3 WEEKS IN FINLAND

And these are the results of the time I had in the car and on the ferry,

I tried some embroidery instead of weaving for practical reasons ofcourse! :-)

(Yes, we went from Belgium to Finland by car, 

going through Germany, Denmark and Sweden...)

Other blogposts will follow,

but I can tell you Finland breathes arts and crafts.

We felt at home :-)

But I am also glad to be back,

the trip gave me tons of new energy,

by seeing the beautiful landscapes and works of lots of Finnish artists.

I brought back books and wool and ceramics and baskets and mittens

and smoked salmon too... :-)

We should travel more...

LIVING THE SUMMER LIFE

A SURPRISE SCARF AND SUMMER

Summer had started and it's not a good season for my weaving practice:
when it's sunny I just want to be outside,
and then the weaving gets neglected.
This surprise scarf needs to be ready soon.
So it's spending some time outside and then back inside again.

The first picture is about her.
One year goes so fast, but some things still feel like yesterday...

SCARF WAITING FOR SUMMER

Here he is! A summerscarf longing for summer!
Finally some green, not a colour I use much...
The leftover warp I'm using to prepare a surprise scarf,
first it was planned to be one for my boyfriend,
but he has to wait a little longer! :-)

Also proud of a cooperation between us (my colleagues and me at my dayjob)
and Mattia Van Severen, a graduate of the Antwerp Fashion Departement.
Do check his beautiful collection PLAYTIME,
featuring garments covered in angular patches of colourful flock.
We wove a fabric for him (if you look good on the pictures,
it's the fabric with the gradient in it!),
he used in combination with his flocked pieces.
How I would like to have one of the trousers... :-)

Ah, and some event-news:
in september once again I will participate in OEVERTURE (Ghent),
like a few years ago in this post!


PS: Tuesday we are taking down HOME. 
If anyone is still interested in buying one or more of the panels,
you can check them all on my Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilseacke/
Each panel costs 100 euro. Do send me an email with questions, or orders, if you are interested! :-)
We are not keeping the money to ourselves,
but more about that later...

TAKING MY TIME

Just finished weaving this summerscarf!
It's strange to notice my weaving has changed since I made the installation HOME.
Hard to say in what way,
it has become even more graphical I think.

Weaving summerscarves always takes more time,
now the scarf is loomstate,
washing it will give it another feel and look.
More pictures when it's completely finished
and I hope the person I made it for will be happy...

THE GIRL, THE DRESS, THE SCARF - LILOU

Just too cute not to post... :-)

THE BOOK AND THE PRICE

Some blogposts ago I told you I made this book about my work,
to try to win a prize.
Every four years the Province of West-Flanders
rewards people for their work of the last four years in arts and crafts
like ceramics, paper, glass, textiles...
Together with ceramist Lut Laleman I am laureate of the competition,
meaning we get 2500 euros and a silver plaquette.
No need to say I am very very happy and very very honoured with this reward,
and also quite surprised...
It gives a big boost of confidence and a good feeling about what I am doing
and what I feel like doing in the future with my weaving.
So, I would like to thank the jury that rewarded me,
and the Province of West-Flanders for supporting the arts and crafts.

Jeffrey and I danced around the kitchen when we read the letter pictured above.
Friends gave me a crown and flowers.
I'm a happy weaver :-)