I have been weaving for well over 40 years and focused on rugs for 22.
I think I have been a weaver all my life. As a small child I collected bits of string, grass and feathers and incorporated them into odd little sculptures. I have always felt there was a bit of a Crow in me. I always knew I would weave some day. In junior high school I uncovered an old loom in the back of the room and asked my art teacher if I could use it. He showed me how to warp it up and off I went, creating several tapestries.
In college I continued to take fiber classes. I studied with Walter Nottingham, who not only taught us the technicalities of fiber art, but the practicalities of selling our work. He taught me never to be afraid to experiment.
Then it was out into the real world where I got a job in the office of a drapery company. I worked there for 9 years and every day saw hundreds of pounds of wasted fabric go into the dumpster. I hated it and started to collect interesting pieces until I had way too much to store.
I finally made a life changing decision to quit my job and finish my college degree. I took out my profit sharing, bought a spinning wheel and a massive old industrial rug loom built in 1917. After 3 years I finished my degree in Theater arts with a minor in Library science, during which time I studied weaving as well. By the time I graduated I had mastered that old loom and produced quite a few rugs.
Shortly after graduation my husband and I finally got pregnant after almost 10 years of hoping. There was no way I was not going to enjoy those years with my miracle daughter so I set out to supplement our income with rug weaving and chair caning so I could stay at home. That was the start of my professional career as a fiber artist. 19 years later my wonderful daughter is starting her second year of college and I am still weaving. I now weave on a Weaver's Delight rug loom built in 1942. It is a newer version of my original loom, which I still have.
I am not a "crank ‘em out" rug weaver. I rarely do standard lengths or custom work. I weave to the end of the rug. I do several juried art fairs a year and have been fortunate to have the artistry of my work recognized by judges. I have won prizes for Best Design, Best Portfolio and Best in Fibers.
I began felting about 20 years ago and I have taught felt making to hundreds of school children. I am still amazed every time those single bits of wool are transformed into a solid object.
My rugs, woven of a variety of recycled fabrics, are all designed by me to combine beauty for the eye with comfort for the foot. When I sell rugs I encourage my customers to trust their own judgment in making a choice. I am a firm believer that whatever we like will fit in the space in which we live and reflect our own personal tastes. People are often hesitant to enjoy their own preferences, which I find surprising. I never pressure anyone into buying one of my rugs. Each one is special to me and I rather feel like they are being adopted into a new home. It is often difficult to part with one too soon off the loom. I weave traditional rag rugs, but rarely traditional colors. I spend many hours filleting shirts, sheets, pants and other clothing and fabric to recycle into rugs. Each of my rugs is a phoenix...something old and discarded recreated into something beautiful and new.
My greatest joy and inspiration comes through color exploration and the occasional day dreaming about the previous lives of all those blue jeans.