Esquilo & Mesa.

Early last year we had the opportunity to host and participate in the making of a music video. The video was for a band from Porto called Mesa for a song from their latest album, and was directed by our very talented friend, Jorge Vaz Gomes. Perhaps you remember an earlier post about his skills as a photographer. The video was shot in Meimão. The property we live in as well as my studio feature both in interior and exterior shots. Even our little chickens and yours truly make an appearance.

And if all of the above was not enough… (I was going to say "the icing on the cake", but it quickly came to mind that Proust would not approve of such clichés)... I was asked to help with the wardrobe, which was an outstanding experience. João and Rita from Mesa both wore Esquilo handmade woven pieces, namely a scarf and a wrap, to accent their carefully selected vintage wardrobe. 

The weather was fantastic, sunny with clear blue skies, but very cold. The cast and crew missed rain and snow by just one week. I truly hope the Esquilo woollens made the difference. It was a terrific, busy weekend, spent with old and new friends. 

The video was released last week. I hope you like it.

In the photos you can see Jorge with David Valadão, who was in charge of the camera, and with Rita Reis on set.

The Wall of Wool & Troy.

Last weekend I visited some friends in Melbourne. They were a very creative and positive few days and I came back full of ideas, colours and good energy. The beautiful hand spun wool is from the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria in North Carlton, where you can find a whole wall of it. All the wool is for sale and is spun by members of the Guild. The colours were vibrant and the textures surprising, with some skeins featuring feathers. Check out their website for contact details as well as opening hours and pay them a visit if you are in the area and want to learn more about these crafts or are looking for that special skein.

A beautiful mosaic table at the CERES community environment park cafe where I had a most delicious breakfast on a perfect sunny sunday. 

Back at home, I finished a small table runner. This was my first project using cotton, but as you can see I also used some wool to see the effect. The twill pattern I chose for this work is called Wall of Troy. I read somewhere that this pattern was ideal for when working with cotton and for making tea towels and the sort. I am very pleased with the result.

Undulating twill and other things.

This week I completed an undulating twill weave using 100% Australian wool. This was an 8 shaft project. I am pleased with the results, but think that it is too heavy for a scarf and for a next project I should adjust the sett. This week I am setting up the loom with cotton and have borrowed a book with Scandinavian Projects to inspire me.

I saw a lucet or Knitting fork for the first time in my life. I was only aware of the French knitting spools. Apparently the rope made with the lucet, an old scandinavian tool, will not unravel if cut. I will have to see if I can make one when I get back home, it seems easy enough to carve out of wood.

Also on the list of things to do when I get back home are strawberry protectors. Strawberry protectors are pebbles painted just like strawberries which supposedly get birds confused when they peck at them and find that they are far from soft and sweet. Here is a link to a site where you can learn how to make them.

I also finally learned what these cotton crochet circles are for. I always thought it was odd that anyone would make what I thought were potholders from crochet cotton. It would just not be practical, with all those holes you would burn your fingers. But what they are really for is to dry your dishes, or in other words "dish cloths". I found these at an op shop along with these pretty yellow and orange embroidered cloths.

This week it seems was a week for learning many new things. To add to the list is Hyperbolic crochet and a book that looks very interesting: 

"A Field Guide to Hyperbolic Space: An Exploration of the Intersection of Higher Geometry and Feminine Handicraft." by Margaret Wertheim.

If you are interested in this subject check out the Institute for Figuring website and perhaps start a Satellite Hyperbolic Reef in your town.

But the best best thing was learning about Australian native bees at the Addison Road Community Garden. I saw a Blue Banded bee there, it was beautiful.

Foxy Goose Eye.

I have finished my first twill on a shaft loom. I decided to try the Goose Eye pattern. I am very pleased with the way it turned out. Today I started setting up the loom with an 8 shaft pattern, which curiously is really not any more of a challenge. This pattern reminds me a little of a fox.

The setting up of the loom is slightly more tedious and requires a little more concentration but it will actually be easier than the Goose Eye pattern to execute. It is an undulating twill pattern with a straight twill threading, so it is just a matter to repeating the shaft combinations in sequence, never having to reverse them. Reversing the pattern really confused me in the Goose Eye pattern, I think my brain only started getting used to the sequences towards the very end of the project.

If you are looking for patterns Handweaving.net is a very good resource. That is where I found the undulating twill pattern which you can check out here if you wish. 

