/kənˌtempəˈrānēəs/
- existing or occurring in the same period of time.
I am seeing light at the end of that downsizing tunnel I have been in these last 5 months or so. And, consequently have been spending less time trying to disperse belongings and more time in the studio with my creative cap on... finishing projects I had started, trying out some new things and in general, just taking a big deep breath in and letting it out slowly. Enjoying my moments. And. My contemporaneous activities.
Let me start with this. I stop at this sign practically every day if I leave home. I am not sure when the modification happened. It may very well have been there for a long while, but, if it has been, I have missed it in the addled brain state I have been in. So, I of course had to google Diana Ross and the Supremes when I got to my computer... This is a classic: Stop, in the Name of Love
On October 10th I spent the morning with a handful of others folks walking around Hartford, VT on a tree id walk with the Hartford Tree Board. It was just so, so nice to hang out with other human beings in real life for a change. It was sunny and warm. A perfect Autumn day. I got to brush up on my tree id skills and was reintroduced to Silver Maple, which I now realize I see often along my commute and never really new what it was! I remember Silver Maple getting a bad rap during my early days as a landscape designer, but the specimen we looked at on a historic property in the center of town was very impressive indeed. I picked up these leaves wandering around outside my studio. Can you identify what trees they came from?
Do you remember that I borrowed a loom back in March or April and was working on making place mats using my old gym t-shirts that no longer fit...Let's not talk about why the don't fit, ok? So, being my first time warping a real loom and not really knowing what I was doing I was about 1/2 way thru the first place mat when I realized I had things upside down and backwards. Maybe just upside down. Or, maybe just backwards. I'm not really sure. At any rate, this particular loom has little wood thingies on the sides that are meant to hold the heddle in place when its in the 'down' position. I think. Thereby making a gap (shed) in the strings (warp) to push the shuttle (holds the weaving yarn) through. Maybe go watch a YouTube video of weaving if this is not making sense to you, although, I will say I watched a YouTube video of loom setup and still got it wrong... so I don't know...
My first place mat turned out pretty good and I was anxious to use it, so, instead of weaving place mat #2, I CUT OFF place mat #1. Yes. This left all the warp threads dangling and in need of reattaching. (If I knew how to insert a little emoticon in blogspot I would insert here the one that has the big bug eyes and hair sticking straight up and is blue and looks like it is going to blow up.)
To make a long story, only slightly shorter. I did manage to get the warp reattached and the 2nd place mat woven with the last inch or so being very, very troublesome. (That emoticon again). But here they are. And it was time for a much needed cup of tea after tying all those strings to make that fringe. I did really enjoy the process of weaving; and found it relaxing despite the problems I created for myself along the way. Don't you love all the colorful fringe?!
You should know by now. I. Love. Willow. And, I am happy to report that I have a temporary relocation of my soaking tank so have been making up for lost time and weaving basket bases (they take up less storage space) and wreaths which I hope I might sell somewhere locally. I also have one student who is my guinea pig for me teaching basket making. We spent an afternoon last week for her to make a base and we will do the rest of the basket this week.
Also have been trying to use up some of my wool roving (dyed with kool aid with my after school kids last year!) felt, embroidery floss, beads and other embellishments. Here's some of my experimentation thus far.
And last but not least--in fact, saving the best for last. A thing of beauty. The Underwoodsman in England I was fortunate to spend some time with and learn from has been teaching courses on wood shingle making along with all the other traditional woodland crafts for 27 + years now. The last 10 years or so, he has been making and storing up wood shingles that are now beautifully displayed atop a roof! A work of art. And, a testament to his traditional craft skills, perseverance and vision. Proper job John Waller. Hats off to you.
And that's all for now folks.
Love,
susie
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