Elaine Duncan

Lialia Kuchma sent information about her 8′ Cranbrook Loom that is for sale.  It is beautiful and she is looking for a new home for it.  Please contact her directly.

Just click on this for further information:  (give it time to load).

Loom for Sale

Christine Rivers cutting off her latest tapestry "Rock On"

On Sunday evening, July 17, 2011, Christine Rivers invited her tapestry friends to her home for a cutting off party.  The tapestry depicts the climbing rocks in Oregon that she and her partner, Dean, visit annually.  When asked she will tell you that she has not personally climbed these particular rocks, but hopes to maybe in the future.  They are difficult she says.  She loves to photograph her inspiration and being a hiker, walker, bike rider, etc she is never wanting for inspiration and says the tapestries to be done are all lined up in her head just waiting.  The enlarged photo of her inspiration can be viewed just to the right of the picture.

Linda Wallace holds the tapestry for all to see

The tapestry measures approx 24″ wide by 48″ high, sett at 10 epi, cotton seine twine warp and Paternayan Paterna wool yarn for most of the weft.  She wove it from the back and on its side…so had no idea what it would like when viewed from the front.  Everyone who attended commented that she has developed her own personal style in her design and weaving techniques.  “It is so Christine” was the comment voiced by many who attended.  It is always a wonderful celebration when someone cuts a tapestry off the loom!

Madder plants growing in pots

In 2007, a friend offered to let me dig up her madder bed.  At that time I harvested quite alot of roots which produced a rich dye bath.  I was interested in growing my own madder so I transplanted a few young roots into a very large pot.  Each successive year, I removed a few young plants and transplanted more roots, until I had 3 tubs of madder growing.  Now I know that I have read that madder does not like to grow in pots, but it was a good thing that I had put them into pots, as I had to make a rather quick move to a new residence and my madder was able to come with me!  Yesterday, I dumped the soil and madder plants and roots from the original pot onto a tarp and began the process of harvesting the roots.   Many of the roots were very large and were tangled in a mass as a root ball, probably due to the fact that they could not expand out into a bed, but were confined by a pot.

the roots and leaves of the madder plant

Then I proceeded to wash the soil from the roots and cut off the leaves.  The washing also helps to rinse away the yellow tones that madder often gives in the first dye baths.  I cut the roots and left them to dry in the sun on a rack.  Today I will cut them into smaller pieces, let them dry until they shrivel up and become hard.  Then it will be time to dye!

roots on the rack drying

Then I proceeded to plant another pot for harvesting in three years (2014) using some of the roots.

Newly planted pot

I will use the madder roots dyebath in a workshop scheduled for August and will post the results.

February 3, 2011:  Seven weavers: Christine Rivers, Donna Millen, and myself from Canada; Jackie Wollenberg, Mimi Heft from California; Kissiah Carlson from Texas and Lynn Cosell from West Virginia came together at the home of Jean Pierre Larochette and Yael Lurie in El Tuito, Jalisco, Mexico for our annual french tapestry retreat.  This year’s subject was “Offerings”.  Jean Pierre described it this way:  “Our group has been meeting for many years now, our personal lives converging in our love to the art we practice and the friendship that unites us.  Out of these times together, of life shared, grows a sense of gratitude.  Out of the all embracing feeling of gratefulness is the desire to acknowledge that which is also most private and dear.  Offerings in a secular spirit may not differ that much from the ancient religious practices of donation, sacrifice and gift giving.  “Ofrendas” are also gifts to the departed ones, commemorative celebrations of somebody’s life.  they symbolize gratitude, nourish generosity and bring forward contemplative inspiration. ”  Our task was to invite us to gather thoughts, objects, small relics found in the memory, images of which you would love to weave. 

Each morning, Jean Pierre and Yael, gave us wonderful talks about the history of French tapestry weaving, including the traditions, the workshops, the artists, the designs, the cartoon making, etc.  This was a very special time for me to summarize and gather the memories from the last 7 years of my time in El Tuito.  Jean Pierre mentioned one morning that it takes 7 years of apprenticing in French Tapestry before you became a weaver.  I know that this is no longer the practice as there are not many, if any opportunities, to participate in such a program presently.  But I felt that I could look at my learning experiences with these great masters of French Tapestry and since it had been an honor to be included in seven retreats, I perhaps, could treat  this last retreat as my celebratory graduation.  Each year that I came back from a retreat, I would weave alot and practise what I had learned and be prepared to ask more questions at the next time.  And so I raise my glass to Jean Pierre and Yael and thank them for this special time with them as my teachers.  It literally has changed my life.  Who knew that my first time in Mexico, in 2005, that I would choose to build a small casita and plan to attend my winters in the lovely little coastal village of Lo de Marcos.  Yes, this experience has changed my life significally…meeting weavers from around the world, learning new ways of doing things, loving the culture of colour, music, and language.  Muchas gracias Jean Pierre and Yael!!!  

