I’m staying indoors as much as possible. It is pretty damn cold out there. I know it is winter, and this is NJ, but -2 degrees? That’s pushing it. At least we don’t have continuing two foot snowstorms like Boston. I can push an inch or two of snow around with a shovel. We do have a snow blower, and I do have a husband who loves his toy, but he flies to Sweden tonight, and I’m hoping the next weather incident is mild and shovelable… (My spell-check just freaked out. Get over it…) I don’t do power tools.
So I spent the day Saturday ripping my studio apart, finding all kinds of lovely colored dust bunnies in places that the vacuum doesn’t reach. I do this a couple times a year so I can do a formal photo shoot, of all works worthy of a formal photo shoot, for portfolio purposes, updating my website gallery, and of course, applying to exhibits. It’s that time again!
I went through my closet for the pieces I knew had to be photographed and I found a couple of minor works I’d forgotten to photograph the last time around. Like this jacket from 2012. I had created it from handwoven fabric from Jerri Shankler, part of a Potpourri exchange from my weaving guild. We all put yarn in brown bags and swap and the recipient weaves something for the owner of the yarn. It was all great fun and Jerri wove me this lovely crackle weave fabric from my yarn and I used it to make a jacket for a Sew News Article back in 2013. The trim is linen. It is a Vogue Pattern. #2919
And then this one, which I made last year from a commercial fabric. I needed an additional garment that featured inkle woven trim, since I teach this a lot, especially to non weavers. And I needed a jacket for illustrating how to bag a lining in my “Behind the Front Lines” lecture I did last summer for the ASG conference. I’m into killing as many birds as I can with one stone. (Really we need to come up with a better metaphor, those poor birds…) The trim is inkle woven with a supplemental weft. The pattern for the jacket is from Burda Style Magazine. December/2013
And I decided to include one of my knitted garments that I’m real proud of. This is the handspun I did from the leftovers of this felted jacket. I remember spinning it during the Academy Awards last year. It is a really modified C2Knits pattern, I know it looks nothing like the original, but I’m proud of how I incorporated Angora/Silk yarn from my stash, and made the few skeins of handspun I had last. I had about 8″ of handspun left when I was finished the sweater. To support the heavy metal buttons, I wove my own grosgrain for the underside of the button area on an inkle loom from the leftover angora/silk.
The mohair warp coat I made at the end of last year from my handwoven fabric, with some 20 hours of hand blanket stitch and crocheted edging, photographed better than I thought it would. The joy of the color gradation on this coat is really subtle. Most miss it at first. I’ve already worn this coat to death, it is great for layering in sub zero temps. It is a McCall’s pattern. #7057
And finally, the big shirt. This is so colorful and so pretty and I’m so happy with it. I’m patiently awaiting spring when I can start really wearing it, not mushed under 20 layers of clothing. Unless it gets into an exhibit. Then I won’t really be able to wear it until fall. The pattern is a vintage 1980’s oversized shirt pattern from Burda. (Heavily modified) #6381
A productive weekend, and my studio is back together, and the photo equipment, lights, backdrop, etc. all returned to their closet. My husband installed some lovely bright LED strip lighting under some of the cabinets in my sewing and ironing areas, and I’m happy about that. You can’t ever have too much task lighting. And now we are getting close to the count down, when I start traveling, and I am tying up loose ends, getting ready for my first installment of the five part webinar series for Weaving Today, (next Monday 1pm EST). I have lots to do in the next couple of weeks.
Stay tuned…
They are all pretty, but I’m loving that shirt at the end.
I really envy your wardrobe! (But of course it wouldn’t do for FL’s climate or my much rounder body.) You are such an efficient inspiration, Daryl.
Love the photos and hopefully we will be seeing you in Boulder, CO soon!
You are such an inspiration.
Think your felted jacket with the hand spun is my fave! Love the colours.
stay warm, looking foreward to Monday!!
Oh, yummy, they are all so gorgeous!
So many beautiful things. Can’t decide my favorite, leaning to the big shirt.
I just got to see these in person at the garment workshop in NC, and the big shirt was my favorite.