all things weaving

my weaving corner

a vintage mini loom and a Leclerc rigid heddle loom

My intrigue with fiber arts goes back 30 years.  When I was ten, I learned how to knit from my aunt- thereby making the longest scarf known to mankind.  At this time, I also enrolled in a weaving class and a family friend introduced me to hand quilting.

As an adult, I've had to relearn some of these skills. And it wasn't until I purchased a vintage loom in 2012 that I picked up weaving again. Like quilting or knitting, weaving is very meditative.  It's a great balance to my painting process because it's repetitive and much more tactile.  I love working with texture and color, and weaving has become for me another outlet for creative experimentation and discovery. 

When I started making handwoven wall hangings, I wasn't expecting weaving to become such a fad.  The boho chic movement has definitely helped the weaving craze.  And fiber artists are getting wide exposure as retailers, like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, are carrying handwoven wall hangings and weaving kits. 

The attention has been well deserved for many weavers.  I have been following a few of them for awhile now and have loved seeing their unique styles evolve.  Here are some of my favorites. 

All Roads // Janelle Pietrzak and Robert Dougherty

Native Line // Justine Ashbee

Brook&Lyn // Mimi Jung and Brian Hurewitz

New Friends // Alexandra Segreti and Kelly Rakowski

Maryanne Moodie

As for my own collection, I am currently selling some weavings on the newly launched Hunters Alley, a sister site to One Kings Lane.  My handwoven wall hangings are also available in my Big Cartel shop, and, this week, I'm running a 20% off sale thru Feb. 15th.  Just enter promo code MADEWITHLOVE at checkout.

waking from hibernation

seeking beauty and solace at the Oregon coast

Finding balance between two worlds- family and work- is probably the greatest challenge for a working mom/wife.  Add the home as the workplace, and the lines get blurred even more.  I pride myself on being an effective multi-tasker, but even then, there just isn't enough time in the day to get everything done.  So dishes pile up in the sink, a shower is skipped, and time at my art desk is captured in wee hours of the night.  It's not the ideal situation, but I am grateful for it. 

The last six months have been some of my busiest- new collaborations, commissions, and the holiday hustle and bustle.  With the labor force still at one (just me), juggling all the new commitments have been quite precarious.  To maintain some assemblance of sanity and order, I've had to say 'no' to many things.  I wasn't expecting one of those sacrifices to be my blog.  But looking back these past few months, it was much needed.  I guess it was a hibernation of sorts.  Animals hibernate to store energy and survive the winter.  I was trying to preserve my creative energy.

Now that the busyness has waned a bit, I'm getting back into my old routine.  I'm breaking in a new sketchbook, and I'm currently working on a couple of paintings and weavings- not commissions, just for fun.  I'd like to get back to blogging on a regular basis, ideally a couple times a week.  I have over a dozen unfinished posts sitting in my draft queue, but I'm curious to hear topics of interest from readers.  If you have an idea or two for blog posts, feel free to list them below. 

Thanks for sticking with me.   

2014 commission: 4' x 8' chalkboard drawing of Pebble Beach

anniversary sale

My Etsy shop turns four, and you're all invited to the party!  Take 25% off your entire order when you use the code ART4ME at checkout.  This includes savings on my new art print and cards below.  Sale runs thru the end of this month.  Thanks for following and happy shopping!

art show in adelaide, australia

When I opened my etsy shop four years ago, I didn't expect such overwhelming international support, particularly from Australia.  I have sent more art to Australian addresses than to local buyers, so I have a deep appreciation for the artful communities Down Under.  

A few months ago, Australian artist Fruzsi Kenez invited me to be part of a group art show in Adelaide.  The Tiny Universes show opens this Friday, and this is the first time my artwork will be showcased in an Australian gallery.  I created nine new pieces for the show.  Going along with the tiny theme, the works are no larger than five inches.  

A sneak peek of some of the art can be found here, as well as more information about the event.  I wish I can attend the opening night in person.  If any of you can make it, I'd love to hear about it. 

In other news, my weaving made the Editor Picks in Flutter Magazine, which is a print publication in Southern California dedicated to couture wedding and event artistry.  

What a great collection of items! I've been eying that Dream Collective ring for awhile now.  (It's on my wish list in Pinterest.) Hmmm, early Christmas gift for myself perhaps?

The weaving shown here was part of my One Kings Lane show.  It is sold, but I do have a new wall hanging available - largest one yet at 36 x 12 inches. 

In upcoming weeks, I have more exciting news to share involving my art and a well-known retailer.  Details are still being worked out, but products will most likely hit the shelves this Spring.

available work

Just as things are starting to slow down a bit (as of yesterday), the holiday season is upon us.  I'm currently working on new products for my Etsy shop, including notecards and a 2014 calendar.  Looking back at my blog posts, I realized that it's been awhile since I've shared my latest original paintings and weavings.  So here's a list of the new and available work. 

Hood, mixed media on wood panel, 16 x 20 inches.

This piece had been hanging in Portland's popular ice cream shop, Salt and Straw, for the month of September, so it should smell like yummy dairy goodness.  (I may be a little lactose intolerant, but I'll never admit it when it comes to gourmet ice cream.)

The painting is of Mt. Hood, a favorite subject of mine.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but the little dots in the sky are gold, like thousands of twinkling stars.  Hood is currently available in my Big Cartel shop, along with these two new weavings:

Smaller works are uploaded into my Etsy shop.  I currently have available 12 originals priced at $35 - $90, including these three pieces:

Enchant, mixed media on wood panel, 5 x 7 inches.

Red Sky, acrylic, ink and gouache on wood panel, 5 x 5 inches.

one fine day, mixed media on wood panel, 5 x 7 inches.

A heads up.  The pricing of my art will increase soon.  So you may want to snatch up a one-of-kind piece at a super affordable price ($35!).  

remembering summer

The transition from summer to fall in Portland has been quick and downright harsh.  September is normally a glorious month in Oregon, so I feel ripped-off that we've been pounded with torrential downpour for days on end.  Flooding in the basement- what?! That normally doesn't happen until November.

I really dislike the word soggy, and yet that may be one of the better descriptors for the Pacific Northwest right now. 

If I could, I would will summer back.  But, the best that I can do is flip through my photos and try to hold onto some of the most cherished memories of my year. 

Here are some snapshots I took on our summer trip to the Olympic National Park  . . .

Mini weaving giveaway!

 

I'm still on cloud nine from my weaving sale on One Kings Lane.  The collection sold out on the first night! I can't thank everyone enough for all the lovely comments.  And with Habit of Art turning four this Monday, there's even more reason to celebrate and run a giveaway!

This week, the mini weaving shown above is up for grabs.  For a chance to win this little handwoven wall hanging, just leave a comment below.  I'll announce the winner (randomly chosen, of course) on Tuesday, September 24th at noon. 

Oh, and international entries are welcome- shipping is on me.  Bonne chance!

9/24:  Number 13 was the lucky number today, so the winner of the weaving giveaway is Dee! Thanks everyone for all your lovely comments.

My weavings on One Kings Lane

Summer has come and gone in a blink of an eye.  I guess that's what happens when you embark on long road trips, paint the exterior of the house with only a brush, and handweave nine wall hangings- all in a two month period.

The new handwoven collection is for an exclusive event on One Kings Lane.  The popular online marketplace just launched their Artisanal Sales in June, and I was invited to be part of a collaborative event this upcoming week!

Starting at 6pm PST on Monday, September 9th, my wall hangings will be available for purchase here.  And I'm thrilled that my collection will be featured alongside the works of some of my favorite fiber artists, including Tanya Aguiniga, whose art I mention in this post. 

Some of you may remember that I began weaving after purchasing a vintage miniature loom from the Great Depression era.  I love that little loom, but I decided to purchase a larger rigid heddle loom this summer.  So now I can create wall hangings two feet wide!

           photos: Annie Schilperoort

A bigger loom meant a bigger space.  So I expanded my work area to another corner of our basement.  For now, the space is working out great, but I am sure my loom collection won't stop at two.  

This fall, one of my home projects is to build a simple frame loom to weave a rug.  I'll post pictures on here once I start the project.  To see other weavings I have available for purchase, go to my shop here.