Weaving in Beauty

A collage of pictures from our Boot Camp sponsored by the Fort Worth Weavers Guild. Please click on the picture to see it in a larger size.

“Where are you traveling to?”, asked the Texas Highway Patrol trooper who had pulled us over for doing four miles an hour over the speed limit.  ”Fort Worth”, I said, discarding some of the more creative “none of your business” responses that jumped into my mind first.  I was pretty sure that a dose of attitude was the last thing the situation called for.  ”What are you doing in Fort Worth?”, he responded in a tone of voice that made me realize that my answer had better be one he liked or all of the yarn tubs, weaving tools, rug bags and suitcases were going to be out of the car being searched.  We clearly weren’t from Texas, Jennie and I weren’t related in a way that he would understand and although we had nothing more sinister than a bottle of Excedrin that was beyond the expiration date with us, we clearly looked suspicious to him.  I explained that were teaching a weaving workshop, that we were staying with friends in Fort Worth and Jennie got out her portable loom to show him what we were going to be teaching.  I think he thought that it was a strange thing to be doing, but he just wrote us a warning and let us get back on the road.  He left me wondering what were we doing going to Fort Worth.  I felt like we’d been singled out for being somewhere that the Texas Highway Patrol didn’t think we belonged, but we were only two hours from our destination and I wasn’t going back at that point but I sure wondered what anybody could do that would make me come back.  

Well, when the workshop started, I realized that I’m just going to have learn how to drive in Texas.  As you can see from the picture collage above, we had a wonderful class.  They treated us to great friendships and great hospitality that we will always remember.  We did a Navajo Rug Reunion and one of the highlights was a rare Leighton Two Grey Hills rug that has got to the Rug of the Day really soon.  We had a large group of fifteen weavers, but all of the looms were warped by the end of the first day and their pieces were well under way by the time we reluctantly left after three days of doing what we like to do best, sharing the beauty and elegance of Navajo textiles with anyone who wants to learn.  

So that’s what we were doing in Fort Worth and furthermore, if we get the chance to, we’re going to do it again.  Maybe we’ll do it so often that the troopers will just say “There go those weavers again.” when we drive by.  At a somewhat lower speed.  

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

Deby Pendleton has been coming to the Bear Lake Navajo Weaving Boot Camp since 2006. See how well it works? OK, your results may vary.

Tempe, AZ I’m happy to announce that plans have been finalized for the seventh Navajo Weaving Boot Camp workshop at Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border. We’ll be weaving at the Utah State University Training Facility starting on Sunday afternoon, June 3rd and we’ll keep weaving as much as humanly possible until about noon on Wednesday, June 6th. The workshop is open to students of any skill level. Students will be provided with plans for building a loom or you can purchase one from the workshop organizers. Use of tools is included in the workshop tuition and tools and yarns will be available for purchase.

Tuition for the three day workshop is $360 and includes dormitory style sleeping accommodations, three delicious meals per day featuring large quantities of raspberry based foods, use of weaving tools and the instructional support of master weaver Jennie Slick and her assistant Mary Walker (me). The workshop site is on the shore of Bear Lake, a gorgeously blue natural lake on the border of Utah and Idaho. The workshop is limited to 12 students and we have five four three no open seats. I’ve included a picture gallery from last year’s camp below so that you can get a better idea of the setting.

[Show as slideshow]

See you at the lake!

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

I’ve just finished revamping the Where to Learn Indigenous Weaving Techniques page and it’s going to be an exciting year with lots of great classes and wonderful instructors, if you don’t count me.  Me, I’m not too bad for a bilagáana.  I’ve summarized the classes for you below, and you can click on any of the class titles to get all the juicy details of the class that you’re interested in.  Most of the listings have email addresses and/or phone numbers where you can contact a real, live person who will be glad to answer questions and get you started on a great weaving adventure.  

If you know of any other classes that should be listed, please contact me. 

Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete with their class, niece Roxanne and nephew Terry at Grandmas's Spinning Wheel in Tucson.

Tucson, AZ  I just got back from a delightful visit with Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete and their class at Grandma’s Spinning Wheel in Tucson, Arizona.  Lynda and Barbara are doing a three day workshop and their students where having a great time.  The class will be repeated February 12-14, 2012, so now would be the time to let Vicky at Grandma’s Spinning Wheel know if you are interested.  You can email her at spinningramma@aol.com or call the shop at 520-290-3738.  Cost for the workshop is $375 which includes use of a pre-warped loom and tools.  Both looms and tools will also be available for purchase.  This is a wonderful opportunity to study with two master weavers who are also great teachers.

Barbara and Lynda have a nephew Terry who is making some wonderful looking tools, some of them beautifully decorated.  There are couple of pictures of one of his forks below and you can contact Lynda if you’re interested in more information on them.  I hope to be able to try some of them out myself! 

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

Cheryl Holbert (left) with Eunice Yazzie (center) and Sarah Natani at the wedding of Linda Larouche and Mark Winter

Tempe, AZ   This year was the first time that Jennie Slick and I have done five(!) classes in Window Rock.  The first of our new sessions was in June, soon after the Estes Park Wool Market, where we’d done a two day workshop in intermediate to advanced weaving techniques.  The southwestern summer was in full swing as the class started and we had dry weather for our field trips.  The timing of this class meant that we couldn’t take in a rug auction, but we made up for it by attending the wedding of Toadlena Trading Post’s Mark Winter and Linda Larouche.  There were hundreds of people gathered at Toadlena for the ceremony, which blended Navajo and Anglo tradition and brought Mark and Linda’s friends and family from near and far. 

As always, our students brought a wonderful mix of experience to the class.  Returning student Mike Barnette is a veteran of many classes in Navajo techniques and Cheryl Holbert, Michelle Grant and Francine Kavanaugh had some experience, but were new to Window Rock.  Barbara Bettigole is an accomplished tapestry weaver and Sarah Saulson teaches computer aided weaving techniques at Syracuse University.   Peggy Geyer is a multiple harness weaver and Jan Cohen was totally new to the world of weaving.  It is really fun to work with students at different skill levels and tailor the class content to their questions and it often leads both Jennie and I to look our own work in different ways. 

It’s also great to introduce the students to our friends from the area.  Lula and Herman Brown, who weave miniature rugs stopped by and Herman was particularly taken with the design that Michelle was working on.  He consulted with her on the design, but as she worked on it, she found that she needed to make some modifications and Herman wasn’t available to give his input on the changes.  Michelle was a little apprehensive when Herman and Lula stopped by on the last day of class.   Herman examined the nearly finished piece carefully and smiled his approval of the design.   You can see the pictures below. 

The early summer plants gave us great dyes, we basked in the sun at Canyon de Chelly and we wove early in the morning and far into the evening.  It was a great week to weave and the students made the most of it.  Just like all of our classes, it was the best class ever!  Click here to see more pictures.

Does Herman Brown approve of Michelle Grant's design changes?

Yes! Herman likes the design!

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker