Art on the trail | Colorado Trail thru-hike 2021

Art on the trail | Colorado Trail thru-hike 2021

Last month I finished a 500-mile backpack along the Colorado Trail. This beautiful route goes through some of the most wonderful scenery in a very beautiful state. I talked about my reasons for hiking the trail and included some photos in a blog post last week as well as HERE and HERE. And I did a preparation post about the art materials I was bringing along HERE.

In that post I talked about bringing along journaling materials including watercolors as well as a small loom and a spindle and fleece. I didn’t bring exactly those materials and not everything stayed with me for the whole 6-week hike.

When thinking about making art on the trail, I wanted to make sure I had some basic materials to record my thoughts and sketch out some potential tapestry designs. In general when backpacking I only bring journal paper and a pen. This year I added a small watercolor kit so that I could add some color to my scribbled sketches. I was surprised how effective having that little bit of color was. It turned out that that journaling was the most powerful art practice for me during the hike. A thru-hike is a big physical undertaking and your job each day becomes walking and making sure you have what you need for survival (water, food, a place to camp, the right gear).

Which course should I take: Little Looms or Introduction to Tapestry Weaving?

Which course should I take: Little Looms or Introduction to Tapestry Weaving?

“I am an absolute beginner. I have just purchased two tapestry looms and Rebecca's book, The Art of Tapestry Weaving. I wish to take a course, Weaving on Little Looms or the newest course, Introduction to Tapestry Weaving. I can't decide. Which would be the right course?: —Marilyn

Marilyn’s question is a good one! I want to clarify the difference in these two classes and help you choose the one you might want to start with.

Walking 500 miles | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike 2021

Walking 500 miles | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike 2021

I walked from Denver to Durango this summer which is a distance of about 500 miles. I didn’t do it to figure out the meaning of life, answer any big questions, or recover from any sort of trauma. I just did it because I wanted to walk for a long time. I started July 27th, 2021 at Waterton Canyon in Denver.

I finished the trail on September 9, 2021 in Durango. I wrote a lot about my experience while I was on the trail in my Instagram feed. The posts started July 29th and you can read all about the trail in more depth there. I wrote those posts when I had zero days in town. I did not have much cell coverage on the trail and I would not have spent hiking time posting to social media in any case! I was there to live outside, not to remain connected.

Still Hiking! Colorado Trail Thru-hike 2021 | #hikingweaver

Still Hiking! Colorado Trail Thru-hike 2021 | #hikingweaver

I am writing this from my phone and mile 412 of the Colorado Trail. I am in Silverton, CO having walked here from Denver. I have 75 miles and about 5 days of hiking left.

The trail has been stunning, challenging at times, amazingly beautiful, and full of curiosities. I am grateful to have the time living outside and experiencing the backcountry of Colorado in an extended format.

I have been telling the story of the trail in my Instagram feed. I invite you to go there to see photos and read about the hike. If you want the story chronologically which is how I wrote it, start with THIS post and then scroll up (that should be the photo below on July 29, 2021).

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Reflecting on a career in tapestry | The Weave Podcast

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Reflecting on a career in tapestry | The Weave Podcast

Gist Yarn produces a wonderful podcast called Weave. I was interviewed for one of the earliest episodes and last week, we did an updated episode. We talked about my weaving life, my teaching philosophy, and a bit about a new tapestry yarn that is now available for pre-order. The yarn is called Array. I wrote more about the yarn which I’ve been testing for at least a year HERE.

You can listen to the podcast episode HERE or wherever you get your podcasts! It is episode 140.

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A new tapestry yarn! Made in the USA.

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A new tapestry yarn! Made in the USA.

GIST Yarn is a wonderful small company based in Boston. Started by the brilliant Sarah Resnick, it is a yarn and weaving company that values materials sourced in the United States. Sarah and her team are committed to supporting local agriculture, mills, and dye houses and their weaving yarns are gorgeous.

I have admired Sarah’s business for many years now and was thrilled when she asked me about a new project she was thinking about, a tapestry yarn made from US wool in a US mill.

If you’re a tapestry weaving, you know that there aren’t all that many yarns that come in a wide range of colors that include gradations. This holy grail of tapestry coloring, having light, medium, and dark versions of the same hue, only exists in a few yarn lines and none of them currently are made in the USA.

Preparing for a long walk in the woods

Preparing for a long walk in the woods

I’m getting ready for a long walk in the woods. Preparation for about 5 weeks living out of a backpack is a lot more complicated than perhaps it should be. Some people can throw their gear in the pack and pick up food along the way, but I have a health issue that means I absolutely have to have gluten free food. Because the trail towns on this particular trail are so small, this means I have to have my food arrive on the trail every 5-7 days. Often the USPS follows through on that. This year Emily is going to help me out in three spots as well which is lucky for me because it means I’ll get a shower and clean clothes as well!