Rug in "Arraiolos"

This rug is stitched in a Portuguese rug-stitch called "ponto de Arraiolos". The design of the rug is simple, and does not reproduce in any way the typical designs that this stitch is famed for. Usually they depict flora end fauna in a plain background with elaborated borders, and the colours are more pastel like.This obviously is a free variation of a very beginner maker and lover of the Portuguese traditions. "Ponto de Arraiolos" is a wide spread stitch for making the Rugs that decorate the Portuguese homes.
And the name Arraiolos comes from a place in the Portuguese region of Alentejo.

Icon 2

Some months later...I finished the original plan for the production of this tapestry: I embroidered the "hairs". - you can see the piece without the embroidery in an old post. I do like the new look!!.

Pintia

Pintia is an old pre-roman town that is being escavated near Valladolid. Every year, there are quite a lot of events to raise the interest of this important arqueologic site. There, lived the Vacceos.
For the first time, ten Portuguese artists were invited to create pieces to be displayed along side the found artefacts, and the pieces of the Spanish artists. Mine is this tapestry produced with hand spun and hand dyed wool. The display is to happen in Palencia in October.

A Rug

I made this rug for a contest, with it´s specifications. As it happens that it did not make it, at present it is most prized by me in my room. It is all wool, and indeed very soft...

Latch Hook

Latch Hook enables us doing big wall pieces. In Portugal there is very good Arraiolos rug wool in beautiful colours, but one can use all kind of other materials.

These wall pieces mesure 90cmx90cm each.

I am willing to take commitions.

"Passages"

This tapestry is called "Bread and Wine". I see a lot of potential in small tapestries...(42cmx14cm)

Paz - Peace

This tapestry measures 38cmx22cm and was woven for a commition. It had to depict the word peace, or, "Paz" as we say either in Portuguese or in Spanish. Apart from that I could do the image that I wanted. Somehow, I felt peace while weaving, and I loved to weave this tapestry.

Street in "old" Porto

This picture shows the tapestry that I have recentry finished. It mesures 45cmx95cm and I want it to depict the feel of a gentle old street in my home town, Porto, Portugal, seen from within a shop. The tiles, in the old houses still exhiste, and the blue and white tiles were quite comum. Porto is changing a lot and many of these old houses are now derelect.

Enchanted Pathways

Convergence this year is in Albuquerque USA. A Tapestry exhibition will be held, and the theme is "Enchanted Pathways". I called the tapestry that I made for participating "Love, Joy, Gratitude and Wonder".
My tapestry measures 25cmx25cm.

Icone

Very fine woven tapestry that I did recently as a commission for a good friend. It measures 19cmx18cm. This cartoon is an image that I have painted while in the art school around 1982.

"Portraits in a Landscape"

Being an artist with an eye for colour, I carry in dying the wool in pursuit of the right shade. The tapestries are woven with the wool that I "design", often also home spun.

"Wish you were here"

"Wish you were here"

Fiber art postcard exhibit

Sep10 - Nov16, 2009

Tohono Chul Park Gallery

Arizona - U.S.A.

"Arizona is known for its cactus. I imagined the giant cactus flowers blooming by day, with the sun rays, and retracting at night. Is it so?"

wool, tapestry, synthetic yarn (the white yarn of the flowers turn into colour when in sunshine).

In "The Wheel" Magazine

"The Wheel" is Ashford´s Fibrecraft Magazine (New Zealand).

2009 is a Jubilee year for Ashford Handicrafts, and the spinning wheels that Ashford produces really show a wealth of skill. I surely love my Traditional and my Joy. By now, I couldn´t do without a reliable spinning wheel, not only to produce dedicated wool for the tapestries, but also as a daily routine. Time spent Spinning is pure meditation.

Perfect Gifts

Elizabeth Ashford, from Ashford Handicrafts New Zealand challenged me to write an article about the bracelets and the book-marks that I weave. "The Wheel" magazine will be out in October, and it states:

" I design and produce my own textiles, often from fleece, but also from tops or dog hair, using plant or commercial dyes, and this means that over the years I have collected yarn ends, spun loose wool, ends of other projects, experiments, ...I tend to not throw anything away. These two projects are perfect for using up my collection and make lovely gifts."

A warm thanks to Mis Elizabeth and to Ashford Handicrafts.

Indiga - The Indigo Lady

Fish Shuttles

This is a photo of the shuttles that I use for weaving tapestry. I cut them myself from discarded plastic. I do not recommend cardboard.

Courtship

15cmx25cm

Small "Presences"

Vernissage

More Tapestries:

The Mermaid

Union

The Rooster