Marta's Yarn

I am not surprised that it has been 3 weeks + since I have blogged; I think I have been tapestried out.

One of the things that was commented on regularly was the colour effect at the top of the tapestry. This was achieved by using a hand - dyed yarn that I bought from Marta's Yarn shop in Caulfield several years ago.  I bought the wool to knit a pair of socks for my daughter and used what I had left in the tapestry.  My main concern in using it in the tapestry was about running out of it.  However my daughter still had the socks and if necessary I contemplated getting them back and unpulling the knitting; fortunately I didn't have to.

I used one strand of this with 4 strands of ATW wool.  What's left is precious stuff.

More square

It is difficult to get a perfectly square photo with a loom that is slanted so I had Lenny hold it up straight.  The result is better but not perfect. However it is a better picture.

Getting There

Today I spent 4 hours weaving, just for a change, and one hour blending colours for the red escarpment shape.   My plan is to  try to weave 1/2 of this shape and across the tapestry tomorrow.  I have decided to set a deadline of Friday 18th to finish.  I am looking forward to exploring around Kyneton and give the dining room, which is my studio at the moment, a break.  The pictures below represent the progress of 42 1/2 hours.  Amazingly, I still like the design.  I haven't worked out if my sticking to the task is dedication, stupidity, bloody-mindedness or not wanting to be beaten.

I wish I knew how to put pictures side by side.  The bottom of the 2nd picture is a bit dark and I am glad I wove one of Albert Namajira's ghost gums given what has happened to them.

Alice

I have finished a new part of the tapestry and I have called it Alice after our tour around Alice Springs.  At the end of the 2 hour tour Albert Namajira' grave was pointed out almost as an afterthought.  I thought how sad it was that this eminent Aboriginal painter was  reduced to an afterthought by the tour guide. He painted many ghost gums and this is my take on the one on his grave.

 The second one looks lighter  because you can see more of the orange  zebra rock section and I think I have photoshopped the first one.