First steps

I've gone through the syllabus and consulted my somewhat limited library and I think I have worked out most of what I need to do.

I have some samples from workshops or which i have just done by myself but they are all different sizes not the 8x6 recommended. Some of them are far from perfect too. I might include a couple in a portfolio to show my early attempts but all samples for the CoA I will do from scratch.

I decided to go easy on myself and use one of the sampler designs in Tapestry Weaving by Kirsten Glasbrook as my first sample. Well I thought it would be easy. It needs several shades of red and orange for a sunset and I have several shades......but they are different yarns....some cotton, some wool and some mixed....and different counts. I don't want to add problems with this first one so after a lot of rummaging I think I have found enough colours of similar weights.

I am using a small and simple home made frame for this one and a couple of hours work today has seen the first couple of inches completed so I'm feeling a tiny sense of achievement.

One small step forward....now i just have to keep going...and work out how to mount things... and remember to keep notes....and label samples...and...and..

and try not to get too much greyer in the process!

Got to start somewhere

Oooh what do you say in a first post.

I live in Scotland and am definately younger in feeling than body these days.

Over the past couple of years I have taught myself tapestry weaving with a bit of help from some workshops by the charming and helpful Louise Martin at Stirling Castle. (Look for a link in a few days when I get round to adding them !!!)

I like to use slate and metal with my tapestries and to use weaving and textile techniques with metal and slate. This means you might find wire woven into the tapestry or it might be woven on slate. I have been working out how to incorporate enamelled copper into the tapestries and hope to show you the results in a few months.

I am just starting to put together a portfolio for my Certificate of Achievement in Tapestry Weaving. It will be quite a challenge not just to produce the work but to keep to a timetable which will let me complete it in just one year.

This blog will help me to share work with my mentors and comments or advice from other weavers will be very welcome. I will use it as a diary to record the highs, lows and frustrations - and try to do it with good humour. Hopefully it will help me to stay focused and complete work in time as I will be just too shamefaced if I have to admit on here that I have been too lazy to finish something.

For the moment I need to finish setting this up and then go over the syllabus to make sure I understand what I need to do. No easy task believe me (still puzzling over the difference between hatchings and hachures)!