Monthly Archives: March 2015

From the Library Shelf – Embroidery & World Textiles

Our library systems are amazing resources for the fiber arts

Two recent reads are: “Embroidered Textiles” by Sheila Paine, and “World Textiles” by John Gillow and Bryan Sentance. Both are published by Thames & Hudson. Both were found in the Mid-Hudson Library system.

Two book covers: World Textiles & Embroidered Textiles

From our libraries: “World Textiles” & “Embroidered Textiles”

“Embroidered Textiles” takes us on a world tour of embroidery styles and techniques from different cultures. It provides an overview of how embroidery fits in with cultural practices, with discussions on recurring symbols like the tree of life and the Great Goddess, how embroidery is used as a magical source of protection and incorporated into religious fabrics. For example, on clothing, openings like the neck, sleeves, and hems, as well as the shoulders, were particularly vulnerable areas and the colors and designs embroidered there were meant to help keep the wearer from harm. This book is beautifully illustrated with photos, mostly in color, as well as line drawings. A great source for inspiration for colors, designs, and techniques on all kinds of fiber projects.

It was fortuitous that I took out “World Textiles” at the same time as “Embroidered Textiles” as these two books were good companions to each other. “World Textiles” covers embroidery in a shorter form, but that’s only one section. It starts with different materials and methods of making cloth, off and on-loom, from many cultures around the world, Since I’m starting to learn to weave, I was interested in their explanation of such weaves as brocade, satin, and damask. Although concise, I found the explanations to be clear. I got some great ideas on dyeing techniques like the various ways of doing resist and patterning, some I hope to try this summer when I set up the plant dyeing pots. Some of the other techniques discussed include applique, patchwork, embellishment with metal, beads, feathers, fringes and tassels. Also lavishly illustrated, another great source for inspiration.

 

White Barn Farm Shearing Day

Last Friday was the 13th but it was a lucky day for White Barn Farm, New Paltz, NY. It was a cool, clear and most importantly, dry day, Perfect for shearing the Cormo and Cormo-cross (with California Red) sheep that the farm raises.

Sheep in barn before shearing

White Barn Farm sheep awaiting their turn for shearing

One by one each sheep is led to Aaron, the shearer where their coats of wool are sheared (shaved) off, sort of like getting a buzz cut.

Shearer in red jacket starts to shear a white sheep

White Barn Farm, Aaron the shearer, starts shearing another sheep

Sheare in red jacket shearing a white sheep

White Barn Farm, Aaron shearing a sheep

When the fleece is entirely off the sheep, it’s picked up by Paula or one of her helpers, carried out of the barn and tossed onto a tarp outside. The shearing area in the barn is swept out, and another helper brings in another sheep for Aaron to shear.

Paula in blue jacket and red hat taking newly shorn white fleece outside the barn

White Barn Farm, Paula taking a newly shorn fleece outside

Toassing newly shorn white fleece on brown tarp

White Barn Farm, tossing newly shorn fleece on brown tarp

If well-shorn, and these fleeces were, a fleece comes off the sheep in what looks like one piece, as the ends of the locks of wool tend to stick together. This makes it easy to spread out on a tarp to take out the dirty parts around the perimeter of the fleece which corresponds to the lower body, belly, and legs of the sheep.  The fiber that’s skirted went on a pile on the blue tarp. Paula will use it later for mulch.

People gathered around a white fleece on a tarp o take out the dirty parts

White Barn Farm, skirting a fleece

Closeup of a white fleece, newly shorn

White Barn Farm, a beautiful fleece

Once sheep are shorn, they look so much different without all their wool, even to the other sheep. They may not recognize each other at first by sight, but they do by smell. Once each sheep is shorn, it’s let out to another section of the barn that leads outside to a treat of hay.

Shorn white sheep gathered around hay

White Barn Farm, shorn sheep enjoying a hay treat

Paula was very pleased with the fleeces that day. She will send them to be scoured (washed) and spun into a custom yarn for her yarn shop at the White Barn Farm.

Entrance to the White Barn Farm shop

White Barn Farm shop entrance

Year of the Ram, Sheep, or Goat

Happy New Year!

Since February 19, 2015 we have entered into the lunar new year of the ram, sheep or goat.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a compact exhibit – two display cases in the Asia Arts section – of sculptures and paintings on silk that Celebrate the Year of the Ram.

The wall card notes that the ram is a symbol of kindness, compassion, happiness, and good fortune, and that the Chinese word for ram sounds the same as the word for positive force and blessing, so its image is associated with vigor, vitality, and vivacious spirit.

We’re taking this to be an auspicious time to launch this blog and the new web pages of Hudson Valley Fiber Arts Network

 Here are a couple of the sculptures seen at the MET. The exhibit closes April 19, 2105.

Kneelng Ram scultputre stoneware MET Museum

Kneeling Ram, stoneware, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, exhibit, Celebration of the Year of the Ram.

Ram's head sculpture, pottery, MET Museum

Ram’s head, pottery, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, from exhibit Celebration of the Year of the Ram.