Fine Weaves: An 1880’s Germantown Blanket

This blanket dates to the 1880’s and was in an attic in St. John’s, Arizona.  The three ply Germantown yarns used date it to the 1880’s and the blanket definitely shows it’s relationship to Rio Grande blankets as well as to Chief blankets.  Germantown yarns were spun in Germantown, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia and were supplied…

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Weaving in Beauty Classes for 2009 Available for Registration

Above: Trader Bruce Burnham discusses weaving with our May 2008 class. The rugs in the background are by Mae Clark. I’ve just finished posting our Weaving in Beauty classes for 2009 and they are now open for registration:  The classes we’ve scheduled are Weaving Class and Tour (May 9-16) Advanced Weaving Seminar (August 8-13) Natural…

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Weavers and Traders: A New Study by Teresa Wilkins

Teresa J. Wilkins of the University of New Mexico, Gallup has taken up the highly charged subject of the relationship between weavers and traders in her new book, Patterns of Exchange: Navajo Weavers and Traders. I’m just getting started reading it, but I like Dr. Wilkins approach, which analyzes the complex ways in which both…

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A Gift for a Friend

Have you ever had a design just come into your mind nearly fully formed? That’s what happened to me with this weaving. I completed it recently as a gift for my friend Grace Diane Calderone, who is holding it in the picture at left. With my rug repairs, teaching and the web sites that I…

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Native Fiber Artisan Mountain Retreat

Registration is being coordinated through the Toadlena Trading Post web site.   Per the description on their site: “The week-long retreat will be a healing experience which will include an opening & closing ceremony. Irene will conduct lessons on Navajo Churro Sheep and sheepherding techniques along with stories of sheepherding, and a Tobacco Ceremony for the…

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