Episode 3: Weaving Mettle (with Arlene Fisch)
Learn about the challenges and rewards of weaving with wire and strips of metal. Our guest is Arlene Fisch, a prominent jeweler who applies textile processes to metals with spectacular results. I'll describe a swatch I made by weaving wire, and we'll tie things up with an audio essay about forging on in the face of adversity.
Declare your allegiance to the world of handweaving with a spiffy new iWeave graphic for your blog or home page. Generously crafted by the talented Christa Giles, you can download the GIF or add it to your site by cutting and pasting the following HTML.<a href="http://www.weavecast.com" target="_blank">
<img alt="iWeave to WeaveCast" border="0"
src="http://www.weavecast.com/images/iweave.gif" />
</a>
Reference Links (mentioned during the show)
- Christa Giles
- Arlene Fisch's gallery on Mobilia
- Hollywood Fancy Feather Co.
- Textile Techniques in Metal, by Arlene Fisch
- Crocheted Wire Jewelry, by Arlene Fisch
- Smithsonian Interview with Arlene Fisch
- HGA Certificate of Excellence
Download Episode 3: Weaving Mettle (with Arlene Fisch)
posted by Syne Mitchell at 11:55 PM
47 Comments:
thank you for the show, though I think you should check out your iriwer part, it's... strange :)
but I enjoyed it alot anyhow. thanks :)
Huh. Strange how? I know the sound quality is a bit off, but was there something specific? It sounded okay when I previewed it before the upload. Did the file get corrupted on upload?
All best,
Syne
there were jumps and hacking at the very end of the intervjue...
Hi Syne,
Just started your latest podcast. You mentioned the frapper map, so I went to look, but your whole sidebar with the links appears to be missing from the weavecast page. It just says "This is a paragraph of text that could go in the sidebar."
BTW, I've enjoyed the last few casts, and look forward to hearing the rest of the new one!
I'll try looking for the frapper map again later...
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Are you kidding me? You didn't get the Grant? Your group must not have a clue about how much your podcast is doing for weaving. It's such a small group in my area that I truly appreciate the quality interviews and the amazing amount of work that it takes. You must just be ahead of the curve. Keep up the good work!
tekopp:
Ah, yes, there were some technical issues with the iRiver setup. I had to include some less than stellar audio because I thought the content was worth it. It's a learning curve. Thanks for the feedback and I'ved learned a lot from my mistakes during this episode's interview...hey now, that's even appropriate!
Linda:
Try going to www.weavecast.com and hitting the refresh button(F5 on Windows machines.) I had a hiccup during posting, and it's possible your browser is stuck on the gitched version. If that doesn't work please email me.
anonymous:
Thank you. I was surprised, too. I think it boils down to the fact that there was only one judge and she decided the world of handweaving mould be better served by funding a tapestry. My take is that she didn't get the whole podcast thing, or perhaps my grant application didn't adequately convey WeaveCast's potential.
Good to know I'd get your vote! :>
--Syne
Syne, I really look forward to your podcast. I haven't woven in YEARS, but I think about it a lot, and your podcast gives me a little "fix" and incentive to keep on thinking about it. Maybe I'll get to the point of actually DOING some weaving again before all is said and done with me.
I wonder if your grant-givers just haven't realized the impact of podcasts on the crafty segment of the population. It *is* pretty new stuff, still. Thanks for hanging in there and podcasting. Even with any little pops and crackles (yeah, I heard them too, but they didn't bother me), I enjoy your show.
Hang in there, kid!
Hi Syne. I was so happy when I updated my podcasts and here was a new weavecast! I think you are doing a fine job, your content is outstanding and your voice is quite nice. We all get disappointed and discouraged sometimes but often that turns out to be a set-up for something even better. I am a novice weaver and I don't own a loom, I took a class where we got to play with a table loom for 6 weeks. Someday I hope I'll find the time to seek out a guild in my area, but for now I am enjoying your podcasts and learning lots more about weaving.
Syne, I tried again, and it appears that the sidebar is there if I use IE, but not if I use Firefox (now my browser of choice) or Safari. Interesting.. I'll go check out the frappr map using IE.
I've only had time to listen to part of the podcast so far, but Arlene's interview just ended, and so far the sound quality has been fine...
One more thing I want to say - whenever I listen to one of your podcasts, it makes me want to drop everything and go weave! Very inspirational, so thank you.
I've been on vacation and just downloaded your latest episode. It is so disappointing to hear that you didn't get the grant. But, unfortunately, not surprising. A lot of weavers in my guild don't even like to use email. So a podcast is not going to score high in their minds. Nevertheless, I've told everyone I know about your podcast and even played a couple of episodes while I was carpooling to a recent guild meeting. I hope you apply again and get a more tech savvy judge. In the meantime, I love your podcast and can hardly wait for the next episode. Just remember, it wasn't that long ago that people said the Internet was a fad and wouldn't catch on!
