How to Weave

The teaching assistant to my weaving class at Penland (Tali Weinburg) put together this time-lapse video of her weaving a blanket (in two parts).  The story of how to weave cloth.  Check it out if you are interested (and donate a bit to her upcoming exhibit).
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tali/handmade-cloth-as-interactive-art-alternative-exch/posts

and to see more of her beautiful work:
http://taliweinberg.com/home.html

Tie Bag

 

I put this bag together for an auction for our local food bank - Harvest Hope.  They have an artist's auction annually to raise funds for the food bank and I have donated this piece.  

The fabric is a silk taffeta that has this crimp to it.  I love this fabric, it's a great color, and I bought a couple more yards to make a dress... one day.  So the bag is fully lined with 2 interior side pockets and an exterior pocket on each side.  There is a snap in the center for partial closure.  There are two straps which are just two separately lined sashes, tied through 2 openings I left in the side seams.  

A pretty simple design all together, and it took about 8 hours from design to construction to finishing.  Usually it doesn't come together so quickly... I decided to time myself just to see how long it would take me. (And to do a little 'Project Runway' comparison - I can't believe how fast they work).  Not too bad.  I really like the design - it's a nice size, great pockets, and the straps are adjustable.  I think I could expand on this design and develop a couple of other bags.  I'll let you know how much it goes for at the auction in early October.

 

The Dress, Take 1

My history with sewing began with clothing.  My mother taught me how to sew when I was in the fourth grade; I would compete in clothing competitions in 4-H, in which I was scored on construction and fit.  We would make garments for ourselves and would model them for the competition.  Mom and I would go to Lafayette to shop for patterns and fabric.  Mom was quite the seamstress (she made her own wedding dress!) and she taught me well the proper means of construction.  Everything was always lined and flawlessly finished - we never took a shortcut.  The last garment I made was a formal gown, navy blue raw silk with a beaded bodice.  I grew out of the dress before I could wear it to prom but Sister Sarah wore it to a highschool dance...

Fast forward about 10 years.  I've been making my own patterns and constructing bags, and I've been thinking about clothing, wanting to make a dress of my own design.  So here is my concept:

And here is the finished product:

 

I bought this linen on sale at the beginning of the summer... wanting to try my hand at clothing design.  I get impatient during the construction phase of these projects so I also wanted to keep the design rather simple.  So, no zippers or buttons, just elastic at the empire waste and at the back.  I used rough measurements and the shape of pattern pieces from different dresses in my closet.

I would call this a partial success... there are a few alterations I want to make so that the bodice and back fit better... but I'm haven't gotten around to it yet.  Mostly because there is no way to make the alterations cleanly with out taking the whole thing apart.  The bodice is fully lined.  I haven't worn it out yet.... maybe once I make the alterations.  That's why I'm calling this 'Take 1', the first attempt, we'll see if I can't make a few corrections for a better fit.  

Indie Craft Parade

This has my name all over it.  I get some work moving in the same direction and be in this show.  Maybe a goal for next year?  Right now, just trying to figure out how to make my schedule work and get there this year.  Thanks Lauren Barden for sharing!

Indie Craft Parade

The Farm

As I begin my next semester at school, and begin making more art, I notice a theme. You hear the saying "Write what you know" and I feel this is what I keep doing with my art - drawing on themes and places and processes that are familiar and intimate to me.  And guess what - there is just alot of Louisiana living inside of me.  It is, undeniably, what I am most authentically connected with.  The landscape, the farm, there is a mysterious and simple beauty in it, in its constancy, in its generosity. There is a lifetime of artwork to be made that draws from this landscape.

So this week on the farm they are cutting rice. Dad sent these pictures that made me all warm and nostalgic. Maybe you see the quiet grace of this environment... maybe you don't. That's OK. Matthew says it is an acquired taste. Regardless, this is where I am from.

And a couple of others from a couple of springs ago, because they are so close to me.

crawfish boat and the crawfish ponds

heading toward the house through the field.

the old housesite, barn and farmhouse

the old farmhouse and the good climbing tree.

