Wednesday, May 4, 2016

The H Project

I've written other posts that tell of my love of the woven word, so when I read a note from Christine Rivers last year announcing a challenge from Archie Brennan, I knew that was the way to start 2016. I even had my word picked out. Then I realized that was a problem.

Christine describes the challenge this way. "Archie set us a project to go on a tapestry journey.  To thread the loom at 8epi for 1 1/2”, 12 warp threads.  Weave an “H”, then a vowel and as you weave, decide what word you want to weave.  It can be a word or a phrase."



I scrapped my idea for the Spanish word 'hacer', used a loom already warped at 8epi and counted off 12 warps. I chose a dark purple yarn for the letters and added to the journey by restricting myself to yarn lengths from my sourdough starter  (warm colors only).

I've come to refer to my leftover ends as 'sourdough starter'...there's quite a collection.


After the 'ha' (guess I could have stopped there) I felt compelled to write 'have'. 



'Have' didn't feel as though it could stand alone, so another day the rest of the writing came to me. I always have more questions than answers these days.

entry for The H Project, a question that brings a lot to mind...


Archie Brennan opened my eyes to possibilities. I went back to my journals this morning and pulled out 1990, my first workshop with him and read through those old notes. At one point I wrote 'Weaving By Osmosis', his advice to plan and sketch beforehand if you must but then put the drawing on your chair and sit on it. 

First Face, Woven by Osmosis....thanks Archie!


I'm so glad I participated in the H Project. Many thanks to Christine Rivers for taking this project on and further working on an Educational Article planned for the ATA website later this year. 

Now we can  look at all the journeys taken by tapestry weavers.

7 comments:

  1. Very interesting challenge from Archie and I like your addition to the restrictions as well. And I'm glad to see your sourdough starter. I have a basket or two filled with rug hooking strips.... The quilting scraps I tend to toss. ;-D

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    1. I know, it's hard to know where to draw the line....my thrums have to be at least a whopping 6 inches...

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  2. I have never tried weaving letters but love looking at weavings with words. Lucky you to have had a workshop with Archie Brennan

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  3. Words do keep you honest Debbie. No room for ambiguity (another bit I wrote in my journal from that workshop) And I agree, a completely lucky person to have had that opportunity at that time. Give a word a try!

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  4. Love the letters/words and your color choices, very appealing! Will it be for sale by any chance?

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    1. Thanks for the kind words...this piece is for sale, contact me via the website if you are interested...

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  5. Love the letters/words and your color choices, very appealing! Will it be for sale by any chance?

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