Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been a full week since the last post.  I kept trying to finish "one more thing" before I posted, and the next thing I know it's Halloween.  Next time I'll just have to run with what I've got instead of holding out for juicy images.  Above is a few small pieces of joomchi that I whipped out this morning.  Most of the past week has been spent preparing sheets to make other things with.  All of the plain large sheets are done...the rest are cut-work (see the first one below, prior to processing) and a bunch of plain smalls for good measure.

I put together another momigami joomchi pouch...this time with embroidery floss rather than spun paper.  It's a lot easier to sew with, but definitely changes the character of the object.

And I turned the plaited piece and a plaid one into "wallets", with closures made from scraps of Therese's paper yarn.

I'm so tired.

Yesterday I woke up at three, and couldn't go back to sleep.  But I did manage to make a very nice piece of plaited joomchi (above, during assembly...below, drying) and a few formed bowls (not pictured, 'cause they need some finishing work).  Somehow I forgot to take a photo of the plaited piece after it was dry...but anyway, everything stayed where it was supposed to be courtesy of secret joomchi trick #37.

Today, I was a ripped from my slumber around 5 by the purple and green light show of a transformer exploding.  Needless to say we were without power until two o'clock.  There are many trees and shrubs decimated by the many inches of snow in our yard (There goes my weekend...).

So.....I took a shot at replicating a paper rain hat.  Overall, the pleating is correct, but the cowl-like form is not historically accurate.  Also, I'm unclear on how the two edges of the paper should meet.  I can only find two images of a reproduction, and neither show how it is seamed.  But, one source refers to it folding up like a fan when not in use, so I doubt that the connection is permanent.  The helper monkey modeled it.

Then I put together a few drawstring pouches (above) made of joomchi momigami and the spun paper I got from Therese.  They work fine, although I have doubts as to their day-to-day durability.  These three are essentially meant to serve as historical replicas.  I have a couple of other formats to knock out with needle and thread that should prove far more versatile.

Signature sewing

Friday night the helper monkey and I went to North Chagrin Metro Park for a lecture and guided tour of Mimi Kato's installation.  It was just by chance that I ran into Jimmy Kuehnle at work and he mentioned it was the final night.  I'm glad we went, because it was spectacular.  It was quite ephemeral, so I didn't even bother trying to take photos.  Above is an artist's rendering.  I'm unclear why there is a heart, sun and numbers floating in the night sky.

Saturday saw the completion of phase one of It Mends Itself...all holes are patched.  Phase two begins today (if there is time before class).

And once again my Sunday was spent preparing samples for my classes.  I worked up several different bindings since my freshmen will begin a book project this week.  Below is the joined signatures for two very tiny books.  About an inch high, with 62 pages each.  Sadly, no time to make covers before Tuesday's class.

Saving bacon.

Last night I finished up an as yet untitled piece.  A smaller one, but it was a fulfilling end to an aggravating day.  Here are a few close-ups.

And a word of thanks to Aimee for reaching out to her network of friends in an effort to ensure that I have an engaging time in Korea next year.  Thanks.

Still spinning.

Paper singles.  Some spun with the aid of a bobbin winder, some on a drop spindle.  They're a little slubby, but that's fine with me.  It would go a bit easier if my spindle was significantly lighter, though.

I had a lot of blue already carded, so I decided to spin it on with what was leftover from plying the other day.  At the top of that bobbin you can see how fluffy my yarn was when I was initially getting the hang of it.  The lower three-quarters show how fine I'm spinning now.  Some of it is like sewing thread.  Awesome-O.

The two big skeins above were the last of the past week's plying.  The helper monkey has designated it "mixed-up purple-brown".  I also spun up several singles for tomorrow night's demonstrations.  My back and shoulders are very sore.  No more spinning wheel for a few weeks.

Just checking in.

I've been spinning in preparation for my Monday class.  I've always been pretty good with a drop spindle.  A few years ago I took a whack at the spinning wheel, but as soon as I saw that it wasn't going to accept the large chunks of things I wanted to put in my yarn I turned my back on it.  Until Tuesday, when Jessica gave me a few pointers.  At first it was all over-twist and potato-sized slubs (see above), but by Wednesday afternoon I was spinning perfect singles (which makes plying soooooooooo much easier).  Seriously, it was that fast.  All I had to do was accept that this was not the tool for overly chunky yarn.

Six two-ply skeins done.  A few more to spin, and then it's back to the drop spindle and the unconventional yarns.  Michelle has already earmarked the rainbow skeins above for Korean grandma.

"Busy, busy, busy", sang Bokonon.

Finally.  Part six of A Mended History in Six Parts is complete.

All that remains is to resolve the issue of how best to display them.  I have a few options in mind.

I've also managed to begin three new pieces this weekend.  Hooray.

Gravestones, paper, and dye

The Halloween decorations are done...for this year anyway.  Daytime, it's easier to see the details, but after dark it looks creepier.  Regardless, people are slowing down to stare.

Below, joomchi made from the large sheets of hanji I made during Aimee's workshop, after an evening of shibori demos.

...And an assortment of other shibori samples made during Monday's demo.

While everything above was fresh fabric or over-dyeing previously failed samples, the one below is on a lengthy piece of fabric that was transfer printed with maples leaves beforehand.