SashWeaver
  • Home
  • About the artist
    • Gallery
  • Store
  • Sprang
  • Virtual Class Room
  • Contact me
  • Blog

Blog

French Translation

8/29/2009

0 Comments

 
My book, Fingerweaving Untangled, has now been translated into French.
I met Lorraine Forbes at Festival one year. She saw me fingerweaving and came over to chat. She had tried unsuccessfully to learn from various books in the library and was pleased to finally meet someone who had cracked the technique. On the way home, she tells me, that her husband encouraged her to take my class, “out of sheer like-mindedness”.
Lorraine is a professional translator, between English and French. She was of great help to me in editing Fingerweaving Untangled. When the requests for a french version started coming in, I solicited her help. Lorraine was indispensable in this venture. I am grateful to Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism, and Sport who subsidized the translation. While the typesetting had to be completely re-done, I took the opportunity to re-do some of the photos and re-arrange some of the pages. The directions on how to measure out, pgs 20 and 21, in my mind were a bit too crowded. The re-organization suggested by my husband is a nice improvement that bi-lingual folks will notice.
I’ve also corrected a few errors.
At the bottom of page 17, the caution should be to count a total of 12 threads, 6 in front and 6 in back (not 12 and 12 … assuming a total of 24).
Midway through the process, I sent out drafts to french-speaking individuals, people from France who expressed an interest in learning the technique. Their comments were most helpful.
I also was able to consult with individuals who teach fingerweaving in Quebec. I learned, for example, that they call the diagonal stripe the ‘half chevron’.
The work was finally completed at the end of June and delivered for printing. I received shipment of Le Fléche Démêlé on July 30.
It sells for the same price as the english version.
Within the first month 200 copies have left my house. I count this a success.
This fall the book will be available through the Quebec bookseller Renaud-Bray.

0 Comments

Korean tour

8/27/2009

0 Comments

 
So, last Winter I kept getting e-mails, requesting submissions to the Canadian Craft Federation, for an international exhibit. I figured, what the hey. The theme was ‘Unity and Diversity’ and this is a thread that frequently works through my weavings.
So I submitted a piece that was a collaborative effort: my son the woodcarver, created a canoe paddle, and I wove a ‘sash’ that wandered through several patterns. I figured the diverse patterns were all related to my personal historical roots, Iroquois in the 1600’s, my husband’s Quebec connection, the Métis culture where I currently live. Sashes are made up of diverse threads, working together they form a unity that is stronger than any single thread.
Anyhow, to make a long story short, in April I received word that my (our) piece had been accepted. It now had to be packaged and sent off so as to be part of the exhibit in Cheongju, Korea. My piece ‘Mixed Heritage Sash’

Picture
Mixed Heritage Sash
was off to the Cheongju International Craft Biennale. Canada will be the official guest country to this, the ‘Cannes Film Festival of Craft’.
And then there was the e-mail saying that they were wanting artists to go to Korea to demonstrate their craft. What a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn crafts from literally around the world! What an honor to be representing Canada! I am grateful to the support of the Manitoba Arts Council and the Winnipeg Arts Council who have contributed to help pay my way to this amazing event.
I’m off to Korea on Sept 18, and won’t be back until Oct 2. Unfortunately the timing means I return too late for Mississinewa this year. But don’t fret, I do hope to be back to that amazing 1812 event in 2010.

0 Comments

West Coast visit

8/27/2009

0 Comments

 
A good friend of mine invited me to come for a visit. How could I refuse. After two weeks of Folklorama I’m always ready for a good rest.
Since it’s rained almost every day in Winnipeg so far this Summer, sunny British Columbia sounded like a lovely idea (the weather is usually reversed, rainy in BC, and sunny in Winnipeg).
I was able to connect with some of the Vancouver Area weavers for their August Dim Sum meeting. Thanks for inviting me! I also visited Maiwa on Granville Island. What a lovely shop.
Taking the ferry to Victoria we saw Orca whales, a whole pod of them. Sorry, I did not have my camera at the ready.
In Victoria we toured around, the Burchart Gardens, of course. We checked in on several yarn stores, and happened on a Social at the Knotty by Nature yarn store. They invited me to give a quick workshop … just the kind of invitation I love.
Off to Salt Spring Island. I’ve ordered lots of silk from Treenway, and just had to see their digs in person. The lovely rainbow display in their showroom is worth the trip.
Afterwards, as we drove back down the road I thought ‘Darn, I should have taken a picture for my blog in there’.
Oh well.
Here’s a picture from the road
Picture
view from a road on SaltSpringIsland
In Ganges I happened in on Stitches, another wonderful yarn store.
I did have some quiet time which I spent finishing that piece for the Manitoba Handweavers and Fiber Artists exhibit at the Manitoba Craft Museum and library. It’s a fingerwoven belt or scarf, done in a multiple diamond pattern, or ‘X&O’. Inspired by octapus bags I saw earlier this year, I decided to finish the fringes using a tape loom.
Picture
tape loom finishing
Picture
View from the side, using a tape loom to create the fringes
People in British Columbia found it easy to remember my name. Carole James is the representative from Beacon Hill, Victoria, and also the leader of the NDP party there. There were many amusing moments, I came to introduce myself as ‘the other Carol James’.
Many thanks again to Gisele for the invitation.
Now for preparations for my trip to Korea.

