no snow
December 18, 2012
weaving continues
the orange weft is shifu paper yarn plyed with silk
the slubs are the top and bottom of the sheet of paper, which is not cut but torn and twisted between the fingers
my sensei in Japan told me they were an indication of handmade shifu thread
some dye experiments on handspun yarn
from the top; silk and mohair dyed with madder, middle – top dyed with logwood
and wool dyed with logwood
between breaks in gale force winds, heavy rain – and shopping
I took a walk in the park
I’ve always been fascinated with the patterns of bare branches against the sky
the moss is 4 inches deep and very wet
with mushrooms popping up everywhere
on the granite outcrops, a variety of lichen and fungi
and no snow – yet
17 Comments
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onesmallstitch.wordpress.com 
i feel so at home over here, looking through your lens, imagining your moss and lichens and fungi, and of course your fibers. i think i just heard the clatter of a treadle–
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Velma – I don’t have the wonderful skies, sunsets that you have. No more clattering of the loom for a few days.
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I confirm: California might be sunny, but it has been rather cold in the past days.
I do love the shifu weaving, so beautiful.
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Hi Blandina – are you in California for Christmas??
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being so out of touch with the snow reality i don’t know whether to offer condolences or do the happy dance for you. however i know you’ll get some gorgeous color from the lichens and fungi.
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Neki – do the happy dance. left the lichen and mushrooms for another day. NEVER take lichen unless it is windfall.
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Those lichen look stunning, as does your weaving, as ever. The snow is coming I’m sure!
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thanks, Lis – the snow can stay on the mountains, Vancouver is getting all of it and we have another major wind/rain event going on now. Was surprised to find I still had electricity this morning!
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I love the pictures from your walk. Maybe we’ll go for a hike together some day? And I have a question about the shifu. Do you tear the part from the top and bottom of the paper sheet right through and twist them together?
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Heather – I would love to hike with you but Gracie will have to remember that I’m an elder! the paper is folder horizontally in a W, offsetting the top and bottom edge by approx. 1 1/2″. When you cut you leave those continuous strips (top and bottom) intact. Start at one edge and tear top and bottom alternately making one continuous thread. If that is confusing let me know and I’ll photograph the process.
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winter stripped bare is interesting in it’s own right. once the snow plows and sanders are out, that’s a good time to keep the snow coming; it gets too brown after the first melt. It’s been windy and chilly here; i’ve begun thinking my coat isn’t warm enough and have been eyeing some down ones. have a merry christmas, and the shifu weaving is coming along beautifully!
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Louisa – the TV news pictures from your part of the world are not nice, I don’t drive in it any more – too cheap to invest in snow tires.
Anastasia – cold in sunny California?? stay warm and have a good holiday in your new home.
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We only got a wee smidgen this morning at my house but more is perhaps on its way tomorrow. I like snow but only if I don’t have to go anywhere. Nobody in Vancouver knows how to drive in it. I like the snow on your blog best. 😉
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Jean thank you for all your lovely postings on your blog I so enjoy them! Hope you have a great Christmas! Best Wishes Myra
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Myra – happy to know you are “out there” and a very happy Christmas to you, hope you are spending it with family – but not expecting snow!
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I was just thinking today about how disturbing this lack of snow has been. I suppose, grateful for the rain, but sad that winter will never be the same again. LOVE all of those images!
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Aimee – Victoria is in the “banana belt” we don’t always get snow. Vancouver – just across the water – was grid-lock this morning with a significant snowfall overnight and the ski hills are counting their money.
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