Archive for 2008
Weaving Class and Tour: Day 2
Today, our class started with loom warping and we had all eight warps done by noon, which is a real tribute to the students’ focus. Warping a Navajo loom is a complex process that requires attention and strength and Jennie Slick likes to have the students warp as a team of two so that each…
Read MoreNatural Dye Retreat Samples and Weaving Class Begins
Our Natural Dye Retreat participants left Window Rock today and we put together a look at the samples that we dyed yesterday. The retreat is a time to reflect on knowledge that is slipping away today and to appreciate the bounty of the Navajo homeland. Today was also the beginning of the first August session…
Read MoreNatural Dyes Navajo Style
Today, we collected the plants that we’ll use in a few hours to dye wool. We met with Rose Dedman and then went to the Defiance Plateau to collect sage, rabbitbrush, cliffrose and ground lichen. Then we headed out to Navajo, NM to collect Navajo tea, which can be used as an herbal tea as…
Read MoreSpinning and Dyeing in the Shade House
Today, we concluded our advanced weaving seminar, which has been newly dubbed Camp Weave-A-Lot, and we started our Natural Dye Retreat. We met at Burnham’s Trading Post in Sanders, AZ and got a look at some of the vegetally dyed colors that Marie Begay is able to achieve. We were also treated to a weaving…
Read MoreA Visit from Gilbert Begay
WIndow Rock, AZ Master weaver Gilbert Begay stopped by to say hello today and we spent some time talking about the yarns used in weaving in this area. At least 95% of the rugs woven today are made with commercially spun yarns. About 80% of those are done with Brown Sheep Top of the Lamb…
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