Elaine Duncan

I just finished teaching a small group of tapestry weavers about using nature as a design tool for weaving tapestry.  Each person chose a photograph and drew  a sketch of something they would like to weave.  Then colours and materials of yarns were chosen by each participant.  Cartoons were drawn and attached to the looms.  We also saw Silvia Heyden’s DVD:  A Weaverly Path which inspired the students to look for patterns in nature and try to translate them into tapestry.  Here are some photos in progress…hopefully we will get to see the completed tapestries soon.

Vivienne Wilson and her hosta leaves

Dale Crossley uses seashells for inspiration

Colleen Hobson and her first tapestry

Margaret Myles and her yarn choices

Dale shared her "entire body of work"...just delightful

I have included some photos of the beginners tapestry workshop which was held in May 2012.  Vivienne Wilson took the photos.  We had a small group of four people.  The person coming the farthest was Terry who came from Auckland, NZ.

Vivienne's sampler from the course

Terry Wyatt's sampler

Terry concentrating on her weaving

Marguerite Band's weaving

Margaret Myles' tapestry leaf

A very easy way for Terry to transport her copper pipe loom home to New Zealand in her luggage was Terry’s smart idea to figure it out.  She un-screwed the nuts at the threaded rod until the rod slid into the copper pipe tube.  This is easily done by turning the nuts simultaneously in the same direction on each side.  Then the warp slips off the top copper pipe and the warp can be folded over (to be slipped back on when she got home).  This shortens the loom by about 10″, and can now be fitted into her suitcase.  Great idea Terry!