Notes and card weaving

Mimma Draga has been taking notes since starting to learn how to weave in my class. One day I happened to glance at them, and I couldn't help but think of the great Leonardo and his illustrations. Very detailed and wonderful illustrations. For most of us, our notes don't look anything like this, if we have any at all. Which brings me to the topic of learning and how we learn. One of the most useful things I learned at teachers college is that there are 7 different modalities of learning. Essentially, they comprehend all our senses, mixed in with how we process information best. For each us that equation is different and proceeds at different rates as we process the information, and it eventually becomes 'automatic'. This is helpful to know so that one doesn't berate oneself for not absorbing knowledge and technique as quickly as one would like. It's almost as if the body has to learn it too, and not just the mind. I guess this is why Malcolm Gladwell says that it takes 10,000 hours to achieve mastery at something. Do you realize that you would have to do something 24/7 for over 27 years? It's probably best to just enjoy the activity, the process and company while you are doing it!

During our Fall classes, some students became interested in card weaving. Judite has been doing it since childhood and gladly showed Judy, Leslie and Wendy how it worked.

She made up the cards for them, brought the thread. Gave them a demo of the process.

And this is what they were trying to weave with the card weaving process. One can learn from books. One can learn from videos. But there is nothing like learning from another person who is there physically beside you while you fumble your way through the project and calms all your fears and doubts in yourself and your abilities. Thank you Judite for showing them how it works.

See you next week!

Encouraging authentic creativity in weaving

I feel blessed indeed that my weaving students are such intelligent, interesting and engaging people. They are talented, and take creative approaches not only in their weaving, but in the way they learn too. This past Fall was very busy and I didn't get a chance to post all the wonderful projects that resulted over the course of student efforts. Since there are quite a few things to show y'all, I'll start with the products of the most recent participants in the weaving class and will show the remaining projects and endeavours at other times. Above, a tapestry by Clara.
As an instructor, I encourage students to develop their own designs and creativity. I teach them strategies, if they are open to it, to enhance and deepen their creative experience. Everyone comes with their own knowledge, experience and approach and this only makes for a more authentic result in their creative endeavours. Ciara is shown here with her first tapestry (after that gruelling sampler!) that she designed. It was inspired by wood.
Christine Davidson's runner above, is a good example of how some students prefer to take their inspiration from such sources as Handwoven magazine, a good place to expand one's repertoire, creatively, theoretically and technically.
Some participants are very modest about their efforts and I'm happy to put in them in the spotlight. I also applaud those who are endeavouring to set up a loom at home without me to help them out. As many of you know or can remember, it can be a daunting experience just even remembering all the steps and details one needs to consider. Though the photo does not do this blanket any justice, it was woven by Jane Tucker.

This red and fuschia merino scarf was woven by Wendy Szpindel who managed to do this over the Holiday Season on her own. I suppose its like seeing a child take its first steps! So exciting.

This week we've moved forwards with preparing our warps (and wefts possibly) for ikat dyeing. In the coming weeks we'll be preparing warps for painted warp, shibori and woven shibori.

See you soon!