Gecko weaving

I always have to learn things the hard way.  

I started my Gecko...and once again I have decided I hate following a pattern.  

I prefer to let the yarn and the loom breathe and take life under my slow and steady hands.  I have never been disappointed this way.  Somehow, I just keep thinking I should be able to do pictorials...I often feel that because I can't (or more to the point don't) enjoy doing pictorials I am an inferior fiber artist.  

I feel the same way about drawing.  I keep thinking that I should be able to do photo realism.  

My friend Carol says not many people can just pick up a pencil and let their imagination do what mine does. Not many who listen to their inner voice without censorship and get acceptable results, and sometimes great results.  That not many people with no formal education can pick up a few balls of yarn and create the things I do.  That it is a gift, as I rarely, if ever, have bought yarn and said I will do this design in these colors in this size and accomplished this to the end result.  I have always been on a budget and have used what I have on hand, I even went to the cotton fields and a man gave me a whole trunk of ginned cotton when I found buying the roving expensive.  I have always been encouraged, but I have also always had to husband my supplies.  

Somehow it has always worked out.  I have produced nice pieces within these limits.  Persevered against limited education and funds.  Am I an artist???  Some days I am just not sure.  Guess today is one of those.

New weaving! Gecko design

I have finally gotten around to starting a "  pre-determined"   design.

This one is a Gecko drawn by a friend of my step daughter's, Tara.  I can't remember the young man's name so I will be keeping this one.  

It is being done on my large 32" tapestry loom.  The weaving is 15" wide and I have a 47" warp on the loom.  It is warped at 6 ends per inch. (6 epi), with unmercerized  8 ply 100% cotton.  So far I have a 3 1/2" bottom border, 5 rows of Soumak (about 1/4") and 1/1/2" more inch of border, totally 5 " before the design.  I am using #10 mercerized cotton crochet thread in two shades of green double stranded for weft for the background.  The soumak is in the same shade of moss green as the warp.  I am just about to start the design of the gecko and I will start with the head.  

The plan, so to speak, is to create a "  tote"   for myself.  The last two efforts were not exactly what I need for my own use, even though they started out to be for me.  The white one is already for sale on my artfire site, and the blue and perwinkle one will also be listed there as soon as I complete a strap of some sort.  Watch for pictures of the listing.

The 1st picture is of the design itself.  As you can see from how tattered it is I have been holding onto it for about 10 years.

So there you have it folks..."thats "  What's on the loom!"    

Looking at the colors I have chosen as my background I think you can tell it kind of reminds you of a Gecko's skin...kind of verigated, mottled...at least a little like a Lizard I hope.