Self Promotion

 

I forget to promote myself and the things I've done.  I get caught up in what I'm doing now and ignore what I've done in the past.  So here's a friendly reminder about the books I've been involved with.

The two books I wrote and self-published are available on blurb.ca (or com if you are outside of Canada).  There is a link on this page at the bottom if you are ever looking for either title.  Magic in the Water sometimes becomes available second hand, through guild/estate sales or someone downsizing.  I find it hard to believe that 20 years later it is still valued.  

The Intentional Weaver is also available through Sweet Georgia Yarns.  I signed 10 copies when I was in Vancouver earlier this month.  (Their website says 30 in stock but I'm pretty sure there are only 10.)

Weave a V was written by Kerstin Fröberg and I encouraged her to translate it into English, then had it printed in Canada.  And yes, I still have copies for sale.  Price including shipping to Canada/US is $25.  

Right now my focus is on the first SOS lecture, set to launch May 4.  People who join SOS have full access to all of their offerings.  They have a number of instructors for a variety of textile crafts and in addition to the classes, there are articles plus forums where members can ask questions.  

I am also taking bookings for guild programs (60 minutes) or lectures/seminar (120 minutes).  My fee for a guild program is $150 and the lectures are $250.  

There are two more topics in the works for classes with SOS.  I just can't seem to make myself sit down and do the thinking and number crunching.  However that will have to change very soon!  I have always worked 'better' under the pressure of a looming (pun intended) deadline.  Apparently I still haven't learned to start early and avoid the pressure!  

However, I am looking forward to these two topics.  I need to start by dragging out all my bins of teaching samples and sorting through them to see what else I need to weave.

Anyway, if people want to contact me, I just renewed my domain name and website so the easiest way to reach me is to email laura@laurafry.com

Moving Forward

 

Introduction to Magic in the Water with School of Sweet Georgia

In about 24 hours (1 pm Pacific Time Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022) the class with SOS will be live.

This topic is one of several near and dear to my heart because it is the final step in turning that mass of interlaced individual threads into 'real' cloth.

One of the things I am enjoying about doing classes with SOS is the interaction with the students.  The first class The Intentional Weaver produced a lively discussion when it launched in January and I expect this class to be much the same.  Maybe even more questions, because wet finishing is so individual to each web.

Some people don't understand why I refer to the initial transformation as 'wet finishing' instead of just saying that I 'wash' it.  I have even been told I am pretentious for using 'wet finishing'.  As if I were making more of the process than there actually is.

Perhaps I am.

But I can never forget that on page 608 of J. Schofield's book on Cloth Finishing; woollen and worsted that he says:  "Absolute adherence to routine does not prevail in the finishing of wool materials.  The operator must utilize or abandon the intensity of the treatment to the requirements of the case in hand."

In other words?  It depends.  Is the web to be fulled?  Or not?  What temperature of water should be used?  What kind of agitation?  How vigorous?  For how long?  Will it be brushed?  With what implement?  A low nap or a long luxurious one?  Compress or not?

What will be the cleaning instructions for the finished cloth?  If wool, I can pretty much guarantee that 'washing' the finished wool will most likely not resemble the wet finishing processes.

And so I continue to inform people of what I consider is a necessary step in bringing all their effort in terms of getting the threads woven and understanding the final step, that wonderful, magical transformation that happens in the wet finishing.  Or whatever anyone chooses to call it.

Interested in learning more?    Starting tomorrow, 1 pm Pacific Time.

finished

loom state