Navajo Weaving, Diamonds, dreams, landscapes

You gotta go! This is a sensational show--and I've seen a lot of textile exhibits in 30 some years as a weaver. This exhibit, the first in a series of three installations, running over the next year, showcases the extraordinary Joe Ben Wheat Textile Collection at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Henderson Bldg, Boulder, Colorado. Congratulations go out to curator Judy Newland!

The exhibit designer should be congratulated for bringing the pieces out from the wall--which somehow gives them more life and impact. I found the pieces and the installation thrilling. But don't take my word for it. This is worth planning your vacation around. And while you're here to visit the exhibit, call me and come for at factory tour.

I've been working on the finger-control chapter of my upcoming rigid heddle weaving book, due to Interweave mid August. If I don't post much between now and then, you now know why. I've haven't escaped to the garden (though I'd love to) or gone on an extended bike ride (miss those rides). I'm home weaving (do love it, though not the pending deadline), writing, taking photos.

Anyway, I was lamenting to a friend about all of the great weaving books that are now out-of-print. She mentioned a bit of good news: The photo illustrations for Mary Black's New Key to Weaving can be found on-line through the Canadian archives. Here's the link. http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/black/Results.asp?Search=cs The REALLY good news is that these photos are in color and better than the original printed book copy.

Weaving in love and memories

Perhaps I’ve failed to mention that I’ll be a grandmother. Grandmother? Is it really possible? Only weeks ago it seems we were coming home from the hospital with our little bundle. Days seem to tick past and it is easy to not notice their passing. Soon the day is gone, then a week, a month, a year.

Today a neighbor had a baby shower for Nora and it was one of the sweetest I’ve ever been to. We had civilized tea and cake and munchies. There were no party games, but we did have an activity in honor of the mother-to-be and her weaving family. Stacey selected a variety of ribbons, then cut slots around the edges of a piece of cardboard into which the ribbons could be slid. She slipped a ribbon into each slot along the top, then she passed the cardboard loom around the table, each person choosing a ribbon, and as they wove it into the growing cloth, a story about Nora, or motherhood, or advice were shared. Later, Stacey inserted our community weaving into a shadow box, a lovely memory of those who have been a part of her life, wish her well, and a memento of our afternoon neighborhood tea.