Tapestry calendar or diary for month of July, 2011. This was woven as a 4-selvedge piece so the length on loom of the weaving is the same as the finished length. There was an extension to the top of the warp with the scaffolding warp through which the weaving warp was looped.
I've woven tapestry calendar pieces since 2008, beginning with one I did throughout the month of May in 2008. Since then I've worked daily with a bit of weaving, and so far have completed an entire strip for 2009 and 2010. This year, 2011, I'm weaving each month as a separate tapestry and trying either a new technique or different concept for the month's continuation.
For both June and July of this year I've used a roll of a die to determine the color of background, the shape to be woven, and the color of the shape. I'm using 6 chromatic hues (primary and secondary colors) and 3 monochromatic hues (white, gray, black) as my choices.
Another form of visual journaling! My editorial director is a fan of the technique, but she sketches with a limited palette of Prismacolor markers. (I have not yet sparked the desire to transfer her creative talents toward weaving, yet!)
This is such a terrific idea! Sort of a centering-of-self daily.
Do you weave this at a consistent time each day (like before the day officially begins, or at the conclusion of your day?)
Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much for posting this inspiring idea! It's given me food for thought....
Beth
It seems to me this would be a great discipline! Weaving everyday plus the throw of the dye would encourage me down paths I might not choose otherwise. Thanks for the ideas and the visual of your work!
inspiring in many different ways, you got my wheels spinning in my head..
Sally, I don't have a rigid schedule for doing the daily but most of the time find that mornings are the best time to fit it in... before I begin my "serious" work of the day with whatever task in the studio is at hand.
I did the 2009 and 2010 tapestry calendar/diary/journal (don't even know quite what to call it) on a loom at the studio as an extended length. I figured out how to indicate days away from home when I couldn't weave on it by either weaving a white space for a missed day (2009) or literally leaving the warp unwoven (2010). I thought I'd try a different approach this year so have put warps on frame looms to take with me when I travel... that's worked out pretty well and I've only missed one or two days so far this year; those I indicated in the monthly in some way.
It's quite a discipline--yet it takes only a few minutes of concentration and effort each day. Manageable even when sometimes I can't work on the larger tapestry pieces for whatever reason. Tapestry is such a labor intensive medium that it often seems pieces will never be completed. Yet devoting a few minutes of each day to that individual part--that in itself is complete but yet will lead to something larger is quite engaging.
There are many people who do something daily in a visual way, whether it be photographing, drawing, small painting, felting, stitching... I've found that what I'm doing isn't unique. My initial foray into this was during May of 2008 and when I started I just didn't know if I'd have the discipline to see it though! And I just HATE to start anything that I don't finish. But now, two years and eight months of doing a daily bit ... I guess I could say that I've had at least that much discipline!
Love this! Will have to try to do one sometime soon.
