When I photograph people in their work environment, sometimes it seems more appropriate to photograph hands, arms, and feet involved in the process of doing their work or art.  My husband, Fred, is a weaver, using Navajo-Churro wool dyed by Connie Taylor to make rugs of many colors and styles - contemporary, architectural, and traditional Southwestern.  They are all his original designs, and Rug # 335, which is currently on the loom, contains a host of different colors, that are remnants of assorted dye lots he has used during the year.  Each is truly unique with its own personality.

Rug 335 in process 3

The remnants are divided in half and placed side by side along the floor of his work space, and used sequentially to achieve a symmetrical piece.  Here is a small sampling of the colors and amounts, out of roughly 40 feet of yarn balls.

Rug 335 wool lineup

One desirable quality of a handmade rug is straight edges.  That is achieved by pulling the yarn into a "peak" to make an equilateral triangle (shown in the middle of the photos below) and physically measuring the height of the triangle.  

Rug 335 in process toned b&w

Rug 335 in process 7

Two more demonstrations of making a "peak"

Rug 335 in process 6

Rug 335 in process 4

Since the loom shown here is a Rio Grande walking loom, it makes sense that the weaver stands in order to weave, and footwork is a big part of the process.  It is the way the high tension warp is opened with his feet and thus, body weight on the treadle to allow passage of the shuttle.

Rug 335 in process 5

Fred will have a booth at the Fall Fiber Fiesta at the Scottish Rite Temple, 463 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe, Friday night, 22 November (opening 5 p.m.- 8 p.m.), Saturday 23 November and Sunday 24 November (open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)  If you are in the area and have a minute, drop by for a visit.  

We would love to see you.

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image@