Loom Shopping...

... or more accurately, day dreaming.  And budgeting?  This listing is a little old, and I suppose because it is in Auburn, AL it is one of the used looms at the top of my list.  Definitely everything I need to get started.  I could stop by and check it out on a trip to Louisiana....

http://kbbspin.org/node/7363

Ideally, I'd like a Macomber Type B Jack folding loom, 8 harness, 36" weaving width.  That seems like it would be the best investment, with alot of versatility.  However, I rarely see postings for them, especially within a reasonable driving distance.  Again, just daydreaming...

The Dining Room Chairs

I know, I know, I should have cleaned up the house a bit before taking the photograph... but that would have delayed this post another week and I couldn't wait to share it with you.  I recovered the seats of our dining room chairs with the cloth I wove at Penland.  I did end up using the reverse as well, so I have two red chairs and two lavender chairs.

These chairs were used in the waiting room of my parent's photography studio for 20 years.  They were cheap then and are certainly worth less now... so I just threw this together with a staple gun and didn't fret too much about this project because any small improvement was welcome.  The wicker seats were 14.5"x14.5".  I bought foam padding 1"x14"x14" and stapled it to the seat to add a little body and comfort to the chairs. 

I took my woven textile, zig-zag stitched and divided them into four separate seats.  I had set up the warp on this woven piece to be 18" wide at Penland.  Unfortunately I wasn't experienced enough yet to know to account for a draw-in on the sides.  When I took the piece off the loom it measured about 15" wide.  Almost enough to cover the whole seat... so I had to add strips of fabric on each of the short sides to allow room to staple and attach to the chairs.  

 

I bruised the palm of my hand from the staple gun!  I readily sacrifice my body for my art.  They came out pretty well I thought - the panels I had to add on either side are just barely visible.  I'm a little worried about how they will take daily where-and-tare, but again, any small improvement is welcome. 

Baby Blanket

I finished the blanket that I wove at Penland for PK and Mary Brook's son (who will be here next month!). "Finishing" just meant that I trimmed off the fringe, zig-zagged the raw edge, and hemmed the two ends.  I thought I would hem it on the sewing machine, but I ended up just stitching the hem by hand instead.  I think the hand stitching is much cleaner... I was afraid that sewing the hem would have stretched the edge too much.  I'm really pleased with this blanket... a great size (30"x36") and so soft ('Cotton Fleece', 80% cotton, 20% merino wool).  I can't wait to give it to the proud parents over Labor Day. :)

Artist Bio

I was asked to write a bio on myself and work for the Empty Bowls Auction for Harvest Hope Food Bank, a fundraiser for our local food shelter to which I am going to donate some work.  Writing a bio, succinctly, is really difficult work.  Especially for someone without a linear path, like myself.  Anyway, I thought I would share what I put together for the occasion.


Christina is a ‘jack of all trades’, an artist, designer, and craftsman.  The larger theme that is consistent in her work is that of function; her goal always to make something with defined use and purpose that is beautiful.  She was raised on a rice and crawfish farm in South Louisiana where she developed a deep awareness and aesthetic appreciation of the natural world.  The farm has also instilled a sense of wonder in the relationship between man and the land and how we are called to responsibly and respectfully use its limited resources.  Her practice of making things is often a response to this call. Christina has worked in many diverse media: wood, clay, fibers and textiles, painting and drawing, photography, architectural and landscape design.  She graduated from LSU with a degree in Landscape Architecture in 2006 and is now studying studio art at USC.  You are invited to follow her process at http://ordinaryart-ctc.blogspot.com.

A Bag made from my Hand-woven Textile

Maybe you remember this cloth that I wove at Penland?  I intended to make a bag out of it, and I just got around to assembling it.  I was a little apprehensive about sewing with this cloth - others in the class looked at me skeptically when I was talking about what I wanted to do.  Probably because it is a little shocking to cut through and ruin the piece you just finished weaving!  The thing is when sewing with a hand-woven textile it will come apart as soon as you begin to cut through it.  So before you cut you have to zig-zag stitch on both sides of the cutline.  

