Teaching

Oh and I forgot to mention...

I updated my schedule on my website, so if you're interested in classes check it out at www.deborahjarchow.com and go to "class schedule" under "programs and classes"

Holidays

For the first time I'm writing the blog on my ipad instead of my computer so I'm not sure how the format will look. Well, I guess I won't know till I try it and look at it, right?

The past couple of weeks have flown by and I'm not sure where all the time went. I spent a week in Ohio visiting my sister and family. What Fun! It was lovely to hang out and relax, just enjoying time with the family. The week prior to that I was on overload trying to get my weaving projects finished before leaving. I was able to finish 6 scarf orders and 3 garment orders during that last few days before flying east. I met the deadlines, but just barely. (Three hours sleep the night before flying out.) I'm never sure if I delay too long to begin any final push before a deadline or if I schedule too much. No matter what though I always am right up to the deadline....

So now that Christmas is past and I'm getting back to work, I am excited about many of the projects I'm working on.

The Craftsy course is coming out just after the first of the year, so that's in a week or so! I've been reviewing it, and they did a great job! Even the areas where I know I tripped over my words came out looking smooth. What great editors! I got a package of postcards for the course... I'm very excited about being able to reach so many students through Craftsy and am so happy for the opportunity.

Meanwhile, I'm working on several new patterns and some samples using new yarns. I just received a box of wonderful yarns I get to work up swatches for. They'll be used at TNNA for the Great Wall of Yarn. I'm very pleased that weaving swatches are included with all the knitted and crocheted ones. Aren't these luscious?

Busy times

As always right before the holidays, this has been a very full week.  Last week I got busy weaving in preparation for the Studio Holiday Market and got quite a bit done.  One project I worked on was a beautiful white/off white woven shawl.  Since I'd been playing with the hand manipulated techniques for the rigid heddle course, I decided to add some Brooks Bouquet to this piece and was very pleased with the results.  Here's a detail right off the loom, but before wet finishing.

I think the hand manipulated structures are more appealing to me since I've used them frequently on the rigid heddle loom.  Always before, they seemed unnatural in my weaving as I was only used to production style weaving, not taking the time to investigate a more "detailed" process.  But lately I've been enjoying not only the final look, but the process as well.

The Studio Holiday Market was quite a success and many new people discovered the Art Center.  Santa led a parade from the tree lighting at the Chamber of Commerce to the Studios, then kids could have their pictures taken with him on the courtyard outside my studio.  It was great!  We had beautiful stars for sale as well and they were lit up all around the patio, creating such a festive environment.

Yesterday I went to Newtons in Anaheim to teach.  It was the second session in the "make a vest from you stash yarns" using the rigid heddle loom.  What fun!  Everyone's fabrics turned out so well and it was a pleasure to see them.  I'm looking forward to seeing the completed projects.  The group is talking about taking the train up to the studio to visit in early January and all wearing their vests.  That will be a real treat!

Today I finished weaving the fabric for a ruana in black sparkles that has been on the loom for quite a while.  And I wove 5 rayon/silk scarves.  Back to the loom tomorrow....

Back to Weaving!

As I reflect on filming the Craftsy.com course last week, I'm so happy to have that experience completed!  After the first day it was a great time.  Once I got into the groove and got over most of my nerves I enjoyed the filming.  Liz, Jarrod and Nicole, my production team, were all fabulous and so supportive.  I can't say enough good things about them.  I'm looking forward to seeing the final, edited version of the course.  Here we all are on the set.

It seems like I spent most of the fall preparing for this and I'm so glad I did.  I wove all new samples for the techniques in the course and came up with new finished projects using the techniques.  The course is scheduled to come out sometime in December.  It's unbelievable that they can put it together so quickly.  As I found out more about the release date, I'll let you all know.

Meanwhile, back at the studio I've really gotten to work.  Early this morning I delivered an altar cloth to St. Monica's Catholic Church in Santa Monica then drove up the coast highway to the studio.  It was a cloudy morning with a bit of drizzle - there were lots of surfers in the water and the greyed landscape was very beautiful.

While driving I couldn't help thinking about how lucky I am to be on my way to work to do something I love doing.  Then I got to spend the day in the studio just weaving away with the music blaring, getting so much accomplished.  I wove on four of my looms, completing 2 chenille scarves, 4 rayon/silk scarves, worked on a ruana and a shawl, and wound a new warp.  Wow!  And since I'd been thinking about Brooks Bouquet (one of the techniques in the Craftsy.com course) I wove a border of that on the shawl.

Next weekend we have the Holiday Market at the studios and I'm hoping to get some new pieces finished to sell there.  I also have several orders that are late, so I've resolved to get those finished before Christmas.

Craftsy.com

The past two days I've been in Denver with the Craftsy.com team working on a course for Rigid Heddle Weaving - Beyond the Basics.  Tomorrow is the final day of shooting the lessons, then on Thursday I'll head back home.  This has been a real roller coaster ride.  Everyone with Craftsy.com is so nice, helpful, and professional and it is wonderful working with them.  But yesterday I was so nervous it seemed like I hardly got anything out in a coherent fashion.  They assured me I was doing fine and that I was making perfect sense, but I wasn't so sure....  

Today things felt much better and I got in the groove so it seemed almost like my normal teaching routine.  I love teaching weaving and am so happy to share what I've learned with others.  Being in front of a camera is a bit nerve wracking though.  However, it is fabulous to have my hair and makeup done by a professional!  Here I am on the set.

Being able to reach students via the internet is such a great opportunity and I'm thrilled to be doing this.  I'll keep you all posted about the class availability as I find out.

Travel 

Sunday I'm traveling again - on my way to Denver to begin the Craftsy.com experience.  When I travel to teach I must take a lot of stuff.  Samples, yarn, weaving tools, papers, and of course the right clothes.  All of this generally requires a large suitcase. Since the wheels are falling off my current large suitcase I decided to get a new one.  On my way home from the studio I go by a Ross.  And even though it's Black Friday and I would normally avoid any shopping, it didn't look crowded so I stopped in to see what they had.  As I looked at the rows of suitcases, I thought about all the times I'm at baggage claim and envy the folks who have something other than the usual black bag.  They can spot theirs right away and don't need to check the tag to make sure they have the right one.  So when I spotted a magenta bag, I knew it was meant for me!

I certainly don't think I'll have trouble recognizing my bag now.  


Oh!  Check out this article in the Ventura County Star about the exhibit at Fox in Ventura...

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/21/meditations-exhibit-on-display-at-fox-fine-in/

Designing Weavers

This past weekend was the annual Show and Sale for Designing Weavers.  We had a new venue, The Sierra Madre Women's Club, which was a great place to have our event.  It's a lovely old home on a busy street with a parking area and ample additional parking on the street.  The sale is a place to shop for handwoven items as well as browse and see some fabulous woven pieces.  I'm posting a few images....

It was a great day and lots of fun!

Meanwhile, the schedule for the Adult Art Camp at Studio Channel Islands has been set for January 21 - 25, 2013.  I'll be teaching 2 classes.  In the afternoons I'll teach Weaving the Stash Vest on the Rigid Heddle loom.  And in the evenings it will be Beginning Weaving on the Four Harness Loom.  All classes are at the studio site at the art center.  I'll have looms for rent if you don't have your own and you can take either class with little or no experience in weaving.  There are lots more classes available like painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking and more, so if you're interested you can check it out at www.studiochannelislands.org