The garden and area around the house is under construction. New rain gutter system around the house. Three stories high and several overlapping layers of eves makes things tricky. When we have typhoons the volume of water is unimaginable and getting it away from the house and flowing into the stream and down the mountain is a challenge. I figured out yesterday a clever way of extending the pond to take up the extra water from behind the house and at the same time creating an island in the pond to put in the new outdoor bath. Sounds pretty gorgeous and the muddy reality right now makes the plans seem almost comical.
Autumn workshop guests are arriving in a month. So many small projects on the go. Sanding floors, constructing windows and doors preparing warps for the looms for them to weave on. The balconies are all fresh clean new wood instead of the old 150 year old stuff that was always guesswork to step on. Tweaking and finalizing the workshop schedule so it runs smoothly but has room for some spontaneity. Again all my Japanese friends are so enthusiastic about who is coming and (almost too) eager to help out.
Classes are going well. I made the move and changed the big Finnish loom from a counterbalance loom to a countermarche loom and it is working. Some added beams and levers and it was transformed in just a few hours. (Leigh does a good job of explaining the differences in her blog, http://leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.jp/2007/06/comparing-looms-jack-countermarche.html ) We are all taking turns and weaving waffle towels. The tie ups are not as difficult as I thought they would and the students and I are excited about all the possibilities for future projects together. The loom and the room it sits in are alive!
The students progress and grow like well fed country kids. Every piece of shibori is analyzed so it can be better the next time. There is a katazome explosion of creativity going on. The house is alive and it feels like a early autumn renaissance is on us.
i believe the holes in your blog are due to all that activity you're carrying on.have to take a nap after reading about it :)
ReplyDeletehadsome shibories!
Hi Neki, You are right. So much on the go and all of it is enjoyable. I need a few months in 'off' mode this winter. Time to concentrate on making stuff for myself.
DeleteIt's good to have you back in Blogland Bryan but it goes like that and you have a lot on your plate at the moment. I hope you will be able to share a little of the Autumn workshops here, I'm sure they'll be terrific, I hope the guests are lovely, they are in for a treat. You've shown some lovely indigo work today and I now appreciate all the hours of work that go into those creations. I had a little Japanese thrill yesterday, a surprise visit to a local Japanese garden, who knew?!!
ReplyDeleteI took an out of towner to the chicken restaurant last night and had a flash back of last April. There is an actual museum in one building I didn't know about. With one room set up as it was 400 years ago with the silk equipment. My autumn guests do look lovely.
DeleteBryan, I have moved this this tie up system and it works fabulously! Much easier and more stable. Instead of knitting needles I use 1/4" dowel rods.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vavstuga.com/store/tieup.shtml
I picked up a good hint just from the picture of marking the alternate holes. Takes out a little guesswork, Thank you.
DeleteI was very intimidated by the countermarche tie-up - until I got used to it, and I don't mind at all now. The benefits of perfect sheds even with one harness up and three down is worth it.
ReplyDeleteI'm drawing much inspiration from your post, especially since I'm about to set up my loom for the first time in several years, and start to weave again.
Love the waffle weave with the variegated indigo/cream color!
Have a great Autumn Renaissance,
Alfred
Yes. The sheds are perfect. I haven't really absorbed the tie up possibilities yet but will. I am hooked. Have you moved?
DeleteBryan
We've moved! It was a pain, but it's almost all organized again. Spinning wheels, loom, zakuri!
DeleteI can't imagine ever moving all this stuff I have. I think I would just start over with a blank slate. I dream of a simple life with a few pairs of jeans and the real basics. Perhaps just a sketchbook to take care of the urge to be creative. I hope you are settled in before it gets cooler.
DeleteBryan
Is that handspun cotton dyed with indigo in that waffle weave? I love it!
ReplyDeleteHi Kristin, Dyed with indigo but not hand spun. Just looks like it. I pick up end lots at a local throwing co op for next to nothing. They had 5kg of this. I like how it looks wavy.
Deletethe shibori is fantastic, really love the second picture. want to see the waffle weave once it is washed, I'm envious of the weft yarn, hope you took all 5kg. the outdoor bath sounds very intriguing and the renovation work is huge!
ReplyDeleteHi Jean,
ReplyDeleteI took the 5 kg. The students are all eyeing it now with the latest cool results. I am looking forward to a quiet December.
bryan
i look at you and your students work and just grin hugely. how great--this is the time of year for great energy. busy here, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Velma,
DeleteIt is just the right temperature. No more humidity. Winter is coming and our instincts tell us to work hard this time of year.