Well I thought I was stitching the linen strips into a bath towel. But once I’d basted them together, they wanted to be on the wall. So that’s where they are. Good choice, linen! It’s not what I expected of course, but since my other towels began this way, why shouldn’t these? And catching the light is ever a fine way to spend precious hours.
"Perhaps this is the swath that is destined to dry my butt!" Only a handful of times in my life have I read or heard a sentence and thought to myself, "That has to be to first time that sentence has ever been concocted in the history of the Universe." :)
Thank you for always taking us on your walks with Beryl. Living in Arizona, seeing the green surroundings and "feeling" the clear air always makes my day a little better.
That new coffee filter and hemp weaving... it makes me want to take a big, juicy watercolor brush to it. Well, I guess I'll have to weave my own and see what happens! I so enjoyed your observation on how you get to spend your time. There's so much we get to do! So many wonderful choices. And yes, Sharon Blackie is one of my favorite authors. Speaking of authors, you've likely heard of Ann Lamott... she recently posted on facebook a commencement speech that I found so charming and profound. Quite different from the typical. I tried to post it but Substack didn't appreciate the length of my comment so maybe this link will work... https://www.facebook.com/AnneLamott/posts/985304432958063
That is an awesome commencement speech. Thank you so much Ellen. I have long loved the word of Ann Lamott, so this was not only wise and wonderful, but a delightful treat. She's right about so many things -- and particularly the pants....
I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you using a thimble. I am OLD (89) and introduced to sewing at the Episcopal boarding school for girls in my hometown. We weren’t allowed to pick up a needle without a thimble properly in placed on our third finger. I wasn’t able to enforce the “rule” on my daughter or granddaughters, but they do know how important I think it is. Also true they love to embroidery and I have a hard time seeing how successful they are without a thimble.
How amazing to be taught to use a thimble -- and use it properly! I have a wee bit of envy about that, having had to teach myself and make up what worked for me, for it was clear that my fingers/hands were so much happier for it. It took ages to find the right one though -- so many didn't fit right, or fell off, or just felt weird, so now I'm wondering if they had one-size-fits-all at your boarding school, or if you were issued your own personal thimble that fit?
Nice to see that you are using a sterling silver Henry Griffith & Sons floral-patterned "The Spa" thimble from the 1920s/30s in the first photo. I recognize it because I have the same one, which belonged to one of my grandmothers. I love the continuity of using mine.
OH gosh Ainslie, I had no idea what my thimble's name or make was, so I can't thank you enough. As I wrote above to Sharon, I had a long and frustrating search to find a thimble that fit properly/comfortably, did the job I wanted it to do AND was super pretty. I found this one 20 or so years ago at a booth at a textile conference where I was teaching --it just shone up at me from the table00and though I"ve tried others, none has ever felt as 'right' as this. Now to think that you actually have your Grandmother's! What a magical thing. Thank you so much for this .
The Craft/Art prairie what a wonderful place! And to comment on footnote #1 - I haven't yet made it to Brown Sheep Yarn Company, but may get there this summer, so lovely to hear about your visit. And footnote #4 - "to believe wildly and madly," just like the prairie itself, "in one's right to choose to be both," yes. Thank you as always.
Brown Sheep is definitely worth a visit, though it is a goodly drive from Omaha! Took me all day to get from Scottsbluff (where I spent the Brown Sheep night), to Cedar Bluffs (where I was the day after). Not an afternoon jaunt! Still, I loved how low key it was, and that I got to browse in the seconds room to my heart's content. I'd had some idea of what I might want before I went, but of course that all got turned upside down since once I was there....A busy working place more than a shop, which is just as it should be.
Yes, definitely a day’s drive! I completely understand having a plan going into yarn stores (garden shops, bookstores) and then heaving it out the window once I’m there. The second’s room sounds like this kind of place. Mad prairie wanders!
Love glimpsing your meanders on the craft/art plains. and whoa!… clicked on this album you reference. I play fiddle… what a cool idea to learn birdsong.
That sweater is art, no doubt. And so are the new linen pieces! And reading about all of this makes me yearn to own one of those towels, so I have to figure out how I can learn to do that kind of backstrap weaving although I thought I had finished with weaving. I think I will start on spinning the linen first.
Spinning flax into linen is a fascinating study--could keep a gal engrossed for quite some time. And then to add weaving cloth with it. So full of possibility -- not only towels but maybe even quilting yardage? Though the towels themselves can be pieced from experiments too...
“But once I’d basted them together, they wanted to be on the wall.
So that’s where they are.
Good choice, linen!”
I love this. That's a big part of the magic that informs the creative process, no? Letting the piece come to you, speak to you, as it were. Have you always approached your work this way?
