Spring beach time

Sat. afternoon, I arrived in Cannon Beach, Or. to teach a workshop at the Tolovana Arts Colony. We were so fortunate to have a lovely, sunny day in late April.  There were 8 participants, who were given the choice of making a basket with reed and natural materials or a birdhouse.  Here are some of the results.  All very different, yet the same materials were available to all. 

I didn't get photos of everyone's work, sorry!

When I left Cannon Beach on Sun., I headed north to Seaview, Wa. for an artist in residence visit.  It was 81 degrees!  What a treat!  I arrived at the Sou'Wester Lodge after lunch. It's been here since 1892.

I was issued the key for my home for the next 5 nights.

This great old cabin from the 50's had everything I needed.  

So what do you do with 5 days of freedom?  You walk on the beach, and weave!

My first project has been on the back burner for years.  The face is clay, made by Dana Swisher of Eugene.  You may recognize the style from some of my woven figures.  The whole thing is about 8" across, so it's not one of those little beads.  I used western red cedar strips for the warp.  The weaving is hemp thread, wisteria fiber, cedar bark strips, and ni'au blanc leaves.

I made a woven circle out of vine rattan, willow bark, and dracena leaves, with the thought of leaving it at the lodge.  However, it didn't live up to my expectations, so I brought it home.  Here it is in the Golden Deer exhibit room (my front door entryway), along with my pine needle bag.

And outside the door, you'll find a random weave leaf that I made.  It's made of dyed bamboo strips that I bought from Jiro Y.

On Thurs. I was starting to panic a little, because I didn't know what I was going to make for the lodge.  I had willow and cedar bark, and bits and pieces of other weaving materials.  So I decided perhaps I would weave a willow bark basket after my walk on the beach.

Well that basket never happened because I made a marvelous beach find.  I walked on the path near Long Beach, and when I got out onto the beach, I found several large slabs of bark.  I believe it was maple.  I pulled the frayed edges, and was able to retrieve quite a bit of  bark strips.  The rest I can make into cordage.  So I ended up making a wall hanging.  I didn't size the maple strips; I just used them in their original forms.

close up of kelp beads

 I had a day to work on paper.  Earlier in the month, I had prepared a small paper mache dish. 

I prepared the rest of the paper for spinning.

I was able to sew the warp threads (hemp) onto the bowl, and started twining the upper portion, which I will show you when I'm done, probably next week.

 I had 8 students for my workshop on Sat.  The pavilion was set up quite nicely for us.  Heat lamps, which we needed since it was rainy and a little cold, tea and coffee, citronella candles for the mosquitoes.  I was worried that it might be too cold for weaving, but the temperature was just fine.

The participants wove some fantastic baskets, made of paper cord and waxed linen, in buttonhole stitch.  I was very proud of them.

 

I made all of the center circles except for the upper right one. They are bisque fired clay. I like to use rocks with holes, but I just couldn't find the right ones for this workshop.

 

 We also spent about an hour adding some Japanese basketry knots to rocks, which is quite popular here in the Northwest.

Did you know that I wrote a little booklet on how to do these embellishments on baskets? (If you'd like to order one, please contact me at d2crispin@aol.com for more details.  Otherwise, if you "leave a comment" on the page, I never get to see your email address, and cannot reply to you.

Spinning Paper

 I'll admit it, I like fiber related tools.  My favorite is the Japanese spinning wheel.

It's beautiful, but it's very large, and I can't travel with it.  I also have a Japanese bobbin winder, which is a bit smaller.  

One of my favorite 'spinners' is a western style bobbin winder.  I can put it in a plastic box, and take it to workshops.

 Ever since I started spinning paper, I've wanted to try an Indian charkha.  My friend Aimee and I tried to make box charkhas last year, but I wasn't happy with the final results.  I ended up buying one a few weeks ago.  (ebay)

“The literal translation of the word Charkha or charka is wheel, During Gandhi's time there

was a strong movement to promote self-sufficiency in India. A box spinning wheel was

designed and made compact enough so that every Indian family could own one and spin

cotton yam for their cloth. Gandhi himself contributed to the design of the Charkha by adding an accelerated wheel drive for greater speed. On many occasions he would spin and recommend spinning to others, saying it would bring them peace of mind. Cotton spinning was also meant as a political snub of British colonial rule.” www.shuttleworks.com

The charkha arrived from India.  The packaging was a sewn cotton 'bag.'

If you own a charkha, then you know that the spindle is on the wrong side.  I believe that it was installed incorrectly, because if I have it the other way (facing the left side of the box), the tip almost touches the ground, making it impossible to spin.

This is my first attempt at spinning Thai unryu.  I'll need a lot of practice to get a smooth cord.

If you order a charkha, they do not come with assembly instructions, or info on spinning.  However, there are many good resources on the internet. 

http://www.charkhafiberbook.com/history.html

http://www.spinningdaily.com/media/p/59.aspx  Make your own charkha!

   .

Working Vacation in New Mexico

Last week, I taught a 4 1/2 days workshop at Ghost Ranch Art Center in Abiquiu, New Mexico. ghostranch.org  I had an hour or so to walk around Santa Fe, and found some beautiful hollyhocks, plus a few interesting sights.

This shop made me feel like I was in the Middle East.

I was surprised to find a Japanese coffee roaster in Santa Fe.

Good old New Mexico clay in the bottom of
Box Canyon,  Ghost Ranch.

Formed into a little pot.  It will be interesting to fire it.

Rabbitbrush is a traditional Hopi basketry material.

2 versions of Shikainami (Ocean Waves) in reed.

My students made some lovely baskets!

9 out of 10 were beginners.  Can you believe it?

a basketry knot on a rock.  First attempt on the right, 2nd on the left.

So that was Tues, Weds., and Thurs.  On Friday and Sat. I switched gears to teach shifu (paper cloth) preparation and weaving, Donna style.  (I deviate from
tradition.

I copied the poem, What If, by Ganga White onto a 1/2 sheet of Thai Unryu.

What If?
A Poem by Ganga White
What if our religion was each other?
If our practice was our life?
If prayer was our words?
What if the Temple was the Earth?
If forests were our church?
If holy water—the rivers, lakes and oceans?
What if meditation was our relationships?
If the Teacher was life?
If wisdom was self-knowledge? If love was the center of our being.

Student work

folded, starting to cut up to the upper fold line.

You can use a rotary cutting system, or

old fashioned scissors.

You open it up, and roughen up the paper prior to spinning.

Tearing the paper into a continuous strip.

Spinning with a handmade drop spindle,          

or a battery powered drink mixer.  (Just 2 of many 

spinning techniques.)

Student spinning-a variety of paper, paper yarn, and paper raffia

to be continued...