52 books - week 4 - Lost and Found Matchbook

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This was a fun little book to make. The inside pages are random pieces of paper that I decorated with hearts that were kicking around in my studio. There are little bits of art that people have given me, some heart shaped stickers and other bits and bobs. I folded the cardstock cover around the pages and stapled everything together to resemble a matchbook. I think it would be fun to make a little book like this and cut the inside pages so they are even more like "matches" and maybe write a random word on each section. By flipping through the pages you could make some "found poetry".

52 books - week 3 - Happy things in January

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Lots of people I know have "Happiness Jars". They write down the nice things that happen each day and save the slips of paper in a jar. At the end of the year they have a jar full of little notes about all the good in their lives. I decided to make a bookish version as part of my year long project.

I gathered up some random papers that were cluttering up my worktable - they aren't even all the same size. I decorated them with other bits and pieces that were lying around. Then I folded them in half, found a pretty cardstock cover and stapled everything together in the spine.

During the month, I jotted down notes about things that made me happy. It still makes me smile to go back and read about things that happened last year.

Some of my notes:
"Day trips to Bellingham" - Going to Bellingham in January may become a family tradition. This year we stayed a couple of nights
"AD says she likes having her easy classes in the afternoon so that she doesn't have too work too hard after lunch. Her 'easy' classes are math and science."

Weaving in Oaxaca, Mexico

It has been a dream of mine for about 20 years to go to Oaxaca, Mexico to weave. Although I love to plan trips, I had no idea how to make this one a reality, until I came across Loom Dancer Weaving Odysseys, a tour company that specializes in weaving trips. They visit all sorts of interesting and exotic locations, including Peru, Oaxaca and Saltspring Island, BC (which is just a 2 hour ferry ride away from where I live).

It was through their website that I learned about SAORI weaving and SAORI Saltspring. I thought about doing the Loom Dancer trip to Saltspring, but I was able to do a workshop with Terri Bibby from SAORI Saltspring here in the Vancouver area. With much trepidation, I signed up for their Oaxaca trip. I wasn't at all sure that I would enjoy a group tour, but the group I traveled with was so lovely, and it really was nice having someone else take care of all the travel details. We spent our days weaving with a family of weavers in the village of Teotitlan del Valle. It was really wonderful to get to know this kind and generous family.

Here's the whole group with the weavings we did: The only man on the tour spent his time doing a wood carving of a coyote.

The weaver's six year old granddaughter did a drawing of "me and my loom, working" in my sketchbook.

Here's one of my own sketches from the trip.

These are some of the photos from the trip that inspired my weaving:

New Freestyle Weaving Workshop

Look at these fabulous weavings made by the first time weavers at last Saturday's workshop. Aren't they beautiful?

Everyone had so much fun that they want to do it again. The next Freestyle Weaving Workshop - for absolute beginners, and everyone else will be:

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Another Space

1523 East Pender Street, Vancouver

10:00 am—4:30 pm

$140 includes use of loom and all materials and supplies.

Feel free to bring some yarn from your own stash if you like.Even short leftover bits can be used in freestyle weaving.

Here's the poster, with all the registration info:

52 books - week 2 - Inspired by...

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The second book

This is one of the largest books that I made all year at about 8 1/2" x 11". I did a coptic binding and I think this is my favourite way to bind a hand made book. I used this book to recreate my own versions of mixed media artwork by other artists. I'm sure that I'm not the only artist who saves images from magazines (and on pinterest) of artwork that I like. I don't usually do much more than just look at them occasionally. I decided to use this book to explore what appeals to me about other people's art, to see what colours, shapes and images emerge frequently and to think about why I am drawn to these things. Here are some of the pages:

52 books - week 1 - ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

52 books in 52 weeks was my weekly project for 2015. I made a book more or less each week - and filled them all up with, well stuff.

When I posted about my 2015 weekly art project "52 books in 52 weeks" a few people asked to see more of the books and their content. I was planning to start sharing one book a week starting at the beginning of 2016, but that plan went sideways when I lost my camera. Fortunately I found it in time to take photos at Saturday's weaving class, but sadly, not in time to get any pictures of my daughter's first curling tournament on Friday. Oh well, hopefully there'll be others in her future.

Without any further rambling, here's the first book. It's a small accordian fold book with 26 pages. The contents is a cut and folded paper alphabet modeled after one that I saw at an art retreat created by Celeste Douville.

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Freestyle Weaving Workshop

Yesterday's workshop was loads of fun. I love how everyone seems to have coordinated their weaving with their clothing. More beginner workshops coming up in mid February and early April.

Learn to weave on a rigid heddle loom

Learn to weave in a fun, easy and creative way.

This class is for you if you:
*always wanted to learn to weave
*felt weaving was too complicated or too fiddly
*thought looms were too costly or take up too much space

Saturday, January 9, 2015
Another Space
1623 East Pender Street, Vancouver
10:00 am—4:30 pm

Only two spaces left.
($140 special rate for my facebook friends) $160 includes use of loom and all materials and supplies.
Feel free to bring some yarn from your own stash if you like.
Even short leftover bits can be used in freestyle weaving.

About freestyle weaving: “There are no mistakes”. We will each explore our personal creativity and produce something completely original that could not be made by a machine.

About the looms: Beka rigid heddle looms are small, portable, versatile, well made, affordable and easy to use. They are an
excellent choice for both beginners, and experienced weavers who would like to try something new and creative.