I am teaching a new class at Convergence 2014. It is called The Mobile Tapestry Weaver: Weaving Tapestry on a Hokett Loom.
I proposed this class because it was a way to play. And as I've worked on the class the past year, I've been able to live in my imagination a little more.
Despite the background studded with upstanding members of the Dutch Reformed church, a bevy of professional-type relatives, 17 years in healthcare service, and a fair amount of innate perfectionism, I still dream of magic carpets and tree houses.
I still believe my grandmother had garden trolls--I saw them in her Tulsa garden when I was 6.
I remember riding on the bathmat in the orange and green bathroom at home when I was 8. It was green shag. (The bathmat is new but the bathroom is still orange and green... maybe I can ride the new bathmat)
And I loved the huge dollhouse we had when I was little (Yes, Auntie ML, I know it was yours when you were a kid)... the perfect spot for magic carpets and little mouse-house inhabitants. Now that I have little looms to weave on, perhaps I should weave some doll house magic carpets.
So creating tiny tapestries, not small format works of art, just tiny tapestries on beautiful little looms appealed to me suddenly. This is a place I can make things that don't have to be sold to a gallery. No one even has to see them. They are just little things to play with... tiny magic carpets for garden trolls perhaps. And the loom fits in my backpack.
Yes, that is "Hokett Would Work". He is a funny guy, that Jim.
Thanks for this. Perfect for holidays!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you did some kind of header and are now filling in to the header. Hmmm...I'm intrigued. Mine is on the shelf while I finish this weaving class I'm in...
ReplyDeleteWe really should learn to "play" more with our fibre/yarn shouldn't we. I know I find this very difficult as I seem to need to justify what I make all the while. Wish I could be with you at Convergence. Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteJust ordered the larger version of this loom as a kit, with some wooden tapestry needles (I ordered extras), a tiny hand-comb/beater, some kind of instructional pamphlet and a carry bag, from weaver's loft. I am hoping to find a way to mount it on or carry it as a package with an Indian box charkha. The result, a very portable fiber-to-cloth studio on a very small scale. I'm encouraged that you seem to enjoy your version of the loom quite a bit. It doesn't matter how portable it is if it's no fun. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteI love the portable studio idea! You have given me some food for thought as a similar sort of traveling weaving studio would be very useful for me.
DeleteJust discovered these Hockett looms. Which size are you using in the photo? And which size did you use for the Convergence Class?
ReplyDeleteThis photo is a 7 x 8, 6-dent loom. This is the size I used for the Convergence class and for another class at a conference this year. I sell these looms in 8 dent (look on my website for Shop) as well as 6-dent.
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