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# Tien Chiu

Tien Chiu's website

## Posts

- [Beginnings and blades](https://tienchiu.com/2025/11/beginnings-and-blades/) - I came to San Miguel de Allende with all kinds of plans. Explore the city, learn Spanish, meet people, find other weavers, get to know Mexico. What actually happened: all the work I'd been too busy to get to during the summer landed on me like a ton of bricks. So I spent a lot
- [Following the Magenta Thread](https://tienchiu.com/2025/10/following-the-magenta-thread/) - It's almost time! I'm flying to San Miguel de Allende on Wednesday. I've been thinking hard about what to bring in the way of craft supplies. I'm not sure what will be available in San Miguel de Allende, especially since I've heard from local weavers that there aren't a whole lot of weavers there. (There
- [Fritz](https://tienchiu.com/2025/09/fritz/) - We said goodbye to Fritz yesterday. He'd been battling lymphoma for two years, and finally it was clear that his time with us was ending. That didn't make it any easier, of course: we loved him immeasurably and his passing has left a huge hole in our hearts. Fritz was the friendliest and most social
- [Crossing the Threshold](https://tienchiu.com/2025/09/crossing-the-threshold/) - I haven’t written much the last few weeks because the chaos has been insane. However, the house is sold, and we've packed and moved all our stuff - a heroic effort. We're both pack rats and we'd been there for 13 years! Between the two of us we packed just under 200 moving boxes, gave
- [San Miguel de Allende (and the finished phoenix scarf!)](https://tienchiu.com/2025/07/san-miguel-de-allende-and-the-finished-phoenix-scarf/) - Hello from Mexico! I’m in San Miguel de Allende, a small city known for its architecture, arts scene, and wonderful weather. Not to mention the fantastic views! Here’s a picture of the city from the roof of a local restaurant: I love the way the light changes throughout the day. I’ve spent quite a bit
- [The phoenix scarf is off the loom!](https://tienchiu.com/2025/07/the-phoenix-scarf-is-off-the-loom/) - I finished weaving the phoenix scarf, and wet-finished it yesterday. It is gorgeous. It’s nothing like my usual work. Most of my projects take months, and are planned with precision, developed using a systematic series of samples, and technically near-perfect. This scarf is much more about process than product - rather than being a show
- [Powerlifting party](https://tienchiu.com/2025/07/powerlifting-party/) - Just flew back from Las Vegas following USPA Nationals. I’m still coming down from the fun I had there - three wonderful days hanging out with other serious powerlifters. The only disappointment I had while there was my meet performance. I did not lift well - my total was actually about 15 pounds LESS than
- [Phoenixes: even better than I’d hoped!](https://tienchiu.com/2025/07/phoenixes-even-better-than-id-hoped/) - I finished the spinning for the phoenix a week or so ago - just over 1,000 yards of superfine silk, a bit thinner than sewing thread. So now it was time to finalize the design. Designing the scarf was complicated - I had to juggle dozens of competing objectives. I had spun the yarn in
- [Phoenixes, packing, and meet prep](https://tienchiu.com/2025/06/phoenixes-packing-and-meet-prep/) - I'm making slow progress on spinning the phoenix yarn. I started getting repetitive strain injury symptoms in my right hand, so I took a few days off and did some active recovery work (stretching, band flossing, etc.) before starting up again. And I’m going fairly slowly, about half an hour a day. Here's today's skein.
- [Try to love the questions themselves](https://tienchiu.com/2025/05/try-to-love-the-questions-themselves/) - I've run into a snag on the phoenix project. I started predrafting my fiber to loosen it up and also to allow me to spin directly from the end of the roving. However, the change in fiber prep method has also changed the diameter of my "default" yarn. Instead of 7,000 yards per pound as
- [Two weeks and counting](https://tienchiu.com/2025/06/two-weeks-and-counting/) - It's now exactly 2 weeks to USPA Drug Tested Nationals. I'm doing my final training this week (next week will be a rest week). It's tough! I've been coming back from the gym exhausted. This week I'm practicing lifting heavy, and trying to figure out how much I can realistically lift in competition. So the
- [Delicious and bittersweet](https://tienchiu.com/2025/06/delicious-and-bittersweet/) - Yesterday was our fifteenth (and last) wedding anniversary. We celebrated it by going to Tamarine, a wonderful Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Palo Alto. The food was amazing, and as a craftsperson I was fascinated by this ice cube, frozen with their logo: The company was wonderful too. Here we are, back home afterwards. It's hard
- [And what about the powerlifting?](https://tienchiu.com/2025/05/and-what-about-the-powerlifting/) - It occurred to me that I never updated y'all on how I did at the IPL World Championships last November. I did very well! I totaled almost 800 pounds across the three lifts (360 kg/794 lb) and hit all my target weights. I set new personal records in bench press and deadlift! and tied my
- [Rebooting](https://tienchiu.com/2025/05/rebooting/) - It’s been a long time since I posted much, but I’ve decided to restart my blog. It's been my creative journal over the years, and I only stopped because for a long time, my creative energies were sucked completely into other things. However, as the Handweaving Academy's matured, I'm finding that I now have a
- [Weaving faces](https://tienchiu.com/2024/07/weaving-faces/) - I've spent the last week or so working on the cyborg design. It's technically very challenging. That's because weaving a realistic human face is not easy! While we humans have only vague ideas of what most objects look like, we are VERY familiar with human faces. In fact, our brains are physically wired to recognize
- [Weaving and weightlifting](https://tienchiu.com/2024/07/weaving-and-weightlifting/) - Major progress on the AI weaving project! And also one or two right-angle changes. I finished weaving the tiger. It came out beautifully: This design uses four wefts, all brushed mohair/silk yarn (it feels SOOOO yummy!). One weft is orange, one black, and the two remaining wefts are both white (I wanted to get better
- [Weaving again (finally!)](https://tienchiu.com/2024/05/weaving-again-finally-2/) - I can weave again! Not for long periods yet, but my elbow tendon finally seems to be healing up. I have been weaving in 15-20 minute intervals once or twice a day for the last few days, and all seems to be going well. Thank goodness! Now that I can weave again, I've been creating
- [A new state record!](https://tienchiu.com/2024/05/a-new-state-record/) - I haven’t written much the past month because there hasn’t been much to report. I’ve been battling tendinitis in my right elbow and borderline tendinitis in my left elbow, which means I haven’t been able to weave. I’ve spent some time working out the details of the AI tiger project, but I’m now at the
- [Exploring some new ideas](https://tienchiu.com/2024/03/exploring-some-new-ideas/) - This week, I’m exploring ideas about weaving and STEM, and retrospecting on five years of powerlifting. I’ve come a looooong way!
- [Fire in the rain](https://tienchiu.com/2024/02/fire-in-the-rain/) - Getting started on my AI tiger design! Some luscious pictures of dyed warps, and an update on the Eternal Velvet Project.
- [Velvet rabbit](https://tienchiu.com/2024/02/velvet-rabbit/) - I'm now experimenting with more AI-generated designs, this time for velvet weaving. I've made a TON of progress towards weaving velvet, but there's still a long way to go...
- [An afternoon playing with AI](https://tienchiu.com/2024/02/an-afternoon-playing-with-ai/) - In which I spend an afternoon playing with DALL-E, an AI image generator, exploring ideas for things to weave.
- [Set a new powerlifting state record!](https://tienchiu.com/2024/01/set-a-new-powerlifting-state-record/) - Saturday was the USPA Central Strength Classic, my second powerlifting meet ever. And it went well! I was nervous enough beforehand to make a list of 34 items to bring or do the morning of the meet. I figured the less I had to think, the better. And that turned out to be true... I
- [Painted warps and meet prep](https://tienchiu.com/2024/01/painted-warps-and-meet-prep/) - My next class at the Handweaving Academy is going to be Designing Painted Warps. So of course I have a painted warp on Grace, and have been weaving samples in lots of structures, stripe patterns, and so forth. The nice thing about a jacquard loom is that you can weave any structure you like in
- [Sorting lots and lots of spools (with video!)](https://tienchiu.com/2024/01/sorting-lots-and-lots-of-spools-with-video/) - How do you sort a giant jumbled box of spools of thread into nice neat order? Watch this shocking! (not really) video to find out.
- [A brand-new year of weaving (and cats!)](https://tienchiu.com/2024/01/a-brand-new-year-of-weaving-and-cats/) - Painted warps, a flame-colored powerlifting singlet, and yin-yang cats in today's blog post. Happy New Year!
- [A fabulous new tool: the Mesdan knotter!](https://tienchiu.com/2023/12/a-fabulous-new-tool/) - Well! The new warp is dyed. This time, I got a little overenthusiastic with the dye, so while there are no white spots, there's not much variation in color, either. It's mostly deep navy blue, almost black, with a few lighter and a few darker spots, and some areas with hints of purple. That's fine
- [Adventures in velvet weaving](https://tienchiu.com/2023/11/adventures-in-velvet-weaving/) - I’ve wanted to weave velvet for years. I fell in love with it when I took Barbara Setsu-Pickett’s velvet class at Convergence, back in 2018, where I wove this spiffy sample: The sample shows a few of the things that can be done with velvet: cut loops, uncut loops, tall pile, short pile, different fibers
- [Setbacks in the search for velvet](https://tienchiu.com/2023/12/setbacks-in-the-search-for-velvet/) - I finally gave up rinsing, though I got enough of the blue out that the rinse water was only tinted. Then I beamed the warp onto the loom: The trick of “crocheting” around the warp before dyeing seems to have helped. Despite a zillion rinses, the warp went on smoothly with a minimum of tangling
- [Velvet doodles](https://tienchiu.com/2023/12/velvet-doodles/) - The velvet warp is now dyed and in the Eternal Rinse Cycle. I say "eternal" because I've been soaking/rinsing it for two and a half days now and small amounts of color are STILL coming out. Really dark blues are prone to bleeding, and this is an extremely dark blue, but still, this is ridiculous.
- [Velvet progress, a new knotting tool, and autumn beauty](https://tienchiu.com/2023/12/velvet-progress-a-new-knotting-tool-and-autumn-beauty/) - The last week has shown some progress on the velvet project. I met with Chris, my friend who is doing the cantra design (and probably most of the build), and we talked about the design. He thinks we can do better than the traditional cantra design, which involves a bunch of spools on a rod
- [Winding and painting the velvet warp](https://tienchiu.com/2023/12/winding-and-painting-the-velvet-warp/) - I’ve now fully wound the velvet foundation warp: It’s 18 yards long, which is pretty close to “infinite” for velvet, because weaving velvet is verrrrrrry slow. On the other hand, tying on 1,320 threads is not something you want to do often, so I’m cool with having an infinite warp. When I get tired of
- [The joys of summer: weaving and tomatoes!](https://tienchiu.com/2023/06/the-joys-of-summer-weaving-and-tomatoes/) - It's been a while, but here's an update! Two big things have happened recently: I'm back to weaving AND to tomato breeding! I've been weaving on Grace (one of my two TC-2 jacquard looms), on a warp that's set up for color samples. I spent a long time a few years ago agonizing over exactly
- [Spring is coming](https://tienchiu.com/2023/01/spring-is-coming/) - The last few months have felt like the arrival of spring. So many new and interesting explorations!
- [Celebrating the power of community](https://tienchiu.com/2022/10/celebrating-the-power-of-community/) - I’ve been thinking lately about the importance of community, and particularly about how you define and choose your personal communities. Because the people you surround yourself with - their values, achievements, and interests - are the people who will define, inspire, and constrain your own expectations and behavior. Choosing the right community will free you
- [A headfirst plunge down the weasel den](https://tienchiu.com/2022/09/a-headfirst-plunge-down-the-weasel-den/) - Long time readers of this blog may recall that a bit over four years ago, I decided to get back into shape (helped liberally along by a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes). In this blog post, I wrote about my decision to take up powerlifting, a form of weightlifting, as my vehicle for doing so,
- [Playing in the dye pots](https://tienchiu.com/2022/09/playing-in-the-dye-pots/) - Yeah, I know. I start by saying “Less fiber content” and next thing you know, I’m posting about dyeing? But hey - that’s what I was up to last weekend. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. My wardrobe, as you may or may not know, consists almost exclusively of tie-dyed clothing. This isn’t
- [Time for a blog reboot](https://tienchiu.com/2022/09/time-for-a-blog-reboot/) - It's been some years since I posted to this blog with any regularity. During most of this time, I've been completely consumed with the teaching business. (Making a career change is hard. Starting a business is very hard. Combining the two - all I can say is, it's been an insane six years and I'm
- ["The Girl with the Phoenix Tattoo"](https://tienchiu.com/2022/06/the-girl-with-the-phoenix-tattoo/) - Silly people, naming the movie after a dragon tattoo.... You may recall that, back in September, I decided to get a tattoo to celebrate all the life changes over the last six years. It was going to be from a very talented South Korean artist, who would have been visiting the U.S. in November. I
- [New loom, and an interesting class](https://tienchiu.com/2021/12/new-loom-and-an-interesting-class/) - It's been awhile! I've been in a slump, weaving-wise, mostly because I've been teaching, which leaves time for basically nothing else. Also, I have to admit that I've been sulking on the Fire warp, because after tying 2,640 threads and then discovering I'll have to completely redo it, well, wouldn't anyone? In the meantime, I've
- [Living with Bipolar Disorder](https://tienchiu.com/2009/10/living-with-bipolar-disorder/) - Part I: Introduction I have Type II, ultra-rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. I have been living with it almost all my life, but I was not diagnosed until I was 33, nearly twenty years after it all started. During this period, bipolar disorder put me through hell. I went through periods of months and months of mental
- [Rites of passage](https://tienchiu.com/2021/09/rites-of-passage/) - Not quite six years ago, I decided to walk away from my old life. I realized that my twenty-year career managing software projects, while lucrative, was not fulfilling. Actually, let me be blunt: it was crushing my soul. I was fortunate enough to have enough money to make a career transition, and to take some
- [Cat-iversary!](https://tienchiu.com/2021/09/cat-iversary-4/) - Today is a day of celebration! Huge congratulations to Tigress and Fritz, who exactly eight years ago came home from their first successful hunt. And what a hunt it was! They "bagged" not just one, but TWO humans to adore, worship, and serve them for the rest of their lives. Here are the mighty hunters
- [Bright shiny new projects, weasel update](https://tienchiu.com/2021/07/bright-shiny-new-projects-weasel-update/) - Okay, I admit it. I’ve been sulking on the Fire warp. It’s hard to keep up enthusiasm when two months’ work has been stripped away, just like that. It’s especially hard to keep up enthusiasm when you’ve also just had a huge load of extra work dumped on you by a new business direction, especially
- [The weaving gods giveth, and...](https://tienchiu.com/2021/06/the-weaving-gods-giveth-and/) - ....human error taketh away. After about two hours of pulling through knots, I ran into a snag: the knots weren't pulling through properly. So I moseyed around to the back of the loom, where, much to my distress, I found this: Somehow, I had managed to loop the orange warp around the black warp before
- [The weaving gods giveth, and...](https://tienchiu.com/2021/06/the-weaving-gods-giveth-and/) - ....human error taketh away. After about two hours of pulling through knots, I ran into a snag: the knots weren't pulling through properly. So I moseyed around to the back of the loom, where, much to my distress, I found this: Somehow, I had managed to loop the orange warp around the black warp before
- [Bursts of inspiration](https://tienchiu.com/2021/06/bursts-of-inspiration/) - At long last - and almost exactly two months after starting! - the Fire warp is tied on: Due to a miscalculation on my part, I was 16 threads short at the right edge. No real problem; at 90 threads to the inch, that’s only about 1/6 of an inch. I’ll just leave those heddles
- [Fire cycles](https://tienchiu.com/2021/05/fire-cycles/) - After almost two months, I am alllllmost done tying on the Fire warp. 92.86% done, according to my calculations: I’m so close I can practically taste it. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I have found some weak threads - apparently not all of the 20/2 mercerized cotton was as strong as
- [Cloth, chocolate, and carousel books](https://tienchiu.com/2021/05/cloth-chocolate-and-carousel-books/) - Well! It's been a packed week and a half. Mostly working on the business, though I did get some weaving in. I am now 70.54% done tying on the "Fire" warp on Maryam, according to my calculations (hey, that .04% is IMPORTANT! Gotta keep up the troops' morale!): I have also made important progress on
- [Cloth, chocolate, and carousel books](https://tienchiu.com/2021/05/cloth-chocolate-and-carousel-books/) - Well! It's been a packed week and a half. Mostly working on the business, though I did get some weaving in. I am now 70.54% done tying on the "Fire" warp on Maryam, according to my calculations (hey, that .04% is IMPORTANT! Gotta keep up the troops' morale!): I have also made important progress on
- [Warping progress!](https://tienchiu.com/2021/05/warping-progress/) - Back after a week or two to report material progress on all fronts! On Grace, the heddles arrived, I finished threading, sleying, tying on, and debugging the warp. She is now fully warped up and ready to go: Of course, that means I actually need to design something to WEAVE on her. That’s the next
- [Shifting gears: Gradients on Grace](https://tienchiu.com/2021/04/shifting-gears-gradients-on-grace/) - Radio silence this week, for which I apologize, but it’s been a busy time with the teaching business! The Stash Busting Scarf Weave-Along has started, and with nearly 4,600 students both Janet and I have been hopping to keep up. I have had neither time nor brain to do any design work. Nonetheless, progress has
- [Slow growth, exciting seeds](https://tienchiu.com/2021/04/slow-growth-exciting-seeds/) - After a week of slow and steady work, probably another 6-8 hours of threading, I have made significant progress. I have gone from 10% done to 29.3% done, according to my calculations! (Hey, that .3% is important! Every bit counts.) I have now tied on 8.5 of 29" worth of threads. At the current rate,
- [Philosophical musings](https://tienchiu.com/2021/04/philosophical-musings/) - Two or three more hours of threading have moved me along to here in the tying-on: I've finished tying on about three inches of the 29" wide warp, so I'm about 10% done. At 2,640 threads, that means I've got 264 threads tied on, or about 45 seconds per thread. That's awfully slow, but I'm
- [Tiger warp?](https://tienchiu.com/2021/04/tiger-warp/) - It took some doing, but I beamed on the Fire warp a few days ago. I'm starting to think I should have named it the Tiger warp. I bet you can guess why! Of course those rich orange and black stripes are making me think of fabulous tigers. I recently cleaned my office (which was
- [41 miles of yarn](https://tienchiu.com/2021/03/41-miles-of-yarn/) - 41.47 miles, actually, according to my calculations, but who's counting? Three-quarters of it is hand-painted, the other quarter is black. There are two warps. Here's the one for Maryam, the one you saw in the last blog post, finished and ready to go. I think it's breathtakingly beautiful and can't wait to weave on it!
- [Warp painting, slightly unconventional](https://tienchiu.com/2021/03/warp-painting-slightly-unconventional/) - I've spent the last few days painting my warps. Five warps, actually, though only two warps after they go onto the loom. Four of them are going onto Grace as a single sample warp. It will be double weave, three warps going as bouts in a single layer side by side, and the other in
- [Dye studio](https://tienchiu.com/2021/03/dye-studio/) - I set up the new dye studio yesterday, and I thought I'd take a photo during the ten seconds that it will actually look presentable: Needless to say, if you ever see a setup this neat from someone who claims to be a working dyer, run away quickly, because either the person just spent the
- [Decluttering](https://tienchiu.com/2021/03/decluttering/) - The last several days have been a frenzy of nesting activity. Three days ago (Thursday) I found a gardening service to tame the overgrowth in the much-neglected back yard. They took out the fabric pots, hacked out the weeds, and left me with a clean slate: It's barer than it was in the past; our
- [A journey of 4,400 warp threads....](https://tienchiu.com/2021/03/a-journey-of-4400-warp-threads/) - ...begins with a big honkin' warping mill. This is my three-meter circumference Glimakra warping mill, which is as-yet nameless (somehow only my looms seem to have enough personality to warrant names). In theory it'll wind a 50-meter warp, though trying to wind 17 rounds around that warping mill seems like it would be rather fussy
- [Hello again! It's been awhile!](https://tienchiu.com/2021/03/hello-again-its-been-awhile/) - It's been almost six months since my last post. I'd say I've been in the midst of a tug-o-war between my professional and artistic life, but in fact there really hasn't been a contest. What irony: I quit my job to pursue a career in weaving, and the immediate result is that I've done practically
- [New studio!](https://tienchiu.com/2020/09/new-studio-2/) - The Great Studio Move is complete! I spent two weeks schlepping stuff into the 8' x 16' storage container, which was completely full when I finished. Then I spent a week obsessively moving, sorting, and rearranging things in the garage. I got rid of a LOT of stuff. Gave away, donated, threw out - probably
- [Catching up](https://tienchiu.com/2020/08/catching-up-2/) - Well. It's been awhile. I'll plead that it's been a busy time. I co-taught an online Weave-Along to 3,000+ weavers (that was fun!), and have almost finished co-teaching an eight-week online class on weaving with your stash (we're in week 7 of 8). Now I'm gearing up for the launch of a new Weave-Along in
- [Happy 50th to me!](https://tienchiu.com/2020/06/happy-50th-to-me/) - Today's my 50th birthday! Happy half-century to me. I had hoped to spend this day somewhat differently, but the pandemic got in the way. A party with all my friends, perhaps, to celebrate two important milestones: First, a half-century of life, a milestone that I had never expected to reach, because I grew up with
- [Whew! What a month!!](https://tienchiu.com/2020/06/whew-what-a-month/) - Whew! It's been a crazy month - a Big Anniversary, more samples for Tourmaline Butterfly, a 3000-person Weave-Along, and lots of PIE!!
- [Tourmaline Butterfly (?)](https://tienchiu.com/2020/05/tourmaline-butterfly/) - After taking in quite a few suggestions, both here and in the Color in Weaving Facebook group, I've settled on a possible working title: Tourmaline Butterfly. The colors in the warp remind me of one of my favorite stones, watermelon tourmaline: I was thinking about how best to use the colors. Depictions of flowers seemed
- [Searching for a theme](https://tienchiu.com/2020/05/searching-for-a-theme/) - Time passes, and I've now dyed the sample warp. Here's a not-great photo of it in the raddle, getting ready to be beamed onto the loom: The warp is actually brighter-colored in real life, particularly the fuchsia-and-green one; it's closer to orchid purple and moss green, very beautiful. The warp is going onto Maryam, not
- [More painted-warp cape dye samples](https://tienchiu.com/2020/04/more-painted-warp-cape-dye-samples/) - I've now done a few more sets of yarn samples for the painted-warp cape, testing out a few more dye approaches for the double weave warps. I started by trying the fuchsia/orange/yellow and deep indigo blue idea, dyeing these three skeins: The top skein is dyed using Fuchsia and Golden Yellow MX fiber-reactive dyes; the
- [Chocolate and cows](https://tienchiu.com/2020/04/chocolate-and-cows/) - Or, how I spent my Easter weekend... First, the chocolate. (Because chocolate is so much more fun than cows!) You may recall that awhile back, I made myself some low-sugar chocolate. Well, predictably, C. hoovered up most of the low-sugar chocolate, and after it ran out, asked me to make more. So I ordered another
- [Unexpected results](https://tienchiu.com/2020/04/unexpected-results-2/) - Today I'm giving thanks for my methodical, always-sample-first approach! I was considering the "Just Do It" approach and just diving into dyeing my warp. But a little voice said, "Mixed fibers - you don't know what will happen!" So I wound and dyed a small test swatch first. And boy howdy, am I glad I
- [Double weave cape](https://tienchiu.com/2020/04/double-weave-cape/) - I'm moving along on my new project. I've decided it will be a cape, Vogue 8959: The version she's wearing requires 4.25 yards of 45" fabric, or 3 yards of 60" fabric. I could do a longer, floor length version that would require 7 yards of 45" fabric or 6 yards of 60" fabric, according
- [Making love visible](https://tienchiu.com/2020/03/making-love-visible/) - Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility, and I'm glad to tell you - finally! - that I am the proud wife of a trans woman. No, I haven't changed partners. C. and I are every bit as happy as we've been since our first date in 2006, and we're looking forward to celebrating our
- [Inside out, upside down - new inspiration?](https://tienchiu.com/2020/03/new-inspiration/) - The world has changed. I haven't written anything for the last month and a half - first because I was too busy with business things, then because somehow everything I was working on seemed irrelevant with the entire world coming apart at the seams. But I feel I should catch you up on where I
- [Tigers and textures](https://tienchiu.com/2020/02/tigers-and-textures/) - I'm now thinking about my next piece. I want to play with textures, and am considering a tiger in matelassé - with brushed silk/mohair or silk chenille in the furry parts.
- [More samples for Seasons of Creativity](https://tienchiu.com/2020/01/more-samples-for-seasons-of-creativity/) - I've been working like crazy on Seasons of Creativity - so crazy, in fact, that I haven't had time to post. The deadline is now just 3.5 weeks away, and I'm just starting to weave the next set of samples. Whew! It's going to be close. But I'm pretty sure I can do it. Here's
- [Seasons of Creativity](https://tienchiu.com/2020/01/seasons-of-creativity-2/) - I am pleased to present, at last: Seasons of Creativity! It's hard to make out many details in a photo that small (the actual piece is 28" x 63"), so I suggest clicking on the small photo to get the full-resolution photo, then zooming in. Also, here are a few closeups: And here's a close-up
- [Hey babe...Wanna see MY samples??](https://tienchiu.com/2020/01/hey-babe-wanna-see-my-samples/) - I finished the first samples for my new piece, Seasons of Creativity! And I think they would make ANYONE swoon...
- [Knitting a blank](https://tienchiu.com/2019/12/knitting-a-blank/) - Forget drawing a blank. Why would you want to do that? I'm busy knitting them. As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm planning to make Seasons of Creativity using knitted blanks to create color changes in the weft. So one of the things I need to do is sample weft yarns to make sure
- [Contemplating Complexity](https://tienchiu.com/2019/12/contemplating-complexity/) - I'm now considering my entry for Complexity, the Complex Weavers exhibit this summer in Knoxville.
- ["Seasons of Creativity," sketch 2](https://tienchiu.com/2019/12/seasons-of-creativity-sketch-2/) - Now that I'm home again, I've restarted work on Seasons of Creativity. I was thinking about it on my trip, but trying doing complex Photoshop work with a mouse on a 13" laptop screen, when you're used to working with a pen on a 22" tablet-monitor, is like trying to move a giant pile of
- [Learning CAD design!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/12/learning-cad-design/) - I'm off on a mini-vacation, but am taking the opportunity to study CAD design. It's fun! Both easier and more complex than I expected.
- [More design sketches](https://tienchiu.com/2019/12/more-design-sketches/) - The last week got eaten up by preparations for my Black Friday sale, but now that that's almost done, I'm back to work on "Seasons of Creativity"! I've been experimenting with some sketches in Photoshop. I tried some sketches with the leaf motif, starting with this one. There were a couple concepts behind this sketch.
- ["Seasons of Creativity"](https://tienchiu.com/2019/11/seasons-of-creativity/) - I've been dreaming up ideas for new work. Here's a new one, whose theme seems to be about playfulness, freedom, and change...I'm thinking of developing it into a series titled "Seasons of Creativity".
- [Some thoughts for new work](https://tienchiu.com/2019/11/some-thoughts-for-new-work/) - I'm starting to think about my next piece. Show season is coming up, and I need some work to submit for Convergence (deadline February 5, 2020) and Complexity (deadline March 15, 2020). Because those shows run concurrently, they need to be two separate pieces. I also need to produce a new piece for the Complex
- [Paying your (creative) self first](https://tienchiu.com/2019/11/paying-your-creative-self-first/) - It's been a long dry spell for my creative projects, but I think I've found the way back to my Muse: Pay my creative self FIRST.
- [The Myth of One Idea, and the Peril of the Perfect Choice](https://tienchiu.com/2019/11/the-myth-of-one-idea-and-the-peril-of-the-perfect-choice/) - One of my students told me recently that her biggest challenge was picking just one idea out of the many buzzing through her head, and asked, "How do you narrow your ideas down to just one?" This was a really interesting question, so I thought I'd edit down my answer and turn it into an essay. So here it is.
- [Weaving on Grace! and preparing Maryam](https://tienchiu.com/2019/11/weaving-on-grace-and-preparing-maryam/) - Grace is now up and weaving! I didn't have anything ready to weave on her, but my weaving buddy Sheila O'Hara had a piece she wanted to weave, so I offered to let her come down and weave it as a trial piece on Grace. She actually wove three copies of it - one as
- [Grace is ready to go!!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/10/grace-is-ready-to-go/) - It's been a looooong time since I wove anything on Grace. Four and a half years, I think, since Bipolar Prison came off the loom. After that I rethreaded, wove some samples for a project that never came to fruition, and then gave up. And poor Grace just sat there for several years, because I
- [Upgrading Maryam](https://tienchiu.com/2019/10/upgrading-maryam/) - We're still working on getting Maryam talking to my laptop. It turns out she needs the controller card replaced, which means changing out the back beam because the strain gauge built into the back beam, which controls the warp tension, is not compatible with the latest generation of controller cards. (Maryam is one of the
- [Please welcome Maryam!!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/09/please-welcome-maryam/) - Saturday was the loom assembly party! My friends Brian, Chris, and Dave came over to help me put Maryam together. (Maryam, if you missed my previous posts, is my new-to-me TC-2 jacquard loom, named after Maryam Mirzakhani, the brilliant mathematician and first female Fields Medalist. All my looms are named after female mathematicians, except for
- [Moving Maryam](https://tienchiu.com/2019/09/moving-maryam/) - You may recall that I bought a second TC-2 jacquard loom about a month ago. But I couldn't arrange for shipping for another month, so Monique (the previous owner) generously agreed to store her for me until I could have her shipped. Well, last weekend, I flew out to Albuquerque to get her ready for
- [Cat-iversary #6!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/09/cat-iversary-6/) - Yes, it's now been six turns around the wheel with these adorable kittens: They are now middle-aged kitties, with occasional middle-aged-kitty health issues: Fritz went to the vet earlier this year with a urinary tract blockage, and Tigress needed anesthesia for a periodontal deep-cleaning, though fortunately she didn't need any teeth removed. We are not
- [Inching towards velvet](https://tienchiu.com/2019/09/inching-towards-velvet/) - Again the silence! Color & Design, my new course, launched last Tuesday. (Find out more about it here.) It's been an exhausting launch for a variety of reasons - chief among them is that, despite appearances, I'm a serious introvert, so making an extended sales pitch to thousands of people leaves me emotionally exhausted. Not
- [One launch down, and lookee what I found!!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/08/one-launch-down-and-lookee-what-i-found/) - I launched my free mini-course on color in weaving yesterday! It's about designing handwoven cloth with bold or subtle patterns, and is designed to solve the age-old problem of your beautiful, bright colors weaving into dull, boring mud. If you're interested in it, go check it out! It's free, so you've got nothing to lose
- [Glitter girl](https://tienchiu.com/2019/08/glitter-girl/) - There are people who are perfectly mature, and capable of acting their age. And then, of course, there's me. I went to a hairstylist last weekend. That's not entirely unprecedented - it's happened twice before - but unlike both previous times, I wasn't getting married later that day. (At least, not that I knew about.)
- [...but you can't take the chocolatier out of the girl!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/07/but-you-cant-take-the-chocolatier-out-of-the-girl/) - You may recall that I retired last year as a semi-pro chocolatier, after 30 years in the biz, on the grounds that things had gotten a wee bit excessive and a woman with Type 2 diabetes really shouldn't be making chocolates anyway. Apparently I forgot who I was dealing with. (You'd think that, after 49
- [Another jacquard loom is coming!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/07/another-jacquard-loom-is-coming/) - So, um, I bought another loom. Another TC-2 jacquard loom, in fact. If you're a new reader of this blog, you're probably wondering if I'm nuts. (If you've been reading for awhile, you're not wondering - you already know I'm nuts. Nothing to do with the mental illness, of course. :-) ) Why on earth
- [Only two things that money can't buy...](https://tienchiu.com/2019/07/only-two-things-that-money-cant-buy/) - ...and let's face it, true love is overrated. (Sorry, sweetie!) These are coming out of the garden right now: These are the eating tomatoes, the ones I'm not trying to breed. They're mostly newer varieties, mostly from Wild Boar Farms. I'm very fond of Brad Gates' work. In addition to breeding beautiful tomatoes, and tasty
- [The best birthday gifts ever!!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/07/the-best-birthday-gifts-ever/) - My birthday was last week, and I got the TWO best birthday gifts ever! The first was from Ricki, who finished threading Amazing Grace!! Yes, that's right - finished threading all 2,640 heddles. Ricki has been working on this roughly since December, coming down two or three times a month and working five-hour shifts to
- [ANWG report!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/06/anwg-report/) - I'm back from ANWG, where my classes went super well! I had seven students in my color workshop, and a full house in both painted warp seminars (40 students total). There was a lot of enthusiasm for the online course I'm developing on painted warps, and the color mixing tool was a real hit as
- [Garlic, garlic, garlic!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/06/garlic-garlic-garlic/) - I had terrible trouble with garlic rust this year, so I harvested about half my garlic early, and the rest when I got home from ANWG. Because of the rust, and because I planted my garlic a bit too close together, I wound up with only a little bit of it. By Tien standards. I
- [Off to ANWG!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/06/off-to-anwg/) - I know it's been awhile, but I've been heads-down working on my seminar and workshop courses for ANWG. I'm pleased to say that they're now complete, and both are going to be fantastic. (Yes, I'm well out of the "worst-ever" phase!) The workshop course covers color and color mixing in weaving, and the painted warp
- [Evil tomato breeders for a tastier tomorrow](https://tienchiu.com/2019/05/evil-tomato-breeders-for-a-tastier-tomorrow/) - I've been hard at work on my painted-warp presentation for ANWG. I have over 60 samples, and am still weaving more. I'm now in that entirely predictable stage of existential despair (familiar to anyone who has ever written a book, taught a class, or done any other sort of presentation) wherein you realize that: there
- [Setbacks, explorations, and total world domination!](https://tienchiu.com/2019/05/setbacks-explorations-and-total-world-domination/) - Sorry it's been so long since the last blog post! An entire week of food poisoning has left me alternately sick and playing catch-up. But I have finally more-or-less caught up, and I have much to report! First, I have finally finished sewing warp and weft swatches to my painted-warp samples, and photographed all of
- [Painted warp samples](https://tienchiu.com/2019/05/painted-warp-samples/) - I've finished my first batch of painted-warp samples for my seminar at ANWG! Pictures and some explanation of the principles behind each samples in this blog post.
- [More tomato madness](https://tienchiu.com/2019/04/more-tomato-madness/) - I just finished teaching my Color Courage for Weavers Workshop course! Or rather, I finished releasing all the lessons and did all the live lectures - some students are still finishing the exercises, and I'll be giving feedback on the exercises through June. But the bulk of the work is done, and from now on
- [Robes of fire](https://tienchiu.com/2019/04/robes-of-fire/) - The bathrobe is done, and it is GORGEOUS!! It will keep me toasty warm, mentally and physically, all year round: I'm particularly happy with how the pattern of the reds and oranges came out. Because I sponged on the red at the very top of the scrunched-up bathrobe, the red patches are centered in the
- [Tie-dyed towels?](https://tienchiu.com/2019/04/tie-dyed-towels/) - Honey, in this household, everything is tie-dyed. (Except Fritz and Tigress. They run too fast.) More seriously, I've been gearing up to tie-dye that bathrobe I mentioned a few posts back. And since it's a big expensive project, that means I need to do samples! And what better way to sample for a big, sumptuous
- [Nefarious tomato plots](https://tienchiu.com/2019/04/nefarious-tomato-plots/) - I've been pretty busy the last week and a half, but have finally wrapped up writing lessons for the online "Color Courage for Weavers: Workshop" course I've been teaching. Saturday will be the final lecture for the course. After that I'll just be giving student feedback, so my teaching workload will be a lot lighter.
- [There but for the grace...](https://tienchiu.com/2019/03/there-but-for-the-grace/) - Michael David Crawford, a friend and fellow mental health activist, committed suicide earlier this week. Michael and I met online a year or so ago, when he posted something about mental illness in a Facebook group for Caltech alumni. He, it turned out, also had bipolar disorder, and wrote about his experiences with mental illness
- [A dyeing extravaganza](https://tienchiu.com/2019/03/a-dyeing-extravaganza/) - I started recovering from my cold right around the time the weather cleared up, so one of the first things I did was wind and paint the warp for my painted-warp samples. Here it is, festooning our fig tree: There are actually two warps, wound and painted together, which will be woven using the exact
- [Science, hypothesis testing, and painted warp samples](https://tienchiu.com/2019/03/science-hypothesis-testing-and-painted-warp-samples/) - I'm teaching two classes in June, at ANWG - a workshop on color mixing and a seminar on how to choose colors and weave structures for painted warps. (You can register for either of them here. Friday's morning's talk on painted warps is already full, but last I heard there were still spaces in the
- [Reorganizing the rainbow](https://tienchiu.com/2019/03/reorganizing-the-rainbow/) - I'm currently suffering from the double whammy of an eyelid infection and a cold. Antibiotic ointment is helping with the eyelid infection and Sudafed is fending off the worst of the cold, but I'm still not seeing very well and my brain is DOA. However, I do have some energy, so yesterday I decided to
- [Relearning laziness](https://tienchiu.com/2019/03/relearning-laziness/) - I passed a huge milestone today! I took a day entirely off. (Well, almost entirely. I did answer one urgent email from a student who couldn't access the course. But that was it.) I've spent the day puttering about, going for a nice lazy brunch with B., reorganizing my giant tubs full of machine embroidery
- [Prototyping velvet](https://tienchiu.com/2019/02/prototyping-velvet/) - I spent an hour threading Grace yesterday, and am now almost halfway done: Ricki is coming over next week and hopefully will be able to make even more progress. Between the two of us, I want to get Grace threaded and sleyed by the end of March. Of course, then there is the debugging of
- [Shutting out the voices](https://tienchiu.com/2019/02/shutting-out-the-voices/) - ART IS OFTEN MADE IN ABANDONMENT, emerging unbidden in moments of selfless rapport with the materials and ideas we care about. In such moments we leave no space for others. That’s probably as it should be. Art, after all, rarely emerges from committees.But while others’ reactions need not cause problems for the artist, they usually
- [Visioning](https://tienchiu.com/2019/02/visioning/) - Like many other entrepreneurs, I belong to a "mastermind" - a small group of small-business-launchers who support each other. While I've never met any of the other three women in my mastermind in person (we live in three different countries!), we've become great friends and we chat a lot in our little Facebook group. We
- [Garden beginnings](https://tienchiu.com/2019/02/garden-beginnings/) - A bit over a week ago, the East Coast and the Midwest were seized in a polar vortex. It was colder in Wisconsin than in Antarctica. And in California? Time to plant tomatoes!!
- [Velvet beginnings](https://tienchiu.com/2019/02/velvet-beginnings/) - Today is the Lunar New Year, a day of new beginnings. An auspicious day on which to share velvet beginnings with you! First, there's the loom. With heroic effort, Ricki and I (mostly Ricki!) have gotten the warp wound and beamed, rearranged the modules, and have started threading. Here's what Amazing Grace (my TC-2 jacquard
- [Rhapsody on velvet](https://tienchiu.com/2019/01/rhapsody-on-velvet/) - It started innocently enough. I was registering for Complex Weavers Seminars 2016, and I saw two seminars by Wendy Landry, on velvet weaving. "Velvet," I thought. "Huh. That sounds kinda interesting. Not really my thing, but there's nothing else compelling in that slot, so why not?" I signed up. Well, Wendy's lecture and samples blew
- [Smashing the 1,000-weasel barrier - and still climbing](https://tienchiu.com/2019/01/smashing-the-1000-weasel-barrier-and-still-climbing/) - My trainer had me test my 1-rep max for squats the first time today - the maximum weight I could lift, just once, for that exercise. Unfortunately we didn't get quite all the way to my max - when we finished, I still felt like I could have done more weight. But we smashed through
- [Back to weaving soon!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/12/back-to-weaving-i-hope/) - Spoiler: Velvet coming to these pages soon!! You may have noticed that there's been no weaving content in quite awhile. This is partly because I've been crazy busy with developing and launching Color Courage for Weavers - working 12-14 hours a day for the last 2-3 months leaves little time for anything else. But it's
- [A huge "THANK YOU!!" to the weaving community!!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/12/a-huge-thank-you-to-the-weaving-community/) - The first launch of my online courses is over. And it went REALLY well. I want to say a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to the entire weaving community.
- [Book review: The Intentional Weaver](https://tienchiu.com/2018/12/book-review-the-intentional-weaver/) - Let me start by saying that I think this is one of the best weaving books to come out this year, and one that fills a huge gap in the body of weaving knowledge. In fact, I liked it so much that I agreed to write the Foreword for it, which you'll find at the
- [Oops! To order The Intentional Weaver...](https://tienchiu.com/2018/12/oops-to-order-the-intentional-weaver/) - I realized I left out Laura's email address for ordering The Intentional Weaver in my last blog post. You can find out more details of her special offer on her blog, and you can order it by emailing her at laura@laurafry.com or at Blurb.
- [Color Courage for Weavers has launched!!!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/12/color-courage-for-weavers-has-launched/) - After a week of nonstop preparation, I launched yesterday around 8am. The response has been phenomenal - over 500 people enrolled in my free mini-class so far, and quite a few enrollments in the paid classes as well. I kept an eye on things for an hour or two after launch, then was so exhausted
- [Remove before launch](https://tienchiu.com/2018/12/remove-before-launch/) - I've been pretty silent here for the last few weeks because I've been working like crazy on prepping my online course Color Courage for Weavers for its launch. (Coming up fast. Really fast.) And I'm not going to say much right now because I'm still working like crazy trying to get the launch ready. You have no idea
- [Presenting the 2018 fall collection](https://tienchiu.com/2018/11/presenting-the-2018-fall-collection/) - Alas, this is the last collection....the Chocolate Couture House of Tien has now officially closed. My friend Chris Cianci has inherited my equipment, however, and is gleefully planning to continue the tradition. In fact, he did much of the prep work this year, and since I threw out my lower back on the second day
- [Book review: Figuring Fibers](https://tienchiu.com/2018/11/book-review-figuring-fibers/) - I have long wondered whether it was possible to create Art that expressed the beauty of science at a deep level. Most of the Art I've seen celebrating science has lain strictly at the surface - mostly, images of scientific concepts that happen to have aesthetically attractive representations. Fractals, various spirals based on the Golden
- [The "art" thing](https://tienchiu.com/2018/10/the-art-thing/) - Some of the responses to my last blog post made me realize I was careless about what I said. There's a perpetual confusion about what the word "artist" means, because (in my opinion, anyway) there are two meanings to the words "art" and "artist". The first, which is what I usually mean, is an inclusive
- [Forging a new identity: Art science](https://tienchiu.com/2018/10/forging-a-new-identity-art-science/) - It's been almost exactly three years since I quit my job at Google, stepping out of high-tech and leaving my old identity behind. Since then, I feel much of my personal work has been around freeing myself from who I was, leaving me to explore who I am and will be. So what next? In
- [Chocolates for Charity is now closed](https://tienchiu.com/2018/10/chocolates-for-charity-is-now-closed/) - All 40 boxes of chocolates have been claimed! Thank you so much for your support over the years.
- [Chocolates for Charity 2018 - final bow!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/10/chocolates-for-charity-2018/) - All the boxes are now claimed! Chocolates for Charity is closed. Thanks for your support over the years. Yep, it's that time of year again...with a twist! The twist is that I'm getting ready to retire from chocolatiering. This year marks 30 years since I started cooking up chocolate bonbons in the kitchen of
- [More than my weight in weasels](https://tienchiu.com/2018/10/more-than-my-weight-in-weasels/) - 101 days ago, I was a couch potato. Today? That's me squatting 780 weasels (195 pounds) - more than my body weight! And here's me at 99 days, deadlifting 700 weasels (175 pounds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfYnDr1zaKU That kind of improvement exceeds my wildest expectations - in fact, it sounds like something you hear about in an ad
- [Cat-iversary #5!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/09/cat-iversary-5/) - Five years ago, one of the last bastions of human freedom fell to invading aliens...and there was much rejoicing. (And many cute cat photos!)
- [Nefarious plots](https://tienchiu.com/2018/09/nefarious-plots/) - The National Heirloom Expo and my wonderful visit with John Marshall have inspired me to start planning all sorts of mischief. In particular, I am working on nefarious plots - garden plots, that is. And evil plans (coming soon!) - plans for tools and equipment that will enable me to weave luscious velvet! I am,
- [The National Heirloom Expo](https://tienchiu.com/2018/09/the-national-heirloom-expo/) - You may recall that the cats grounded me a couple months ago because I had derelicted my duties as humble cat slave. Also because, as they pointed out, "We can't let you go anywhere unsupervised! You'll just get into trouble." Which is entirely true, as I demonstrated last Tuesday by sneaking out of the house
- [Why self-discipline doesn't work: Weaseling my way into fitness](https://tienchiu.com/2018/08/why-self-discipline-doesnt-work-weaseling-my-way-into-fitness/) - Why self-discipline doesn't work for long-term life changes, and why I've decided to weasel my way into fitness instead. Plus, details on my weasel coat-of-arms!
- [Finally, healthy again!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/08/finally-healthy-again/) - After two months of continuous panic about health problems, I am FINALLY feeling good again! I'm unbelievably happy. You don't appreciate having good health until it disappears! And I'm finally feeling more relaxed about my mood. For the last month, I've been facing the possibility of sinking into bipolar depression, without having a psychiatrist to
- [The Tomato Grower's Plate](https://tienchiu.com/2018/08/the-tomato-growers-plate/) - Forget silly competitions that give a championship cup to the winner and nothing to the rest. The Tomato Grower's Plate is a far more delicious prize, and anyone can win it! Everything on the plate is homegrown or homemade (except the drizzle of olive oil). I even wove the place mat and made the raw-milk
- [A red-letter day for gay rights](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/a-red-letter-day-for-gay-rights/) - Normally I keep this blog apolitical, but I'm a huge supporter of gay rights, so I just have to spread the word: in a Supreme Court double-header, both DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) and California's Prop 8 (a constitutional amendment to prohibit gay marriage) have both been struck down! The full opinions can be
- [Medical crises, mental illness, and patients' rights](https://tienchiu.com/2018/08/medical-crises-mental-illness-and-patients-rights/) - I've been pretty quiet for the last two weeks, mostly due to some serious medical drama - side effects of the lithium I was taking for bipolar disorder. It's mostly resolved now, but I want to explain what happened, why I fired my psychiatrist, and how I'm approaching finding a better doctor. (Bonus: You get
- [I'm the daughter of two refugees. Asylum matters.](https://tienchiu.com/2018/07/im-the-daughter-of-two-refugees-asylum-matters/) - I have run into quite a few people who feel the need to explain to me that refugees are faking their need for asylum - that they're just trying to get here for the economic opportunities, that they might be terrorists, and that they're unskilled foreigners who will take jobs away from American workers. And so on. I sit and watch them until they run down. Then I say, "You do know that my parents were refugees, right?"
