one week, summer teaching

 i have one week until i get on a big airplane

and begin the 27 hour trip to australia.

i've been organizing.

 in melbourne i will be teaching in the ecotone,

which is my sneaky way of saying the

edge, the place between, where worlds collide and flourish,

where i make things, learn things, and ultimately

live, because no other place will suit me.

 these two photos of paper thread

show a comparison of spinninglokta, 
different fiber treatments.

 as i've been prepping to pack

i keep finding examples

 even wrapping paper will suit

if it works right, feels right, has integrity,

and sometimes even the most likely paper will

decidedly NOT work.

 wendy observes all

and sleeps more than i ever thought possible

she's a little arthritic, too

and its possible that i will return home to an empty

dog bed. she's in good hands while i travel.

these two skeins (from above) will make the journey

from canton to ottawa to melbourne.

~~~

 this is my summer teaching schedule:

~~~

In the Ecotone, June 27-July 11, 2012

Nature's Colours in the City

Natural Dye Symposium

Melbourne, Australia

shifu

~~~

Pulp Clouds: Hand Papermaking, August 3-5, 2012

Long Ridge Farm,

Westmoreland, New Hampshire 

papermaking from indigenous plants

~~~~

i would love to meet you

at either of these events.

shifu making will include dyeing and mark making,

as well as spinning and weaving paper,

and textile techniques for book making.

papermaking will teach you 

how to do the whole process,

from plants in your ecosystem,

and make a sample book.