gifto

It's really cold and wet today. Yesterday was even worse with snow in the hills surrounding the city. Such uninspiring weather puts me in front of the computer. Not that I need any excuse, mind you. But it is not good for dyeing and weaving is out of the question right now because I'm studying some ideas from the Pattern Techniques for Handweavers book.
O.k. so this is my production from yesterday and a gift( gifto as the Japanese say) to whomever.
How's this for a fabric print?

neki desu

Tags: digital printing, day to day

Coping with the wander lust

Saw this incredible offer to Madeira 4 days really inexpensive and it set me going. Right now it is a non doable so the best I can do is start on a t shirt for the coming summer.
I haven't gone away by by myself in a long time and as every girl knows it is one of life's basic needs.
Beggars can't be choosers so will keep working on the t shirt.

neki desu

Tags: day to day

and now katakana!

Now that I was starting to feel comfortable with hiragana and was begining to read and write it without feeling totally illiterate we have started on the kana path.
I'm trying not to laugh myself silly in class when we are made to repeat in chorus erebetaa, supemaketo, escaretaa, paso con(pc)!
The numbers and especially time telling is to say the least very complex. As a result I have been spending my time studying and my artwork is on hold. I have another T shirt for my summer trousseau at a standstill.
Plus I received a weaving book which I really haven't had time to study.

Can't complain though, my friend from Tokyo says its bitterly cold there. At least it's warm and sunny here.

neki desu

Tags: japanophilia

Ham, gloroius ham!

This has to do with gastronomy as well as culture.
Ham here is a much appreciated culture especially if it comes from the native black hoofed pig breed.
The animal are free range and eat mostly acorns and grasses, which include wild thime and rosemary, in a very controlled natural ecosystem called dehesa. It is then processed, turned into ham and cured for no less than 6 months under totally controlled temperature and humidity.
What comes out is a delicacy,with a price tag, but very much worth it.

So in this country to whatever/ whomever is true breed, authentic, bona fide receives in common parlance the qualification of black hoofed as in for example so and so is a fine person , a black hoofed one.

All of this introduction just to say that last night we enjoyed a plate of good ham good cheese, country bread toasts and a very good wine to wash it all down.
Small joys after a busy never ending week.

neki desu

Tags: food

welcome!

Fun and games time is over. Back to hiragana with katakana looming in the horizon.
Learned how to tell the time on Monday. The system is so complicated that I guess I will never ask for the time in Japanese.
The image here is worthy of a surface design treatment, never mind the hiragana!

neki desu

Tags: fractals, japanophilia

Row ,row your boat

This was the piece I wanted to submit to a juried show, but the guidelines were not very clear so I decided to publish it here. It is part of a series dealing with passing of time.
The weaving is linen and merino, fulled to create texture and ridges and some stitching in silk. Notice the small bead dangling from the end of the fuchsia running stitch. The background is the same weaving scanned, digitally manipulated and printed on silk organza.

neki desu

Tags: weaving, stitching, digital printing

what's cooking

Have been pondering on this piece for a while and the conclusion is that I'm stuck.
I think it needs further work to bring it to the "it sings" stage, but I'm dry.
It's about a recurrent topic of lately, signals of the passing of time which is an elegant euphemism for ageing.
Bummed out by the cotton fabric which due to uneven tension when woven (how do I know, I'm a weaver too -been there done that) it's longer on one side. Guess that has kept me from working further on it. Or maybe this is a good excuse.

neki desu

Tags: surface design

cochineal red

Assorted domestic crises after- the- season- to -be -jolly- by -mandate -ended.
In times like these I can't help but wonder how would have Rothko handled the situation? Would he talk about domesticity with his friends? Would he set time apart from his work to solve the problems? Think about them?
On top of that I'm having mechanical problems with my loom, therefore strike two there.

So the only thing that I have been able to work on is this lonely skein dyed with cochineal and mordanted in alum and acetic acid.
Tomorrow will be another day?

neki desu

Tags: dyeing, day to day

glossary-tools

frog hair thin yarn



bobbin brakes(home made)


"solid" reed 15 ends x cm



rigged yarn tensioner with
two eyelets- various possible
yarn paths.


neki desu

Tags: weaving