CLOAK - Variations on a Theme

FINALLY, the Professional Weavers' Network Exhibition is seeing the light of day. It has been "under wraps" for at least a couple of years but is now open at Pataka Gallery in Porirua.  It was a fun project to do but I am not a fan of stretching work out over such a long period and the waiting has been tedious. However, I can now publish some photos. I was really fortunate to have, quite by chance (friend of a friend . . .) a photoshoot with a gorgeous model and her talented photographer sister. I am so pleased with the pics I have been dying to show people. Here are just a few.

I called this one a minstrel's cloak and named it "A Thing of Shreds and Patches." I had planned for more embellishments of a musical nature but that didn't happen, so I suppose I could have called it something else, but I'm quite happy with the result.

Towards the end of the long wait, when it looked as though some planned entries were not going to make it, I decided to put in another entry. I used fabric already woven and had a dressmaker do the basic sewing so I didn't have to do too much except make the hanging bead fringes on the shoulders. The whole thing took more like two weeks than two years. I forget now what I called it but the inspiration for the fabric was the Buller River - that's right - "Snow Melt" is the title. Flecks of black and white in the fabric are reminiscent of splashes over the black-looking wet river stones.

I'm looking forward now to seeing the exhibition and all the other entries. Also the catalogue which I believe is stunning.