Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Doing what I love to do





I put linen on the old barn loom again, and wove this piece with Finnish paper yarn. Linen and paper go together. Their fibers transpire, they breathe, they change. This is slow weaving. Paper yarn threaded on a tapestry needle makes rya knots for the flowers. The lattice squares, or windows, are bound with 9 separate pirns, each passed back and forth.

Off the loom, I brushed 320 petals with water and opened each by hand, petal by petal. I checked the clock, and this blooming process took 5 hours.  But, while I'm working, I tend to forget the time.There is something about doing this that empties my brain of pesky thoughts. I forget myself a little, in an air garden of linen and crisp paper, the thunk of the beater, and the pure pleasure of making something.

17 comments:

Alice Fox said...

So beautiful and partly because of its simplicity. All the better for the enjoyment it gave in the making too!

Kathryn said...

Beautiful! Isn't it wonderful to be in the "flow" and forget about everything except what you're making?!

Jabberwarpy said...

Extraordinary. You are an inspiration.

Donatella said...

And everytime I see this I am in awe. Now I imagine you gently opening the flowers one by one, and this piece is even more beautiful.

Ria Harting, Toronto, Canada said...

How wonderful, original and inspiring especially to a Japanese paper spinner like me.

Susan said...

Thank you for these encouraging comments. The flowers do not always like to open easy, the pirns fall to the floor, so I have to crawl under to retrieve them. Nobody knows the troubles I've seen..oh, yes, you do. You're weavers.

RIa, Japanese paper spinning....so this is a new to me idea. Of course, it must be possible. I love to use paper yarn. I have some variety of it from Habu

Peg Cherre said...

I love, love, LOVE this finished product. And it's clear how much love went into creating it, especially once you understand the process.

Beautiful work!

barbindell said...

Oh Susan--so beautiful--when I was in Finland I thought about this project--the colors!!!!

Velma Bolyard said...

somehow this one is so lush, so BIG that i am in awe. within the gridded structure of the loom and the linen and paper, so crisp and clean, there's a blooming, a hugeness. i am so glad i saw this today!!!

Susan said...

Peg, Barb-in-Dell,Velma. Your enthusiasm makes me feel happy. You make my day!

Deanna said...

Beautiful weaving. Beautiful words!

Rebecca Mezoff said...

This is beautiful! I am a tapestry weaver and I forget to look at other kinds of weaving sometimes. You've inspired me.

Brooke said...

Really beautiful!

sosser said...

i get goose bumps every time i see that you have completed and posted one of these. seriously. beautiful work.

Sue said...

beautiful, I love it and wish I could get back into that 'flow' thing.

weaveblah said...

I love it too when you weave this project; so beautiful.

Susan said...

Thank you. What a good feeling to make something that appeals to other eyes