Weavings Spotted on OITNB!

The latest season of Orange is The New Black was pretty incredible, as usual, but I couldn't help but also notice some gorgeous weavings on the set. This was very exciting for me.

Art Trades

You want to know what’s incredibly flattering and a boost to the ol’ self esteem? Being asked to do an art trade!

Calling yourself an “artist” is kind of a weird thing. What I made is art, so I am an artist, but it is a weird thing to call yourself. And I hesitated to use that word for a long time until one of my fourth grade students told me she selected a famous Missourian to research because “she’s an artist and so am I.” I thought that was a pretty courageous thing to do. Just be an artist if you want, why not? I swear, kids are the best. 

Woven Wall Art by Romeo Reyna

Oh hey there.

I think I stumbled onto something the other night. I was on one of those Pinterest binges where you click on one thing, then another, and another, and before long you are looking at things totally unrelated to what you were first looking at. It is the biggest time waste I can think of. I usually say that about video games, but at least playing video games makes you good at something. Pinterest is stupid. Yeah, I said it.

Anyway, I stumbled onto some woven wall hangings with that chunky, 70's look that I love, and the name Romeo Reyna popped up. The only notable name I've come across associated with vintage fiber art is Don Freedman. Now I had this new name to search with, and here's what I found.

Some great images and not much else.



I found a blurb about him in a 1978 issue of Texas Monthly that says,

Hang the expense and hang one of Romeo Reyna's gorgeous tapestries. For $1000 minimum, he'll do a custom order for you, using the traditional American Indian upright loom technique. Hallmarks of his style are bright, undulating patterns and course, nubby textures. When not in his studio in Lubbock, Reyna can be found at his restaurant, the Azteca Nuevo. Samples of his work are also on display at Olla Padrida in Dallas.

Don Freedman Weaving Inspiration

I've been feeling a bit frustrated with the world of weaving lately. When I first discovered fiber art a few years ago, via The Brick House, it was weird and uncommon. I liked that it was weird as much as I liked the weavings themselves. Now, weavings have become very popular, but not as art. Now they're more of a DIY, where everyone churns out the same crap over and over. I love DIY, but not when it comes to art. Art should be inspired, not created according to a step by step tutorial. Ugh.

Anyway, I haven't been weaving as much lately, because every time I sit down at my loom, I end up feeling like I was just making the same thing everyone else is. Not cool.

I need some fresh inspiration. I want to be different. As my weaving idol Maryanne Moodie says, we need to weave weird. Always be learning new techniques and pushing ourselves to create something different. I want to stand out from the crowd, you know? As I've been searching for fresh ideas, I remembered this amazing post by Morgan Satterfield from years ago. Unfortunately, Morgan has quit blogging, but you should still visit her blog, start at the beginning, and read everything she's ever written. You'll be a way happier person when you're done. 

I discovered weaving from Morgan's blog, and her blog was where I first learned of Don Freedman. He was a fiber artist in the 1970's who created an incredibly unique look. His work has been imitated plenty of times, but his signature style is easily recognizable.  I've been studying his weavings lately, looking for some new techniques I can learn and incorporate in my own weavings. 

Here are some examples of his work. Not all of these are Don Freedman originals, but his style is pretty distinct. I couldn't stand to not include all the images I could find, so there are quite a few here. I want to learn how to do this stuff!

Mmm. I'm seeing poms, short rya, negative space, wacky colors, and funky edges. Also lots of loops. Loops are hard. I need to get better at loops.

Pretty amazing stuff, and so unlike all the copycat crap I'm seeing lately. I'm going to give some of these techniques a try, and see if I can develop something all my own. Someday, I want someone to blog about Layne Eckhardt's signature style. :)

All sources can be found here on my Pinterest board, To Weave or Knot.

My First Custom Weaving

Here's something exciting: this weekend I completed and delivered my first custom order! It was so fun to work with a customer to figure out what they're wanting, create the tapestry, and see the reaction. She said she loved it!

She selected the colors, and I think it turned out really well. She promised to send me pictures when she gets it hung in her home.

Here are a few pictures I snapped at my house before I delivered it.

I sure would love to do a custom order for you too! Just click the word SHOP at the top of the blog if you're dreaming of having a custom woven wall hanging of your own. :)

The Latest in the Etsy Shop

Want to see the latest fruits of my loom?

I'm just sort of playing around with different techniques. There are so many possibilities for each piece, it can be a little overwhelming. I don't feel like I've found my own style yet, though. This wavy guy was really fun to make. I've also been experimenting with sequins and I love the results.

