tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post2080350562863431016..comments2024-03-09T10:15:11.266+13:00Comments on Unravelling: It's Wednesday and... / End of WYSIWYG for NowMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01350447919000146804noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-87287345441948508442011-07-02T19:17:04.814+12:002011-07-02T19:17:04.814+12:00I hear you, Anonymous. It wasn't easy, trusti...I hear you, Anonymous. It wasn't easy, trusting people, belonging to a group. I had tons of false starts in this department, and I still have a hard time even with this group, because of my experiences which sounds suspiciously similar to yours. I have tons of "experienced" and "professional" weavers giving me sage advice while nodding knowingly and feeling sorry for me. In New Zealand, and around here in particular, general public's perception of weaving tends to be hand-spun natural colors at around 8 or 10EPI. <br /><br />For me, the most trusted circle of weaving friends is those I find here, online and offline. And then I choose my real-world weaving friends carefully, and I exercise selective listening. This can get tiresome or even infuriating, but what else can I do?<br /><br />I think there are a couple of reasons why this group is working for me: of the six, only two are weavers and we have different experiences in the types of things we weave, and many of us have been sick of different attempts at groups. <br /><br />We are also careful, so far, not to cross the line, as we all wanted a safe place to share ideas without being bullied about our own paths. I am the most vocal when it comes to making clear when someone shouldn't be "advising" me to do this or that. It takes energy and care to develop the mood of the group, and I think this will be on-going. But if you do get the right mix, (and the number), it can happen, and because our focus is a joint exhibition and not a joint project or product, and because we pretty much knew the kinds of and levels of other members' work, so far it's working great. <br /><br />For me, what works well is that nobody suggests alternative techniques or advise unless I ask. Others are reminded regularly I hope to weave something on the loom and present the piece relatively unaltered. There is, so far, an incredibly respectful attitude a bout what others expect from the group. <br /><br />Anonymous, if a group is what you are looking for, I sure hope you eventually run into people you can work with. But to find the right people, you might have to listen to a few unsought advice, too. Meanwhile, feel free to stop by any time. You are among friends here.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01350447919000146804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27254015.post-47556062008815775042011-07-02T18:50:33.470+12:002011-07-02T18:50:33.470+12:00I envy your ability to meet up with like minded we...I envy your ability to meet up with like minded weavers Meg, it must be stimulating. I work alone and whilst I like that independence, it would be good sometimes to have a creative buzz with others. Unfortunately my experience of other weavers has been them coming up to me and lecturing on how great they are weaving 3/1 twills on their 4 shaft loom and how they "never sample as I've been doing this so long" as if it's some kind of badge of honour. Or those who say "your work reminds me of xxx" (only in that we both use colour but beyond that are nothing alike and if they'd actually looked at xxx's work, they would see that). So I get where you're coming from on that one! Kind of puts me off wanting to mix really but it's lovely to see it works for some. I look forward to reading how you guys progress.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com