The Pavilion Canadien-Français ran from Aug 3 to 9. Next week, Aug 10 to 17, was the Métis Pavilion. Dressed a bit differently, I gave a similar demonstration, allowing folks the pleasure of making a ‘friendship bracelet’. The project teaches the basics of fingerweaving …. straight out of my book, page 12 & 13. Booksales have been going so well, I’m just about sold out. Fewer than 100 from the original 1200 are left unsold. I’ve ordered another printing, this time doubling the order. This time Friesens will print 2000 copies. The second edition will have ‘perfect binding’ (as opposed to the ‘saddle stitch’ or staple-together-construction of the first edition). Bookstores and libraries tell me that the staple-together binding disappears on the shelf. To be honest, I’ve found this all to be true. I chose the ‘saddle stitch’ wanting the book to lie open on a table while the student is working. I am hoping that the ‘perfect binding’ is perfect enough to allow for both: book will lie open on the table, and will have a spine that is visible on the shelf. Meanwhile I’ve been weaving a one-of-a-kind special order for a special someone. This is a sash and leg ties combo: Next week I’ll be in Edmonton, Alberta, giving a workshop for the folks of Fort Edmonton and St Albert. Later in the week I will be priveleged to tour the Southesk Collection in the Royal Alberta Museum.
Evenings you’ll find me at the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Hope youall are enjoying your Summer. Carol
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A few more photos from the Métis Pavilion at Folklorama 2008. Eager to learn to fingerweave, the ‘make a friendship bracelet’ project was very popular with the children. Basically I used the directions from page 12&13 of my book. It is a project that is easily completed in 5 minutes. I am grateful to my students for helping out at Folklorama. Suzanne managed to finish her sash, while keeping me company at the Métis Pavilion.
Once again I’ve been invited to give fingerweaving demonstrations at two pavilions in the Winnipeg festival, Folklorama. Printed in the local newspaper, the Winnipeg Free Press, reporting on the Pavilion Canadien-français: “CULTURAL HIGH POINT: Sashmaker Carol James and her student show how a ceinture fléchée is made with intricate finger-weaving.” On display at Folklorama you can see the 8 sash samples, made over the past Winter, sponsored by Manitoba Heritage, the St. Boniface General Hospital, and Manitoba Artists in Healthcare. Next week I’ll be at the Métis Pavilion.
Aug 18-22 I’ll be giving a workshop at Ft Edmonton in Edmonton, Alberta. The BBC is preparing a series on the history of Canada, its history, indigenous cultures and history. Ray Mears is a bushcraft specialist and woodsman. The BBC will be filming an interview with me in early September, Ray Mears learning about fingerweaving. Meantime, I’m working on some sprang neckscarfs. I finished the last fringe on those 8 samples I’ve been making for the Manitoba Museum. This project has been sponsored by Manitoba Culture Heritage and Tourism, by Manitoba Artists in Healthcare, and by the St Boniface General Hospital. They were woven using a fine 2/8 worsted wool (with one exception). I’ve been working on this since September of 2007 The 8 samples, again, close up, include
July 8 I travelled to Atikokan, Ontario, and Quetico Provincial Park. A lovely place, breathtaking scenery, I was treated to an amazing tour by Val Fraser. Val showed me a sash that had been found in the area, a lovely example of 19th century work. Old Fort William in Thunder Bay was the site of a RendezVous July 9-13 and I was there. The David Thompson Brigade made a spectacular arrival on July 12. Canoe after canoe paddling up to the shore. I was honored to meet Professor Kirk Wipper, Founder of the Canadian Canoe Museum. I also had the pleasure of chatting with Barry Wolframe, retired carpenter at Old Fort William, and fingerweaver extraordinaire. I’ve just competed a pair of suspenders for a client who intends to wear them at a Big Event in his life soon. I have also been corresponding with Steve Pretty of the Braid Society in the UK. We are working on an article to appear in the Braid Society publication ‘Strands’, featuring the technique for the ‘bias weave’ or ‘oblique method’, as well as a biographical piece on Carol James
Canada Day I spent time at the Mint, Citizenship ceremonies, as well as featuring the new coin commemorating the arrival of Samuel de Champlain. July 5&6 Olivia hosted Viking Days in Gimli, Manitoba. I prepared two tablet-woven strips, between which I worked some sprang to form a cap. For perspective, that’s a chop stick in the shed of my sprang. Today, July 9, I finished weaving #8 of the 8 fingerwoven pieces for the Manitoba Heritage project. Now to finish up the fringes, and I’m DONE! Now on to other projects, weaving more sashes, catching up on orders.