0 Comments

August Projects

8/17/2009

0 Comments

 
I’ve been quite busy, demonstrating fingerweaving at Folklorama, the Métis Pavillion during week 1, and the Pavillon Canadien-Français during week 2.
Thanks to all the former-students who helped out.
In other news, I’ve finally finished that seamless garment dress
Picture
Seamless Dress, woven around a dressform
As well, I finally finished that wool carpet that’s been on my loom for way too long. Time to get to other weaving projects.
Picture
Loomwoven wool carpet
0 Comments

Folklorama the first week 2009

8/9/2009

0 Comments

 
Once again the folks of the Métis Pavilion invited me to promote fingerweaving, the technique used to construct some of the original Métis sashes.
I am grateful to former-students who assisted me.
Picture
Fingerweaving display, Métis pavilion
We encouraged visitors to try their hand at fingerweaving, a do-it-yourself friendship bracelet. Approx 300 bracelets were produced over the week.
Picture
The basic method, a do-it-yourself project
Many thanks to Suzanne, Claudette, Lenore, Guy, Jacqueline, Yvonne, Val, and Terry, for their assistance.
0 Comments

Le Fléché Démêlé

8/5/2009

0 Comments

 
Le livre Le Fléché Démêlé est maintenant disponible.
C’est un manuel de 64 pages pour débutants, illustré en couleur comprenant des modèles détaillés et une explication des erreurs les plus fréquentes.

Picture
Version Français
ISBN 978-0-9784695-1-1
Prix $19.95 + livraison
Contacter l’auteur Carol James
[email protected]

0 Comments

Bulls Eye

8/4/2009

0 Comments

 
Some weavers have asked about the bulls eye. Perhaps a bit more information is required.
Personally I do not start out with a bulls eye. (It was a local weavers group who insisted that the ‘right way’ to weave was to begin with a bulls eye.) I have been making my way through museum collections, looking for old sashes which include a bulls eye. They seem to be quite rare. The only one I have found had the bulls eye done similar to the image attached, in two steps, not four as in the book.
Here’s what I would do:
Begin the sash just like regular.
Weave the first half of the sash (several patterns anyhow, enough to know how much of a ‘fishtail’ (down slanting weft) you sash wants.
At this point it is safe to go back to the starting place, and create enough of a bulls eye to bring the work to a similar ‘fishtail’ shape.

Picture
Bulls eye, corrects for the descending weftline
Now, the perfectionists will note the smooth join on the right and the jaggedy join on the left and they will want to fix this. Two solutions, actually:
1. Arrange for an odd number of threads in the central arrow area.
2. Arrange the threads so that the center two threads are either both ‘up’ or both ‘down’.
Either choice will mean that on one side you will ‘change to the front’ and and on the other you will ‘change to the back’.
Hope this information is helpful.

0 Comments
    Carol's blog archive

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Arizona Openwork Shirt
    Art
    Book Reviews
    Books
    Braddock Sash
    Ceinture Fleche
    Clothing
    Demonstration
    Dying
    Easily Transported Work
    Exhibit
    Exploration
    Fashion Show
    Fashion Sow
    Finger Weaving
    Inspiration
    Instruction
    Loom Weaving
    Media
    Military Sash
    Museum Replica
    Museum Visit
    No Frame Sprang
    No-frame Sprang
    Patterns
    Privite Commissinons
    Publications
    Research
    S And Z
    Sash Dance
    Sprang
    Sprang Bonnets
    Sprang Bonnets Of The 1500s
    Sprang Bonnets Of The 16th Century
    Sprang Bonnets Of The Renaissance
    Sprang Clothing
    Sprang Frame
    Sprang History
    Sprang Lace
    Sprang Leggings
    Sprang Patterns
    Sprang Twining
    Student Pieces
    Tablet Weaving
    Tips-and-tricks
    Travel
    Weaving
    Website
    Workshops

    Archives

    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    August 2022
    June 2022
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    February 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    August 2009
    July 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    March 2008

    Categories

    All
    Arizona Openwork Shirt
    Art
    Book Reviews
    Books
    Braddock Sash
    Ceinture Fleche
    Clothing
    Demonstration
    Dying
    Easily Transported Work
    Exhibit
    Exploration
    Fashion Show
    Fashion Sow
    Finger Weaving
    Inspiration
    Instruction
    Loom Weaving
    Media
    Military Sash
    Museum Replica
    Museum Visit
    No Frame Sprang
    No-frame Sprang
    Patterns
    Privite Commissinons
    Publications
    Research
    S And Z
    Sash Dance
    Sprang
    Sprang Bonnets
    Sprang Bonnets Of The 1500s
    Sprang Bonnets Of The 16th Century
    Sprang Bonnets Of The Renaissance
    Sprang Clothing
    Sprang Frame
    Sprang History
    Sprang Lace
    Sprang Leggings
    Sprang Patterns
    Sprang Twining
    Student Pieces
    Tablet Weaving
    Tips-and-tricks
    Travel
    Weaving
    Website
    Workshops

Contact Carol

Store

FAQ

Privacy policy
Carol acknowledges that we are on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional gathering place of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene people and the traditional homeland of the Métis people. Carol also acknowledges that sprang is part of many  indigenous traditions  and found in various forms all over the world. Let us re-discover this technique together.
© COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • About the artist
    • Gallery
  • Store
  • Sprang
  • Virtual Class Room
  • Contact me
  • Blog