Weaving in Beauty

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Emily Malone isnt sure what Pam Root's next weaving move should be...	Emily moves in to help, but Pam's wondering what she was thinking then she signed up for this....	All's well that weaves well, and with Emily's help, Pam decision is looking very wise!

Tempe, AZ The day after our visit to HGA’s Convergence 2010 ended, Jennie Slick and I started a week long class in Window Rock.  What lunatic schedules these class marathons?  Me, that’s who.  It seemed to make sense last year when I put it on the calendar, and thanks to a great group of students, it turned out to be another wonderful week of weaving on the Navajo Nation.  Our students came from as far away as Australia for this session.  We had our share of beautiful rainy weather that we dodged pretty successfully by taking our field trips in the morning and watching the weather reports.  We even made it into Canyon de Chelly on the last day before the weather closed the tours there down for a couple of weeks.

The Spider Rock Girls came by for a visit and so did Gilbert Begay, Nathan Harry, Herman and Lula Brown,  and the wonderful and encouraging members of the Navajo community who came through the classroom with stories about the ways that weaving has been part of their lives and still is.  You can see the impromptu consultation that Spider Rock Girl Emily Malone did with class member Pam Root in the triptych of pictures above.   Pam finished that rug by the end of the week, too.   Of course, there may be some magic in the yarn that we get at R.B. Burnham and Co.!

We had a wonderful visit with Mark Winter and Linda Larouche at the Toadlena Trading Post and with Shirley Brown at Two Grey Hills.  By the time that we all said good-bye on Sunday, two weavings had been completed, multiple weavings had been purchased (along with no small amount of jewelry) and we were reveling in the spirit of a class that to the Navajo way of thinking will go on as long as there is anyone to remember it.  You can see our class picture below, and you can click here to view the full picture gallery of 38 pictures.

Our July, 2011 class. From row from left are Mary Walker, Pam Anderson, Patricia Whitney, Pam Root and Jennie Slick. Back row from left, Teri Taylor (and Rowdy), Paula Pavlovic, Ana Pavlovic, Bonnie Rangel and Linda Marie Golier

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

Join us for a class online or in Window Rock

Tempe, AZ Cyber weaving enthusiasts, the wait is over.  It’s online weaving class time again.   This time, we’ll start on September 12th, with additional class sessions on September 19th and 26th.  Then, we’ll take a one week break on October 3rd (but you can check in with the class in Window Rock) and have a session on October 10th and we’ll finish on October 17th.   This time, the earlier session (at 2 PM EDT, 1 PM CDT, 12 Noon MDT and 11 PM PDT) will be reserved for students who are beginners in Navajo weaving techniques or who just want to start from scratch.  The later session (at 4:30 PM EDT, 3:30 PM CDT, 2:30 PM MDT and 1:30 PM PDT will be for students who feel competent with their basic weaving and would like to build on that knowledge.

Here’s the syllabus for the beginning class:

• Week one: warping a Navajo style loom
• Week two: basic weaving techniques and stripe weaves
• Week three: the turned join and diagonal lines
• Week four: continuation of diagonals and the interlock join
• Week five: finishing technique

Click here to register for the Beginner Class.

The intermediate class will cover:

• Week one: warping larger pieces, use of side selvage cords, loom modifications to support larger pieces
• Week two: planning larger designs, gaining control over design execution, sectional weaving
• Week three: problem solving with larger pieces and increasing graphic impact with outlining and color
• Week four: introduction to raised outline
• Week five: introduction to wedge weaves

Click here to register for the Intermediate Class.

Students need to have access to a computer with a web cam, microphone and a high speed Internet connection.   The charge for either  class is $75 and includes access to online materials and a private page here on the web site for the duration of the class so that it’s easy to post pictures and communicate with me or other classmates.  If you are wondering if your computer is up the challenge, you can contact me so that we can set up a test session before the class starts or before you register.

