And what better way to spend it than than at a three-day intensive weaving party, I mean conference??
I’m currently at Complex Weavers Seminars in Tacoma, where the weaving is wonderful! In addition to the great seminars, I’m meeting up with a ton of weaving friends, old and new – people I know from mailing lists (but otherwise never see), people whose samples I’ve admired, and many people whose names I have seen in print over the years. And I’ve been meeting lots of you, gentle blog readers!
(I have been pleasantly surprised by how many fans Tigress and Fritz have, too. Quite a few people have been coming up to me and saying how adorable the cats are. Which they are, of course!)
There are also some great exhibits. The Complexity show is simply the most amazing collection of handwoven textiles that I have ever seen. Every piece is innovative in some way. And not all of them are woven on tons of shafts – some of my favorites were woven on eight or fewer. There were gorgeous woven shibori pieces, collapse weave, jacquard pieces, double weave, leno weave – to name just a few of the structures. Seeing the other items that were admitted, it was a real honor to have my phoenix scarf included! Here it is, hanging in the show:
In addition, the Off the Runway exhibit and the Fashion show were both great last night – some of the entries in either could easily have taken “Best in Show” at any other conference!
Complexity will also be shown at Convergence (in a nearby gallery), so if you are going to Convergence, check it out!
Today’s events include the Silent Auction, and I have brought fifteen small boxes of chocolates:
Each box contains one each of English toffee, jasmine tea/vanilla/orange blossom honey caramels, ginger peanut chile lime caramels, and salted lavender caramels, plus an “extra” of one flavor. I’m going to set the minimum bid at $10, so if they all go, that will raise $150 (or more!) for Complex Weavers. I’m hoping they all sell! There has been no dessert served at any of the meals, so perhaps a horde of sugar-deprived weavers will descend on them at the auction.
Off to breakfast! Another opportunity to hang out with awesome weavers. I love this conference, and look forward to attending it every two years.
And, finally, here is another picture caught by the pawparazzi: Fritz and Tigress cuddled up together sleeping, happy with the world. As am I!
It’s my birthday day too, but a few years ahead of you. And I am heading east tomorrow to Ottawa, on my way to Convergence, with a few stops along the way. See you there.
Happy Birthday, Tien! The best way to spend it right where you are! I hope to ‘run into’ you at Convergence, I am taking so many classes I don’t have time to go to the vendors hall! Would love to meet you though. I am there for the whole week!
A very Happy Birthday, Tien and I could not see you celebrating anywhere but at a weavers conference. I won’t be at either conference this year. That is why I took your workshop in Ft. Collins, which I must tell everyone, it is worth taking!!!!!!. That workshop was only 50 miles from home. Anyway, enjoy, absorb and everything. Helen from Cheyenne, WY
Happy Birthday!
(The box that Fritz and Tigress are sleeping on in the last photo is just perfect!)