Friday 22 December 2017

Back to the Loom

Once the excitement died down from the birthday, cards from the Queen, the Governor General, Prime Minister and many other VIPs as well as family and friends, Peg resumed her life's work of creating with her damask loom, linen warps and whatever exciting yarns she can get her hands on. Here she is, a few days before Christmas.

And this is Peg some decades ago, when she "came out" as a debutante. The portrait is by Emma Panting and based on a photograph of the grand occasion.
Also on her wall is this hanging which may have missed being shown with her neutral pieces earlier in the year. It is unusual because Peg cannot normally resist a blaze of colour!
 
 However, Peg has started off her second century with a vibrant lime green
What is more she has listened to a nagging voice she has heard a time or two about not forgetting the damask technique she bough her loom for. As a result she has made three hangings using the damask weave and here you can see both the face and the reverse



 As always, Peg did the warping, weaving and finishing herself, but it does help to have a taller family member to fetch and carry and hang the pieces for the photographs.

 And here is Peg's signature burst of colour with quirky yarns.

Looking back to some pieces from her "tribal" era, Peg has been titivating and improving to bring them up to date.
Not all is big and bold. This is a small damask mat in black and white as well as thick and thin.  
 
So that is a great start. What's coming up in 2018 Peg?
 


 

Thursday 21 December 2017

100 Not Out!

A slight diversion from weaving for an important function. Here are some photos taken at Peg's 100th birthday.
 Among the many guest were some of Peg;s weaving friends. Here Elizabeth Arnold reads a tribute to Peg on behalf of all weavers.
 In fine fettle, and looking stunning as always, Peg prepares to cut her cakes.
 One cake was not enough! The patterns on the three cakes were taken from photographs of Peg's weaving over the years.
 Friend and colleague for forty-something years of Peg's century, I was privileged to be among the guests to celebrate her centenary.

Thanks to Elizabeth Arnold for the last two photos.

 Now, Peg, back to the loom.

Friday 31 March 2017

The Latest from Sunshine Bay



Yes, Peg is still weaving, though she is taking a little time right now to compile a guest list and wonder what to wear for her 100th birthday on 9 July.
Mentally and physically sprightly, here is Peg with one of her hangings recently cut from the loom - two done and more to come on this warp. Unusually for Peg she has used neutrals and pastels in this collection.
More colour in this one, and even more colour to come by the look of the plotting going on on Peg's work table.



 Peg has not lost her expertise in hemstitching. Hers is perfectly executed and would surpass that of many weavers.
As a Christmas surprise, Peg's family refurbished an old coffee table and had a glass top made for it. Then they had fun making a collage of samples of Peg's weaving from "way back" in the days before the damask loom took over her life.