I’m also pleased to let you know that Jennie Slick and I are doing four hour classes once a month at the Quality Inn in Window Rock.  These are open to anyone and run from 5 PM to 9 PM Mountain Daylight Time.   The fee for each session is $15.  You can register online or on the night of the class, but it’s really helpful if you let us know that you’ll be there and what you’re hoping to learn at the session.    Our session for September is scheduled for the evening of the 16th.  At least one of the students will be working with a diamond twill weave.  If can’t make it in September, we are planning to continue holding these classes on the second Thursday of each month, the evening before the Crownpoint Rug Auction.

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

A portrait of Clara Sherman playing her harmonica woven by Pamela Brown

Window Rock, Navajo Nation Roy Kady  posted a message on Facebook today saying that Two Grey Hills master weaver and national treasure Clara Sherman has passed away at the age of 96.  Although she has been in declining health in the last couple of years, she continued to weave until she was 94.  She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts in 2004 and the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2006. You can gain an appreciation of Grandma Clara’s vibrant energy and joy in sharing her craft in the video below, embedded from Youtube and provided by Wolf Creek Productions.

Ahé’hee (thank you from the bottom of our hearts), Clara, for the way you lived your life and the example that you set for us.  Nizhónígo naníná doo (may you walk in beauty).

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

Jennie Slick demonstrates Navajo weaving at Convergence 2010 in Albuquerque

Window Rock, Navajo Nation It’s been a whirlwind two weeks for Jennie Slick and me and a time that we will always remember.  Last week, we were at the Handweaver’s Guild of America’s Convergence 2010 in Albuquerque, New Mexico where we taught several classes, visited with old friends and met many, many new ones.  We were absolutely awed by the interest in Navajo textiles shown by the participants in our workshop and classes and by the people who stopped by our booth to watch as Jennie created a small weaving on a C-Cactusflower loom.   We saw several people who have attended our Weaving in Beauty classes here in Window Rock and one of them, Arlene Anderson even brought her finished class rug to show us.  You can see Arlene below with Jennie.  Other alumni stopping by were Marsha Herr and Jean Walbridge.

Arlene Anderson and Jennie Slick with Arlene's completed Weaving in Beauty class rug

Our Convergence experience included coordinating and teaming with Morris Muskett and Rose Dedman to teach a Navajo weaving class attended by a mind boggling 51 people.  The class was divided into three groups led by Morris, Rose and Jennie.  Volunteers Pat Thalhauser, Sarah Zapata and I circulated among all the groups  to provide extra support for the students.   Students used small looms made from heavy duty canvas stretcher bars and most took their looms with them.   As instructors, we were challenged and thrilled by the response of the students, who warped their looms, started the weaving process and headed home with their work in progress and new insights into the world of Navajo weaving.

Convergence also featured an exciting Navajo rug auction with auctioneer Hank Blair of R.B. Burnham and Co. Native Auctions.   There were 201 lots and about 75% of the items sold with competitive bidding.  Weavers Nathan Harry and Gilbert Begay stopped by to watch their work being sold.  Gilbert, an expert spinner, created yarn for a new weaving as one of his handspun bags found a home during the sale.   Because the Burnham’s were doing another auction the same day, they were short a bid spotter in their auction team so they got a short bid spotter: me.  It’s so much fun it shouldn’t even be legal.

The Convergence vendor hall was a wonderland of goodies for people like us, but we didn’t have very much time to take in the offerings.  Jennie and I realized on our way back to Gallup that we’d forgotten to check out the comfort footwear booth and I never got a chance to get back to see weaving tool makers Al Snipes and Jim Hockett.  So many people were going to C-Cactusflower loom maker Caroline Spurgeon’s booth after seeing Jennie weave that she stopped by with a nice gift for Jennie.  Thanks, Caroline!  Diné bé Iiná (Sheep is Life) had a beautiful booth featuring TahNiBaa Naataanii, Beverly Allen, Sarah Natani and other weavers and Marilou Schultz’s booth featured her incredible hand-dyed trading post yarns.

If you’re thinking that we had a good time in spite of doing a lot of work, you’re very perceptive.  Would we do it again?  Well, we might ask for one more day with those 51 students.  We might have changed a few details of a couple of things, but we’re already talking about a couple of fiber festivals that we might do next year.   After we catch up on our sleep and laundry.

