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MAKING A TAPESTRY

BROWN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY PROJECT, NASHVILLE, INDIANA 

This page depicts, from initial design to final installation, the construction of a Tapestry for the Brown County Public Library in Nashville, Indiana.

"PORTAL TO THE WORLD"Charlene Marsh ©

This is the painted maquette for the fiber artwork that I am going to make for the Brown County Public Library.    

I've just set up the eight dyepots on the two stoves.  I first had to wind the yarn into100 gram skeins to use with  the dye formulas.   

The yarn dries next the to fireplace -- or outside on the deck depending upon the season -- and then I wind it all into balls.   I usually dye 30-50 pounds of wool at a time.

Winding the newly dyed yarn into balls.

Then I build a frame out of 2 x 4's.  A cotton monk's cloth backing is stretched and attached with a staple gun.  The design is drawn on the backing using  freehand techniques, compass, rulers, and templates.  And imagination!

The tufting has just started.  The creative juices are starting to flow.

I work from the backside of the piece and punch the yarn through to the front.  This is a detail of the backside with the design drawn on.  I like to work in layers of patterns.

I start by tufting the details first -- the figures and characters.  They bring their personality to the piece and I start to "listen" to what the work is telling me and how I should proceed with it.

After putting in most of the figures, I started adding the next layer of patterns -- in this case, the Flower of Life pattern from sacred geometry.  

This is a view of the front with still some more work to do on the border.  Sometimes I just sit and look at the piece as it progresses to see what I need to do next.  

All done!   Portal to the World,  Charlene Marsh ©,  5' x 7', hand dyed wool and metallic yarns tufted onto a cotton backing. 

Newly installed in the Brown County Public Library in Nashville, Indiana.  Here's Howard, a major inspiration throughout the project.

This is a view from the library balcony.