And here's the best new thing to happen to me in a while. I was tagged on Instagram in a photo of one of my weavings in its new home in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It's so exciting to see one of my creations in someone's home!

Photo by Rab Messina via Instagram

Vintage Fibers

Of all my creative pursuits, weaving and managing my Etsy shop are by far my favorites.

My personal style is still evolving, though. I've tried lots of different stitches and approaches, and it's obvious in my shop that I'm still experimenting. So far, however, my favorite style is still the chunky, 70's look that I fell in love with in the first place.

I love the neutral colors, rya, circles, loops, and major chunkiness. I think that's the direction my weaving is headed. Here are some tapestries I've come across that inspire my inner hippie:

{Image by Morgan Satterfield, via The Brick House} 

{Image via The Brick House}

{Image via You Are Electric}

{Image via}

{Image via The Brick House}

{Image by Morgan Satterfield, via The Brick House}

{Image by Justina Blakeney}

{Image by Morgan Satterfield via The Brick House}

{Image via mcdecorumemporium}

{Image via The Brick House}

{Image via Shop Class LA}

Time to make a GIANT loom. (!!!)

A Little Travel Loom DIY

I can't stand to feel like I'm wasting time. Is anyone else out there like this? I have so many things I want to accomplish, and I feel really guilty letting a precious second slip by. So of course, when Rand and I want to drive somewhere (we'll hop in the car for a road trip on a moment's notice) I feel like I need to take something with me to work on. 

I thought a little travel loom might be a good idea. I tried taking my other loom in the car the last time we made the three hour drive to St. Louis, and it didn't work out so well. It was so big I couldn't get anything done or get comfortable. Fortunately, looms are very easy and cheap to make! Here's my version:

I used a dowel rod, canvas stretchers, and my staple gun.

I used these canvas stretchers from a local craft store. They come in all different sizes and fit together easily, so you can just pick your dimensions. 

My staple gun is one of my best friends.

Just fit the stretchers together like a picture frame and staple. Don't be afraid to nudge and tap the stretchers into place until they line up.

So easy, yes?!

I tested out a new warping method, and so far, it has worked pretty well. I tied these two pieces of yarn around the top of the loom and the dowel rod.

This part was a little tricky, but next I tied my warp thread around the dowel rod and the bottom of the loom. I started in the middle to help keep everything even.

I kept going, tying warp threads the same way until I had the number I wanted. This method was a little more trouble than just wrapping it back and forth around the loom, but I'm hoping it will allow me to weave all the way up to the dowel, and when I'm done with the weaving, I can just remove the dowel and the weaving in one piece from the loom. I originally saw this idea on Instagram from Hooked on Happy and I thought it was brilliant.

So there you go-all ready for a good weave.

Now, with a little Dramamine, I'll be ready for my next road trip.

Introducing Eck Art // My Etsy Shop

I've been up to something.

Do you see that new button up there at the top of the blog? The one that says SHOP? Yeah, now you can SHOP!!

I finally decided to go for it and open an Etsy shop. It's far from perfect, and sometimes I worry my products suck, but if I wait for everything to be perfect, it will never happen. I love weaving, and if I could sell weavings and earn a little money to continue weaving, that would be enough for me. Weaving is heavenly, but it's not cheap.

The name Eck Art was Rand's idea. His best pitches for shop names also included Don't Stop Beweavin' and Take It or Weave It. I've added my four favorite tapestries that I've made so far, although there have been many pieces I've made and not liked. Those have mostly ended up pulled apart and rewoven into something else. I'm still unsure if my pricing is anywhere close or if I calculated shipping correctly, but I learn best by doing, so I'm jumping in.

So maybe you'll click that button up there and look at what I've made? Maybe you'll think it's kind of good?

It's a bit scary to put your art out there into the world and then wait to see if anyone likes it.

Weave Me Alone

I'm still alive...in case you were wondering, since I haven't written a blog post in over a MONTH. Here's why.

Lately, I've been weaving up a storm.

I have horrible insomnia, so lately I've been weaving and listening to podcasts until the wee hours of the night (in my new craft room-more on that later!). Weaving has become my absolute favorite crafty activity, since I was already in love with the result, and now I know I love the process as well.

After playing around with the techniques I've learned from watching YouTube videos, I've produced two pieces that actually ended up finished and looking right. There were also a few practice flops that will not be seen by anyone. Here's what I've made so far with my little DIY loom. I like to think I'm a little bit good at it.

I've got another piece in progress, so I'll share it as soon as I finish it. What do you think?