Adventures in Fiber Application
My DS#1 outdid himself with thoughtfulness when he picked up this for me at the local Sally Ann Thrift Shop -
The photo may be a little deceptive, size-wise as it's nearly 42" across! The stretched fabric is a coarse weave and the tree itself is a mass of twisted cord. The tag says "Made in India" "Don Freedman" with other info and "copyright 1978". The fabric & cord are 75% Jute, 15% wool, 10% Cotton. It has a numbered pottery disc on the front "193" (as you can see). I took a sideways shot so you could see how 3-D this is:
I am absolutely dizzy with delight! It almost qualifies as an antique in decorating circles so I am especially pleased it is in such superb condition! This type of fiber art hearkens back to DS#1's early childhood when I was very industrious in making circular weavings. Here are a few examples I still have left... so many were sold or given away as gifts!
All of my weaving used a variety of yarn and cord in each creation. I wanted to make art that was more than just visual. I used fibers and created textures that invited touching. It was always the most satisfying thing for me to show someone my hangings and immediately see their hand reach out to explore the surface!
This black and red one was the first I ever made so it will always hang in my office. Macrame cord, cotton cord, acrylic yarn and glitter piping all went into this. I felt they were all "safe" things to start with.
I moved on quickly into more diverse fibers, always keeping an eye out when I was shopping for the odd ball of unique texture or color.
In this one I also employed a lot of coarse jute. It makes such a contrast to the soft fine orange wool yarn and the shiny smooth green macrame cord. I was thinking of the burls on old trees when I knotted this.... I just loved making the cut pile - such a plush contrast!
The last set have always been a favorite of mine. The greens and brown are so earthy and the weaving and even the texture is all softness. Sadly they have not traveled well in various moves nor stood up to the unruly inquisitiveness of small boys! They are a bit saggy now and the knotted coils at the bottom are very stretched out!
Still, they are all various wools, brushed brown mohair, thick 'n thin tweedy green, white & pastel green boucle, brown blend boucles and even a bit of blended yellow...
Much of what inspired me were the textures and colors of the yarns themselves. It was a much safer fiber art to pursue with small children in the house. No matter what they did, they couldn't undo the weaving or hurt the project the way they could with knitting or crocheting. It afforded me all the pleasure of working with fibers I loved without the risk to the project or the children! The most expensive one I made was a commission from my SIL. It was 36" and just the yarns (co-ordinated with her decor), mostly mohair, lopi singles and 100% fine wool, was over $150! Then there were the beautiful 3" pottery beads at $3 each! I wish I had a photo!
I still have some hoops so there's no telling if I may eventually make more. I've grown so much in my fiber tastes plus, now I spin! Maybe some day I'll come full circle! (LOL!! Sorry! I couldn't resist the pun!)
The photo may be a little deceptive, size-wise as it's nearly 42" across! The stretched fabric is a coarse weave and the tree itself is a mass of twisted cord. The tag says "Made in India" "Don Freedman" with other info and "copyright 1978". The fabric & cord are 75% Jute, 15% wool, 10% Cotton. It has a numbered pottery disc on the front "193" (as you can see). I took a sideways shot so you could see how 3-D this is:
I am absolutely dizzy with delight! It almost qualifies as an antique in decorating circles so I am especially pleased it is in such superb condition! This type of fiber art hearkens back to DS#1's early childhood when I was very industrious in making circular weavings. Here are a few examples I still have left... so many were sold or given away as gifts!
All of my weaving used a variety of yarn and cord in each creation. I wanted to make art that was more than just visual. I used fibers and created textures that invited touching. It was always the most satisfying thing for me to show someone my hangings and immediately see their hand reach out to explore the surface!
This black and red one was the first I ever made so it will always hang in my office. Macrame cord, cotton cord, acrylic yarn and glitter piping all went into this. I felt they were all "safe" things to start with.
I moved on quickly into more diverse fibers, always keeping an eye out when I was shopping for the odd ball of unique texture or color.
In this one I also employed a lot of coarse jute. It makes such a contrast to the soft fine orange wool yarn and the shiny smooth green macrame cord. I was thinking of the burls on old trees when I knotted this.... I just loved making the cut pile - such a plush contrast!
The last set have always been a favorite of mine. The greens and brown are so earthy and the weaving and even the texture is all softness. Sadly they have not traveled well in various moves nor stood up to the unruly inquisitiveness of small boys! They are a bit saggy now and the knotted coils at the bottom are very stretched out!
Still, they are all various wools, brushed brown mohair, thick 'n thin tweedy green, white & pastel green boucle, brown blend boucles and even a bit of blended yellow...
Much of what inspired me were the textures and colors of the yarns themselves. It was a much safer fiber art to pursue with small children in the house. No matter what they did, they couldn't undo the weaving or hurt the project the way they could with knitting or crocheting. It afforded me all the pleasure of working with fibers I loved without the risk to the project or the children! The most expensive one I made was a commission from my SIL. It was 36" and just the yarns (co-ordinated with her decor), mostly mohair, lopi singles and 100% fine wool, was over $150! Then there were the beautiful 3" pottery beads at $3 each! I wish I had a photo!
I still have some hoops so there's no telling if I may eventually make more. I've grown so much in my fiber tastes plus, now I spin! Maybe some day I'll come full circle! (LOL!! Sorry! I couldn't resist the pun!)
Posted by Gloria Patre at 7/25/2009 8:17 AM 
Categories: Other Projects, Musings
Tags: weaving wall hangings circular weaving textured art
Categories: Other Projects, Musings
Tags: weaving wall hangings circular weaving textured art
So much talent and so many ways you have expressed your inner artist! Who knows what you will surprise us with next!
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Congratulations. You raised that boy right! Your gift is beautiful and your older work is fabulous!
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