Friday, July 8, 2016

Cutting Off, the last of a series....


Although I was determined to get this tapestry off the loom by the end of June, I still had this much to weave when I finally got to the loom after the 4th of July holiday. I spent most of the past few days in the studio, and I finally wove the upper hem this morning.


As this is the last tapestry in my Calendar Series, which I have been working on since February of 2008 (!!!), I had hoped and planned to have a big cutting off party for this tapestry. Completing the weaving of 12 tapestries over the course of eight long, and several difficult, years is something that should be celebrated.

However, today did not feel like a day for celebrating in this sad and crazy world. So I completed and cut off the tapestry alone.

This is the 'December' tapestry, the twelfth in a series which includes a tapestry representing each month in the year, following the weaving of the Four Seasons series tapestries. I now have the finishing part of creating a tapestry to do: trimming all those weft threads on the back, sewing slits, blocking and mounting the tapestry: still a good bit of time to spend to complete it.

The backside of the tapestry, after the top was cut from the loom



I have posted several things from my sketchbooks recently. Sketching has become a form of meditation for me, along with knitting and playing my guitar. I am finding life requires quite a bit of meditation time lately! I begin and end each sketchbook with a self-portrait, so this is the beginning sketch in the most recently begun book.

Pray for peace in our nation. Put as much good out there as you can, for we reap what we sow.

1 comment:

Molly Elkind said...

Congratulations on sticking with and bringing your series to such a beautiful conclusion! I am sorry you didn't get your cutting-off party. You certainly earned it! But I share your grief and think you made the right call. Looking forward to seeing what's next on your loom!

Challenge accepted!

This is Ringo T he American Tapestry Alliance hosts an unjuried exhibition every two years, in conjunction with the Handweavers Convergence ...