- [Wow, was THAT a party!!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/07/wow-was-that-a-party/) - I left for Convergence on Thursday, July 5, and returned the following Thursday, totally exhausted of seven days of nonstop partying with 1,500 fellow weavers. I started with the Sheep to Shawl on Saturday, as part of the Black Sheep Handweavers Guild (one of my two weaving guilds). Five spinners, a carder, and me (the
- [Blossom bags](https://tienchiu.com/2018/07/blossom-bags/) - What do seed savers have in common with wedding party planners? They both use a lot of wedding-favor bags: One of the important parts of seed-saving is making sure you are saving the seeds that you want. Which means controlling pollination, so that the seeds you want are bred from the plants you want. To
- [The importance of good nutrition, and the uselessness of arguing with cats](https://tienchiu.com/2018/06/the-importance-of-good-nutrition-and-the-uselessness-of-arguing-with-cats/) - I haven't posted in awhile because I've been dealing with a series of cascading crises. It started with the tomato plague. I noticed that some of the tomatoes weren't growing well, and were developing purplish veins on their leaves. Within a week or so, most of the tomato plants were developing purple veins and looking
- [Cat meets self-driving mouse](https://tienchiu.com/2018/06/cat-meets-self-driving-mouse/) - In November 2014, I helped fund a Kickstarter project to develop Mousr, an autonomous mouse (the cat toy kind). I didn't seriously expect that the project would succeed in producing a non-lame cat toy, but what the heck, it sounded interesting, so I contributed enough to get one. (I was hoping it would get me
- [Pictures of 1000 dye samples are now online!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/06/pictures-of-1000-dye-samples-are-now-online/) - A quick note to let y'all know: I've posted 1000 of my 1500 dye samples on my website, along with an extensive write-up about my dye process. The other 500 samples are still being photographed, but they should be up later this week. Here's the link to the master page: Dye Sample Project Please spread
- [Choose your outrage wisely](https://tienchiu.com/2018/06/choose-your-outrage-wisely/) - My Facebook feed was full of outrage until I decided to filter it out. Because anger is only useful if it prods you into positive action. If you don't take action, your anger will make not one whit of difference to the world, except to stress you out and turn you towards hate. So...choose your outrage wisely. (More on how and why to do this in the blog post.)
- [Social media and creative work: Who's chattering in your head?](https://tienchiu.com/2018/05/social-media-and-creative-work-whos-chattering-in-your-head/) - When I did my time log a few weeks ago, one of the first things I realized was that I was spending too much time on social media. The first day I logged, I spent nearly three hours on Facebook and Ravelry! So I immediately cut that back, deciding that I would spend less time
- [Breakthrough](https://tienchiu.com/2018/05/breakthrough/) - The last two years have been a bit of a puzzle for me. I've done virtually no weaving - which is pretty darn odd, considering I quit my job so I could focus on developing my career as a textile artist. At first I thought it was because I was busy doing other things -
- [Pilgrimage](https://tienchiu.com/2018/05/pilgrimage/) - Most artists find their way into art gradually. Their interest develops over several years, often early in their lives. I didn't arrive at art quite so gradually. In fact, I regarded fiber arts as a not-terribly-important hobby until December 1995. Then a friend handed me a copy of Smithsonian Magazine, saying, "I saw this article
- [Carpe diem ("Seize the Day")](https://tienchiu.com/2018/04/carpe-diem-seize-the-day/) - B. and I spent the last few weeks building an incubation box for tomato seeds. Today I planted the first batch of Fruity Mix and Fuzzy Mix seeds in it: These seeds are precious. As far as I know, they are the last remaining seeds of the Fruity Mix and Fuzzy mix tomato breeding pools
- [Where did all the time go?!?](https://tienchiu.com/2018/04/where-did-all-the-time-go-2/) - One of the weirder parts about having quit my job is that I suddenly have WAY less time than I used to. Things that I used to accomplish in a day or two are now taking weeks, and for the last six months I've been battling the horrible feeling that I'm falling further and further
- [Spring is here!!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/04/spring-is-here-3/) - The air is warm, the flowers are blooming...but nothing really says "spring" like a dump truck full of potting soil! This was, by Tien standards, a very modest amount of soil - three cubic yards, delivered in a cute little dump truck. (The ten cubic yards of compost that I ordered the last time I
- [Uh, Tomato Growers Anonymous? I think I may have a problem...](https://tienchiu.com/2018/03/uh-tomato-growers-anonymous-i-think-i-may-have-a-problem/) - It's been three weeks since my last gardening post. I thought it was a lot longer! Rereading it, I see that my past self was lamenting her lack of self-control because she got seeds for ten tomato varieties and a dozen or so varieties of other vegetables. Past self: You are a total piker. In
- [Delightfully thorny puzzles](https://tienchiu.com/2018/03/delightfully-thorny-puzzles/) - I've been hard at work designing Everett's stole. It's proving to be a seriously difficult problem. Which is not a bad thing - I love complicated puzzles - but I also need to get this one done! I finished weaving the samples a short while ago. Here's what they looked like on the loom: The
- ["Mental illness" is not the same as "evil"](https://tienchiu.com/2018/02/mental-illness-is-not-the-same-as-evil/) - Lately there have been a ton of politicians explaining that the way to stop mass shootings is to prevent people with mental illnesses from getting guns. Since I happen to have a serious, lifelong, genetic mental illness (bipolar disorder), I have a few feelings about this. Mostly fury. Let me explain. The idea that you can
- [I'm doomed.](https://tienchiu.com/2018/02/im-doomed/) - I made a major tactical error a week ago. A Seed Savers Exchange catalog arrived, addressed to B.. Which was not so bad, until I opened it. Let's start with the fact that I am both obsessive and certifiably insane. (Which, by the way, has nothing to do with my having a mental illness -
- [The (puzzle) gods must be laughing](https://tienchiu.com/2018/02/the-puzzle-gods-must-be-laughing/) - The last four months have been really challenging for me, consisting mostly of battling with illness, travel, injuries, and exhaustion, alternating with frantic work to meet deadlines jeopardized by the first four items. However, I've slowly worked my way through all that, and at the beginning of February, I remarked to a friend that for
- [A new weaving podcast!!](https://tienchiu.com/2018/02/a-new-weaving-podcast/) - It's been seven long years since Syne Mitchell recorded the last episode of Weavecast. Seven years in which the weaving world had no podcasts whatsoever. I am delighted to say that that has changed! Sarah Resnick of GIST Yarn has started producing a new podcast for weavers, titled quite logically Weave: A Podcast. She launched
- [Adventures in color](https://tienchiu.com/2018/01/adventures-in-color/) - After picking up the wound sample cards (and visiting my relatives) in Maryland, B. and I flew to Chicago to visit his family. It was cold in Chicago. -6F, with a wind chill of -22F. Now, I've lived in California for the past 30 years, so I can confidently tell you that there is no such
- [Dye adventures](https://tienchiu.com/2018/01/dye-adventures/) - The last few weeks have been jam-packed, so I'm going to tell the story over a few blog posts. This one is about my Anything-Worth-Doing-Is-Worth-Overdoing Procion MX dye sample project. The adventure started with a trip to spend Christmas with my family. The first challenge was packing for the trip. In addition to five fruitcakes,
- [The Strategic Puzzle Defense System](https://tienchiu.com/2017/12/the-strategic-puzzle-defense-system/) - 13.5 hours of sorting later, all 5000 pieces are neatly arranged by color: The plastic box contains all the edge pieces, and all the rest of the pieces are sorted more or less by color (hue/value). Now come the difficult strategic decisions. Those living in the mortal world would naturally start by putting together the
- [Foiling the puzzle gods](https://tienchiu.com/2017/12/foiling-the-puzzle-gods/) - Continuing health problems (fortunately, more annoying than serious) have left me pretty fuzzy for the past week, so I haven't been able to do much in the way of creative work. Which has fortunately given me time to work on my latest frivolous challenge: 5000 Colours! This puzzle is exactly the same as the 1000
- [A simple fix to a puzzling problem](https://tienchiu.com/2017/12/a-simple-fix-to-a-puzzling-problem/) - Chocolate season this year was a real challenge for me. Because I was still adjusting to the new bipolar disorder meds, I was having problems with mild bipolar depression during the first two weeks. Actually I'm not sure if most people would describe it as "mild" - about one day out of three I couldn't
- [Presenting the 2017 fall collection](https://tienchiu.com/2017/12/presenting-the-2017-fall-collection/) - 38 flavors in 2017! The new ones are: Earl Grey tea fudge maple bourbon caramel orange caramel gingerbread orange caramel Prune, port, cinnamon and honey caramel Blackberry yuzu Peanut butter Sorrento lemon peel Many thanks to Susan, Edie, and Chris, who helped make the chocolates; my friends Carolyn, Brian, Chris, Edie, Jeremy, Pam, Nyondo,
- [118 pounds, 6 ounces](https://tienchiu.com/2017/12/118-pounds-6-ounces/) - This year's chocolate harvest was a bumper crop! We made 38 flavors of fudge, caramels, candied citrus peels, and fruit jellies, totaling 118 pounds, 6 ounces. We ran dangerously low on chocolate at the end - was 106 pounds of chocolate going to be enough? - but it turned out fine; in fact, there was
- [Tien 1, common sense 0](https://tienchiu.com/2017/11/tien-1-common-sense-0/) - Last week I fell prey to the Costco Fallacy. The Costco Fallacy goes like this. On your shopping list is 10 pounds of apples (because you like apples, and you might make some applesauce). You get to the store, and you discover that apples are $3/pound, but a 35-pound box of apples is only $40.
- [Composing chocolate flavors](https://tienchiu.com/2017/11/composing-chocolate-flavors/) - I usually spend the first half of chocolate season testing new flavors. Since everyone asks me "How did you come up with that flavor?" I thought I'd share how I do it. To my mind, a good bonbon has a balanced, complex flavor profile. Perfumers talk about "top notes," "middle notes," and "base notes". I
- [Your normal is not my normal: Why people misunderstand mental illness](https://tienchiu.com/2017/10/your-normal-is-not-my-normal-why-people-misunderstand-mental-illness/) - I've had a number of interesting conversations since my last blog post, which has given me more insight into why mental illness is so misunderstood, both by people who have it and people who don't. Here's why: Your normal isn't my normal. In fact, it's probably very different. This is actually true for everyone, because
- [Some thoughts about mental illness](https://tienchiu.com/2017/10/some-thoughts-about-mental-illness/) - Tuesday was World Mental Health Day. I was traveling at the time, so I didn't have enough time to do more than a quick Facebook post, but I'd like to say a little more today. I have bipolar disorder. I'm lucky enough to live in a context that allows me to be "out" about having
- [A slight shift in (blog) direction](https://tienchiu.com/2017/10/a-slight-shift-in-blog-direction/) - Ah, the irony. When I left my job at Google, I thought that not having a day job would free up more time and energy for creative work. How wrong I was! True, my schedule is now more flexible, since I don't have to go to a job from 9-5. But - because I am
- [Speedy Gonzales](https://tienchiu.com/2017/09/speedy-gonzales/) - I've been benchmarking my weaving speed on Lady Ada. The change has been pretty darn impressive. When I started out, I had to relearn how to weave on a treadle loom. I made a ton of mistakes, and the weaving went correspondingly slowly - about 20 minutes to weave an 10" wide, 8-inch long sample
- [Patron saint](https://tienchiu.com/2017/09/patron-saint/) - I've found my patron saint! A friend found this votive candle in a local art shop, and gave it to me. It's now sitting on Lady Ada's castle tray: The text on the back, for those who have trouble reading the curved print, reads: Secular Saint - Ada - Patron saint of mathematicians, computer programmers,
- [Fruitcake season!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/09/fruitcake-season/) - The holiday season is fast approaching. Fortunately, retailers have not yet realized that September is the perfect month for putting out Christmas decorations (though with the ongoing retail arms race, they may get there in a few years), leaving the field wide open for...fruitcake! I love making fruitcake. Not the dry, tasteless fruit brick that
- [End of a (dyeing) era](https://tienchiu.com/2017/08/end-of-a-dyeing-era/) - Yes, the 1500-skein Procion MX dyeing project is FINALLY at an end! Here are the last 250 skeins hanging up to dry: It took a bit over eight months start to finish, but all the dyeing is finally done. (Many thanks to my friend Kaye, who has been helping out!) The project, however, is not
- [The science of art](https://tienchiu.com/2017/08/the-science-of-art/) - I've been having a lot of fun the last few weeks doing scientific experiments about art. (Hey, you can take the girl out of science, but you can't take the science out of the girl! Even as an artist, I still work using the scientific method, because I find it so effective.) These science-of-art experiments
- [Mechanical vs. computerized looms](https://tienchiu.com/2017/08/mechanical-vs-computerized-looms/) - I've now woven a few warps on Lady Ada, and am starting to get the hang of working on a treadle loom again. I haven't owned a treadle loom since I was a wee beginner - I bought one in October 2006 when I started weaving, but within seven months I had moved to a
- [A new undertaking](https://tienchiu.com/2017/07/a-new-undertaking/) - As you may have guessed from my relative silence over the last few months, putting together a new business is no cakewalk. Warp & Weave has been soaking up most of my creative energy for several months now, which is why I've been posting less frequently here - though I do hope to get back
- [Announcing Warp & Weave!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/07/announcing-warp-weave/) - I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my new teaching website, Warp & Weave! Warp & Weave will teach you how to design superb handwoven cloth. Since that's a pretty broad topic, I'm starting by writing about color, since it's a huge challenge for many weavers. I expect to spend the next year
- [I can haz ALL the colors!!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/07/i-can-haz-all-the-colors/) - It all started so innocently. After weaving Marvelous Mandelbrot, I decided it would be fun to do more weaving with rayon machine embroidery thread. It's the perfect size for the weaving I'm currently doing, comes in hundreds of beautiful colors, and I don't have to dye it, which saves a ton of time and effort. Plus,
- [Please welcome Lady Ada!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/06/please-welcome-lady-ada/) - I'm working on a course on color in handweaving, which of course means weaving lots and lots of samples to illustrate my points. Two very generous friends are weaving the first set of samples for me, which is wonderful of them! But I will need to weave my own samples for blog posts, future classes,
- [Marvelous Mandelbrot](https://tienchiu.com/2017/06/marvelous-mandelbrot/) - I finished my Mandelbrot piece! It was astonishingly easy compared to my usual projects - one or two hours of design, about four hours of weaving, and I was done. Amazing Grace is magic! I'm tempted to put a license plate on her that says GEN II (the license number for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).
- [Happy anniversary to us! (And, the best gift ever!)](https://tienchiu.com/2017/06/happy-anniversary-to-us-and-the-best-gift-ever/) - Monday was B.'s and my anniversary - celebrating 7 years of wedded bliss. It's been eleven years since we got together, and I love him more with each passing day. I'm so happy we met! To demonstrate one part of why B. is the best husband ever, the night before our anniversary, he presented me
- [Up and weaving!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/06/up-and-weaving-3/) - First, the grand news: I AM ACTUALLY WEAVING!!! I have finished debugging both warp and loom and have started weaving the samples for Everett's stole. Hooray!! Six months of threading and debugging are over, and I can finally weave on my beloved loom. Here are the samples I've woven so far. Not that impressive looking,
- [Treats](https://tienchiu.com/2017/06/treats/) - After several days of hard work, I'm almost done debugging. It's a dreadfully slow and frustrating process, that can take up to fifteen minutes per errant thread. I've fixed crossed heddles, stuck heddles, empty heddles, broken threads, crossed threads, etc. (LOTS of etc.). And then, after ten or fifteen minutes of concentrated troubleshooting, I get to move
- [Designing Everett's stole](https://tienchiu.com/2017/05/designing-everetts-stole/) - Yesterday I worked for nine obsessive hours getting Amazing Grace ready to weave, culminating in this thrilling sight: The warp is theoretically ready to weave, but in practice the next phase is debugging, which I expect to take a week or so. Debugging means finding all the broken threads, loose threads, sticky heddles, etc. and fixing them. For
- [Brainstorming](https://tienchiu.com/2017/05/brainstorming/) - I had a lovely time in Oregon, teaching my "Power Up Your Process" workshop and giving a talk on brainstorming. I thought I'd share some of the ideas in the talk with you, as I think they address some common misconceptions about brainstorming. First, brainstorming is NOT about creating a work of art. My brainstormed designs all
- [A narrow shave](https://tienchiu.com/2017/05/a-narrow-shave/) - The good news first: after almost six months of setback after setback, I finished threading my loom!! I know it doesn't look like much, but at a density of 120 ends per inch, that's 1,760 threads - quite an effort! Just as I was about to pop the cork on the champagne bottle, I noticed that I
- [Weaving with Non-Traditional Materials](https://tienchiu.com/2017/05/weaving-with-non-traditional-materials/) - I spent this past weekend at CNCH, where I took Giovanna Imperia's class "Weaving with Non-Traditional Materials". There wasn't a whole lot of theory in this class - instead, Giovanna brought a large selection of non-traditional materials and turned us loose to experiment. I wove two sets of samples - one using a very fine
- [Another dye cube, and some thoughts on color mixing](https://tienchiu.com/2017/05/another-dye-cube-and-some-thoughts-on-color-mixing/) - I finished the Procion MX Sun Yellow - Mixing Red - Mixing Blue dye "cube" a week or so ago, but only finished photographing it a day or two ago. I found it fascinating to compare this "cube" to the Gold - Mixing Red - Intense Blue cube I finished a few weeks ago - here
- [Tie-dyed rebel](https://tienchiu.com/2017/04/tie-dyed-rebel/) - The last few weeks have been extraordinarily busy but also depressingly lacking in any creative work. The executive director at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles decided to move on to other opportunities, so resigned her position early last week. Since I'm the President of the Board of Directors at the Museum, that
- [Problem-solving sure beats procrastinating!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/04/problem-solving-sure-beats-procrastinating/) - Some of you are no doubt thinking, "Well, all this dyeing is marvelous, but what about Amazing Grace, the jacquard loom? Has she been totally neglected, all these months?" Well, yes. And no. I've been working with Grace on and off, but have been suffering a frustrating series of setbacks. And threading was horribly uncomfortable. So
- [Ready to go with the new dye setup!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/04/ready-to-go-with-the-new-dye-setup/) - After ruining four batches of skeins, I have managed to create a dyeing setup that works. It's a complex procedure, because each jar has to start out with a different amount of water, salt solution, and dye. And then the correctly labeled skein needs to be added to the jar. During the dyeing, each skein must be lifted
- [New dyeing setup](https://tienchiu.com/2017/03/new-dyeing-setup/) - I'm considering changing my dye methodology for my 1500+ samples. I timed some steps, did some calculations, and discovered that the rearranging and relabeling of skeins between dyebaths takes a lot more time than expected. The total amount of time required for each skein comes out to almost 10 minutes a skein! That is, at least
- [Procion MX dye samples on cotton: Gold - Mixing Red - Intense Blue](https://tienchiu.com/2017/03/procion-mx-dye-samples-on-cotton-gold-mixing-red-intense-blue/) - I've now completed my second set of Procion MX dye samples on cotton yarn - the Gold, Mixing Red, and Intense Blue samples. Here are photos of all 250 skeins. Each photo shows all the skeins dyed in one concentration of Intense Blue, which is listed in the caption. The concentration of Gold increases as you
- [The challenges of color matching](https://tienchiu.com/2017/02/the-challenges-of-color-matching/) - Because I think a set of color-mixing samples in MX dyes on cotton would be of value to the fiber community, I've been pondering over how best to make my samples available. The problem is that digital colors are terribly unreliable: both cameras and monitors are very bad at reproducing color accurately, so what you see on
- [First dye cube complete!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/02/first-dye-cube-complete/) - I finished dyeing my first "cube" yesterday. This one covered light to medium shades of the color combination sun yellow/fuchsia/turquoise. It includes every possible combination of these concentrations: 0, 0.06%, 0.12%, 0.25%, and 0.5%, in all three colors. Here's what the first level looks like: This "level" of the cube is all mixes of yellow/fuchsia/turquoise with
- [Dye cube #2: Sun yellow, fuchsia, turquoise in dark colors](https://tienchiu.com/2017/02/dye-cube-2-sun-yellow-fuchsia-turquoise-in-dark-colors/) - I've now completed the second "cube" of Procion MX fiber-reactive dye samples on cotton: dark shades of sun yellow, fuchsia, and turquoise. The dye concentrations I'm using are 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4%. The results are of course pretty: Why am I doing two independent dye cubes rather than one that covers the entire gamut? Because
- [Spring is here!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/02/spring-is-here/) - Spring has sprung! One of the benefits of living in a mild climate is that spring arrives early. So for Valentine's Day, I thought I'd offer some flowers to those of you still struggling with snow... I am particularly and absurdly happy about the violets. I know you East Coast folks are probably rolling your eyes,
- [Huge piles of yarn!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/02/huge-piles-of-yarn/) - In between threading up my loom, I have been contending with large heaps of yarn. The first pile is this box that appeared on my doorstep a few days ago: That's about 30 pounds of black silk yarn - 30/2 and 20/2 weight. I bought some white silk yarn from Eurestex and asked them to dye and
- [New commission!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/02/new-commission/) - With apologies for this VERY long-delayed blog post...I am pleased to announce that I have a new commission! Everett, who is studying to become a Unitarian minister, has asked me to weave and sew a stole for his ordination and beyond. Everett and I met last month to sketch out a design. He wanted a lake at
- [First book review!](https://tienchiu.com/2017/01/first-book-review/) - I'm pleased to announce that I have my first book review for Master Your Craft! I got home late last night to find the latest copy of American Craft on my doorstep. American Craft is the member publication of the American Craft Council, and is the pre-eminent magazine for high-end craft. I opened it up, started paging through it, and
- [New Year, new projects](https://tienchiu.com/2017/01/new-year-new-projects/) - It's the first month of 2017, and I'm launching three major creative projects for the year. There aren't any pretty pictures yet, but they are interesting nonetheless. The first project is an e-book for my Creating Craft business. I surveyed my readers a few months ago, asking "What's your greatest creative challenge?" To my surprise, the most common
- [iOrnament: possibly the coolest app ever](https://tienchiu.com/2017/01/iornament-possibly-the-coolest-app-ever/) - I have found the app of my dreams. Remember how I said I wanted to design a series of shawls and scarves such that each shawl would be unique, but they wouldn't take forever to design? Well, a week or two ago I discovered iOrnament: an app for iOS that allows you to generate beautiful
- [2016 retrospective; 2017 goals](https://tienchiu.com/2017/01/2016-retrospective-2017-goals/) - I've spent the last few days reflecting on 2016, and contemplating goals for 2017. I was feeling a bit frustrated towards the end of 2016 because I felt I wasn't getting much done on my Creating Craft business. I was seriously wondering why I was so unproductive, so I wrote up a retrospective on 2016,
- [Doodling](https://tienchiu.com/2016/12/doodling/) - While traveling, I've been doodling some possibilities for shawl designs. These are pretty, but not Art; I'm trying to stick with relatively simple stuff, since I really need to focus my mental energies on Creating Craft for the next few months. That said, me being me, they're still fairly complex. Here are a few of
- [Benches and beginnings](https://tienchiu.com/2016/12/benches-and-beginnings/) - Santa arrived early last week, in the form of a FedEx delivery guy with two ENORMOUS boxes: What could be in those boxes? I opened them up and discovered my new bench and footstool from Walt Turpening! Walt is a legendary maker of benches, and I persuaded him to make a footstool for me as well,
- [Presenting Kathy's scarves!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/12/presenting-kathys-scarves/) - I finished Kathy's scarves on Monday night! Here they are: I love them! In fact, I love them so much that I was tempted to tell Kathy that a wild Heffalump had eaten the package en route to the post office. But a deal is a deal, so they went winging off on Tuesday morning,
- [Weaving the scarves](https://tienchiu.com/2016/12/weaving-the-scarves/) - I've finally started weaving Kathy's scarves! They are coming out beautifully. Here's a peek at the first section: And the second section, just after the phoenixes: I am weaving these scarves with the weft-dominant side up, mostly because it's easier to spot errors that way. If I'm lifting 4 of every 5 warp threads, it's hard
- [Back to weaving!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/12/back-to-weaving-3/) - Chocolates are done, packed, and shipped. Which means it's time to WEAVE! I started with three days of loom repair: diagnosing and fixing some heddles that were not lifting properly. On a TC-2 loom, that is quite an exercise, especially if you are as short as I am. Fixing a nonfunctional heddle means means lifting
- [Presenting the 2016 fall collection](https://tienchiu.com/2016/11/presenting-the-2016-fall-collection/) - This was a record-setting year for chocolatiering: 136 pounds, 2 ounces of bonbons, in 38 different varieties. Alas, one of the varieties would not fit, so the peanut-butter-and-jelly ones did not make it into the boxes (and thus are not listed in the index). But I can assure you they were delicious! If you've ever
- [A peek at life in the chocolate mines](https://tienchiu.com/2016/11/a-peek-at-life-in-the-chocolate-mines/) - Apologies for not posting earlier! I have been exhausted from laboring in the chocolate mines. It's a difficult and dangerous job; first one has to locate a vein of chocolate, then blast out the surrounding rock, then refine the chocolate ore into pure molten chocolate, before it can be put into bonbons. ;-) But I
- [Caramels, candied citrus, and nut confections](https://tienchiu.com/2016/11/caramels-candied-citrus-and-nut-confections/) - The last two days have been busy! With help from my friend Susan and her daughter Allegra, I've been chocolatiering up a storm. Here are just a few of the things we've made over the last few days: But wait, there's more! We also finished the lime-ginger-chile-peanut caramels: ...and a few others: candied bergamot peel
- [Oh, fudge!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/11/oh-fudge/) - Chocolate season has begun! I kicked it off on Tuesday with green tea/honey fudge and jasmine tea/dark chocolate/walnut fudge. Here's the green tea/honey fudge in progress - doesn't it make a fabulous witches' cauldron? No eye of newt, however - just matcha powder, honey, sugar, and cream. (Well, I may have thrown in a neighbor's
- [SOFA Chicago - Part II](https://tienchiu.com/2016/11/sofa-chicago-part-ii/) - While gazing in awe at the work I saw at SOFA Chicago, I came across several themes that I think are interesting, and which I'd like to explore in future work. Probably the biggest one is optical illusions related to color, like this spectacular piece, Zhuang Hong Yi's Blue to Orange, rice paper on canvas.
- [SOFA Chicago - Part I](https://tienchiu.com/2016/11/sofa-chicago-part-i/) - Sorry for the long lapse! I have been traveling like crazy - last week I was in Chicago, this week I'm in Southern California. I'm going to try catching up now... Last week I went to SOFA Chicago - and what a time I had! I flew in on Thursday afternoon, and spent a very
- [The votes are in!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/10/the-votes-are-in/) - ...and, winning in a landslide, this year's holiday card photo will be: (It wasn't even close: something like 90% of people, here and on Facebook, voted for this one!) For those who were wondering, by the way, yes, the bow, ribbon, and box are all made of white chocolate - Valrhona Ivoire, to be exact.
- [Vote for this year's holiday card!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/10/vote-for-this-years-holiday-card/) - I spent part of this weekend working on my holiday card for this year. I made chocolate ribbons, boxes, and bows! and then my good friend and creative partner Lieven came over and did a photo shoot for me. We wound up with three excellent candidates for this year's holiday card. I can't decide between
- [Vote for this year's holiday card!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/10/vote-for-this-years-holiday-card/) - I spent part of this weekend working on my holiday card for this year. I made chocolate ribbons, boxes, and bows! and then my good friend and creative partner Lieven came over and did a photo shoot for me. We wound up with three excellent candidates for this year's holiday card. I can't decide between
- [Many celebrations: cloth, craft, chocolates, and Chicago!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/10/many-celebrations-cloth-craft-chocolates-and-chicago/) - Wow! It's been an action-packed week - things have been happening so fast I haven't had a chance to catch up! But here are a few of last week's highlights: First, I celebrated a decade of weaving on October 20. Yep, last Thursday marked the 10-year anniversary of my learning to weave! On that fateful
- [Chocolates for Charity 2016 (may be the last one!)](https://tienchiu.com/2016/10/chocolates-for-charity-2016-may-be-the-last-one/) - CHOCOLATES FOR CHARITY IS NOW CLOSED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED!! How it works: Donate $120 or more to the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, at http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/message-from-sjmqt-arts-design-sanjose/ . If you want more than one box, donate $120 per box and mention it in your email. Email me a copy of your donation
- [A trip to the Far Eastern Shore Winery](https://tienchiu.com/2016/10/a-trip-to-the-far-eastern-shore-winery/) - Creativity runs in our family! My brother Tien-Seng and his wife Tara founded the Far Eastern Shore Winery over a decade ago. The winery is located in Easton, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore (thus the name), and makes and sells about 30,000 cases of wine per year (that's 360,000 bottles!). They recently opened a tasting
- [Goodbye, Ma](https://tienchiu.com/2016/10/goodbye-ma/) - We laid my mother to rest yesterday morning, in the beautiful blown-glass urn we had ordered for her. The phoenix rising up the side is a little difficult to make out clearly in the photo, as it's made with transparent glass, but it has lovely feather-like colored streaks in the blown-glass body, and is just
- [Scarf samples](https://tienchiu.com/2016/10/scarf-samples/) - I've been working on my scarf commission the last few days. I started by cleaning up the image - a tedious process requiring several hours of work, getting rid of extraneous pixels and tweaking things until I had the image pixel perfect. Then I converted the image to Arahweave. I didn't much like the results,
- [A new wardrobe!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/09/a-new-wardrobe/) - I needed some new clothes, so I spent this weekend puttering in the dyepots. I dyed 17 articles of clothing: six T-shirts, four blouses, four button-down shirts, a ruana/poncho, an open jacket, and - shockingly - an actual dress! I haven't worn a dress (except my wedding dress) in at least twenty years. That's because
- [Cat-iversary #3!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/09/cat-iversary-3/) - Facebook reminded me today (how could I possibly have forgotten?) that today is our three-year cat-iversary! Yes, it's been exactly three years since we adopted a pair of adorable kittens, who grew into our beautiful Fritz and mischievous Tigress. Here they are on Adoption Day: I can't resist a few more baby pictures. They were
- [Scarf commission!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/09/scarf-commission/) - I'm pleased to say that I have a new project! This one is my first commissioned piece - a dragon and phoenix scarf! After I finished Ode to Joy, I got an email from Kathy, who mentioned how much she loved the dragon in Ode to Joy, and would I consider weaving a scarf for
- [Presenting "Ode to Joy"](https://tienchiu.com/2016/09/presenting-ode-to-joy/) - By weaving like a madwoman, I finished weaving "Ode to Joy" in time for my friend Joy's memorial service. It came out beautifully! The six motifs around the edges of the red-and-gold eternity knot represent things that were important to Joy: rainbow heart for gay rights triquetra knot for spirituality and her magical work Spinning
- [Samples and skeins](https://tienchiu.com/2016/09/samples-and-skeins/) - I spent all day yesterday weaving samples, mostly to see how the animal images would weave up. Here's what I produced: The bottom samples are from my initial attempt. As you can see, the owl now looks whiter than in the previous version, which is great! But the first African wild dog (left) looks a
- [Deep in the guts of jacquard design](https://tienchiu.com/2016/08/deep-in-the-guts-of-jacquard-design/) - I've spent the last few days getting everything set up to weave Joy's memorial piece. It's a complicated process. I started with this mockup: But a mockup is not a file that can be read by a jacquard loom. There are (broadly speaking) three steps to creating an image the loom can use. First, you
- [Next project: a woven tribute](https://tienchiu.com/2016/08/next-project-a-woven-tribute/) - I've decided that my next piece will be a tribute to my friend Joy, to be shown at her memorial service. It's a fairly ambitious design, featuring several photos of Joy , plus some of the things that were most important to her. I'm currently in the layout stage, making sure that all the images
- [Selling my 40-shaft loom](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/selling-my-40-shaft-loom/) - After several months of mulling it over, I've decided to sell Emmy (my 40-shaft AVL loom). While she is in good working order, I haven't used her (except once or twice to test things) since I got the jacquard loom, and that seems likely to continue. And while the garage is barely big enough to
- [How to use a Boyce weaver's knotter, how to tie a weaver's knot](https://tienchiu.com/2016/08/how-to-use-a-boyce-weavers-knotter-how-to-tie-a-weavers-knot/) - I've started tying the new warp onto the old one, and since there are 880 knots to be tied, I've been testing out my knotting equipment. I have a Boyce weaver's knotter, a Cook weaver's knotter, and ten fingers, so I'm trying all three. Both the Boyce weaver's knotter and the Cook weaver's knotter are
- [Got my first coaching client!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/08/got-my-first-coaching-client/) - I'm pleased to say that I have my first coaching client! She and I met through the Laptop Lifestyle Academy, a forum for people who are building online blog businesses. I'm going to be coaching her through the process outlined in my book, starting with a single project - a crocheted shoe. Of course the
- [Unexpected travels](https://tienchiu.com/2016/08/unexpected-travels/) - The last few days have been quite unexpected. I had planned to fly home from Convergence on Saturday. But Saturday morning, as I was prepping for my flight home, I got a text telling me that a close relative was seriously ill. So instead of flying home, I caught the next flight to Ithaca, NY.
- [First book signing!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/08/first-book-signing/) - I flew out to Milwaukee last Wednesday and had my first book signing at Convergence on Thursday! It went well - we sold a lot of books, and I got to meet/reconnect with many of you blog readers. I also got to meet my marketing manager at Schiffer Publishing, which was a delight since I've
- [Announcing Creating Craft!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/08/announcing-creating-craft/) - I'm pleased to announce the launch of my new business website, www.creatingcraft.com! Creating Craft helps beginning to intermediate artisans make the leap to master artisan - by offering courses (online and in-person), informative blog posts, and personalized coaching in design and on the creative process. If you want to create award-winning, original work, this is
- [An avalanche of books](https://tienchiu.com/2016/07/an-avalanche-of-books/) - FedEx delivered more than a quarter-ton of books on Tuesday - 507.4 pounds, to be exact. Here's the truck arriving, with six of the eighteen boxes stacked precariously in front: And here is what a quarter-ton of books (plus the inevitable photobombing cat) looks like: And this is what I've been tackling today: That, dear
- [Book launch party!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/07/book-launch-party/) - Yesterday was the book launch party! and what a party it was. About thirty friends turned up, we had a blast, and I could have sold far more than the ten copies I had on hand. I was unfortunately so busy prepping for the party and chatting with people during the party that I didn't
- [Presenting Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work!!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/07/presenting-master-your-craft-strategies-for-designing-making-and-selling-artisan-work/) - After almost four long years...I am pleased to present my freshly published book, Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work: Schiffer sent a congratulatory bottle of wine in the same package: and a congratulatory letter: The last line of the letter invites me to work with Schiffer on future projects. I
- [Contemplating chocolate](https://tienchiu.com/2016/07/contemplating-chocolate/) - My book launch is happening this coming week! So I am contemplating the most obvious and pressing marketing question: what flavors of chocolate to make for the launch party? So far the picks are: Chocolate-hazelnut fudge with sour cherries and toasted almond bits Chocolate, bourbon, and coffee fudge (aka "Irish Coffee fudge") Maple pecan fudge
- [So close...and yet so far](https://tienchiu.com/2016/07/so-close-and-yet-so-far-2/) - I've been waxing dangerously neurotic as the book release date draws nearer. According to my calculations, the advance copy should have arrived last Tuesday or Wednesday. So of course I couldn't sleep Monday or Tuesday night, and during the day, every time a truck rolled by I sprinted to the front door to see if
- [Tie-dye fireworks for the Fourth of July](https://tienchiu.com/2016/07/tie-dye-fireworks-for-the-fourth-of-july/) - B.'s mom has been visiting us for the past week. I found out she'd never done tie-dye! So of course I had to show her. We spent the mornings of July 3 and July 4 tie-dyeing shirts, socks, and a bathrobe (yes, a bathrobe!). I stupidly forgot to take photos of her tie-dyes (which came
- [Of celebrations, chocolates, and culinary adventures](https://tienchiu.com/2016/07/of-celebrations-chocolates-and-culinary-adventures/) - Last Wednesday was my birthday, and B.'s mom was in town to help us celebrate! So we started the celebration by going to Calafia Cafe, our favorite restaurant. How favorite? Well, the staff all know us, we're good friends with the hostess, and I bring them chocolates once a year. Yes, that favorite! So it
- [Complexity, Creating Craft, and charity causes](https://tienchiu.com/2016/06/complexity-creating-craft-and-charity-causes/) - Pardon the silence, but last weekend was Complex Weavers Seminars, and oh my, what a party that was! I slept only six hours a night because there were so many interesting things going on - seminars, study group meetings, social events, the Silent Auction, and of course, Complexity, Complex Weavers' biennial juried show. I'm pleased
- [A visit to Schacht Spindle Co.](https://tienchiu.com/2016/06/a-visit-to-schacht-spindle-co/) - I couldn't possibly have left Colorado without a visit to Schacht Spindle Co, which is the biggest U.S. manufacturer of weaving and spinning equipment. So my friend Alison and I went for a factory tour. We started at the beginning: with wood. Schacht buys wood by the semi-truckload, then lets it acclimate in this area
- [Estes Park](https://tienchiu.com/2016/06/estes-park/) - I've been visiting my friend Alison for the past week. She lives near Denver, and about an hour's drive from Estes Park, so we went up to the Estes Park Fiber Festival this past weekend. The first thing I discovered was that Colorado is not California. Surprise! It rains in Colorado! In June! T'aint natural,
- [Logos again](https://tienchiu.com/2016/06/logos-again/) - I've developed the product and launch plans for my new business, and am getting ready to put the website together. Which means I need to finalize my logo! I've been playing with colors, and settled on blue/orange as the most visually powerful combination. However, I'm worried that these colors no longer communicate "craft". So here
- [Labyrinth](https://tienchiu.com/2016/06/labyrinth/) - I've been working on a new idea, about being stuck in a maze of mental illness. The labyrinth idea is derived from a photo a Facebook friend posted on my timeline. Here's an embedded version of the photo (click to see the full post - I think you have to be logged into FB to
- [Logo](https://tienchiu.com/2016/06/logo/) - I've been plowing ahead on my new business website, where I'll be teaching online classes to help people master their craft - go from beginner to professional-quality work through the creative process and exercises that I outline in the book. So far I've got an outline of the content I want, and a basic Wordpress
- [Finished "Bipolar Prison"!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/finished-bipolar-prison/) - I finished padding and lining "Bipolar Prison" yesterday! Here it is: I really like the way the padding emphasizes the bars and the face. The only thing that I'm not totally happy about is the wonkiness of the edges all around. I'm going to try steam-blocking it sometime this week, to see if I can
- [On-Boarding](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/on-boarding/) - I'm pleased (and honored!) to say that I have joined the Board of Directors for the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles! I'm looking forward to helping the Museum over the course of my term. (We are also looking for other people to join the Board, so if you're Bay-Area local and interested in
- [Some thoughts on fear and writing](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/some-thoughts-on-fear-and-writing/) - Someone asked me the other day whether I was nervous about putting myself publicly forth as writing a book - putting it on my Facebook profile page, in my email signature, on my website, and so forth. Especially when the book hasn't even been written yet! The short answer is of course yes! in fact
- [More bipolar art, book business cards](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/more-bipolar-art-book-business-cards/) - In between studying up on blog business stuff, I've been working on some sketches for more art about bipolar disorder. Here's this morning's sketch: It's just a sketch at the moment, but I like it a lot, and will be working to develop it into a full-fledged piece over the next few days. It has
- [Next weaving project](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/next-weaving-project/) - On a much more lighthearted note...I've started planning my next weaving project. This will be another look at bipolar disorder, but a more humorous one. It's based on this sketchbook entry from March: The working title is "I'm Fine. How are you?", and of course it's all about trying to look normal when you're really
- [Feel the fear. Do it anyway.](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/feel-the-fear-do-it-anyway/) - I've been grappling with an unaccustomed emotion over the last few weeks: fear. Not anxiety, not nervousness - I'm good at both of those - but real, visceral fear. Why? Well, one of the projects I haven't been talking about is how to make an income. While I can get through the end of the
- [Proofs, publicity, and creative challenges](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/proofs-publicity-and-creative-challenges/) - I got the proofs back from the publisher yesterday! This is the fully designed, laid-out version of the book. In theory, this is exactly how the book will look when it's published. In practice, though, I have a few corrections... Fortunately, most of these corrections are easy fixes: italics missing here, a page or two
- [Finished weaving "Bipolar Prison"!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/finished-weaving-bipolar-prison/) - I finished weaving "Bipolar Prison" this morning, and added some padding to the bars and face. There's still quite a bit of work to do, but I like it! Here is a shot of the piece as it currently stands: I decided to pad the bars and the face because I wanted them to stand
- [Gone, but not forgotten](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/gone-but-not-forgotten/) - Today would have been my mother's 77th birthday. Miss you, Ma. I hope that somewhere, your spirit is rising from the ashes.
- ["Bipolar Prison" progress](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/bipolar-prison-progress/) - I'm pleased to say that I have broken the logjam on the "Bipolar Prison" piece! I finished threading earlier this week, spent yesterday sleying like a demon, and am now happily debugging the warp. There are quite a few errors in the threading and sleying, so I expected to spend up to a week debugging,
- [Wow! Thank you!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/05/wow-thank-you/) - I've been bowled over by demand for the book! I've sold quite a few copies through my website already, and broke the top 100 in an Amazon category! Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered! And please keep spreading the word. (I neglected to mention earlier that pre-orders are helpful for authors - publishers often decide
- [Now available for pre-order!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/04/now-available-for-pre-order/) - I am pleased to announce that my book, Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work is (finally!) available for pre-order! $29.99 + $6.50 s/h (w/in USA)[wp_cart_button name="Master Your Craft" price="36.49"] Pre-order now! Pre-order now and you will receive a signed copy via Priority Mail once the book is published! (Please let
- [Procion MX dye samples](https://tienchiu.com/2016/04/procion-mx-dye-samples/) - One of the blessings of taking time off is that I can catch up on creative infrastructure projects. These projects provide the foundation for creative work, but are time-consuming and distinctly unglamorous. When I'm working full-time, they compete directly with time in the studio, so I generally don't do them. But since I have more
- [Facelift!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/04/facelift/) - I'm happy to announce that my website has gotten a serious facelift! I've spent the last five days working nonstop on the new look. I love it, and I hope you will, too. For those of you who don't read the blog on my website, here's the original homepage: While there were quite a few
- [Ocean Sunset II](https://tienchiu.com/2009/09/ocean-sunset-ii/) - This shawl is created using a knitted blank and a warp dyed in 29 colors. Knitted blanks are an interesting concept taught to me by Nancy Roberts of Machine Knitting to Dye For. You knit up a rectangular piece of fabric, dye it, and then unravel it and reuse the yarn. Using this technique you can get gradual color changes WITHOUT having to dye a zillion skeins, which is exactly what I did!
- [Lava Flow](https://tienchiu.com/2010/02/lava-flow/) - The Handwoven Magazine "Not Just for Socks" reader challenge inspired this shawl, a collapse weave in two different sock yarns. I was rummaging through my stash of sock yarns for the contest, and found some Cascade Fixation, an elastic sock yarn with a crinkled appearance that reminded me of cooled lava. This, in turn, brought to mind my trip to Hawaii and the beautiful rivulets of fire in the lava flows there. So I set out to recreate the beauty of flowing lava, fiery ruffles against crinkly black stone, flecked with fire.
- [Kodachrome Jacket](https://tienchiu.com/2011/05/kodachrome-jacket/) - Kodachrome was my response to the Handwoven Garment Challenge issued in early 2011. A fiesta of color, it was also my response to spending a year weaving and sewing an all-white wedding dress!
- [wedding dress](https://tienchiu.com/2010/04/wedding-dress/) - This wedding ensemble took one year and over 1000 hours of work to complete. I not only designed and wove the fabric, but also designed and sewed the dress myself, with help from Sharon Bell. There are three fabrics in this wedding ensemble - an eternity knot pattern, a Chinese double-happiness character pattern (the double-happiness character signifies a happy marriage), and a three-strand Celtic braid pattern. Together they symbolize a wish for eternal happiness in marriage!
- [The Loss of the Creature](https://tienchiu.com/2009/10/the-loss-of-the-creature/) - An essay about how your expectations of something can color your experience of it. A tribute to Walker Percy's essay of the same name, which I first read my senior year in college, and has profoundly affected my thinking ever since. (I'm no longer vegetarian, though.)
- [Loot and lucre](https://tienchiu.com/2016/04/loot-and-lucre/) - I went to CNCH (the Conference of Northern California Handweavers) over the weekend, and had a wonderful time meeting old friends and making new ones, strolling through the galleries and marketplace, and taking a spinning class with Gwen Powell. And I came home with two prizes! My musk ox scarf won second place in its
- [Keeping momentum](https://tienchiu.com/2016/04/keeping-momentum/) - The last few days have been spent in a glacial and seemingly futile struggle to get my TC-2 jacquard loom threaded. Threading the TC-2 is not easy, even with a simple warp. With three warps threaded off three sets of lease sticks, the word "nightmare" seems appropriate. It's also very slow. So when I lost
- [More art about bipolar disorder](https://tienchiu.com/2016/03/more-art-about-bipolar-disorder/) - I've started brainstorming and refining more concept sketches for pieces about living with bipolar disorder. Here's my favorite so far, tentatively titled, "I'm Fine. How Are You?" The face will be three-dimensional - a layer of skin-colored cloth stretched out over a mask and then cut away to reveal strips of red and blue chaos
- [Extreme Makeover](https://tienchiu.com/2016/03/extreme-makeover-2/) - Extreme Makeover: Studio is complete! I have finished the Herculean task of reorganizing and cleaning both my indoor studio and the garage studios. This involved moving over 90% of each room's contents, literally a ton of stuff. Here are the "before" and "after" photos of the garage: The indoor studio also got a serious
- [What you see isn't what you get](https://tienchiu.com/2016/03/what-you-see-isnt-what-you-get/) - One of the challenges of textile design, especially jacquard design, is that your initial sketch is very likely going to be in another medium - pencil, paint, or perhaps a digital image. Except in very limited circumstances, designing is not done at the loom. So what's the problem with that? Well, every medium "thinks" differently.
- [Juried into Convergence!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/03/juried-into-convergence/) - I've just received word that "Goodbye, Ma II" (the phoenix) and "The Tao of Cats" (the cat placemats) have been juried into HGA Convergence's Mixed Bag exhibit. So if you're going to Convergence, stop by the exhibit and see them!
