Mar 15, 2013 | Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Bundles of yellow and red cedar
Hang cedar to dry THOROUGHLY. Do not attempt to store until the bundles are completely dry. Depending on your climate, time of year and moisture in the air, drying time may take a couple of days to a couple of weeks. If you must place in a bag, use a paper bag at first. Always store in paper bag and not in plastic bag. You can use a plastic bag AFTER the cedar is completely dry!
Why am I stressing using the words THOROUGHLY and AFTER?
AVOID MOLD!
IF mold has set in to your cedar, check to see the depth of the mold. IF the mold has completely invaded the cedar through and through, then I would not use it for anything! IF the mold has only marred the surface of the cedar, then immediately soak the cedar bundles in vinegar water! Add approximately 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 2 gallons of water, immerse the cedar completely weighted down by a heavy bowl, and let it sit for an entire day before rinsing with warm water several times. Then let cedar bundles air dry THOROUGHLY!!!
If you’ve allowed your cedar to get moldy once, you will NOT ALLOW the next harvest of cedar to mold again!
Mar 13, 2013 | Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Stained cedar bentwood box carved and painted by Clarissa when she was 16 years old under the tutelage of Peter Bibb, the woodshop teacher at Juneau-Douglas High School. The box was a Mother’s Day gift for her mother, Irene. After Irene retired, she began doing bead work; within a 15-year period, she had filled the box with beaded floral and clan emblem pieces. In celebration of her 50th wedding anniversary, Irene’s beaded pieces were applied to button robes, vests and octopus bags for her children and grandchildren. – A smaller cedar bentwood box sits to the right with a beaded “sailor hat” on top a glass head – Clarissa inherited both hat and box when her grandmother passed in 1976.
In the olden days, cedar bentwood boxes stored our clan regalia. Cedar boxes are/were the perfect natural insecticide against moths who have appetites for the woolen regalia in the Chilkat, Ravenstail and Button blanket robes and accessories. Nowadays, many of us use the Rubbermaid plastic tubs for storage, unless of course, you can afford your own work and grace one’s self with carved cedar boxes, or you trade with an artist friend to carve one for you!
When I carved the bentwood box, it was my very first introduction to Northwest Coast Art. Peter Bibb encouraged a number of us Native students to take up our own art because there were very, very few people still carrying on the traditions. He provided us Bill Holm’s “Looking at Northwest Coast Art” book, and if I am not mistaken, the design of this box comes from that particular book. ( I don’t know for sure because I eventually gave that book to my son after my mother passed so I don’t have it on hand to confirm design origin.) Peter kept close watch on my carving; at one time he grinned “…young lady, it looks like you’ve got a natural skill at this…(he chuckled)…who woulda known a little thing like you could do this!?”
When I carved this box for my Mamma, I did not imagine 40 years later I would have it sitting on one of my work tables; it stores woolen yarns as I have begun to learn how to knit.
Feb 12, 2013 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To See or Not to See, Tools-of-the-Trade |
The late Jennie Thlunaut’s hands showing Clarissa a trick-of-the-trade…photo by Clarissa during her apprenticeship with Jennie – May 1986
In the next few weeks, I will be posting a variety of weaving “tricks-of-the-trade” – many of those that Jennie taught me and a few I devised from my years of weaving experience. Some of the tricks are conveyed in my Chilkat Weavers’ Handbook, however, I am too busy to revise and update the handbook, therefore no handbooks. However, I am on a Chilkat weaving roll right now – anything to do with Chilkat and I’m on to it – and I want to assist my fellow weavers, and any past or future students of mine. I want you to be a happier weaver as these tricks will help ease your process of weaving – So, stay tuned!
And hey, if you have any weaving tricks, I welcome you to share them!
Jan 7, 2013 | Honoring Others, Latest Art Projects, Ravens & Eagles, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
After drafting the pattern in pencil, then I outline with a black Sharpie marker
Have you noticed that even though I may be weaving on a Chilkat robe for a year or two, I do not ever show the process of me weaving on this blog until AFTER the robe is completed? The reason is because I was taught by my teacher Jennie Thlunaut that whenever Chilkat weavers are weaving a robe (as opposed to an apron, headdress, leggings, etc.), that we are not to publicly show the robe to the person(s) who has commissioned the robe. Another Tlingit taboo? I don’t know. While I was weaving with Jennie, I gave up asking her the question “Why” every time she told me certain Chilkat “guidelines.” I remembered that the elderly folk of that time period and before did not explain the “why” of things – you just did what you were told, and that was that.
Using the Sharpie marker, I fill in the form line. I used elements from a couple of robes. This is a Diving Whale with an Eagle in the right side of the body and a Raven in the left side. – The far right design elements are called the “filler.”
I apologize that I cannot show you the process of weaving this robe. My goal is to finish by May 1st this year; then I will post a sequence of photographs.
Aug 12, 2012 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Side view of Clarissa’s cell phone cases with the image of her logo which is on her business cards, letterhead, etc. The image is from her mixed-media collage “Tlingit World Series (TWS) #052.”
I have a limited number of cell phone cases available premiering at the Santa Fe Indian market at booth #283PAL on Palace Avenue located between Washington (library street) and Cathedral Street (the street of the infamous Saint Frances Cathedral one block up from downtown Santa Fe Plaza). Santa Fe Indian Market is on Saturday and Sunday, August 18th and 19th.
Front view of Clarissa’s cell phone case; it has two parts, the outside and the rubberized inside — If you cannot make it to the Santa Fe Indian market this year, you may place your order for one of these cell phone covers with Ursala at: ursalarose@gmail.com or you may place an order on my website after September 1st OR if you want to buy it in person, you may at the Alaska Juneau Public Market during Thanksgiving weekend at Centennial Hall in Juneau – my booth will be #29 at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center (Old Armory)
The main reason why I purchased the expensive iPhone is so I can use my new sales device “The Square” enabling me to take visa card payments during any art markets (and anytime for that matter!). It is white and measures about 1″ square, and plugs into the top of your iPhone jack. For those of you who are business owners/artists and have not been exposed to the “Square”, you must check it out on line. It is so cool, you can make a sale anywhere! Check it out!
Mar 15, 2012 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Showing Off, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Clarissa's portable office
I originally purchased this Samsonite laptop briefcase for my daughter so she could have a “portable office” when she conducts presentations and also just to keep the business part of her life in order while raising two small children.
Daily planner "The UnCalendar" fits perfectly into the front pocket
This case came in two colors: red and black. I chose the red because I knew she would have chosen it. However, her laptop didn’t fit; it was an inch too wide! Nooooo!
3-ring binder with pocketed dividers holds latest projects, homework papers, etc. - and in the back holds a replaceable writing tablet
I didn’t want to return it, so after a long 5 minute fit of frustration trying to make a 15-inch laptop fit into a 13-inch case, I decided that it would be mine even though I didn’t want a red briefcase. I tested my Macbook, sure enough, it fit. Obviously meant to be mine.
(I still want my daughter to have her own portable office; we’re searching online for one. If you have any leads, let us know asap.)
Side pockets hold Worldventures and Clarissa Rizal brochures, business cards, etc.
I transferred all that I had in my plastic binder; everything fit beautifully. I love the versatility, compactness and I’ve grown to even like the color for a briefcase.
The iMacbook fits perfectly into the separate zippered compartment
And now that I’ve been using this thing for the past couple of weeks, I’ve totally enjoyed it…and guess what? It matches my red boots. So if you see my red boots walking briskly in the snow, my little red portable office is tagging along too!
Jun 22, 2011 | Class Act, Latest Art Projects, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
With left over Ravenstail warp and yarns, I wove a flexible container that straddles the headboard of my weaving loom, to help organize and keep at hand my weft yarns, scissors, straight pins, tapestry needles, measure tape, etc. - all the important tools to have handy while weaving Chilkat or Ravenstail. If you look closely, you will see the individual containers are cedar bark baskets; one woven by my mother, one woven by my daughter, one woven by a friend and one woven by me.
One of the things that I encourage my weaving students to create in their lives is organization. If we want to be an active Chilkat weaver, and we want to keep our sanity while weaving, we must be organized! If we are not born organized, Chilkat weaving will change that part of ourselves to become organized. And if we fight the requirement of becoming organized, then while weaving, we will spend quite a bit of your time sorting through things, trying to find something that was misplaced or lost, etc. When I am in the flow of creativity, the last thing I want to reach for is a tool that has been misplaced and I have to go searching for it, or untangle something or accidentally break something. This kind of act is quite disrupting to the flow of creativity; I work hard at avoiding distractions when I know I’m going into a creative groove; so I have a clean, organized surrounding. For those of you who are Chilkat weavers, for those who have recently learned Chilkat weaving and for those of you who have seen the actual weaving process, y’all understand what I am talking about!
A view from above the Chilkat weaving loom headboard container - notice most of the yarns are in front, while miscellaneous and extra tools are in the back half of the pouch
Why a “flexible” woven container instead of a rigid, wooden one? So that I can travel with it across town, across the inlet or across the continent. It is light-weight and easily packable – a valuable resource for a weaver in motion.
Stay tuned for future blog entries of additional Chilkat weaving equipment and tools.
Thank you for visiting!
