End of an Era Part 3 (Misc Fun - One of a Kind Clothing - Video Production)

Even tho tapestry was my speciality I have woven all types of household items

and all types of fabric.   One of my favorite projects was the colorful 

upholstery for my dining room chairs.  

Years ago, while traveling in the Southwest we stopped by Charles Loloma’s 

studio on the Hopi Reservation.  Some of his unique and breathtaking jewelry

 is on display in the Smithsonian.  When he learned we were weavers, he encouraged

 us to try on some of his stunning jewelry.  I tried on a plain gold band that 

was inlaid with turquoise on the inside. He loved the idea that there 

was a surprise on the inside.  

I incorporated that thought process in some of the vests I wove.

I pieced some silk fabric as the “surprise”  lining for this handwoven cotton vest. 

The vest was created by using a technique I developed for weaving tapestry

technique for clothing.   You'll see a few more below.

This piece of fabric was woven like a tapestry in a side to side direction and 

then the fabric was given a 1/4 turn before I cut out the pattern pieces. 

The “surprise” lining was created by simple rows of stitching that replicated

the design areas on the outside of the fabric.  I used a strand of  the 

black yarn used to weave the black areas of the fabric to create the lines.

My process  for using tapestry techniques for clothing was planned out 

on my design paper before I wove it so that all the seam lines 

would allow the visual design to carry around the body and over the shoulders,

making it interesting for the viewer whether you were coming or going!!!  

This poncho involves the same tapestry weaving technique for clothing

using a green variegated yarn and a turquoise variegated yarn

of a similar size to weave the fabric.  After it was washed

and dried and constructed into the garment, I 

did some surface design stamping and stenciling with blue

fabric dyes  to embellish the fabric.  My favorite part,

the dragonfly on the shoulder.

The silk threads in this vest were painted with fabric dyes, before threading

the loom, which created the random color combinations.  This is called

"warp painting".  The threads were 

spaced very close together on the loom (about 24 threads per inch) 

and woven with a navy silk thread so only the warp (threads on the loom) 

showed in the finished piece. It's called a "warp faced fabric", when mainly the

warp shows.  Tapestry on the other hand is a "weft faced structure" where

the yarn you weave with (weft) is the dominant thread.

 I used some of the left over fabric dye

to tie-dye some silk fabric for the “surprise” inside this vest.

I wove the  fabric for this jacket with a very fine wool yarn (which

created a "balanced" structure, one where you see both the warp and the weft

in equal amounts.

The tapestry panels were made of hand dyed silk yarn which I used to 

create a tapestry bolero years before...  (which no longer fit).  

So I cut up the back and front and and applied the pieces to the front

of the jacket and then  

purchased the most scrumptious  perfect piece of silk lining material 

(no I didn't weave the lining, but I could have),  and added a little bling with

a few dangling beads!!!

I met a woman who spoke to our weaver's guild in Sacramento and
told us how she had developed a variety of natural colored cotton.  Levi

wanted to use natural cotton colors (as opposed to dyed colors)

in a new line of colored jeans.  So she figured it out by doing some

fancy cross pollination!!!  I bought 3 cones of yarn.  The interesting thing about

the cotton was you could hardly tell the difference in the the 3 shades until you

wove the fabric and then washed, dried and ironed it... which made the colors bloom!

You can see the 3 colors here, neutral, soft apricot and soft  avacado green.

I wove a fabric that had a subtle lace like pattern in it
and once again got out my fabric dyes and stencils 

and embellished the fabric along the front lapels and

sleeves, hemline, and all over the back.

I was also the founder of Victorian Video Productions.  The major objective
 of the company was to preserve many textile hand craft techniques 
of the past, and to provide quality instructional material in the format 
of how-to-videos.  These videos taught the viewer step by step  
“how to do” the process and were not a simple overview 
of the process. 

 

Each DVD includes a written instruction sheet that lists 

supplies and materials needed, along with patterns for the project 

featured on the cover.  The business was similar to being a book publisher.  

We contracted with an expert, in a specific field, to write a script for  each

 instructional program we wanted to produce. 

 They were  paid for  their travel & lodging 

and received royalties  based on sales. 

 In addition to producing, directing & editing this series, I was

the workshop instructor on 4 of these videos.

 In 1998 when Don and I retired, we sold Victorian Video Productions and 

its' entire craft video series to Yarn Barn of Lawrence KS. 

Many of which are still available today on DVD.  

Just for the fun of it, I produced this outdoor identification video

for kids, which we filmed in AK.   We were honored to have 

received so many awards and outstanding reviews.

THE END IS IN SIGHT...

The loom is ready to go, all the other materials,

yarns and books are packaged and waiting.

On Dec 2, 2020 prior to Debra's arrival we moved all of

the items outside onto the patio.

I took this personal moment to give my last loom a hug good-bye.

 (I've had 6 different ones over the last 50 years...all sizes and shapes,

and generally 2 or 3 at a time.)

Debra's husband Steve and his cousin loaded the items

in their truck to take it to it's new home in, can you believe 

this.... in Tucson AZ.

CONCLUSION;  

How did this all happen?  Well, my Dad was a coach and he told me I could do anything 

I wanted to if I had the fortitude to give it my best shot,  and 

I believed him.  And a supportive spouse encouraging you every step of the way

made it easy to try.    However, I must admit throughout this era whenever 

I said “That gives me an idea”,  with his eyes rolling skyward,

Don smiled and said “OMG not another one!!!

THE END