Navajo Weaving

Blearly eyed after 2 days...

I just got home from a 3 day Navajo Weaving Class taught by Two Grey Hills Weavers Lynda Teller Pete and Barbara Teller Ornelas, taught at Lou Grantham's SF Fiber in Oakland. I'm still digesting the experience... there's a lot to learn while producing a roughly 6" x 8" textile, while soaking in a small bit of that indigenous culture. Barbara and Lynda were so generous with their knowledge and a true pleasure to learn from.

At the end of the second day I was wondering if I could finish on time, and also bleary eyed from concentrating on that patterned section...

Barbara brought in a tapestry she was working on that was amazing. I don't feel right sharing a photo of it without her permission, and I didn't ask her, but I will describe it. Two Grey Hills tapestries are characterized by only using natural sheep colors; wool from different colored sheep can be carded together to make new colors, but natural or aniline dyes are generally not used. Barbara's piece had "black", cream, and browns, but also contained a beautiful medium turquoise color. She spins her own wool from Navajo sheep, a very fine lace weight, and weaves with singles; she told me she sets the twist by wet blocking the yarn and weighting it while drying.  The edges were finished in the same dark wool used at the top and bottom of the pieces, twisted in a way that make me think of the card woven selvedge...   Barbara confirmed that they were twisted, but her hands moved so quickly and the dark strands were hard to tell apart...

Such an honor to watch such competent knowledgable hands!!!

Bok Choy, Baby!

Super bonus from the weekend; I sat next to my Favorite Indie Dyer Ever,  Elissavet from Wonderland Dyeworks. I've met her at shows but we've never chatted; it was like being seated next to a celebrity! I really enjoyed weaving with her. Hoping she signs up for the class next time Lynda and Barbara are in town...

I did manage to get some home cooked food on the table over the weekend as well, featuring the first harvest from the new garden; the bok choy is mine but the onion and red bells come from the grocer.

And here's the final project picture, with matching reading glasses to show size.