I had originally designed a much larger bag, but after making the pattern I realized I didn't have nearly enough material to make that work.  So I tried to keep this smaller design simple.   It is basically a box without a top, 8"x8"x8", and I added a pleat on each side.  I played with the color-blocking, because I basically had 4 different textiles that I was working with.  I also wove the bag strap at Penland, it was 1.5" wide.  I didn't initially intend to use it like this... but with the smaller design, folding the strap in half seemed like a better application.  I lined the interior with convenient pockets too.

I like this bag, but I don't think it's really me.  I might sell this piece... try my luck on Etsy?  Maybe?  We'll see.

A Bit of Knitting...

... I know, knitting in the summer?  But my in-depth study of fibers in July (and hanging out with knitwear designer Kim Dolce at Penland) got my mind back into the game.  And also, my mother-in-law came to visit and knitting is a great craft for us to share.  I had about 4 skeins of 'Brushed Suri' leftover from a project a couple of years ago and I always wanted to make a top out of it.  So I dove into an impromptu project.


Knitting, for me, seems to be hit and miss, especially when I'm creating my own pattern.  But I took a risk, worked with what I knew, and created this piece.  I just combined a few basic shaping tools:  the raglan sleeve and 2x2 ribbing to finish the hem.  Once I calculated the gauge if the yarn, which was about 4.5 stitches per inch on size 4 US needles, I determined the width of the neckline and cast on (I think 140 stitches).   I knit this top in the round from the top down.  It is a pretty simple design.

This yarn is Brushed Suri, which is 67% baby suri, 22% merino, 11% bamboo, by Blue Sky Yarns in color 'Earl Grey'.  Very soft and fluffy.   Dry clean or hand wash.

The fun and scary part of knitting is not knowing how it is going to fit, or if you will like it, until you spend countless hours of work on your design.  My success rate on knitwear that I actually like is not good...  but I think I will wear this (though I was much more excited about it on the needles than when I took it off).  The top is not as slimming as I thought it would be... and in hindsight I would have made it a bit longer... those are my only complaints.

Volunteering

All for a good cause.  But it is funny that historically artists have had a hard time paying their bills, and yet everywhere I turn someone has a project they need my help with.  Good will and good art both come from the same place inside of me.  Ideally, I would never ask for money for my work because it is something I love to do.  I love the challenge of a new project, I love all types of problem solving.  But technically isn't this the definition of a great job?  Getting paid for doing something you love?  All food for thought, for this is not a small issue in my life right now.


PHR Emergency Department
I created this model of Matthew's workplace.  The emergency department of Palmetto Health Richland continually welcomes medical students, nursing students, and rotating residents, all of which require a basic orientation of the facility.  Matthew orients all of these groups and hopefully this model will make his job easier.

  

  

Gills Creek Watershed Association

The GCWA is a group of committed citizens that are tirelessly trying to educate our community about the interrelated issues of water quality and pollution and how they effect our environment.  Explaining the beauty and importance of a watershed is not easy, especially in an urban context.  Their brochure needed an update and I gave it a critical eye.  8/5"x11" tri-fold design, the back portion is detachable to become a member or give a donation to the group.  I also plan on populating the watershed map with more data once I get some feedback from the group.

 (outside)

(inside)

Framing

My brother-in-law recently moved into a new place with his fiancee, and they are in bad need of art work for their walls.  So when my mother-in-law came into town we went to Hobby-Lobby and bought several of their discount frames and mattes and put together some of my photography for Justin.  It was a good project, and I was surprised by how fast cutting the mattes and assembling the pieces went with two people working together.  Great practice with the matte cutter I invested in earlier in the year - I'm not so scared of it now.  These were my only prints of most of these negatives... I guess I'll have to try to sneak back into the dark room at USC once school starts to have a copy for my records.