made by hand

once a month I host a “tea and tell”  evening with my students 

while making preparations it occurred to me how most of the things I use and treasure are handmade

the tray is a flea market find that showcases my mother’s crocheted doilies, backed by  handspun, handwoven indigo dyed linen

the tea cups are made by local potters, the plate was my grandmother’s – it has dragons!

the cushions are handmade, on the left is one I made years ago before someone told me you couldn’t needlepoint with handspun and the red kasuri one was my first weaving at Kawashima 

even the vase is made by a local glassblower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

there was lots of weaving to share, Arlene brought a doubleweave scarf in 22/2 cotton with sequins in the pockets and a contrasting border

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather was finishing the fringe on a beautiful wool and silk blend shawl

 

 

 

 

 

Jan is making 3 sets of matching  runners and placemats for Christmas, she still has the red ones to weave. 

woven in two huck patterns, the placemats are a beautiful forest green which the flash washed out – sorry!

 

 

and Kathy had two different tea towels woven with several  linen yarns

one with a supplementary warp, hanging loop in the center, which I missed with the camera, and a heart stitched in one corner. The second towel is a lovely turned twill pattern.

 

here is the loop technique on towels that I wove

it is very gratifying to see students advance to more complex looms and a variety of challenging weavings and it is comforting to think that maybe, just maybe, handweaving will continue with future generations.