Martha Town: Regional Rep (MLH) 1996-1999 Sept 1998, Vol:58 pg 19 This series of scarves shows that I am the structure type. These are 16 harness straight twill variations. I have been intrigued with weaving since I was a child and visited working museums that had functional looms, but didn't realize I could make my dreams reality until my husband bought me an antique loom in the late 70's. It took awhile to get it in working condition and find out how to warp but by the early 80's I was introduced to a guild and weaving shops in Michigan, and I was hooked. The loom helped me get through the culture shock of being a city girl transported by marriage to a farm. Weaving has been such an important part of my adult life - it has been my therapy, my escape, my creative outlet, and my link to many wonderful people, and experiences! I am a past president of Michigan League of Handweavers and an active member of Jackson Handweavers Guild, the Cross Borders Weavers Study Group, and Computer Aided Design Exchange Study Group. After weaving on an assortment of used looms, I learned what I liked and didn't like. I bought one of the early Baby Wolf 8 harness looms and thus began my exploration of complex weaves. In 1986, I earned HGA's Certificate of Excellence - Technical Skills. I discovered a real love of structure and loom controlled weaving and have become know in my area for expertise with twills, which I consider my weaving language. I love to hear a shuttle fly, so weaving on an AVL with a fly shuttle is a real pleasure. It was the sound of that fly shuttle in the AVL booth at the commercial exhibit of the Michigan Conference in 1987 that spoke to me. My husband was with me for that conference, and we had brought a flatbed trailer with us to transport equipment for a hog roast. We ended up taking that demonstration loom home all in one piece! (AVL's Peter S remembers it well!) It was providential that I had just received a life insurance check that was to be "reinvested" in another policy. It didn't take much to convince my supportive husband that the AVL was a pretty good "policy" and a better use of the money than more life insurance! I enjoy computer aided design and added a CompuDobby to the AVL in '96. I weave multiharness fabrics for scarves, clothing, and the home, using primarily cotton and rayon. I love teaching with a focus on twills, computer aided design, and the use of commercial fabric as inspiration. Profile Draft for Windows Network twill block weave derived from Windows profile draft above. Several variations of this draft were woven with sewing thread warp sett about 66 epi and a fine silk weft. I love the architectural look. One of the pieces in this series was in Small Expressions at Mid West Conference in 1996 last year.

top
next gallery
previous gallery
Journal Gallery
Awards Gallery
Study Group Gallery

[Complex Weavers Home Page] [Site Map]  [Representatives]  [Membership Services]  [Membership Form]  [CW Journal]  [Lending Library]  [Regional Events]  [Awards]  [Study Groups]  [Announcements]  [Galleries]  [Advertiser's Links]  [Member's Links]  [Market Place]  [ Seminar ]

All activities and functions of the organization are carried out by volunteers who are members like you! Any problems with the site should be reported to Josephine Earl If you wish to contribute to this web page contact: Web Chair, Josephine Earl or one of the area representatives listed here Page created 1998, Update: Saturday, September 11, 2004