it is nice to visit old accomplishments. this rug was my third attempt at the weaving pattern i enjoy most, rep weave. in this piece there are two rugs, you can just barely see the hem at the bottom of the photograph. this rug also taught me a lot about warp. the black in the rug (warp) broke in chunks while i was threading. when i wound the warp, measuring it it seemed strong. i learned how to add warp to over half threaded loom. what a mess. but i was persistant. i probably added about four hours of work to a normally twenty hour or more rug. the results were stunning. after this was woven i tied onto the threading with white and cream, and the cream and white became one.

this is a piece i intended for an art show. more of a rug rather than "piece" the title is Greener Pastures and Bright Horizons. i might muster up the urge to put it in but it isn't very creative and this is when craft vs art becomes an issue. i am trained professionally as an artist. i have a degree in fine arts. i learned the craft of weaving in my art degree. however does that make this straight forward rug a work of art? does that make this well crafted rug just a rug? conflicted, i'd like the rug to have one more dimension to it and then i would consider it a work of art, but to be honest i don't know what that dimension would be...

my latest creation is what i call my "red square rug" it was constructed with prepared corduroy weft sewn on the bias, and the cotton warp is in natural with muted primary colors. it is a simple weave, only challenging in the warping. to thread the loom it took at least six hours, at least, longer because children have the ability to interrupt a groove you might have. i have two new rugs planned and after that i think i am going to start working on placemats, runners, and scarves for easy selling items.