Marbled Silk Shawls and Scarves by Trudy Thomson Marbled patterns on silk can be simple: ripples, swirls and shapes, or scintillating: cross currents of different patterns and colors sweeping across the landscape of fabric. I remain fascinated by the many different forms I can create and continue to be informed by the patterns found in nature, as seen in water, in the…
This past fall my talented partner, Ed Ralston, pulled out drafting paper and pencil and we marshaled resources to construct a new structure on my property designed explicitly for one purpose: to serve as a gallery, to permanently display my various types of arts and crafts. This structure is positioned at a special spot on my property, which is more…
This spring I attended a class in marbling silk at Penland School of Crafts. It's something I had tried many years ago and wanted to swim back into again. I say swim because you start by mixing up a very specific gooey bath. You carefully dissolve methyl cellulose into the bath so that a viscous substance floats on the surface. After…
I recently finished a video about a fellow OCAG member who creates magnificent ceramic art pieces. We wanted to record a demonstration of her work in process, as well capture her thoughts about how she uses her minds eye to create pots that are either metaphysical or bio-geometric. (You’ll have to watch the video to find out how she conceptualizes…
Glass is amorphous, meaning that "its molecules are not arranged in a regular, specific pattern -- like those of a crystalline material -- but are random in their configuration." (Bulleyes TechNotes4, 2007) And, unless you have worked with glass in a kiln, as flame work, or blown, you might not know how finicky glass can be. As glass moves through different stages…
Glass is amorphous, meaning that "its molecules are not arranged in a regular, specific pattern -- like those of a crystalline material -- but are random in their configuration." --(Bulleyes TechNotes4, 2007) And, unless you have worked with glass in a kiln, as flame work, or blown, you might not know how finicky glass can be. There is "fire" (or heat…
Have you ever thought about the idea that a loom is a lot like a piano? Both create patterns and percussive sounds. If you play the piano well, you read a musical score -- the notation of notes on the treble or bass cleft -- to produce a sound that presents itself as melody and chords. With a woven presentation,…
I started making glass about ten years ago setting aside a large chunk of time to make and break glass. The first year was great. In fact, most of my favorite pieces were fresh in concept, intricate, and remain my favorites. I worked at the process eight hours a day and learned a lot. Then suddenly everything broke down. Every…