created a group called 'Ladies Skill Share'. It is a way for women in my community to get together and teach each other about the things they know. We have had things like, how to make pickles, how to make lip balm, and last night I taught how to weave on home made frame looms. A few ladies came over to my house and I showed them how to make a loom by using a picture frame.

Each lady started a unique and beautiful hand woven project and we had a lot of fun working with our hands, chatting and eating snacks.

<3

Drawn Together

2011-11-30T17:31:00.000-06:00

A link to Olga Stefan's blog, curator of Drawn Together, a group art show in Lucerne, Switzerland that I was invited to participate in. Thanks Olga!

DRAWN TOGETHER
12.11. – 10.12.2011
with
Dianna Frid and Monika Müller
Dee Clements and Raphael Egli
Danny Hein and Ray Hegelbach
Jennifer Mannebach and Loredana Sperini
Cody Hudson and Tom Fellner
Selina Trepp and David Chieppo
at
ALPINEUM PRODUZENTENGALERIE LUZERN
Hirschmattstrasse 30a, CH–6003 Luzern

Lately on the loom

2011-11-30T16:04:00.000-06:00

This is one half of the blanket I am weaving on my loom. It has come out a bit different than my original design, I changed some things once I was weaving. I am now weaving the second panel and will sew them together to make a full blanket. It is a made of 100% cotton.

A detail

Laura Carlin, I love your ceramic bowls

2011-11-20T20:24:00.000-06:00

O, treasures. Swoon.

Ceramic by Laura Carlin

<3

Slouching Toward Bethlehem

2011-11-20T18:40:00.002-06:00

I remembered this bit today. For my E and W. Always.

Goodbye To All That, By Joan Didion

How many miles to Babylon?
Three score miles and ten—
Can I get there by candlelight?
Yes, and back again—
If your feet are nimble and light
You can get there by candlelight.

Excerpt from Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion.

And I know you will remember the rest...

Pretty from Primoeza

2011-11-17T09:24:00.000-06:00

Ms. Elizabeth Rayman Yong of Primoeza makes the most beautiful knitted pieces on vintage knitting machines in her Melbourne studio. They are all my favorite!

Here is a sweater I plan to knit for Mike while we are visiting his family in California over Christmas. <3

or maybe this one...

Revolution = reinventing culture

2011-11-16T11:04:00.000-06:00

Recently I've started a group that I call 'Ladies Skill Share'. I sent out an email to all of the ladies I know and it went something like this:

"I have been spending a great deal of my energy as of late thinking about our economic and environmental crises. I am interested in social activism and awareness not by means of assembly and protest but by education and self reliance. Recently a dear friend of mine and I were discussing the idea of starting a women's center in which women could come take classes or teach classes in craft or life arts. The center would also provide child care, parenting skill building and education on sustainability through food, consumption and environmental awareness.

Where to start, well right here in my own home by hosting a skill sharing night. At present I have no formal plan about how to go about this. My general idea is to have my women friends and their women friends come over and we can discuss what we want to learn, change, try, exchange. What we have to offer each other. And then pass on what we learn. I myself am a weaver and a seamstress among other creative things that I do and so I am very interested in reviving slow design and craft by producing sustainably made textiles by hand. I believe sewing is best done in a community. And that is a skill I have to offer people who want to learn. Maybe you are an excellent cook or gardener or mother and you have things to discuss, teach or share?

My hope is that we can get together, talk about this stuff and do something. I believe that the solution to our economic crises is in self reliance, community and education. Maybe we can make some things better for each other. Revive the ways we use to rely on the earth to get our food or our own hands to make the goods we used for ourselves and our families. With education becoming the number one debt in America, why can't we educate each other--for free..."

And that is how it started. Some ladies came over, we sat around my living room and discussed change. Ellen is teaching how to make pickles, Thea lipbalm, me weaving. Small beginnings can equal big change. Today Tselanie shared this video--YES! YES! I exclaimed. And here it is:

Grace Lee Boggs' Message to Occupy Wall Street Part 2 from American Revolutionary on Vimeo.

I think we need to heed Grace Lee Bogg's words.

2011-11-16T09:57:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, all of my cotton finally arrived in the mail. I am overjoyed! I have designed a beautiful blanket, a huck lace pattern that I have modified a bit and today I will begin threading the loom! Photos soon. <3

The Dana Rug

2011-11-09T09:32:00.000-06:00

This one I made as housewarming gift for a friend who just moved to rural North Carolina.

For the weft I used the remaining fabric from some pillow cases and a dress I made. This rug is 100% cotton. The warp is 10/2 cotton in blue-grey dye lot.

Rag Rug is finished!

2011-11-03T10:56:00.003-05:00

I finished the rug yesterday! It is called The Kreh rug, a gift for my friend. Here are a few details:

I still have a bit of warp left on the loom so i am making a second one:

A few weavings by Hannah Waldron.

2011-11-02T11:30:00.000-05:00

I think these little weavings are so lovely, I like them a great deal.
<3 More work by Hannah Waldron HERE. She has a nice blog too.

New weaving + new yarn + organized space.

2011-11-02T11:21:00.002-05:00

Cleaned and re-organized my studio today.

Got a new shipment of yarns in today for weaving and knitting. (YAY!)

This is not the most exciting weaving I have ever made. Our cat decided to use a little rag rug we had as her personal litterbox. After several attempts to clean it and get rid of the scent, she kept marking it and I had to throw it away. I decided to make a new one myself. For the weft I am using an old flannel shirt Mike did not want anymore and gave to, poppana which is the bright pink, and the weft from a rag rug Mike had in his woodshop that had a giant hole in it which aI have deconstructed. All in all this rug is mostly recycled and upcycled materials.

(oh and PS-the two applique quilts I am working on are coming along well! Can't wait to share photos soon. <3)

2011-10-27T09:37:00.000-05:00

I knitted my first sock! (It was easier than I had thought it would be.) On to sock number two.

Mood.

2011-10-22T17:51:00.000-05:00

Reading Moby Dick at present. I am very interested in Maritime culture. This image by Gerhard Richter is a fave of mine.

Spider Silk Tapestry

2011-10-21T12:22:00.000-05:00

Spider Silk Tapestry, 2009, 11ft x 4ft, Madagascar (conceived by Simon Peers)
located at the American Museum of Natural History, NY
The project required the work of about one million female golden orb-weaving spiders. t took 4 years.