We’re in the middle of two weeks of classes here in Window Rock, with one class leaving tomorrow and a our Camp Weave-A-Lot Advanced Seminar starting Monday.  I’ll catch you up on last week’s class starting on Monday.  I’ll leave with with a picture of Gilbert Begay, Hank Blair and Nathan Harry taken after the auction last Saturday night.    Thank you HGA for the opportunity to participate in this year’s Convergence!

From let, Gilbert Begay, Hank Blair and Nathan Harry after the Convergence 2010 Navajo Rug Auction

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

Weaver Lillie Dugi at her loom (photo courtesy of Jim David)

Storm Pattern rug by Lillie Dugi.

Chinle weaving by Lillie Dugi

Jim is also helping Lillie to sell the banded Chinle patterned rug above.  Lillie dyed several of the colors with native plants.  She also handspun the gray wool that’s used in this rug, skillfully matching the size and twist with the commercial yarns used in the remainder of the rug.   The pattern is quite detailed for a Chinle design and is almost in the Crystal class of banded rugs.   The rug is 26″x52″  in size and Lillie has priced it at $650, but will consider serious offers.

Thank you for looking.

Lillie Dugi works at her loom at her home near Cameron, AZ

Five years ago, Liz Munk, Jennie Slick and I decided that we wanted to add to the materials available to help people learn to weave the Navajo way.  In particular, we wanted to provide a more detailed look at every phase of the warping process and add to the documentation on turned joins and diagonal lines.  We figured we’d be done in a year.  We got the warping portion done pretty quickly and it was well received.  Then, I decided to leave Corporate America and concentrate on Weaving in Beauty as a company; the book languished and it might still be in that condition if it weren’t for our friends at Convergence 2010 and Weaving in Beauty student Mike Barnette.  I’ll explain.

Jennie, Rose Dedman, Morris Muskett and I are doing a Boot Camp class for Convergence 2010 that will total 12 hours.  It’s long enough to find out what Navajo weaving is all about, but students will hopefully want more information and support.  The screws turned on my thumbs as I told myself that if the book were done, I’d feel better about the resources we were able provide.  Then Mike Barnette asked me if I’d ever thought of doing a class online.  I had, but once again, I knew that students would need media to support them at a distance and I also came to the nauseating realization that they’d also probably benefit from video, a nice augmentation to the book but a humbling check on what you really look like.  I tried to get Julia Roberts interested in the video part, but she can’t weave so I bought new glasses that looked better in my web cam and started working on getting the book finished.   It took six more months to get the book into final form.  We’re still building up the video library.

‘Atł’óhí Binaltsoos (The Weaver’s Book)  is 112 pages with over 140 picture illustrations, most of them in color.  It’s in 8.5″x11″ format with a spiral binding that keeps it flat while you’re trying to figure out what’s on the pages.  We made the font a 12 point Times Roman that early readers have found easy on the eyes.   The book contains instructions for accessing the growing library of video support that accompanies the book.    The book is priced at $35 and the first 100 copies will be back from the printer on July 2nd.  You can pre-order a copy from the Weaving in Beauty Mercantile or you can use this link. We will  have copies available for sale at our booth at Convergence 2010 (booth 722) and if you see me around town, I might have some in the car.  We’ll be glad to autograph your copy, but Jennie and I live 250 miles apart, so it may take me a few days to add her signature.  You can also purchase the book in PDF form for download at $18 and you’ll avoid postage, customs and waiting by the mail box.   The PDF has print privileges, so you can get your own hard copy if you want to do that.   Expect to pay about $25 to $30 for good color copies if you take the download option.  I have a copy downloaded to my Motorola Droid and I access it with Beam Reader.   I can’t say I’d recommend it as your only copy, but it is nice to refer to.

I would like to maintain a supply of books for Navajo weavers and students who cannot afford them.  Please contact me if you would like to help with this effort.

You can see a sampling of the pages in the image flow slide show below.  Click on any image to see it in a larger size.

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Liz, Jennie and I would be glad to get your feedback on the book and we’re starting work on another volume that will deal with more advanced techniques, hopefully available in less than five years!

Thank you Convergence, Mike Barnette and all of our students for encouraging us to get this project moved forward.

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker