The Healer: Process #2 The Weaving

 Weaving our Life:

Our life is a magnificent tapestry woven with all our experiences that touch our hearts. Some delightful, some frightful, but each equally important in shaping the vibrant colors of the lens through which we perceive life.

The Colors:

As each Hummingbird's colors represent different things, such as joy, peace, and spirituality, these colors, as your favorites, have been woven into her shawl.

Green 

• Associated with growth, abundance, and renewal

Red 

• Represents passion, energy, and courage

Blue 

• A symbol of calmness, healing, and spirituality
• It can also symbolize communication, trust, and thinking deeply about feelings

Yellow 

• Symbolizes joy, positivity, and creativity
• It can also encourage finding joy in simple things

Purple 

• Symbolizes spirituality, wisdom, and mystery
• It can also remind us to listen to our inner voice

White 

• Symbolizes purity, peace, and new beginnings
• It can also remind us that every day is beautiful

Golden 

• Reflects prosperity, joy, and divine blessings

All below are vintage kimono except the yellow/gold, which is an Indian silk sari with metal.

The Weaving:

The specific way the yarns are woven is a testament to the transformative power of weaving, representing the different times in your life.

The technique I used is inspired by the Japanese tradition of Sakiori, also known as rag weaving and textile recycling. Sakiori is a textile art that embodies the concept of renewal, as it involves tearing old fabrics into strips and weaving them into new items, creating something beautiful and meaningful out of what was once discarded.

This is an important thought to highlight. In life, we may face a hardship or several. It is during these times that our mind wishes for us to discard the feelings that may haunt us. It is understood that they are just a part of our lives; they don't own us, but can enhance our own beauty and help us find compassion within ourselves and, therefore, have a more profound compassion for others.

The Process:

In this case, I used the colors my client loves, which I sourced from my vintage kimonos. Instead of tearing them, I cut them into ¼" strips.

Each strip is spun into 'yarn' using the old way of drop spindle twirling. This process is usually done to create yarn out of wool roving, but it can apply to fabric as well!

As the strips are spun, they are wound onto a card to hold the shape of the spin.

When all are completed, they are steamed to hold in the spinning.

They are then air-dried until ready for use.

Final result of spinning.

I made a weaving board loom from cardboard and used Japanese paper yarn as the warp threads, passing the weft Sakiori yarn through them.

Since it was not a traditional loom, I became the mechanics of it!

The paper yarn was so white, I decided to tone it down using my Japanese watercolor in an ecru color.

The Weaving...

It is a beautiful process; there is no way to rush it. It slows your movements into methodical and lovely moments.

The results after three weeks...

This process was not just a craft but a meditative journey. 

Each weave was done with utmost care and thought, following the Sakiori tradition. 

When completed, the piece measured approximately three feet in length, a testament to the calm and focus that went into its creation.

Free, from all old stories I've been told,
I walk through the valley of my own shadow.
-Yaima

Next week: The Gown!

Visit my website to see more of my work 

and upcoming workshops.

The Healer : Weavers Series- The PROCESS #1

Hello Everyone,

I will be sharing with you the process of creating one of my art pieces over the next month or so. 

There is still "Insight" to be gathered, but I thought it would be interesting for you to see the insight put into action! I will discuss each step, accompanied by photos, and explain the symbolic purpose of each.

The Premise and Purpose.

PREMISE

There is much thought and soul-searching that goes into creating a piece of art.

It was a year of patient reflection and dedicated preparation that preceded the birth of this series.

My art, like a seed planted in my mind, germinates into an idea- THE WEAVERS. It is then that I begin to question and explore.

What do I want to say?

What truly defines our existence? How do our interactions with others influence us? And in what ways do our life experiences shape us?

Think of life as a tapestry we're all weaving. Each thread represents an experience, an emotion, or a connection. These threads intertwine, layer upon layer, to create the rich fabric of our lives.

How can I translate these complex ideas into a tangible art piece that allows for interpretation without relying solely on words to convey their meaning?

PURPOSE

As I sort through these questions, a clear purpose begins to emerge. It starts to come to me in pieces, and that's when I know the only way to capture the fullness of it is to begin. That is when I know I must follow and let the path be shown to me. It always works that way for me.

This piece, the Healer, had two starting aspects. My fascination was inspired by the concept of healing and the role of nature in this process.

The Healer Ally

Number one, the Hummingbird. It always seems like an animal or some form of symbolism must accompany my art on its journey. 

In many Native American cultures, hummingbirds are deeply associated with healing, love, and joy, often seen as messengers from the spirit world. They are believed to bring good luck and positive energy, aiding in both emotional and physical recovery.

Side note: This hummingbird is printed onto vintage silk crepe (chirimen). This as shown above is the fabric overlay on her face with the Hummingbird sitting at the third eye- the place of knowledge and perception.

THE WEAVING

Number Two is the weaving. I employed a specific technique known as Sakiori. Sakiori is a traditional Japanese textile art form that involves weaving with strips of fabric, essentially recycling textiles.

It's a meticulous process that I studied extensively, even to the point of reading a transcription of a Japanese video. What we won't do to understand ourselves within our art!

Next week, we will begin the Weaving Process.
Buckle up!

Much Love!
Leslie