I would like to quote from something that Jean Pierre shared with us:  “Weaving is the great classic symbol of the coming together and intermeshing of separate threads to make a new integrity.”  Carla Needleman, The Work of Craft.

Jean Pierre’s ”offerings” tapestry 

Christine Rivers' tapestry and cartoon for the next one

Kissiah Carlson weaving an image of a young boy on a loom brought by a Brazilian weaver from the previous course

Mimi Heft's tapestry

Lynn Cosell weaving on her tapestry

Donna Millen and her delightful piece

"Gift from the Sea" and my shells used for inspiration

tapestry sampler based on the theme of Offerings

Jean Pierre Larochette discussing his latest tapestry.

On February 2, 2011 MAIZ and WaterSongs tapestry exhibitions were formally opened at the Peter Gray Museo, CUC campus, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Many of the MAIZ weavers were present for the opening including Gabriel Canales of Guadalajara, Mexico who had several pieces in the show.  It was a great turn out of visiting tourists as well as local artists and weavers.  Each participating artist was acknowledged with a gift of a book from the museo.  Jean Pierre Larochette and Yael Lurie showed several new tapestries of their watersongs series as well as very large tapestries woven several years ago.  The space captured the essence of these large pieces and showed them off exquisitely.  Jean Pierre, Sarah Swett and Gabriel Canales all gave talks about the tapestries.  This exhibition runs from January 25 to March 5, 2011.  Everyone is welcome to come and see the wide variety of tapestries.  Thanks to the sponsors of the museo and to Jean Pierre and Yael for this wonderful exhibition. 

The small tapestry work of Gabriel Canales

Watersheds by Yael Lurie and Jean Pierre Larochette

The postcard and invitation to the exhibition

And pottery of course...all colourful under blue skies and sunshine

Today is the market day in La Penita, a town about 20 minutes north of here.  We stayed there two years ago and really enjoyed the ambience.  So off we went in a collectivo from Lo de Marcos for market day.  It was very crowded with many vendors selling everything possible.  Most of the crafts were located in the main square, but down the streets were vendors with commercial kitchen ware, clothing, CD’s, parts for your stove, etc.  We were greeted by a fellow selling freshly picked strawberries, which we just had to have.  Then the next vendor sold freshly baked whole grain breads with sunflower seeds.  And of course, we just had to have a loaf.  I have posted a few photos of what you can expect to see here. 

Handwoven wool rugs from the looms of the Zapotec weavers in Teotitlan de Valle, Oaxaca

Baskets for sale

Wonderful Winter

This is my Christmas card for 2010…I send it to everyone who views my website. I wish you a wonderful holiday season and wishes for a creative and productive new year.  This small tapestry (approx 4″ wide by 8″ high) is sett at 16 epi and was woven in the fall of 2009.  It is 12/12 cotton seine twine warp with cotton embroidery floss and wool mixed with a synthetic fibre that looks like snow crystals.  Feliz Navidad!!!! all the way from Mexico.

This past September my partner, Don, and I travelled to Fort St. John to visit with his son,daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.  I had brought a warped small copper pipe loom along with some yarn and bobbins.  Soon after our arrival, I sat with the family and showed them how to weave.  The youngest grandchild, Amanda, wove a few rows.  Then her oldest brother, Josh, gave it a try.  But Shane, the middle child, and his mom, Linda, were the most enthusiastic.  It was a whole family affair (except Dad, who observed and followed along the weaving).  I have posted a photo of the finished piece…they sent it to me for mounting.  They wove without a cartoon, counting warp threads and hitching on and off.  I was really proud of their endeavours and the finished product.  I am looking forward to seeing more projects…Lin mentioned something about weaving bookmarks.

The Bontron Family Tapestry