Weaving in Beauty

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

Our class picture with Jennie Slick's mother, Anna Ashley. From left, Carole Rose, Kathie Snyder, Betsy Fisch, Connie Delgado, Ilene Blum, Liz Higgins and Jennie Slick.

Tempe, AZ  Five months ago, Jennie Slick and I started our classes in Window Rock for this year.  Sitting here in Tempe now, in some ways it seems like five years ago, and in other ways it was more like five minutes.  We had a wonderful class in May.  One of the special treats was being able to visit with instructor Jennie Slick’s mother, Anna Ashley.  At 93, Anna no longer weaves and she is confined to a wheelchair much of the time, but she still spins a lot of the edging cords that we use in class and she is very pleased to think of all of the students who have taken the time to make the journey to her home to learn more about the Navajo way of weaving.  The shawl that Anna is weaving in the picture is a gift from student Mike Barnette and was woven by his wife, Peggy.  Presenting the shawl to Anna was one of the highlights of our class, but there were many crowded into that week.  

We had two great visits with Barbara Jean Teller Ornelas (who is doing a class in Tucson November 13-15 with her sister, Lynda Teller Pete), meeting up with her at the Two Grey Hills Trading Post and at Toadlena Trading Post.  At Toadlena, we also talked with caricaturist and weaver Pamela Brown, who had done a wonderful rug to commemorate the engagement of trader Mark Winter and Linda Larouche.  We gathered the first plants of the year and used some that we’d saved over the winter to dye some wonderful colors that will join with others to make up the weaving that we are doing now and those to come.  We saw foals with their mothers running in Canyon de Chelly and we listened as Bruce Burnham and Bill Malone told us stories about trading, justice and standing by your friends when they are in trouble. 

You can see more pictures from the class here.    It was the best class ever, just like all of the others.  Yes, it’s more like five minutes ago.

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

Note: Registration for our 2012 Window Rock class schedule is open.  You can read more about the class and register for it here.  Registration for the 2012 Spider Rock Girls Boarding School class will open on November 1.

Spider Rock Girls Boarding School students work at their looms at Spider Rock

Chinle, AZ  We have just returned from a wonderful and unforgettable  day of weaving at Spider Rock.  Emily Malone and her daughter Larissa Blake graciously opened their home at the base of Spider Rock to our students and even taught us how to make frybread and Navajo tortillas.  It turns out that making a good looking piece of frybread is not as easy as one might think, but perhaps we were distracted by the view.  Emily and her family use their property in Canyon de Chelly during the summer and live on the canyon rim in the winter and are the teachers of the this class.  

According to Navajo history, Spider Rock is the home of Spider Woman, who taught the Navajo people to weave on a magical loom constructed by Spider Man.  We are very grateful that Emily and Larissa believe that the gift of Spider Woman may be shared among all five fingered beings and we will always treasure our journey to the place where Navajo weaving began. 

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

Jennie Slick and I will be doing our Navajo Weaving Boot Camp this coming Sunday, July 17th through Wednesday, July 20th at the Utah State University Training Facility in Garden City, Utah.  It’s about three hours northeast of Salt Lake City, near the border with Idaho.  The Boot Camp offers you the opportunity to work with us in for three intensive days that run from early morning to very, very late evening.  Accommodations are dormitory style and the group meals are included and delicious. 

Why am I telling you this when this thing starts on Sunday?  Because there are three last minute openings, that’s why!  Contact me if you are interested and I’ll get you in touch with the coordinator.   Tuition is $350 and includes weaving instruction, room, board and large quantities of raspberry based foods. 

See you at the lake!

Bear Lake (photo not retouched or altered)