Latest From The Studio

Full Sized Oaxacan Style Rug May 2011 This rug is made from a combination of Mexican handspun churro-type wool and millspun churro wool from Mora, NM. Original design. Woven on the 4 foot Cranbrook rug loom. 32" x 40"	Detail photos
Course at Jacquard Center/Oriole Mill Hendersonville, NC Sept. 2010 This was an opportunity to design fabrics for the industrial Jacquard loom using Jacqcad software and the looms at the Oriole Mill. The loom was warped with 20/2 unmercerized black cotton, 51 ends per inch and the suggestion was to weave various satin or twill damask pieces. Chosen weft was 16/1 or 20/1 linen in natural, grey and red. Shown at right is the design process - 1. Acoma Pueblo pottery as inspirarion 2. Pencil drawing of modified motifs 3. Photoshop stitching of the 2 hand drawn squares 4. Woven fabric in black and grey Below: Loom used to weave fabric This is the direct opposite of the techniques pictured in the first two pieces, but equally satisfying. The Jacquard technology allows fabrics to be woven with patterning that would be nearly impossible on a handloom. Likewise, the knotted pile or tapestry pieces cannot be duplicated on the Jacquard loom. Finished jacket - worn first to performances at the Metropolitan Opera - 4 operas in 4 days - you can't wear the same thing every night.	12 3 4

HEARTH RUG - 20" X 41" Traditional knotted pile This rug received 1st prize at the 2010 Blue Ridge Fiber Show, Asheville, NC - category Decorative Functional - professional. This rug is an extension of my exploration of pile weaving techniques. Following up on a small "ruglet" this piece is large enough to fit perfectly in front of the new high efficiency fireplace insert as a hearth rug. The design is a composite of motifs selected from Layatif Kerimov's "Folk Designs from the Caucasus" - there are 3 concentric borders surrounding a double flower in the center. Around the flowers are several other small figures. There are 4 colors - white, black, natural gray Jacob handspun, natural beige Shetland handspun. This piece was worked with a complete set of hand forged tools from the Middle East acquired from Oriental Carpet dealers. Shearing is nearly comlete, but some rough patches still exist on the surface. This process can take several days and is done in small increments. The next project is using finer pile yarns and will be the face of a large, bright colored tote bag. Rug on loom showing cartoon.	Whole Rug Detail of Flower Motif Rug in front of hearth.