A Colourful Thrum Project

" Painting with Thrums " is my latest piece of weaving and the inspiration for this project came from the desire of exploring what it would be like to weave an entire piece of fabric with mostly thrums of different lengths and colours.

In my post Treasuring Thrums, I touched on colours and textures with a couple of photos: a colourful warp created with the longest lengths of thrums and the weft thrums at the start of my weaving.  I did not have to weave very much to discover that the blending of colours was going to be the true essence of this cloth.

Several more threads of fine silk and silk/wool blend got woven together; nests of tangled yarns found their way into the cloth, and knots from the warp ends were added for texture.

And like watercolours on a painter's palette, a multitude of colours were blended together and woven in the warp.  I nearly made it to the end of the warp before running low on thrums.

A perfect opportunity to explore a different finish. I'm not sure yet what will become of this new piece of cloth, but for the moment - one thing is certain - I keep on treasuring thrums!

Treasuring Thrums

Thrums ... THRUMS ... Thrums
Thrums are full of colours

Thrums offer lots of textures
Thrums are simple treasures

Silk thrums in the warp

 

Silk thrums in the weft

Let's see where those thrums take me and as Misao-sensei would say

"Let's adventure beyond our imagination"

A Saori Wind Chime

My Saori wind chime came together before traveling to the Oregon Coast ... and only recently was it installed outside near by our kitchen window.  In creating this visual display of colors, my desire was to weave several Saori pieces that would dance in the wind.  What I did not expect is the glowing of these colors in the morning sun.

The weaving part of my project was inspired by the Tibetan prayer flags fluttering in the wind, and so I chose to weave with the five colors representing the five elements of nature: blue symbolizing sky/space, followed by white for air/wind, then red for the fire element, green for water, and finally yellow symbolizing earth.


I very much enjoyed creating this piece and really like that it is now part of nature.  The weaving is very colorful when basking in the sun and dancing in the wind ... it is also a gentle reminder for more kindness, compassion and peace for ourselves, others and the earth.

Colours of the Oregon Coast

I treadled a lot in August and September.  However, it wasn't so much while seated at the loom or behind the spinning wheel, but rather from the saddle of my bicycle.  A wonderful cycle touring adventure along the Oregon Coast and through Northern California.  The coast line of Oregon was spectacular, the Redwood Forests majestic, and the pace of cycling ... well, perfect to immerse oneself in the moment and truly enjoy the scenery.  

A pleasant discovery on my way to Cape Blanco was the Wild Rivers Wool Factory in Langlois, South Oregon.  A gem of a store selling and featuring locally produced fibres and finished products from local artists and artisans.  As I walked in, a colorful skein of wool cut my eyes and wanting to know more about my choice,  I asked about the type of wool.  "Well, that would be Romney and the sheep's name is Hyacinth - she lives up the road."  Now, that is 100% local wool!

Another pleasant discovery awaited me in Portland - the annual festival Art In The Pearl.  It is there that I discovered the textile work of Kimberly Morris , a local weaver who crafts amazing rugs with "the belief that all things functional, should be beautiful, easy to care for and last for a long time."  The colours of her hand-dyed, hand-woven wool rugs are absolutely stunning!  Her rugs have a story, watch this segment on Oregon Art Beat.

Coming Together ...

Spinning Artsy Yarn

"Thick and Thin" ~ I simply love the beauty and irregularity of thick and thin yarn ... especially when it finds its way into my weaving!  Inspired by the yarn of Carmen Craig-Martin from MelonHead Knitwear, I signed up in June for spinning classes at Birkeland Bros - my local yarn shop.

Hand Spun - first hank

 At the end of our first class, Carmen had us spinning on the wheel and to my enchantment - I was spinning thick and thin. Well ... I was spinning exactly what a beginner at the wheel spins - flukey "uncontrolled" thick and thin yarn!



Hand Spun - 2 plys

Though in love with my first hand spun, my learning process was to spin more consistently so that I can eventually spin beautiful "controlled" thick and thin yarn. And to spin a more consistent yarn ... spinning and more spinning is the secret!



Hand Spun  - ply with alpaca

Spinning - I did .. and lots of yarns - I got. I am still working on  the control of my thick and thin .. though I quite like the uniqueness of each and every single hank I've spun so far.  I am excited with the idea of weaving with my own artsy yarns!

A Fabulous Fibre Month

June was an eventful fibre month with new projects coming along and my latest Saori pieces getting ready to be mounted in the window frame.  I learned to spin wool on the wheel and met some wonderful fibre people along the way - but more about these topics in a different post.

June was also  Victoria FibreFest and a day spent with Terri at her Saori booth in Saxe Point Park.  It was such a great day and I had so much fun helping Terri and assisting people at the looms.

   

The children loved weaving on the Piccolo loom - the perfect size for them, while others chose to weave a section of the collaborative banner for The Saori Bridges of Elm Park project. Thanks to Terri for sharing the photos of the looms - Piccolo above and the banner in progress on the left.

June was a fabulous fibre month  ... and an amazing Saori weaving day in the park!