Incidentally, I recently wrote a post where I note that “I seem to have taken to anthropomorphizing my art materials and projects, or to embracing the notion that my work indeed has a will of its own...” :) flintstitch.substack.com/p/glass-gardens-part-1
Yes Ananda! I just read your thoughtful post, and couldn't agree more about all of it --particularly the idea of objects having agency. And that the things we make (or help bring into being), have lives of their own that ultimately don't have that much to do with us. Listening to Rose B Simpson on The Great Women Artists podcast the other day, and she talks about this as well-- that this way of thinking about/ perceiving and approaching her work is essential not only to her practice but also to her way of being in the world. One of my favorite bits being where she described being a little kid in the hills with her brothers, and that she cried when they gleefully started throwing/rolling rocks down the hill, because the stones would no longer be with their friends.... I've long worried about this myself!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. What a delightful anecdote, haha!! I'll be sure to check out Simpson's Substack and podcast. Would you be able to point me to the episode you're referencing here?
Sarah, I loved seeing your knitted vessel again. The last time I saw it in one of your posts, I dug around for some appropriate yarn to work with, so this is the nudge to start experimenting. I do so love the way in which you follow your creative nose. It inspires me. Thank you.
Thank you Sue! I hope you find something that feels appropriate to try it. I have them scattered bout the house (even pinned to the wall), and never grow tired of how they play with light.
I'm using up some old hempathy as a trial run. But have you discovered Maiwa in Vancouver, BC? They sell linen at all sorts of weights and they're hand dyed. The colors are just stunning. I've spent many an hour trolling their site. https://maiwa.com/collections/honest-yarns
OH gosh yes. I'm a HUGE fan of Maiwa. I haven't tried the honest yarn yet (still working on the linen my friend gave me), but have bought dyes and pants!
Keep talking, I'm looking for a beginner's weaving class. 😊 Love the paper shirt so much! A true thing of beauty. As are you in it! 😉 Of Course it should be out where you can see it!
And now I start to understand The Gusset! I somehow knew I would eventually. Your very special wu wei is sparkling so bright this May! ✨✨✨ I can see it clear over here near the Olympic Mtns. Tell Beryl that Sandy sends her a big hug!
"Perhaps this is the swath that is destined to dry my butt!" Only a handful of times in my life have I read or heard a sentence and thought to myself, "That has to be to first time that sentence has ever been concocted in the history of the Universe." :)
Thank you for always taking us on your walks with Beryl. Living in Arizona, seeing the green surroundings and "feeling" the clear air always makes my day a little better.
Teehee! Thanks Michelle. I never know what whacky words and ideas are going to pop into (and out of) this computer.
That new coffee filter and hemp weaving... it makes me want to take a big, juicy watercolor brush to it. Well, I guess I'll have to weave my own and see what happens! I so enjoyed your observation on how you get to spend your time. There's so much we get to do! So many wonderful choices. And yes, Sharon Blackie is one of my favorite authors. Speaking of authors, you've likely heard of Ann Lamott... she recently posted on facebook a commencement speech that I found so charming and profound. Quite different from the typical. I tried to post it but Substack didn't appreciate the length of my comment so maybe this link will work... https://www.facebook.com/AnneLamott/posts/985304432958063
That is an awesome commencement speech. Thank you so much Ellen. I have long loved the word of Ann Lamott, so this was not only wise and wonderful, but a delightful treat. She's right about so many things -- and particularly the pants....
I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you using a thimble. I am OLD (89) and introduced to sewing at the Episcopal boarding school for girls in my hometown. We weren’t allowed to pick up a needle without a thimble properly in placed on our third finger. I wasn’t able to enforce the “rule” on my daughter or granddaughters, but they do know how important I think it is. Also true they love to embroidery and I have a hard time seeing how successful they are without a thimble.
How amazing to be taught to use a thimble -- and use it properly! I have a wee bit of envy about that, having had to teach myself and make up what worked for me, for it was clear that my fingers/hands were so much happier for it. It took ages to find the right one though -- so many didn't fit right, or fell off, or just felt weird, so now I'm wondering if they had one-size-fits-all at your boarding school, or if you were issued your own personal thimble that fit?
Nice to see that you are using a sterling silver Henry Griffith & Sons floral-patterned "The Spa" thimble from the 1920s/30s in the first photo. I recognize it because I have the same one, which belonged to one of my grandmothers. I love the continuity of using mine.
OH gosh Ainslie, I had no idea what my thimble's name or make was, so I can't thank you enough. As I wrote above to Sharon, I had a long and frustrating search to find a thimble that fit properly/comfortably, did the job I wanted it to do AND was super pretty. I found this one 20 or so years ago at a booth at a textile conference where I was teaching --it just shone up at me from the table00and though I"ve tried others, none has ever felt as 'right' as this. Now to think that you actually have your Grandmother's! What a magical thing. Thank you so much for this .
