the
Artist . . .
- My introduction into fiber arts
came as a
- child learning
the basics of knitting from my grandmother. Later came sewing and dress design. My
interest in weaving bloomed during my sophomore year at the University of Denmark where I
purchased my first floor loom and shipped it back home to California.
- My work gravitated from manufactured yarns toward handspun natural fibers. After
visiting friends on their New Zealand sheep farm, I flew home with my first spinning wheel
and several handpicked raw fleeces. While learning to hand spin and process my own yarns
to include in my knitting and weaving, I experimented with fibers (ranging from silk to
dog hair) and the use of natural dyes made from materials I collected in the wild
(mushrooms, bark, flowers, and lichen).
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- I have lived on the Mendocino Coast since 1977.
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- Near Paracatin in 2006, Purépechan Weaver, Señora Soto, invited me into her home for a
demonstration of backstrap weaving techniques.
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- In 1981 I stayed with friends on their sheep farm on the north island. Jill raised
colored sheep while her husband Mike thought there was no market for her fleeces. I bought
several over the next few seasons, opening his eyes to the handspinner market and keeping
Jill in money for jam for several seasons.
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- The Agridome in Rotorua was a fun way to get close to several breeds of sheep to compare
them side by side for their wool quality.
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- In 2000 I was flipping through stacks of Navajo rugs, new and old, at the
Hubbell Trading Post outside of Gonado, Arizona. My idea of a good time.
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