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.
Very beautiful work from your students, Jean. Love your handmade things too.
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thanks Myra, nice to hear from you. hope you are keeping busy.
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Your student are skilful and very creative, they have a very good teacher! Looking at the beauties they made, it seems almost incredible to my profane eye that humans can have the patience of handweaving so finely and so precisely.
The red kasuri pillow is a beauty.
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Blandina – several of the students have become friends and encourage and inspire one another. they continue to surprise me.
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Salute the handmade! Just what I’ve been babbling about lately. 😉
The weaving is all first-rate = excellent students + good teacher!
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babble on Louisa, I know you can make yourself heard. Not only buy handmade but buy local – support those people in your community and not the big box stores. Maybe if we all babble loud enough it will become a scream!
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It is so good that handmade is being widely appreciated again, for such a time it was in the wilderness and only mass produced, machine made etc etc would do. Some of us have always known the beauty of a thing made by hand, with love and care of course!
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Lis – I think those are the people who have love and care in their hearts for all creatures/handmades, great and small.
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Congrats to the group for their diverse and beautiful creations. They must have a wonderful teacher! ; )
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