book of old linen

This post is like a photo essay, i had never posted so many photos in one post.
The book is made from the old linen pillow case i found at my mother in law's. There was no way i was going to discard such wonderful fabric, the kind of linen you can't find anymore. From beginning to end the project was very pleasant, it all came together almost without thinking.

i wanted something coquettish and frivolous as a cover and was lucky to find the dotted paper. It was laminated to previously stitched lutradur and the covers were glued to the first and last flaps.
The linen was stitched with white silk thread and i wanted the stitches to be a story on their own, yet complementing the bits of silk shibori.
Retrospectively i see a lot of my mother in law in it. Perhaps i'll keep on with a series of books about her.

But i'm also kidding myself. i'm having problems with a cover for another book and i'm procrastinating tyeing 1200knots :( Help!!! i need a mantra.

Turning a page here. i found that Nehoc in Australia has a Print Gocco like printing kit.This is interesting as the Gocco suplies are getting scarcer. And they ship internationally.
There's light ahead for those of us who are still crying over Gocco's demise.

neki desu


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still waters run deep

Yes they do Do Wa. Gallery of my natural dye soups. First one is kakishibu which has been fermenting for 2 years, needs three at least.This is a once in a lifetime thing if you're interested in dyeing. Akin to making croissants. Next comes the walnut soup. i'm keeping the hulls in and just adding water as it evaporates. Like having a pot au feu and making soup. Last photo,pomegranates which have been soaking for a week in the balcony getting some weak winter sun, a stratagem so that husband -san doesn't get cardiac foreseeing all the future dyeing activity.
It seems that everybody's involved with the same dyes lately. Sort of a secret sisterhood.

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the importance of keeping records

One of the universal truths.And it seems i always manage to skip it.This scarf was found this morning. i really like what's happening here, but because of lack of records i cannot duplicate the whole process again.The ori-nui is pretty evident, but what about the rest?
Truly a one of a kind.

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design principle#29

Being process oriented, not product driven is the most important and difficult skill for a designer to develop.

Mathew Frederic

101 Things I Learned in Architecture School

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the immobile chains

Guess i'll start with a yarn porn photo and then gripe.i'm threading a dummy warp to save on precious yarn.1200 threads.This is never going to end. Then i'll tie on the chains to the dummy warp.Not fun.Guess who is the dummy.
After this weaving will be as they say here singing while sewing. Although this is going to be quite a week with the Christmas cake production to be held at a friend's house. Just now my oven had to go KAPUT.
Here's the tieup for Oelsner's 8887 crepe, downloaded from the handweavers net, but woven double width.

i'm concentrating on the sewing a top with 3/4 sleeves and a rolled collar.Very 1950s!

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virtuously gorgeous

i should be ashamed. Found this pair of shoes which i had bought last year in their box still unused.
Seems that i keep a shoe stash too. To ease my shameless shame allow me to tell you they are from South East Asia, hand embroidered and fair trade commerce from Oxfam. Aren't they a gorgeous pair of goody two shoes ? In the original virtuous meaning :)
They will spice up black leggings and a black turtleneck sweater tonight.Going out for the regular end of the week wine glass with husband-san.
Have a great weekend!

neki desu

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design principle#28

A good designer isn't afraid to throw away a good idea.

Matthew Frederic

101 Things I Learned in Architecture School

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a pamphlet

Been recouping from a cold and chewing on some of the latest on line conversations and exchanges, while slowly stitching what has turned out as a statement. It was not intentional,i was trying to keep busy and not feel miserable while a warp hangs around waiting for its turn to be converted into reality.
As i said on line - this is not elegant, quoting myself :( -i do not care what i'm called whether be it artist, fiber artist or gift to the world. i don't even care what i call myself.
But it's fibers that i enjoy working with, that make me want to go into the studio every day, that encompass the lens through which i make literal and figurative connections, see, understand and express many things.
It dawned on me -excuse me if you already knew this- that while it's interesting ,because it's eccentric and could be even cute, that men endeavor in fiber related pursuits, the minute a woman takes a needle in her hand she starts losing IQ points. So we become apologetic. And develop cover ups and linguistic cop outs.
Therefore for those of you who are old enough to remember Marshall McLuhan
here you have in book form my take on him . Sorry Marshall!

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the killing of the cream colored weft

Don't tell me this doesn't look better than this? Perhaps it has to do with envisioning something.The silk weft has a beautiful luster and is a good complement to the matte dark blue wool warp.And the color has the right amount of red.
Anyhow i think you have noticed there's a tendency towards aubergine color in this blog, haven't you?

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design principle#27

Soft ideas,soft lines;hard ideas, hard lines.

Matthew Frederic

101 Things I Learned in Architecture School

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the excitement has worn out

Over a year and a half ago, well before the crisis, i was reading all i could about the indie movement. It was a vibrant, intellectually stimulating and challenging time.There were dissertations on the political and social implications of the movement. There were talks and symposiums on cultural studies. People were blogging about the cutting edge of crafts, what it meant to be indie and embracing slow crafting.They were creating well crafted, witty and aesthetically pleasing items.In plain words it was an exciting time.

What has happened?Where has the collective momentum gone?
Whereas before crafters were creating their items at the sound of their own individual drums now everyone seems to be following the market's dictum competing with it in a lose lose situation. If it's February it means hearts and red, and let's not talk about Halloween.
This situation has brought out the uglies; cut throat competition amongst crafters, knock offs, rip offs of other people's images ,undercutting fellow crafters. Need i continue to make the point clear?
Everyone seems to have turned into a self appointed marketing guru flashing directly from the oracle countless tips and tricks while looking down on those who do not posses the buzz word to the oracle.

There has also been a relevant diminution of ideas and worse, of quality in items.It seems that the same article gets produced over and over and you see the same things everywhere. Items get hashed and re-hashed until they become unbearably banal, as if mass produced, becoming the antithesis of handmade and the indie movement.The whole scene has become predictable and boring.
Crafting had a strong base on self satisfaction, on the pride of creating an original well crafted item.In other words an item with soul. (Read what Red Thread Studio has to say on this ).It was a community strongly rooted in in sharing ,educating and supporting. Very little of that is left.

The other day as Ruth and i were talking about this she pointed out the economy as the culprit.But i believe there's more than that. Can the economy be blamed for the sloppiness of items, the aggressive behavior of some crafters? Can it be blamed for the no questioning herd like behavior?
i believe that perhaps selling venues have their share in the outcome.i believe that many venues and crafters as well have succumbed to the siren songs of growth. I also believe that a general call to order needs to be issued.Or else...

Perhaps i just fell for the idealistic part and the intellectually stimulating component without noticing the rest. But then again were it about marketing i'd be in Wall Street, or perhaps The City which is more cosmopolitan.

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