- [Studio and shuttles](https://tienchiu.com/2016/03/studio-and-shuttles/) - I've spent the last two days reorganizing my studio, a Herculean task that is nowhere near complete. Here's a "before" photo, to illustrate what I mean: If you are appalled by this, so am I; I'd let things slide for way too long. So I shoveled the mess into four giant plastic tubs and got
- [New warp + new studio](https://tienchiu.com/2016/03/new-warp-new-studio/) - I've been relatively silent the last week or so because I've been working on the new warp! It's a long and tedious process, but I've re-wound and re-dyed both warps, and have started putting them onto the loom. This time things are going better, albeit slowly - it takes over 20 minutes to wind a
- [Tools for the drawing-impaired](https://tienchiu.com/2016/03/tools-for-the-drawing-impaired/) - I don't have much drawing skill. This can be a serious handicap, since without skills it's difficult and time-consuming create a design sketch - even at a crude level, it takes many iterations for me to figure things out. However, I've discovered that there are tons of tools to help. Here are a few of
- [Calculated risks](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/calculated-risks/) - Yesterday I discovered that the 20-yard warp I'd spent the last week making was tangled beyond salvation. Ten pounds of yarn and 20-30 working hours, down the drain. And I'll have to order more yarn to make another go at this. But am I kicking myself for it? No. Many of the things I do
- [Looking for new opportunities (paid or volunteer)](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/looking-for-new-opportunities-paid-or-volunteer/) - Having taken several months off, I'm starting to think about what to do next. So I'm looking for interesting opportunities outside of high-tech. And, dear blog reader, I am hoping for your help. I want to talk to interesting people doing interesting things, particularly if they might lead to a paid position. (I am open
- [New warp](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/new-warp/) - I've been waffling for the last few weeks over the next warp. My designs are still evolving, which means rapid changes to the required setup. But once your warp is on, you're committed - for the next few months, until it's done, that part of the design is fixed. So I have been going around
- [Ice dyeing](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/ice-dyeing/) - I've spent the last several days experimenting with ice dyeing. I had planned to set up the loom for triple weave, using two layers of ice-dyed cotton warp and one layer of white wool warp. But since I hadn't ice-dyed before, I decided to experiment with it before dyeing a long warp. To ice dye
- [Bipolar Prison sketch, near-final](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/bipolar-prison-sketch-near-final/) - I finished my near-final sketch for the piece "Bipolar Prison" this morning: Next step is to convert it to an image that Arahweave (my jacquard weaving software) can process. This is decidedly nontrivial, since "black" in this image actually converts into twelve different weave structures, red/orange/yellow convert to seven weave structures, and blue/purple/green to another
- [Hot Couture 2016](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/hot-couture-2016/) - Yesterday I went to see "Hot Couture" at The Crucible. The Crucible is a nonprofit craft school specializing in "industrial arts and crafts" - particularly anything requiring fire (blacksmithing, jewelry-making, glassworking). So, of course, "Hot Couture 2016" was not just a wildly impressive fashion show, but a joyous, thunderous celebration of fire and light. Here
- [Photos, phoenixes, and placemats](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/photos-phoenixes-and-placemats/) - Lieven came over last week to do the "official" photo shoot for my show entries, and I got the final shots a few days later. They're beautiful! Here are the finished cat placemats (I completed them late so I shot them myself): And here are the two phoenixes, both full photos and detail shots. I
- [More ideas for new work](https://tienchiu.com/2016/02/more-ideas-for-new-work/) - I've been frantically prepping show entries for the last week or so, but yesterday I got back to my sketchbook and began sketching up ideas for another piece about bipolar disorder. I've arrived at an image that I like, and I thought I'd share it with you. The tentative title for this piece is "Bipolar
- [Phoenix #4 complete!](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/phoenix-4-complete/) - I blitzed through Phoenix #4 in just three days! On Day One, I skeined, dyed, and dried four colors of weft yarn, and wound the skeins onto cones and thence to pirns. I also fixed the erroneous warp section that felled the third phoenix. On Day 2, I got up early, scampered over to the
- [Phoenix re-do (at lightning speed)](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/phoenix-re-do-at-lightning-speed/) - About 3/4 of the way through phoenix #3, I happened to look at the piece sideways, at a shallow angle to the cloth. To my horror, there was a clearly visible stripe through the black background! Seen from the front, it was invisible (which is how I missed it while weaving), but from the side,
- [Spiffy switches](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/spiffy-switches/) - I've been fighting various ergonomic issues with weaving on the TC-2, which B. has neatly solved for me by putting a pair of switches on the beater, like so: Because the activation levers on both switches are small, B. epoxied them to small wooden paddles. The switches are attached to spring clamps, which are clamped
- [New design - "By a Thread: Living with Bipolar Disorder"](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/new-design-by-a-thread-living-with-bipolar-disorder/) - After a week or so of doodling, I've sketched out a design for my next piece. It's still in its nascent stages, but I think it's got enough potential to develop further, and since I still have to weave off the current warp, I've got plenty of time to work on it. Here it is:
- [Studying art history](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/studying-art-history/) - It all started so innocently! I decided to read through some art criticism books so I could get a better sense of the art world and what other artists have done, especially in fiber arts. So I started Arthur C. Danto's What Art Is and Elissa Auther's String, Felt, Thread. A few pages in, though,
- [Sketchbook](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/sketchbook/) - One of my goals for 2016 was to start keeping a sketchbook, spending half an hour a day or so writing down ideas, capturing inspirational photos, brainstorming ideas for new work. The result has been a collection of half-formed ideas, scribbled-on photos, and terrible sketches of designs that don't work at all. In other words,
- [The subtleties of weaving](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/the-subtleties-of-weaving/) - I finished weaving the second phoenix yesterday - 4800+ picks in just three days! That probably doesn't sound like much, but it translates to three hours a day of intense concentration. I had to fight through a number of technical problems, too. Towards the end, I had to replace one entire section of sixteen threads,
- [Weaving complications](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/weaving-complications/) - The last few days have been an exercise in frustration. I started weaving the second phoenix yesterday. A few inches into it, I realized that some threads were not lifting as they should...which meant something was wrong. I tried gently loosening the pistons on the errant threads, but then others started sticking. After some diagnostic
- [Resources for handwoven fabric design](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/resources-for-handwoven-fabric-design/) - (I wrote this article for the Designing Fabrics Study Group as part of the 2015 article exchange. I hope this will be helpful for weavers interested in designing their own fabric!) Here are the books on fabric design that I've found most useful. Color Color Works, by Deb Menz, is my go-to reference for color.
- [Yin-yang cat place mats](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/yin-yang-cat-place-mats/) - I'm itching to get this 25-yard warp off the loom, so I've been plotting projects to use up some of it. We don't really have enough place mats, and we certainly don't have handwoven napkins, so I doodled up this place mat design using clip art licensed for noncommercial use: While they're not going to
- [Fire and water: phoenixes and sea turtles](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/fire-and-water-phoenixes-and-sea-turtles/) - After testing out a ton of embellishments on the phoenix, I think I've decided that less is more. The piece is really about the free flow of color and the sense of movement, especially in the tail. Embroidery destroys the organic feel and the subtle shading by adding sharply focused lines. In the head, that's
- [My inheritance](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/my-inheritance/) - I sorted through my mother's craft stash earlier this week, identifying what I wanted to take and what was best left to my brother. I wound up deciding to take about 50 pounds of beads - mostly seed beads, but also some larger Murano and faux-Murano glass beads. I also chose a few of her
- [Testing embellishments](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/testing-embellishments/) - I'm traveling at the moment, but have found some time to work on the phoenix. I've been testing embellishments - mostly on the head, as that's the most important part. Here's what I've done so far: most of the crest feathers, the beak, and a little bit of the head. If you compare it to
- [Embellishments](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/embellishments/) - I'm heading off to the airport in a few hours, visiting family for two weeks. The phoenix is accompanying me, so I can work on embellishments while I'm traveling. In fact, it has its own suitcase! as there is a lot to bring: the phoenix, the sample version, the embellishments, the scroll frame on which
- [Finished phoenix!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/finished-phoenix/) - I wove like a madwoman yesterday - over 3,000 picks! and finished the phoenix just before dinner. I wet-finished it after dinner, dried it overnight, and voila! It is gorgeous - the photo really doesn't do it justice. What looks like dull brown in the photo is actually black speckled with brilliant reds and oranges.
- [Partway done](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/partway-done/) - I wove about 2,000 picks yesterday, which got me through the interminable (but necessary) hem allowance, plus about 1/3 of the image: It's looking good! It looks a bit blurry and unfocused, though. Partly that's the design, which is meant to be ghostly like flame, but it's also because getting sharp detail isn't really practical
- [The elusive circle](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/the-elusive-circle/) - I spent all day yesterday questing for the elusive circle. A perfect circle is something of a Holy Grail when it comes to weaving - both because it is difficult to do within the limitations of most looms, and because it implies incredibly precise and consistent weaving. Weaving on a floor loom is rectilinear -
- [Phoenix progress](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/phoenix-progress/) - I spent most of yesterday converting the phoenix image to a loom-ready draft. I initially tried the easy path - using Arahweave's automatic weave generator to convert the image, as Dusan suggested in the comments - but wasn't happy with the results, so I did a more detailed conversion on my own. I started by
- [Second draft of phoenix design](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/second-draft-of-phoenix-design/) - Here is the second draft of the digital painting for my mom's memorial piece: I think it's much better than the first draft I posted a few days ago: I thought you might be interested in what I changed and why, so here is a summary of the changes. First, I added the red-orange moon
- [Memorial piece](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/memorial-piece/) - I've started work on the memorial piece for my mother. Here is the first draft of the digital painting: It is still missing some elements, like the cremation urn the phoenix is rising from. (Well, you knew it had to be phoenixes, didn't you? Besides, a fiery bird catches the brightness of her spark
- [Matelassé horses](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/matelasse-horses/) - After a very long hiatus, I am finally back to weaving! I've decided to start with some basic designs, to help me learn the software and understand jacquard design. So I started with this horse design, a piece of clipart from Dover's Chinese Cut-Paper Designs: Because the warp is fairly wide, I decided to repeat
- [December goals](https://tienchiu.com/2015/12/december-goals/) - Now that chocolate season is finally over, I'm working on my goals for the month of December. My original objective was to kick back and relax for a month. That, unsurprisingly, lasted exactly one day - I guess I'm just not that kind of gal! :-) Broadly speaking, I have five major goals for my
- [128 pounds, 11 ounces](https://tienchiu.com/2015/11/128-pounds-11-ounces/) - This was almost a record year for the chocolate factory! Four helpers and I made 110.8 pounds of first-quality chocolates, and 17.9 pounds of cosmetically-challenged "seconds". Many thanks to Susan, Chris, Allegra, and Edie - your assistance was essential. Here are some photos of the finished chocolates: If you've wondered what 128 pounds of chocolates
- [Presenting the 2015 fall collection](https://tienchiu.com/2015/11/presenting-the-2015-fall-collection/) - The main change to this year's lineup was the addition of three caramel flavors: rosemary thyme caramel, coffee cardamom caramel, cinnamon honey caramel. Also new for this year were the strawberry-rose geranium fruit jelly, chocolate orange spice fudge (made with cinnamon and cloves), the passion fruit ganache, and the lime ganache. All in all, an
- [All chocolates are claimed!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/11/all-chocolates-are-claimed/) - Thank you - together we raised $1000 for the American Textile History Museum. I hope everyone who donated enjoys the chocolates next week!
- [A second chance at chocolates!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/11/a-second-chance-at-chocolates/) - UPDATE: All the chocolates have been claimed. Thanks for helping support the American Textile History Museum! The American Textile History Museum has announced an emergency fundraising appeal. Due to lack of funding, they will be forced to close their exhibits starting January 1, and are asking for funds to help them reshape the museum so
- [Taking a breather](https://tienchiu.com/2015/11/taking-a-breather/) - I've been chocolatiering nonstop for the past week, trying to catch up from my time away. I'm pleased to say that, with considerable help from two friends, I'm finally back on schedule. Here's the current tally: Candied bergamot peel dipped in chocolate Candied grapefruit peel with rose geranium syrup, dipped in chocolate Candied yuzu peel,
- [The show goes on](https://tienchiu.com/2015/11/the-show-goes-on/) - I flew back to California on Wednesday, and promptly collapsed into bed and mostly slept for two days. After that I came down with a cold, which (fortunately!) has remained a mild one - probably because I've continued to spend most of my time sleeping. So not much has happened in the past week, beyond
- [My mother's memorial service](https://tienchiu.com/2015/11/my-mothers-memorial-service/) - My mother's memorial service was yesterday, and it went as well as we had hoped. Over 150 people came to pay their respects, and the service lasted over two hours because so many people wanted to come up and share their memories of my mother. She had wanted her funeral to be a time of
- [On hiatus](https://tienchiu.com/2015/10/on-hiatus/) - I got word this morning that my mother had passed. It was quite unexpected, but it sounds like she died peacefully and without suffering. I'm glad for that, as well as the fact that she kept her vigor and intellectual clarity to the very end, but I will miss her tremendously. I'm on a plane
- [Chrysalis](https://tienchiu.com/2015/10/chrysalis/) - Tomorrow marks the beginning of a tectonic life shift. Google/Skybox and I are parting ways, and I intend to take a few months off before deciding on a new career direction. High-tech project management, while lucrative, was devouring my soul. After twenty years, I feel done with that. But what to do next? That's more
- [Celebrating nine years of weaving!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/10/celebrating-nine-years-of-weaving/) - Today is my weaving birthday! Nine years ago today, I brought home an 8-shaft Baby Wolf, and my weaving journey began. (Blog post here, if you want to dive back into the archives.) What a voyage it's been! Lest you think that design talent is inborn, here is one of my first pieces: While it's
- [Preparing to launch](https://tienchiu.com/2015/10/preparing-to-launch/) - Having (mostly) debugged the loom, I'm starting work on my first project, the rendition of the SkySat-2 launch photo (a gift for the former CEO of Skybox). Here's the original photo: Since it was a bit dark, I asked my photographer friend Lieven if he could lighten it up a bit. He obliged with this
- [Some thoughts on troubleshooting](https://tienchiu.com/2015/10/some-thoughts-on-troubleshooting/) - I have now debugged all the heddles (cross fingers that they keep working!). I've gone from this: to this: Along the way, I've figured out how to replace stuck valves, malfunctioning pistons, and bent heddles. And, more importantly, how to diagnose and fix each. Tronrud Engineering provided excellent documentation, which really helps! There are a
- [Debugging](https://tienchiu.com/2015/10/debugging-2/) - I've finished warping Amazing Grace - threaded, sleyed, tied on, header woven. Now I'm on to debugging - fixing both my own mistakes and any malfunctioning heddles. Here's where I finished last night: Because the full warp is very dense, I'm debugging using a double weave draft - two layers of 2/2 twill. It's a
- [Two beautiful things](https://tienchiu.com/2015/10/two-beautiful-things/) - What could be more beautiful than 138 pounds of chocolate? Each sack is 3 kg (6.6 pounds) of chocolate, for a total of 63 kg, or 138 lbs. I was struggling to convey the sheer mass of the chocolate, as the bags don't really give a sense of scale. Fritz graciously volunteered to be added
- [Developing a design vocabulary](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/developing-a-design-vocabulary/) - Developing a repertoire of techniques and materials enables you to create a vocabulary for design.
- [Halfway threaded!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/halfway-threaded/) - I've doubled my threading speed over the last few days, mostly by paying close attention to the threading process. I'm not going into the gory details, but the bottom line is that I'm now threading at 3.3 heddles/minute, exactly double the rate at which I started. I'm hoping to keep improving, too. Here's where I
- [Focusing on process, not end result](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/focusing-on-process-not-end-result/) - I've spent the last few days learning how to thread Amazing Grace. It sounds simple - the thread goes through the heddle eye, right? What's so complicated about that? Plenty, actually. To begin with, the heddles are 36" long and secured by long, flexible springs at the bottom; this makes them easy to tangle. Second,
- [Cat-iversary #2](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/cat-iversary-2/) - Yesterday we celebrated our cat-iversary - two years with the inestimable Tigress and Fritz! All the way from here: to adorable teenagers: and finally to the wonderful adults they are today: Looking forward to many more years with our fabulous cats!
- [Beginnings](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/beginnings/) - Shortly after returning home, I was struck down by a nasty cold, which floored me pretty much all week. But I've made progress nonetheless: I wound two 880-thread, 25-yard warps, and, with considerable help from my friend Pat, beamed both of them onto the loom. Here's what it looked like partway through the first warp:
- [The 2015 Schiffer Author Picnic](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/the-2015-schiffer-author-picnic/) - I had fun at Schiffer's Author Picnic! Because of a delayed flight, I only made it to half the seminars, but I did meet the Schiffer team, and got most of my numerous questions answered. And I got to meet Sandra, my editor! Here's a picture of us: I got to go on a tour
- [Off to the Schiffer Books Author Picnic!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/off-to-the-schiffer-books-author-picnic/) - Schiffer Books is having its annual Author Picnic this weekend, and I'm flying out for the occasion. They're offering a bunch of useful seminars tomorrow, and then Saturday is the picnic. So I'm in San Francisco International Airport right now, waiting for my plane to Philadelphia. From there I'll drive to Atglen - where Schiffer
- [Hello, world!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/hello-world-4/) - Yesterday I got Grace to say "Hello World!" It took about six hours to finish threading, debug, and weave off her first warp, but here she is, loud and clear: There are still a few details to work out, visible as defects in the weaving - but she is up and working!! Here are some
- [Please welcome Amazing Grace!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/please-welcome-amazing-grace/) - Here she is, in all her glory! Seven people (me, B., and five friends) joined together yesterday and spent six hours assembling her. My friend Dave led the assembly - he's expert in mechanical engineering as well as electronics, and had read the manual backwards and forwards in preparation. Here are photos of the assembly
- [Amazing Grace has arrived!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/amazing-grace-has-arrived/) - I finally lost my patience with the freight truckers and hired a moving company to get my loom. Grace arrived in style, with an entire truck to herself, accompanied by three burly guys. And they had the sense to bring a truck with an enormous liftgate! Here's the debutante making her grand entry, in an
- [So close...and yet so far.](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/so-close-and-yet-so-far/) - That, dear ones, is Amazing Grace, nestled snugly away in her packaging. (Which appears to be somewhat the worse for wear...I hope she's happy and undamaged.) You'll notice, however, that there are no thrilling photos of her in the garage. That's because this picture was taken about two seconds before the driver realized that she
- [Someday my loom will come...](https://tienchiu.com/2015/09/someday-my-loom-will-come/) - For those who were wondering, Grace has not yet arrived...we've been having problems with getting her delivered. You see, she's a big girl...her pallet measures 63"x64", which means it doesn't fit on a standard truck liftgate. And, it turns out, breaking down the pallet into boxes wouldn't help, as the individual pieces are still too
- [Time to scramble!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/08/time-to-scramble/) - Amazing Grace is arriving early! I got a phone call yesterday telling me that the loom was en route from Los Angeles to Oakland, and would likely be delivered to my doorstep by the end of the week. Yay! Of course, that launched a mad scramble to prepare. Amazing Grace, while a delightful bundle of
- [Amazing Grace](https://tienchiu.com/2015/08/amazing-grace/) - After much deliberation, I've decided to name the TC-2 "Amazing Grace", after Rear Admiral Grace Hopper. It's appropriate on many levels. First, Grace Hopper was a singularly accomplished mathematician and computer scientist. She wrote the first working compiler, was tremendously influential in the development of COBOL (one of the most popular early programming languages), and
- [Phoenixes in space!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/08/phoenixes-in-space/) - I've been playing with a few more ideas the past week - so far the best is a ghostly phoenix rising up from a giant black hole. Here's the photo that inspired the sketch (made by the federal government (NASA) and thus not subject to copyright): This offered some wonderful possibilities. The phoenix could rise
- [Concept sketch](https://tienchiu.com/2015/08/concept-sketch/) - I'm working up concept sketches for my next piece. Technically, there are two pieces in queue ahead of it, but they are relatively mechanical - weaving a project directly from a photo. Not very original, but appropriate gifts to the people who made it possible for me to buy and weave on a jacquard loom.
- [Preparing for the TC-2](https://tienchiu.com/2015/08/preparing-for-the-tc-2/) - Now that the digital painting class is over, we're starting preparations for the TC-2 (my incoming jacquard loom). According to the shipping manifest, it should arrive in the port of San Francisco in about two and a half weeks (August 25); it will probably take 1-3 more days to reach my door. So - just
- [Sent the book to the publisher!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/08/sent-the-book-to-the-publisher/) - Yesterday I packed the manuscript off to the publisher, one day before the August 1st deadline. It's a wonderful feeling to have it turned in! Now the ball is in Schiffer's hands, and I can relax for a few weeks. But the process is far from over. Not even close. After the book is turned
- [Finished my digital painting class!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/finished-my-digital-painting-class/) - Yesterday I finished and turned in the final project for my digital painting class. Remember the seascape with glowing coral? Well, it made a right angle turn and turned into a dragon's cave. No, really! The finished painting looks like this: Now how, you might ask, did I get to the dragon's cave from this
- [Value sketches](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/value-sketches/) - I've diligently been working on my digital painting homework, and have revised the initial sketch to a much stronger one. I've also mapped out the values (lightness/darkness) of each feature, so I have some idea of how the finished painting will "read". I thought you might find my reasoning for the revisions interesting, so here
- [Digital painting, process and progress](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/digital-painting-process-and-progress/) - Today I turned in the third major project in my digital painting class, the Technical Challenge. This challenge was to draw nine spheres, five in specified materials (wood, metal, rock, glass, fur), four in materials of your choice. Here's what I painted: I'm really proud of my work on this assignment. I think I did
- [Ready for the publisher, two weeks early!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/ready-for-the-publisher-two-weeks-early/) - The manuscript is ready for the publisher! I'm delighted. 220 pages of manuscript have been reformatted per the publisher's requirements, 136 images are numbered and organized and sitting neatly in a folder, and the captions are in a separate file, as requested. I've answered the marketing survey, written various lengths of author bio and book
- [T minus 19 days](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/t-minus-19-days/) - The book is due to the publisher in the early morning of August 3 - 19 days from now. I'm pleased to say, though, that I am making excellent progress, and expect to be able to turn in the manuscript and marketing materials on time. (Which is a good thing, considering that one major section
- [TC-2, ready to ship](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/tc-2-ready-to-ship/) - Here's my TC-2, packed neatly into boxes and ready to begin the long voyage to my door. Also in the photo is Vibeke Vestby, the head of Digital Weaving Norway. Thank you, Vibeke!! I can't wait to get it on my doorstep, set up and working. :-)
- [Finished my digital painting!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/finished-my-digital-painting/) - I finished my digital painting last night, a couple hours before the midnight deadline. Here it is: It took me a total of about 15-20 hours to finish, and was quite a challenge! It would have taken me far longer if I'd been painting with traditional media, though, so I'm feeling good about my choice
- [My TC-2 is shipping today!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/my-tc-2-is-shipping-today/) - Today my TC-2 jacquard loom is scheduled to be shipped from Tronrud Engineering, aka Digital Weaving Norway. Here's a pic of my completed loom (the sides are off because it's being disassembled for shipping): Shipping was delayed by a week because Tronrud Engineering discovered a minor problem with three of the modules. They test each
- [Of bathtubs, books, and battle maidens](https://tienchiu.com/2015/07/of-bathtubs-books-and-battle-maidens/) - My digital painting class progresses, and our latest project is to paint a fantasy personal transport vehicle. We had to brainstorm ten ideas, then pick one to develop. Since then we've been working on developing the ideas into sketches, then creating value sketches to test out lighting, and are now working on the final painting.
- [On developing skills](https://tienchiu.com/2015/06/on-developing-skills/) - A friend remarked recently that he had been interested in oil painting, but was frustrated in his initial attempts. "What I created was never what I wanted, in my mind's eye," he said. And he gave up painting. I wrote back: Would it help you to know that this frustration is not only perfectly normal,
- [Chocolates are sold out!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/06/chocolates-are-sold-out/) - Wow! That was fast. Thirty boxes of chocolates were claimed in just 8 hours (a new record!). If you include matching funds, we raised over $6300 for the American Textile History Museum - thank you for your generosity!
- [Chocolates for Charity!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/06/chocolates-for-charity-2/) - UPDATE: CHOCOLATES ARE SOLD OUT!! Thirty boxes were claimed in just eight hours - a new record. Including matching funds, the campaign raised $6300 for the American Textile History Museum. Thank you for supporting the ATHM! Doing my annual Chocolates for Charity campaign a bit early this year, as the American Textile History Museum (this
- [Passionate about preserves](https://tienchiu.com/2015/06/passionate-about-preserves/) - I love making preserves - primarily, jams and marmalades. And during the summer, when cherries, peaches, strawberries, apricots, and tons of other luscious fruits are in full swing, I can never resist them. I eat them fresh, and I put them into preserves - even if there are other things I ought to be doing.
- [Digital painting success!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/06/digital-painting-success/) - My digital painting class is going really well! It's been a real challenge to keep up with it, since I have way less artistic experience than most of the students. But I've been plugging away at the exercises, and my first major project turned out fantastic! Here it is: A brief bit of salamander biology:
- [Five years of wedded bliss](https://tienchiu.com/2015/06/five-years-of-wedded-bliss/) - Today B. and I are celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary! It's hard to believe how the time's flown. And we are still very much in love. A special anniversary, of course, calls for a very special meal. We decided to celebrate one day early, at The Restaurant at Meadowood - a Michelin three-star restaurant in
- [The eyes have it](https://tienchiu.com/2015/06/the-eyes-have-it/) - My digital painting class is fantastic! Lesson #4 was painting eyes. And after an hour or two of work, I managed to turn out a pretty good one! This astonished me because I've never thought of myself as having any talent for art. I'm a scientist by training, my parents are scientists, and pretty much
- [Fantasy creatures](https://tienchiu.com/2015/06/fantasy-creatures/) - I'm really short on time right now, but I just had to share some of my digital painting class homework with you. Part of this week's assignment was to sketch five fantasy creatures that are plausible for their environment. While I still can't draw very well, my sense of humor seems to be as twisted
- [Sketches and spinning](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/sketches-and-spinning/) - I started my digital painting class earlier this week, and it's been quite enlightening. The first exercise was "basic" brushwork - a review for many students, but not for me! I learned more about Photoshop brushes in those three hours than in five years of using Photoshop for weave design. Hurray! Aside from the exercises,
- [Spinning out of control](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/spinning-out-of-control/) - I started this month with only two drop spindles: a Bosworth Midi 1.5 ounce spindle, and a super-lightweight, half-ounce Golding 2" ring spindle. Both were left over from my last jaunt into handspinning, over a decade ago. But then someone advised me that the Bosworth spindle was too heavy for what I was spinning. So
- [Seeking to understand design](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/seeking-to-understand-design/) - I wrote a lengthy essay as part of a discussion on a Caltech alumni mailing list, and thought some of you might find it interesting, so I've cleaned it up a bit and am posting it. It's a bit longer and more theoretical than most of my posts, but I hope you enjoy it. >
- [Working efficiently](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/working-efficiently/) - Probably the most common question I'm asked (about twice a week, on average :-) ) is whether I ever sleep. The answer is yes! I lose so much productivity when I'm tired that I am religious about getting 8-9 hours of sleep a night. (Lack of sleep can also trigger my bipolar disorder - another
- [Revisiting the long-forgotten](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/revisiting-the-long-forgotten/) - After 10+ years' hiatus, I've taken up another old interest of mine: handspinning. A week or two ago, I wandered down to my local yarn shop, Purlescence Yarns, because I had heard they were stocking weaving supplies. In particular, I had heard that they had a computer-driven Louet Megado, which startled me because that is
- [Paper arts](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/paper-arts/) - I dove into origami over the last few days, reading up on tessellation origami as well as origami sculpture. I even folded a model or two: The models are folded out of dampened watercolor paper. Unfortunately, I rapidly discovered a problem with that medium: it is attractive to cats. Very attractive. Here is Fritz, investigating
- [A ton of inspiration](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/a-ton-of-inspiration/) - Last week was a pretty quiet week, creatively speaking - right up until yesterday, when I innocently went up to San Francisco to see an exhibit, and got dumped into a huge vat of inspiration. The exhibit was one I'd wanted to see for quite some time - "High Style," a collection of couture dresses
- [A tale of three roses](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/a-tale-of-three-roses/) - I sketched two more roses over the weekend, and am pleased to say that my drawing skills are improving rapidly. I've developed an eye for light and shadows, and am starting to understand how light reflects off planes and curves. While it will be a long time before I can claim mastery, I'm doing pretty
- [Learning to draw: process and practice](https://tienchiu.com/2015/05/learning-to-draw-process-and-practice/) - I'm making a two-pronged attack on learning to draw. The first is physical: learning to manipulate pencil on paper to create a realistic-looking drawing. The second is process: understanding the steps to making a good drawing or digital painting. I hadn't realized that drawing a picture could be broken down into steps. Not having had
- [Arachne](https://tienchiu.com/2015/04/arachne/) - I got the rubber tarantula on Sunday and spent a few hours staging the photo. Here's the one I like best. (It's in black and white because we'll be drawing with graphite pencils, i.e. in monochrome.) And here are a few of the runners-up: I like the first one best because the angles are more
- [A crash course in drawing](https://tienchiu.com/2015/04/a-crash-course-in-drawing/) - I've decided that if I'm serious about designing my own jacquard patterns, I really must learn to draw. So, in my typical happy style, I've signed up for not one, not two, but three classes in drawing. The first is Drawing Foundations, a class in drawing with traditional media (i.e. pencil and paper), at Pacific
- [What would you do if you could do anything?](https://tienchiu.com/2015/04/what-would-you-do-if-you-could-do-anything/) - The soon-to-arrive jacquard loom and the design freedom it will give me is a little bewildering. I'm used to working within the limitations of a shaft loom, which means I can't do any sort of complex representative imagery. And I'm not all that interested in abstract designs. So for years and years, my focus has
- [The book is beta ready!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/04/the-book-is-beta-ready/) - Woot! I have finally gotten to a beta-ready manuscript of the book. That is, I've reached a point where I feel the writing and editing are almost done - that the topics are well-written, and in the correct order. And the phrasing is well-polished. So I have sent it out to a few select beta
- [Jacquard study](https://tienchiu.com/2015/04/jacquard-study/) - I've spent a good chunk of the last few days studying jacquard weaving. No pretty pictures yet, of course - the loom won't arrive for another four months! But it is becoming obvious to me that it will take serious study - a month or two at least - before I'm prepared to do any
- [Screen printed katazome paste](https://tienchiu.com/2015/04/screen-printed-katazome-paste/) - I hadn't planned to do more katazome, but some little section of my brain whispered, "Didn't John Marshall say you could screen print with katazome paste?" And I still had a cup or two of the katazome paste left, enough to do some experiments. So I did. Here are the results: If you click on
- [Just bought my dream loom!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/just-bought-my-dream-loom/) - Pinch me, someone! After almost two weeks of discussion with the manufacturer, I have purchased the loom of my dreams - something I'd wanted for years but never thought I'd be able to afford. I will soon be the proud owner of a TC-2 jacquard loom!! I'm both amazed and excited at the prospect. I've
- [Katazome play day](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/katazome-play-day/) - I've spent the last two and a half days working with katazome, the Japanese art of stenciled paste-resist dyeing. Friday I cooked up the paste, a mix of glutinous rice flour and powdered rice bran. Saturday, my friend Alfred and I pasted up some pieces - Alfred dipped his in an indigo vat, and I
- [A quicker way of carving stencils](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/a-quicker-way-of-carving-stencils/) - Things have been moving so fast the last two days, it's hard to know where to start! I've decided to have a play day on Saturday, doing more katazome with my friend Alfred. I thought it would be interesting to carve more stencils, but wasn't looking forward to spending hours hunched over a cutting mat.
- [Finished the qiviut scarf!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/finished-the-qiviut-scarf/) - I wove for about two hours yesterday, in half-hour intervals punctuated by lots of rest time in between. No ill effects today, so I think I can continue weaving with impunity. Hooray! I finished weaving the first qiviut scarf early this morning, twisted the fringe in the late morning/early afternoon, and have just wet-finished it
- [Beaded fringe samples](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/beaded-fringe-samples/) - I'm continuing to recover at a rapid pace - in fact, the physician's assistant was pleasantly shocked at how well I was doing post-surgery. I'm back on solid foods (hooray!) and basically pain-free, except for a little soreness at the incision sites. But I'm continuing to take it easy, staying in bed most of the
- [Qiviut scarves](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/qiviut-scarves/) - Yesterday I finished the edits on my musk ox design and started weaving the scarves. I wove one musk ox at a time (about 15 minutes of weaving), separated by a few hours of doing other things, so as not to aggravate things during recovery. But it seemed to be fine, so I wove two
- [Babe the Blue Musk Ox](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/babe-the-blue-musk-ox/) - Yesterday I got back to weaving - working gingerly, a few minutes at a time, stopping at any hint of soreness. But I am weaving! Here is what I wove yesterday: Being too lazy to wind new wefts, I used the sea-turtle wefts, so the musk oxen are blue against a very pale aqua background.
- [On the fringe](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/on-the-fringe/) - In between sleeping twelve hours a day, I've been working up samples of beaded fringe. It turned out that the beads I was using were too irregular to work well in fringe: one bead would be huge, then the next bead would be tiny. This made it impossible to get a neat netted fringe, and
- [Bouncing back](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/bouncing-back/) - Surgery was yesterday, and I'm pleased to say that I seem to be bouncing back nicely. I'm feeling alert and fairly energetic, and am already off painkillers! Thank goodness - I wasn't looking forward to being on opiates (they put me out like a light). I've even been walking around 5-10 minutes per waking hour,
- [Sea turtles and surgery](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/sea-turtles-and-surgery/) - Many thanks to all who commented on my sea-turtle dilemma! I posed the question in a couple of forums, and curiously, the answers were pretty much evenly divided between samples 1, 2, and 3 (with perhaps a slight favoring of 1 and 2). I took that as a sign that there were no wrong answers
- [Dyepot decisions](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/dyepot-decisions/) - I finished weaving the sea-turtle scarf yesterday evening, and ran a few tests in the dyepots this morning. Here are the results: Clockwise from top left, they are: (top left) Dyed in a very weak turquoise immersion dye bath, then scrunched up and overdyed with a slightly stronger solution of turquoise to produce a mottled
- [Sea turtle scarf](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/sea-turtle-scarf/) - The last few days have basically been about surgery prep and sea turtles. Surgery is Thursday, so I have been tying off loose ends. At work I finished a major project review on Friday; I still need to do some work for performance reviews and tie up a few loose ends, but that's about it.
- [The loom is fixed!!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/03/the-loom-is-fixed/) - Bob Kruger, the owner of AVL Looms, paid a house call this morning. He figured out the problem within half an hour, fixed it within another half hour, and then spent the next three hours inspecting and adjusting the loom. It's so well-tuned now that it practically sings! Here's the tune I was playing on
- [Sea turtles and spring cleaning](https://tienchiu.com/2015/02/sea-turtles-and-spring-cleaning/) - I decided to finish putting the new warp onto the loom this weekend. AVL is sending someone to fix the loom on Monday, and I thought it would be better to have a warp on the loom for troubleshooting purposes. So I finished threading the long-languishing sea-turtle warp, tied on, and wove my first row
- [Off to Seattle!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/02/off-to-seattle/) - The last week has been fairly quiet, partly because of my loom woes, but also because I've been busy writing and revising my programs for the Seattle Weavers Guild, where I'm lecturing tomorrow. The first is about the creative process in craft, drawn heavily from the book, of course. It's illustrated with a ton of
- [A plethora of pleasant packages](https://tienchiu.com/2015/02/a-plethora-of-pleasant-packages/) - Four delightful packages arrived on my doorstep this evening! I got a pair of sandals I'd ordered, six kilos of fine cotton/polyester yarn, and a package from Chocolate World (in Belgium) containing a pair of books both mouth-watering and revelatory: The first book, which is a large coffee-table book, contains nothing but luscious food porn.
- [My god, it's full of goats!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/02/my-god-its-full-of-goats/) - I gave B. a ride home from work yesterday, and on the way, I passed a hillside full of goats! I'm used to seeing the occasional goat or sheep in rural areas, but not thundering herds of goats, and not near industrial parks! But B. say they appear every year, brought in to trim the
- [Temptations](https://tienchiu.com/2015/02/temptations/) - The last week has been pretty quiet, creatively speaking - work has been busy and almost all my remaining time has been spent on the book. But I have made significant progress - interviewed four more artists, annotated three interviews, and rewrote one entire chapter! Not bad for one week, especially since much of my
- [Six month plan](https://tienchiu.com/2015/02/six-month-plan/) - Today marks exactly six months until the book is due to the publisher. Being a project manager, I would be remiss if I didn't put together some kind of plan, so here is mine: Finish the major edits by March 12. Right now there are still lots of notes to "Write example here!" and "Rewrite
- [The full manuscript!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/the-full-manuscript/) - I printed out the full manuscript for the very first time on Saturday. I feel like I should have it bronzed! I've now merged all the individual chapters into a single Word document, and have spent the last few days working on reformatting it so it can be navigated smoothly and reads well. In the
- [Restructuring complete!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/restructuring-complete/) - I finished setting up the structural analysis on Thursday morning, and spent all day Thursday reading and re-reading the book as it was laid out on the foam boards. I moved topics (and entire chapters!) around, added things, and deleted things until I was content with the flow of the book. I have now eliminated
- [Finished the rough draft of my book!!!](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/finished-the-rough-draft-of-my-book/) - I finished the rough draft yesterday morning!! WAHOO!! I spent an hour dancing around the room (of course!) Then I buckled down and got back to work. Finishing the rough draft is kind of like getting a black belt in karate. It doesn't mean you're done learning - it just means you've got the basics
- [Writing retreat, days 2 and 3](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/writing-retreat-days-2-and-3/) - I've been making good progress the last two days. On Monday, I wrote the chapter on project postmortems (the actual title is "Celebrations and Contemplations") and outlined the two remaining chapters. Today, I wrote the chapter on Growing as a Designer, and wrote the bare bones of the final chapter (advice for those who want
- [Writing retreat, Day One](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/writing-retreat-day-one/) - I put in a respectable amount of time on the book yesterday - six solid hours. About three hours of actual writing time, and three hours doing prep work for the next two chapters. I finished one chapter, wrote half of another chapter, and started arranging ideas and quotes for the final two chapters. Those
- [Writing retreat](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/writing-retreat/) - I got up this morning and drove four hours north to Fort Bragg, a small town on the California coast, a little north of Mendocino. Eventually I arrived at this lovely little place: It's just gorgeous, and was quite inexpensive, too. AirBNB for the win! I've already set up my laptop, printer, and second monitor
- [Sea turtle shawl](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/sea-turtle-shawl/) - I'm almost done with my placemats and table runner, and am starting to design other projects. In particular, I'm obsessed with sea turtles and strip piecing. The idea originated in the Handwoven editorial calendar for 2015-16, which details the themes for each issue. One theme is traditional handweaving, which got me to thinking about West
- [Card weaving](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/card-weaving-2/) - My writing retreat starts on Saturday, and because one can't write continuously for an entire day, I'm bringing along a few things to do with my hands. One is an inkle loom - with luck, the dragon inkle loom (if the maker can finish it in time), if not, then my little Ashford Inklette. The
- [Instant gratification](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/instant-gratification/) - I cut off the shadow weave warp on Saturday. The tiny pang of regret was immediately overwhelmed by glee over the next project - a set of six placemats plus a table runner in naturally colored 10/2 cotton. It's a modest warp, only 492 ends, in 10/2 cotton, and after spending several months on a
- [RavWriMo](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/ravelry-writing-month/) - As you may know, November is National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as NaNoWriMo. During NaNoWriMo, participants try to write an entire novel - 50,000 words - in just 30 days. Those who have participated say it's draining but also a lot of fun. And successful participants make a ton of progress on their writing!
- [What's on the looms](https://tienchiu.com/2015/01/whats-on-the-looms/) - I haven't participated in Meg's "A Day in the Life of Looms" for the past several years, usually because I forgot until a week later! But this year I actually remembered, so here is a snapshot: First, Emmy (the 40-shaft AVL). This is the shadow weave warp, which I am going to cut off as
- [More inklings](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/more-inklings/) - I finished the second warp on my inkle loom! I wove six designs from pages 40-41 of Anne Dixon's The Weaver's Inkle Pattern Directory. I started with pickup in a single color and then moved to two colors at once, as you can see below (the bookmarks are in chronological order, left to right): I'm
- [Give me your heddled masses](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/give-me-your-heddled-masses/) - We're now in Chicago, visiting B.'s family. I've been continuing to play with the inkle loom, among other projects. I put on a warp that alternates dark purple and white in the center - which turned out to be a major mistake, as doing pickup in dark purple threads is a real eye test. So
- [Feline interlude](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/feline-interlude/) - "But wait!" you say. "What's going on with Fritz and Tigress, who have been sadly absent for the last few posts?" Well, despite their pleas to be packed, we couldn't convince ourselves that they'd really enjoy being tossed around in luggage, or hauled from place to place. So we left them at home, and hired
- [Mom is a maker, too!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/mom-is-a-maker-too/) - I thought I'd take the opportunity to show off some of my mother's work. In addition to scrapbooking, beading, and Christmas ornament-making, she has also taken up kumihimo and lapidary. (Yes, it runs in the family - why do you ask? :-) ) Lately she's been making necklaces with beaded kumihimo braids and large pendant
- [Playing with a (more than) full deck](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/playing-with-a-more-than-full-deck/) - I was idly considering other things I could do with my mini inkle loom, and remembered that inkle looms can also be used for card weaving! So I went out looking for small card weaving decks. Then I stumbled across custom game manufacturer websites, and realized I could have my own deck printed! So I
- [Merry Xmas!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/merry-xmas/) - ...at least, that's what it says on my brand-new inkle-woven bookmark: It must be Christmas. Here's my mom's Christmas cactus, loudly proclaiming the season: But wait! It wouldn't be Christmas without a tree! Very true. Here's my mom's fabulous Christmas tree: I'm proud of Mom: every ornament on the tree is unique, handmade, and exquisitely
- [First inklings](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/first-inklings/) - We flew to Maryland today, and arrived uneventfully. Before we left, of course, there was the usual hectic packing, with heroic felines volunteering to help at every turn: I had a little bit of time before we left for the airport, so I started setting up the inkle loom. Of course, the ever-helpful felines had
- [Tjaps!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/tjaps/) - I got an email a week or so ago from Dharma Trading Company, letting me know that a shipment of tjaps had arrived! So I immediately dropped everything, went to the site, and spent the next twenty minutes paging through 400 beautiful designs. But what is a tjap, you ask? It's a copper stamp used
- [Embarrassing conversations](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/embarrassing-conversations/) - B. and I are leaving soon to go visit family - mine in Maryland, then his in Chicago. And so the inevitable ritual of panic begins. The conversation started about ten minutes after I wandered into Purlescence Yarns, my local yarn shop (which carries weaving stuff as well as knitting stuff, hooray!). In those ten
- [Cutting off](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/cutting-off-2/) - Work has been insanely busy, but I carved out a few hours on Saturday to try fixing the loom. B. and I tried quite a few adjustments and checked lots of things, but weren't able to figure out why shafts 36-40 are sporadically floating. At this point I'm thinking it may be related to the
- [Tsujigahana kimono](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/tsujigahana-kimono/) - I'm a big fan of Itchiku Kubota, who made fabulous kimono in the tsujigahana style. Tsujigahana combines shibori (tied-resist) dyeing with hand-painted motifs, usually flowers. Kubota took this method to jaw-dropping heights - so much so that his work is my personal inspiration. If I can make something as beautiful as his "Symphony of Light"
- [Restarting the engine](https://tienchiu.com/2014/12/restarting-the-engine/) - The last week has mostly been spent recovering from the chocolate maelstrom - physically, mentally, and studio-wise. I'm realizing that, much as I enjoy the four intense days of chocolatiering, my body is less enthusiastic about standing up 14 hours a day for four days straight. Next year I will either get in better shape
- [Presenting the 2014 fall collection](https://tienchiu.com/2014/11/presenting-the-2014-fall-collection/) - ...with thanks to my friend Lieven for the photography:
- [A hundred and sixteen pounds of chocolates](https://tienchiu.com/2014/11/a-hundred-and-sixteen-pounds-of-chocolates/) - Apologies for the radio silence! It has been a busy time in the chocolate factory. I've been chocolatiering twelve to fourteen hours a day for the last four days, so had no time to blog. But all came out wonderfully! Schedule-wise, we wound up pretty far behind on Wednesday and Thursday, due to a miscalculation
- [Citrus, caramels, and cats](https://tienchiu.com/2014/11/citrus-caramels-and-cats/) - After a rash of social engagements and writing another chapter of my book, I finally got back to chocolatiering this weekend. I spent most of Saturday in front of the stove, where I cooked nine batches of candy: two batches of jasmine tea/vanilla bean/orange blossom honey caramels lime ginger chile caramels English toffee raspberry fruit
- [The first twenty pounds are easy](https://tienchiu.com/2014/11/the-first-twenty-pounds-are-easy/) - Easy as fudge, in fact: I made four kinds of fudge and three kinds of caramels over the weekend, but one batch failed, so I wound up with six kinds. Let's start with the fudges: And then there were the salted lavender caramels: And the cranberry-orange caramels: Those still have the transfer sheets on them,
- [Halfway done...but just beginning](https://tienchiu.com/2014/11/halfway-done-but-just-beginning/) - This week has been incredibly productive, book-wise. I've drafted two and a half more chapters, bringing my total chapter count to seven and a half out of fifteen chapters. I'm halfway done with the rough draft of the book! Woo hoo hoo! That's the good news. The bad news is that the bulk of the
- [Down again, up again](https://tienchiu.com/2014/11/down-again-up-again/) - This past week has been pretty challenging. Tuesday we had a major review for my project at work, the culmination of several weeks' frenzied preparation. Thankfully, it went well! But the following day, I got smacked down by a nasty cold. (Thank goodness it didn't hit on review day! That would have been disastrous.) Since
- [Final flavor list](https://tienchiu.com/2014/11/final-flavor-list-2/) - I completed the flavor trials yesterday, with these seven flavors: This was a particularly great batch - four of the flavors made the cut and will appear in this year's boxes. Here are my tasting notes: The cranberry-vanilla-orange caramel was marvelous, and achieved one of my "Holy Grail" goals: get cranberry flavor to come through
- [New chocolate designs](https://tienchiu.com/2014/11/new-chocolate-designs/) - I realized yesterday that I may be able to fit more chocolates into a box than I had expected - 36 flavors instead of the 30-odd from previous years. This is the result of using better equipment. In prior years, I didn't have the confectionery guitar, so the chocolates were cut by hand. As a
- [Flavor trials, Part I](https://tienchiu.com/2014/10/flavor-trials-part-i/) - I trialed nine flavors over the weekend, seven of which wound up as full-fledged bonbons: Here's the set of flavors: Walnut-caramel gianduja with cinnamon milk chocolate ganache Cinnamon milk chocolate ganache pistachio ganache pear, sage, honey fruit jelly with honey ganache (dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate variations) Honey dark chocolate ganache pistachio/white chocolate gianduja
- [The opening shot of chocolate season](https://tienchiu.com/2014/10/the-opening-shot-of-chocolate-season/) - ...and could you ask for a better shot? Here are fifty-one kilograms (about a hundred and twelve pounds) of Valrhona white, milk, and dark chocolates, and another nine kilograms (about twenty pounds) of Valrhona cocoa. No girl could possibly ask for anything more. This weekend I am starting my flavor trials. Here are the top
- [Japanese textile treasures](https://tienchiu.com/2014/10/japanese-textile-treasures/) - Pardon the radio silence since my last post! Sunday and Monday I was at John Marshall's, Tuesday I spent recovering and doing laundry, and from Wednesday on I've been alternately buried in work stuff and book stuff. Both are in exciting phases. At work, my new project is still in the definition phase. Can't give
- [Dyeing with fresh indigo](https://tienchiu.com/2014/10/dyeing-with-fresh-indigo/) - I'm up in Covelo, where the three of us are studying katazome with John Marshall. But we've been doing a lot more than that! Since the katazome paste needs to cook for quite awhile, we spent a good chunk of yesterday playing with fresh indigo leaves from John's back yard. (Luxury!) Here is a photo
- [Heading off into the hinterlands](https://tienchiu.com/2014/10/heading-off-into-the-hinterlands/) - I'm leaving today for Covelo, a small town in the middle of rural Northern California, to spend three days studying katazome, the Japanese art of stenciled paste-resist dyeing, with John Marshall. I'm really looking forward to it! But Internet access and cell phone reception are spotty at best, so I may be out of touch
- [Starting the first draft](https://tienchiu.com/2014/10/starting-the-first-draft/) - I've now conducted ten interviews, and have seven transcripts back for review. That is a good chunk of material. So I am taking a day or two to figure out how the material I have so far fits into the existing chapter outline. I am also drafting a prototype chapter, testing ways to integrate the
- [Book planning (and interviews!)](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/book-planning-and-interviews/) - Major progress on the book front! I have now conducted seven interviews - three tapestry artists, three metal workers, and a bead embroidery teacher. Five more are scheduled in the coming week, and six other artisans have agreed to an interview but haven't been scheduled yet. This is keeping me quite busy, as you can
- [goldenrod shawl](https://tienchiu.com/2009/08/goldenrod-shawl/) - This shawl is network drafted on 16 shafts, and was woven on my Leclerc Diana. I love the color of the weft! deep gold is one of my favorite colors, and I carefully dyed the weft to bring up the gold in the silk as well.
