Surprise!

You know those days - when everything goes slightly wrong, when that fab dress on sale does not suit you, when you plan something but it just won't come out right...well, yesterday was one of those days.

But on my returning home I found a small cute parcel from Holland waiting from me...and my day instantly cheered up! Thank you Margreet for the lovely Venne Yarn - on one hand I can't wait to use it, on the other the box is so cute that I want to enjoy it for a little while before emptying it!

Back Home

We're back home and the weather doesn't help us...
This is where we stayed - another year, maybe, before we can see this familiar landscapes again




On the way home we stopped at the Mart - to see this exhibition
[ lots of purple.yellow.pink.orange.zapphire blue.dark green - just as I like it ]


The Munari book was looking at me in the museum shop - I had to take it home with me

More of that Gewürztraminer please!

Today we stopped in Tramin - along the Weinstrasse - for a little wine tasting. The town is lovely!

Happy New Year!

we're spending some beautiful days in the mountains - see you soon!

Another Chair

What is this fascination I have for chairs? I just see them everywhere...This lady was waiting on the pavement - near the bins - waiting for somebody to take care of her...how could I possibly not comply? I removed the old seat cover - then I thought a nice handwoven new one would be nice...but for now she's got a piece of dark grey wool fabric. I think it works ok - and I can use it in the meantime!

These are three scarves (still to be finished) from the geometric series - another four to go!

Happy December!

I just can't throw them away....so I have a bin where all the thrums end up - it's nice to peek inside and recognize previous projects!

At the moment I am only having fun with block twill - I am weaving a series of 7 scarves with the same threading but different treadling. This is the first one which was promptly nicked by my sister - the others have a different colour scheme.

Some other projects are on their way, I need to find some time and study my drafts! Main inspiration is the work of fantastic Petra Borner

beginning

I've been thinking lately about some issues...or better, so far I just can't find a definitive answer...

Some time ago, and precisely while doing market research at Bradford, I came across a handweaver who is based in Italy but sells around the world, in exclusive boutiques and shops. The products were not quite my taste (please note this it is only a personal opinion, and thankfully we all like different things!) but I kept an eye on this designer, wondering when I would have the chance to get across some of those items...

Then, while in London in October, I had the chance to see some of the handwovens and finally touch them, and pay attention to the details. I have to say I was very surprised.
A throw, woven in plain weave, with very nice colours (but nothing daring), horrible loose selvedges, and a very prickly wool. The price tag was high - of course - according to the type of shop I was in.

Questions, questions, and more questions...
If you sell an item, what is the level of quality you aim to propose? Selvedges are to be perfect? The quality of your yarn is important?

That blanket was the perfect example of what I would never sell - or buy -
then I thought ' if that throw is there there must be someone buying it'

Maybe selvedges are less then perfect and the wool is prickly because this is a way of saying "look! this is handwoven! it's not perfect - you can imagine the trembling hands of a weaver throwing the shuttle! ".

If it were perfect nobody woud recognize it - and think of the long hours spent dressing the loom, weaving, finishing, etc etc - and would not be prepared to spend such amount of money for it.

I know the work of many talented weavers, but their pieces are on a completely different level, screaming "I'm gorgeous" from every single fibre of their warps and wefts. Yet they don't command the same price level.

So what makes low quality so appealing? Is the public educated enough to recognise what is well woven or what is not? Brand name is enough? Compromise is necessary?

Why should I spend hours designing, getting the best yarn I can, striving not to make mistakes and keep my selvedges consistent?

Because I couldn't do otherwise - I want to be proud of what I make.


Interesting exhibition about Home Decorating in the 50's - with textiles by Lucienne Day and Jacqueline Groag at the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture