Nov 2, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
A few prints by Clarissa available for sale at the Juneau Public Market Thanksgiving weekend in Juneau, Alaska – Back to Front: “Red Salmon” (2005), “Shaax’saaniKeek’ Weavers’ Circle” (2001), and “Old Timers’ Basketball Tournament” (1981)
I invite you to visit my Booth #P-15 at Alaska-Juneau Public Market booth during Thanksgiving weekend at Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska! The booth is right across the isle from Tony Tengs “Chilkat Cones” in the main hall of Centennial Hall. And please note: I will be sharing the booth with Tlingit carving artist & silversmith, Israel and Sue Shotridge (www.shotridgestudios.com).
The following is an inventory of items for sale; they include (but are not limited to):
A limited supply of Chilkat weaving and spinning supplies: Cedar bark without the sap (both whole and split), Chilkat warp, Chilkat weft yarns in golden yellow, turquoise, black and cream, spinning pads, etc.
Books for sale that I wrote, made or co-illustrated include: “Chilkat Pattern Templates”, the “Chilkat Weavers’ Handbook”; Juneauite author Hannah Lindoff children’s book “Mary’s Wild Winter Feast” — and books that I highly recommend: “The Intenders” by Tony Burroughs and “Go Pro – Becoming A Network Marketing Professional” by Eric Worre.
Miscellaneous items include: my button blanket greeting cards, hand-caste paper feathers, limited edition Giclee prints, hand-sewn, beaded, felt Russian Sailor hats, and gumboot shell earrings made by daughter Lily and sister Dee Lampe.
Come check out my latest 5-piece Chilkat woven ensemble called “Chilkat Child” which will be on display next to my daughter Lily’s 4-piece Ravenstail woven ensemble “Little Watchman.”
We’ll see you in a few weeks during the weekend of Thanksgiving at the Public Market in Juneau (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)!
Oct 25, 2014 | Class Act, Tools-of-the-Trade |
Clarissa uses a trouser rack for her 2nd stage of the drying process of her newly-dyed weft yarns for Chilkat weavings
I generally dye my weft yarns for weaving twice a year: in the Spring when all the snow has melted from the back yard and in the Fall when the leaves are turning the same color as my favorite golden yellow weft yarns shown above!
Gently wash 2oz or 4oz skeins of yarn in lukewarm water with a squirt of Ivory dish soap
I dye a total of 16 ozs (1 pound) of wool per dye bath, so in the big bread bowl above, I gently washed and rinsed 8 2-oz skeins of yarn. After your wash and rinse, let yarn soak in the bowl for another hour before placing in dye bath – this allowance of time gives your yarns better absorbtion of color as well as evenly-distributed color.
Using rubber gloves, separately add each skein to the dye-bath; gently give the skein a stir into the bath
I ALWAYS DYE OUTSIDE. It is safer, especially if there is no wind. I use Lanaset commercial dyes for my weft yarns; they are color-fast, intense colors that will not fade easily. Follow the directions in your Lanaset dye recipe. Make your dye bath accordingly. Always wear rubber gloves when working with commercial dyes; always wear a dust mask too especially if there is wind or in an enclosed space – commercial powder dyes are toxic!
While gently stirring the dye bath every 2 minutes (shown in right pot), I had prepared the next dye batch by soaking the washed and rinsed weft yarns (in left bowl) AND in the meantime, I had washed about 100 yards of warp (in middle pot) — yes, indeed I am a multi-tasker!
When cooking outdoors, use a windscreen made from a piece of foil hooked together at the seam by a large paper clip…I learned this trick from my friend Lis Saya who helped me dye yarns last year…!
Oct 23, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Showing Off, To Market To Market, To See or Not to See |
Grand-daughter Amelie hugs the golden yellow, hand-dyed, merino weft yarns hanging out to dry — and of course the weft was dry when this photo was shot!
I invite you to visit my Booth #P-15 at Alaska-Juneau Public Market booth during Thanksgiving weekend at Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska! The booth is right across the isle from Tony Tengs “Chilkat Cones” in the main hall of Centennial Hall. And please note: I will be sharing the booth with Tlingit carving artist & silversmith, Israel and Sue Shotridge (www.shotridgestudios.com).
The following is an inventory of items for sale; they include (but are not limited to):
A limited supply of Chilkat weaving and spinning supplies: Cedar bark without the sap (both whole and split), Chilkat warp, Chilkat weft yarns in golden yellow, turquoise, black and cream, spinning pads, etc.
Books for sale that I wrote, made or co-illustrated include: “Chilkat Pattern Templates”, the “Chilkat Weavers’ Handbook”; Juneauite author Hannah Lindoff children’s book “Mary’s Wild Winter Feast” — and books that I highly recommend: “The Intenders” by Tony Burroughs and “Go Pro – Becoming A Network Marketing Professional” by Eric Worre.
Miscellaneous items include: my button blanket greeting cards, hand-caste paper feathers, limited edition Giclee prints, hand-sewn, beaded, felt Russian Sailor hats, and gumboot shell earrings made by daughter Lily and sister Dee Lampe.
Come check out my latest 5-piece Chilkat woven ensemble called “Chilkat Child” which will be on display next to my daughter Lily’s 4-piece Ravenstail woven ensemble “Little Watchman.”
We’ll see you in a few weeks during the weekend of Thanksgiving at the Public Market in Juneau (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)!
Oct 6, 2014 | Tools-of-the-Trade |
One of my weaving apprentices recently turned me on to the best lamp for weaving…the V-Light!
I appreciate the fact that the best light in the world for weaving Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving is this lamp: the V-Light ! I was turned on to this lamp via one of my students this past Summer; holy moly, this light makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD!!! I purchased this lamp at Office Max. Every time I go into any store that sells lamps, I am always check to see if they carry this particular brand and model, nothing else comes close! If there were two or three of these lamps at Office Max, i would have bought all of them!
Oct 5, 2014 | Class Act, Latest Art Projects, Relationship Overdrive, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Tools-of-the-Trade |
4-year-old Amelie Soleil Haas spins Chilkat warp on her thigh for the first time
For the past two days, Amelie has come into Grandma Rissy’s studio and has seen me splitting cedar bark, getting it all ready to begin spinning yards of warp for my next projects. Amelie tried her hand at splitting bark last week, and to my surprise she was darn good adept at it. Today, she surprised me even more when she asked if she could spin the warp, to which of course I said “sure, why not?” and I only had to show her one time and gave her all the pointers like I do my weaving students, and voile’ she was a natural ! She spun like she had been doing it all her life (only 4 years!). I don’t know if I felt so much pride in my life…! Then again, she IS my grand-daughter and I suppose that’s what Grandmas are supposed to feel like!
Clarissa is touching the large coil of cedar bark BEFORE it is split into the thin strips as shown
After I cook all the sap out of the cedar bark, I split the coils of cedar into very fine strips. Each fine strip is then spun with the wool on our thighs to create the warp (the verticle-hanging yarns on the weaving loom). It took me 26 hours to split about a pound of cedar bark; I did it in 2.5 days…(while watching a Netflix television series, of course!). Watching a movie or television series, helps me to “getterdun!”
Sep 26, 2014 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, To Market To Market |
Child-size Chilkat headband in progress — Clarissa Rizal — 2014
I have been weaving a Child-size Chilkat dance ensemble which includes a robe, apron, leggings and headdress. These two photos show the progress of the headdress above and one of a pair of leggings below…stay tuned for images of the completed ensemble this November!
The beginnings of the blue curlique in the child-size Chilkat dance leggings — Clarissa Rizal 2014
Sep 11, 2014 | Latest Art Projects, Showing Off, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
A woven Curlique using Chilkat weaving techniques — by Clarissa Rizal
I am weaving a child-size Chilkat apron as part of a 5-piece Chilkat woven ensemble which will also include a headdress, robe, and leggings. My goal is to complete the ensemble by end of October; I will have the entire ensemble shown at the Alaska-Juneau Public Market during Thanksgiving weekend at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska. Above is a semi-completed image of my first curlique using the Chilkat weaving techniques. The merino yarns were hand-dyed by a yarn company out of Homer, Alaska. Stay tuned for updates on the “Chilkat Child” ensemble.
Aug 2, 2014 | Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Flanked by two Ravenstail robes woven by Shgen, Clarissa poses with Shgen George (center) and her daughter Gabby Kay at her first show opening during 1st Friday Gallery Walk, August 1st, 2014 at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center (JACC), Juneau, Alaska
Shgen George has been an elementary school teacher for at least 10 years; she carves out time from her other roles as mother, wife, mentor, teacher, and daughter to do her art – it isn’t easy! Like where do you find the time to do your art when there’s always student’s class assignments to check during the weekend!? She had an impressive showing of buttonrobes, Ravenstail robes, beaded, appliqued and woven Chilkat and Ravenstail octopus bags! Wow. Even I have never had a one-man show and I’ve been at this for nearly 40 years! — Click here for more information on Shgen and her show at the JACC during the month of August.
Shgen says that I am her mentor. (Really? Me?) I am not only her teacher of Chilkat, I am her mentor. I have never really considered myself a “mentor” – like what does that mean? Someone who knows a little more about life’s certain topics that shares it on a consistent basis with specific person(s). She says that I have inspired her tremendously and wants to do what I have done in my life. I have never had anyone else tell me this; I wonder if there are others who feel the same way? I had not ever considered myself as someone “to follow in their footsteps…” so to speak. I am 58 years old this year; I better get on the ball and take my position seriously. So I have given her some pointers on how to go about doing this: what to watch out for, the dedication, determination and drive of doing art to keep yourself sane while growing up and old all the while becoming more of a human being, and all the while balancing your life with your husband, your kids, your community, your health,…and of course, your other job!
A few years ago, when I saw Shgen’s astounding beadworked octopus bags, I told her that I had woven a couple of octopus bags, one Ravenstail, the other Chilkat. I encouraged her to weave octopus bags of all kinds, and why not!? Nobody’s doing it and it’s gotta be done and I’m too busy doing other weavings and works so it might as well be her! By golly, she’s done it!
Shgen too is part of Jennie Thlunaut’s legacy of a Chilkat weaver. I know Jennie would be proud of Shgen, her character, her talent and her works.
Congratulations Shgen!!! And Gunulcheesh to her husband, daughter, mother, father and other community members who have supported Shgen in her achievements!!!
Can we have an Amen!? Can we have a HOO-HAA!?
Jul 22, 2014 | Class Act, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The beautiful natural blonde Ravenstail weaving “classroom” held in the livingroom of Cabin #1, part of the Teslin Motel, Teslin, Yukon Territory, Canada
Teslin Cultural Center rented what I call a log cabin “mansion” to host a Ravenstail class/retreat held morning, noon and night for two weeks this past July 7-21. Weavers stocked the fridge with fresh fish and rhubarb; someone always brought food – we ate like queens! We wove like monsters!
Marge Beaufeld, Nita Clarke and Gwen Wally
One of the most fabulous things about teaching is when the student’s “light goes on” – like, yeah man, they get it! Things are clicking and continue to click after that! Yeah, can we hear an AMEN!? Can we hear a HOO HA!?
Marge and Nita check the speed of Clarissa’s fingering…!
Students teaching students – fantastic!
I bought 7 books of the Ravenstail Patterns (Contemporary and Ancient) compiled by the Ravenstail Weavers’ Guild (contact Kay Parker (907)-586-2491 for copies of the book). Instead of weaving the exact same headband, I suggested three simple designs from the handbook for the students to choose from using the design patterns and colors in whatever order they wish – each headband was very different from the next! In this way, each headband was personalized.
Trisha and her mother Louise Baker each wove a project on the same loom – Here they are beginning to wrap the warp ends of the Ravenstail headdress and once finished will remove from the loom.
L to R: Patricia Baker, Clarissa Rizal, Nita Clarke, Louise Baker, Bev Morris, Marge Beaufeld, Gwen Wally (Missing: Denise & Kelly Sam)
The log cabin on Teslin Lake; approximately 2300 square feet includes 1 bedroom and 600 sq. ft. loft, full kitchen, and laundry room is about $200/night
I’ve never been one who has been attracted to log cabin style of homes – I’ve always had the judgment that they were big for nothing, however, all of that was changed when I first stepped into the magnificence of the blonde wood making everything golden, though I understand that with age, the wood becomes darker and sometimes grey (which I don’t really like especially growing up in the grey Southeastern Alaskan weather)…
My own personal “weaving room” – the upstairs loft which is almost as big as my own studio though with a fantastic view of the lake free of any sign of human lights from cars, houses, etc.
Thank you to the coordinator of this class, Melaina Sheldon from Teslin Cultural Center! Thank you TCC for sponsoring this class retreat. All of us truly appreciate your support!
The start of Clarissa’s child-size ensemble: robe, apron and headdress – multiple weavings going at once motivates the weaver to WEAVE!
I’ve spent the last five Summers in Yukon; I realize that I LOVE YUKON!!! I love the landscape, all the wild animals (I saw bear, moose, lots of rabbits, wolf, and even lynx!), and I just love the people in this culture. The way people are reminds me of the way we were in Juneau 40 years ago: real. People are very real in Yukon; generous, sharing, accepting, matter of fact, no-nonsense, practical and they’ve got that “wilderness within” quite in tact with that real “native” sense of humor that always makes fun of ourselves – Not like those of us in politics.
Midnight on Teslin Lake; I enjoyed this view at the foot of my bed every time I retired for the day, enjoyed when I’d wake up in the middle of the night with the moon rise and enjoyed every morning at 5:30 with the sunrise – a luxury that I soaked up and will keep with me for a long time!
Already I am planning my return to Yukon next Summer with two weaving retreats in the works; first one to be held at Wayne and Cherri Price’s “mansion” (one of the big, white Ft. Seward houses), Haines, Alaska two weeks BEFORE the Adaka Festival (June 26-July 2, 2015) in Whitehorse and the other campout retreat on the shores of Teslin Lake near the Teslin Cultural Center two weeks BEFORE their “Kus Te Yea” Celebration (July 23, 24 & 25, 2015). If you are a weaver and are interested in attending, keep these dates in mind and stay posted to my blog!
Jul 15, 2014 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Class Act, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated, Uncategorized |
The sandblox at the Atlin Music Festival was the same size as last year, but it seems this year it was the main hot spot at any given part of the day with at least 50 young children of toddlers up to 10 years old
Atlin Tlingit Louise Gordon is a co-founding member of the Atlin Music Festival. This is the second consecutive year she has invited indigenous Ravenstail and Chilkat weavers to demonstrate our traditional weaving styles at the Atlin Music Festival. Atlin is located in the upper part of British Columbia, Canada, just on the Northeastern side of the mountains from Juneau, Alaska. Click here for more info on the annual music festival in beautiful Atlin, B.C.
Sharon Shorty and Marge Baufeld demonstrate Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving in the Artists’ Tent at the Atlin Music Festival, Atlin, B.C.
Gunalcheesh, Louise Gordon for inviting us to demonstrate our weaving traditions at the Atlin Music Festival !
The Atlin Music Festival’s Campsite Specs has its sense of humor designating the quiet campers to the left of the sign and the noisy campers to the right!
I just loved this sign: “quiet, family, relax, zen, sleep peacefully…camp on the left of this sign” and those of your who are “loud, noisy, party, music, late hours…camp to the right of this sign…!”
There is the place for campers and RVs, then there’s the “Tent City” with a fabulous view!
I never really appreciated outdoor music festivals until this year…! Like down in Colorado, we’ve got them everywhere in almost every little town and big towns…it’s the norm; kids grow up with this kind of culture. I didn’t,…alas, I grew up in a rainforest where we could not count on a sunny day to plan something way ahead of time like an outdoor concert much less a day of picking berries without a raincoat!
