A Challenge in Miniature
This month, I entered a piece fresh off the loom for Small Tapestry International 6–a biennial event hosted by the American Tapestry Alliance. The theme was “Beyond the Edge,” and the size limit was under 100 square inches. In tapestry, that is TINY! What could I design and make that would fit the theme, the […]
More Images from the Varpapuu Loom
More Images from the Varpapuu Loom The adventure continues in the restoration of the Finnish tapestry loom, gifted to me by weaver Christine Hensolt. There were so many bits and pieces, and trying to determine what went where was quite the engineering adventure. Fortunately, the beams had been labeled in pencil to note which went […]
Restoring a Varpapuu Tapestry Loom
You really never know what a day will bring. On a otherwise ordinary July day, a group of ladies arrived for lunch at Farmstead Creamery, led by Jane (pictured center) one of the authors who’d be featured in our Spoken Word series. Along for the adventure was Christine Hensolt (pictured right), originally from Germany. Farmstead […]
Designing a Student Project
I enjoy teaching fiber arts. There’s that magical moment when things click for the student, and that spark of joy as the project comes together. As I move towards teaching in the medium of punch needle rug hooking, I wondered for a while what would make a good project for a multi-day intensive class. Personally, […]
Needle Felting Kits are Here!
Sharing the creative experience of needle felting with students has been both creative and rewarding. But what if I could package these classes into accessible forms that fiber enthusiasts anywhere could take home, gift, or share with family and friends? It has been a real journey developing this product, informed by my teaching experience and […]
Joys and Challenges of Weaving on a Round Loom
It is statistically likely that highly creative people have at least 15 projects laying about in various states of incompletion. (I heard it explained once that creative people don’t have clutter, it’s just great ideas lying about.) I’m certainly guilty of that situation, and now and then I get the itch to pick up a […]
Mr. Rooster Complete
There’s a special dance roosters have when they’ve found a delectable treat. They’ll drop one wing and prance about in a tight circle, calling the ladies in. As the hens rush to eat up the juicy worm or grasshoppers or spilled corn or whatever yummy bit he’s found, the rooster will back off and let […]
Needle Felting: Magic with Wool
Wet felting can be fun in its own way, but it’s messy, takes up space, and is relatively unpredictable. For me as a tapestry artist, a medium where the ability for precision is a cultivated skill, wet felting becomes very frustrating. But when I tried needle felting two Januaries ago, I thought, “Yes, this is it!” […]
“Trout and Swallows” Recognized by The Oxford Company
Each month, Amy Oxford of The Oxford Company has been requesting submissions of finished punch-needle rugs and wall tapestries. My piece “Trout and Swallows” was the chosen submission for October. Here is what appeared on their website: Punched Rug Contest Monthly Prize Winner Our Punched Rug Contest winner for October is Laura Berlage from Hayward, […]
The Finished Masterwork: Deceiving the Hunters
The Finished Masterwork: Deceiving the Hunters The Unicorn Tapestries have been a fascination for me since I was a teenager. The design and inspiration for this tapestry, though, began in graduate school. Lovingly called “the five-year project” that has just been completed for this entry in year seven, the layers of research, of storytelling, of […]