Practising my tapestry weaving

I have started tapestry weaving again lately, in response to the tapestryweaversoz Yahoo group's theme of Mountain to Sea. I have several designs competing for prominence and not much luck coming up with one that actually looks like it will work.
Our local tapestry group also has a theme - Building.  Although it is not due for months, ideas have been floating around in my head, and my visual diary/picture collection.

I met with Joy Smith (a member of our local group and one of my teachers when I was at RMIT) to have a discussion about my weaving (and its problems), how to develop some of my ideas and generally to have a lovely afternoon tea. She helped with ideas for better technical weaving but also for developing more doable designs. So much to think about.

I would like to just start weaving a piece to improve my technique but I find it hard to work that way. I think I may have to use my theme pieces as my practice and if they are not successful, I don't have to put them in. After all, I did two for last year's theme (Circles and Squares) and only put one in.

The one I didn't put in.  I've noticed that it has a similar problem to the one I am currently working on - bulges where I have straight edges.  But the problem with the current work is worse, maybe because it has single warp wraps also (images to come - perhaps). Joy gave me a good tip about the wrapping.  It seems obvious now but I didn't do it at the time - sew it up as you go, build up one side of the tapestry, then do the wrap and sew it every 3 passes.  I have done the wrap independently of the weaving and it has too many wraps, hence the bulging (well, that is part of the reason for the bulge).

This is the one I put in - it is based on an optical illusion.  You can see the circles if you squint.  Actually, now that I look at it, this one has a lot of straight lines too.  If I remember correctly, I used less wool for the orange bits, the vertical ones at least, and that helped with the bulging. I don't think that is the best way to solve the problem but it worked for me at the time.

The themes and group challenges are great for motivating me, giving me a focus and actually making me develop a design and work out how to weave it.  Thanks to all those who put in so much work with the online groups.  I belong to a few, and they often have very interesting discussions. 

Joy also gave me the courage to have a go at fixing the very untidy plaiting I did on my little piece that I did in France a couple of years ago.  So I will have to do that, after the warp has had a chance to uncrimp (if there is such a word).

Note that I don't have an image of the very wobbly top edge, I couldn't bear to photograph it.

The problem might be that I didn't hitch off tightly enough, as well as my loose plaiting.
Maybe I can use this in our Building exhibition - if we actually get around to putting it on - and if I can fix up the plaiting.

It was so good to talk to a mentor about the problems I am having (it would be better to call it 'the learning I am doing').  The online groups are good and the people on them are very generous with their advice but there is nothing to compare with sitting with a person, or group, and talking specifically about issues and having the tapestry there for reference.

Joy mentioned that she had entered some works into the British Tapestry Group's current exhibition - Tapestry Mischief.  She said that there were pictures on their Facebook page.
Go here to see them.  Beautiful.  And you don't have to be on Facebook to see them.

Circles and Squares Travelling Tapestry Exhibition

Well, the day finally arrived.  We put up the travelling exhibition  of the AuNZ tapestry group, at the Handspinners and Weavers Guild rooms today.
I was so excited when the box came and I opened it to see the wonderful works.

What a treasure trove.

I can't really express how different they look in real life, compared to photos.  The colours are so clear, the textures enticing and the whole 'reality' of the works is special.
We are really lucky to have the opportunity to see them and have them for a couple of weeks.

It took quite a few hours to spread them out, decide how to group them (they had come in fairly well-organised groups) and then to hang them.  But it was fun.

Decisions, decisions

They look really great with the spotlights on them.
We have already had lots of complimentary comments from passersby as well as ladies from the guild.
So come along to our 'opening' on Saturday morning, or call in to the guild rooms anytime (check opening times here), and see them for yourselves, if you are in the vicinity.

Circles and Squares miniature tapestry challenge exhibition.

I am part of an online group that has a yearly challenge to make a small (up to 20cm x 20cm) woven tapestry.  Some friends and I participated this year and have organised to have the travelling exhibition come to Melbourne.
The Handspinners and Weavers Guild of Victoria has kindly allowed us to put the nearly 50 tapestries up on display.

Tapestry Group meeting January 2012

Another good date to be blogging - 1/2/12
This one is a bit late, we had our monthly meeting of our Tapestry Group last Saturday but I am only just getting around to reporting.
Only four of us could make it this time.  It was the Australia Day 'long weekend' and it was hot, so we decided we would let the non-attendees off the hook.  Hopefully we will see more at the next meeting, on the last Saturday in February, at the Handweavers and Spinners Guild in Carlton.
Two of the ladies were working on the Square and Circles pieces for the AuNZ Tapestry Group Project for 2012.  Actually, it looks like they are nearly finished.

I have finished mine - how amazing that I am ahead of schedule.  It is not perfect but that wasn't the point for me, it was a learning experience.  It was quite a challenge as I decided to try to do the geometric shapes, something I am not good at.  And I had trouble with sewing up the slits, not sure why, I just did.
I decided that I was not quite happy with the overlapping shapes and started another one.  Here is a pic of my first one, the overlapping shapes. (I did mention it previously, here.)

All the pieces were relatively small as the challenge requires the pieces to be 20cm square or less.

We will need to find a new theme to work on now.  One member recommended that we bring along any cones of tapestry wool, or parts thereof, to swap at the next meeting.

October meeting of our new tapestry group

We had our second meeting this weekend and we have a new member!!  Very exciting.  Marion was looking after her, showing her how to start basic tapestry weaving, on a rigid heddle loom.  I have no idea how that is going to go but Marion is confident.

We had two other new attendees also - at a time when students are busy finishing off their assignments and some of us are getting ready to graduate, so we are pleased with the attendance.

We looked at some ideas for the Circles and Squares theme and generally had a good catch-up again.

Someone is working

Sharing ideas

Weaving on a rigid heddle loom