I’ve been working on recording the book Fingerweaving Untangled, putting it onto a DVD, along with pertinent video clips. Actually I began voice recording while at Convergence. Unfortunately the mechanism we were using yielded a less-than-desirable product, lots of machine noise in the audio track. So, later this month I intend to actively seek professional help … for the recording of the DVD. Tomorrow I’m off to Thunder Bay, for the Old Fort William RendezVous. Hoping to meet up with the David Thompson Brigade folks again. En route I’ll be stopping by Atikokan, and Quetico Provincial Park. Hope youall are having a pleasant Summer. Flew to Tampa, Florida, for the Handweaver’s Guild of America Convergence 2008. Workshops of all stripes, to totally expand my weaving horizons. Amazing people. Mind blowing exhibits. It seems that the book Fingerweaving Untangled is a hot item. All the vendors had copies, and were wanting more. The 120 copies I had shipped to my hotel room were spoken for immediately.
On the way back I stopped in Minneapolis for the book launch at Ft Snelling. A very pleasant Summer day, lots of visitors to the Fort, a great deal of interest in making a ‘friendship bracelet’. Back in Winnipeg, I’ll be finishing the 8th sample for the Manitoba Museum set. The David Thompson Brigade arrived on a beautiful day at the Forks in Winnipeg, June 11, 2008. I was there on the Quai to greet them. It was a pleasure to speak with these dedicated folk who have paddled from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, en route to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Still working on those pieces for the Manitoba Museum. I completed weaving the third sample of the Assomption variety. This one is sewn down the middle: Saturday morning I give a fingerweaving workshop at the Bibliothèque de St-Boniface, the St Boniface public library, then I head out to Convergence 2008.
Sunday, June 29, I will be in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, Historic Fort Snelling to be exact. I will be demonstrating and teaching fingerweaving. And it’s a booklaunch. During the month of July I will be teaching basic fingerweaving to French teachers at the St Boniface College here in Winnipeg. I’ve been having internet trouble. Ended up having to get a new modum, and the new one seems to have a mind of its own, cutting out at times. Luckily it was working last evening when I received a special e-mail. I initially thought was a hoax. So glad I responded, because I had a lovely chat later in the evening with Ray Mears of the BBC in person in downtown Winnipeg. He’s on a reconnaisance mission for a BBC series on Canada. A most interesting chap. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Had a lovely time at Lower Ft Garry last weekend. Perfect weather, sunny, not too hot. Met lots of interesting folks coming to the book launch, and found it most entertaining to watch the items for the Antique Road Show file past. No, I didn’t bring my camera. Forgot it at home. No photos of the event, but I did snap a pic this morning. I’ve just finished up weaving a whack of sashes, gave them a hot wash to pre-shrink them down to proper size. Those of you who’ve made special orders and are awaiting shipment may recognize one of those here hung up to dry: I’m also thinking that some of you may be wanting washing advice. Here it is:
Hand wash in warm water. Your sash has already been exposed to a hot water wash and should not shrink with further washings. To be safe, however, use water no hotter than you’d like for a bath. Detergent suggestions: Use a product such as Zero or Woolite, or a Shampoo followed by conditioner, or a shampoo with conditioner More detailed instructions: Fill the washing machine with enough room-temperature water to cover the sash(es). Add detergent (Zero or shampoo) Agitate a bit to distribute the soap. Add the sashes. LEAVE THE LID OF THE MACHINE OPEN DO NOT ALLOW THE MACHINE TO AGITATE Leave the sashes to soak a while (20 min should suffice) Turn the dial of the washing machine to ‘Spin’ (now closing the lid of the machine) to remove the water. Turn the dial of the machine to allow rinse water to enter. Turn the dial of the machine to remove water again. Repeat until all soap is removed. Hang to dry. The fringes may become a bit tangled by this washing process. Generally this problem is easily resolved by extracting the fringes one by one from the tangle. The counter on my website now lists 1001 hits! Do you hear the fanfare?
Several of us, members of Manitoba Artists in Healthcare, met up today in the St B Atrium. We chatted about our various projects. Shirley took my photo weaving away, now midway on swatch number 7 of 8. |
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