For many months, I have been working really hard on new mixed media fiber art sculptures.
The 6th Sense is intuition/inspiration/imagination.
These one of a kind art dolls are based on dreams, memories, meditations and contemplations and are an invitation to embrace creativity, healing and wholeness.
They are a combination of tapestry weaving, narrow band weaving, lucet cords, tatting, knitting, wood work wire work and leather work.
Here’s a slide show video of my 6th Sense One of a Kind Art dolls.
Most of the 6th Sense One of a Kind Art Dolls in the video are for sale, but some of them have already sold and gone to live in their new homes.
For many months, I have been working on a new Woven Woman that is based on Rumi’s poem:
‘We came whirling out of nothingness
Scattering stars like dust…..
The stars made a circle
and in the middle
we danced’
I wove the words on the magical narrow band loom that my son and I created- LINK
using a double slotted rigid heddle.
To weave the letters, I graphed out my hand writing and experimented until the letters wove up in a pleasing manner, both technically, and aesthetically.
I also used the dragonfly and star looms that I designed for Dewberry Ridge looms – LINK
And, I included some tatting, too.
I made the face and hands from 1/2 inch plywood and the backdrop from 1/4 inch plywood.
She’s a departure from the direction I have been going with my Woven Women, so I really questioned myself about her.
She spent quite a long time on the dining room table as I moved her component parts from here to there.
And now, completed, she measures 11 inches wide and from the top of the arch to the tassel at her hem is more than 60 inches.
But, I feel really drawn to weave words right now, so I will continue to do more….
As part of my ongoing participation in a year long weave along of tapestry diaries, I am weaving small images for my Woven Women show of tapestries and other woven works.
I have just finished 2 new tiny woven pieces – they were both on the same loom, so I had to finish the second one so I could cut them both off the loom and finish them.
And, here they are: (They are each 11 inches tall).
I am making plaster frames for the series of 3 inch by 5 inch tapestries, and have started experimenting with how I will be painting them…. right now, the first one looks like a black blob, so there’s not much point in photographing it, but I will soon.
Weaving the tapestry diary pieces is just pure joy. 🙂
I am working on some larger pieces, too. Must take some photos….
I wove her on the Schacht Mini loom, which is a small plastic loom that I quite like.
I was surprised by how well it worked for tapestry weaving- I wasn’t sure about tensioning on it, but that was not a problem. (I wove in a tiny thin dowel at the top, which worked beautifully as a shed stick, and provided some tension).
She delights me.
I love how the tapestry diary is leading me in unexpected directions.
My mother passed away recently, and one of the ways that I have been processing my grief is to take it to my looms and weave about it.
Because I am deeply focused on weaving tapestries and woven pieces for my solo show, ‘Woven Women’, it was natural that this weaving would take the form of a Woven Woman.
My mother suffered from a form of dementia, I have been feeling is how sweet it is for her to be released from that dreadful fog of confusion……..
And, so, I have woven a piece on my Saori loom with supplemental embellishment with my stick weaving loom, that I call:
“Out of the Mist”. She’s approximately 30 inches tall by about 10 inches wide at the widest point:
‘Out of the Mist’ by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)
One of my close friends gave me a seashell instead of a card, and it felt natural to have it become part of this piece.
I made a Kumihimo cord and tied a Celtic everlasting knot, which is stitched to her forehead, but barely visible under her cowl.
Weaving this tribute brought me great peace and comfort, and I think that my Mom would like it a lot.
I am calling this series, ‘Woven Women’. I made a little video mini tour of one corner of my studio, showing ‘The Green Empress’.
The Green Empress brings together many of my favorite fiber techniques: Tapestry weaving, inkle weaving, small loom weaving, crochet, wire work, tatting and punch needle embroidery.
My plan is to eventually have enough ‘Woven Women’ for a one woman show. I don’t have enough of them finished yet, but I am working on it!
Here are some more photos and the video tour that shows The Green Empress:
Close up of one eye and part of the crown. You can see that I love Byzantine art, as there is a definite influence here.
And, here is the link to a mini studio tour, with my wonderful husband playing one of his compositions (with our small dog in his lap, as small dog insists on sitting in Jim’s lap when he plays and practices!)
Tottie Talks Crafts Blog 