Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Rags........

 I have spent four pretty solid days at my loom, weaving, not thinking, just wandering around in the past. I love old things. I love my old spoons, my old tools, my grandmother's old furniture that I have, my old worn clothes that can't go out in public any longer. The patina of age cannot be manufactured, it only comes with time. I want my weaving to feel like that. Like an old rug found in an abandoned house. I just made a table runner that comes pretty close.
 I made it with these old rags I found in an antique store, old denim shirts, old cotton thread Hollis sent me from his mom's things, and a very old, very soft sheet that finally ripped.
 It makes me so happy. I took it off the loom today and it took my breath. I'm very proud of this one.
 This is the piece I made with the linen strips I dyed. It looks so beautiful with my Joseph Sand jar. This was one of the first pieces Joseph fired in his kiln. I went out and helped him clean up pots for his kiln opening, got home and couldn't stop thinking about this jar. I sent him an email and asked him to hold it for me. I love it even more on this mat. The colors are perfect together. I have discovered that my weaving style is much like my clay style, I don't really want to make sets of things. One of this, one of that, and then I'm ready to move on. Placemats are probably not going to be my thing, but table runners are nice. I think I will want to make rugs one day, but baby steps....
 I bought these really ugly napkins in the thrift store. I liked the red and mustard yellow, but the construction was terrible, you can't make double layer napkins, they hold air and look weird. But cut up into strips, they looked great.

 I love all the little bumpies, looks hand made or something :) So pretty in the afternoon light. The bumpies are a bit exaggerated in this photo with the light, they aren't quite so extreme as they look here.
How will I ever sell any weaving I make? I love them all. If I saw these in a store, I would be buying every one of them. So now I have a bunch of textiles, something I have never really bought for myself before, because I usually can't afford what I like. So now, I can just make it myself. Me and the clay world are still not on the best of terms, but fiber seems like it has been a part of me for a very long time. Sandy asked in my previous post if weaving came easier, I think it does. It feels so intuitive and I'm not fighting with it..... much. With clay I always feel like I joined a marathon with olympic runners, but I started about thirty minutes after everyone else, and quite frankly, I'm getting tired of the race. It's a race I can't possibly win and I'm not sure I even want to be in it anymore.... it's not like that with weaving, it's more gentle to my spirit and I feel much more creative and more myself. Why does it always take me so long to get where I'm going.........

19 comments:

oldgreymare said...

I love them all, truly I do...The linen dyed runner would be great for my "non" color scheme... Make about 20 more and then you'll want to sell. After I made 50 wool roses... I could sell...25 totes.... I could sell ...Large quantities will you get you there ... BUT I just made two grey totes..I must keep..lol

Hannah said...

They are beautiful Tracey. Not surprised you and enjoying it so much. Calm, homely and sort of safe they make me feel looking at them.

Laura Farrow said...

super gorgeous threads you got going there. can't wait to see them in person! xo

Susan Wells said...

Love these! So calm and quiet and peaceful. I want to run my hands on them.

Lori Buff said...

It's not the destination but the journey that matters.

littlemancat said...

So beautiful, sweet and simple. A haiku in threads.
Mary

Sandy Miller said...

Love the colors......comfy home stuff. Yup, I could eat soup or drink tea at that table and feel right at home.....
Love my wooden spoon collection, love them all. The old ones are the best!

M E Garde said...

Rags to riches! Really lovely. I know you said you don't like to do sets but what if you did a group of placemats with raku'd napkin rings. If you were thinking of selling them on Etsy. Would be really lovely. The thought occurred to me looking at the placmats with the thumbnails of the Etsy postings on the right, how the glaze colors were so nice with the placemats.

Judi Tavill said...

wow... will I ever use my little loom again???

Rosa said...

Lots of soul in your weavings!

Tracey Broome said...

Hi everyone, thanks for the vote of confidence, glad you like what I'm up to!
Maureen you are so brilliant, I love your idea!
Judi, yes, get your loom out, you did textiles, it will sooth you when you have those kiln woes!
Ps, Lori, I never seem to have a destination, but it's a great journey, haha!

Paul Jessop said...

These are so Nice.

Unknown said...

Christ, your early efforts are that beautiful and you even worry about clay? What's clay?
Really, you look like you have a new love in your life... congratulations!

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Paul, thanks, they look nice with your pottery too :)
Mike, hey there! Definitely an easier path, this weaving! Good to hear from you:)

cookingwithgas said...

Oh Tracey this warms my heart to see these. Love, just love.

Unknown said...

Your work is just all so good.

Tracey Broome said...

Thanks Meredith and David, appreciate it!

Avalanche Looms / Susan Johnson said...

I'm so happy to see what you're making with rags. Those pieces will look better and better as they get worn and used. I really like the faded, soft old colors you're using

Shannon said...

oh! I have just discovered Sands' work. I bought a little dish of his and use it all the time. Love the runners, that sense of infinity in cloth.