Tapestry Weaving

Happy Blog-o-versary (with a course discount!)

Happy Blog-o-versary (with a course discount!)

My first blog post was April 20, 2008. Somehow it has been nine years of blogging. My first post was about a tapestry called This Time I Dance which was purchased by a friend of a friend. 

The blog has evolved a lot over the last nine years. It has absolutely been the driver for my career as a fiber arts educator and I am so grateful to all of my faithful readers. Some of you have been around for that entire nine years--and I don't just mean my parents! (but thanks for reading Mom and Dad).

(Hint: Read full post for discount code for Little Looms online course!)

I finally made it to Georgia... Hambidge!

I finally made it to Georgia... Hambidge!

Some days you can look at your travel adventures as a blessing or a curse. I choose blessing. Because otherwise midnight with hundreds of other tired travelers at Atlanta International would be a lot more difficult.

I finally made it to Hambidge this week for my artist residency here. I spent about 10 hours longer in the Atlanta airport than was desirable, but who needs sleep?

This could have been my vocation in a different life.

This could have been my vocation in a different life.

True confessions. Every time I spend any time in the textile conservation space at the Denver Art Museum, I want to be a textile conservator. I love what they do--such a mix of research, history, science, and art.

I was able to go to Preview Open Window, the Wednesday morning talks led by Allison McCloskey (and currently her fellow Emma), last week. I never know what they'll be working on when I get there, but it is usually something that is going to be displayed somewhere in the museum soon. So the added benefit is that I get to go and see the piece finished and on display at some point in the future.

A February of hearts, #thetapestryheart

A February of hearts, #thetapestryheart

The tapestry heart project has been a lot of fun. I am still seeing hearts out there being woven, and quite frankly have one more in my head I haven't gotten to yet. Thank you to everyone who has participated so far. Keep weaving! The more love we send out into the world, the better. I am happy to add more photos to this post, so if you have a woven heart image you'd like here, send it my way! And if you have a story to go along with it, I'd love to hear it.

Emergence VIII: eventually you have to send your work on its way...

Emergence VIII: eventually you have to send your work on its way...

Yesterday I finally made the trip to FedEx where I shipped off my newest tapestry, Emergence VIII. I was surprised to find that I was a little shaky and sad when I got back in the car. Partly that was about entrusting this piece of art to the 19-year-old behind the counter. (In Marcus's defense, he was exceptionally professional, he helped me pack the piece extra well, and he made sure it was appropriately tracked and had to be signed for.) Partly it was that empty-loom syndrome and the need to take the next step forward and not being quite ready for it. 

The Tapestry Heart Project, #thetapestryheart

The Tapestry Heart Project, #thetapestryheart

Valentines days seems like a day to remember this particular struggle and maybe we should just admit we are human and start with showering loving attention on the people nearest to us. While I'm not a big fan of this ultra-commercialized "holiday", I do believe that humans need to come together on a heart level, now more than ever.

So this Valentine's day, join me in a little weaving project. Let's see if we can weave ourselves a community of understanding and have some fun in the process. Below I show you how I wove a little heart. At the end of the post you will find a link to download a PDF with instructions and a template for various size hearts.