Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
In the blood
Thursday...
I met a woman today who explained to me that knitting was passed down from generation to generation so seamlessly that she didn't even remember formally being taught...it was just always there for her. When she was 6 she began to cut the hair off her family's alpaca and weave it into yarn. Resourcefully, she cut the needles off a cactus and began to knit small sweaters for her dolls. She believes the knowledge was already inside her before she ever knit her first garment...it was in her blood.
The tool you see here is the needle used for a very old hand-loom technique. The woman with knitting in her blood is learning how to use it. I have a scarf/shawl now, woven on said loom, and it turns my eyes very very green. It was a good day.
Buenas noches
I met a woman today who explained to me that knitting was passed down from generation to generation so seamlessly that she didn't even remember formally being taught...it was just always there for her. When she was 6 she began to cut the hair off her family's alpaca and weave it into yarn. Resourcefully, she cut the needles off a cactus and began to knit small sweaters for her dolls. She believes the knowledge was already inside her before she ever knit her first garment...it was in her blood.
The tool you see here is the needle used for a very old hand-loom technique. The woman with knitting in her blood is learning how to use it. I have a scarf/shawl now, woven on said loom, and it turns my eyes very very green. It was a good day.
Buenas noches
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
spinning tales...
tuesday...
As you can see I am a day behind. I would love to write you a big, long post about my experience here...and I may at some point. Right now I am too tired to think in words. This is really inspiring work I am doing but also really exhausting. At the end of a 10-12 hour day I can only think in images. This spindle came from a woman who demonstrated how Alpaca fiber was spun by hand into yarn. I would like to dream of this spindle, spinning tales of ladders, passion fruit, opening windows and colorful horses through the night.
...good night to you (and good morning to you too if you are elsewhere in the world)
As you can see I am a day behind. I would love to write you a big, long post about my experience here...and I may at some point. Right now I am too tired to think in words. This is really inspiring work I am doing but also really exhausting. At the end of a 10-12 hour day I can only think in images. This spindle came from a woman who demonstrated how Alpaca fiber was spun by hand into yarn. I would like to dream of this spindle, spinning tales of ladders, passion fruit, opening windows and colorful horses through the night.
...good night to you (and good morning to you too if you are elsewhere in the world)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday...
I am learning a lot about alpaca fibers here, I really love the natural shades...as you can see they come in many colors.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Up in the air
I am in Peru for two weeks for a really exciting new job. I will be working with alpaca, organic cotton and some really amazing women. I will reveal more as I can. I traveled to the US over the holidays to see family and friends, which is always a wonderful treat. I returned to Amsterdam last Monday and flew to Peru on Thursday. I can't tell if I even have jet lag because I never really transitioned from US to Amsterdam time and now I am back on North/South American time.
It's been a while since I posted...but that's about to change. Stay with me, I will be back with some inspiring stuff very soon.
Friday, January 8, 2010
woven light
I am beginning some interesting new work that will have me traveling in the next couple months.
I love the images that the words yarn, thread and weave conjure....I think less of garments and more of storytelling.
Monday, January 4, 2010
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