TdF 2016

End of Day One.

Tempus

I've known this for awhile but am now able to articulate that I am and always have been multi-dimensional in disciplines and time zones.  As exhausting as it can be, I revel and thrive in this broad range.

Genesis

Creation is dominated by three absolutely different factors:
First, nature, which works upon us by its laws;
second, the artist, who creates a spiritual contact with nature and his materials;
third, the medium of expression through which the artist translates his inner world.

Of these three components only one, the medium, is material.

-Hans Hofmann, 1948

Equinox

3 hours into it, reflecting on the past quarter.

How

Leg-rolled cordage with bast fiber. First piece.

Hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus), 2-ply and cabled 2-ply

Ready to speak

Two weeks later the washed ipu were cut, cleaned, filed, fitted and glued.

The glue dried and a week later three were oiled and straps were braided from hau.

They are named and completed.

...for those who DO

"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”

― Andy Warhol

TdF 2012

Na lei hulu hipa (from inside to outside):
2-ply merino off a bobbin from SW 2011 (yep, pretty old);
2-ply "Salad Days" from several "first-try" bobbins;
TdF 2012 project of 2-ply cashmere-merino.
They've gone through the wet bath and are drying.

After the yarn was dry and hanked up I had a chance to mention the project to Lisa. When she asked if it had a tight spin I knew I had to revisit this yarn.

I put the hank on a swift and put it through the wheel again, adding more twist. This first pic was taken when it was taken off the niddy-noddy.
Looking good!

This second pic was taken a few minutes later as the yarn was no longer constrained with tension.
Looking wacky!

I made wool soup again. I love the aroma. We'll see what's up when this is dry in a few days.

by hand

Progress

...on the lapaiki.

Hana lima au i ka lapaiki

I ka kakahiaka i ka Lapule hana lima au i ka Lapaiki.
A i ka 'auinala hana no lima au.
Using a small chisel and a hammer I continued the shaping. I reminded myself that the point of the shaping was to remove material. Then I realized that simpler tools such as sharpened stones and mallet rocks could be used for this task, and here I was with a sharp chisel and hefty hammer with leverage. I began to know the wood and tools, and my hands began to learn how to hit the chisel and position the blade in several positions. Some moves were easier than others whereas some moves took several slow deliberate attempts before succeeding - very much like dancing.

My hands got tired. I felt like stopping. But I continued because I knew this was the only time I would have in daylight to focus on this task. I looked at the garden and wondered when I would weed it. It had rained a few days earlier, the ground was soft and warming up, and I knew the weeds would explode soon. I'd already postponed the weeding from yesterday to today, yet I was using this afternoon to shape the drum and I wasn't weeding. Gah.

I focused on the shaping and several hours later this is what I had. It is not polished, and there are flaws. But I will look at it again after a few days and decide how to proceed before sanding it. My hands hurt.

I looked at the weeds and their toxic potential spurred me to put my gardening gloves on. My intent was to pull just the fluffy-seed weeds. But as I started I wondered why I would limit the weeding to one type if the others were actually easier to pull out. I filled five 32-gallon cans and completed the weeding. It all had to be done because of the limited time frame and the opportunity in the amount of time.

My hands still hurt. I think my back and legs will join them soon.