Here we are in January of 2019! I have decided that this is the year I will write more about my weaving adventures, and what better place to do that than this blog space.
As the new year rolls in, I have been giving some thought to where I want to take my weaving this year. Back in 2015 I took the leap and submitted a couple of projects to Handwoven magazine for publication. Both were accepted and published. While I loved the thrill of seeing my work in print, the next year or so I became focused on other weaving pursuits, mostly following my love of deepening my weaving knowledge, improving my skills, and selling my work. Then last year my small local group of weavers decided to submit a napking exchange project we did to Handwoven. Not only were we accepted for the issue, WE MADE THE COVER! I also had a piece accepted for the Complex Weavers' 40th Anniversary book. (See the photo of the shawl on my home page.) Since I have clearly enjoyed the challenge and the thrill of having my work published, I have decided to focus some of my weaving time on projects and/or articles for publication. Look for my next project in print in the Nov/Dec 2019 issue of Handwoven.
Last July I attended both Convergence and Complex Weavers' Seminars in Reno. While I've been comtemplating an upgrade to a 24 shaft compu-dobby loom, I had not intended on taking the leap. However, I fell in love with an AVL V-series loom and decided to go for it. The loom arrived in November in six boxes on a pallet! Sticks that needed to be assembled into a beautiful piece of equipment. Since I was consummed with preparing for holiday shows, and trying to spend time with a friend who was dying, it took me a month to assemble the loom. It's now just waiting for its first warp, and I am busy designing. Watch for pictures.
As for the rest of my focus for this year? I want to continue my exploration of tied unit weaves, weaving curves and circles (and exploring the design potential of network drafting) and expanding my designing skills to 24 shafts. I still intend to design for the 8 shaft looms I love to weave on. The journey continues and becomes ever more interesting.
Here's to a great 2019 in the studio!