#2 Fiber Art Threads of Gratitude: Celebrating My Weaver's Spirit

Fiber Art Threads of Gratitude express satisfying and joyful reminders of our connection to the Earth through the design of colorful weaving, quilting and other cultural artistic patterns that connect to our creative spirits.

I’ve been told that I’m all over the place and need to focus on one thing. That’s not how my mind works. And as I age, I am very much interested in what nurtures my mind, body, and spirit. Growing my own food as best I can, cooking, yoga, meditation, Thai yoga massage, wellness in general, travelling, reading, and creating through fiber arts – quilting, weaving – are important to me. It’s how I love and take care of me. It’s, also, how I create and nurture community.

So when I say yesterday was a great day, it was! I drove about 2 ½ hours to participate in a freestyle weaving class at the Oxford Fiber Arts Festival. The class was patterned somewhat after the Saori technique. The instructor had several Saori looms set up, but I brought my own. Truth be told, my loom has been sitting idle since moving to Mississippi. My new life took over. Weaving techniques I’d learned with a fairly new loom back then in 2016 went dormant. It sounds crazy, but I was afraid to break it or mess up something.

The class helped awaken my weaving spirit, eye for color and connection to my loom. Interestingly, the instructor recognized this a bit before I did. She gave me space and offered assistance only when I needed help. Everything re-surfaced; sitting at my loom, choosing yarns, threading bobbins, creating with warp and weft, following no rules the Saori way. Best of all, the meditative feeling that weaving does for me came back.

Now, to finish this piece, embellish it the way I do, and hang on a wall. Will keep you posted.