Wandering

Bighorn sheep and a week of weaving in Taos

Bighorn sheep and a week of weaving in Taos

I taught two retreats in Taos in close succession this fall. It is always good to be in Taos and the retreat I have in November is a group that comes back every year. I’m always so grateful for this group of weavers that have become friends over the years. It is important to find friends who are tapestry weavers if you can whether that be online or people you can actually meet in person.

Getting to Taos in the winter is usually fairly easy, and this day was no exception. Going home there was a snowstorm and I didn’t get to enjoy this view looking toward Chama from Highway 64.

Weaving amongst the cows

Weaving amongst the cows

I love visiting a beautiful place repeatedly over time. One can learn a lot about a place by seeing it in different lights and seasons. There is a huge area of dispersed camping and trails about 20 miles from my house in the La Plata Mountains. I spotted a nice weather window over the weekend and loaded up the car for some nights sleeping on the ground. I also filled the car with various art and craft supplies and I even used some of them!

I particularly enjoy spending time in aspen trees. They are happy trees. Their leaves shake in the wind and that reflects the sunlight in beautiful ways. The area I was camping in has some old growth aspen trees. Some of them are absolutely huge.

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What do you do with your sketch tapestries?

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What do you do with your sketch tapestries?

This question used to really bother me but now I love it because it gives me an opportunity to think about why I weave tapestry at all. The answer also relates to almost everything else I do for fun: knitting, drawing, birding, hiking, reading…

For me weaving my tapestry diary or sketch tapestries is all about the process. My tiny tapestry diary or sketch tapestry pieces are often just 2-4 inches and they’re too small to hang on the wall without being mounted. It is about slowing down, paying attention, and making something with my hands. I’m the same with knitting. I have piles of shawls I’ve knit because I love the process. I can’t possibly wear them all so sometimes I give them away, but the making of them is all that I really care about.

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Moving your chair a few degrees: changing your perspective

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Moving your chair a few degrees: changing your perspective

I’m enjoying the slow return of summer here in Colorado. Summer always means Summer of Tapestry for me. This online class came from my sketch tapestry practice and as I’ve been building this year’s class, I’ve been looking back at some of the pieces that meant something to me in years past.

I love this simple practice of spending some time observing, making notes, and weaving a simple, quick tapestry from what I observed. Most of these tapestries are small and the intention is that they don’t take long to make. My goal is to learn to appreciate what is around me and use the weaving to find a calm space in a chaotic world. I have to say that I’ve needed it more than ever this week.

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Artist residencies. Allowing yourself time plus an opportunity for you

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Artist residencies. Allowing yourself time plus an opportunity for you

Time set aside to let your creative self relax and find new ideas is critical for any artist. It is also critical for any human in my opinion. We’re all creative beings and there is nothing more rejuvenating than spending some quiet time exploring a landscape and your own ideas. An artist residency is a great way to do that. At the end of this post I’m going to talk about an artist residency called Fortnight that I run in southwestern Colorado. But first I want to share some about the artist residencies I’ve been lucky enough to make time for.

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Spark your creativity this summer with Summer of Tapestry 2025

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Spark your creativity this summer with Summer of Tapestry 2025

Spark your creativity this summer. 

In this live multi-week workshop I encourage you to go on your own adventures and document them through small, informal tapestries. 

Weaving from my surroundings has taught me to pay attention and enjoy the process of experiencing something real and making art about it. I always take a notebook and loom with me as I spend time outside in the summer. 

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Inspiration from deep desert colors: A week in northern New Mexico

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Inspiration from deep desert colors: A week in northern New Mexico

Earlier this month I had the good fortune of spending five days in Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Hondo. These are villages just north of Taos, New Mexico. Arroyo Seco is home to Taos Wools and I was teaching a three-day workshop on color gradation for them.

I made a video of the trip which includes more images from the workshop as well as some scenery and thoughts from my drive home through El Rito and Abiquiu, NM. I took a hike up Chimney Rock at Ghost Ranch intending to do some drawing at the top, but it was snowing! Check out the video for the whole adventure.