Tell us about you. How did you find weaving?
I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where rag rugs woven by women of Finnish descent covered hardwood floors. My mother, while not a weaver, was an avid rag rug collector. She taught me the attributes of a good rug—tightly woven with straight selvedges. Each rug on our floor was unique, created by a weaver with a talent for design. I knew some day I would weave my own rugs.

After moving to Minneapolis, on a visit to the American Swedish Institute (ASI) in 1983, I saw the “Värmland Rug” for the first time. This 14-meter rag rug was woven in Sweden and presented to ASI in 1952. It reminded me of my desire to weave rugs and led me to discover the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. In 1985, I wove my first rag rug at the Guild and before it was finished, I knew I was a rug weaver for life.

Encouraged by members of the Guild, I taught my first rug weaving class in 1998.

What type of weaving do you like to currently do? Are there other practices you’d like to try/learn more about?
I am a rug weaver—99 percent of what I weave are rugs. I weave in what I call the “Finnish-Style” with new brightly-colored cotton fabric strips cut one-inch wide for weft and off-white 15-ply Finnish seine twine warp sett at 5 ends per inch. I work with fabrics designed for quilters. My specialty is color blending using the alternating 3-shuttle technique. The off-white warp I use becomes a blank canvas on which I am able to paint with colored fabrics—the design of the rug is created solely by the arrangement of the weft strips. I love this visual process in which each shot of fabric plays a part in the overall design.

My goal is always to use color to its full potential to create a beautiful rug. I love that I am able to create amazing rugs in a structure as simple as plain weave, knowing I will never run out of ideas.

Where do you find inspiration?
In color! Years ago I started an Idea Box. It contains colorful images that are inspiring to me. There is something about each one that caught my eye and made me keep it. Images include postcards of art from museum shops, photos I’ve taken, art calendars, notices of art exhibits, pages from magazines, greeting cards—I’m always adding images. I’ve also created an Idea Album on my phone for pictures, such as the flowers I see on my daily dog walk.

Describe the space(s) where you work?
I work at home. My 48-inch Cranbrook countermarch loom fills what would otherwise be a bedroom. The room has great light with both a north and east window. As I weave, I watch the world go by. I cut my fabric on the dining room table and store my collection of 291 flat-folds of fabric on shelves in the basement. Sometimes it would be nice to be able to spread out in a studio, but I love to be at home, so I make it work.

Why do you think weaving and creative makers are important?
“Materials provided by nature—the source of Sami subsistence—formed the basis of Sami folk art. The unhurried lifestyle and patience that characterize people living in a natural economy guarantee fine workmanship.”—quote from Sami Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre, Inari, Finland

I am the great granddaughter of a Sami reindeer herdsman. Many of my ideas come from the natural environment—I see something in nature every day that inspires me. I believe that finding the way to express your creativity feeds your spirit and enriches your life.

Do you have any upcoming events WGM members and wider community should know about?
In November I’m teaching a Krokbragd Rug class at the Guild, and in early 2018, I plan to teach a Raanu Rug class. In both classes, rugs are woven with wool rug yarn.

I am writing a book, “Warming the Room with Color—Weaving Finnish-Style Cotton Rugs.” My book will walk the reader through my creative design process and includes techniques I consider to be essential for rug weaving. For more than 25 years, I’ve woven exclusively in the “Finnish Style” and have had a wonderful time teaching it to others. It has been been a joy watching my students master good rug weaving techniques and discover the creative use of color. Through my book, I will be able to share my passion and knowledge with many more weavers than I can meet in a classroom setting.

 

 

 

 

 

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