Let's WEAVE Baby!

Inspiration comes in MANY FORMS >>> I love drawing inspiration from other artists. Everyone has their own unique way of doing things.. and more often than not when I'm perusing other artist blogs I'm inspired to try something new!!

When inspired by others I also get the chance to make it my own and mix in things I love.

I'm inspired by everyday things.. nature, architecture, product design, music and more...

and THEN there are challenges, prompts and even collaborations that I can join in on that inspire me EVEN more! 

Today I'm sharing with you one such collaboration.. the UBER talented Tina Walker puts together collaborations in all sorts of things.. this one happened to be a weaving collaboration.. WHICH i've been practicing! The blogs you can visit are : 

Martha Richardson
http://themermaidscloset.blogspot.com/2016/04/raise-your-hand-if-you-ever-made-one-of.html

Beth Soler
http://scrappingwonders.com/weaving-art-fun

Albion Gould
http://wp.me/p57foU-1zx

DeeDee Catron
http://deedeecatron.blogspot.com/2016/04/lets-weave-baby.html

Tina Walker
http://adogslife-thirteen.blogspot.com/2016/04/artist-weaving-collab.html

Laura Mooney
http://happinessequalscreation.blogspot.com/2016/04/artist-weaving-collaboration.html

Robyn Crowningshield
https://cozienookhomestead.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/weaving-artist-collaboration/

Susan M. Brown
http://sbartist.blogspot.com/2016/04/cre8time-new-beginnings-artist-weaving.html

Mitra Pratt
http://mitralee.blogspot.com/2016/04/weaving-collaborative-grandma-ireland.html

And my woven piece... :

EEK I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been really hard to not share it!!!!!

The main body of the weave uses two SUPER delicious yarns from Michaels.. a really chunky wool that has a piece of black thread wrapped around to sort of keep it in check.. and this really beautiful sort of loopy yarn .. think pompoms but loops instead :) The warp is just a plain cotton thread.

I chose to weave in big chunky stripes.. if you've been a follower of mine for long you'll know I love two things... chevrons and stripes! (They always appear in my paper designs, too.) The loopy white yarn is about 6 rows, and the thick gray is two rows. I tied the top with a stick (Something I picked up from Tina!) 

And then I knotted the bottom.. little did I know that you could actually do tassels before pulling your weave from the loom... it's ok! I improvised. I just wrapped some caramel colored Silk around the knotted cotton warp and tied it into a knot as well. Pulling towards the bottom of the weave helped my tassels lay correctly. 

After I was finished tying I was quite pleased with how the straight silk laid against the sort of frayed cotton. I ended up gluing some UmWowStudio Star Confetti to some of the taseel pieces.

And last but not least was a focal point.. I started out with a sweet little coconut fiber nest shaped area. Then I went through my found objects and found this HUGE thick gear that my hubby found laying in the road.. I've been holding onto it for some time and was super ecstatic to use it on this weaving. I tied the gear and coconut fibers in place with some waxed linen thread.

Then I dug through my Relics & Artifacts by Sandra Evertson and Prima Marketing Inc for this adorable little face. He's had layers of Rub n Buff, Prima Bloom Spray, Golden's Fluid Acrylic in Carbon Black and a bit o' gesso.. plus lots of give n take (Doing the dance) put some on.. take some off.. put some on.. take some off. I glued him down gel medium.. and there you have it!

I also popped this baby up on my Society6 for some fun products.. please stop by :)

Supplies:
Yarn (Michaels)
Harrisville Loom

UmWowStudio Chipboard Confetti

Prima Bloom Spray | Prima Relic & Artifact
Golden Gel Medium | Golden Fluid Acrylic
Liquitex Gesso
Rub & Buff Antique Gold
Coconut Fibers, Waxed Linen Thread, Found Gear, Cotton Thread, Silk Ribbon,

Junk Journal Workshop {READY!!!!}

Ok ok ok ok OK >> So it has taken me a lot longer to get this baby under way than I had originally thought it would. But I say.. anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT. And anything AWESOME is worth waiting for! 

SO I have finished up the last little tidbits for the Digital / Online JUNK JOURNAL WORKSHOP! 

The book itself is PERFECTO for a mini album, to store ephemera, to use as a memory saving book, to sketch in, around, alter, or art journal on. The possibilities are endless. ♥

The Workshop has over 90 minutes of instruction (in five separate videos) including creating the base, sewing on the cover and an inside pocket,  adding a closure or tie, creating signatures out of your favorite bits n pieces, how to make a folder insert and more. Included is a PDF with written details that accompany the recorded details via video. Lifetime access. 

There's an optional $15 kit with /most/ of the supplies needed available in limited supply as well! Included are vintage ephemera book pages, music sheets, tags, doilies, the fabric needed to complete the book, the cardboard base, tickets, bingo cards, playing cards, envelopes, paint swatches and much more. 

I'm very excited to share this little bundle of joy with you. Some of the kind words that have been said about the class so far : 

“The great DeeDee Catron strikes again! What a wonderful junk journal class and great ladies today. Thank you DeeDee!”

“DeeDee keeps a class engaged and entertaining. She’s sensitive to one on one needs when necessary and gives others the room they may need to experiment. LOVE taking instructions from DeeDee!!!!”

“This was an awesome class and had lots of fun creating the junk journal. Lots of great ideas presented!”