What Would The Weaver Think: Antique Navajo Weaving as Fine Art

Tempe, AZ  One day about 100 years ago, a Navajo weaver near Shiprock, New Mexico spent the better part of a year weaving the rug that you see above.  It’s woven with Navajo Churro yarn and the quality of the weaving and the design symmetry tell us that the weaver must have been a highly…

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Bessie Littleben: Using All The Crayons In The Box

Tempe, AZ  One of my Facebook friends posted what you might call a “message picture”  yesterday and it said “Life is about using the whole box of crayons”.  I immediately thought of Bessie Littleben’s weaving.  Bessie’s using the all the crayons in a lot more ways than one, which of course is the point of…

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A Thread from the Past: A Transitional Rug

Tempe, AZ   It is always fascinating to see the rugs that people have tucked away.  Most of the time, these textiles have been well loved to the point where some of them are in tatters, but every once in a while something emerges that gives you a window to another day, this one over 100…

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Rug of the Day: Yá’át’ééh Késhmish (Merry Christmas) from Louise Bia

Tempe, AZ   The art of pictorial weaving lends itself to this time of year and Louise Bia is one of the top practitioners when it comes to Christmas pictorials.  Everything here is beautifully proportioned, and the twin Santa figures have their own personalities that reflect Louise’s weaving skill.  This rug was woven at a…

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Rug of the Day: Christmas Club Burntwater by Laramie Blake

Tempe, AZ    If you’re a regular reader, you may remember that 20 year old fourth generation weaver Laramie Blake  has been attending college in the Phoenix valley and has just completed her first semester.  Laramie has been weaving to finance her educational expenses and thought that she had the piece she’s holding in the…

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