- [Interview scheduling](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/interview-scheduling/) - I've been busy the last few days reaching out to potential interviewees for the book. At this point, I've conducted two interviews, and have eight more firmly scheduled. Four others are being scheduled, and six people haven't yet responded. So I have quite a week ahead of me! The fourteen people who have agreed to
- [Chocolates for Charity 2014](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/chocolates-for-charity-2014/) - UPDATE: All of this year's chocolates have been claimed. Thanks to all who donated! Yes, it's that time of year! I'm launching my "Chocolates for Charity" campaign, this year raising funds for the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. So if you'd like a box of my handmade chocolates in late November, just donate
- [Chocolates for Charity is over!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/chocolates-for-charity-is-over/) - That was fast! All twenty boxes have been claimed. Many thanks to all who donated.
- [Cat-iversary!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/cat-iversary/) - Yesterday we celebrated an entire year with Tigress and Fritz. All the way from here: to here: It's been a wonderful year, full of kittens (and cats) rampaging all through the house. Hopefully we will have many more! Book-wise, things are rapidly snowballing. I've conducted two interviews already, with two more scheduled for this week.
- [Interviews!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/interviews/) - So much has happened in the last few days that it's hard to know where to start! Book-wise, I was getting rather frustrated while waiting for the publisher to get back to me with some contacts to interview. Then it finally dawned on me (DUH!) that I didn't have to wait for the publisher to
- [Planning and re-planning](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/planning-and-re-planning/) - The last few days have been a grim struggle with the fine-threads warp. The threads were sticking together, so I sized it. Whereupon the sizing glued the threads together (as I should have anticipated). I spent a few days un-sticking the threads, but to no avail - they are still sticking together, and I don't
- [Finalized the book contract!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/finalized-the-book-contract/) - I had a phone call with my publisher today, and we finalized the terms of the contract. They're sending me an addendum today, and as soon as it arrives and I sign/return it, we'll be good to go! I'm super excited and can't wait to talk to an editor about how to proceed. The best
- [I have a publisher!!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/i-have-a-publisher/) - As you may recall, last week I shipped my book proposal off to Schiffer Publishing, who acknowledged receipt and said they'd get back to me "within a few days". Time passed, and I was just starting to wonder whether I shouldn't ping them again. And then - bam! on my doorstep, a Priority Mail package
- [Katazome madness](https://tienchiu.com/2014/09/katazome-madness/) - My friends Alfred and Carrie came over on Saturday, and we tried our hand at katazome, or Japanese stenciled paste-resist dyeing. I spent a day or two carving stencils for the katazome, the most ambitious of which was a paper-cut of a Chinese dragon (the original is out of a Dover book of Chinese paper-cuts).
- [Katazome dye day on Saturday](https://tienchiu.com/2014/08/katazome-dye-day-on-saturday/) - I've invited some friends over for a dye day on Saturday, and it looks like we'll be playing with katazome (Japanese paste-resist dyeing), shibori, and and an indigo vat. This will be intriguing since I have only very limited experience with any of the three methods. I still need to acquire a few materials for
- [Best in Show!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/08/best-in-show/) - I got notice yesterday that my Kodachrome Jacket won "Best In Show" at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair! That is super exciting, especially since I hadn't thought I'd won any prize at all. (If you missed Kodachrome the first time around, here's a pic.) So that was serious cause for happiness. I have
- [Studio floor plans](https://tienchiu.com/2014/08/studio-floor-plans/) - My left arm is healing up well, but it's been rather sore post-surgery, so I've been messing around on the computer, putting the final polish on the book proposal and working on studio floor plans. After a couple iterations, here are the two combinations I'm contemplating (each square of the grid is one foot): Of
- [T minus 18 months](https://tienchiu.com/2014/08/t-minus-18-months/) - The last work week has been super stressful, as Google job offers were scheduled to go out on Tuesday. Some of us would be offered full-time positions, some would be given a few months to find another job. Some of us would receive retention bonuses; most would not. I swear time on Tuesday afternoon passed
- [Finished the book proposal!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/08/finished-the-book-proposal/) - I finished revising the book proposal on Thursday. I hadn't expected to have time for it, but since I get up three hours before anyone else (including my mom, who's visiting), I turned out to have plenty of time. So now it's off at the editor's for a final look-through. I've also solicited feedback from
- [Fruitcake recipes](https://tienchiu.com/2014/08/fruitcake-recipes/) - As promised, here is "my" fruitcake recipe. I say "my" because most of it comes from a good family friend, and since her recipe may be more accessible to those who aren't into crazed citrus-candying, I've included the original version (with her permission) as well. Since the process of making it is identical across the
- [Nutty as a fruitcake](https://tienchiu.com/2014/08/nutty-as-a-fruitcake/) - The last few days have been a rush of interesting events and creative adventures, the most notable of which was baking seventeen fruitcakes on Sunday! Nine big fruitcakes and eight small ones. I was seriously worried that they wouldn't all fit in the oven, but somehow I managed to cram them in there. I kept
- [Done partying!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/done-partying/) - I'm flying home today after one of the best (and most exhausting) weeks I've ever had. I've learned a ton about jacquard weaving and about the two major brands of jacquard loom. I met some new friends and saw lots of old friends. And I've got a couple pieces of beautiful jacquard weaving as a
- [Over a million!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/08/over-a-million/) - Yesterday I finished and posted my comparison of jacquard looms on the website, as well as individual pages on Digital Weaving Norway's TC-2 and AVL's Jacq3G. Total word count for the three pages was 3,398, which (according to average page counts), is seven pages single-spaced on a regular printout, or thirteen pages in a paperback
- [Tigress 3, humans 0](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/tigress-3-humans-0/) - The last few days have been busy but terribly creative (thus the radio silence). I made a batch of sour cherry preserves, and started a batch of candied sour cherries. I cleaned a LOT of house, something I almost never do. And I am finally more or less caught up on email. I also helped
- [Aftermath (and new business cards!)](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/aftermath-and-new-business-cards/) - I flew home on Sunday, and have spent the ensuing four days digging out from under 300+ unread emails and a huge work backlog. But I am almost back to normal! So what are my conclusions from my jacquard trip? Primarily, that jacquard looms are a lot of fun. I'm a bit sad that I
- [Jacquard adventures](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/jacquard-adventures/) - The last few days have been an incredible adventure! I have been playing with Digital Weaving Norway's TC-2 jacquard loom, and it is a beauty. I've mostly been applying the things I learned at Sandra's place earlier, with some interesting twists. But today I'm going to be weaving up a more complicated test file -
- [In the whirlwind's eye](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/in-the-whirlwinds-eye/) - I'm writing this after four days of whirlwind jacquard study. Friday I drove 180 miles to Sandra Rude's home in Atascadero, California. I spent Saturday and Sunday studying digital jacquard design with Sandra, driving home on Sunday. Monday morning I left at the crack of dawn to drive 210 miles north to Chico, CA, home
- [Studying jacquard design](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/studying-jacquard-design/) - I'm at Sandra Rude's place right now, studying jacquard design with her. It's been a bit of a whirlwind - yesterday we covered creating single weft (shaded satins and granite weaves) designs from a photo using Photoshop, and I wove up samples in 8-end satin, 10-end satin, 10-end granite, and 11-end satin, just to get
- [Prepping for the whirlwind](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/prepping-for-the-whirlwind/) - I'm getting ready to start my whirlwind week of test-driving fancy sports cars jacquard looms. This afternoon I'm driving down to Atascadero, to spend Saturday and Sunday studying jacquard design with Sandra Rude. I'll drive home Sunday evening. Monday morning I'm leaving at dawn to drive to Chico, where I'll spend two days test-driving their
- [The successful launch of SkySat-Chocolate!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/the-successful-launch-of-skysat-chocolate/) - I am pleased to say that SkySat-Chocolate was a great success at this morning's launch party! There was much oohing and aahing as people passed by. Here are two closeups that my friend Lieven generously shot for me. This is the outside: And here is the interior, showing the mirror inside: The thing in the
- [Chocolatiering away](https://tienchiu.com/2014/07/chocolatiering-away/) - I had a wonderful time at Complex Weavers Seminars! Three days spent immersed in weaving, talking in betweentimes with equally passionate weavers. In addition to the many interesting seminars, there were some splendid exhibits - this year's Complexity exhibit was the best show of handwoven textiles I have seen to date. Every piece was interesting
- [Happy birthday to me!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-to-me-3/) - 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
- [Off to Complex Weavers Seminars!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/off-to-complex-weavers-seminars/) - I'm writing this from the gate at San Francisco International Airport (SFO for locals), waiting for the flight that will take me to Complex Weavers Seminars. As always, I'm super excited about going to Seminars - it's three days of immersive weaving study/nonstop partying with fellow weaving enthusiasts. I'm looking forward both to the seminars
- [Chocolates in spaaaaaace!!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/chocolates-in-spaaaaaace/) - It started innocently enough, with this cool YouTube video of a quadcopter made from chocolate: I was all set to build one of my own, but then I realized I could do something much, much cooler. The launch of SkySat-2 is coming up fast, and obviously something needs to be done to mark the occasion!
- [Happy birthday!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/happy-birthday/) - No, not to me! To someone much more important. :-) On September 22, 2013, the vet estimated that our beautiful kittens were about three months old. Accordingly, we decided that their "official" birthday should be June 21, the summer solstice. It seemed appropriate to give them the longest day of the year, since they have
- [Complex chocolates](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/complex-chocolates/) - I had a lovely time this weekend, making four kinds of chocolates to bring to Complex Weavers Seminars. Salted lavender caramels, ginger-peanut-chile-lime caramels, jasmine tea-vanilla-orange blossom honey caramels, and English toffee. They will be packed into small boxes and brought to the Silent Auction to help support Complexity, Complex Weavers' biennial exhibit of handwoven textiles.
- [Going to Convergence!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/going-to-convergence/) - I'm going to Convergence! If you're not familiar with Convergence, it's the biggest handweaving/fiber arts conference in the US. It's held biennially, and (in addition to great classes) has a fabulous marketplace packed with vendors. One of those vendors will be Digital Weaving Norway, which produces the TC-2 jacquard loom. And they will have a
- [Acquired!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/acquired/) - Once upon a time, there was this: And then, along came this: Leading (this morning) to this! Yes, that's right. After almost two decades of being laid off every eighteen months from dying startups, I have finally won the Silicon Valley Lottery! Google just bought Skybox Imaging, the startup I work for - and at
- [Shadows, weaving and otherwise](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/shadows-weaving-and-otherwise/) - Thanks to all the people who emailed and commented about my friend Edna. She passed away this morning. I like to think that she is still pedaling her bike somewhere, in a place where all the hills are downhills and all the winds tailwinds. She was a great and generous spirit, and I will miss
- [Good things and bad things](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/good-things-and-bad-things/) - Good things may come to those who wait, but I prefer to lead off with them: B. and I celebrated our (upcoming) fourth anniversary last night at Baumé, a French restaurant in Palo Alto with two Michelin stars and a rep for innovative molecular gastronomy techniques. It did not disappoint; each of the eight dishes
- [Weaverly things](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/weaverly-things/) - Okay, the chocolate was fun. Back to weaving! I spent yesterday morning trying (unsuccessfully) to get the auto-advance and the fly shuttle mechanism onto my loom. To get the auto-advance on, I had to remove the rolling temple, which required removing the beater to make room to work. And then I couldn't get one of
- [Chocolatiering again](https://tienchiu.com/2014/06/chocolatiering-again/) - What I Did with My Weekend: It started simply, with this: That's my new-to-me chocolate tempering machine, and it works great except that the scraper "leaks" bits of solid chocolate into the melted chocolate. That means I need to remove the "seed" chocolate before using the machine. That turns out to be better anyway, though
- [Thirty-five pints](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/thirty-five-pints/) - I made thirty-five pints of jam yesterday, in seven batches. It was an eleven-hour marathon in front of the stove, but it was well worth it - the jams are excellent! Here they are: From top left to bottom right, they are: Aprium-honey jam (aprium = apricot/plum cross, very tasty) - 3 pints Blueberry jam
- [Garden tour](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/garden-tour/) - I spend a lot of time telling you about my textile work, but today I thought I'd take a moment to showcase B.'s interests as well. He is an avid gardener, and now that we're into summer weather, his work is busting out all over. So I took some photos around our back yard; there's
- [Weaving shadows](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/weaving-shadows/) - I have started thinking about the fabric for the skirt. It needs to be very, very light, so it flows like fire as the wearer walks. That suggests very fine yarn, like 120/2 silk or maybe the tram silk I bought from John Marshall. Looking at the Fine Threads Study Group samples I've amassed over
- [Eureka!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/eureka-2/) - After three years of fiddling, I have a design for Phoenix Rising that I am happy with. Behold! I'm very pleased with this muslin, though many details still need to be worked out. The dangling flames flutter beautifully in the breeze, the color gradation gives the sense of flame igniting, and the dark blue really
- [Setting up a photography studio](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/setting-up-a-photography-studio/) - I've decided to use Phoenix Rising's development process as examples for my book (yes, I'm still working on it), which means taking photos of the work in progress. Which means I need to take publishable-quality photos at home. So I'm setting up a mini photography studio in the garage, next to Emmy. To call this
- [Treasures from around the world](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/treasures-from-around-the-world/) - Some wonderful treasures arrived on my doorstep this week! It started with this, arriving from the Netherlands: This is a wonderful new book (just now translated into English) about woven structures on divided parallel threadings, including what's popularly called "echo weave". I haven't yet had a chance to dig into it, but it looks both
- [Phoenix Rising - first muslin](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/phoenix-rising-first-muslin/) - After finishing the chocolates yesterday, I went out to the dyepots to dye the cloth for the next Phoenix Rising muslin. I started with this: and added some low-water immersion dyed fabrics: I let them batch and rinsed them out yesterday night. This morning I got up before dawn, excited to try them out. And
- [Out of season](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/out-of-season/) - We're entering a major heat wave, which means no chocolates for awhile. Which, of course, meant that I had to get my test batch of chocolates in before the heat wave hit, resulting in this: Which, of course, led to this: and eventually this: The one unfortunate part is that I didn't put enough pectin
- [Dye day and marmalades](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/dye-day-and-marmalades/) - I had another dye day on Sunday - no tie-dyes this time, but my friend Ginny and I wound all the skeins I needed for the color study, wound and dyed about 2 pounds of cashmere yarn for a project she was working on, and wound and dyed about 18,000 yards of yarn for the
- [Phoenix Rising reloaded](https://tienchiu.com/2014/05/phoenix-rising-reloaded/) - Yeah, I know I wasn't going to work on Phoenix Rising until after the book chapters were fully revised. But the CNCH Fashion Show inspired me, and as I am making good progress on chapter revision, I thought I'd indulge in a bit of design. As you undoubtedly know, I've had a lot of trouble
- [Stenciling at CNCH](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/stenciling-at-cnch/) - I spent all weekend at CNCH, taking a class in stenciling from April Sproule. While the material was fairly basic, I had a lot of fun just playing with paint and stencils. On the first day, I experimented with layering color and with different colored backgrounds. These two items were made with the same stencil
- [Doubleweave devoré](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/doubleweave-devore/) - Suki Russack spoke at my guild last night, and showed off her beautiful doubleweave wall hangings. On examining one closely, I saw that one layer was a densely sett, warp-faced background in heavy yarns, and the other was a very loosely sett, gauzy accent in fine yarns. The loosely sett layer was so open that
- [In good temper](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/in-good-temper/) - Yesterday morning, while perusing Craigslist, I spotted a wonderful bargain: a Chocovision X3210 chocolate tempering machine on sale, used, for less than half the list price! I jumped on it immediately, and brought home my prize yesterday evening. It's just been refurbished by the manufacturer, so it should be good for many years to come.
- [Playing with marmalade, indigo, satellites, and robots!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/playing-with-marmalade-indigo-satellites-and-robots/) - It's been a busy couple of days! On the book front, I wrote the sample chapter on visual design and did the first review with my critique partner. It's still pretty rough, but I have an idea where I'm going with it now. The next step will be writing the other sample chapter, on the
- [Focusing](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/focusing/) - I've been feeling pretty frustrated the last few weeks, as I've been doing Lots of Stuff but not actually getting anything done on my big projects! So I spent some time thinking about it, and concluded that the problem was too many projects. In particular, I have the book and Phoenix Rising to deal with,
- [Color study: saturation and value](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/color-study-saturation-and-value/) - I've been getting progressively grumpier over the last several days, as commitment after commitment kept me from doing anything creative. So when I woke up this morning with nothing on the slate, I rushed out to the loom and started weaving on the color study again. This time I was experimenting with saturation and value.
- [A busy day in the dyepots](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/a-busy-day-in-the-dyepots/) - Sunday was a busy day in the dyepots! I dyed eleven shirts and seven pairs of socks: Of these, my favorite is this one, which reminds me of bougainvillea: And, of course, what would a tie-dye shirt be without matching socks? In addition to all that tie-dye, I tested two discharge processes - reduction discharge
- [Illumination dyeing](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/illumination-dyeing/) - I've been enjoying my life of laziness - sleeping in, lounging about, and puttering around at not much of anything. But three days of this is more than enough! Time to get back into the studio. Well, sort of. I'm still percolating on the color-study warp, and while I'm busily writing chapters of the book,
- [Blissful idleness](https://tienchiu.com/2014/04/blissful-idleness/) - I finished my Designing Fabrics Study Group paper yesterday, squeaking in just under the deadline. And that was it! No more deadlines until the end of May. (And that one is not making me sweat...it's the Fine Threads Study Group samples, and I can always send phoenixes if I don't get done in time.) So
- [The value of value](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/the-value-of-value/) - The first section of my color study warp was neutral monochromes - black, white, and gray. So I used it to study value. The first sample I wove was (almost) pure black and white. I wanted to show a section with high value contrast: This is very high contrast, so energetic, but it also has
- [Getting some rhythm going](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/getting-some-rhythm-going/) - Sorry for the radio silence - I've been busy weaving! I have now completed five of the 16 sections - black and white, purple monochrome, orange monochrome, red/orange yellow at low saturation, red/orange/yellow at high saturation. In the purple monochrome section, I decided to play with stripes. I set the weave structure to be 4/4
- [Designing on the fly](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/designing-on-the-fly/) - I've now woven two and a half sections of the color study - all monochrome. The first featured black, white, and gray in the warp; the second was shades of purple; the third (still in progress) is shades of rusty orange. The black/white/gray section of warp was all about playing with value (lightness/darkness). I did
- [First observations on the color study](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/first-observations-on-the-color-study/) - I debugged the warp this morning - no threading errors, and only one sleying error! A few other errors along the way, but nothing that couldn't be solved easily. And here is the first few inches of cloth: I dyed the beginning of the warp solid black, to make it easier to catch errors. I
- [Home again](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/home-again-2/) - My workshop last weekend went well! It was a two-day workshop on the design process. It included quite a bit of information - processes and tools from getting from idea to finished product, guidelines for good design (both functional and visual), and an opportunity for instructor critique of designs and finished pieces. It also included
- [Fiber Celebration 2014](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/fiber-celebration-2014/) - I arrived in Colorado on Wednesday. Thursday I spent four hours in the Fiber Celebration 2014 exhibit as it was being hung, jurying the pieces. It was difficult to choose winners from so much excellent work! There were more items worthy of awards than there were awards to give; third place and honorable mention were
- [The color study is on the loom!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/the-color-study-is-on-the-loom/) - I spent eight hours yesterday getting the color-study warp onto the loom. That is, of course, an excruciatingly long time to spend beaming on a single warp, but this was an extraordinarily complex warp, with four separate colorways that needed to be interspersed in the raddle and then beamed on together. I started by putting
- [A tale of two scarves](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/a-tale-of-two-scarves/) - The loom is now fixed, and weaves flawlessly. So weave I did. I finished the tabby scarf: Then I started weaving a sample using the white brushed-mohair/silk yarn as weft. The intent was to scrunch-dye the sample in fiery colors, as I did with the previous sample, and try embellishing it with beads, embroidery,
- [Intersection Direction progress](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/intersection-direction-progress/) - You may recall that I signed up for Josh Coffy's Intersection Direction project. The idea is that 512 artists each contribute a 6" square, based on a section of an image, resulting in a cool mosaic of work by many different artists. There are four images total, 128 artists per image. Mine comes from the
- [Working up a workshop](https://tienchiu.com/2014/03/working-up-a-workshop/) - The loom, alas, is sidelined until Monday at earliest. After chattering with AVL and poking around in the dobby box, we've traced the floating shaft #17 problem to a defective wooden "finger". The bad news is that by the time we diagnosed it, it was too late to get the part this weekend. The good
- [Tabby stripes and color extravaganza](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/tabby-stripes-and-color-extravaganza/) - Yesterday I devised a "tabby" draft - not plain weave, but a mix of 1-3 and 3-1 twills meant to mimic a tabby cat's stripes. It's not quite perfect - it appears as stripes on white rather than stripey bits of both colors - but it's quite attractive, and I need to get the color
- [This and that](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/this-and-that-2/) - This week has been a fierce juggling exercise, but the Handwoven article is done, the entries for Fiber Celebration 2014 have been juried, and (hooray!) I even had a little time to play with my own fiber projects. I'm feeling pretty accomplished, especially since I'm also in the midst of some rather intense stuff at
- [All-weekend dye intensive](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/all-weekend-dye-intensive/) - It took nearly 24 hours of work over the three-day weekend, but the warp and weft are dyed now! The warp alone took 12 hours to dye - mixing dye stocks, then stretching out four warp bouts, and mixing 48 colors for the sixteen sections of three colors each. I started before sunrise and finished
- [Preparing the warp for the color study](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/preparing-the-warp-for-the-color-study/) - I've spent the last few days preparing the warp for the color study - winding the bouts and tying them off every 24 inches to get the synchronized color changes necessary for the study. I thought my process of synchronizing the ties might be useful to others, so here it is. I started by stretching
- [Intersection Direction - an interesting art project](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/intersection-direction-an-interesting-art-project/) - Joshua Coffy, an artist in the San Francisco Bay Area, is leading a really cool collaborative art project for Burning Man. The idea is to have 512 artists each create a 6" x 6" tile. The tiles will be assembled into 4 murals, displayed at Burning Man, and then each tile will be given away
- [Moving ahead with the color study](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/moving-ahead-with-the-color-study/) - The cold is finally tapering down and my energy and enthusiasm is increasing, at least to the point where I can do other things than blow my nose, have another cough drop, and drink tea. My IQ has also returned to a measurable level, enabling me to plan the color study in more detail. I've
- [Designing the color study](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/designing-the-color-study/) - Since my last post had no kittens, I begin by offering you a bonus kitten! And a rare one at that - a picture of me and Fritz, taken by my friend Carla while she was visiting: The kittens have picked up their growth - I had been thinking they were just about full-grown, but
- [Kaizen](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/kaizen/) - The cold continues to keep me (mostly) flat in bed, but there are signs of improvement! I'm hoping to be fully recovered by the end of the weekend. And I am somewhat ambulatory now. I've also gotten a few useful things done, the biggest of which is weaving up my project for an upcoming article
- [Designing color studies](https://tienchiu.com/2014/02/designing-color-studies/) - Six days since the last blog post? There must be something wrong with me! And, in fact, there is - fortunately not anything permanent, just a really virulent cold, the kind where you can't sleep because of congestion and coughing. I've been a zombie the last few days, but this morning I'm feeling a little
- [Marvelous marmalades, and Tien in the loom-light](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/marvelous-marmalades-and-tien-in-the-loom-light/) - This weekend was so busy that I hardly know where to start! But let's begin with marmalade... I went to the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market Saturday morning - besides the weekly shopping, I managed to score some (unsprayed) pink grapefruit, Eureka lemons, and (hallelujah!) white guavas. White guavas have a wonderful fragrance and a deliciously
- [Two kinds of fruit](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/two-kinds-of-fruit/) - I scored a box of Seville oranges on Wednesday - mail ordered from Ripe To You. The minimum order was 16 pounds, which posed a bit of a befuddlement: what do you do with sixteen pounds of sour oranges with a bitter peel? Why, make marmalade, of course! That's the traditional use for Seville oranges
- [Hello, world!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/hello-world/) - My friend Alfred and I spent ten hours yesterday working on Emmy - figuring out some last adjustments, then winding, beaming, threading, and sleying her inaugural warp. Here it is - three hundred ends of 30/2 silk, 16 yards long, 10 inches wide: We had the usual setting-up problems - some crossed threads, etc. -
- [Diversifying](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/diversifying/) - I've been racking my brains the last few weeks, trying to figure out how to execute my designs in the context of handwoven fabric. The problem is that shaft weaving, even multi-multishaft weaving, simply does not do the things I want to do without a lot of hand manipulation. If I want to weave my
- [Finished the quilt top!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/finished-the-quilt-top/) - I mentioned in my previous post that my mother and I completed the quilt top. Here it is: I'm very happy with how it turned out - it's beautiful and focuses attention on the birds. Of course, that was take #2. Take #1 looked (unsurprisingly) like this: Tigress is charmingly convinced the quilt top belongs
- [Foodie adventures](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/foodie-adventures/) - It's been an action-packed week, and I'm still recovering! My mom visited, and I helped her with some Photoshop stuff, and helped her set up her blog. We finished the center section of the quilt (more on that later). And we did "dueling restaurants" on Wednesday and Thursday last week, going to Manresa on Wednesday
- [Ways of seeing](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/ways-of-seeing/) - I came across this XKCD comic strip tonight via my friend Lieven. It's interesting to me on several levels. As a kid, I found cameras an ever-present and highly intrusive feature of family gatherings. At every holiday, the kids were stalked by one or more well-meaning relatives intent on capturing the moment. I can tell
- [Finalized the quilt design](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/finalized-the-quilt-design/) - I got Emmy up and working a few days ago. Here's a very short video showing her in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSnookvcGAg As you can see, the shafts are hanging up on each other - this was a known problem with the loom. On AVL's advice, I've ordered shims for the lamms and pulleys, but they won't
- [Please welcome Emmy!](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/please-welcome-emmy/) - Yesterday was New Year's, and I celebrated with a loom-raising party! Four friends came over and helped put Emmy (my new 40-shaft loom) together. We started with a pile of bits in the garage: Then we moved them out to the driveway: What pieces to start with? My friends Lieven and Dave went through the
- [A brief diversion into quilt design](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/a-brief-diversion-into-quilt-design/) - Yes, I know. I'm about to put together an awesome new weaving toy. I should not take on more projects. But my mother is coming to visit next week, and I'm taking the week off so I can spend time with her. However, since I don't get out much, I've been racking my brains for
- [Emmy's here!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/emmys-here/) - After a couple days of pacing about, I called the receiving freight terminal yesterday. They told me that they hadn't been informed that I would need a truck with liftgate for delivery, they'd have to confirm with the shipping terminal, and that it would take until the end of the week to deliver. At that
- [Design studies](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/design-studies-2/) - Over the weekend, having nothing better to do, I blitzed through a number of the design exercises in Joen Wolfrom's Adventures in Design. The first one was to visit museums, etc. and see how line is used in your favorite pieces - whether the dominant lines are horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, and how that interacts
- [Studying design](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/studying-design/) - Alas, Emmy the 40 shaft loom did not arrive on Friday. I called the shipper around 2:30 and was told that the arrival date was the date the loom would arrive at the terminal and that getting it out to me would require an appointment and some additional time. (Which was contrary to the reassurances
- [Sea turtles with waves](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/sea-turtles-with-waves/) - I spent yesterday twiddling with turtles again, exploring the possibilities on 40 shafts. This time I decided to work with an unconventional tied structure, using a method I learned in Kay Faulkner's Ties: Practical, Decorative, and Unconventional lecture at Complex Weavers Seminars. I wanted to put ripples into the background using the ties, so I
- [T minus 4 days](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/t-minus-4-days/) - The new loom will be arriving in just four days!! I have been preparing for it, despite being sick with a nasty cold. First, I have been clearing out space in the garage. This was a daunting task - here's what I started with: And here's what it looked like after a day of hard
- [Delicious distractions](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/delicious-distractions/) - I've done very little creative work in the last few days, but mostly because I've been distracted by various delicious things. The first is literally delicious: a friend gifted me with three large bags of persimmons from her tree - probably about 40-50 pounds total - and I have been cutting them up for drying
- [Introducing Emmy](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/introducing-emmy/) - May I introduce my new-to-me 40-shaft AVL Ultimate Dobby Loom? Here is how she looked before disassembly: And here is what she looks like now, prepped for the long trip to California: It took three of us about four hours to break down the loom into shippable pieces. About half that time was spent labeling
- [Third time's (almost) the charm](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/third-times-almost-the-charm/) - I finished the last piece on this warp yesterday. I made some changes from the previous phoenix rendition, adding an orange-red shade to the dyeing and using a bamboo weft yarn rather than silk. I really like the results: Adding the red-orange back into the mix produces much better depth of color than rendition #2,
- [Awesome satellite imagery](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/awesome-satellite-imagery/) - I rarely post about work, but this is so exciting I just had to share! Skybox Imaging, the startup I work for, launched its first satellite November 21, and the satellite is now sending down imagery! To our knowledge, our satellite is the smallest ever to produce sub-1 meter resolution images. Most high-resolution imaging satellites
- [Sea turtles](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/sea-turtles/) - A couple people have asked me, "What can you do with a 40-shaft loom that you can't do with a 24-shaft loom?" So I spent part of this morning doodling up an example. Here is a sea turtle (public domain drawing, done by Jack Javech for NOAA (a branch of the U.S. government)): And here
- [Defrosting the loom](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/defrosting-the-loom/) - It has been record-breaking cold out here - which, in my area, means it actually drops below freezing for a few hours in the wee hours of the night. Tonight is predicted to be about 30 degrees. For most of you, that's probably a pleasantly crisp winter day, but around here it can cause all
- [Fire and ice](https://tienchiu.com/2013/12/fire-and-ice/) - It's been cold around here - not quite cold enough to make ice, at least where I am (this is the Bay Area after all), but cold enough to be setting some record lows. And it has been quite chilly weaving in an unheated garage, so I am very pleased to have some fire to
- [Making heat waves](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/making-heat-waves/) - I've now wound three-quarters of the warp, which means it's time to think about threading. While the bulk of my sampling will be in a simple 3-1 twill or broken twill, I'm also considering trying out a wavy background design to see if I can get the effect of a bird flying through heat waves.
- [Sold!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/sold/) - The AVL Workshop Dobby Loom is sold. (Yes, that was fast!) Thanks to all who inquired. :-) (The 8-shaft Leclerc Minerva is still available...)
- [Complete and utter loom-acy](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/complete-and-utter-loom-acy/) - I've been busy the last few days prepping for the loom purchase, and really wondering what lunacy I've gotten into. Disassembling and packing a loom on unfamiliar turf is not for the faint of heart! But I think I've gotten most of the arrangements in order. I have plane tickets, a rental car, and a
- [Finished the latest sample](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/finished-the-latest-sample/) - By weaving like a maniac, I have finished the next sample. It came out quite well - here's a photo of the undyed sample hanging next to the stencil: It came out quite well - there is minimal distortion, except for the feathering every fourth thread which I mentioned in a previous post. And I
- [A new loom?](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/a-new-loom/) - Squee! I may soon be purchasing a 40-shaft, 48" AVL Production Dobby Loom. For a very good price. Not so squee!: it's in Minneapolis. I would be responsible for breaking down, packing, and shipping. So I would likely have to fly out there for a blitzkrieg weekend of loom disassembly. And this is a 500-pound,
- [Squee!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/squee/) - Great news from work! My company, Skybox Imaging, just launched its first satellite! Sez the company: "We're thrilled to announce that our Dnepr rocket successfully launched and SkySat-1 has officially reached orbit." Here's a video of the launch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsfL19FV3qg This launch has been 4+ years in the making, so we're all very excited.
- [Unexpected results](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/unexpected-results/) - I uncovered and rinsed out my warp yesterday morning. Here's what it looked like before rinsing: I was worried about backstaining (getting black dye into the white areas while rinsing), so I did the first two rinses in ice water. This removes the soda ash, so the dye can no longer bind to the fiber.
- [Working on the larger phoenix](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/working-on-the-larger-phoenix/) - In addition to creating embellishment samples over the last few days, I've also decided what to do about my show entries for the year. I'm going to make one piece of yardage, woven in the twenty-four shaft phoenix summer & winter pattern I've been noodling on for most of the past year. That will eventually
- [To embellish or not to embellish...](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/to-embellish-or-not-to-embellish/) - ...that is the question, isn't it? I've spent most of the last few days working up some embellishment samples. Here's a photo of what I've done so far (click for the larger photo): And here's a closeup: The embroidery is feather stitch using three threads. The bottom one is a sheer knitted tube (orange) with
- [Revisiting the phoenix design](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/revisiting-the-phoenix-design/) - Up until now, I've been using a symmetric design for the phoenix, a holdover from the original weaving draft. That had to be symmetric because I had only 24 shafts to play with, and needed the symmetry to make a wider design on a point threading. But since I've shifted to using surface design, symmetry
- [Phoenix yardage](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/phoenix-yardage/) - I'm now intrigued by the idea of entering the Convergence yardage exhibit, so I spent some time this morning mocking up phoenix yardage in Photoshop. While highly preliminary, the experiment does suggest that working with my anticipated aspect ratio (23" wide x 3 yards long) will work: Obviously, this needs tweaking: the tail is repetitive
- [Warp stenciling experiment](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/warp-stenciling-experiment/) - The last two days have been quite busy, but I carved out some time to experiment with stenciling on an unwoven warp. I started by weaving a "fabric" using an extremely fine weft yarn that John Marshall had given me - far thinner than a human hair, and so delicate it was difficult to wind
- [Carving stencils](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/carving-stencils/) - I'm preparing to play with surface design on warps. The basic idea is pretty simple: stretch a warp out on a long table, then apply paint and/or dyes to the warp. Reel the warp back onto the loom, and weave it with whatever structure you choose. Easy, right? Well, yes and no. Surface design on
- [What next?](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/what-next/) - Chocopalooza is over, except for some cleaning that I'll be doing this weekend. Which means it's back to work. :-) I'm at a crossroads. While the Phoenix Rising kimono is definitely at the top of my list, I also want to get back to the book. (No, I have not forgotten about it!) At the
- [A sense of scale](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/a-sense-of-scale/) - I've often wondered how to convey the enormity of ninety pounds of chocolates. The stack of containers is misleading, because each container is only about 2/3 full, and the pile of boxes, while pretty, doesn't really give you a sense of the sheer quantities involved. Of course you can work out the calculations: most of
- [Presenting the 2013 fall collection](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/presenting-the-2013-fall-collection/) - Ninety pounds, two ounces of chocolaty goodness: I'm pleased to say that we finished the final chocolates at 4:30 pm on Saturday, which is a new record - last year I was making chocolates into the wee hours! The last day of chocolate-making was uneventful, except for two minor disasters. The first was me spilling
- [Chocopalooza, Days Two and Three: Food Porn](https://tienchiu.com/2013/11/chocopalooza-days-two-and-three-food-porn/) - It's been an extremely productive two days, and (fortunately!) there have been no more flying kitten incidents. Remarkably, despite adding two flavors to the list, Susan and I are on track with my planned timeline - we've been completing about five flavors a day, while mixing up five more flavors for the following day. Here's
- [Chocopalooza, Day One: Flying Kittens!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/chocopalooza-day-one-flying-kittens/) - On the slate for today was mixing up nine flavors of chocolate bonbon centers - four to be dipped in white chocolate, five in dark chocolate. They were: passionfruit caramel with ginger rum vanilla ganache cherry jelly with kirsch white chocolate ganache raspberry jelly with lemon white chocolate ganache strawberry balsamic vinegar vanilla latte (coffee
- [34 pounds, 12 ounces (and counting!)](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/34-pounds-12-ounces-and-counting/) - I finished the salted lavender caramels, the jasmine-honey-vanilla caramels, and the coconut almond fudge yesterday, and put them away this morning. I weighed everything first, of course! and am pleased to say that I have finished 34.6 pounds of chocolates so far - 28.8 pounds of first-quality chocolates and 5.8 pounds of "seconds" - chocolates
- [Beautiful transfer sheets](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/beautiful-transfer-sheets/) - I'm pleased to say that my latest batch of painted chocolate transfer sheets came out gorgeous! For those who are wondering, chocolate transfer sheets are basically decals. A colored vegetable fat is screen printed onto sheets of acetate. The printed acetate sheet is then placed on a freshly dipped chocolate. The warmth of the
- ["Help, there's a kitten in my chocolate!"](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/help-theres-a-kitten-in-my-chocolate/) - Yesterday, during dinner, Tigress kept trying to get onto the dining room table, presumably so she could "investigate" (and perhaps help me eat?) my dinner. She isn't quite big enough (yet) to jump straight onto the table, so she kept jumping up onto my chair and trying to climb onto the table from there. B.
- [Fudges and caramels](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/fudges-and-caramels/) - Despite a late start, I made four flavors of fudge over the weekend: chocolate macadamia, lavender-lemon white chocolate, coconut tequila lime, and plain coconut (which will be dipped into chocolate and topped with an almond to make coconut almond fudge). These are all repeat flavors, because they are excellent! And, if I may say so,
- [Starting the production run](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/starting-the-production-run/) - Getting ready to chocolatier today! First on the slate are four batches of fudge: chocolate macadamia fudge, white chocolate - lavender - Meyer lemon fudge, coconut tequila lime fudge, and coconut almond fudge. These are all perennials, mostly because they're favorites either of mine or people close to me. B. really likes the coconut fudges,
- [Flavor trials complete!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/flavor-trials-complete/) - I finished the flavor trials yesterday, trying out six new flavors. Here are my tasting notes: Blackberry jelly with lemon-white chocolate ganache: The lemon ganache is marvelous! deliciously tart and lemony. Reminds me of a really good lemon curd. Definitely a winner. Unfortunately, the blackberry is muted, too subtle to compete with the very assertive
- [Studio cleanup](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/studio-cleanup/) - In order to kittenproof the house, I had to do some studio cleaning. Well, actually, quite a lot of cleaning. It took more than six hours of work to get to this: I wish I'd taken "before" photos, because this probably looks messy to you. However, before I started, that table was piled three feet
- [Tough choices](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/tough-choices/) - I've nearly finished selecting flavors for this year, and the decision has been agonizing, because there are so many wonderful flavors I could do! Here is the line-up so far: Fudges: White chocolate, lavender, Meyer lemon fudge Coconut tequila lime fudge Coconut almond fudge Some kind of chocolate fudge (walnut or hazelnut most likely, but
- [Caption this photo:](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/caption-this-photo/)
- [New transfer sheets](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/new-transfer-sheets/) - The last few days have been spent puzzling over a dilemma. I was having trouble with my two-color transfer sheets - only one color was adhering well, so the finished chocolates looked pretty awful: I finally called the manufacturer and was told that my melted chocolate was too cold when dipping the chocolates. With two
- [Chocolate for breakfast](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/chocolate-for-breakfast/) - Yesterday my mom and I mixed up and poured six flavors of ganache: Clockwise from top left, they are: Ginger milk chocolate ganache with bits of chopped candied ginger Whiskey-honey-milk chocolate ganache Cognac-honey milk chocolate ganache Pumpkin caramel ganache (milk chocolate) with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg "Gingerbread" ganache with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and
- [Chocolates, cards, and kittens](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/chocolates-cards-and-kittens/) - I tasted the tomato chocolates yesterday. Alas, I wasn't thrilled with any of them, primarily because the tomato flavor was not identifiable over the chocolate. The ganaches were delicious, though. The chipotle (with dark chocolate) was a trifle too spicy for my tastes, but it also had wonderful smoky overtones. The Thai basil - white
- [Flavor trial winners!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/10/flavor-trial-winners/) - Of the flavors I trialed over the weekend, my favorites so far are the passionfruit caramel with ginger-rum-white chocolate ganache, and the cherry jelly with white chocolate kirsch ganache. The lavender caramels (with and without salt) were good as well, and will likely go into this year's boxes. Runners-up included the bergamot marmalade/ginger/dark chocolate (and
- [Flavor trials, Part One](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/flavor-trials-part-one/) - Yesterday's flavor trials got to a slow start, primarily because I had to do a lot of setup before I could start mixing flavors. I had a new set of stainless steel frame bars which needed to be filed smooth and scrubbed clean, and I needed to restring my new confectionery guitar. Together, those two
- [Of kittens and chocolate](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/of-kittens-and-chocolate/) - I am the happiest girl in the world right now. Why? Well, for starters, I have this in my living room: That's 48 kilos (105 lbs) of Valrhona chocolate. In my living room. What else could a girl possibly want? Well, maybe this: (Photo credit goes to B., who has gotten more time with them
- [A blessed event](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/a-blessed-event/) - Please give a warm welcome to our new feline overlords! :-) (No names yet, as we only adopted them about an hour ago. Suggestions welcome!)
- [Gearing up the chocolate machine](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/gearing-up-the-chocolate-machine/) - We are now at T minus 38 days to Chocopalooza, which starts on Wednesday, October 30 this year. This sounds like a lot of time, but it's not - especially since my mom is coming to visit for ten days in October. Which I'm looking forward to, but which is likely going to limit my
- [Design progress](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/design-progress-2/) - Sorry for the radio silence, but once again, so much has been happening that I haven't had time to write about it all! First, I finished the first muslin for the Phoenix Rising uchikake. The body came out way too wide, but by chopping two inches off either side, I got it down to a
- [Phoenix samples](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/phoenix-samples/) - So much has gotten done in the last two days that I'm feeling quite bewildered at the prospect of telling you about it all. I finished threading, sleying, and tying on the loom yesterday and today. And then a miracle occurred...I made NO mistakes in threading or sleying! 960 threads and not a single one
- [Beamed on](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/beamed-on-2/) - Yesterday I settled on a ten yard, 24-inch wide sample warp. Yesterday evening and this morning I wound the warp and beamed it on: Tonight I'm going to start threading. I'm hoping to get it fully threaded, sleyed, etc. and start weaving over the weekend. You may wonder why the warp is white, when the
- [Testing acid dyes on cotton](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/testing-acid-dyes-on-cotton/) - Since I'm thinking of cross-dyeing the finished fabric, I thought it would behoove me to make sure the acid dyes wouldn't affect the cotton. While acid dyes are generally not effective on cotton, some of them can stain. So before investing a lot of time in weaving the fabric, I figured it would be a
- [Overdyeing](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/overdyeing/) - Remember how I was racking my brain about how to get more motion into the kimono? And was thinking about gradients, diagonals, etc? Today I realized I was being dumb. I can cross-dye the woven fabric, and if I use a mercerized cotton for the heavy thread, I can dye the background however I want
- [Flying phoenixes](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/flying-phoenixes/) - I spent some time this morning playing with more design simulations, this time looking at what would happen if I put the fabric on the bias. I tried three configurations. The first was decidedly unsuccessful: Why is this not working? Well, first, there are too many ideas. The color gradient does not coordinate with the
- [Planning the kimono](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/planning-the-kimono/) - Now that I've gotten obsessive jam-making out of my system, it's time to get back to work, this time on the phoenix kimono. I've still got five months before the Convergence Fashion Show entry deadline, which is probably (barely) enough time to get it done. As you may recall, my working design looked like this:
- [Jamming](https://tienchiu.com/2013/09/jamming/) - I had a three-day weekend this past weekend (the U.S. celebrates Labor Day the first Monday in September), and I had a long list of jam recipes I wanted to try, so I made six batches of jam, jelly, and marmalade over the weekend. Two days of relatively lightweight prep, then one thirteen-hour marathon of
- [Dye Day results](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/dye-day-results/) - Wednesday evening and Thursday morning I decided to finish the dyeing I hadn't gotten around to. So I mixed up a new batch of dyestock, and dyed five Skystock T-shirts, three button-up rayon shirts, and nine pairs of socks. The results were decidedly mixed, partly because I was experimenting (and you never know how experiments
- ["...with chocolate!"](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/with-chocolate/) - As you know, I make chocolates every year, often with some fairly exotic flavor combinations. People ask me how I come up with my choices, often marveling at their creativity and apparent daring. The full answer is that I do it exactly the same way that I get the ideas for my woven pieces: I'm
- [Jam tomorrow, jam yesterday...](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/jam-tomorrow-jam-yesterday/) - What a busy weekend! I hosted a small tie-dye party, went to a second tie-dye party, made tomato soup and candied sour cherries, and got the warp for the Handwoven article onto the loom. Unfortunately, I did not get to dye my Skystock T-shirt - the tie-dye party I hosted involved a rather active seven-year-old
- [Striding forward](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/striding-forward/) - Yesterday I woke up with good energy for the first time in a week and a half, as the asthma flare-up is subsiding. So I ran out to the garage and got to work on my project for the Handwoven magazine article. The warp is quite narrow, about 12" wide, and I got it wound,
- [Visiting with John Marshall](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/visiting-with-john-marshall/) - B. and I drove up to rural Northern California over the weekend to visit John Marshall, a well-known katazome artist, at his home/studio in Covelo. We had a wonderful dinner with John and his other guests, and Sunday morning I got some time to chat with John, tour his studio, and see his work. Here's
- [Food, glorious food!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/food-glorious-food/) - I've been more or less floored the last few days due to a flare-up of my asthma. Mine is pretty mild and manifests mostly as a cough, which doesn't sound so bad, but when you wake up every half-hour hacking your lungs out, it pretty much turns you into a zombie. After a day or
- [Bleaching silk](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/bleaching-silk/) - I've been doing some experiments in bleaching silk. I need to dye some silk bright lemon yellow for my next project. In the past, I've had trouble getting bright lemon yellow because natural/unbleached silk is actually a very pale brown. This makes (essentially) no difference for dark or dull shades, but for pale colors, and
- [Failure, failure, failure....success!!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/failure-failure-failure-success/) - After three days of intensive troubleshooting, my fine-thread woes seem to be resolving. Here is a photo from this morning: This is about four inches with no broken threads (the last broken thread is marked by the white pin on the right). My previous record was about 3/4 inch, so this is a HUGE improvement!
- [Intelligent and persistent failure](https://tienchiu.com/2013/08/intelligent-and-persistent-failure/) - (My apologies to those of you with email notification who may have gotten this post twice. Bad Things Happened to my website two or three days ago, so I had to restore from backup, and lost this post. So I'm regenerating it.) The last several days have been mostly spent troubleshooting the fine-thread warp. I
- [Thread experiments](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/thread-experiments/) - The kinshi (real gold) threads arrived today, along with some metallic gold synthetic thread (mylar wrapped around a nylon core). The dyeable nylon/metallic thread and dyeable glitter yarn had already arrived, so I decided to do a quick test to see how dyeing affected the different yarns. I made a batch of small samples, testing
- [Fruitcakes and frustration](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/fruitcakes-and-frustration/) - I seem to be in The Waiting Place right now on most of my projects. The wise Dr. Seuss describes The Waiting Place like this: You can get so confused that you'll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I
- [Yarn design](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/yarn-design/) - Work has been intense the last few days, meaning I've been getting home too exhausted to do much. But I've started thinking about yarn design. I want my phoenixes to glitter as they rise up to the top of the kimono, but since they are also changing color, I need a glittery thread that can
- [Wet-finished samples](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/wet-finished-samples/) - I have been weaving more samples! After a ten-inch length of plain weave, I wove four inches with a metallic gold weft, like so: I didn't like it on the loom - too gaudy - but persevered, because often the cloth looks quite different after wet-finishing. And so it does! While it is still gaudy
- [Sweet things](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/sweet-things/) - I've had the urge to make sweets this week, and I have two parties coming up this weekend and next, so I've been in the candy kitchen. I made this batch of jasmine-vanilla-orange-blossom-honey caramels last night: And, just for good measure, I made a blueberry pie: But I'm not done yet. I'm making chocolate macadamia
- [Heaven and Hell](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/heaven-and-hell-2/) - Sorry for the radio silence! I was in a creative funk most of last week, but I snapped out of it over the weekend, and have been too busy weaving to write! Between Saturday morning and Sunday evening, I finished winding, threading, sleying, tying on, and debugging 1,440 threads in the latest warp. And here
- [Tinkertoy swift, redux](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/tinkertoy-swift-redux/) - I should be packing, but instead I got out the Tinkertoys this morning and built a somewhat more robust Japanese-style vertical swift. (Instructions for making the swift are here.) This works very nicely! It is made from about twenty 3/8" O-rings and a 104-piece Fiddlestix set that I bought on Amazon for about $25. I'm
- [Instructions for making a vertical swift from Tinkertoys](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/instructions-for-making-a-vertical-swift-from-tinkertoys/) - Just a quick note to say that I finally got the instructions for making my Tinkertoy swift up onto my website. (Thanks Alfred for giving me an excuse to make another one!) It's chock-full of photos and even has a little video of the swift in action, so check it out!
- [Forks in the road](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/forks-in-the-road/) - I spent the long weekend blocked on both book and ball gown, but I finally solved both problems yesterday. I'm splitting both of them into two projects, making a total of four projects total. For the ball gown, Stephanie was spot on: there are really two garments lurking in the dress. The first is a
- [Simplifying](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/simplifying/) - I've also started looking through the Fall 2013 haute couture shows on Style.com. I had been looking for ways to add details to the skirt, but after seeing the couture garments, I think it might be undesirable. What I noticed on the garments is that they mostly contain a single "idea". Consider these two dresses
- [The long un-winding road](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/the-long-un-winding-road/) - Yesterday I spent one solid day unwinding skeins. First they went from my Tinkertoy swift to bobbins, then from bobbins to cones. I had expected it to be easy to unwind the bobbins onto cones, but it turned out to be remarkably difficult! Eventually I clamped a metal rod to two tables and used that
- [Query letters and sample prep](https://tienchiu.com/2013/07/query-letters-and-sample-prep/) - I've been pretty quiet the last few days, but much has been happening behind the scenes! The biggest news is that I finally finished my query letter for Creating Craft, and sent it out into the world! So far I've contacted three publishers and two agents, all referrals from people I know. I've gotten one
- [Drafting the skirt sample](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/drafting-the-skirt-sample/) - Yesterday the ankle was feeling better, so I taped it up and started dyeing yarn. First I wound two 30-gram skeins of a superfine silk. How fine? I have no idea, but it's about the thickness of one of my hairs. It was really challenging to skein because it is quite delicate, and comes on
- [Playing with fabric design](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/playing-with-fabric-design/) - My sprained ankle is much improved, but I'm still staying off it to avoid re-injury. So, no weaving, dyeing, or draping for me right now. I'm spending most of my time at the computer, watching fiber arts DVDs that I've been meaning to watch for awhile now. I've also started playing with fabric design for
- [45 miles of yarn](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/45-miles-of-yarn/) - I sprained my ankle on the last day of ANWG, alas - wasn't looking where I was going, stepped on my foot the wrong way, and went down pretty hard. It stopped hurting after a few minutes, so I thought it was OK, but I took off my socks that evening to find a golf-ball-sized
- [New toys](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/new-toys-2/) - I went over to ANWG for the first time yesterday - spent several hours manning the Complex Weavers table in the vendor hall, saw the galleries (which were great - some wonderful work there!), and cruised through the vendor hall. To my absolute delight, I saw these shuttles at Bluster Bay's booth: This is essentially
- [Breakfast of champions](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/breakfast-of-champions-3/) - I started yesterday off right. The previous afternoon (Wednesday) I had visited Seattle, and my location was temptingly close to Pikes Place Market (which is legendary), so I went. I passed a shop called The Chocolate Box on the way, so what could I do? I went in. They had a lot of interesting flavors,
- [Another design possibility](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/another-design-possibility/) - Sharon and I spent four solid hours analyzing, contemplating, and reconceiving the design on Sunday. We weren't satisfied with the ruffles - Sharon thought they looked too heavy, and we both thought the diagonal yellow line was too prominent. Despite considerable fiddling, however, we weren't able to come up with anything that we liked better.
- [A book double-header!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/a-book-double-header/) - Two major achievements this morning! First, I FINISHED THE BOOK BLOG!!! After nine months of writing three posts a week, I have finished the first draft of my book about the creative process - from generating ideas to reflections on the finished piece. The final post (which follows a section on reflecting on a project)
- [Refining the concept](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/refining-the-concept/) - I spent a few days fabricating more dyed/printed muslin, and refining the bodice/skirt design. I decided to keep the overall outline from the first version of the bodice, but not the three sections. I made the skirt, cut flame-shaped edges from the tiers of the skirt, and ruffled each tier to make them stand out
- [Radical changes](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/radical-changes/) - I spent most of yesterday tinkering with the design and mostly hating it. It didn't feel right, no matter what I did. Finally I sat down and thought about why I wasn't liking it. Here's what I realized: The organic flame shapes on the top weren't working well with the rigid phalanxes of phoenixes at
- [Much progress](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/much-progress/) - Much progress lately! Thursday and Friday I dyed four lengths of muslin in various shades of orange and scarlet, and yesterday I screen printed the yardage with a phoenix pattern to mimic the handwoven fabric that will be used. This morning I began draping. I'm still roughing out the very broad design, and don't expect
- [Mapping out the torso](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/mapping-out-the-torso/) - The last few days have been pretty busy at work, and I've been getting home mentally exhausted. Nonetheless, I've gotten quite a bit done on Phoenix Rising. I've gathered twenty yards (!) of organza ruffle for the skirt, and put on an organza overskirt. The crinoline for the muslin is now complete, and I'm starting
- [French seduction](https://tienchiu.com/2013/06/french-seduction/) - I had planned to spend this afternoon working on my Phoenix Rising muslin, after meeting up with a friend to do some mutual critiquing of our work. However, I got sidetracked at the farmer's market by these: and these: The apricots are particularly special - the variety is "French," which I had never seen before.
- [More mandalas](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/more-mandalas/) - My final project in my "DIY dye workshop" was to tie-dye more mandala T-shirts. I had promised several T-shirts to various friends, and I wanted to experiment more with mandalas, so I made these four, plus two more muslin ones: I like the red mandala better than my previous attempt, if only because there was
- [Muslin progress](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/muslin-progress/) - Sharon and I spent several hours playing with the draped muslin for Phoenix Rising. She corrected some problems in the bodice, and then we started playing with the arrangement of colors in the bodice. Here's what we wound up with, after two hours of playing around: The sections underneath the purple lines will be in
- [Monoprinting](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/monoprinting/) - I've spent the last two days working on bits of this and that, but mostly I've been doing monoprinting! Monoprinting is great fun, and a wonderful antithesis to the extremely planned world of weaving. In monoprinting, you spread a thin layer of thickened dye or paint on a plate of glass (plexiglass, heavy weight plastic,
- [First experiments in surface design](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/first-experiments-in-surface-design/) - Things have been going more slowly than I'd like, but I've finished my first set of experiments in surface design. Here they are! The first piece is an exercise out of Making Your Mark by Claire Benn and Leslie Morgan. I laid down a thick line of different colors, and used a credit card to
- [Preparing to play](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/preparing-to-play/) - Finished up at the old job yesterday afternoon, exit interview complete. I'm free! For the next five days, I have no work obligations whatsoever. So now it's time to start playing! Today I plan to play with soy wax on dry fabric (pretreated with soda ash). I've divided 15 yards of fabric into 1-yard pieces
- [Planning a five-day orgy](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/planning-a-five-day-orgy/) - An orgy of studio work, that is. (Mind you, I have nothing against the other kind, but given that I'm an introvert, I think the studio orgy is apt to be more interesting!) I'm essentially redundant at work by now, so I've been taking some of my free time and analyzing the different kinds of
- [A working design](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/a-working-design/) - I went up to see Sharon yesterday, bringing a stack of designs. We went through them, made some revisions, and eventually came up with this design to work with: It is, as they say, "an artist's conception", and since my sketching skills are rudimentary, I thought I'd elaborate. Structure: The bodice is pieces of handwoven
- [Design studies](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/design-studies/) - Yesterday I decided to try something different: instead of designing around my phoenix fabric, I wanted to see what would happen if I just let my design ideas roam freely. I sketched out several designs, then photocopied the most interesting one several times and colored in the photocopies: In #1, I was playing with diagonal
- [A choose-your-own-adventure workshop!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/a-choose-your-own-adventure-workshop/) - I've finally started planning my luxurious five-day weekend between jobs. What to do? Usually I go somewhere exotic between jobs, but five days isn't really enough to go to Peru (etc.). I was thinking about finding an interesting weaving class somewhere that I could fly to, that just happened to be over Memorial Day weekend
- [More stars](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/more-stars/) - I got up yesterday morning and tie-dyed three more stars. One came out with nasty fire-spotting - some of the dye didn't dissolve completely, resulting in dark blobs and speckles where the concentrated dye sludge touched the shirt. However, two came out beautifully, one spectacularly so: Of course the rainbow on cobalt blue shirt is
- [Dyes, designs, and drafts](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/dyes-designs-and-drafts/) - Had a couple of friends over today to play in the dyepots. Mostly we did tie-dye, but some cotton and silk yarns got dyed, too (and turned out gorgeous!). And a wonderful time was had by all! I only dyed two shirts and some socks, but was very pleased with the results. One shirt is
- [Design analysis, Design Poker](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/design-analysis-design-poker/) - Yesterday, after flipping through several hundred photos of couture dresses, I selected fourteen that struck my eye. They weren't designs I would want to use, necessarily, but each of them had one or more features that drew my attention. So this morning I went through them and did a bit of design analysis. I had
- [Sample warp](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/sample-warp/) - Yesterday morning, I got up early and spent three solid hours working on the sample warp. In those three hours, I managed to thread, sley, tie on, debug, and weave about a foot worth of warp. (Don't look so impressed - there were only ~360 threads in the sample, so quick and easy to do.)
- [New gig!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/new-gig-2/) - My Secret Project is complete! After three months of job-hunting, today I accepted an offer from Skybox Imaging, a startup in Mountain View. I'll be coordinating five software teams as well as improving processes across the company - a perfect match for my professional interests. As an additional bonus, Skybox is doing The Coolest Stuff
- [Invoking the Muse](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/invoking-the-muse-2/) - I started design work on my next phoenix project this morning. Right now there are only three sure things about it: it's going to be evening wear, it's going to have phoenixes, and it's going to be faaaaaaabulous, dahhhling, fabulous. I'm fairly certain it will have a bell-shaped silhouette (think "big floofy skirt"), and that
- [Pleasantly aimless](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/pleasantly-aimless/) - I'm now officially between projects - the book proposal is out at the editor's, and I haven't started either the cloak fabric or the new Phoenix Rising design yet. (I have dyed the black yarn for the sample warp, though.) And - wonderful news - I think one of my secret projects may be coming
- [Two roads diverged in a wood...](https://tienchiu.com/2013/05/two-roads-diverged-in-a-wood/) - ...and I took both of them. I've decided to weave off the yardage for that fabulous garnet wool/cashmere/Lurex yarn, and work on the design for Phoenix Rising, all at once. Since the book proposal is out at the editor's for a week or so, I'll have some free time to devote to both projects. I've
- ["Just weave it"?](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/just-weave-it/) - I got home today and discovered two lovely blue packages on my doorstep - the yarn I ordered from Colourmart! Two kilograms of a wool/cashmere/lurex mix, about 4500 yards per pound. It's a softly twisted singles yarn, loosely plied with a strand of Lurex. It's a deep garnet, bordering on Bordeaux, and the Lurex (which
- [Done with the book proposal!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/done-with-the-book-proposal/) - Got myself unblocked and finished writing the draft of the book proposal. I've sent it out to a couple of writer friends for review (two have already said it looks great), and am waiting for feedback. In the interim, I've set the proposal aside for a few days, so I can look at it with
- [Hunting the wild book proposal](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/hunting-the-wild-book-proposal/) - The last two days have been astonishingly productive on the book proposal: I have completed the rough draft of the proposal, including the table of contents, and am working on the first of two sample chapters. I've written over three thousand words in the last two days, and while things are still rough, they're shaping
- [Still ruminating on design](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/still-ruminating-on-design/) - I've been thinking the last few days about design in fashion, and I think I've figured out why I've struggled so hard to design artwear using handwoven fabrics. It mostly has to do with focus and focal points. In fashion, most of the time, the focal point is established using texture, motifs, or embellishments -
- [Introducing Hypatia](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/introducing-hypatia/) - I scan Craigslist from time to time, looking for interesting weaving-related items. To my joy, this morning I found an 8-shaft, 22" Leclerc Minerva folding floor loom for sale, cheap. I had been looking for a workshop loom, and this would be perfect! So I ran up to Emeryville at lunchtime, handed over a wad
- [Of dyeing and design](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/of-dyeing-and-design/) - I know it's been five days since I posted anything. Lots of wonderful stuff has been happening! but mostly not stuff I can talk about yet, thus the radio silence. (But stay tuned - in a couple of weeks, I'm hoping to have excellent news!) However, not all is enshrouded in secrecy, and one of
- [Interested in talking to designers in craft](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/interested-in-talking-to-designers-in-craft/) - Short version: I'm looking to talk to people who are well-known designers in their craft - not just fiber arts, but things like jewelry, ceramics, glasswork, etc. (Plus fiber arts, of course - quilting, fashion design, etc.) If you have suggestions for people to talk to, please drop me a line at tien @ tienchiu.com
- [Of cloaks and chocolates](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/of-cloaks-and-chocolates/) - I just ordered some yarn for the cloak. I wanted something with glints of metallic red, so I ordered this: It's about 4500 yards per pound, which may be a bit heavy - but if so, I can always weave it with a finer weft. Also, I may use it in the color it currently
- [OK, back to phoenixes](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/ok-back-to-phoenixes/) - I've been in a bit of a post-project slump the last few days - helped liberally along by a to-do list that's totally out of control. However, I decided to chuck away the to-do list for an hour or two today to brainstorm the next project. I had planned to use the lacquered paper with
- [Five rules to live by](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/five-rules-to-live-by/) - I like to read the Daily Post at Wordpress.com, which often has interesting writing prompts. While I don't typically write about them, I find them thought-provoking, so I usually think through my response even if I don't write it down. The writing prompt from last Sunday was particularly intriguing: You've been asked to speak at
- [Home again!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/home-again/) - We got home late last night, but I woke up early due to jet lag. (I was getting up at 6 am on the East Coast, which of course is 3 am here - not the nicest of hours to be awake!) Just as well, I suppose - I have a tremendous amount to get
- [Reborn in Fire: Phoenix Rising](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/reborn-in-fire-phoenix-rising/) - Reborn in Fire: Phoenix Rising is the first in a series of pieces examining death and rebirth through the reborn phoenix.
- [The Celtic Braid Cape](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/the-celtic-braid-cape/) - My Celtic Braid Cape, inspired by a year spent working in an unheated garage! I wanted a luscious, yummy fabric to keep me warm on cold winter days. (Published in Handwoven, Jan/Feb 2013.)
- [It's about the work](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/its-about-the-work/) - You may recall that I'd been mulling over where to take my work next - primarily, whether to try selling my work in high-end galleries, establishing a "name" for myself as an artist and hopefully being collected by museums someday. (As opposed to continuing to show my work in the guild/craft world, which is mostly
- [A visit with Bhakti Ziek!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/a-visit-with-bhakti-ziek/) - We arrived at Boston's Logan Airport on Tuesday night, and immediately boarded a bus for Hanover, New Hampshire. We crashed in a wonderful hotel (the Hanover Inn, on the Dartmouth College campus) overnight, then met up with well-known weaver Bhakti Ziek (co-author of The Woven Pixel), who graciously hosted us on Wednesday evening at her
- [Magical moments](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/magical-moments/) - Me arriving at the museum: ...and with my dress, at the exhibit! I'm pleased to say that it had a place of honor - it was the central focus of its corner of the room, flanked by two or three dresses to either side. Also had a poster of me in the dress! visible in
- [Presenting "In the Inferno: Firebirds!"](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/presenting-in-the-inferno-firebirds/) - And here is the scarf, also photographed by Joe Decker: Have I mentioned that I love this scarf? Despite the couple of technical errors, it's gorgeous. And Joe did a stellar job with the photography.
- [Presenting Reborn in Fire: Phoenix Rising](https://tienchiu.com/2013/04/presenting-reborn-in-fire-phoenix-rising/) - Back from the photo shoot! Here is the exhibit entry photo for Reborn in Fire: Phoenix Rising: (Photo courtesy of the very talented Joe Decker.) I'm very pleased with how it turned out; minus one or two small holes (possibly from pinning during framing?) it looks pretty darned good. But wait until you see the
- [Finished weaving the scarf!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/finished-weaving-the-scarf/) - I finished weaving and dyeing the phoenix scarf yesterday, and am mulling over what to do with it. On the one hand, it's gorgeous. I just love it. On the other hand, it has quite a few flaws, which makes me wonder whether I should send it to the Woven Together: Firestorm exhibit. The most
- [More chocolates for the SJ Quilt Museum fundraiser!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/more-chocolates-for-the-sj-quilt-museum-fundraiser/) - The first batch of chocolates is gone (wow, they went fast!), but if you missed them, I'm making a special batch for the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles' fundraising appeal. (More details on the appeal here: http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/give.html .) This batch will be fudges, marshmallows, and (if I have time) caramels, and will come
- [Lights! Camera! ...](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/lights-camera/) - After working with my friend Lieven on setting up my area for photography, I realized I needed better lighting than I had. So I went to Amazon looking for a light setup, and to my surprise, found a basic lighting kit for just over $50! It arrived today, and now I have two light stands,
- [Torn from the typewriter](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/torn-from-the-typewriter/) - A piece of writing is never finished. It is delivered to a deadline, torn out of the typewriter on demand, sent off with a sense of accomplishment and shame and pride and frustration. If only there were a couple more days, time for just another run at it, perhaps then... - Donald Murray, The Maker's Eye:
- [Win some, lose some](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/win-some-lose-some/) - By working nonstop for about a day and a half, I have managed to get the phoenix piece mounted onto a piece of black velvet (I changed my mind about the color at the last minute), lined with black silk, and hung from a sleeve. I finished barely before my friend Lieven arrived to help
- [New cropping idea](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/new-cropping-idea/) - Super busy the last few days, and I have all-day vendor meetings at work today and Friday that will seriously interfere with creative work. (Get in early, leave late, and all that.) However, I have moved forward somewhat: I finished covering up the edges of the flames, and am now thinking about how to crop
- [On the edge](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/on-the-edge-2/) - The last few days I've mostly been writing - a small publisher has expressed possible interest in the book, which means I've been hastily fleshing out my table of contents and outlining the rest of the book so I have something to show them. Remarkably, it looks like I have only about thirty posts left
- [Spiral Shawl](https://tienchiu.com/2009/10/spiral-shawl/) - I started this shawl in June, 2003, shortly before AIDS Lifecycle 2. I had just finished my travel shawl, a blue silk shawl handspun on a drop spindle as I roamed around Southeast Asia on a quasi-pilgrimage, letting go of my past life and considering what came next. I knitted the travel shawl in a counterclockwise spiral as I wandered--which, in Wicca, means letting go, undoing. On my return, I needed a new project, so I decided to make a companion piece--a clockwise spiral that would help build my new life, the things I most valued.
- [Borders](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/borders/) - I went over to my friend Lisa's last night to get her view on the piece. Interestingly, she preferred an even longer version of the piece, showing a full row of phoenixes above the flame, like so: I liked the idea, which was to help the eye move out from the flames to the background,
- [Cut and fused](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/cut-and-fused/) - I spent several hours fiddling with the design yesterday and today, tweaking the proportions of the flames and the placement of the phoenixes until it felt Just Right. Then I cut and fused the fabric: I'm thinking I like the cropped background better, as it keeps the emphasis on the flames (and doesn't have those
- [Getting up the nerve](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/getting-up-the-nerve/) - Yesterday and today I modified the flames template to my satisfaction. The original simulation looked fine, but when I went to lay it out on the phoenix fabric, the proportions were wrong. The phoenixes weren't clearly visible - no matter how I laid out the templates, I was getting half-phoenixes instead of full ones. I
- [Reborn in fire](https://tienchiu.com/2013/03/reborn-in-fire/) - I took the phoenix samples to my Black Sheep Weavers Guild study group on Thursday, and discovered several interesting things. First, everyone (except me!) preferred what I had thought of as the back side of the sample: Here's the front side for comparison: They felt the phoenixes were much more prominently visible on the "reverse"
- [Halfway through](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/halfway-through-3/) - I've been pretty stressed out and busy the last few days (work-related stuff) - thus the radio silence. However, this morning I decided that enough was enough, and went off for some fiber therapy. As a result, I'm now about halfway through the black section of warp - here's a progress shot: I'm back to
- [Treasures from old Japan](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/treasures-from-old-japan/) - I went back to Stitches West this morning, this time to check out the vendor hall and help some friends do some shopping. I rapidly wound up back at John Marshall's booth and, after a lengthy video conference with my friend Alison, bought a bunch of fine silk yarn for her. (I'm not sure remote
- [Experiments in eight shafts](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/experiments-in-eight-shafts/) - I had a little warp left before the beginning of the black-warp section, and I had been considering entering the Handwoven Garment Contest with a silk scarf, so I decided to experiment a bit with eight-shaft turned S&W drafts on the same threading. I did one block design, which I didn't much like, and one
- [Loot!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/loot/) - I made a quick trip to Stitches West today. Stitches West is the biggest knitting convention in the U.S., or so I'm told - it is certainly overwhelmingly huge! There are hundreds and hundreds of vendors, selling all sorts of yarn, books, and fiber arts tools. It fills the entire Santa Clara Convention Center! Fortunately
- [Polymer clay interlude](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/polymer-clay-interlude/) - I got frustrated with my attempts at draping on Monday, and decided to play with polymer clay instead. I needed some examples for my book blog, and I thought they would be much quicker to pull together with polymer clay than with my various textile arts. Also, I had no experience with polymer clay, and
- [Progress on two fronts](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/progress-on-two-fronts-2/) - By weaving for three hours solid this morning, I finished the wall hanging. I scrunch-dyed it in shades of pale orange, yellow, and gold, and then overdyed it again with yellow after deciding some sections were too pale. And here it is (loose threads not yet clipped): You really have to look close up to
- [Another gloriously un-committed weekend](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/another-gloriously-un-committed-weekend/) - I nearly titled this post "Another gloriously idle weekend", except of course that I'm rarely idle! And today has been no exception...I was up a trifle before dawn, did twenty minutes of yoga, then plunged into dyeing the blank for the phoenix wall hanging. I mixed up seven concentrations of scarlet dye, fading from intense
- [Preparing to drape](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/preparing-to-drape/) - I overdyed the phoenix fabric yesterday, with perhaps too-subtle results: a slight, barely variegation between pink and yellow near the top, with (as expected) nearly no variegation at the bottom. I haven't posted a photo because the camera doesn't pick out the color subtleties very well, so the photograph looks much like the one I
- [Enlightening errors](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/enlightening-errors/) - The last few days have been exercises in disaster recovery... I had planned to make my entry to the Firestorm! exhibit by the Pikes Peak Weavers Guild a scarf, woven with a color-gradient weft going from scarlet to golden yellow. This would have made the phoenixes fly in and out of view, gold against a
- [A timely breather](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/a-timely-breather/) - This weekend is the first uncommitted weekend I have had since November! By "uncommitted" I mean that I am not traveling, teaching, or panicking about a hard deadline. I am caught up on my 400 unread emails, and have pared my to-do list down to six or seven items, most of which are simple tasks
- [Crimped phoenix sample](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/crimped-phoenix-sample/) - The last few days have been spent experimenting with airbrushing and stenciling on the warp, and making a crimped sample of the phoenix fabric. The airbrushing and stenciling weren't successful - there simply isn't enough background warp showing to get a visible design - but the crimped cloth turned out interesting. Here is the cloth
- [Crimp cloth](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/crimp-cloth/) - Many thanks to everyone for the comments on my last post - it's been a tough few days, but we're getting through. I loved that cat so much! and it's so hard to say goodbye, even when you know it's the best thing you can do for him. I wish cats lived as long as
- [The Fuzz](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/the-fuzz/) - Yesterday we lost our beloved cat, The Fuzz, at the age of 21 years and 7 months: Born in June of 1991, he initially "belonged" to my next-door neighbor, a family renting one of the apartments in the complex. I first met him as a several-month-old kitten, past the fluffball stage but still quite young,
- [Inspirations and idiocies](https://tienchiu.com/2013/02/inspirations-and-idiocies/) - I think I have found my inspiration for Phoenix Rising! I was looking through the Spring 2013 haute couture shows on Style.com, and found two beautiful pink-and-black striped dresses, one by Christian Dior and one by Jean-Paul Gaultier. The Christian Dior dress features opposing diagonal stripes (here's a link to the photo), and the Jean-Paul
- [A tale of two workshops](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/a-tale-of-two-workshops/) - My "Exploring the Design Process" workshop last weekend went well! We all had a blast, my students learned a lot (and loved it!), and it was wonderful seeing light bulbs going off in people's heads at various points of the workshop. Teaching it was grand fun, and I'd love to do it again. I'll put
- [A new tack](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/a-new-tack/) - I wasn't pleased with the streaking in the background of the phoenixes - which you can see pretty clearly in the photo below: After some discussion on WeaveTech and with Bonnie Inouye, I realized that the streaks would be difficult to eliminate, though (if the tension were perfectly even) I might be able to get
- [Second sample, reverse side](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/second-sample-reverse-side/) - I cut the second sample off the loom this evening. I was having some technical problems with the weaving, and after getting help from WeaveTech and Bonnie Inouye, decided I needed to cut off and re-sley the warp. So I'm midway through that process, but did get a lovely shot of the reverse side of
- [Phoenix Rising sample warp, round 2!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/phoenix-rising-sample-warp-round-2/) - I spent Saturday and Sunday mornings (before the workshop) debugging the second sample warp for Phoenix Rising, and finally managed to sit down and weave today! Here is a photo of the result: This particular section has a black ground warp and a gold/orange pattern warp. (Turned summer and winter, 80 epi, 120/2 silk ground
- [Taught my first workshop!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/taught-my-first-workshop/) - The workshop is over, and it went really well! The students had a lot of fun, they felt the material was valuable, and I got a lot of great feedback, so it's all good. We started by simply playing with materials - I brought paints, beads, embroidery floss, and tons of fancy yarns to get
- [Workshop preparation](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/workshop-preparation/) - Tomorrow I teach my first workshop! It's about the design process. The students will go from exploratory play to generating ideas to generating designs from their ideas, roughly following the sequence of the book I'm writing. Then we'll get into refining designs, identifying open design questions, and sampling to answer the design questions. At the
- [Starting the threading!](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/starting-the-threading/) - I got home from work tonight feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted - too tired to do anything requiring mental effort. So I made a beeline for the garage and started threading! It went quicker than I expected (about 5 threads/minute), and before I knew it, I had threaded up five inches' worth: Since my sample
- [Winding a back-to-front warp using the AVL Warping Wheel](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/winding-a-back-to-front-warp-using-the-avl-warping-wheel/) - I was describing my method for winding a back-to-front warp on the AVL Warping Wheel to someone on WeaveTech, and he asked me to post photos next time I did it. So here are the photos: (I apologize for the rather busy background; my studio is in the garage, and this was the best I
- [Rigid heddle sampler](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/rigid-heddle-sampler/) - Here's the beginning of my rigid heddle sampler: Here I was playing with materials (unspun wool roving), textures (furry vs. fuzzy vs. smooth), and a little bit with color (orange/purple and yellow/purple). Like much of my work, the purpose of this sample isn't to be a finished work, but an exploration of materials and ideas
- [New adventure](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/new-adventure/) - I'm teaching a workshop on the creative process this weekend, and it occurred to me that I should probably work through the exercises in the workshop beforehand, to identify possible snags and to provide examples to the students. Also, I need to write up handouts for the class. That plus a new-to-me loom has prompted
- [What to see?](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/what-to-see/) - I hadn't planned to book my flight to Boston for another month or two, but snapped up an insanely low airfare offer today - round-trip travel to the East Coast for only $330, including tax! That's unbelievable. (I paid more than that twenty years ago!) So anyway, I'll be flying to Boston on April 2nd,
- [Projects in the new year](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/projects-in-the-new-year/) - The last couple of days have been exceptionally busy, but not particularly interesting. I came home to a studio that was literally buried in Stuff. I couldn't even walk in 2/3 of the studio because of all the Stuff, and my worktable was piled about two feet high - no exaggeration! So the first order
- [On harnessing chaos](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/on-harnessing-chaos/) - I believe that everyone has a "chaos field": something that throws interesting and sometimes totally random things your way. People with strong chaos fields tend to have neat (and not-so-neat) things happen to them, often from out of the blue. This can be a boon or a curse, depending on which way the dice are
- [Welcoming the New Year](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/welcoming-the-new-year/) - Welcome to 2013! Over the past two weeks, I've been thinking about my goals and resolutions for the New Year. I think my New Year's resolution is to commit to less, and relax more. In short, to avoid resolutions and intentions as much as possible. This isn't because I intend to be a slacker. Rather,
- [A hat! A most palpable hat!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/a-hat-a-most-palpable-hat/) - We flew to Chicago yesterday. Chicago, of course, is much chillier than the San Francisco Bay Area, so we packed our cold weather gear. You know, coats, gloves, hats... ...hats? I went searching through my cold weather gear, and wasn't able to find my previously knitted Festive Hats (they must have gotten lost in the
- [Rewound and ready](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/rewound-and-ready/) - In the last two days, I've rewound and dyed the two warps, along with some skeins of weft yarn. (The previous warps were not salvageable, so I sent them off to someone who is making cut-pile silk pieces from it.) I did make one screw-up, which means that the pattern warp in the last scarf
- [Start over?](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/start-over/) - I beamed on both warps yesterday, which took about three hours. It could have been quicker, except that I had to line up the warps carefully so the marked-off lines coincided: Unfortunately, I ran into serious problems with the yellow pattern warp, which had tangled badly, resulting in this mess: See the loose threads? I
- [Another dye day](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/another-dye-day/) - Yesterday we had a beautiful clear blue sky, so I ran outside and started dyeing. I had three sweatshirts, three button-down shirts, four sports bras, and six pairs of socks to dye, plus my warp and weft yarns. So I mixed up my colors and got to work! Here are the sweatshirts: They all look
- [Wrapped resist as a warp-painting marker](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/wrapped-resist-as-a-warp-painting-marker/) - I spent the morning winding and tying off the next sample warp. Because I have two warps to paint and they need to synchronize, I needed to come up with a way to mark off the color sequence changes. I also wanted to keep the color sequences separate from each other, so that (for example)
- [Design principles](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/design-principles/) - I'm currently writing the section in my book blog on design principles, and since it would take far too long to cover two and three dimensional design in its entirety, I'm trying to pick out a few critical principles - both of how design works and how to create a good design. (Here I'm talking
- [Warp planning completed!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/warp-planning-completed/) - I finished planning out my warp yesterday. Here is the graphic of the color sequence: The left-hand column is the ground warp, the center column the pattern warp. The right-hand column is the weft. As you can probably guess, the bottom three sections (which will be the first ones woven) will be samples. The first
- [Pick your poison](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/pick-your-poison/) - I've been thinking about waste for the last day - how to define it, and how to minimize it. I'm working on my next sample, listing out the various things I want to try, and the things I could potentially make from the sample. The problem is that until I sample various color combinations, I
- [Handwoven articles; planning the next sample](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/handwoven-articles-planning-the-next-sample/) - I'm pleased to say that the new Handwoven magazine (Jan/Feb issue) is out! This one contains not one, but two articles by me - one on Complex Weavers (p. 14) and one on my Celtic Braid Cape (p. 59). Check it out! I'm considering what to do with the rest of the sample warp. I
- [Holiday cards](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/holiday-cards-2/) - The finished sample had too many flaws to use as a wall hanging, so I decided to make part of it into holiday cards. I only made a few of them - basically enough to exchange with other people who sent me handwoven holiday cards. But as they're quite pretty, I thought I'd share a
- [Stewing, gingerly](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/stewing-gingerly/) - A couple of people asked me for my recipe for the ginger stew. I never measure anymore, so the quantities may be off, but here's the rough idea: For two gallons of soup: 4 lbs of stew beef (I use chuck roast) 2 tbsp lard or other oil 2-3 large onions, cut in 1" dice
- [More pretty birdies](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/more-pretty-birdies/) - I finished debugging the sample last night, and started weaving the scarf-length section.This section of warp has a scarlet ground warp and a pattern warp that shades gradually from scarlet to orange to yellow and then back again, which should (at least in theory) produce phoenixes that start out invisible and gradually become sharply visible,
- [Look at the pretty birdie](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/look-at-the-pretty-birdie/) - Five hours of unremitting labor today produced this: That's the fine-tuned sample. The first few hours of work looked quite different: Even with all the care I took in threading and sleying, a lot of debugging was needed. (Count the pins in the photo if you don't believe me.) Then I had to fix the
- [Oh what fun, to laugh and sing...](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/oh-what-fun-to-laugh-and-sing/) - ...a sleying song tonight! Actually, this morning, when I finished sleying the reed: Since this photo, I've tied on, though there is still a good bit of fiddling to do in back before I'm ready to weave. But whee! I'm making progress.
- [Half threaded](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/half-threaded/) - By ignoring most of my other to-dos, I've managed to thread half the sample: Today I need to get back to writing and book reviews, but will carve out at least an hour or so to work on threading. It's going pretty quickly, considering that I'm working with two warps in very fine threads (pattern
- [Finally threading!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/finally-threading/) - My to-do list is just as long as ever, but last night I decided "To heck with it - I want to weave!" So I started threading up the loom: So far I'm only about 10% done, but since I have 1000+ threads in this sample, this isn't surprising. I'm headed out to the garage
- [Don't judge yourself by your work](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/dont-judge-yourself-by-your-work/) - This week has been full of unglamorous tasks, like digging out the studio from an unholy mess, cleaning up chocolate debris, and so on. I've also been writing posts for my book blog, and am now about a week ahead, good enough for now. I have lots of things pressing for my attention, and not
- [Sheepskin!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/12/sheepskin/) - I must confess to sheepskin lust. I've wanted a beautiful two-tone sheepskin ever since seeing this gorgeous one on the Nistock Farms web page: Alas, for pelts like this they already have a waiting list thirteen people long! But they periodically have new, interestingly colored sheepskins, so I have been faithfully checking their website for
- [Ready to thread](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/ready-to-thread-2/) - I've spent the last few days getting the turned summer and winter warp ready for threading. Unglamorous, but necessary! I've spread the second warp in the raddle (which will space it out when weaving), inserted the lease sticks, and rearranged the heddles to accommodate the S&W threading, which puts half the heddles on the first
- [Flown the nest](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/flown-the-nest/) - This morning the fine arts shippers arrived to cart off the wedding dress. It is, at long last, on its way to its new home - the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts. I'm not quite sure what to think. On the one hand, I love that piece dearly, as only a person who
- [More thoughts on Phoenix Rising](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/more-thoughts-on-phoenix-rising/) - I spent most of the flight home working through design exercises for Phoenix Rising, as examples for the book. In the process, I've conceived a few new ideas. The top one is to rearrange the wall hanging so that instead of phoenixes flying atop a black background, you have a black foreground with phoenix-shaped cutouts,
- [Okay, break's over](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/okay-breaks-over/) - It's been a pleasantly lazy four days - sleeping in, spending time with relatives and friends, and doing not much of anything. After the whirlwind of Chocopalooza, I needed a break! But we're flying home today, which will also be wonderful - too much idleness sends me up the wall! I'll probably do some more
- [The sound of silence](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/the-sound-of-silence/) - I woke up this morning and went to my to-do list to see what urgently needed doing. And do you know what? There wasn't anything! The book blog is up to date through Saturday (and I plan to spend the plane flight working on it today), so while there are items I could work on,
- [A few photos from the packing party](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/a-few-photos-from-the-packing-party/) - My friend Brian took some photos during the packing party that captured the sheer volume of the operation. So here they are: The packing process has been streamlined by my friends over the years, and has become remarkably efficient. First, all the chocolates get put into cups, which takes about two hours with eight people
- [Presenting the 2012 fall collection](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/presenting-the-2012-fall-collection/) - Whew! What a week it's been. I made 103 pounds, 12 ounces of chocolates, in thirty flavors, most of it in just four days. (That's 47 kg of chocolate, for non-US folks.) I used about sixty-six pounds (30 kg) of dark chocolate, thirteen pounds of white chocolate, and about three pounds of milk chocolate. Plus
- [A whirlwind of chocolate](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/a-whirlwind-of-chocolate/) - Sorry for the radio silence - I been busy! I spent most of the last few days "in the weeds", as they say - behind on the production schedule despite considerable help from friends. (Thus, no time for blogging!) I also had five unexpected batch failures (which is very unusual): the orange blossom ganache separated
- [Life in the chocolate factory, Day One](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/life-in-the-chocolate-factory-day-one/) - I was pretty frustrated with how little we got done yesterday, until I looked back and realized how much we actually got done! Here is your eye candy for today (the candied citrus is not included - it got put away before I could take a photo): I'm moderately happy with the hand-painted backgrounds: I
- [We who are about to chocolatier salute you](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/we-who-are-about-to-chocolatier-salute-you/) - Chocopalooza begins today! I plan to start with a whole lot of chocolate-dipping. I have the following centers more or less ready to go: candied yuzu, bergamot, grapefruit, and Meyer lemon peels hazelnut gianduja with raspberry-orange fruit pate peanut gianduja with Concord grape fruit pate Coconut almond fudge ginger-lime-chile caramels (to be dipped in chocolate
- [Transfer sheet results](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/transfer-sheet-results/) - Made two kinds of fruit jellies yesterday - Concord grape and raspberry-orange - and also spread melted chocolate over the transfer sheets. Here's what resulted: I'm not wild about any of these, except possibly the cats with the white background on the right-hand side of the second photo. The colors are too dark, or rather
- [Painted transfer sheets](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/painted-transfer-sheets/) - Yesterday I burned myself (mildly, as it turns out) while pouring the Concord grape pate, so instead of doing more kitchen work I turned to painting with cocoa butter. First I painted some holly leaves: These were painted with a brush dipped in melted, colored cocoa butter - the red berry first, then the green
- [Eye candy](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/eye-candy-2/) - I got up this morning and did some prep work: putting away the caramels and the toffee, and laying out the candied citrus peels for later dipping. Here are the results of my labors: For those who aren't familiar with exotic citrus, Meyer lemons are a cross between an orange and a lemon. Unlike Eureka
- [Intriguing new ideas](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/intriguing-new-ideas/) - Clever people, chocolatiers. I realized yesterday during inventory that I didn't have enough chocolate transfer sheet patterns to decorate 19 flavors of bonbons, so I went off to my favorite places to shop for transfer sheets. To my horror, I discovered that Chocotransfersheets.com wasn't offering holiday assortments any more, so I hopped on over to
- [More fudge](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/more-fudge/) - I have been hiding under a rock for the last few days to avoid the pre-election barrage of ads, political Facebook posts, etc. Fortunately, my rock is made of fudge, so I've been very well-fed (or well-sugared, anyway) for the last few days. I have remade my lavender-lemon-vanilla fudge and coconut fudges, as the previous
- [Fudges complete!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/fudges-complete/) - I didn't have much time for candymaking yesterday - between shopping for groceries, lunch, and date night, I only had about four hours to work on fudge. But fortunately fudges are quick to make, and I completed all five batches of fudge: lavender-lemon-vanilla (with white chocolate), coconut tequila lime, plain coconut (which will be dipped
- [Final flavors for 2012](https://tienchiu.com/2012/11/final-flavors-for-2012/) - I've now finalized the flavor list, paring things down to 32 varieties of chocolates. I've also completed the spreadsheet of ingredients, made my shopping list, and divided up the items between the days I'll be working. In short, I've got a project plan. (Why yes, I am a professional project manager, why do you ask?
- [Caught chocolatiering](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/caught-chocolatiering/) - My friend Carla took a photo of me last week that I thought was pretty cool, so I thought I'd post it (with permission, of course): In front of me are the various fillings we prepped on Sunday - raspberry-orange fruit jellies in the foreground, Concord grape next to the raspberry, and maple fudge, strawberry
- [Sugar high](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/sugar-high/) - Yesterday I cut and dipped most of my test flavors, doing about 20-30 of each flavor plus some extras at the end to use up the dipping chocolate. Here's a couple shots from the process: And here are my tasting notes: Maple fudge with pecan gianduja: The maple flavor is overwhelming and overpowers the pecan
- [Life in the chocolate mines](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/life-in-the-chocolate-mines/) - A friend from Maryland came by today and helped in the chocolate test kitchens. Together we made: raspberry-orange fruit gels Concord grape fruit gels strawberry fruit gels toasted pecan gianduja toasted walnut gianduja (with milk chocolate) hazelnut gianduja maple fudge salted caramels Most of these are half-flavors, not finished ones in themselves. Tomorrow I will
- [Breakfast of champions](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/breakfast-of-champions-2/) - The chocolate gremlins finally caught up with me last night, so I've been slaving away in the test kitchen. Yesterday I mixed up thirteen flavors of ganache, mixing batches of white chocolate, dark chocolate, and two types of milk chocolate ganaches and then adding flavorings: orange blossom extract, lychee puree, maple syrup, and sassafras. Plus
- [How to think about design rules](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/how-to-think-about-design-rules/) - While working on the book this morning, I was struck by the number of admonitions about "rules" in craft work - either laying down a list of things to do and not-do, or urging you to break all the rules and "just do it". I think both approaches are wrong. There definitely are design rules,
- [Adapting existing designs](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/adapting-existing-designs/) - I'm now about two weeks ahead on the book blog, and have come to the section on generating new designs from existing ones. It's really forced me to think about how an existing design can be adapted. I started with SCAMPER, which is a tool used by designers to create new designs from old. It's
- [Reflections on the past year](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/reflections-on-the-past-year/) - OK, I wasn't planning to do anything special for my sixth weaving birthday, but I decided that it's good to reflect on the past and the future at least once a year, and my weaving birthday seems an appropriate occasion. So here goes: There was only one memorable event this year, but it was huge:
- [Marvelous marshmallows](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/marvelous-marshmallows/) - Sorry for the radio silence, but I have been out having fun! This weekend I felt like I finally hit my stride again, after a stressed-out month or so. I dyed the pattern warp for Phoenix Rising (currently drying), upgraded the drive system on my chocolate tempering machine, made four batches of marshmallows, tempered the
- [Holiday cards](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/holiday-cards/) - I've just finished designing my holiday cards! A bit ahead of schedule, but I expect things to be super busy the next few weeks, so might as well get a jump on things. They will be tucked in with each box of chocolates. Here's our card for 2012: I've also updated address lists, ordered shipping
- [The phoenixes are multiplying](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/the-phoenixes-are-multiplying/) - I was making mind maps for Phoenix Rising this morning, mostly to serve as examples for my book blog entry on mind maps (which will be published in a week or two). I did a series of three, focusing on a different aspect each time, and hit a "Eureka!" moment with the third one: (If
- [Prep work](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/prep-work/) - I've now (re)wound the pattern warp for the Phoenix Rising sample, and am preparing to dye it. I won't be able to get to it today, though, because I have to take my wedding dress to the dry cleaners - the American Textile History Museum is finally ready to receive it, and I want to
- [Some thoughts on creative block](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/some-thoughts-on-creative-block/) - A lot of crafters/writers/artists run into creative block ("writer's block" for crafters), and end up waiting around for inspiration to hit. I rarely suffer from this kind of block (you may have noticed!), but it's not because there's something supernatural about me. It's because I practice creativity and creative thinking constantly - so I'm in
- [Two steps forward, one step back](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/two-steps-forward-one-step-back-3/) - This morning, a triumph! I got the tabby warp - wound, painted, washed, and dried - onto the loom. I beamed it back to front with a trapeze, and it worked beautifully and went on fast. I only broke five threads of the 140/2 silk while beaming, and could happily ignore them since I had
- [Celebrating one decade of blogging!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/celebrating-one-decade-of-blogging/) - Yes, that's right, I started blogging ten years ago today, as I set out on my epic journey through Southeast Asia. It's been a pretty wild ride - everything from eating scorpions in Thailand to weaving in Ghana - and I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I hope you have too! Curiously, it's also
- [Frustration and grief](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/frustration-and-grief/) - Yesterday after work I ran out and hand-painted the 140/2 silk warp. Or tried to. I made two critical errors: first, I had planned the painting in the wrong direction (beginning from the front of the warp rather than the back), and second, I decided to plow on with the dyeing even though I knew
- [A "time leak"](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/a-time-leak/) - Software engineers speak of "memory leaks", where a program doesn't release computer memory properly. One minute it's working fine and a few minutes later, your system has turned to molasses. Well, I've examined the last two weeks and have concluded that I'm suffering from time leaks. Something is simply sucking up time and not releasing
- [Clearing the plate](https://tienchiu.com/2012/10/clearing-the-plate/) - Yesterday I looked at my collection of projects (book, three-dimensional design class, upcoming creativity class, Phoenix Rising, chocolates) and decided that I was overcommitted. Normally I can handle two or three Major Projects running in parallel, butfive? Too many, and it was stressing me out. So I decided to ditch the three-dimensional design class (fortunately
- [Playing hooky](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/playing-hooky/) - Faced with an overwhelmingly long to-do list, with lots of projects demanding attention, I'm doing the only possible thing: playing hooky for the day. More accurately, I'm spending the day playing with chocolate. This is a project near the bottom of the urgency list, but it sounds like more fun and requires less concentration than
- [Warping frustration; book update](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/warping-frustration-book-update/) - Yesterday I wound the first six inches of the pattern warp. This morning I threw it away. Intensely frustrating, yes, but not entirely surprising. I am totally out of practice with putting on warps; I've only put on two in the last year! (Admittedly, one of them was 37 yards of 60/2 silk, and took
- [Planning phoenixes](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/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
- [A car full of chocolate](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/a-car-full-of-chocolate/) - I went by my favorite restaurant wholesaler (Pacific Gourmet) today. Normally they sell to businesses only (in fact it says that on the pricelist page), but if you are ordering more than $75 and are willing to pick up at their warehouse in San Francisco, they'll sell to individuals. No problem with the minimum order
- [Too busy to get anything done](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/too-busy-to-get-anything-done/) - This weekend I was mourning my total lack of productivity - I had been too busy to get anything done! More urgent things got in the way of what I wanted to do, and as a result I felt I hadn't accomplished anything. Then I looked back on what I'd actually done, and had to
- [Phoenixes, revised](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/phoenixes-revised/) - I revised the phoenixes this morning, lengthening the tail and making it more fluttery, more like a real phoenix. I also changed from full Summer & Winter treadling units to half-units, which I think will yield a better aspect ratio. And then I schlepped it into Photoshop and ran a few more simulations. Here they
- [Do what you can't NOT do](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/do-what-you-cant-not-do/) - At my guild meeting yesterday, the well-known rug weaver Martha Stanley spoke about her passion, rug weaving. She had some utterly beautiful rugs there, and talked about how she made them, but what really struck me was her comment that she weaves because she can't NOT weave, and that this principle - doing whatever you
- [Chocolate season approacheth](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/chocolate-season-approacheth/) - This year's chocolate extravaganza is scheduled for Nov 21-24, with the chocolate packing party on November 25. That's still about two months out, but because I like to trial my new flavors well in advance, I want to get started in the next month or so. Also, for various reasons, it makes sense for me
- [Phoenixes, Summer and Winter](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/phoenixes-summer-and-winter/) - I'm still digging out from under my backlog (would you believe, over 500 unread emails?), but I stole some time today and created a turned Summer and Winter draft for the phoenixes on 24 shafts: And here is the "fabric" (warning: the full-size image is about 2 MB): And here are some color simulations: I
- [Phoenix profile draft](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/phoenix-profile-draft/) - I spent some time tinkering this morning and came up with the following profile draft: It still needs considerable work (the profile draft is on 24 shafts so I need to respace/resize it for 22 in order to weave it as a tied weave) but I really like the image - it's obviously a bird
- [Complex Weavers Seminars](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/complex-weavers-seminars/) - I had a wonderful time at Complex Weavers Seminars. I took six seminars: collapse weaves, turned tied weaves, double weave, four color double weave, three-shaft weaves, and crepe weaves. I learned a lot - I couldn't always follow every detail, but I got the main idea in all six seminars and am looking forward to
- [Nonstop party girl](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/nonstop-party-girl/) - Those of you who know me personally will know that, in general, I'd rather be in the studio than anywhere else, including and especially parties. I'm an introvert, and while I handle people interactions with reasonable aplomb, I nonetheless find dealing with people somewhat draining and therefore tend to do as little of it as
- [New business cards](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/new-business-cards/) - The latest book post is up! This one is on the importance of staying flexible about your vision, letting it evolve rather than trying to define everything up front. (It also has pictures of adorable little piggy dumplings, for the food nerds among us.) It finally occurred to me - this morning! - that it
- [Drinking from the fire hose](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/drinking-from-the-fire-hose/) - In between being feasting with my family (two big dinner parties and one lunch party in two days), I've been devouring books on building an author platform (more or less the same as "audience"). Whew! SEO, Twitter, Facebook. Business cards. Headshots. What a lot to think about, and do! The good news is that I
- [Journaling](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/journaling/) - While I haven't figured out the "What next?" question yet, I do think I'm going to do something somewhat daring, that will stretch my creative boundaries and help develop my artistic voice. I'm going to start keeping a journal again. I haven't been very introspective for the last decade or so, primarily because I spent
- [What's around the corner?](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/whats-around-the-corner/) - I'm debating what to do next, now that the Celtic Braid Coat is done. I have the book blog well under way, but it's not a craft project and I'm really not happy unless I'm working with my hands, so I need something more physical to work on. I have a class in three-dimensional design
- [Book contents - need feedback!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/book-contents-need-feedback/) - Hi all, Cross-posting from the book blog, since I know not all of you are reading it (yet) and I would like to get feedback from as wide an audience as possible: I've finished my chapter outline, and am looking for feedback! Below is my list of chapters and subtopics so far. What do you
- [Presenting the Celtic Braid Coat!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/presenting-the-celtic-braid-coat/) - We did the photo shoot today. Here are the photos! (with thanks to Zane Artistry (makeup) and Joe Decker/Rockslide Photography. All images copyright 2012 Joe Decker, used with permission.) And that wraps it up! On to the next project!
