“Always leave something off the page,” ~Madeline Sattler, my art teacher Certain memorable people touch us on our creative journey, and we will never forget them. This is certainly true of key artistic mentors on my path, including tapestry weaver Fran Potter (many of you have likely heard me tell stories about Fran!) and my visual arts teacher Madeline Sattler. …
Embracing the Creative Journey
My first run of “Developing a Designer’s Eye” recently wrapped up, offering an immersive invitation to liberate our creative souls. Many of the students who participated I’ve now known for more than a year, and to watch them blossom and explore through this journey together was both beautiful and inspiring. Through the 5-minute timed writing exercises of the final sessions, …
Writing to Access Our Creativity
This week launched the first of five segments of my courses in design. “Developing a Designer’s Eye” is all about embracing the creative journey and lifestyle, which is both astoundingly beautiful and tough inner work. As part of our first Zoom gatherings, I invited the students to use Natalie Goldberg’s tried-and-true method of the timed writing exercise to dive into …
Reframing Our Relationship with Discipline
I can hear the groan even on mute during a recent Zoom meeting with fellow tapestry weavers and members of the Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota. We’re choosing our theme for our next Sunday evening gathering, coming up in March. The discussion prompt I’ve just tossed on the table is on creating a daily practice and building good habits as a …
Thoughts on Creating “Developing a Designer’s Eye” Course
“Take care of the being, and the doing takes care of itself.” ~Ann Berlage (my amazing mom) Venturing into the world of design can feel like a forest (or a minefield) of rules. Do this, don’t do that… This, compared with the nearly endless panoply of possibilities can leave you feeling frozen, confused, or intimidated in the face of the …
New Projects for a New Year
The New Year is here, and with it a chance to start something new. In my fiber arts studio, I’m always excited to start new projects (indeed, works in progress are everywhere around here!) as well as share them virtually in Zoom classes. Earlier this winter, students were nudging me to offer floor loom instruction via Zoom, so they could …
Hygge Through the Holidays
When you’re little, the holiday season can seem wondrously magical—festive music playing everywhere, sparkling decorations, all sorts of wonderful foods and treats, and presents! As you grow older, some of that magic is replaced with obligations and running here and there to this and that, making sure that everything is in order and that everyone is happy. In this hectic …
Return of the Yarn
It feels like an age ago that it was spring shearing time. Like now, the mornings were chilly but the sun was bright. The sheep were poofy fluff balls, ready to take off their winter coats in preparation for summer. For days, I’d worked through the mountains of raw, sticky wool, sorting and pulling out debris, packing it tightly into …
Nurturing a Creative Lifestyle
Creativity is a beautiful part of being human. It enriches our lives and the lives of those around us. Yet, creativity can also be as elusive as a shy creature, leaving us wondering how to tempt it from the shadows. If you find yourself yearning for more creativity in your life, here are some helpful tips and strategies. Develop Observation …
Introducing Tapestry Prompts
I have many great memories over writing prompts with my wordy friends. We’d all gather up prompts (as simple as a single word like “red” or as nuanced as “the way the light comes in through the window”) and tuck them all into a basket. Then we’d pull one out and, without overthinking the process, write like mad for …