Planning phoenixes

My to-do list continues to be incredibly long, but I’ve decided that if I follow my entire to-do list, I’ll never get to weaving, so I’m bumping the Phoenix Rising samples to the front of the line. So I spent this morning planning out the samples – it’s quite complex since there are two warps and the weft to deal with, and of course all three have to be dyed.  The two warps will have to be painted (separately) for each of seven samples, and the weft needs to be dyed in two solid colors plus one knitted-blank gradient.  I also have to remember how to warp back to front, so I can beam on one of the painted warps.  (The other will be hung over a trapeze to accommodate the different take-ups.)

It is actually (believe it or not!) a bit more complicated than that, as some of the samples will require precision weaving.  Which means weaving and then un-weaving an inch or two so I can get an accurate idea of the amount of weft needed per inch of warp, the take-up on each warp, etc.  It’s very fiddly and tedious but has to be done if I want those glorious warp-and-weft color gradients!

So I am carefully picking my way through the logistical labyrinth of setting up the samples.  I’m hoping to finish my calculations and process walkthrough today, so I can start winding the warps tomorrow.

Meanwhile, my class on three-dimensional design has started.  I’m not too impressed so far – we’ve basically been thrown in and told to make a wire sculpture without getting any instruction on design principles.  But I figure I can also treat it as a self-study class.  So I’m going to read up on lines in three-dimensional design and try to practice the principles myself, as I design my wire sculpture project.  It’s due October 16, so I’ll have at least one or two weekends to work on it.  I’ve already got a really interesting idea, but it’s completely impossible to describe, so I’m going to start by building a prototype.  Hopefully I can complete the prototype this weekend.

Slate for this weekend:

• Help a friend pack
• Start writing the book chapter about getting from ideas to designs
• Wind and dye the Phoenix Rising warps
• Prototype my three-dimensional wire sculpture
• Experiment with chocolate flavors
• Can a bunch of tomatoes

That is a pretty ambitious slate, and I will likely have to drop at least one or two of them.  Which ones?  Ah, now that’s the question, isn’t it?  Stay tuned to find out!