- [Almost done!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/09/almost-done-3/) - After two days of obsessively working on it, the Celtic Braid Coat is just about done. I need to remove the basting stitches, tack down one seam, and sew in two snaps to hold the collar closed. And that...is...IT!! Which is a good thing, too, because my photo shoot is tomorrow! (Makeup starts at 2pm...the
- [Book blog is up!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/book-blog-is-up/) - I've spent the last two days putting up the website for my blogged book, Creating Craft: A Guide to Designing Original Pieces. I'm pretty pleased with the layout of the website and the various features (contact form, social bookmarking, etc.) that I set up for it. I also set up a Facebook page, but am
- [Woven katazome](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/woven-katazome/) - Today I wove up the katazome-d warps. They still need a final round of dyeing, but here is what they look like now: These are nowhere near done. Tomorrow I will mix up some acid dyes and paint on dyes in appropriate places. I'm not going to use stencils because the length of the motifs
- [Of cone-winding and katazome](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/of-cone-winding-and-katazome/) - Those with long memories may recall that Sandra Rude's husband B. was kind enough to make me an adapter so I could wind cones on my double-ended electric bobbin winder. However, he doesn't do it commercially, and the adapter only works with one cone size, so when I saw the Magical Moons adapters - which
- [Focus, honey, focus!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/focus-honey-focus/) - I've been busily at work on the book, reading through Nina Amir's How to Blog a Book and doing some of the exercises that I should have done beforehand - things like identifying my audience, writing the mission statement and "pitch" for the book, and so on. I've also been contemplating domain names (thanks for all
- [How to Blog a Book](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/how-to-blog-a-book/) - Remember the book? Or had it fallen out of your memory, as it had mine? Well, I stumbled across this website/blog/book yesterday, and it might just be the solution to getting that first draft written. It's basically about how to write your book as a series of blog posts, getting feedback and building an audience
- [Simulation of cross-dyed double katazome](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/simulation-of-cross-dyed-double-katazome/) - I did some Photoshop simulations of cross-dyed double katazome - my shorthand for "katazome on the warp and on the finished fabric". This simulates what happens when you do katazome on a cellulose warp, weave the fabric with a protein-fiber weft, and then do katazome on the finished fabric using acid dyes (which will dye
- [Buttons](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/buttons-2/) - I've made considerable progress on the Celtic Braid Coat, having reworked the lining, assembled the collar, and basted the cape to the vest. Now I'm considering what button to put on the collar. I have three possibilities: At the moment I am inclined towards the dotted button (second photo). The first button, while beautiful, calls
- [Color and value studies](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/color-and-value-studies/) - My quilting design class is moving along, and I find I'm getting a lot out of it. Interestingly, there is nothing in it that I didn't already "know" from reading, but since I hadn't practiced actual designs, the exercises are proving really useful. Here is the result of some of the exercises, in color and
- [A Blog of Impossible Things](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/a-blog-of-impossible-things/) - A friend sent me a link to Joel Runyon's website, particularly his story "An Unexpected Ass-Kicking", about his chance encounter (in a coffee shop!) with computer legend Russell Kirsch. That got me curious, so I read his followup article, "7 Things I Learned from My Encounter with Russell Kirsch", and then explored more of his
- [Considering the problem](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/considering-the-problem/) - Thanks to everyone who left comments on my last post! That was very helpful. I thought things through a little more, and came up with a diagram that illustrates the problem I'm trying to solve: Anywhere in the fuchsia circle is acceptable to me, of course, but I'm striving to get more of my work
- [Giving myself permission](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/giving-myself-permission/) - I've been thinking more about the art classes, and particularly about whether I'm looking for validation or education - whether my interest is because "you can't be a real artist without an art education" or whether it's a genuine need for knowledge. Today's blog post is about the first part - validation, or "giving myself
- [Dye Day 2](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/dye-day-2/) - First, some housekeeping: email notifications are now working! Amy was nice enough to email me to let me know that it wasn't working (and apparently hadn't been for some time), so I fixed it. If you were subscribed but no longer want to be, you can either unsubscribe from my website (the top right of
- [test post](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/test-post/) - testing subscriber notification!
- [Further education](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/further-education/) - I have been mulling over Randy Darwall's advice to study design, and have been looking around for study options. Unfortunately, while the Bay Area is (relatively) rich in academic textile programs, the options seem to be limited to either very expensive single classes ($4800 per class!) or full-time master's degree programs (which I also can't
- [Fast-forward to fruitcake](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/fast-forward-to-fruitcake/) - If I had to pick a song to describe the last few days, it would probably be the Gilligan Island theme song: Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip... (For those too young to remember Gilligan's Island, it was a hilarious comedy about seven people stranded on
- [Katazome and stenciling on warps](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/katazome-and-stenciling-on-warps/) - This morning, I watched Elda Kohls' video Ikat on the Loom , which details how to stencil on a warp that is under tension on the loom. Her description of the process and tools is very clear and detailed, and inspired me to try it out. I mixed up some thin fabric paint, applied it through
- [Third time's the charm](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/third-times-the-charm/) - Yesterday I played hooky from the Celtic Braid Coat for one more day, and puttered around with dyes instead. Here are the three shirts after round three: This one came out pretty well. (Click for the larger version.) I had two goals with this round of dyeing: warm up the colors a bit, since I
- [Dyeing, round 2](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/dyeing-round-2/) - I snuck out of the house early this morning to do a second round of dyeing. Here are the "Extreme Makeover" shots, with commentary: I basically like the way this came out. The orange-red was too assertive for my tastes, and the black tones it down considerably. It looks dark, brooding, and mysterious. All except
- [Serendipitous surprises](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/serendipitous-surprises/) - What a wonderful day! I dyed seven shirts, made a big batch of zucchini chips (take that, Audrey II!), and made three quarts of bread-and-butter pickles from our garden's cucumbers. I'm fond of bread and butter pickles, but the ones sold in supermarkets bear very little resemblance to the "real" ones I make. I don't
- [Dye day, prelude](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/dye-day-prelude/) - I'm currently stymied on the Celtic Braid Coat (the bound buttonholes are giving me conniptions), and since it isn't due until September, I've decided to take a break for a day or two and have my dye play day today. Techniques for the day include tie-dye, low-water immersion, tray dyeing, and ice dyeing - next
- [Pieced panels](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/pieced-panels/) - After four or five hours of work, I finally have the side panels pieced and cut. And they look pretty good! Here they are: The piecing is regular and the pattern clearly suggests a braid. Now I need to sew up the body of the jacket, recut and re-sew two lining pieces, and make a
- [Katazome + cross-dyeing - oh, the possibilities!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/katazome-cross-dyeing-oh-the-possibilities/) - As I prepare to wrap up the Celtic Braid Coat, I'm thinking about my next project. I think I'm going to do katazome on warps and mix it up with cross-dyeing. Here, at least in theory, is how it works: Starting with a white warp in a cellulose fiber (cotton, rayon, linen, etc.): First, you
- [Piecing](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/piecing/) - I finished the outside shell of the Celtic Braid Coat yesterday, and decided I didn't like it. The silk noil is black, all right, but not the deep black of the suede. So, placed next to each other, the noil looks like it's charcoal, not black, and just doesn't play well: So I've decided to
- [Why Phoenix Rising?](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/why-phoenix-rising/) - I'm currently taking an online design class, Inspired to Design by Elizabeth Barton - I love her blog and spontaneously decided to sign up for the class (it was only $37, so not a difficult decision!). We're going through a number of design exercises meant to help us develop ideas, analyze and refine designs, and eventually make
- [(Re)introducing Audrey II](https://tienchiu.com/2012/08/reintroducing-audrey-ii/) - Perhaps you've forgotten all about the rampaging zucchini plant, last seen a few weeks ago. Or perhaps not. In any event, I thought it was time I provided an update. The plant, which I have affectionately (?) named Audrey II (devotees of Little Shop of Horrors will understand why), is continuing to rampage. It is also
- [Destined to dye](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/destined-to-dye/) - I'm starting to accumulate clothing in need of color: one new terry cloth bathrobe (the old one being quite threadbare) seven button-down shirts, suitable for work if dyed conservatively enough half a dozen white T-shirts one or two sports bras three pairs of bamboo socks three pairs of cotton socks 3 pairs of sweatpants ...and
- [Draping the cape](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/draping-the-cape/) - I didn't make it to the Gaultier exhibit today, electing instead to work on the Celtic Braid Coat. After much fussing, I managed to get the cape edges sewn, turned right side out, and pressed. There is still a lot of understitching, trimming, etc. to be done before the cape is complete, but at least
- [And the winner is...](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/and-the-winner-is/) - ...the Bernina 830! I spent six hours testing sewing machines yesterday, four on the (unfamiliar) Bernina 830 and two on the Bernette 740E. I tested on 10 fabrics: silk paj (a very lightweight habotai/china silk), silk chiffon, silk organza, muslin, a thick handwoven fabric, denim, heavy canvas duck, leather, velvet, and silk charmeuse. Both machines did
- [Battle of the Berninas!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/battle-of-the-berninas/) - You may recall that, a few blog posts back, I said I was perfectly happy with my Bernette 740E and wasn't planning on upgrading. Well, but then I saw a Bernina 830 Record on Craigslist, priced very attractively. I investigated, and it turned out to be a gem of a machine, carefully and lovingly tuned up
- [Food for thought](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/food-for-thought/) - I went to a workshop with Randy Darwall yesterday, and he suggested that I get formal art/design training if I were interested in making art-to-wear on the exhibition and museum circuit (which is quite different from the craft circuit). This matches more or less with my assessment: I can figure out (or get help with)
- [Fun with Illustrator](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/fun-with-illustrator/) - The Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the De Young Museum was fantastic - and photos are allowed, as long as you don't use flash! I hadn't realized that, or I would have brought my camera. I did manage to snap 40-odd photos with my cell phone, but I'm planning to go back to the exhibit next
- [Machine vs. hand](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/machine-vs-hand/) - I tried the "diamond shaped buttonhole" idea yesterday night, sewing a square patch of leather to the Celtic braid fabric and then binding the buttonhole with black China silk. It worked OK, but I didn't like the look of the machine-stitched patch, so tried sewing on by hand. Behold the reason I prefer hand-stitching for
- [Weaving again!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/weaving-again/) - I spent this afternoon clearing out and re-reorganizing the garage. The loom is now usable! Here is a shot of Sophie, looking much more comfortable after the removal of all the stuff that was piled around and against her: And after hooking everything up, of course, I had to weave a little something to make
- [Buttons and buttonholes](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/buttons-and-buttonholes-2/) - Laura commented on my last post, "Why not use vertical buttonholes?", which, DUH!, was the solution. Or half of the solution - the other half being how to align the buttons and the buttonholes gracefully. I'll spare you the gory details of my attempts - which involved round, triangular, and bar-shaped buttons, hand-dyed maroon silk
- [(Re)designing the Celtic Braid Coat](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/redesigning-the-celtic-braid-coat/) - I finished joining panels of fabric and cutting out the cape yesterday, so I just had to do another draped simulation. Then I got to messing with the buttonhole design... Here's what I tried first - black vest with bound buttonholes made of red-and-black leather (a red lambskin imprinted with snakeskin patterns): And here is a
- [Joining panels](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/joining-panels/) - Back to the Celtic Braid Coat: The "wings" of the cape are 33 inches wide, which is a problem if you only have 22.5" fabric. The solution, of course, is to join the panels. The problem with that solution, of course, is that this particular fabric has very prominent stripes, meaning if you're just a
- [Design Poker, Round Two](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/design-poker-round-two/) - I got up and played six more games of Design Poker this morning. It's addictive! It's like free-writing - there is no right and no wrong, it's OK to make mistakes, it's OK if it doesn't work - it's a five-minute sketch and you can throw away the results if you want. No investment, but
- [Design poker](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/design-poker/) - I was feeling rather stuck in my attempts at fashion sketches, so in an effort to avoid Blank Page Syndrome, I decided to play design poker. This is basically a modified version of the guild challenge game where everyone draws several cards with colors, fiber types, visual theme, etc. and then creates something based on
- [New ideas for Phoenix Rising](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/new-ideas-for-phoenix-rising/) - The 2012 fall couture collections are up on Style.com, so I spent some time perusing them and clipping all the interesting ones into Evernote. As usual, Jean Paul Gaultier was my favorite, mostly because he comes up with such outrageous ideas. Anyway, I wound up clipping seven of them into a new mood board I'm
- [Katazome workshop Day Two](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/katazome-workshop-day-two/) - Day two of the katazome workshop was slightly less jam-packed than the first day: mostly we pasted with our freshly-carved stencils, and painted on the fabrics we pasted yesterday. Here is my butterfly stencil, painted with watercolor pigments in a soy milk base: And here is my flower stencil, similarly (but much more simply) painted:
- [Katazome workshop, day 1](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/katazome-workshop-day-1/) - The first day of the katazome workshop was both exhausting and wonderful. I learned a lot. Most of the katazome-making process is detailed on John Marshall's website, so I won't go into a lot of detail, but here are some shots of the katazome-in-progress: It took me three or four hours to cut the stencils,
- [Design decisions](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/design-decisions/) - I've spent the last day or so messing around with pattern pieces for the Celtic Braid Coat. The problem is that I have three deerskin hides - two thicker and one thinner. The thinner one is obviously of better quality, and also better suited to garment making. The two thicker ones are of lesser quality,
- [Ewald Notter: The Art of the Chocolatier](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/ewald-notter-the-art-of-the-chocolatier/) - Just finished skimming this book (it's 402 pages!). It is fantastic. I had originally resisted buying it because I thought it was another of those chocolate fluff books that every halfway decent chocolatier feels compelled to write, with a bunch of recipes but no substance. From Ewald Notter, I should have known better. He is not
- [Temptation](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/temptation-4/) - A bonanza of packages arrived on my doorstep today. It's hard to know what to dive into first! Do I start with the three collections of Complex Weavers Journal? Or the mouthwatering latest issue of Surface Design Journal? Or how about the long-awaited book on designing and sewing with leather? Or...eye candy in the truest sense of
- [Flying up](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/flying-up/) - For the last day or two I've been playing with draping muslins. So far I've draped basic muslins, a couple of variations with the darts moved about, and this one, which was my first attempt at a two-piece design: I have not made any particular attempt to refine the muslins - which is to say
- [Unburying the loom](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/unburying-the-loom/) - I spent a good chunk of yesterday night unburying the loom. In our attempts to rearrange and unpack the garage, the loom platform had gotten covered with boxes, rendering the loom unusable. I finally got around to clearing it yesterday - there is still much work to do, but at least I can walk up
- [Full steam ahead](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/full-steam-ahead-2/) - To my surprise, the first muslin passed muster with only a few minor changes - largely because it isn't a fitted garment, so there really isn't much editing to do. Which means it's time to get started on sewing! Well, almost. There is one small catch: the front panels and trim of the garment are
- [Celtic Braid Coat, 1st muslin](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/celtic-braid-coat-1st-muslin/) - The pattern for the coat turns out to be quite simple - two front panels, the back, the cape (four panels), and the collar. So I cut it out last night and sewed it up this morning: And here is the artist's conception of what the finished piece will look like: The "buttons" aren't going
- [The cashmere coat it is!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/the-cashmere-coat-it-is/) - A weaving publication has expressed interest in the cashmere coat, and it's got a tight deadline: the photo shoot is just two months away! For a couture coat, with an as-yet-unfitted sewing pattern, that's practically nothing. In fact I'm not sure why I agreed to it, but I did - perhaps because I was thinking
- [A better muslin](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/a-better-muslin/) - I spent yesterday evening draping a new muslin, this time based on the directions in Helen Joseph-Armstrong's Draping for Apparel Design. It looks a lot better: I'm still not entirely sure what to do about the nubby shoulders, though; the book assumes you're draping on a commercial dress form, which doesn't have the extended shoulder. I'm
- [Back to fiber arts](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/back-to-fiber-arts/) - Yesterday, after way too long, I finally got back into the studio to do some fiber arts work. I am studying fashion draping, trying to remember the basics that Sharon showed me back in May. I was working out of Hilda Jaffer and Nurie Relis's Draping for Fashion Design, one of the two definitive texts on
- [Alien vs. Predator](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/alien-vs-predator/) - The zucchini has now got a new rival: the butternut squash! I planted a Waltham butternut squash, not knowing that it is one of the largest butternut squashes, both in the size of the vine and the size of the fruit. (I feel that nurseries should offer warnings on their baby plants: "Warning: This Plant
- [Design wall](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/design-wall/) - I have just put up the design wall in my studio! Here it is: It's nothing fancy - three panels of builder's insulation (half-inch polystyrene), covered with flannel and mounted using Velcro - but it will do. The basic idea is to have a neutral-colored wall you can pin things to - or, if you
- [New copy stand](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/new-copy-stand/) - First: this is post #2000 in my blog! I can't believe I've written that many, but then, I've been blogging for nearly ten years now, so I've had plenty of time to do it. The scary thing (to me, anyway) is that some people have actually read all 2000 of them. That's a lot of reading!
- [Fruits of our labors](https://tienchiu.com/2012/07/fruits-of-our-labors/) - Since I finished the studio yesterday, today I changed my focus to the garage. I've now fully organized the dyeing/surface design equipment, on a giant set of utility shelves, and have more or less unpacked the weaving equipment. I need to clear more space before the loom is usable, though, and need to repair a
- [The best birthday gift of all](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/the-best-birthday-gift-of-all/) - ...the studio is FINALLY unpacked and ready to go!! I am very pleased with how it's worked out. The room is small and packed with stuff, but it doesn't feel cramped at all - instead it feels cozy and efficient. Tools, books, and materials are mostly within arm's reach (a few steps away at most), and neatly
- [Happy birthday to me!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/happy-birthday-to-me-2/) - Today I turned forty-two, which as we all know, is the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything. (Read Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy if you don't believe me.) Alas, I feel no wiser than yesterday, but at least it's a cool age to be, if only for a year! Being a notorious
- [Almost there](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/almost-there/) - Yesterday I went on an unpacking rampage, and processed about 2/3 of the boxes in the living room and rearranged the garage. Now we can reach the sofa in the living room (which was previously barricaded with boxes), and the boxes in the garage are efficiently packed and organized by content types, so we can
- [The joys of unpacking](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/the-joys-of-unpacking/) - I've spent the last two days furiously unpacking both studio and the rest of the house. To my utter astonishment, I now have the studio roughly in order - there is only one half-empty moving box yet to be filed. Admittedly, there is a big pile of stuff on the table, and an ominously large
- [Moved in!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/moved-in/) - The movers arrived on time yesterday. My first reaction on seeing the 26-foot truck was "No way. It'll never fit!", but three hours later, the three movers had managed to pack everything - well, almost everything - into the truck, brimful. (The dumbbells went separately, in one of their pickup trucks, though I'm not sure whether
- [What'cha gonna do when they come for you?](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/whatcha-gonna-do-when-they-come-for-you/) - It's 5:30am, and the movers are coming in three hours. Fortunately, after a Herculean and sometimes Sisyphean-feeling effort, we're ready for them. Well, almost ready. Ready enough. There is still a bit of stuff festooning the tops of furniture, but mostly either packing related stuff (markers, tape, packing material) or junk that can be thrown
- [The Fuzz turns 21](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/the-fuzz-turns-21/) - Yesterday was The Fuzz's Birthday (Observed). We don't know exactly when he was born, since he was a semi-stray, but when I got him in December 1991, the doctor was pretty confident that he was six months old. So his birthday is sometime in June, and we decided to celebrate it yesterday. I cooked two
- [Packing progress](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/packing-progress/) - I have spent the last few days working on packing the studio. Sorting three years of mess into organized packets is considerably more time-consuming than I expected, and I'm pretty worried about packing the rest of the house - we have exactly one week left before the movers arrive and the rest of the house
- [Designing Fabrics Study Group](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/designing-fabrics-study-group/) - Just wanted to let you all know that I've started up a new study group within Complex Weavers, the Designing Fabrics Study Group. There's more information on the website, but here's the gist of it: The Designing Fabrics Study Group focuses on non-structural aspects of fabric design. This covers many possibilities: color, texture, yarn size,
- [six shaft huck lace shawl](https://tienchiu.com/2009/08/six-shaft-huck-lace-shawl/) - This was one of my very early pieces, woven on an eight-shaft Baby Wolf during the four months or so that I owned it (I upgraded shortly thereafter to a 16-shaft Leclerc Diana). It's a six-shaft huck lace pattern, drawn from the book Handwoven Laces, woven in a 2/28 nm white silk.
- [garnet shawl ](https://tienchiu.com/2009/08/garnet-shawl/) - This shawl was one of my early attempts at network drafting. The inspiration for the garnet red weft came when I dyed some yarn for a Tibetan lama friend - she had requested an auburn-to-maroon shade, and I liked the resulting yarn so much that I dyed some more in the same color!
- [black jewel](https://tienchiu.com/2009/09/black-jewel/) - This is another shawl woven on the 2/28 silk warp, with colors that gradually transition from turquoise to fuchsia and back again. It is woven with a black cashmere weft and is SO soft and sensuous against the skin! It is one of my favorites, and I wear it often.
- [black fire](https://tienchiu.com/2009/08/black-fire/) - This shawl is closely related to "Liquid Fire", except with a black weft instead of a changing-color weft. It was inspired by an article by Flavian Geis in Weaver's magazine, which depicted a cocoon jacket. My attempt at weaving the jacket was unsuccessful, but I had enough warp left over to weave a couple of shawls. The first one I did in a black weft, and this is "Black Fire". It looks a little like tiger stripes, no?
- [liquid fire](https://tienchiu.com/2009/08/liquid-fire/) - This shawl was my first attempt with gradually changing colors. In this case, both warp and weft change gradually from red to yellow and back again, a journey requiring 20 hand-dyed colors!
- [tiger eye](https://tienchiu.com/2009/08/tiger-eye/) - This piece was my first attempt at designing my own patterns, and I'm still very proud of it. I took the "Heart Throb Scarf" pattern from Twill Thrills: The Best of Weaver's and modified it ruthlessly until I had a pattern I liked. I cut off the top part of the heart, reflected the bottom half of the heart to produced a "slit pupil" effect, then tinkered with the pattern beneath the heart until I had a rounded cat's eye. I then hand-dyed the silk warp in two subtly different shades of orange (to add visual interest), and the cashmere weft in solid black.
- [Ikat socks](https://tienchiu.com/2009/10/ikat-socks/) - These are really cool. (No, really.) The colored stripes and moire patterns in these socks are achieved using very precise skeining and dyeing technique - carefully space-dyed (handpainted) yarn. I call them "ikat socks" because they look a bit like ikat (warp-painted) fabric.
- [Styles and studies](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/styles-and-studies/) - I've started thinking about what to do once the move is complete. Phoenix Rising, of course, but what else? What would be of most use to me in my work? Well, for that I'd need to have an understanding of what my work is, and where it is going. Which I've been considering, in the
- [The boxes are breeding](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/the-boxes-are-breeding/) - And so is the Stuff. I have proof positive: I packed eight boxes of books yesterday. That mostly cleared out the bookshelves. There are six more boxes of books this evening! And all I did was clean up the final few books off the bookshelf and pick some volumes up off the floor, table, etc. (OK,
- [Packing the studio](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/packing-the-studio/) - T minus 12 days to moving! Time to quit playing with Tinkertoys and get serious about packing. Yesterday I whipped out the tape gun and the U-Haul boxes and packed up most of my craft books. I have two large bookshelves mostly full of various craft books, but I have managed to (mostly) fit them
- [Moving swift-ly](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/moving-swift-ly/) - Today was exhausting but liberating. I moved four carloads of stuff from our current house to the new one, starting around 6am. I disassembled, moved, and reassembled a six-foot utility shelf. And I moved Sophie-the-loom, breaking her down into her component parts, packing her carefully into the car, and reassembling her in the garage (her
- [Tinkertoy success!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/tinkertoy-success/) - My Tinkertoys (actually Fiddlestix brand) arrived yesterday, and I lost no time setting up a Japanese-style swift with them: It's very simple really, plug four arms into each of two wooden wheels with holes drilled into the side, stick onto a tight-fitting axle, tie each pair of arms together with some yarn, add a skein,
- [How weavers mark their territory](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/how-weavers-mark-their-territory/) - Sure beats peeing on things. :-)
- [House and garden](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/house-and-garden/) - (Warning: no fiber content in this post. I promise there will be lots of interesting fiber stuff in the next one, though!) As requested, here are photos of the new flooring and the garden! Here is the flooring we are paying a small fortune for: It's stranded bamboo, which is shredded bamboo mixed with some
- [New page on handling fine threads](https://tienchiu.com/2012/06/new-page-on-handling-fine-threads/) - Just thought I'd let you know that I've created a new page about handling fine threads during the dyeing and unwinding process. (It's also accessible via the How Tos-->Weaving menu.) Fiber-wise, nothing much has happened, but there has been great excitement at the new house as we watch the flooring go in. They are now
- [Winding fine silk](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/winding-fine-silk/) - Victory!!! That is a 50-gram skein of tram silk, fully wound off the skein. There are a few knots visible because I had some short pieces near the end, but most of it is perfectly knot-free. And it only took me about 3 hours! I learned quite a few things about winding fine silk along
- [Dyeing and digging](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/dyeing-and-digging/) - I did a few more dyebaths yesterday. Here is what I've done: From top to bottom, they are: tram silk, 70% Polar Red and 30% Golden Yellow WashFast acid dyes, immersion dyebath with acid tram silk, Cibacron F Scarlet, fiber-reactive process with soda ash tram silk, Cibacron F Orange, fiber-reactive process with soda ash 140/2
- [Broken threads](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/broken-threads/) - I'm starting to dye the reeled silk I bought from John Marshall, and am running into the problems I more or less expected. I'm hand-painting the skeins, batching, and then rinsing very carefully to avoid tangling the skein. The skeins unwind in an orderly fashion (it helps that I tied each skein in 12 places
- [Weaving along](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/weaving-along/) - I'm continuing to weave yardage on the 10/2 cotton warp, this time to explore patterning in dye applications. There are so many surface design techniques available that it's hard to know where to start, but I'm going to start with a modest experiment: white on white except in places where simple figures are stenciled in,
- [Beginner's mind](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/beginners-mind/) - Someone asked me (offline) whether I thought of myself/my work differently since getting my work into a museum, getting published, winning awards, etc. The short answer is yes, but I'm trying not to. Let me start by saying that it's fun to pick up honors and awards. There's nothing like the thrill of picking up
- [Fiber-reactive dye chemistry](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/fiber-reactive-dye-chemistry/) - After a week of cat-in-ICU stress followed by a weekend at a weaving conference, my body said "Enough!" I fell over exhausted on Monday and spent sixteen hours sleeping yesterday. But I feel much better today! And I have discovered something intriguing...fiber-reactive dyes will actually dye wool and protein fibers in an alkaline environment, in
- [Eclipse](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/eclipse/) - B.'s birthday is coming up, so we went out tonight to celebrate at Pampas, a Brazilian restaurant in Palo Alto. As we emerged from the restaurant, we noticed that the sunlight had faded to an odd gray light, as if someone had put sunglasses on the entire world. And they had! I had forgotten there
- [Most Original](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/most-original/) - Got back from the CNCH Fashion Show last night, with Autumn Splendor's first ribbon in tow: "Most Original"! I like that a lot, as that's exactly how I want to live my life. Not necessarily different for different's sake (I think that's kind of silly), but having lots of adventures, trying new things, and regularly
- [Happy endings](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/happy-endings/) - The hospital discharged The Fuzz today, and we picked him up an hour ago. The vet had cautioned us that, while he was eating well and fully hydrated again, he wasn't walking. She wasn't sure whether that was the effect of being in a small cage with tricky footing with two legs strapped to IV
- [Cross-dyed dye samples](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/cross-dyed-dye-samples/) - Here, as promised, are photos of my cross dyed samples, woven with 100% cotton warp (10/2 cotton from UKI/Yarn Barn) and 100% alpaca yarn (Henry's Attic Alpaca Lace, from Catnip Yarns): The Lanaset (acid dye) samples were dyed in the microwave in a vinegar-water-dye dyebath, then removed and boiled in soapy water to remove the
- [Not dying, but dyeing!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/not-dying-but-dyeing/) - Thanks for all the well-wishes to The Fuzz! I'm very pleased to say that he is doing well now and the vet expects to send him home with us sometime tomorrow. She thinks it was straight-up dehydration from the cold he had last week - she's still got him on an IV drip, but she thinks
- [Worried](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/worried-2/) - The Fuzz went into the kitty ICU yesterday, which is not good for any cat and positively ominous for a 20-year-old kitty. I've been trying not to stress because he's in a state-of-the-art hospital and they're doing everything they can for him, but it's hard not to. He's been with me since I graduated college,
- [Museum quality](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/museum-quality/) - I am pleased to say that the American Textile History Museum wants my wedding dress for their permanent collection! I'm happy, and honored. It will be a real wrench to part with it, but I'm glad to know that its future is secure. Since I have no children (and no intentions of any), I've been
- [Tips on using the AVL Warping Wheel](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/tips-on-using-the-avl-warping-wheel/) - I wound on my scarf/sample warp today, and thought I'd document the process, as I do several things to speed up the warping process with my warping wheel. Here is a link to the new page: https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/weaving/tips-for-using-the-avl-warping-wheel/ In other news, I finished digging and planting the garden yesterday, putting in: snap beans (bush type) carrots
- [Wow!!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/wow/) - I've been approached by a museum about including my wedding-dress in an exhibit they are doing in spring 2013. I'm amazed, and honored! I've been walking on air since I got the email. Nothing much has happened on any front for the last two days; I spent Tuesday helping out with the Special Sample Service for
- [Cross-dyeing designs](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/cross-dyeing-designs/) - I'm starting to prepare for my cross-dyeing experiments. This time I'm going to put on a 10" wide warp in 10/2 cotton, and weave it off with Henry's Attic Alpaca Lace as weft. The 10/2 cotton is 4200 ypp and the Alpaca Lace is only 4960 ypp, but as the alpaca will fluff up a
- [Garden](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/garden/) - I spent most of yesterday working on the garden. I dug up four out of five beds (each bed is about 2' x 15') and planted a variety of vegetable starts: three varieties of tomatoes (Sungold, red Brandywine, Marvel Striped) Sharlyn melons one heirloom variety of cantaloupe (the exact name slips my mind at the
- [Dye sink](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/dye-sink/) - My dye sink arrived! I darted out to the restaurant wholesaler this morning and picked it up before heading off to Drupal Camp at Stanford. (One of my projects at work is being implemented on the Drupal platform, so work sent me to this mini-conference.) I dropped the dye sink off and managed to set
- [Of lemons and looms](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/of-lemons-and-looms/) - (but, fortunately, not looms that are lemons!) We went over this evening and flipped over the loom platform, then covered it with a roll of black rubber flooring, like so: It's wonderful - nicely resilient and nonskid. I suspect, however, that I made a tactical error with the coloring - we didn't even manage to
- [Loom platform](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/loom-platform/) - B. and I went over to the house last night and built the loom platform. Here's the underside: It's basically a layer of 3/4" plywood with 2"x2"s nailed down along the long side. Today I plan to flip it, apply double-sided carpet tape, and put on a 4x8 sheet of rubber flooring. I decided on
- [Finishing touches](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/finishing-touches-2/) - I'm currently working on the most tedious job of all: finishing touches. In particular, I'm preparing the handling swatches for my yardage gallery entries, by binding the raw edges with silk charmeuse. It's a laborious process, taking about two hours per swatch, and makes me impatient because mentally I've moved on from both projects. In
- [Pavers](https://tienchiu.com/2012/05/pavers/) - I finished installing the pavers for the dye sink yesterday. Here is a "before" shot of the raw dirt (from the side I didn't do): And here is a photo of the finished pavers: That should give a nice flat surface for the dye sink. The first line of pavers are deliberately separate from the
- [Wet-finished](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/wet-finished-2/) - I got up early this morning and wet-finished the yardage. It took me three hours to wet-finish, two of which were spent standing over it, giving it a hard press with a handheld iron. Three pressings total, two on one side and one on the other. (I really should have given it one more press
- [DONE!!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/done-3/) - Eight months and twenty-one days after beginning, I have finished weaving off the Infinite Warp - thirty-seven yards of 60/2 silk. I feel like the little girl in the Shel Silverstein poem: Melinda Mae Have you heard of tiny Melinda Mae, Who ate a monstrous whale? She thought she could, She said she would, So
- [Sparkling samples](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/sparkling-samples/) - I've decided to make the rest of the warp samples for the Helen Pope Special Sample Service at CNCH. This is a sale of samples to benefit the Conference of Northern California Handweavers; it simultaneously raises funds for CNCH and acts as a kind of sample exchange. Members can buy samples for a nominal sum
- [Eight yards, eleven inches](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/eight-yards-eleven-inches/) - That's how long this baby is: It was a close race, but I ran out of weft before running out of either warp or time. I'm estimating I have maybe eighteen inches of weavable warp left - not enough to do anything with, really, so I may just cut it off. Or I may not.
- [Breathless whirlwind](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/breathless-whirlwind/) - The last few days have been awhirl between work, contractors, packing, and oh yes, a little weaving. But I've arranged for estimates on redoing the flooring, painting most of the house, and some plumbing work, and figured out the general timeframe for our move. It is looking like the construction work will complete sometime around
- [Weaving studio layout](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/weaving-studio-layout/) - I wasn't able to sleep last night, so I got up at 2 am and designed the weaving studio: The big orange rectangle is the loom platform. Because we've got the loom in the same room as the water heater, B. is strongly suggesting that we put the loom up on a platform, so if
- [Lots to do](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/lots-to-do/) - Having acquired a home (yay!), B. and I now need to make it habitable. Aside from adding a dishwasher, we can't do much with the inside of the house, since we're having it repainted and refloored, so we're focusing on the outside and the garage. In particular, B. is starting work on the garden/back yard,
- [The most beautiful sight of all](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/the-most-beautiful-sight-of-all/) - Yep. We're homeowners. :-)
- [Two flame drafts](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/two-flame-drafts/) - Work continues to be super busy - I have two extremely demanding projects and am monitoring a third - and the path to homeownership seems to be paved with last-minute snafus, so not a lot of creative time. I did, however, manage to crank out two drafts: (Ignore the spots in the background design; it's
- [Walkthrough](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/walkthrough/) - The house is almost ours! The funds have been wired into escrow, all the papers have been signed, and it's just a matter of registering the deeds and disbursing the money. We close escrow on Thursday, and the house will be ours. I can't wait to get the keys! We did the walkthrough yesterday. Here's
- [More nuggets on the creative process](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/9702/) - I've spent the last two days in a class on managing programs - collections of projects which must all be delivered together to produce any business value - which is extremely apropos to my work life (I currently run a program with 110 subprojects!) but not very interesting to my creative life. Or is it?
- [Second skirt prototype](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/second-skirt-prototype/) - I have been way too busy the last few days to do anything fiber-ish. Between straightening out last-minute snafus with loan documents for our house, and going to a full-day class on project management while staying on top of things at work, it's been a busy time. Today is going to be just as busy,
- [Networked rosepath, woven](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/networked-rosepath-woven/) - Here's a photo of the networked-rosepath draft I posted this morning, now on the loom/woven up: I really like this, and have already woven the first 16". At this rate, the three-yard minimum should be a breeze. I've also decided to leave it as it stands - it's beautiful, and also quite complex in itself.
- [Networked rosepath draft](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/networked-rosepath-draft/) - I was trying to decide what I could weave for the CNCH yardage exhibit - it would have to be something interesting, of course, and also something I could do something with. So I doodled a treadling, redrew it on a 4-shaft rosepath network, and voila: I rather like this, and will try weaving it
- [Productive weekend](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/productive-weekend/) - So much happened the past few days that it's hard to know where to start! Perhaps I should start with the fabulous silk yarns that arrived today: The bottom left silk is undegummed silk organzine at 83,000 yards per pound. The bottom right, undegummed silk organzine at about 30,000 yards per pound. The stuff on
- [Process geekery](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/process-geekery/) - My guild meeting on Saturday was a discussion about the design process, and I came away with lots of ideas for my book. Now that I'm scratching beneath the surface, I'm finding that there are a HUGE number of parallels between software development processes and craft process (at least, the way I do it!). So
- [Color by Design](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/color-by-design/) - During a truly expensive trip to Dharma Trading Company last week, I had the pure joy of leafing through their entire book collection. One of my discoveries was Color by Design, by Ann Johnston. I had seen her book for sale on Amazon, but because I already had Color by Accident and found it too basic/simplistic for
- [More training; Exploring Multishaft Design](https://tienchiu.com/2007/03/more-training-exploring-multishaft-design/) - So, despite the bronchitis, I've continued training for the Death Ride. Saturday's ride was 3 hours - felt pretty dragged-out through most of it, so I took it easy - and Sunday's ride was an easy 1 hour. I'm starting to get over the saddle-soreness (thank goodness) although I still feel it when hill-climbing. The
- [Proposal is out!](https://tienchiu.com/2006/10/proposal-is-out/) - Well, the proposal is winging its way to the agent (Andrea Hurst, http://www.andreahurst.com, for those interested), and I can finally relax. It'll take her a couple weeks to review it, during which I won't be submitting to anyone else, so that leaves me free to work on the book some more, and play with chocolate.
- [I have an RSS feed!](https://tienchiu.com/2006/07/i-have-an-rss-feed/) - Actually, I now have both Atom and RSS feeds, thanks to B., who very kindly set them up for me. So now you can use my Atom feed or my RSS feed. I can only guarantee that the Atom feed will work--the RSS feed seems to be coming for free but Blogger might turn it
- [Impatient](https://tienchiu.com/2006/06/impatient/) - I am now DONE with all the costuming"¦signed, sealed, delivered and packed away into a big plastic Rubbermaid tote to fit into the world's largest duffel bag. It all fits"¦.barely. Now I'm engaged in packing, packing, packing"¦a laundry list of small and large items that might prove useful for the Ride. And quivering in anticipation.
- [This is it....!](https://tienchiu.com/2006/06/this-is-it/) - Just got back from registration--I have my wristbands and my gear bag/tent markers, and I'm ready to go! I am now officially Rider #1918 of AIDS Lifecycle 5. (And to prove it, I have a giant "1918" across the top bar of my bike, and a big "1918" sticker on my helmet.) I even got
- [Silk fusion paper (and stuff)](https://tienchiu.com/2006/04/silk-fusion-paper-and-stuff/) - I have been getting interested in silk fusion paper "“it sounds like it would be really cool for origami, although I don't know if it folds well. It's basically layers of silk fiber held together with an adhesive, but I bet it's really gorgeous. I've recently bought some handpainted silk from The Silkworker (who, by
- [Wow!!  Kodo (Japanese taiko) is coming to town!!!](https://tienchiu.com/2004/11/wow-kodo-japanese-taiko-is-coming-to-town/) - I am SO psyched. I found out last night (at the International Taiko Festival) that Kodo is playing in the Bay Area in February. Kodo is the pre-eminent taiko (Japanese drumming) group in the world, they play all over the world to rave reviews and standing ovations. (Their "Best of Kodo" CD was named one
- [Training Diary: Rain cancels (not!)](https://tienchiu.com/2005/12/training-diary-rain-cancels-not/) - Today was the "Jingle Bells" ride sponsored by the Positive Pedalers, leaving from B.'s Bikes in Sausalito and doing a nice, short, 20-mile loop in Marin. At least, that was the theory.I arrived early, having given myself 90 minutes to make what turned out to be an hour's drive. I sat in my truck and
- [cats, knees/learning, and blackwork](https://tienchiu.com/2004/10/cats-kneeslearning-and-blackwork/) - Never made it to the AIDS Lifecycle party: I stopped on the way up to check on a friend's cats (I'm cat-sitting), and found one of them locked in a tiny little bathroom with an entire container of bleach spilled on the floor. (Cat was cowering under toilet amidst choking bleach fumes.) So I spent
- [The Waiting Place](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/the-waiting-place/) - I've been a little frustrated the last few weeks, because I've arrived at The Waiting Place. As the greatest sage of the 20th Century (Dr. Seuss, of course!) put it, I am in The Waiting Place... ...for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to
- [Samples as experiments](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/samples-as-experiments/) - Today's tidbit is about sampling. We are often told to "sample, sample, sample" but not given a solid reason why or how to sample. Or rather, we are given only part of the answer: one weaves samples to see what the finished cloth will look like. I'd like to offer a more expansive definition of
- [The courage to love](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/the-courage-to-love/) - "A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave." - Mahatma Gandhi I read an article about love a few months ago, and meant to write about it then, but I forgot. Then a followup to the article appeared today, and I just had to pass it on. The original
- [Screen printing on warps](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/screen-printing-on-warps/) - In between chores and shopping for hardwood flooring, I managed to snatch a little bit of time to try screen printing on warps. Here is what I screen printed on the warp, between the reed and the fell: And here is what it looks like after weaving and wet-finishing: I was surprised how little distortion
- [Reorganized the site](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/reorganized-the-site/) - I reorganized my site this morning, so apologies if you got peppered with updates. Here is a summary of the changes: The "Fiber Arts" and "Other Crafts" pages have been merged. "Techniques and How-Tos" has been moved from under "Weaving" and given its own place in the menu bar. Added a bunch more links to
- [Duck tongues, red dominatrix halter top](https://tienchiu.com/2004/09/duck-tongues-red-dominatrix-halter-top/) - Well, my mom was in town for a couple of days, so we went off for lunch with a friend of hers, up near Berkeley, in this new restaurant called Orchid Bowl Cafe (in English). My mom took one glance at the dual-language sign, and said, "Hmm--the Chinese version says 'Macau Street'." (I always wondered
- [Mayan ruins, the Blue Hole](https://tienchiu.com/2005/05/inca-ruins-the-blue-hole/) - Today, Patrick (my guide) and I went off to see Xunantunich, the second-largest Mayan ruin in Belize. It's not one of the big Mayan sites--Tikal, 2.5 hours away in Guatemala, is supposedly much more impressive--but it was damn impressive nonetheless. One massive stone temple, at least 4 stories high, a large courtyard, and several partially
- [Looking ahead to Belize...](https://tienchiu.com/2005/05/looking-ahead-to-belize/) - An AIDS Lifecycle lesson I should have remembered: Drink before you're thirsty, and eat before you're hungry. I collapsed as soon as I got to the airport hotel, and spent a couple hours in a hazy state before it dawned on me that this wasn't normal. I knew I'd been dehydrated in Antigua (which is
- [Managing risk in projects](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/managing-risk-in-projects/) - While writing today's chapter, I was struck by my unconscious use of project management techniques in planning and working on Major Projects. Some of the methods are obvious - estimating speed on a portion of the project to figure out how long it will take, planning milestones to make sure the project will finish up
- [And so it begins](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/and-so-it-begins/) - Here is how I spent my evening: Closing isn't scheduled until April 19, and we probably won't move in until mid to late May, but hey, I figured I might as well get started. I'm always amazed by how many boxes it takes to move anything - that bookshelf in the back filled eight boxes
- [Learning to think](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/learning-to-think-2/) - Working on the book every morning, as soon as I get up, is paying off ! It allows me to come to the book with a clear mind, not cluttered with the day's worries and plans. I have committed myself to writing for half an hour every morning, though it's usually more like an hour.
- [More mockups](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/more-mockups/) - I went back to my mood board and picked out a couple of photos that appealed to me. I still liked my original mockup with the textured bodice and the "ragged" skirt, but I wanted to try out a few ideas for the shoulders, neckline, and sleeves. Here is my current favorite (which still needs
- [Mood board](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/mood-board/) - Because I was having trouble organizing my thoughts around Phoenix Rising, I decided to try making a mood board. This is basically a collage that represents your thoughts, ideas, and feelings about the project. I'd never made one before, but because most of my ideas were from photos, I thought something graphical might help. I
- [Back to the book](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/back-to-the-book/) - You may have noticed that the book was on hold for a couple of weeks. This was partly because I was busy with other things, but also because I felt there was something unidentifiable wrong with it. After my foray into surface design techniques, I realized it was quite simple: it didn't reflect how I
- [Attempted devore with flame pattern](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/attempted-devore-with-flame-pattern/) - Here is the results of my burnout attempts (not very impressive yet, I'm afraid!): Here I attempted to apply the devore paste from the back, and as you can see, it was less than successful - this was meant to be a circle, but even after much enthusiastic scrubbing the chenille did not come off
- [Flames fabric](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/flames-fabric/) - I sneaked home at lunchtime. Here is the flame fabric, pre-devore (sorry for the slightly blurry photos): The pattern is clearly visible on the reverse side, but from the front side it looks like solid chenille. This is by design; later tonight I'll burn out the chenille, applying the burnout chemical from the back
- [Flames draft](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/flames-draft/) - I wasn't really happy with my circle fabric - the chenille did not cover enough of the surface, and the burnout was not successful - I didn't apply enough burnout paste, bits of chenille stayed stuck in the weave, and I scorched the silk. Not a happy scene. So, back to the drawing board, and
- [Make more art](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/make-more-art/) - Someone commented to me that they were a bit surprised I wasn't more disappointed that Autumn Splendor didn't make it into the Convergence Fashion Show. I must admit that I, myself, am somewhat surprised with how little disappointment I feel about it, but basically it's because I've already moved on. I'm done with Autumn Splendor;
- [Convergence and devore experiments](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/convergence-and-devore-experiments/) - Just got notice that Autumn Splendor was not accepted into the Convergence Fashion Show. I'm mildly disappointed, but also relieved, since this neatly solves two of my problems: (1) I had no entry ready for Glamour, Glitter, Glitz, the Complex Weavers juried show coming up this summer, and (2) I am no longer "obliged" to
- [Concept drawing](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/concept-drawing/) - I spent a good chunk of yesterday going through various fashion books and my study group samples, looking for ideas. Fortunately the Fine Threads study group is pretty big, so in just three years of membership I had over a hundred samples to peruse! And then I have started collecting fashion books and clipping pictures
- [More quilt blocks](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/more-quilt-blocks/) - I took a few hours this afternoon to catch up on my quilt class "homework". You may recognize this fabric: It's made with teeny-tiny scraps, not even big enough for a sample exchange. (That fabric was so hard-won I hate to throw away even the tiniest pieces!) I flipped one piece upside down to get
- [Phoenix Rising](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/phoenix-rising/) - The title/theme for my next piece hit me this afternoon on the way back from the quilt show: Phoenix Rising. It all started at the Voices in Cloth 2012 quilt show, when I stopped to chat with the fine folks at Golden Thread Silks, who specialize in handwoven fabrics from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. They had
- [Quilting and katazome](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/quilting-and-katazome/) - Despite more busy-ness, I did carve out some time for fiber stuff today. So here is a new quilt square from my foundation piecing quilt class: It's not technically perfect, nor is it very exciting, design-wise, but it's pleasant enough, and I got to practice foundation piecing and a little bit of design, so I'm
- [Reclaiming my inner studio](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/reclaiming-my-inner-studio/) - I haven't posted the last few days because I've been busy with decidedly non-creative stuff: our guild website got infected with malware, and I've been spending most of my time trying to fix that. (And there is still more work to do! I hope there is a special place in Hell for people who create
- [Destashing](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/destashing/) - Just a quick note to say that I'm destashing about 25 lbs of yarns - cashmere, silk, linen, wool, tencel, cotton. I've put them in this spreadsheet; email me if you want to buy. (Email address in spreadsheet.) Prices are pretty insanely low to start with, and I'm willing to deal if you're buying 6
- [A lengthy setup](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/a-lengthy-setup/) - I'm not quite sure where the last two days went - it seems like I should have accomplished more, considering how hard I've been working! But I have set up, labeled, and dyed my samples for discharge tests, covering 22 dyes: ten colors of Cibacron F (the eight "pure" colors plus two mixes) and twelve
- [Surface design study plans](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/surface-design-study-plans/) - I spent some time yesterday thinking about how to approach surface design in a systematic manner. This matrix reflects my thinking (click to zoom in): As you can see, it's a rather long list, but I think I can plow through quite a few of the items fairly quickly if I organize myself efficiently. At
- [A more serious study of surface design](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/a-more-serious-study-of-surface-design/) - Fifteen yards of cotton fabric arrived yesterday, along with some opaque textile paints and a few more T-shirts. I've been meditating on what to do next. Now that the practical considerations (new clothes + quilting fabric) are taken care of, I think I'm going to do a more serious study of surface design techniques and
- [Quilt square](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/quilt-square/) - I finished my first foundation-pieced quilt square yesterday: I like it! It came out pretty well, with nice sharp points. Compositionally, I think it's sound - I'm on the fence about the first fuchsia log, which stands out pretty sharply - but it also adds drama, which I think is important for this block. Aside
- [New wardrobe](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/new-wardrobe/) - I screen printed eight T-shirts yesterday, of which this is my favorite (click in for a closeup!): Here is my next favorite: And here are two others I liked: This one did not come out quite as brightly as I had hoped, probably because my screen printing inks are semi-transparent - meaning the background is
- [Dyers' dreams](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/dyers-dreams/) - Yesterday I made a run to Dharma Trading Co in San Rafael, and bought eight yards of Kona cotton fabric plus six colors of Procion MX fiber-reactive dye, selected for their dischargeability. Then I came home and spent the day in the dyepots: Here are some closer views: And here is a closeup of the
- [Where to start?](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/where-to-start/) - My goodness, what was I doing moping last week when there is so much to do??? On my to-do list for this weekend: Print lots of T-shirts. I have eight full-screen designs meant to go onto T-shirts - mostly straight copies of the royalty-free designs in the Dover books, with a few adaptations here and
- [Autumn Splendor](https://tienchiu.com/2011/09/autumn-splendor/) - For this project, I envisioned a long coat with autumn leaves "falling" over a background that also shaded through autumn colors. The swooping curves and leaf patterning evoke an autumn sunset.
- [Thermofax triumph!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/03/thermofax-triumph/) - I installed the new carrier belt yesterday, and B. helped me fiddle with it until it moved cleanly without shifting. (This took nearly two hours!) I then ran some additional tests on different types of inks, etc. I found that, while I could get good results from pretty much everything, the best results came from
- [It's Christmas!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/its-christmas/) - USPS Santa must have heard me moping, because when I arrived home today there were not one, not two, not three, but FOUR packages waiting for me! In those packages was: Twenty sheets of thermofax screen Ten thermofax screen frames Eight white T-shirts Six pairs of white socks Four black T-shirts Three pairs of sweatpants
- [Postpartum depression](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/postpartum-depression/) - I've been struggling with mood swings the last week or so - cheerful and peppy one moment and depressed and unmotivated the next. Fortunately, it's not bipolar depression - it doesn't have any of the usual hallmarks, and I haven't had any particular urge to commit suicide, which is usually one of its first signs.
- [Thermofax tinkering](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/thermofax-tinkering/) - Today's four-color printing got off to a rough start when I discovered that two of my screens were printing very poorly (and suspected that the third and fourth would be worse). So instead of four-color printing, I spent the day troubleshooting the screen burning process, with help from the complexcloth Yahoo group. Eventually I figured
- [Just the thermofax, ma'am](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/just-the-thermofax-maam/) - I spent a good chunk of today (after a leisurely breakfast, a nap, and a nice walk) playing with the Thermofax. After a couple hours, I got something fairly passable: Along the way, of course, there was plenty of this: and even some of this: I discovered that yes, kiddo, it is possible (and actually
- [Over 100,000 served!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/over-100000-served/) - I don't normally pay much attention to my blog stats, but I noticed today that the little counter in the bottom right is reporting over 100,000 visitors to my website! And Google Analytics confirms it: over 103,000 unique visitors since October 2009, resulting in about 375,000 pageviews. That's worth some champagne! Meanwhile, I've decided to
- [Studio plans and Scrivener](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/studio-plans-and-scrivener/) - I got in and did some measurements of my studio-to-be yesterday, producing a far better floor plan. I then took my furniture measurements and spent several happy hours dragging, rotating, etc. my virtual furniture, until I came up with this (click for the large version): The hard part was fitting in the storage shelf: it
- [Luscious lace](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/luscious-lace/) - Yesterday I went to Britex Fabrics in San Francisco, which is always a mistake, but I needed sewing needles and they have the best needles I've been able to find. Why is it a mistake? Because Britex also carries the most amazing, wonderful, and expensive! fabrics you can find anywhere. And they were having a 30%
- [If I were planning a studio...](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/if-i-were-planning-a-studio/) - ...I'd start with detailed measurements and a floor plan. But of course, I don't have a floor plan, and the most detailed measurement I have is a hastily scrawled "8.5' x 11', closet door on short side, door to hallway on long side". That's not enough for detailed planning. It is, however, enough for me
- [Draping, and learning](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/draping-and-learning/) - Six hours of hard labor yesterday produced this draped muslin: I would have taken a shot of the whole thing, but unfortunately I made a mistake early on in the skirt pattern, so the skirt and the bodice wound up on different sides of the form! I will correct that when I redo the muslin,
- [Yikes!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/yikes/) - I spent this morning going through the rough draft of the book, marking places where more material is needed, brainstorming new topics, and putting together a list of examples drawn from my personal creative journey. One of the things I did was put together a list of the various crafts I've done over the years,
- [The pleasures of puttering](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/the-pleasures-of-puttering/) - Now that the house inspections are just about done, the business travel is over, and Autumn Splendor is complete, I'm mostly just puttering around. This doesn't mean that I'm not busy - I'm constitutionally incapable of sitting still - but I'm not focused on any Big Projects right now, and I'm not under time pressure
- [Another draft, home inspections](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/another-draft-home-inspections/) - The home inspections went well! There are a bunch of minor things that should be fixed, but no major problems. There is one more inspection next week (plumbing) but after that we should be able to buy with a clear conscience. The only other thing that's outstanding is the loan contingency, which I'm a little
- [New draft, book update](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/new-draft-book-update/) - Got home last night, thoroughly exhausted, and fell into bed for ten hours. Still feeling woozy this morning, though - I absolutely loathe airplane travel - so didn't attempt anything difficult. Instead I spent a little while doodling with Fiberworks PCW. Network drafting and a little cut, paste, and reverse sequence produced this draft: I'm not
- [Whither next?](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/whither-next-3/) - So, Autumn Splendor is (for all intents and purposes) complete. Now what? Well, a couple of items: First, we're buying a house. I'm reliably informed (by almost everyone) that a newly purchased house is the original time sink. So there may be less fiber arts and more home repair projects in my life this summer!
- [Presenting Autumn Splendor](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/presenting-autumn-splendor/) - From yesterday's photo shoot: Photo credit goes to the very talented Joe Decker of Rockslide Photography. (If you haven't visited his website, you should - his nature photography is absolutely stunning.) Please also click in for the larger version of the leaves - Joe caught the color and delicacy of the embroidery perfectly, but it
- [Finished the leaves!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/finished-the-leaves/) - And I'm almost sorry I did, because they were such fun to make! Here is a pic of the coat, with the leaves pinned into place: I tried taking a closeup photo of the leaves, but it didn't come out well - the iridescence got flattened out and the camera flash washed out the embroidered
- [We have a house!!!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/we-have-a-house/) - Our latest offer was accepted! I'm so excited. Househunting has been really stressful - I know it's supposed to be a buyer's market, but in our price range and location it's a seller's market - lots of bids, mostly over asking price, many all-cash offers from investors. We bid $20K over asking price to beat
- [The making of a leaf](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/the-making-of-a-leaf/) - I completed the orange and the brick red leaves today. I thought I'd walk you through the steps in creating a leaf, to explain why a single little leaf takes nearly two hours to complete. I didn't think of taking photos until I was halfway done, but here is a photo at the halfway point:
- [Got it working!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/got-it-working/) - Yesterday I was considering Lara's comment that she prefers nonwoven fabrics for applique. I unfortunately couldn't use either leather or ultrasuede, basically because I need the colors to match the coat and I don't have the skills to dye leather. (I also wouldn't be able to acquire the colors I need as quickly as I
- [Leaf prototype #3 and a finished(?) leaf](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/leaf-prototype-3-and-a-finished-leaf/) - I decided to try out Sharon's idea, and made part of a third prototype leaf: This worked out okay, but not spectacular - it produces a nice neat bound edge, but a thick, heavy-looking one. Before working on the third prototype, I had finished (?) the first leaf, a purple one: The hand overcast edges
- [Second prototype](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/second-prototype/) - Another prototype leaf! Here it is (on the left): You'll have to click in for the details. And here is an annotated version: The green section is blanket stitch done in a contrasting thread (thanks Lara for the suggestion!). The turquoise section is blanket stitch done in matching thread. The royal blue section has the
- [Prototype leaf](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/prototype-leaf/) - I took some scraps and developed a prototype leaf, experimenting with different ways to overcast the edges. It's hard to make out the distinctions in the photos, but I'll explain. And a view from further back: This is getting closer to what I want. Close up, the leaf has delicate veining which rewards the close-up
- [Leaf colors and fabrics](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/leaf-colors-and-fabrics/) - This morning, I dyed about 40 swatches, putting 4"x8" pieces of various different fabrics into six small dyebaths. I used the same colors of acid dye that I used to dye the wool weft, ranging from orange-red to maroon to purple. I dyed swatches of chiffon, organza, dupioni organza, peau de soie, shantung silk, and
- [Unsightly veins](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/unsightly-veins/) - Here is the first round of testing on the leaves, using chiffon over peau de soie and chiffon over china silk, with hand-painted veins on the leaves: I don't like the veins. They are painted in gold on purple and gold on dark red; the rightmost leaf is also outlined in gold. (Click to see
- [Looking at leaves](https://tienchiu.com/2012/02/looking-at-leaves/) - I finished the garment hem yesterday, but am waiting to see Sharon before putting in the sleeve lining and the lining hems. The only thing that's left is the leaves and the embroidery! so I am playing with leaves again. There are so many options! I am playing around with fabric combinations, dyes, paints, and
- [On the edge](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/on-the-edge/) - The leaf dilemma is on hold until this weekend, when I'll have time to play with surface design (painting, dyeing, etc. is messy, so best done outdoors on the weekend). Tentatively, I'm thinking I will add one very small drifting leaf so the two drifting leaves bracket the center rather than having a single central
- [Mountains of marmalade](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/mountains-of-marmalade/) - I had intended to work more on Autumn Splendor today - getting the leaves hashed out and starting work on the sleeve linings - but got sidetracked into kitchen projects instead. I have, as you know, been candying various citrus peels (Seville orange, Meyer lemon, and bergamot to be exact) over the last several weeks,
- [Final configuration](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/final-configuration/) - Having slept on it for two days, I've decided that I like the three-leaf cluster at the shoulder and the one leaf falling. I'm going to stick with it, and spend at least part of today playing around with surface design to make the leaves more interesting. Here is what I have chosen for colors
- [Six years today](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/six-years-today/) - Today is the sixth anniversary of our first date! and B. and I are celebrating by going to La Fondue, a lovely romantic restaurant in Saratoga. I'm so glad I met him; I love him stupendously, and a little more every day. It's been a wonderful six years, and I'm looking forward to many more.
- [Hi, remember me?](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/hi-remember-me/) - Remember me? Last seen throwing up hands in despair and turning to work on the lining? Well, I'm still in a state of moderate despair, but at least I've figured out some of the things that were bugging me: Applique fabric too "busy". I was using the same fabric as the body of the garment,
- [Throwing up my hands](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/throwing-up-my-hands/) - After sleeping on it, the last design still doesn't feel "right". I'm incredibly frustrated that I can't seem to get it working - usually it means that there is a fundamental flaw somewhere that I'm missing - but until I figure out what is bothering me, there's no point in going further with the front.
- [Variety is the spice of design](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/variety-is-the-spice-of-design/) - I spent some time this morning fiddling around with leaves. No matter how I arranged them, the piece felt dull and static. Very discouraging. Then it occurred to me: maple leaves don't look like that when they fall! I had been using the same maple-leaf pattern that I wove into the leaves - which had
- [More leaves](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/more-leaves/) - I played around with leaves today, cutting a wide assortment of sizes and colors. Here is just one of the many configurations I tried: This is still not right: the big purple leaf in the center is too big, central, and contrast-y; it instantly draws the eye and fixes it there. The curve still feels
- [Course of study](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/course-of-study/) - With Autumn Splendor nearing its close, I'm starting to think about what I want to do next. I know my long-term goal: be able to conceive, sketch, design, and sew unique garments, using weaving and surface design techniques to create custom fabrics that enhance my designs. Ambitious, but certainly do-able. Because I'm a much more
- [Loosening up the leaves](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/loosening-up-the-leaves/) - Just got back from Sharon's, with a bunch of minor adjustments to the fit. I also found that my painstaking understitching was too close to the seam - 1/16" where it should have been 1/8" - and will have to be redone. There's quite a bit of alteration to be done, but I'm too tired
- [Speed dating](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/speed-dating/) - After a day of wretched, racing-the-clock stress, we've put in our first offer on a house! This involved a lot of running around to (a) view the house a second time, in daylight, (b) draw up a contract, and (c) get preapproved for a loan by the bank that was selling the foreclosure. All in
- [Time to percolate](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/time-to-percolate/) - Thank you all for your suggestions! I feel like I am at a crossroads and need to sit back and let things percolate. I can see several ways to go with this garment, but (of course) can only pick one. At the moment I am leaning towards a single brooch pinned at the top, maybe
- [Some more possibilities](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/some-more-possibilities/) - Thank you all for your comments - here, on Facebook, and on Google Plus! I digested some of the thoughts overnight. I really like the leaf motifs - aesthetically the lines would also do, but the leaves tie back into the theme and the lines really don't. So I did some more experiments with leaves
- [Playing with ideas](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/playing-with-ideas/) - I got the sleeves onto Autumn Splendor this morning - the first time I have EVER been satisfied with a set-in sleeve! Hooray for couture techniques - they work! I also experimented with changing the line of the garment as Niki suggested. Here's a photo (right is original, left is experimentally altered line): This still
- [A first look at Autumn Splendor](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/a-first-look-at-autumn-splendor/) - First, the house deal fell through: they already have multiple cash offers, so we're out of the running. Oh well; on to the next one! Anyway...I spent ten hours working on Autumn Splendor yesterday, thread-tracing each seam, then carefully basting the seams together, then machine-sewing along each seam. I gave the seams a light press
- [Resources for designing handwoven fabric](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/resources-for-designing-handwoven-fabric/) - Someone on the WeaveTech Yahoo group asked for resources on designing handwoven fabric. I wrote a longish reply and then realized it might be useful for other people as well, so I've posted it under "Tips and How-Tos" here. Enjoy!
- [New home?](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/new-home/) - Wow! That was sure fast... B. and I went to tour six houses yesterday, starting our first-time homebuyer tour. And, surprisingly, we immediately found one we both like! It's about ten blocks from where we're living now, so we already know the neighborhood, and while it needs a little fixing up, the price is so
- [Caught up](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/caught-up/) - I finished fusing the interfacing yesterday morning, and re-did the markings on the right front, right side panel, and right back today. So I am back to where I was before the fiasco! Teresa suggested that I not use fusible interfacing on such a precious fabric. Unfortunately I didn't see the comment until I had
- [Brush with disaster](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/brush-with-disaster/) - (or, why you should always have a flight plan...) I was buzzing along this morning, marking, thread-tracing, and cutting out my pattern pieces. Because I was basting along the seamlines, I didn't bother cutting the pattern pieces to a precise seam allowance, instead allowing a good 1.5-2" border around the edges of each pattern piece.
- [First cut](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/first-cut-2/) - It took a couple of stiff drinks (metaphorically, anyway), but I finally got up the nerve: I've already laid out all the pattern pieces on all 10 panels, so I know more or less where to place them, but I'm going to check again as I cut each piece. I'm also planning on thread-tracing the
- [Whirlwind](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/whirlwind/) - Things are moving so swiftly that my whole head is awhirl! I finished weaving the fabric for Autumn Splendor yesterday, and dyed it today. I'm going to rinse it out in an hour or so, after which it will need a good, solid hard press. Then I'll be ready to start cutting and sewing! Towards
- [We who are about to dye salute you](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/we-who-are-about-to-dye-salute-you/) - Yes! All the fabric for Autumn Splendor has been woven. Ten panels, a bit over 4 feet apiece. At 63 picks per inch, that's about 31,000 throws of the shuttle. If I could drink alcohol, I'd be totally smashed right now. Especially since the last muslin passed muster: everything fits! It's time to sew! Well,
- [The Muse](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/the-muse/) - My friend Blossom posted this talk by Elizabeth Gilbert to his blog today: It's impossible for me to summarize the talk (go watch it - it's well worth nineteen minutes of your time), but it made me think about the Muse as I see her. Let me start by saying that I was raised by
- [Five thousand words and counting](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/five-thousand-words-and-counting/) - The book is just rocking along! I've now written significant portions of eight of the thirteen chapters, about 5,000 words in total. I'm hoping to write about 1,000 words per day, which would complete the rough draft in about a month. I'm not putting a time target on it because there is so much other stuff
- [Excerpt](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/excerpt/) - I'm now 4000 words into the book, and cranking along. This is fun! Here's an excerpt from the rough draft of the chapter on developing initial skills: The final critical component is not to be intimidated. Let go of worrying about good and bad, specifically about whether you are good or bad at this (or
- [Unstuck!](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/unstuck-2/) - If you haven't heard much about the book recently, it's because I've been stuck on it: I hadn't figured out what I wanted to write, or my audience, and I've never been good at just putting things down without knowing who I'm writing for or where I'm going. I'd been too busy with Autumn Splendor
- [A brief history of Autumn Splendor](https://tienchiu.com/2012/01/a-brief-history-of-autumn-splendor/) - I was showing my mother-in-law the time-lapse photo series for Autumn Splendor, as the design evolved, and thought you might enjoy a recap of the twists and turns of the design process. So here it is: enjoy! Next, in this blog post, I speculated on the design: I want to do more work with the
- [Goals for 2012](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/goals-for-2012/) - I've been percolating on what I'd like to focus on/accomplish in 2012, and have decided to focus on fashion design and pattern drafting. I will do plenty of other stuff during the year (including weaving!), but my goal for 2012 is to learn how to draft flat patterns for any piece of clothing I care
- [Making marmalade](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/making-marmalade/) - We're leaving for Chicago tomorrow, which means finishing off side projects. The candied citrus peels, alas, won't be quite ready - the cold floored me badly enough that I didn't reboil them every day, as planned - so they're going into the fridge while we're gone. Not ideal, but I couldn't think of a better
- [Efficiency and waste](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/efficiency-and-waste/) - Sue's comment a few posts back (which was about not feeling guilty about having stash) made me think about why I do want to pare down mine. For me, it has less to do with guilt than with thoughts about efficiency and waste. In general, I want to get things done as efficiently as possible,
- [Muslin #11, complete](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/muslin-11-complete/) - Finished it today at lunchtime: I am happy with this muslin! I want to make one more small tweak (the orange panel looks a bit awkward as it crosses the bust), but that is absolutely it - the rest feels perfect! If the fit passes Sharon's muster, it will be time to (gulp!) start sewing with
- [Sneak peek](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/sneak-peek-2/) - Wondered what muslin #11 is looking like? Well, here's a sneak peek: Yeah. It's gonna be gorgeous. I have found a few flaws in my pattern, which means I will have to re-cut one of the back panels. I also need to put on the facings, press the seams, turn up the hems, yadda yadda
- [Back in action](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/back-in-action-2/) - I decided to experiment with drugs last night, mixing up a witch's brew of antihistamines, decongestants, and expectorants, and topping off the bubbling cauldron with inhaled steroids, aka my asthma medication. Between the various cold medications and the inhaler, I finally managed to quit coughing and sniffling long enough to get a decent night's sleep.
- [Being sick is not for wimps](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/being-sick-is-not-for-wimps/) - I'm now full-on into the throes of a nasty cold - the sort that leaves you congested, unable to think, and unable to sleep because of the congestion. I would curl up with a cup of tea and a book, but am eyeing the deadline on Autumn Splendor with increasing trepidation (and in any case,
- [Paring down](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/paring-down/) - The New Year is fast approaching, and I have been giving thought to my goals for the next year. One of them is to acquire less and use up more of what I have, both to save money and because I am rapidly running out of space to store things! I currently have 203 lbs
- [Sick day](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/sick-day/) - I woke up yesterday morning with the beginnings of a cold - not too surprising considering the amount of stress in my life recently - and decided to cancel my dye-fest day, and take it easy instead. So I slept in, took naps throughout the day, and sipped chicken soup, which I had (coincidentally?) made
- [Celebrating citrus](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/celebrating-citrus/) - The winter solstice is tomorrow, the shortest day of the year. Winter is beginning, and the cold, dark days presage...citrus??? Yep! As illogical as it seems, winter is when citrus ripens in California - strange, when every other fruit tree is hunkering down for the winter. Doubly strange, that a semi-tropical, frost-killed tree should be
- [Sadly, you can't do everything.](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/sadly-you-cant-do-everything/) - The latest issue of Handwoven is out, and they've issued their Garment Challenge for this year. The theme is sleeveless garments - vests, capes, ponchos, ruanas, etc. - and I'm cursing the timing because I have the perfect pattern, one that I was planning to use with the black-and-garnet Celtic braid fabric, and I simply haven't got
- [Finished the pattern!](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/finished-the-pattern/) - I finished the pattern today. 17 pattern pieces! A few of them are mirror-image duplicates, but not many. Here's a pic of the finished pattern pieces: And here is a closeup of one of them. For the lining, I included notes on my adjustments. I am debating what fabric to use for the lining, both
- [Major setback](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/major-setback/) - I spent three hours today dyeing the blanks for the dark panels - mixing up dyestocks, then mixing seventeen colors from dyestocks, and then carefully painting each blank with a graduated mixture of the seventeen colors. I set the colors in the microwave, let it cool completely, and then rinsed out in cool water. I
- [Trying to relax](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/trying-to-relax/) - The last few days I have been hyperfocusing, which is usually a sign of stress. This is undoubtedly coming from work, where I have two critical projects, both in a state of major crisis. This is totally not unexpected - I saw it coming ages ago - but it's finally arrived, like a slow train
- [Multiplying patterns](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/multiplying-patterns/) - The fit is nearly perfect on Autumn Splendor now - I made the last adjustments yesterday morning. Which means it's time to adjust the design line in the back, and create the lining pattern. The pattern pieces are multiplying rapidly! Here is a work-in-progress shot of the patterns in Illustrator: I have a separate pattern
- [Book learning](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/book-learning/) - I've finished knitting three of the four blanks, and am close to finishing the final one. Knitting blanks is boring and repetitive, but redeemed (at least in part) by being one-handed - which means I can read while knitting. So I have been reading The Culture of Craft, which is a collection of essays on
- [A schedule, of sorts](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/a-schedule-of-sorts/) - I went to see Sharon yesterday, and was delighted to find that the fit is nearly perfect! Sharon suggested a few adjustments (mostly around the neckline), but other than that it's looking good. So it seems likely that muslin #11 will be the last (or nearly last) one. Which is good, since Sharon and I
- [Muslin #10, complete](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/muslin-10-complete/) - Alleluia! I love it. It has a much cleaner, lighter "feel" than the collared version, and the lines flow nicely. I may tweak the front curve just a trifle where it crosses the bust - but then again maybe not, I'll have to mull that over. The Photoshop simulation suggests that the back is now
- [Muslin #10, partially complete](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/muslin-10-partially-complete/) - I love the lines in front (though I may tweak them slightly). In back, I worry that the light color may be too dominant...but will do a test with Photoshop, once I finish it. But I was so excited that I just had to stop midway through and share it with you! Yes, yes, yes. This
- [Radical redesign](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/radical-redesign/) - You may recall that I was mulling over the front of the last muslin, unsatisfied with it but also not seeing any solution. Yesterday, a friend broke me loose from my assumptions by saying, "Do you have to use that collar?" EUREKA!!! Of course I don't. I had been thinking of it as non-negotiable, because
- [Opening lines](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/opening-lines/) - I've now finished the rough draft of my intro. Here it is: I stand in my weaving studio, patiently measuring out miles of fine silk thread, gathering it in neat bundles, readying it to go on the loom. I will be weaving twenty yards of fabric - double the usual yardage, because my loom is
- [Meet muslin #9](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/meet-muslin-9/) - ...and, I am pleased to say, I actually like this one! Here's a pic: I'm still not crazy about the front - I think I will mull over Judy's advice from my post in muslin #8, and ask Sharon for her thoughts - but I love the back. It has exactly the dramatic motion that I
- [Organized essay themes](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/organized-essay-themes/) - I was having trouble keeping my thoughts straight this morning, so I created a mind-map of my essay themes (click through to the large version to read it): This lays things out very nicely, and I expect I'll be able to start writing tomorrow morning. I've also cut out the 9th muslin and finished half
- [Book progress](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/book-progress/) - I spent most of this morning going through and re-inventorying my essay themes. I've now identified six primary themes: connection through making (to people, to "the moment", to the Divine) doing things for the experience vs. doing them for end product (process vs. product) thoughts on original vs. duplicating/strongly derivative work how to learn faster
- [Muslin #8](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/muslin-8/) - Here is the most recent muslin: And the simulation-with-fabric: Not crazy about this one. The reversing curve in front draws the eye to the bottom, whereas it really ought to be on the top. The symmetric, identical curve in back looks a little too formal and symmetric - not like the whim of a drifting
- [Dyeing to write](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/dyeing-to-write/) - Been quiet the last few days, mainly because I been BUSY! Rather than bore you with a blow-by-blow recount, here is a photo that sums up much of what I've been doing: Here are six mockups for the collar. Left to right, starting with the top row, they are: variegated wine-and-purple rayon velvet, hand-dyed deep
- [Meet Harry](https://tienchiu.com/2011/12/meet-harry/)
- [Designing the collar](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/designing-the-collar/)
- [An orgy of surface design](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/an-orgy-of-surface-design/) - While browsing through the other offerings at Quilt University, I came across a very intriguing class: the Mermaid Lagoon Jacket. It's basically a tour through surface design techniques in the guise of creating a jacket with mermaids on it. The class description says: Get out all of your silk ribbons, pearls, fancy threads, beads, batiks,
- [What makes handwoven fabric unique?](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/what-makes-handwoven-fabric-unique/) - I'm currently reading The Art of Fabric Collage by Rosemary Eichorn. It's about piecing printed fabrics into collages, which are then fastened together permanently and used for garments, pillows, etc. As in most quilting, the fabric is valued more as a conduit for visual imagery - the patterns printed on the fabric - than as something
- [Quilter's design class!](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/quilters-design-class/) - One blog I read regularly is Elizabeth Barton's Art and Quilts, Cogitations Thereon, which often contains interesting notes on design in textile art. Much to my excitement, Elizabeth announced this morning that registration was open for two classes she is teaching, one of which is an introduction to design! So I immediately signed up. I'm
- [Planning vs. playing](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/planning-vs-playing/) - Here, for the curious, is the result of yesterday's plane flight: And here is this morning's doodle: Drawing, particularly in color, is a dicey thing for me. Because it's an unfamiliar medium, I don't have a lot of skills to draw on, and am thus acutely self-conscious about starting a piece, because I "know" it's
- [Experiment: water-soluble pencils on fabric](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/experiment-water-soluble-pencils-on-fabric/)
- [A new trick in Illustrator](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/a-new-trick-in-illustrator/) - I just found a new Illustrator trick that makes pattern drafting sooooo much easier! The most laborious part of doing a pattern, particularly one with curves, was doing the seam allowances. Doing a parallel curve exactly 1/2" away was a pain in the butt, involving a lot of measuring, altering the curve, remeasuring, etc. It
- [Packed and shipped](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/packed-and-shipped/) - It took six of us four and a half hours to pack all the chocolates - first putting over 2000 candies into cups, then packing the boxes, then applying stickers, tying bows, and packing them into shipping boxes. Quite a production! Here is a photo of a finished box: In previous years I've used a
- [Presenting the 2011 Fall Collection](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/presenting-the-2011-fall-collection/) - And here is a photo of the entire 90 lbs, 6.4 oz: Whew! I'm exhausted. Off to bed!

## Pages

- [Home](https://tienchiu.com/) - Tien Chiu is a textile artist and author living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- [Home](https://tienchiu.com/) - Tien Chiu is a textile artist and author living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- [Home](https://tienchiu.com/) - Tien Chiu is a textile artist and author living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- [How a TC-2 jacquard loom differs from a shaft loom](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/weaving/a-comparison-of-jacquard-looms/how-a-tc-2-jacquard-loom-differs-from-a-shaft-loom/) - Since I have woven extensively on the TC-2 jacquard loom as well as on various shaft looms, I occasionally get asked about the differences between them and which I prefer to use. The short answer: the TC-2 is great for weaving imagery, playing with anything structure-related, and exploring two-color stripe patterns. Shaft looms are great
- [About Tien](https://tienchiu.com/about/) - I'm a co-founder and teacher at an online weaving school, The Handweaving Academy. I'm also a textile artist, a teacher, and a writer. I've won many awards with my weaving, I teach about visual design, and I've authored a book, Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work. Teacher My expertise is
- [Honors, Awards, and Publications](https://tienchiu.com/home/publications-and-awards/) - Tien Chiu, Publications and Awards Page
- [Home](https://tienchiu.com/home2/) - ABOUT ME GALLERY WRITING REBORN IN FIRE: PHOENIX RISING WEDDING DRESS KODACHROME JACKET
- [Book](https://tienchiu.com/writing/book/) - Do you want to create unique, brilliantly designed works of craft? Have more fun in the studio? Develop your artistic "voice," skills, and career? Then this book is for you. Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work outlines a powerful process for designing and creating beautiful work. It enables you
- [Procion MX dye samples - Dyeing Protocol](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/procion-mx-on-cotton-dyeing-protocol/) - This page describes how I dyed the samples for my 1500-sample Procion MX dye sample set. You could use this method to make your own sample sets, but it will be much quicker and easier for you to take one of Carol Soderlund's classes, which will enable you (and your classmates) to make a sample
- [Kente weaving in Ghana](https://tienchiu.com/travels/ghana/kente-weaving-in-ghana/) - I was fortunate enough to spend 5 days in Ghana studying weaving with Kwame, a weaver from the Eʋe, (pronounced E-whu-e) tribe. Kwame had 29 years of experience under his belt, and was a great teacher! Weaving on the Eʋe kente loom felt very different from weaving on a European-style loom, although if you look closely
- [The Myth of One Idea, and the Peril of the Perfect Choice](https://tienchiu.com/2019/11/the-myth-of-one-idea-and-the-peril-of-the-perfect-choice/)
- [Procion MX fiber-reactive dye samples on cotton](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/) - Photos of 1,500 dye samples using Procion MX fiber-reactive dyes on mercerized cotton yarn.
- [About Me](https://tienchiu.com/about)
- [Raft on the Wildside, Part 1](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/raft-on-the-wildside/) - These are from the two-day whitewater rafting trip I took with Wildside...an ecotourism and adventure trekking tour organizer in Laos. I highly, highly, highly recommend them...this trip was the most fun I've had in Laos. Click here for Raft on the Wildside, Part 2 Click here for Raft on the Wildside, Part 2
- [Lao Weaving](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/lao-weaving/) - While in Vientiane, I went to Carol Cassidy's shop, Lao Textiles. Lao Textiles was founded 14 years ago and was the first foreign business in Laos...it produces museum quality textiles designed by Carol Cassidy, based on traditional Lao patterns and woven by some very skilled weavers. They were kind enough to let me take photos
- [On the River](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/on-the-river/) - Vangvieng is a tiny little town about 1/3 of the way between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Its sole raison d'être is adventure trekking: I kayaked down the Mekong River, floated down it in an inner tube twice, and went whitewater rafting (all for the first time). Unfortunately, because water and digital cameras really don't mix,
- [Procion MX fiber-reactive dye samples on cotton: Sun Yellow, Fuchsia, and Deep Navy](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/sun-yellow-fuchsia-deep-navy/) - Photos of 250 dye samples of Procion MX fiber-reactive dye on cotton yarn, using Sun Yellow, Fuchsia, and Deep Navy (Pro Chemical and Dye names)
- [Procion MX fiber-reactive dye samples on cotton: Golden Yellow, Mixing Red, Intense Blue](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/golden-yellow-mixing-red-intense-blue/) - Photos of 250 dye samples of Procion MX fiber-reactive dye on cotton yarn, using Gold, Mixing Red, and Intense Blue (Pro Chemical and Dye names)
- [Procion MX fiber-reactive dye samples on cotton: Golden Yellow, Mixing Red, Deep Navy](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/golden-yellow-mixing-red-deep-navy/) - Photos of 250 dye samples of Procion MX fiber-reactive dye on cotton yarn, using Gold, Mixing Red, and Deep Navy
- [Procion MX fiber-reactive dye samples on cotton: Golden Yellow, Fuchsia, Mixing Blue](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/gold-fuchsia-mixing-blue/) - Photos of 250 dye samples of Procion MX fiber-reactive dye on cotton yarn, using Gold, Fuchsia, and Mixing Blue/Cobalt Blue.
- [Procion MX fiber-reactive dye samples on cotton: Sun Yellow, Fuchsia, and Turquoise](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/sun-yellow-fuschia-turquoise/) - Photos of 250 dye samples of Procion MX fiber-reactive dye on cotton yarn, using Sun Yellow, Fuchsia, and Turquoise
- [Procion MX fiber-reactive dye samples on cotton: Sun Yellow, Mixing Red, Mixing Blue](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/sun-yellow-mixing-red-mixing-blue/) - Photos of 250 dye samples of Procion MX fiber-reactive dye on cotton yarn, using Sun Yellow, Mixing Red, and Mixing Blue
- [Dye samples](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/procion-mx-on-cotton/)
- [How to "read" the dye sample sets](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/how-read-sample-sets/) - How the samples are arranged You can always see the concentrations of each dye used to make the sample by clicking on the photo to get the larger version, then zooming in on the label for that sample. Here's a page from one of the sample sets that shows three levels of a single dye
- [Dye sample strategy - the "Cube" method](https://tienchiu.com/dye-samples/dye-sample-strategy/) - Sequential dyebaths - "Cube" strategy The basic idea behind this method comes from Carol Soderlund's dye mixing classes (as reported to me; I haven't taken the classes). The idea is that you do a "color cube" where you take a predetermined set of dye concentrations, then dye every possible combination of those concentrations with three
- [Chocolate Making](https://tienchiu.com/misc/chocolate/chocolate-making/) - Every year, I make a batch of chocolates over Thanksgiving weekend. The size of the batch varies from year to year (the current record is 133 pounds), but usually it's around 90-100 pounds. I send them to friends, family, and donors to my annual "Chocolates for Charity" campaign. I would describe myself as "semi-pro"; I
- [Mental illness is not the same as evil. Nor does it cause mass murder.](https://tienchiu.com/2018/02/mental-illness-is-not-the-same-as-evil/)
- [Mental Illness](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/mental-illness/) - I have bipolar disorder, which is a severe, incurable mental illness. It's biologically driven, and is the result of a natural imbalance in brain chemicals - it is not curable through therapy, though it can be managed by taking psychiatric medications. (It is also genetic, which is one of the reasons I chose not to
- [Writing](https://tienchiu.com/writing/) - Book My book, Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work, was published by Schiffer Publishing in July 2016. You can find more detail about Master Your Craft here, but here's a brief summary: Master Your Craft provides insights into the process of creating original work: Gathering ideas, brainstorming new designs, evaluating
- [Why I'm lucky, among people with mental illness](https://tienchiu.com/2017/10/some-thoughts-about-mental-illness/)
- [Your "normal" is not my normal: Why people misunderstand mental illness](https://tienchiu.com/2017/10/your-normal-is-not-my-normal-why-people-misunderstand-mental-illness/)
- [Living with Bipolar Disorder](/2009/10/living-with-bipolar-disorder/)
- [How to use a Boyce weaver's knotter](https://tienchiu.com/2016/08/how-to-use-a-boyce-weavers-knotter-how-to-tie-a-weavers-knot/)
- [Thanks for ordering!](https://tienchiu.com/writing/book/thanks/) - Thanks for ordering my book Master Your Craft: Strategies for Designing, Making, and Selling Artisan Work! Your copy should be shipped within the next 2 business days. If you enjoy the book, please help me by spreading the word!
- [Complex Color Simulations in Photoshop](https://tienchiu.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Complex-color-simulations-in-Photoshop.pdf)
- [Shopping Cart](https://tienchiu.com/writing/book/shopping-cart/) - [always_show_wp_shopping_cart]
- [Giving yourself permission](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/giving-yourself-permission/) - I've been thinking more about the art classes, and particularly about whether I'm looking for validation or education - whether my interest is because "you can't be a real artist without an art education" or whether it's a genuine need for knowledge. Today's blog post is about the first part - validation, or "giving myself
- [Gallery](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio) - While my primary medium is handwoven cloth, I use a wide variety of textile processes, such as dyeing and surface design, to create my work. I believe that my creative strength is drawn from the spaces "in between": between techniques, between media, and, most of all, between people.
- [The Ruins of Angkor](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/) - The Ruins of Angkor --an utterly amazing tour through the ruined temples of the Khmer Empire, including the famous Angkor Wat. The ruins of Angkor contain 70 temples scattered over about 50 square miles, with the biggest group located in Angkor Thom, the capital city of the Khmer Empire. They were built over a 500-year
- [Cambodia](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/) - I spent a little over a week in Cambodia, five days exploring the ruins of Angkor and several more days in the capital city of Phnom Penh. For more details of my adventures in Cambodia, read my Cambodia travel blog!
- [Vietnam](https://tienchiu.com/travels/vietnam/) - Vietnam photos, from two weeks in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, and Halong Bay. For more details of my adventures in Vietnam, read my Vietnam travel blog!
- [Laos](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/) - Photos from Laos, a country renowned for its beautiful scenery, laid-back lifestyle, and friendly people. I spent 8 days in Vientiane, the capital, networking around the AIDS NGOs and weaving community, while enjoying some absolutely wonderful California-style cafes. Currently I'm in Vangvieng, enjoying the scenery and boating up and down the Mekong River. At left,
- [Laos](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/) - Photos from Laos, a country renowned for its beautiful scenery, laid-back lifestyle, and friendly people. I spent 8 days in Vientiane, the capital, networking around the AIDS NGOs and weaving community, while enjoying some absolutely wonderful California-style cafes. Currently I'm in Vangvieng, enjoying the scenery and boating up and down the Mekong River. At left,
- [Laos](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/) - Photos from Laos, a country renowned for its beautiful scenery, laid-back lifestyle, and friendly people. I spent 8 days in Vientiane, the capital, networking around the AIDS NGOs and weaving community, while enjoying some absolutely wonderful California-style cafes. Currently I'm in Vangvieng, enjoying the scenery and boating up and down the Mekong River. At left,
- [India](https://tienchiu.com/travels/india/) - Rewalsar, India, and a few photos from Dharamsala. Rewalsar, in Tibetan, is Tso Pema. It's a small town sacred to Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sikhism...and a great place for meditating. For more details of my adventures in India, read my India travel blog!
- [Ghana](https://tienchiu.com/travels/ghana/)
- [China](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/) - In September 2007 I went to China on a Silk Road Tour with Grand American Travel, along with B., my mom, her husband, my brother and his wife. For more details of my adventures in China, read my China travel blog!
- [Travels](https://tienchiu.com/travels/) - I've spent considerable time traveling the world, most especially in 2002-3, when I spent six months backpacking solo through Southeast Asia. Among the places I've visited are Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, India, Belize, Guatemala, and Ghana - all rich with textile traditions.
- [Philosophical musings](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/philosophical-musings/) - These essays are about a variety of topics - everything from my experiences with bipolar disorder to thoughts about courage and finding one's way in the world. Title list:
- [Meditations on Craft](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/) - These essays are mostly about the process and philosophy of craft. Why is craft valuable? What frustrations drive craftspeople crazy, and how do you remedy them? Is there a better, more joyous way to approach creating original work? Titles:
- [The Value of Craft](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/the-value-of-craft/) - Every fiber artist has been asked, "Why are you making this when you could buy this at Wal-Mart?" This blog post essay explores the reasons (stated and unstated) why craftspeople value working with their hands.
- [Clinging](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/clinging/) - Buddhism teaches that clinging to your desires is the root of all suffering. In craftwork, clinging to your initial vision, rather than letting a piece evolve naturally, can lead to a lot of suffering, too.
- [Essays](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/) - Over the years, I've written a collection of essays, both about craft and about life in general. I hope you enjoy them! List of all essays:
- [Kodachrome Jacket](https://tienchiu.com/2011/05/kodachrome-jacket/) - Kodachrome was my response to the Handwoven Garment Challenge in 2011. Ten garments, five loom-shaped and five tailored, would be selected to appear in the Vav Fashion show in Sweden, and would be published in Handwoven. I decided it would be fun to enter, and Kodachrome was born. I considered my design carefully. At Convergence 2010, I
- [Reborn in Fire: Phoenix Rising](https://tienchiu.com/featured-works/reborn-in-fire-phoenix-rising/) - Reborn in Fire: Phoenix Rising is the first in a series of pieces examining death and rebirth through the reborn phoenix.
- [Goodbye, Ma](https://tienchiu.com/featured-works/goodbye-ma/)
- [Wedding Dress](https://tienchiu.com/featured-works/wedding-dress/) - This wedding ensemble took one year and over 1000 hours of work to complete. I not only designed and wove the fabric, but also designed and sewed the dress myself, with help from Sharon Bell. There are three fabrics in this wedding ensemble - an eternity knot pattern, a Chinese double-happiness character pattern (the double-happiness character signifies a happy marriage), and a three-strand Celtic braid pattern. Together they symbolize a wish for eternal happiness in marriage!
- [Autumn Splendor](https://tienchiu.com/2011/09/autumn-splendor/)
- [Featured works](https://tienchiu.com/featured-works/)
- [Garments](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio_category/garments/)
- [Accessories](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio_category/accessories/)
- [Wall hangings](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio_category/wall-hangings/)
- [Chocolate](https://tienchiu.com/misc/chocolate/)
- [Designing handwoven cloth](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/designing-handwoven-cloth/) - Here are some resources for designing your own handwoven cloth:
- [Katazome](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/dyeing-and-surface-design/katazome/) - Katazome is the Japanese art of stenciled paste-resist dyeing. A paste made from rice bran and glutinous rice flour is applied to cloth through a stencil and allowed to dry. Pigments are then applied over the paste, or the cloth is dipped in an indigo vat to apply color. The areas covered by the rice
- [Design](https://tienchiu.com/design/) - Fail Faster! - Mistakes are inevitable. This explains how to use sampling to "fail faster" - making your mistakes quicker and less expensive to correct. Iterative Design - How to use samples to answer design questions, with minimal investment Managing Risk in Projects - How to reduce the chances that a project will fail, especially when experimenting with
- [Making a vertical swift from Tinkertoys](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/dyeing-and-surface-design/making-a-vertical-swift-from-tinkertoys/) - Instructions for making a vertical swift from Tinkertoys
- [Dyeing and unwinding delicate yarns](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/dyeing-and-surface-design/dyeing-and-unwinding-delicate-yarns/) - I work regularly with fine yarns - and have been going to increasingly fine and delicate yarns recently. Here are some things I've discovered along the way (some recently, some not) that make working with fine yarns easier. Please note that I do not pretend to be an expert, or to have the best solution
- [Dyeing and surface design](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/dyeing-and-surface-design/) - These pages are resources for the surface designer and hand-dyer:
- [Weaving](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/weaving/) - Weavers may enjoy some of the information I've written up about weaving tools and how to use them:
- [How-Tos](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/) - I hope these "how-to" pages will help fellow weavers, dyers, surface designers, and sewing folk pursue their arts. List of topics:
- [Putting a second warp on a trapeze](https://tienchiu.com/2010/12/better-photos-of-trapeze/)
- [Iterative design](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/iterative-design/) - Peg, who has a talent for interesting questions, commented on my last blog post: Tien, is this to be a wall piece? My problem with the usual design books, is that designing a piece of fluid fabric that is to be worn has more complex design problems that, so far as I can see, the
- [Fail faster!](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/fail-faster/) - I'll begin this post with a parable: Once upon a time, people developed software using the "waterfall" model. They would carefully write up a 30+ page specification for the product, and then they would spend a long time - several months to years! - developing the product to match the specification. Then, of course, they
- [Other Crafts](https://tienchiu.com/other-crafts/)
- [Thailand](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/) - I spent two months traveling in Thailand, with quite a few adventures along the way. Here's the photo album of my visit. You can also read more about my adventures in Thailand in the Thailand section of my travel blog.
- [Celtic Knotwork Eggs](https://tienchiu.com/misc/celtic-knotwork-eggs/) - Sadly, I'm a much better artist than photographer, so the pictures are less than perfect. Click the images for a larger version, or come by sometime and see them in person! I make these eggs using traditional Ukranian techniques, drawing on the egg with melted wax and then dipping it into a series of dyebaths.
- [Slow living](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/slow-living/) - A meditation on how weaving and sewing your own fabric by hand encourages you both to build relationships, and to slow down to savor things.