And if you are wanting to adopt a Fox you can do so through the Sydney Fox Rescue. Two weekends ago they were at the Newtown Markets where I got to meet this beautiful Red Fox. If I was staying here longer I would adopt one or at least volunteer to help look after them. If you are wondering why anyone would want to look after these beautiful creatures in Australia, then go and check out their website. There I am sure you will find plenty of good reasons to want to help.

Looming to play.

I borrowed a loom today from the Spinners and Weavers Guild of NSW with all the accessories required to get weaving. All the staff at the Guild are just amazingly helpful and so friendly. I highly recommend anyone that has been thinking of learning how to spin or weave to pay them a visit. I get to use the loom for a whole month for only 10 dollars and I even got some wool for free. Can´t beat that. Now I have to learn how to set it up to weave a twill. Back to school for me.

I thought it was hilarious when my nephew saw the loom when he got home from school and asked with a very confused look on his face: "What is that? Is it a mouse trap?".

But not all is work. Sometimes we can have fun making sand cakes too.

Begin.

It has been awhile since the last post. But it should not take long to bring things back up to date.

The last piece I wove was this lovely pink and burgundy shawl. I made it as a gift for the lady who so kindly lent me the loom I use. That was just before Christmas.

Fast forward a month and a bit and I am now on the other side of the world looking for inspiration. And you don´t need to go very far to find it. The flowering gum is in bloom and the blossoms are so vibrant. My trips to the op-shop have proved surprisingly fruitful and my collection of weaving books is also steadily growing.

I am now a proud member of the Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild of NSW. This means I have access to a library full of the most amazing books as well as looms. Tomorrow I will pick up a loom to bring home on loan so that I can keep working while in the new world.

A trip to the Blue Mountains to visit my friend and jeweler David Loong was lovely and I was so happy when David presented me with the most beautiful oak leaf buttons for my jacket. I love them.

And finally, the much awaited Little Dudes Book is finally available and for sale through the website. If you look closely you can see my little dude, Weavie, on the cover. WOW, now that is very exciting.

Meet Weavie & new scarves.

The Little Dudes exhibition and auction happened this last weekend in Berlin and it was a huge success. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the organizers many little dudes have now found new homes and at the same time helped those most in need by donating the funds of their sales to charities. I am happy to know that Weavie has found herself a new home. She was very happy here in Meimão as you can see. She loved climbing trees. But I am sure she is probably very happy for the change of scenery. If you want to help you can still adopt a little dude and help save the world at the same time. On the Little Dudes page you can see all the little dudes that are still looking for a new home. Help support this great cause. 

Meanwhile, there are four, yes FOUR, new, NEW, scarves for sale online at the EsquiloHandmade shop. Go and have a look and see if there is anything that you like. You can also custom order, just get in touch with me and we can have a chat about it. These scarves are 60 euros each and they are on average 30cm wide by 2 metres long, all handwoven on a rigid heddle loom using 100% Portuguese pure new wool. Remember everything in this world is negotiable. Make me an offer I can´t refuse ;-).

This weekend it is tradition to eat chestnuts and drink Jeropiga, a drink made essentially from grape must to which is added aguardente (firewater) to stop the fermentation. Magusto, as this celebration is called, honors the coming of Autumn and the day of São Martinho. According to legend São Martinho was a Roman soldier returning home on horseback in the middle of a storm. He came across a beggar who was cold and half naked and he took off his cloak, cut it in half with his spade and offered it to him. Later along his long journey he came across another man that was asking for his help and again he gave, this time, the remaining half of his cape, continuing on his travels at the mercy of the weather. Suddenly the storm stopped and the skies cleared, the sun came out as if by miracle. This good weather lasted for at least three days. I suppose it was enough time for him to get home. Every year, around this time, there are a few days of unusually good weather, what we call the São Martinho Summer. The weather prevision for this weekend of the 9th of November is clear, sunny and an average of 14 degrees celcius. Not bad.

If you are near Guarda and want to celebrate the Magusto with us you can visit the lovely town of Vila Soeiro on sunday the 10th for a seed meet and swap and some Jeropiga and chestnuts. 

I leave you with some delicacies. Three jars of Quince, lactarius deliciosus mushroom and cardamon pod jam. I kind of went a little nuts because we have so many mushrooms at the moment and I wanted to see how they worked in a jam. It is delicious. Equally as delicious are the berries of the strawberry tree, which I guess I´ll turn into some jam as well. If I had enough of these berries and some time to spare I could ferment and distill them to make the smoothest, tastiest firewater. Maybe next year.