Miscellaneous

For some reason I’ve recently been writing posts that never actually get posted. So far I have three. They’re collecting up. I’m going to have to figure out why I can’t complete them and put them up or just delete them, pick one. Probably they’re either redundant because I’ve said it all before or too revealing of my inner self. Not that I’m at all good at hiding anything from anyone. (As you may have noticed!) Just that nobody really needs to hear all my personal drivel out loud. Or read it, as the case may be. I publish enough of it on here as it is, doncha think?

Moving right along. I’m on the toes of T-Man’s Hedgerow Socks and hoping to finish them today. I want to get something off the needles! Then I need to get busy on a gift for one of my nephews and his wife who are expecting their first child in July. It was sprung upon me suddenly that a gift is required and I have until the Easter weekend when we’ll be having a Family Marathon. More on that anon.

I was hoping to use some of the red tweed Sandnesgarn Smart yarn that I have but I think it’s too harsh for a baby even though it’s superwash. I knit up a swatch and blocked it but it didn’t help much. I think I need to go Stash Diving and if I can’t find anything suitable there then there’s no choice but to go Yarn Shopping! Oh nooooo…

The guild meeting was really interesting yesterday. The speaker was Ruth Jones, a fabulous local tapestry artist. Her work would be impressive as paintings on canvas but it is infinitely more special rendered in yarn. I don’t love all her imagery (religious icons, even with ironic, symbolic or playful meanings, are not my thing) but her traditional Aubusson technique and her amazing use of colour are just jaw-dropping. The Nitobe Garden piece is my favourite. It was really special to get to see a number of the pieces up close and in person. I loved that there are tonnes of ends on the back! No need to finish them in.

I ended up acting as AV tech and setting up the digital projector and hooking up all the wires. My experience from last month was obviously helpful since the one who was subbing for the Programs person had no idea how it all works. At least we could see the slides and nothing blew up! Whew.

Personally I have no desire to do much in the way of tapestry. Especially more realistic and life-like imagery. I’m not a painter and prefer simple geometrics, more like tribal rugs. Which brings me to a new book that I’m going to have to get: (Awww!) Sara Lamb’s Woven Treasures. I won’t give a full review now since I only leafed through the copy the guild just bought for the library. But I was totally impressed with the range of techniques (rigid heddle, pick-up bands, tablet weaving, knotted pile, soumak, etc.) all illustrated with clear photographic steps. The publisher is Interweave and they’ve outdone themselves this time with such a lovely and information-packed book, especially perfect for beginner weavers.