Thanks for the fun, look forward to your Gusset post👍😍
The Craft/Art prairie what a wonderful place! And to comment on footnote #1 - I haven't yet made it to Brown Sheep Yarn Company, but may get there this summer, so lovely to hear about your visit. And footnote #4 - "to believe wildly and madly," just like the prairie itself, "in one's right to choose to be both," yes. Thank you as always.
Brown Sheep is definitely worth a visit, though it is a goodly drive from Omaha! Took me all day to get from Scottsbluff (where I spent the Brown Sheep night), to Cedar Bluffs (where I was the day after). Not an afternoon jaunt! Still, I loved how low key it was, and that I got to browse in the seconds room to my heart's content. I'd had some idea of what I might want before I went, but of course that all got turned upside down since once I was there....A busy working place more than a shop, which is just as it should be.
And here's to our wild mad prairie meanders...
Yes, definitely a day’s drive! I completely understand having a plan going into yarn stores (garden shops, bookstores) and then heaving it out the window once I’m there. The second’s room sounds like this kind of place. Mad prairie wanders!
Love glimpsing your meanders on the craft/art plains. and whoa!… clicked on this album you reference. I play fiddle… what a cool idea to learn birdsong.
So glad you checked out Miranda Rutter's bird songs. To listen as a fiddler must be extra amazing.
Ah, another delightful Tuesday romp with Sarah and Beryl. I enjoyed Blackbird, but somehow the old tune "Don't Fence Me In" is playing in my head!
HA! Don't fence me in indeed. That's it exactly.
I love the tapestry thats hanging on the wall.
I always look forward to Tuesdays and your musings 😍🇸🇪
That sweater is art, no doubt. And so are the new linen pieces! And reading about all of this makes me yearn to own one of those towels, so I have to figure out how I can learn to do that kind of backstrap weaving although I thought I had finished with weaving. I think I will start on spinning the linen first.
Spinning flax into linen is a fascinating study--could keep a gal engrossed for quite some time. And then to add weaving cloth with it. So full of possibility -- not only towels but maybe even quilting yardage? Though the towels themselves can be pieced from experiments too...
Your Beryl (and my Breoghan) will always let you (me) know…
Completely wonderful to spend this time with you!!
“But once I’d basted them together, they wanted to be on the wall.
So that’s where they are.
Good choice, linen!”
I love this. That's a big part of the magic that informs the creative process, no? Letting the piece come to you, speak to you, as it were. Have you always approached your work this way?
Incidentally, I recently wrote a post where I note that “I seem to have taken to anthropomorphizing my art materials and projects, or to embracing the notion that my work indeed has a will of its own...” :) flintstitch.substack.com/p/glass-gardens-part-1
Yes Ananda! I just read your thoughtful post, and couldn't agree more about all of it --particularly the idea of objects having agency. And that the things we make (or help bring into being), have lives of their own that ultimately don't have that much to do with us. Listening to Rose B Simpson on The Great Women Artists podcast the other day, and she talks about this as well-- that this way of thinking about/ perceiving and approaching her work is essential not only to her practice but also to her way of being in the world. One of my favorite bits being where she described being a little kid in the hills with her brothers, and that she cried when they gleefully started throwing/rolling rocks down the hill, because the stones would no longer be with their friends.... I've long worried about this myself!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. What a delightful anecdote, haha!! I'll be sure to check out Simpson's Substack and podcast. Would you be able to point me to the episode you're referencing here?
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-great-women-artists/id1480259187?i=1000654861514
It's episode 128 of The Great women Artists. Hopefully the link will work!
Amazing, thanks!
Sarah, I loved seeing your knitted vessel again. The last time I saw it in one of your posts, I dug around for some appropriate yarn to work with, so this is the nudge to start experimenting. I do so love the way in which you follow your creative nose. It inspires me. Thank you.
Thank you Sue! I hope you find something that feels appropriate to try it. I have them scattered bout the house (even pinned to the wall), and never grow tired of how they play with light.
I'm using up some old hempathy as a trial run. But have you discovered Maiwa in Vancouver, BC? They sell linen at all sorts of weights and they're hand dyed. The colors are just stunning. I've spent many an hour trolling their site. https://maiwa.com/collections/honest-yarns
OH gosh yes. I'm a HUGE fan of Maiwa. I haven't tried the honest yarn yet (still working on the linen my friend gave me), but have bought dyes and pants!
Keep talking, I'm looking for a beginner's weaving class. 😊 Love the paper shirt so much! A true thing of beauty. As are you in it! 😉 Of Course it should be out where you can see it!
And now I start to understand The Gusset! I somehow knew I would eventually. Your very special wu wei is sparkling so bright this May! ✨✨✨ I can see it clear over here near the Olympic Mtns. Tell Beryl that Sandy sends her a big hug!
HA! Talk about pulling an idea out of your armpit :-)