- [The Loss of the Creature](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/the-loss-of-the-creature/) - An essay about how your expectations of something can color your experience of it. A tribute to Walker Percy's essay of the same name, which I first read my senior year in college, and has profoundly affected my thinking ever since. (I'm no longer vegetarian, though.)
- [Resources for Handwoven Fabric Design](https://tienchiu.com/2016/01/resources-for-handwoven-fabric-design/)
- [Kurofofrom - lost wax casting](https://tienchiu.com/travels/ghana/kurofofrom-lost-wax-casting/) - I stopped by a small village in Ghana, where they cast silver and brass in lost-wax casting. I asked the artisans to show me the process, which I documented in the photo gallery below: You can read more about my experiences in Ghana in the Ghana section of my travel blog.
- [Applying pigments to resisted cloth](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/dyeing-and-surface-design/katazome/applying-pigments-to-resisted-cloth/) - This page describes the traditional method of applying pigments to cloth using soy milk as a binder. You can also use acid dyes with citric acid and steam, or fiber-reactive dyes, or thinned-out acrylic paint, but as I haven't done that, I can't comment on those methods. However, there is a good book titled Japanese
- [Making Katazome Paste](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/dyeing-and-surface-design/katazome/making-katazome-paste/) - Katazome paste is made from a mix of glutinous rice flour, finely ground defatted rice bran, calx, glycerine, and salt. Each ingredient serves a function: The glutinous rice flour, when wetted and steamed, is very sticky and clings to the fabric, helping the paste adhere during the application of dye. This is particularly important when
- [Applying katazome paste](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/dyeing-and-surface-design/katazome/applying-katazome-paste/) - Before you apply katazome paste, you will want to stretch out your fabric so it doesn't move while pasting. Traditionally, this is done by applying pure glutinous rice paste to a wooden board, letting it dry, then spritzing it with water (to make it slightly tacky) and laying the fabric on the rice paste. The
- [Making Katazome Stencils](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/dyeing-and-surface-design/katazome/making-katazome-stencils/) - Katazome stencils are made by transferring a design to specially treated paper, carving out the negative spaces in the paper, then applying a silk or polyester mesh over the paper and adhering the mesh with paint. The traditional paper, shibugami, is made of several layers of handmade mulberry paper which are strengthened with persimmon tannin
- [Laos Random Photos](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/laos-random-photos/) - Photos from around Laos...
- [A comparison of jacquard looms](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/weaving/a-comparison-of-jacquard-looms/) - In July, 2014, I was fortunate enough to spend 10 days studying, and weaving on, the two major brands of jacquard loom available to today's handweaver: the AVL Jacq3G and Digital Weaving Norway's TC-2 (Thread Controller-2) jacquard looms. I thought my comparison might prove useful to other weavers, so I decided to post it on
- [The Digital Weaving Norway TC-2 jacquard loom](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/weaving/a-comparison-of-jacquard-looms/the-digital-weaving-norway-tc-2-jacquard-loom/) - In July, 2014, I was lucky enough to spend three days working with Digital Weaving Norway's TC-2 jacquard loom, as part of my effort to compare the two major brands of jacquard looms (the other is AVL's Jacq3G). (While I have done my best to verify the accuracy of this article with Digital Weaving Norway,
- [The AVL Jacq3G jacquard loom](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/weaving/a-comparison-of-jacquard-looms/the-avl-jacq3g-jacquard-loom/) - In July, 2014, I was lucky enough to spend five days working with two different AVL Jacq3G jacquard looms, as part of my effort to compare the two major brands of jacquard looms (the other is Digital Weaving Norway's TC-2). (While I have done my best to verify the accuracy of this article with AVL,
- [Sources for weaving yarns](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/designing-handwoven-cloth/yarn-sources/) - Many people have asked me where I get my yarn, so I thought I'd add a page listing some of my favorite sources. Mill ends, remainders, and other inexpensive yarn sources: Colourmart. They sell mill ends and remainders from top-of-the-line mills, like Loro Piana. The prices vary, as does the color selection, but generally is
- [Ways of seeing](https://tienchiu.com/2014/01/ways-of-seeing/)
- [Body Painting](https://tienchiu.com/misc/body-painting/)
- [Burning Man](https://tienchiu.com/burning-man/)
- [Winding a back to front warp using the AVL Warping Wheel](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/winding-a-back-to-front-warp-using-the-avl-warping-wheel/)
- [On Harnessing Chaos](https://tienchiu.com/2013/01/on-harnessing-chaos/)
- [Washing A Hedgehog](https://tienchiu.com/misc/washing-a-hedgehog/) - I visited my brother's place at Christmas, 2005, and was lucky enough to witness a hedgehog-washing. I captured it for posterity with my cell phone. This is the way you wash a hedgehog, wash a hedgehog, wash a hedgehog... Courtesy of Tara Chiu (my sister-in-law), and my handy cell phone while I was visiting her
- [Day Seven](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-7/day-seven/) - Day Seven saw me in my loveliest outfit of all, a strapless confection of white dupioni silk, gold organza, and lots of peacock feathers - over 1000 green and blue body feathers in the top, and 126 tail feathers in the bottom. It took me probably over 40 hours to design and sew this outfit,
- [Day Six](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-7/day-six/) - Day Six saw us passing through Santa Barbara, where I finally got to meet a friend and fellow Techer, George Williams, who was kind enough to bring me some Cytomax (my favorite brand of electrolyte drink) when I ran out. It was great to meet him, and also great to ride down the lovely coast
- [Day Five](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-7/day-five/) - Once upon a time, Day Five was "Dress in Red" day, because the route made a loop and someone thought it would be neat having 2500 riders in red making a living AIDS ribbon (seen from the air). Of course, with so many fabulous gay men on the route, it rapidly became "Red Dress Day".
- [Day Four](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-7/day-four/) - The photo says it all! On Day 4 we crossed the halfway point to Los Angeles - I passed a sign on the freeway saying "Los Angeles - 233 miles". Of course we don't ride on the freeway, but it was an encouraging sight nonetheless. I rode in a lovely Elizabethan period tutu. Day Four
- [Day Three](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-7/day-three/) - Day 3 saw us on the notorious Quadbuster, a steep climb right out of Rest Stop 2. I personally think Quadbuster is a little overrated - there are other, equally nasty, hills on the ride, especially on Day 5. But one of the great sights of the ride is stronger riders riding up Quadbuster again
- [Day Two](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-7/day-two/) - Photos from Day Two: Santa Cruz to King City This was one of our century (100+ mile) days, from Santa Cruz down through the Salinas Valley to King City. A flat day, passing through beautiful farmland and golden hills. Punctuating the day were the Ugly Mug (free coffee!), the artichoke stand, the skinny dipping bridge,
- [Day One](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-7/day-one/) - Photos from Day One: San Francisco to Santa Cruz. I rode 79.3 miles (by the official count; 82 by my odometer), up and over the Skyline ridge, ate lunch at San Gregorio State Beach, and took a lovely ride down 1 to Santa Cruz. Along the way I met some Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and
- [Days 5-7](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-2/days-5-7/) - Day Five Day Five was noted for the funniest part of all of Lifecycle: our fastest rider hit a cow. Yes, a cow. He was off-route (bad rider! bad rider!) somewhere near Vandenburg, cycling along at his customary 35 mph, when he ran into a cow on the road. He zigged left, the cow zigged
- [Days 1-4](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-2/days-1-4/) - Day One Day One dawned bright and early...all riders had to check in at 5am, which was probably the hardest part of the ride. We pedaled 96.1 miles on Day One, including a brutal uphill climb on Trousdale Ave. in Burlingame, and over 2500' of climbing up Skyline, including a short bit on Route 92.
- [Crafts in Xi'an](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/crafts-in-xian/) - Xi'an, the former capital of China, features not only the Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin Shihuang (the man who unified the seven warring kingdoms and created modern China) but also some damn good food. Xi'an was the ancient capital of China until the Mongols moved the capital to Beijing, where it resides today. It
- [Xi'an](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/xian/) - Xi'an, the former capital of China, features not only the Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin Shihuang (the man who unified the seven warring kingdoms and created modern China) but also some damn good food. Xi'an was the ancient capital of China until the Mongols moved the capital to Beijing, where it resides today. It
- [Xining](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/xining/) - Xining, the capital of Qinghai province, features not only the Kum Bum monastery (one of the major Tibetan Buddhist lamaseries) but also a pretty good museum on Tibetan carpets and thangka (Tibetan Buddhist religious paintings). And, I got to see a yak! Xining is the capital of Qinghai province, perhaps best-known for the Kumbum Tibetan
- [Lanzhou](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/lanzhou/) - Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province in northwestern China, is a rather industrial city, but it hosts the Bingling Si Caves, which contain Buddhist artworks from 400 AD on. Fortunately the caves are relatively remote, so have not been plundered by passing archaeologists or destroyed by the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution. Lanzhou, the
- [Great Wall](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/great-wall/) - The Great Wall at Jiayuguan, the final outpost and best-preserved section of the Great Wall. Jiayuguan, the final fortress on the Great Wall, was built in 1372 by the Ming Dynasty and is over 3000 miles from the eastern outpost of the wall (!). Surely this qualifies as one of the ancient wonders of the
- [Dunhuang](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/dunhuang/) - Dunhuang, about 300 miles southeast of Urumqi. It's known primarily for the shifting sand dunes, and the Mogao Caves, a fantastic set of carved sandstone caves with elaborate paintings, murals, frescoes, bas-relief, statues, and other artwork dating between the 4th and 14th centuries A.D. I also stopped by a silk rug-making factory, where the travelingtiger
- [Urumqi](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/urumqi/) - Urumqi, a city in the far northwest of China. Urumqi, located in the far northwestern corner of China, is China's largest province (I think) and consists mostly of desert with two mountain ranges and a green basin in between the mountain ranges. It is renowned for its grapes, raisins, and melons - said to be
- [Kente gallery](https://tienchiu.com/travels/ghana/kente-gallery/) - Kente, or strip-weaving, is the predominant form of weaving in Ghana. Long, narrow strips of cloth are woven, and then sewn together to make a wider fabric. Each strip is only about 4" across, so it takes lots of strips to make a kente! The magic of kente is in lining up the strips. To
- [Daboya - spinning and indigo dyeing](https://tienchiu.com/travels/ghana/daboya-spinning-and-indigo-dyeing/) - I asked to meet a cotton handspinner in Ghana, but this was difficult to find, as the practice has virtually died out with the advent of machine-spun yarns. Finally I found someone who had heard of someone in Daboya (a very small town) who still did it, so off I went in search of the
- [Around Ghana](https://tienchiu.com/travels/ghana/around-ghana/) - I traveled across most regions of Ghana during my 3 weeks there (it's a small country). Here are some photos from my travels. You can read more about my experiences in Ghana in the Ghana section of my travel blog.
- [Misc Photos](https://tienchiu.com/travels/india/misc-photos/)
- [Around the Mountain](https://tienchiu.com/travels/india/around-the-mountain/)
- [Animals](https://tienchiu.com/travels/india/animals/)
- [Fantastic Scenery](https://tienchiu.com/travels/india/fantastic-scenery/) - You must go to Tso Pema to really appreciate it. Words will not do it, and neither will photos. You have to be there, looking down on the world, looking up at the massive slopes of the Himalayan mountains, to really appreciate it. Nonetheless these are pretty photos...
- [Around Town](https://tienchiu.com/travels/india/around-town/) - Most of these photos were taken in Rewalsar, where I spent two weeks up in the caves with the meditators and nuns. Some, however, are from the road to Dharamsala (where I'm wiriting this), and a few from Dharamsala itself. I plan to put up a Dharamsala page, later.
- [Hilltribe Visits, Part 3](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/hilltribe-visits-part-3/) - This was a four-day whitewater rafting/kayaking trip down the Nam Ha River in Laos...each day, we stayed in a different hilltribe village. The cast of characters was varied and quite hilarious...there were eight of us on the trip, and seven even made it to Thailand. ;-) (The eighth left us after the second day.) Credits:
- [Hilltribe Visits, Part 2](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/hilltribe-visits-part-2/) - This was a four-day whitewater rafting/kayaking trip down the Nam Ha River in Laos...each day, we stayed in a different hilltribe village. The cast of characters was varied and quite hilarious...there were eight of us on the trip, and seven even made it to Thailand. ;-) (The eighth left us after the second day.) Credits:
- [Hilltribe Visits, Part 1](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/hilltribe-visits-part-1/) - This was a four-day whitewater rafting/kayaking trip down the Nam Ha River in Laos...each day, we stayed in a different hilltribe village. The cast of characters was varied and quite hilarious...there were eight of us on the trip, and seven even made it to Thailand. ;-) (The eighth left us after the second day.) Credits:
- [ Raft on the Wildside, Part 2](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/raft-on-the-wildside-part-2/) - These are from the two-day whitewater rafting trip I took with Wildside...an ecotourism and adventure trekking tour organizer in Laos. I highly, highly, highly recommend them...this trip was the most fun I've had in Laos. Click here for Raft on the Wildside, Part 1 Click here for Raft on the Wildside, Part 1
- [Lao Dyeing](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/lao-dyeing/) - While in Vientiane, I went to Carol Cassidy's shop, Lao Textiles. Lao Textiles was founded 14 years ago and was the first foreign business in Laos...it produces museum quality textiles designed by Carol Cassidy, based on traditional Lao patterns and woven by some very skilled weavers. They were kind enough to let me take photos
- [Around Luang Prabang](https://tienchiu.com/travels/laos/around-luang-prabang/) - Luang Prabang is a World Heritage Site, and the second-biggest town in Laos--population 30,000. (Vientiane, the capital, has about 300,000 people.) It's full of small boutique-y tourist shops, beautiful temples, and the gorgeous scenery everywhere in Laos.
- [Hue and the DMZ](https://tienchiu.com/travels/vietnam/hue-and-the-dmz/) - Hue used to be the capital city, but was largely demolished in the war. I didn't think much of Hue, and only stayed a few days, but I did tour the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). There's almost nothing left there--the tour took on a degree of the surreal at times, as an "American army base" listed
- [Halong Bay](https://tienchiu.com/travels/vietnam/halong-bay/) - These photos are from my trip through Halong Bay.
- [Hanoi](https://tienchiu.com/travels/vietnam/hanoi/) - These photos are from my trip through Hanoi. One of the hotel clerks in Hanoi invited me to tour his family's farm. So we got on a motorbike and off we went...70 kilometers up to his family's lychee farm, near the Chinese border.
- [Hoi An](https://tienchiu.com/travels/vietnam/hoi-an/) - Hoi An is a perfectly lovely little town, about twenty kilometers south of Danang, on the central coast of Vietnam. I had a great time there, having been "adopted" both by my guide, a South Vietnamese man named Mr. An (who had worked for the U.S. Navy) and Kim Van, my seamstress. She invited me
- [Random Photos](https://tienchiu.com/travels/vietnam/random-photos/) - Random Photos from Vietnam. (Below, me in a cyclo.) These photos were taken in various areas around Vietnam--the border. etc.
- [Restoration](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/restoration/) - Restoration of the Angkor ruins has been an ongoing project since the French "discovered" the site in the early 1800s. (I put it in quotations because Angkor Wat has been continuously used since its building, so was never forgotten in the first place--but many of the other ruins were.) Because Cambodia has little to no
- [Banteay Srei](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/banteay-srei/) - Banteay Srei, a small but intricately decorated temple about 20 km away from the main complex. One of my favorites. Banteay Srei, built by one of Rajendravarman's counsellors in the late 900's, is unique among the temples of Angkor. It is built of pink sandstone (not the regular black-and-white sandstone used for the other temples),
- [Ta Prohm](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/ta-prohm/) - If you're up on modern movies, you'll recognize Ta Prohm: it's where Tomb Raider takes place. (Actually, Tomb Raider was shot all over the Angkor ruins; I have no idea how they kept Angelina Jolie from getting heatstroke. It's bloody hot out here!) Ta Prohm was a monastery built by King Jayavarman VII, last of
- [The Bayon](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/the-bayon/) - The Bayon, the central temple in the city of Angkor Thom, known for its faces and bas-relief carvings. The Bayon is the central temple of the Angkor Thom compound, and was built by Jayavarman VII and VIII in the late 12th to 13th centuries. It is located in the exact center of Angkor Thom, the
- [Around the Ruins](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/around-the-ruins/) - These are photos of people and places around the Angkor ruins, including some temples where I didn't take enough photos to justify separate pages. Warning, if you go to Siem Reap/Angkor: the area is teeming with beggars and touts, some of whom can be quite aggressive (not dangerous, but aggressive). Be careful about starting conversations
- [People](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/people/) - These are photos of people and places around the Angkor ruins, including some temples where I didn't take enough photos to justify separate pages. Warning, if you go to Siem Reap/Angkor: the area is teeming with beggars and touts, some of whom can be quite aggressive (not dangerous, but aggressive). Be careful about starting conversations
- [Bas-Reliefs at Angkor Wat](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/bas-reliefs-at-angkor-wat/) - From entrance to center, Angkor Wat consists of a moat, a main gate, a grassy field with two pools (the first two photos in this collection were taken from the north pool), a lower gallery running all around the main building, a middle gallery with four courtyard pools, and the five towers. The lower gallery
- [Angkor Wat](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/the-ruins-of-angkor/angkor-wat/) - Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious monument, measuring one and a half kilometers by 1.3 kilometers (200 hectares). Built by the great Khmer emperor Suryavarman II, in the early 12th century (1113-1150), it symbolizes the entire Hindu universe: the moat represents the oceans surrounding the earth, the concentric galleries represent the mountain ranges surrounding
- [Around Town/On the River](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/roads-and-rivers/around-townon-the-river/) - These photos are from an express boat between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the capital. (One bus ride in Cambodia was enough!)
- [Poipet](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/roads-and-rivers/poipet/) - These photos are from the bus trip between Bangkok, Thailand, and Siem Reap, Cambodia. This was a fourteen-hour bus ride: three hours to cover 250 kilometers (about 100 miles) on the Thai side, two hours to pass Cambodian immigration, and NINE hours to cover 75 miles on the Cambodian side! This is because Cambodian roads
- [Silk Weaving](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/silk-weaving/)
- [Akha weaving](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/akha-weaving/) - When I was visiting northern Thailand, I wanted to learn how to spin using an Akha spindle, which of course meant finding someone from the Akha hilltribe to teach me. I asked around a bit, and finally wangled an opportunity to spend four days studying spinning and weaving with Ahta, my guide's mother-in-law. It was
- [Akha spinning and fiber arts](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/akha-spinning-and-fiber-arts/) - I was privileged to spend four days studying spinning and weaving with an old Akha spinner/weaver, who was very excited to have a student, as the young Akha are largely not interested in the traditional arts. Here are some photos from my study of handspinning. You can read more about my adventures with the Akha
- [Akha silversmithing](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/akha-silversmithing/) - I spent one day studying silversmithing with an Akha tribal smith. Mostly I learned how tricky it is; it would have taken me weeks or months to master the simple part: hammering things flat. I came away in awe of his abilities. Since my polyclay spindles were wearing out, I asked him to make me
- [The Akha people](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/the-akha-people/) - Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, is near a lot of hilltribe villages. I had read about Akha spinning in a magazine (the Akha spindle, a mid-whorl spindle, is fairly popular with handspinners), and asked if it would be possible to stay in a traditional Akha village to study spinning and weaving. Indeed it was! and
- [Miscellaneous photos from around Thailand](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/miscellaneous-photos-from-around-thailand/) - Photos from places I visited only briefly, so they don't have their own pages. You can read more about my adventures in Thailand in the Thailand section of my travel blog.
- [Ko Chang](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/ko-chang/) - Very confusingly, there are actually two Ko Changs in Thailand. This is the one on the eastern coast of Thailand, near the Cambodian border. "Ko" means "Island" in Thai, and "Chang" means "elephant", so this is Elephant Island. It's an unspoiled island being rapidly spoiled by commercial development--so go there soon, if you can. It
- [Chiang Mai](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/chiang-mai/) - Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand, is about 600 miles north of Bangkok, and the stepping-off point for hilltribe trekking. It is also the center for Thai handicrafts, which are many, varied, and (like artists everywhere) massively underpaid. You can read more about my adventures in Chiang Mai in the Thailand section of
- [Chocolate Feet](https://tienchiu.com/misc/chocolate/chocolate-feet/) - A friend of mine has a foot fetish, so I made him a pair of Valrhona chocolate feet for Christmas...and boy, did he turn bright red!
- [Bangkok](https://tienchiu.com/travels/thailand/bangkok/) - I spent a fair amount of time in Bangkok, and considered it my "home away from home" in Southeast Asia. I found it endlessly fascinating--you never know what's going to turn up around the corner. Elephants, tattoo artists working with a bamboo needle-holder and tiny cups of dye, street vendors selling fried grasshoppers and insects,
- [Live weight warp tensioning system](https://tienchiu.com/2009/05/live-weight-warp-tensioning-system/)
- [Tips for using the AVL Warping Wheel](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/weaving/tips-for-using-the-avl-warping-wheel/) - I have an AVL Warping Wheel and love it. Here are a few of the things I do that make it a little faster and easier to use: 1. Wind from multiple cones at once. I weave with fine threads and generally wind with three or four cones at once. It speeds the winding process immensely.
- [Enlarging my sectional beam](https://tienchiu.com/2008/09/upgraded-my-sectional-beam/)
- [AIDS Lifecycle 2](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-2/) - Here are some photos from ALC2...there is also my rider journal on the official AIDS Lifecycle Webcast.) AIDS Lifecycle (and the AIDS Rides generally) are known for campy humor--even the most uptight person gets a little loopy after the first 250 miles of cycling. Last year I promised I'd ride in a pink tutu if
- [AIDS Lifecycle](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/) - AIDS Lifecycle is a 585-mile, 7-day cycling fundraiser for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. We ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and raise millions of dollars each year for the two beneficiaries. It's a good thing. I've ridden three AIDS Lifecycles so far, and they just
- [Misc](https://tienchiu.com/misc/)
- [AIDS Lifecycle 7](https://tienchiu.com/misc/aids-lifecycle/aids-lifecycle-7/) - From June 1-7, 2008, I bicycled 550 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles as part of AIDS Lifecycle 7. I had not expected to be able to ride every mile, as exercise induced asthma and a sprained ankle had kept me from training as well as I'd have liked to, and my longest back-to-back
- [AIDS Lifecycle 5](https://tienchiu.com/ALC/ALC5/ALC5blog.html)
- [Adinkra stamping in Ghana](https://tienchiu.com/travels/ghana/adinkra-stamping-in-ghana/) - Adinkra, or stamped fabric, is one of the textile arts of Ghana. I was fortunate enough to visit an adinkra stamper in his workshop; here are the photos from my visit. You can read more about my experiences in Ghana in the Ghana section of my travel blog.
- [Roads and Rivers](https://tienchiu.com/travels/cambodia/roads-and-rivers/) - Roads and Rivers--scenes of Cambodia from bus and riverboat. Traveling in Cambodia can be a bit of an adventure: the roads are awful, rest stops are swarming with child-beggars, and occasionally soldiers (and bandits) set up bogus "checkpoints" at which they extort money from drivers. Travel guides universally suggest NOT stopping for police in Cambodia.
- [Sewing](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/sewing/) - Drafting sewing patterns with Adobe Illustrator (which may be of interest to garment weavers who design their own garments!)
- [Knitting](/category/knitting-works)
- [The Spiral Shawl](https://tienchiu.com/2009/10/spiral-shawl/)
- [Ikat Socks](https://tienchiu.com/2009/10/ikat-socks/)
- [Blog](/category/blog-posts/)
- [Subscribe 2 form](https://tienchiu.com/subscribe-2-form/)
- [Simulating gradient colors in a weaving draft with Photoshop](https://tienchiu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Tien-Chiu-CADE-August-2010.pdf)
- [Designing for Devore in Photoshop](https://tienchiu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CADE-2011-Summer-Tien-Chiu-Photoshop-for-Devore-for-blog.pdf)
- [Using Adobe Illustrator for flat pattern drafting](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/sewing/using-adobe-illustrator-for-flat-pattern-drafting/) - I draft my own sewing patterns. I had been doing this on paper, but got tired of having to copy, cut, tape, and recopy patterns every time I wanted to modify a design. I also wanted to be able to save old versions of designs without drowning in a sea of paper. I investigated professional
- [Designing Your Own Handwoven Fabric](https://tienchiu.com/how-tos/designing-handwoven-cloth/designing-your-own-handwoven-fabric/) - Here are some resources that may prove handy for those just beginning to design their own handwoven fabric: Weave structures: Bonnie Inouye's book "Exploring Multishaft Design". This book is AWESOME (and so is Bonnie!). The examples shown are for sixteen shafts, but I worked through it originally on an 8-shaft loom and found it really,
- [Managing risk in projects](https://tienchiu.com/2012/04/managing-risk-in-projects/)
- [Mind the gap](https://tienchiu.com/2011/11/mind-the-gap/)
- [Discipline and creativity](/2011/02/discipline-and-creativity/)
- [The Perils of Categorization](/2010/06/the-perils-of-categorization/)
- [On Kits, Creativity, and Weekend Projects](https://tienchiu.com/2010/06/on-kits-creativity-and-instant-gratification-projects/)
- [Achieving Mastery](https://tienchiu.com/2008/11/effortful-study/)
- [You Don't Need to Be a Master!](https://tienchiu.com/2010/02/you-dont-need-to-be-a-master/)
- [Honoring the Divine](https://tienchiu.com/2010/02/honoring-the-divine/)
- [On Being An American](/2008/11/on-being-an-american/)
- [On Creativity](/2009/01/on-creativity/)
- [Learning to Think](/2009/02/learning-to-think/)
- [Creativity, stash, and hoarding](/2009/02/craft-stuff/)
- [Into the Wilderness](/2009/03/heading-into-the-wilderness/)
- [Thoughts on The Road Not Taken](/2009/03/more-on-walker-percy/)
- [A Box of Chocolates](/2009/12/box-of-chocolates/)
- [The Safety Trap](/2009/10/the-safety-trap/)
- [The Potential Myth](/2009/10/the-potential-myth)
- [Choosing to Follow](/2009/10/choosing-to-follow/)
- [Witness](/2009/10/witness/)
- [Listening](/2009/10/listening/)
- [Dedication](/2009/10/dedication/)
- [Why I Ride](/2009/10/why-i-ride-2/)
- [Shaping Life](/2009/10/shaping-life/)
- [Foreigners](/2009/10/foreigners/)
- [Courage](/2009/10/courage/)
- [Philosophical musings](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/philosophical-musings/) - These essays are about a variety of topics - everything from my experiences with bipolar disorder to thoughts about courage and finding one's way in the world. Title list:
- [The Loss of the Creature](https://tienchiu.com/writing/essays/meditations-on-craft/the-loss-of-the-creature/) - An essay about how your expectations of something can color your experience of it. A tribute to Walker Percy's essay of the same name, which I first read my senior year in college, and has profoundly affected my thinking ever since. (I'm no longer vegetarian, though.)
- [Lanzhou](https://tienchiu.com/travels/china/lanzhou/) - Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province in northwestern China, is a rather industrial city, but it hosts the Bingling Si Caves, which contain Buddhist artworks from 400 AD on. Fortunately the caves are relatively remote, so have not been plundered by passing archaeologists or destroyed by the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution. Lanzhou, the

## Portfolio Items

- [Kodachrome Jacket](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/kodachrome-jacket-2/) - Kodachrome was my response to the Handwoven Garment Challenge issued in early 2011. A fiesta of color, it was also my response to spending a year weaving and sewing an all-white wedding dress!
- [Sea Turtle Scarf](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/sea-turtle-scarf/) - On a dive in the Similan Islands, I saw a sea turtle at rest on a rock, amidst coral and schools of brightly-colored fish. As I drew closer, it swam effortlessly away, cruising through the ocean with its powerful flippers. I wanted to capture its grace amidst the undulating currents in a woven piece. So
- [Celtic Braid Cape](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/celtic-braid-cape/) - My Celtic Braid Cape, inspired by a year spent working in an unheated garage! I wanted a luscious, yummy fabric to keep me warm on cold winter days. (Published in Handwoven, Jan/Feb 2013.)
- [Goodbye, Ma](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/goodbye-ma/)
- [Wedding Dress](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/wedding-dress/) - This wedding ensemble took one year and over 1000 hours of work to complete. I not only designed and wove the fabric, but also designed and sewed the dress myself, with help from Sharon Bell. There are three fabrics in this wedding ensemble - an eternity knot pattern, a Chinese double-happiness character pattern (the double-happiness character signifies a happy marriage), and a three-strand Celtic braid pattern. Together they symbolize a wish for eternal happiness in marriage!
- [In the Inferno](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/in-the-inferno/) - I worked with phoenix designs for over a year, envisioning joyous firebirds sweeping through blasts of flame inside a furnace. To achieve this effect, I wove scarlet phoenixes on a yellow background, then overdyed with pale orange dye to give the effect of blazing air currents. I had intended to use a different design for
- [Reborn in Fire: Phoenix Rising](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/reborn-in-fire-phoenix-rising-2/) - Reborn in Fire: Phoenix Rising is the first in a series of pieces examining death and rebirth through the reborn phoenix.
- [Autumn Splendor](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/autumn-splendor/) - For this project, I envisioned a long coat with autumn leaves "falling" over a background that also shaded through autumn colors. The swooping curves and leaf patterning evoke an autumn sunset.
- [Liquid Fire](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/liquid-fire/) - This shawl was my first attempt with gradually changing colors. In this case, both warp and weft change gradually from red to yellow and back again, a journey requiring 20 hand-dyed colors!
- [Ocean Sunset](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/ocean-sunset/) - The shawl is made from 2/28 nm silk dyed in 60 colors (!) - 29 in the warp and 21 in the weft. It is woven in stripes, each stripe so similar in color to its neighbors that the transition appears seamless. There are 58 stripes in the warp and far more in the weft. Each warp stripe is only 1/2" wide!
- [Black Jewel](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/black-jewel/) - This is another shawl woven on the 2/28 silk warp, with colors that gradually transition from turquoise to fuchsia and back again. It is woven with a black cashmere weft and is SO soft and sensuous against the skin! It is one of my favorites, and I wear it often.
- [Black Jewel](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/black-jewel/) - This is another shawl woven on the 2/28 silk warp, with colors that gradually transition from turquoise to fuchsia and back again. It is woven with a black cashmere weft and is SO soft and sensuous against the skin! It is one of my favorites, and I wear it often.
- [Spiral Of Life](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/spiral-of-life/) - I started this shawl in June, 2003, shortly before AIDS Lifecycle 2. I had just finished my travel shawl, a blue silk shawl handspun on a drop spindle as I roamed around Southeast Asia on a quasi-pilgrimage, letting go of my past life and considering what came next. I knitted the travel shawl in a counterclockwise spiral as I wandered--which, in Wicca, means letting go, undoing. On my return, I needed a new project, so I decided to make a companion piece--a clockwise spiral that would help build my new life, the things I most valued.
- [Lava Flow](https://tienchiu.com/portfolio/lava-flow/) - The Handwoven Magazine "Not Just for Socks" reader challenge inspired this shawl, a collapse weave in two different sock yarns. I was rummaging through my stash of sock yarns for the contest, and found some Cascade Fixation, an elastic sock yarn with a crinkled appearance that reminded me of cooled lava. This, in turn, brought to mind my trip to Hawaii and the beautiful rivulets of fire in the lava flows there. So I set out to recreate the beauty of flowing lava, fiery ruffles against crinkly black stone, flecked with fire.

## Categories

- [Creative works](https://tienchiu.com/category/creative-works/)
- [finished](https://tienchiu.com/category/creative-works/finished-creative-works/)
- [All blog posts](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/)
- [Weaving](https://tienchiu.com/category/creative-works/fiber-arts/weaving/)
- [Fiber Arts](https://tienchiu.com/category/creative-works/fiber-arts/)
- [computer stuff](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/computer-stuff/)
- [cycling](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/cycling/)
- [food](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/food/)
- [markleeville death ride](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/cycling/markleeville-death-ride/)
- [musings](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/musings/)
- [textiles](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/textiles/)
- [travel](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/travel/)
- [weaving](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/textiles/weaving-textiles-blog-posts/)
- [weavolution](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/weavolution/)
- [aids lifecycle](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/cycling/aids-lifecycle/)
- [chocolate](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/food/chocolate/)
- [dyeing](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/textiles/dyeing/)
- [knitting](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/textiles/knitting/)
- [sewing](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/textiles/sewing/)
- [All travel posts](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/)
- [Asia](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/asia/)
- [Central America](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/central-america/)
- [China](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/asia/china/)
- [Guatemala](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/central-america/guatemala/)
- [Southeast Asia](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/)
- [Thailand](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/thailand/)
- [Vietnam](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/vietnam/)
- [Africa](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/africa/)
- [Bangkok](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/thailand/bangkok/)
- [Belize](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/central-america/belize/)
- [Cambodia](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/cambodia/)
- [Chai Ya (Wat Suon Mok)](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/thailand/chai-ya-wat-suon-mok/)
- [Chiang Mai](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/thailand/chiang-mai/)
- [Chiang Rai (Akha)](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/thailand/chiang-rai-akha/)
- [Ghana](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/africa/ghana/)
- [Hanoi](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/vietnam/hanoi/)
- [Ho Chi Minh City](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/)
- [Hoi An](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/vietnam/hoi-an/)
- [India](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/india/)
- [Khao Lak](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/thailand/khao-lak/)
- [Ko Chang](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/thailand/ko-chang/)
- [Laos](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/laos/)
- [Luang Namtha](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/laos/luang-namtha/)
- [Luang Prabang](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/laos/luang-prabang/)
- [Phnom Penh](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/cambodia/phnom-penh/)
- [Rewalsar (Tso Pema)](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/india/rewalsar-tso-pema/)
- [Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/cambodia/siem-reap-angkor-wat/)
- [Vangvieng](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/laos/vangvieng/)
- [Vientiane](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/laos/vientiane/)
- [Delhi](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/india/delhi/)
- [Dharamsala](https://tienchiu.com/category/all-travel-posts/southeast-asia/india/dharamsala/)
- [Knitting](https://tienchiu.com/category/creative-works/fiber-arts/knitting-works/)
- [surface design](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/textiles/surface-design/)
- [writing](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/writing/)
- [drawing](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/drawing/)
- [meditations on craft](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/writing/meditations-on-craft/)
- [creating craft](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/creating-craft/)
- [Warp & Weave](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/warp-weave/)
- [garden](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/garden/)
- [mental illness](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/mental-illness/)
- [powerlifting](https://tienchiu.com/category/blog-posts/powerlifting/)

## Tags

- [blue to fuchsia warp](https://tienchiu.com/tag/blue-to-fuchsia-warp/)
- [gradient colors](https://tienchiu.com/tag/gradient-colors/)
- [knitted blank](https://tienchiu.com/tag/knitted-blank/)
- [advancing twill](https://tienchiu.com/tag/advancing-twill/)
- [huck lace](https://tienchiu.com/tag/huck-lace/)
- [aids lifecycle outfits](https://tienchiu.com/tag/aids-lifecycle-outfits/)
- [beading](https://tienchiu.com/tag/beading/)
- [bipolar disorder](https://tienchiu.com/tag/bipolar-disorder/)
- [bobbin lace](https://tienchiu.com/tag/bobbin-lace/)
- [bookmarks](https://tienchiu.com/tag/bookmarks/)
- [cashmere coat](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cashmere-coat/)
- [celtic knotwork](https://tienchiu.com/tag/celtic-knotwork/)
- [Cinderella Century](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cinderella-century/)
- [CNCH](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cnch/)
- [collapse weave](https://tienchiu.com/tag/collapse-weave/)
- [differential shrinkage](https://tienchiu.com/tag/differential-shrinkage/)
- [doubleweave](https://tienchiu.com/tag/doubleweave/)
- [echo weave](https://tienchiu.com/tag/echo-weave/)
- [electronics](https://tienchiu.com/tag/electronics/)
- [jewelrymaking](https://tienchiu.com/tag/jewelrymaking/)
- [knitted blanks](https://tienchiu.com/tag/knitted-blanks/)
- [knitting for weaving](https://tienchiu.com/tag/knitting-for-weaving/)
- [laura fry](https://tienchiu.com/tag/laura-fry/)
- [mohair coat](https://tienchiu.com/tag/mohair-coat/)
- [MySQL](https://tienchiu.com/tag/mysql/)
- [network drafted shawls](https://tienchiu.com/tag/network-drafted-shawls/)
- [painted warp](https://tienchiu.com/tag/painted-warp/)
- [photography](https://tienchiu.com/tag/photography/)
- [pre-weavolution project](https://tienchiu.com/tag/pre-weavolution-project/)
- [sweetheart](https://tienchiu.com/tag/sweetheart/)
- [weaving drafts](https://tienchiu.com/tag/weaving-drafts/)
- [weaving study group](https://tienchiu.com/tag/weaving-study-group/)
- [web design](https://tienchiu.com/tag/web-design/)
- [web redesign](https://tienchiu.com/tag/web-redesign/)
- [website redesign](https://tienchiu.com/tag/website-redesign/)
- [woven iridescence](https://tienchiu.com/tag/woven-iridescence/)
- [woven pixel](https://tienchiu.com/tag/woven-pixel/)
- [network drafted jacket/shawl project](https://tienchiu.com/tag/network-drafted-jacketshawl-project/)
- [wet-finishing](https://tienchiu.com/tag/wet-finishing/)
- [couture sewing](https://tienchiu.com/tag/couture-sewing/)
- [sample photos](https://tienchiu.com/tag/sample-photos/)
- [sectional warping](https://tienchiu.com/tag/sectional-warping/)
- [profile drafts](https://tienchiu.com/tag/profile-drafts/)
- [dress form](https://tienchiu.com/tag/dress-form/)
- [what next](https://tienchiu.com/tag/what-next/)
- [wedding](https://tienchiu.com/tag/wedding/)
- [agile](https://tienchiu.com/tag/agile/)
- [coe](https://tienchiu.com/tag/coe/)
- [dye samples](https://tienchiu.com/tag/dye-samples/)
- [tapestry](https://tienchiu.com/tag/tapestry/)
- [doubleweave shawls](https://tienchiu.com/tag/doubleweave-shawls/)
- [photoshop](https://tienchiu.com/tag/photoshop/)
- [dye study group](https://tienchiu.com/tag/dye-study-group/)
- [Munsell](https://tienchiu.com/tag/munsell/)
- [tied weaves](https://tienchiu.com/tag/tied-weaves/)
- [prop 8](https://tienchiu.com/tag/prop-8/)
- [waffle weave](https://tienchiu.com/tag/waffle-weave/)
- [taquete](https://tienchiu.com/tag/taquete/)
- [cibacron F](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cibacron-f/)
- [Lanaset](https://tienchiu.com/tag/lanaset/)
- [peacock feather shawl](https://tienchiu.com/tag/peacock-feather-shawl/)
- [silk painting](https://tienchiu.com/tag/silk-painting/)
- [drawing](https://tienchiu.com/tag/drawing/)
- [butterflies](https://tienchiu.com/tag/butterflies/)
- [design class](https://tienchiu.com/tag/design-class/)
- [shibori](https://tienchiu.com/tag/shibori/)
- [woven shibori](https://tienchiu.com/tag/woven-shibori/)
- [bathrobe](https://tienchiu.com/tag/bathrobe/)
- [diversified plain weave](https://tienchiu.com/tag/diversified-plain-weave/)
- [two warps](https://tienchiu.com/tag/two-warps/)
- [trapeze](https://tienchiu.com/tag/trapeze/)
- [qiviut shawl](https://tienchiu.com/tag/qiviut-shawl/)
- [triple weave](https://tienchiu.com/tag/triple-weave/)
- [kodachrome jacket](https://tienchiu.com/tag/kodachrome-jacket/)
- [pattern drafting](https://tienchiu.com/tag/pattern-drafting/)
- [fabric manipulation](https://tienchiu.com/tag/fabric-manipulation/)
- [sampler quilt](https://tienchiu.com/tag/sampler-quilt/)
- [cross dyeing](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cross-dyeing/)
- [tiger eye](https://tienchiu.com/tag/tiger-eye/)
- [autumn splendor](https://tienchiu.com/tag/autumn-splendor/)
- [devore](https://tienchiu.com/tag/devore/)
- [color theory](https://tienchiu.com/tag/color-theory/)
- [articles](https://tienchiu.com/tag/articles/)
- [the fuzz](https://tienchiu.com/tag/the-fuzz/)
- [handwoven clothing](https://tienchiu.com/tag/handwoven-clothing/)
- [infinite warp](https://tienchiu.com/tag/infinite-warp/)
- [metal clay](https://tienchiu.com/tag/metal-clay/)
- [art glass](https://tienchiu.com/tag/art-glass/)
- [design](https://tienchiu.com/tag/design/)
- [book](https://tienchiu.com/tag/book/)
- [screen printing](https://tienchiu.com/tag/screen-printing/)
- [thermofax](https://tienchiu.com/tag/thermofax/)
- [quilting](https://tienchiu.com/tag/quilting/)
- [surface design study](https://tienchiu.com/tag/surface-design-study/)
- [phoenix rising](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-rising/)
- [tie-dye](https://tienchiu.com/tag/tie-dye/)
- [house](https://tienchiu.com/tag/house/)
- [designing fabrics study group](https://tienchiu.com/tag/designing-fabrics-study-group/)
- [garden](https://tienchiu.com/tag/garden/)
- [draping](https://tienchiu.com/tag/draping/)
- [celtic braid coat](https://tienchiu.com/tag/celtic-braid-coat/)
- [katazome](https://tienchiu.com/tag/katazome/)
- [fashion design](https://tienchiu.com/tag/fashion-design/)
- [complex weavers](https://tienchiu.com/tag/complex-weavers/)
- [fine threads](https://tienchiu.com/tag/fine-threads/)
- [weaving birthday](https://tienchiu.com/tag/weaving-birthday/)
- [tips](https://tienchiu.com/tag/tips/)
- [creativity workshop](https://tienchiu.com/tag/creativity-workshop/)
- [crimp cloth](https://tienchiu.com/tag/crimp-cloth/)
- [polymer clay](https://tienchiu.com/tag/polymer-clay/)
- [lacquered paper](https://tienchiu.com/tag/lacquered-paper/)
- [phoenix cloak](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-cloak/)
- [creating craft](https://tienchiu.com/tag/creating-craft/)
- [phoenix rising dress](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-rising-dress/)
- [cloak yardage](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cloak-yardage/)
- [design poker](https://tienchiu.com/tag/design-poker/)
- [phoenix rising kimono](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-rising-kimono/)
- [failure is impossible](https://tienchiu.com/tag/failure-is-impossible/)
- [cats](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cats/)
- [phoenix rising yardage](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-rising-yardage/)
- [phoenix rising wall hanging](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-rising-wall-hanging/)
- [stenciled warp](https://tienchiu.com/tag/stenciled-warp/)
- [sea turtles](https://tienchiu.com/tag/sea-turtles/)
- [bird quilt](https://tienchiu.com/tag/bird-quilt/)
- [color study](https://tienchiu.com/tag/color-study/)
- [intersection direction](https://tienchiu.com/tag/intersection-direction/)
- [phoenix rising reloaded](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-rising-reloaded/)
- [convergence](https://tienchiu.com/tag/convergence/)
- [jacquard loom](https://tienchiu.com/tag/jacquard-loom/)
- [chocolate satellite](https://tienchiu.com/tag/chocolate-satellite/)
- [fruitcake](https://tienchiu.com/tag/fruitcake/)
- [inkle weaving](https://tienchiu.com/tag/inkle-weaving/)
- [tablet weaving](https://tienchiu.com/tag/tablet-weaving/)
- [strip weaving](https://tienchiu.com/tag/strip-weaving/)
- [jacquard](https://tienchiu.com/tag/jacquard/)
- [origami](https://tienchiu.com/tag/origami/)
- [handspinning](https://tienchiu.com/tag/handspinning/)
- [digital painting](https://tienchiu.com/tag/digital-painting/)
- [spinning](https://tienchiu.com/tag/spinning/)
- [anniversary](https://tienchiu.com/tag/anniversary/)
- [jacquard phoenix](https://tienchiu.com/tag/jacquard-phoenix/)
- [network drafting](https://tienchiu.com/tag/network-drafting/)
- [wedding dress](https://tienchiu.com/tag/wedding-dress/)
- [skysat-2](https://tienchiu.com/tag/skysat-2/)
- [ma's memorial](https://tienchiu.com/tag/mas-memorial/)
- [cat placemats](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cat-placemats/)
- [sketchbook](https://tienchiu.com/tag/sketchbook/)
- [values](https://tienchiu.com/tag/values/)
- [by a thread](https://tienchiu.com/tag/by-a-thread/)
- [bipolar prison](https://tienchiu.com/tag/bipolar-prison/)
- [hot couture](https://tienchiu.com/tag/hot-couture/)
- [ice dyeing](https://tienchiu.com/tag/ice-dyeing/)
- [I'm fine](https://tienchiu.com/tag/im-fine/)
- [SJMQT](https://tienchiu.com/tag/sjmqt/)
- [labyrinth](https://tienchiu.com/tag/labyrinth/)
- [joy memorial](https://tienchiu.com/tag/joy-memorial/)
- [phoenix and dragon scarf](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-and-dragon-scarf/)
- [Celia Chen](https://tienchiu.com/tag/celia-chen/)
- [family](https://tienchiu.com/tag/family/)
- [jacquard shawls](https://tienchiu.com/tag/jacquard-shawls/)
- [Everett's stole](https://tienchiu.com/tag/everetts-stole/)
- [procion mx dye samples](https://tienchiu.com/tag/procion-mx-dye-samples/)
- [brainstorming](https://tienchiu.com/tag/brainstorming/)
- [Mandelbrot](https://tienchiu.com/tag/mandelbrot/)
- [Warp & Weave](https://tienchiu.com/tag/warp-weave/)
- [puzzle](https://tienchiu.com/tag/puzzle/)
- [tomatoes](https://tienchiu.com/tag/tomatoes/)
- [itchiku kubota](https://tienchiu.com/tag/itchiku-kubota/)
- [velvet](https://tienchiu.com/tag/velvet/)
- [weightlifting](https://tienchiu.com/tag/weightlifting/)
- [powerlifting](https://tienchiu.com/tag/powerlifting/)
- [art science](https://tienchiu.com/tag/art-science/)
- [seasons of creativity](https://tienchiu.com/tag/seasons-of-creativity/)
- [matelassé tiger](https://tienchiu.com/tag/matelasse-tiger/)
- [double weave cape](https://tienchiu.com/tag/double-weave-cape/)
- [studio](https://tienchiu.com/tag/studio/)
- [fire warp](https://tienchiu.com/tag/fire-warp/)
- [gradient samples](https://tienchiu.com/tag/gradient-samples/)
- [bookmaking](https://tienchiu.com/tag/bookmaking/)
- [tattoo](https://tienchiu.com/tag/tattoo/)
- [AI](https://tienchiu.com/tag/ai/)
- [cyborg tiger](https://tienchiu.com/tag/cyborg-tiger/)
- [phoenix scarf](https://tienchiu.com/tag/phoenix-scarf/)
- [Mexico](https://tienchiu.com/tag/mexico/)
- [pilgrimage](https://tienchiu.com/tag/pilgrimage/)
- [threshold](https://tienchiu.com/tag/threshold/)
- [fritz](https://tienchiu.com/tag/fritz/)

## Picture tag

- [clothing](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/clothing/)
- [finished](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/finished/)
- [network drafting](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/network-drafting/)
- [shawl](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/shawl/)
- [in progress](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/in-progress/)
- [wedding dress](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/wedding-dress/)
- [2010](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/2010/)
- [tien](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/tien/)
- [lava fabric](https://tienchiu.com/ngg_tag/lava-fabric/)