spread/cloth- survey

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

lunalafey	16 Aug 2003
Do you use the CC enough to have a special cloth with the positions 'marked' on the cloth? What is another favorite or popular spread would be neat to have a special lay-out cloth for? would you use such a thing? my creative eye twinkles with the word SALE...... my supplier is having a sale on silk cloths of different sizes (3 to 20 card spread sizes) I already dye them as scarves, but with a sale I can take some and play around with ideas I have. Spread cloths is just one~The dyes I use can be thickened and painted with, for making a 'card-position-pad'.....I can also use stuff called gutta that would have a black, gold, or red raised out-line where the cards would go..... Of course there would be added color & design to the back ground, what sort of things would you enjoy seeing there, perhaps making the cloths deck specific?

Aun	16 Aug 2003
Perhaps the Tree of Life spread? It can be used in so many ways.... Actually i had the same idea already.. to make illustrated cloths with spread designs on them... I thought of a package with 5 to 10 different spread layouts. the meaning od the cards would be written next to each position.... Of course I have too much going on (and no capital at all :-) to move along with the idea... I belive it has great potential! Peace, Aun

catti	16 Aug 2003
personally, i wouldnt be interested in a clothe that had a marked diagram as i am spontaneous with my spreads and use what i think would work with the question, or just what feels like at the time.....so if it was marked as this or that you couldnt hardly do another spread but whatever your cloth said. .....but i could see making a scarf using tiedye or batik to make an abstract design in tree of life of c/c being pretty but not "in your face" , the same even with 3 5 or 7 circular designs in a row ( i guess i am really picturing it tie -dyed). I had a friend who could do the most incredible mandala designs on t-shirts ; a bit big for what your talking about , but for art sometimes you need a big imagination for the begining.

cjtarot	16 Aug 2003
lunalafey The word "Sale"..such a lovely sound..lol I am not the type to use a cloth with a specific spread writen on it.. BUT, one with the four tarot symbols in the corners or a star (kinda like the one in the Sacred Circle Deck - my aviator) in the center (or a pentagram)..maybe pale colors or similar to the cloth so its not distracting but shows just enough to make it visible... The possiblitles are endless..If you do make a few up..PLEASE post pictures.. Blessings Cj

lunalafey	17 Aug 2003
OH YES- tree of life. I have never tried it (new one for me) so I did not think of it.....good call catti cj- the cloth starts out as a blank canvas- the possibilities are endless. I could do a bright pentagram and the the suits in thier 'colors' and have a black background so everything else stands out. I could do solar systems even(gutta is a wonderful thing). thx for the ideas I would love to post pics. as soon as I get that equipment :( when I do, I definately will....

MeeWah	17 Aug 2003
Lunalafey: The Mythic Tarot Deck & Book set is accompanied by a black spread cloth with a version of the Celtic Cross Spread printed in gold on one side. I have not used it. I do use lightweight scarves (those intended as head coverings) & cotton bandannas because I have them. I would be interested to see your results, if possible. Or borrow a computer that has the equipment.

Minderwiz	17 Aug 2003
I don't use cloths at all and I don't think I would ever use one, apart from protecting the deck (and I normally use the 'case' it came in. I'm not against their use - I just never feel the need for one and I'm quite happy with any clean surface, though especially wood.

lawguy51	17 Aug 2003
I started out my Tarot journey using the cloth that came with the Mythic deck. I usually turned it over. I find it makes laying a spread feel like painting by numbers. But I do love spread cloths. I have two silk spread cloths, one purple the other tourquoise with silver dragons. Something with a specific Tarot design, I agree would be most desirable. Lawguy51

catti	17 Aug 2003
about the most spectacular $.50 cloth he found...i forget where he posted it , but it was really pretty, and he has pics far away and close up, I think he found the cloth and got his digital cam working all at the same time. i am waiting for a lucky break like that....;-)

lunalafey	18 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by catti the same even with 3 5 or 7 circular designs in a row ( i guess i am really picturing it tie -dyed). I had a friend who could do the most incredible mandala designs on t-shirts ; a bit big for what your talking about Is this what you are talking about? {see image if it works} This is what I do already. I can do them on a piece that is as small as 9x9 inches. I had more of a painting idea. I would use gutta instead of wax like batik. There are also some water based resists on the market now.

WolfSpirit	18 Aug 2003
I don't always use a spreadcloth, don't really feel I need it but sometimes I like to use one. I would not use one with the spread on it though, it does not appeal to me. I use now: the cloth that came with the animal druid oracle (blue with silver dragons), a black velvet one made of an old jacket, and a blue one with shiny threads in it bought on a holiday. I like a bit of a quiet background for my cards. The dyed star looks nice, but I don't think I would use it as a spreadcloth. And I agree with Minderwiz, wood is a great background too.

catlin	18 Aug 2003
I usually use "neutral" spread clothes, eg. a black one with an orange zodiac, stars and moons on it, another one is african-looking, the third one is a blue with black celtic knotting and another is pale orange with black celtic knotting. They also serve me as altar clothes. I could well imagine a black shiny one with the 4 tarot symbols in the corners in silver gutta and perhaps in the middle something like the labyrinth of the Cathedral of Chartres or something like that.

WolfSpirit	18 Aug 2003
hey catlin welcome back :) it's been a long time !!

The spread/cloth- survey thread was originally posted on 16 Aug 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.