Tiny But Mighty is coming! What is that, you ask? You might have heard me talk about the American Tapestry Alliance before. This is their un-juried exhibition that occurs every other year during Convergence. I’ve highlighted these shows in 2020 and again in 2022. In 2022, there was an emphasis on stepping outside the box, experimenting with techniques outside the traditional realm. This year, in July 2024, there will be another Tiny But Mighty exhibit; this time to be exhibited at the  Envision Art Gallery in Wichita Kansas. Envision Gallery is run by blind artists and for this exhibit sh ..read more

“Rising” 33.5” x 20” Last week I sent the image above (of my most recently completed tapestry) to my newsletter list and said I’d been thinking about the subject of Style. As in an Artist’s Style. I then asked  …”Developing a style, following a style, changing a style, worrying over a style… what are your thoughts on style? “ I got a lot of responses! I’m posting some here, then I’ll share my own thoughts. I’ve kept all the comments anonymous. See which ones, if any, resonate with you!   “Great topic and one I have struggled with as a photographer and as a new tapestry weaver ..read more

My tribute to echinacea is always in the background. The year of tapestry Highlights for 2023 continues with July being a month of sampling. No surprises there. Most of the year seemed to be focused on various aspects of the design process. I was sampling heavily for Murmuration this month along with working on ideas for the ATA postcard exchange. Sampling for Murmuration project And progress on the random weaving, an intriguing tapestry that was capturing my focus. Along with these projects, I found myself driving to town way more than I liked (which is in all reality…once every two or thr ..read more

As I’ve done in the past, I begin the new year with a look back on the highlights of the past one. 2023 turned out to be an unusual one with some unexpected twists and turns. The first of those twists was in January when a friend sent me a picture of a tapestry loom that was for sale in our area. If you’ve read my blog posts over the last year, you’ll know that yes, it was a Tissart, I did go get it and bring it home. It needed a lot of work but is now finally proudly standing in my studio with my next project begun. January was also a big month for me in that I finally began to learn Photosho ..read more

  Earlier this month I taught another 3-day Soumak workshop; this time at Yarn Barn in Lawrence, Kansas. Yarn Barn is well known to many so probably needs no introduction.  They have a great brick and mortar store and a robust shipping operation. (I know this because I got to see the behind the scenes production; a rare treat!) They also have a fantastic classroom space on the second floor with lots of light and room for multiple looms or setups. It was a joy to teach in. We were even able to watch the “30th Annual Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade” from the large windows overlooking M ..read more

Moray Archeological site , a short drive from the workshop in Peru. Photo by Steven Tully. I have been wanting to attend a Maximo Laura workshop for over 5 years now. The timing could not have been more perfect for my husband to travel with me a week before the workshop began. We had lots of time to relax and enjoy our surroundings. And the “surroundings” were stunning! The workshop was located in Yucay, Peru at the beautiful Sonesta Posadas del Inca in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Once the workshop started, he flew home and I was able to focus totally on the weaving. The days were full ..read more

  One of the designs I’m looking forward to doing as a result of my mentorship in designing with Photoshop I’ve been stuck in the design phase this year - but in a good way.  This idea for a series of weavings goes back years now: of the wildflowers I’ve gotten to know in my area. I’ve both alluded to and written about these various wildflowers in the past: here, here, and here, for starters! The weavings I’ve had in my head were to be a tribute to each plant. My struggles came from the fact that I didn’t want to just weave a flower. I wanted to add some complexity to the design. Of ..read more

  Tissart loom (photo courtesy of previous owner) In early January of this year, I opened an email from a friend telling me of a LeClerc “Tissart” tapestry loom for sale. I didn’t give it another thought. Until I suddenly realized I was hearing the words of my mother: “You need another tapestry loom like you need a hole in your head.” She was right. I didn’t “need” another tapestry loom. However, curiosity got the best of me and I wrote to the contact person. I’d read high praises of this loom from a number of weavers on social media so I - naturally - wanted to learn more. We had multip ..read more

  A few from our group watching as Jo demonstrates We have a small tapestry group in Kansas that gets together occasionally. Earlier this month, we met at Jo Morasco’s studio. Jo at her loom Jo has been weaving tapestries for many years; I’ll just take a wild guess and say somewhere around 50 years? I’m sure for many of us, it was a real treat to see her work space (and beautifully decorated home full of art, I might add). Her art is displayed in various rooms throughout her home. In addition to her tapestries, she has done a number of sequin works. Jo actually has two homes (with a 5 ..read more

  Soumak workshop; left front to right: Mary Anne, Anne, Lorry, Mary, and Anne! Last month, I had the pleasure of teaching 4 tapestry workshops over 6 days in Des Moines, Iowa. The workshops were a part of the Midwest Weavers Conference: A Confluence of Threads; it was a wonderful experience. The planning and coordination that went on to launch such a successful conference must have been immense, and all of that effort showed. The Des Moines Weavers guild volunteers were very helpful and friendly all through my time there and I can’t imagine the event going smoother than it did. Many tha ..read more