Best regards,
Cynthia
Oh, and I see the same thing linda cline does if I look at your main page in Firefox -- no side bar. Everything shows up in IE, but I don't normally use IE.
Just another data point.
Linda and Janice:
Thank you so much for reporting the browser incompatibility errors! I'd been a slacker and only viewed the page in IE, so didn't know there was a problem.
Apparently the newer browsers can't interpret one of my usual placeholder comments instead they just see it as an open comment tag. I had to reformat it with extra spaces. Goofy huh?
Anywho, I ammended my slacker ways, installed FireFox, which is quite spiffy, BTW, and figured out what the problem was.
Please try hitting F5 and see if you can now see the sidebar in FireFox, too.
And thank you again!
--Syne
P.S. Since it looks like Safari requires Mac OS, and I use Windows, could a kindly Safari user check my fix works in that browser as well.?
Cynthia and Anonymous,
Thanks for the encouragement and support. It makes all the difference.
--Syne
Your fix DOES work on Safari. The right hand part of the screen is back today.
Cynthia
Thank you thank you thank you! I can hardly wait to see a new show posted...where is she? when will she post the new show?
Your pod cast allows many of us to hear weavers we would never meet...and expose us to different weaving mediums.
But-Hey! The sheep are shorn! How are you going to use the fiber?
Remember: It's easy to stop making mistakes. Just stop having ideas.
Hi Syne,
I really enjoy your show. I've been intrigued by weaving ever since I made potholders with loopers as a kid. I haven't tried weaving yet, but I've got a lot of weaving-inspired ideas I'm trying with my painting. After this show, though, I think I have to try the metal-weaving. Thanks for the work you put in on your podcast; it definitely shows.
Hello Syne,
With regards to weaving metal: I've woven a scarf with a computer networking cable interspersed amoungst the silk and wool warp threads. After the ends were fringed and capped the cables were tested and worked well.
Hearing the disappointment in your voice made me just want to hug you and make it better (with regards to grant & validation). This IS a worthy endevor and I hope you keep at it.
While listening to this latest podcast I was weaving the last dregs off my loom...and will be making...something (not sure what) out of it.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and hard work.
Cynthia:
Thanks for checking!
MeWright:
Thanks for the encouragement! Not sure about the wool. Perhaps a twill couch blanket for the living room?
Susan:
Thanks for the kind words. I hope you do weave metal, if so send me a picture, k? Love the painting on your comment.
Selah:
Thanks for the virtual hug and encouragement. Wish I'd thought to mention your v. cool scarf on the podcast. Perhaps next time. Happy weaving!
--Syne
Thanks for fixing the sidebar, Syne; it looks great now in Firefox.
I also listened to the rest of the podcast, and the part about the grant. Please don't be discouraged. I think alot of people underestimate how well a visual art can come across in the audio medium. They may just assume it's not a good fit. But words have power (as you know as a writer), and listening to you talk about your swatches, or your guests talk about their art, does bring vivid visual images to my mind, and I'm sure others' as well. That, and hearing your enthusiasm, is more inspirational to me than looking through colorful photographs in a weaving book. The content is always fresh and new, which is the nature of this delivery venue. It's also fun, because I feel I've been given a gift whenever a new episode appears. So please don't give up. Sometimes it takes a while for folks to get used to new ideas, such as the fact that inspiration doesn't always have to come through the eyes.
I just wanted to chime in with my comments and compliments, as I've been enjoying your podcast. I'm one of those knitter non-weavers, enviously listening to weave-talk. Some day I shall learn weaving I believe, but I need to learn a bit more about knitting first. In the meantime, your podcast will certainly suffice :)
Thanks again
Count me in for another virtual hug. Thanks yet again for bringing weaving to the podcasting world (and bringing podcasting to the weaving world :)
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Silly grant judges... Have you considered applying to the NATIONAL guild of Handweavers for a grant, since your podcast is completely and utterly not limited by your geographical location, and I'm going to bet that your Frappr map shows more Americans listening than anyone else? (of course, I'm going to now go CHECK your Frappr map and see what it actually has on it, oops!)
Something else you might want to prep is a audience survey: how many of you are non-weavers? Has listening to WeaveCast made you want to learn to weave? If you knew how to contact the national association, or your local guild to learn more, would you? Do you currently belong to a knitting or other fibre-arts guild or group? .. etc etc... SHOW those folks what sort of audience you are reaching, and the converts you are creating!
I'm playing catchup on early blogs, and am not a weaver (yet!) but have bought Handwoven mag a half-dozen times over the last few years... but it wasn't until I listened to you talking about all the different vocab words, that I could finally VISUALIZE each piece that I had read about (and seen real, printed pictures of...) and understand the job that they do in the work of weaving.
I also really enjoyed listening to the weaving-with-metal interview.. I've flipped through her Textile Techniques book, and quite enjoyed it, and have bought a basketweaving book with the idea of using the weave patterns in jewelry making.... a lot of my work seems to be about crossing craft boundaries: working fabric shibori and paper marbling designs in glass, using resist concepts in silverwork, and now adding weaving into that mix.. tres fun!
So glad you contacted me about the logo.. has been neat moving farther into the world of weaving!
Christa
-PS, got your book in the mail today, thanks! Looking forward to the read...
Another knitter here, speaking up to let you know how much I enjoy your podcast. Your sweet demeanor makes your listener want to be a kinder, gentler person, no matter what medium he/she paricipates in. Thanks.
Nancy in Holland, MI
I was a library conference when you podcasted this episode, and in fact, was reading an American Style magazine in my hotel room, trying to catch up on my subscriptions. I was so excited to hear your interview because one of the artists featured in the magazine was Arline Fisch. The article focused on her work with wire and with color. I had loved the article because I've wanted to work with wire. The Conference of Northern California Handweavers had offered two wire weaving sessions at their 2005 conference and I couldn't take either because I needed a portable floor loom. Her little looms are perfect! I love your podcast and I think it's going to figure into the future question of how to attract new weavers. I'm sorry you didn't get the grant and that just means that we listeners need to ante up. The grant was looking at traditional models and you're looking ahead....it's your SciFi futuristic blood.
I totally love your podcasts so *pbthhhh* to the judges who don't get what podcasting is about. Here you are reaching out to someone who lives in Australia and encouraging them to weave, something you couldn't so easily do by making a tapestry or whatever.
I am planning on taking a weaving class once my thesis is finally done and I feel like your podcast is giving me a really good grounding in weaving terminology and opening my mind up to new ideas about what is possible with weaving, before I even get to sit down with a loom.
So you go girl :) I'll be waiting here every month to listen to what you and your interviewees have to say about all this textile stuff I love.
Oh... just listened to Episode 2.. and that's a lovely mangey sheep you have! ./grin
I plan at some point in my life to have an alpaca or two... but that might be because I haven't studied them too much yet :)
Hi Syne
I just wanted to let you know that your doing a great job so don't be down about loosing out on the grant. By listening to your podcast I've been inspired to take up weaving! Check out my first attempt on http://floatnpurl.typepad.com/. After your Episode on Weaving for Knitters I decided to buy the new Ashford Knitters Loom and I love it! When I was still at High School I studied the traditions of the "Paisley Pattern" and weaving (I'm from Paisley in Scotland). At the time I applied to study weaving as well as Architecture but in the end choose Architecture as a more sustainable route. Now aged 35 I've started to weave - in a small way but I hope my interest will grow. Many thanks for being such an inspiration.
Hi
I tried to download this onto iTunes to no avail. Is there a specific link, or do I have to listen o the pc?
India
Midsummer Night's Knitting:
Please check out my new User Support page http://www.weavecast.com/faq.html In it, I describe step-by-step how to get the podcast into iTunes.
Yes, you should be able to load it onto iTunes, and then onto an iPod or other MP3 player. We don’t want you chained to your computer when you could be weaving! ;>
If the instructions on the page don’t work for you or don’t make sense, please email me at syne@weavecast.com, and we’ll figure it out.
Happy weaving,
--Syne
Syne,
I am sorry that you didn't receive your grant. Podcsting is still fairly new, so keep applying. Although I do not weave, I do knit and crochet. I love listening to you talk about weaving. It makes me feel as though I am part of a community.
Also, after reading some reviews, I am looking forward to reading your new novel next month!
Hi Syne, I always look forward to your podcasts, and just this morning was finally able to listen to the metal episode while on the road. I knit, crochet and spin, and it's just a matter of time before I make a little handloom to experiment.
In my corner of Georgia, there isn't any guild I can check out, so I feel like you're giving me the gift of a "guild snippet" every time you record.
Thank you so much for all of your hard work! If you hadn't mentioned it, I would never have known that you have to record and re-record over and over. It sounds great.
Also, no worries about the sound qualities of the interviw. It was obvious that you were using a great mic, and all the little sounds of the diner and crackling at the end didn't bother me at all. It made me feel like I was right there with you guys. Plus, this is a podcast after all, not a movie or something!
You're doing a great job. Look forward to the next episode!
Thanks,Syne,for-all-the-work-you-do-to-bring-the-world-of-weaving-to-cyberspace.I-hope-that-there-will-be-another-way-to-get-a-grant.
In-the-meantime,a-possibility-would-be-to-offer-a-place-for-listeners-to-make-a-donation.Brenda-Dayne-of-CAST-ON-struggled-a-little-with-making-the-decision,but-in-the-end,came-to-her-senses-and-realised-that-are-people-out-there-in-the-world-who-will-support-"the-labors-of-fiber/lovers".What-you-are-doing-is-creating-a-new-kind-of-community-that-is-dynamic/fresh/progressive.
Thanks-for-posting-the-photo-of-the-small-handmade-loom---I-am-certainly-inspired.As-I-have-said-to-Brenda-Dayne,"I-hope-you-do-this-for-a-long-time."I-hope-you-will-be-able-to-continue-to-bring-us-your-view-of-the-world-of-weaving-and-any-other-diversions-you-see-fit.
I-am-one-who-would-make-a-donation--so-get-on-the-stick!!!You-might-be-pleasantly-surprised-at-the-outpouring-of-financial-support.
Namaste,Diane
(sorry-for-the-dashes--broken-space-bar!)
OOPS--just-saw-your-donation-button--sorry-I-didn't-more-carefully!!!!
Diane
Diane:
LOL! Guess I got on the stick. ;> I chalk it up to great minds think alike. Thank you so much for your incredibly generous contribution! I am humbled and honored.
Namaste,
Syne
Linda:
Thank _you_ for the gift of your encouragement. It means a lot to me.
Kristin:
Ah, we will tempt you over to the warp side... :> Thank you for stopping the lovely comment.
Nancy:
Hugs back at ya!
Xtag/Christa:
What great ideas! I will persue those. Thanks for the encouragement, and I'm glad you enjoyed the weaving-metal show.
Anonymous/Nancy:
Awww...that has to be the sweetest, comment ever. I am touched. Thank you.
Sharon:
What a fun synchronicity! I hope the metal weaving works out. Your comment about my sci-fi background made me smile.
Jess:
Your comment made me smile. I've always wanted to go to Australia. So it's fun to think I've gotten there in proxy.
Ali:
Whoo-hoo! Welcome to the warp side. Isn't weaving fun? I'm glad you're enjoying the Knitter's Loom. :>
Faith:
Thank you for the wonderful comment. And you're part of a guild, the WeaveCast virtual guild. ;>
I don't even weave, and I listen.
This is for three reasons: 1) I <3 fiber of all kinds, 2) I'm from Seattle originally and I know where you're talking about, and 3) I'm trying (obviously not so hard) to not be a weaver on top of all the other stuff I keep doing.
You're sucking me in, lady. You should have gotten that grant. The ONLY thing I can think of is that you didn't get it because it's not specifically local. Maybe try for a bigger one through the national groups for handweaving/fiber arts?
What you're doing is valuable, even if that's just sucking in new people with a ...*cough, cough*...need for a new obsession.
Eliza:
Come on, what's one more fiber obsession? ;>
Seriously, though, I love to hear that WeaveCast makes you consider weaving. Thank you for the wonderful and supportive comment, and as for going after the national grants, I *ahem* am now a dues-paying member of the Handweaver's Guild of America, so good suggestion!
--Syne
I'm behind in my podcast listening, but I wanted you to know how much I enjoy your show. Although I don't weave (yet), I look forward to every show you do and you've quickly become one of my favorites. I'm sorry you didn't get the grant~ I can't imagine how anyone could do a better job of promoting weaving than you are.
Best wishes!
Annie
Great podcast! Thank you so much for working so hard on it because I would much rather learn about weaving than watch TV or listen to the same songs on the radio all day. I probably would never have known about weaving without you, and I think your passion for it really speaks to listeners and makes them want to weave too! I have a beading forum with a section for metalworkers, and I'm sure they'd love to hear this one!I love the new icon as well :D Off to listen to the next episode...
I enjoy your weave cast.
Please tell me where I can find the instructions to make the small loom pictured on your website and mentioned in Episode 3.
Thank you.
I'm late to finding this, but I wanted to toss in my encouragement. I'm so happy to have found this pod cast. As a person who has just found weaving and still needs to learn all the terms the weaving for knitters was particularly helpful to me, but I've been going through them all! Thanks.
p.s. - The Foundation Center is a grant finding organization. Here in Austin the Hogg Foundation Regional Library has great librarians that do nothing but help people find grants. It looks like the Seatle Public Library is a cooperating library. I don't know if they have staff or just the resources - http://foundationcenter.org/collections/ccwa.html
I'm slowly working my way through your back episodes... Each one brings up so many great ideas! Makes me wish I didn't have a day job which cuts seriously into my crafting time!
So, enough gushing -- a couple questions about this episode... Do you know of a good source for wire suitable for weaving? What gauge wire do weavers usually use? (So far, my searches have dug up wire suitable for jewelry work, but it looks far too large/stiff to me to be woven with (20-22 gauge).
thanks again for another great episode!
Did you post photos of your completed metal woven project?
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