willow weaves

About me

Weaving Since

childhood

Kinds of weaving

Navajo tapestry, 4 - 8 harness wearables, rugs and art

Pets? Kids?

one dog and cat each letting attrition do it's thing. 3 llamas 2 alpacas, one tolerant husband, 3 awesome adult daughters

Favorite Color

blues!! Turquoise!! natural wool / llama colors

Favorite Fiber

wool/llama/alpaca

State/Province

Colorado

About me

I began to weave when I was a Brownie, on cardboard looms and the little potholder elastic loop looms. Growing up I wove stuff from found fibers such as grasses leaves and twigs, feathers, etc. Eventually in 1980, I took a class at the Sangre De Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo, CO and learned to weave on a 4 harness table loom. But alas, no room for looms in our tiny little house. So I learned about backstraps and learned to weave on them. BUT- toddlers and backstraps are poor company, just as soon as ya get comfy in that backstrap, SOMEONE needs a drink!! So I learned to weave baskets. Toddlers LOVE a nice bucket of warm water to spread around the house! and they can drink it.. hahaha. As the kids grew up, I wanted so much to weave, and had no budget for looms, so I continued to make simple looms, wove on found objects such as deer antlers and tree branches, bamboo hoops...and borrowed looms from other weavers as often as possible. Eventually in the early 90's, I took a Navajo Weaving class from Belle Rosing in Colorado Springs, and I was HOOKED. Bought the little student loom with the man woodburned on the front, and this loom has served me well for all this time. In 1999, my second husband bought me a second hand 4 harness Harrisville floor loom, and it was like, I'd never been without her!!! Since then, I've acquired a studio above the garage.. no more dining room stash!! ( OK well now I just keep the current projects in the house, along with some stray stuff for inspiration), and then another studio, this one is a 54'x12' old mobile home in the back yard, It's ALMOST big enough...and I still keep looms in the house, now I even have Harriette in my OFFICE, thanks to my eldest daughter and her baby son moving into my old office/bedroom.. so now I'm out on the enclosed deck where I can see the llamas run in the pasture, and have lots of space and light to weave at Harriette. It's cooold out here in the Colorado winter, but a little wood fire, the EdenPure cranked up and a lot of solar action as the day warms up, and I am loving this idea! By 10 am, it's usually warm enough here to work without anything but pure solar heat. Mikey ( that little grandson) loves my looms and spinning wheel!! He will be the next generation of weaver in this family, I just KNOW it. Mikey thinks the big rotating Navajo loom in our living room is his personal fun ride and general walking around aid. around and around :) I can't wait until his cuz, little Willem who was born this year also, can make that circuit too. I am not a towel girl. EEK! all those little bitty threads.. give me worsted weight!!

I am a teacher

I teach