Making Zen - Weaving remnants with intention

 I love participating in the Making Zen creative workshops twice a year - there are 25-30 workshops over the week  & I make notes of the new techniques I want to return to. The online workshops are for 24 hours only unless you purchase the VIP pass.  This year again, there is an ethos of using what you have rather than buying additional supplies & I am embracing this to whittle down my stash. 

Sometimes I am not sure if the workshop is 'me' but I watch as many each day as I can because knowledge is power, & I have often returned to my notes months later when I thought a technique would be useful for a completely different project. 

Lisa's Weaving Remnants with Intention was one such one - first painting a background on a thick card, marking out the weaving holes then using remnants / scraps to make a woven piece. 

I had some card that I painted but then thought it was a bit flimsy / wrinkly so I merely glued a second sheet behind it to strengthen it & give it substance.  Then it was time to mark up the painted card with pencil for the weaving threads - 11 holes marked top & bottom, lining up perfectly. I used my sewing awl to make the holes neatly. These were then threaded with a pearl cotton thread to make the warp threads of the card loom. 

I had some fabrics at hand from the other Zen project I was working on so these were cut  or torn in to strips, along with some wool to be woven on the 'loom' to form the weft threads. 

It was very relaxing to do something different & the little loom took no time to fill with interesting threads & fabrics. 

Lisa encouraged us to put in a quote or something & I decided mine was simply 

                               JUST DO IT 

I am guilty of procrastination & spending too much time planning so just going for something new is liberating.  Make something rather than just think about it too much, go with intuition. 

A great workshop that I had not blogged before, so I hope it inspires you to try something new. 

Thank you for stopping by, you are always very welcome to share my content 

Dee 🧵🎨🖌️👩‍🎨

Making fabric using water soluble film

 Hi all, 

I am a life long learner & when time allows, I take advantage of free online 'retreat workshops' offered by talented artists. 

I have participated in the making zen ones before so cleared my afternoon schedule this week to be able to craft along to the 4 workshops each day. I follow them, make notes even if I cannot do the activity at that time. 

I have used water soluble film before & know from experience that the rows of stitches is all that holds it together once you dip it in water & the films melts away, if by magic. 

This one encourages you to use fabrics in a creative way to make a new strip of fabric. With limited time, I tore some fabrics in a main colour & some secondary colours, quickly pressed them flat then lay them out on the folded over film. 

I cut the film a bit too short but worked with it anyhow as I had already prepared the strips. I added a few strands of tapestry / darning wool lastly & held it together with sewing clips which are so useful. 

I then sewed up & down the fabric in rows to form a grid that would hold it together then at the end came back around the edges again to hold it securely as a square form. 

The moment of truth when you dip it in the basin of warm water - yay, it held its shape. 

I dabbed it with a tea towel then put it to dry on some paper towel. I am pleased with the result - an interesting piece of fabric. 

What to do with it? I am thinking perhaps a journal cover? What do you think? 

Thank you for stopping by,  always pleased to have your company here. 

Dee  💕