What's Your Superpower?

I was recently showing a friend and weaving student a few of my latest handwoven art pieces. Each time I help her with her weaving, she helps me think deeper about my own work and purpose. When we're together she asks seemingly simple questions that often lead to me going home and reflecting on how my answer relates to other aspects of my life. During this particular session she asked if I still do much weaving with commercial yarns or if I only use discarded fabric.

The short answer to her question

I like to weave all the things! Even though I use worn fabrics for my rug weaving, as is the tradition, I prefer commercial yarn for making napkins, towels, shawls and even sew-able yardage, all of which I still weave on occasion.

The longer answer to a bigger question

When I began weaving I was completely satisfied by making the types of projects mentioned above and had absolutely no interest in rug or tapestry weaving until the universe nudged me in a different direction. As you may already know, I inherited a sturdy rug loom used and built by my grandfather. After getting it cleaned up, I warped the loom, collected some old bed sheets from the thrift store and wove my first rag rug, and a second, and a third... Then, I found myself longing to stretch the limits of the loom, my materials and myself, in part because I needed an escape from the relentless, unproductive grind happening on the knitting side of my studio. I took it as a challenge and began experimenting with what I refer to as "scrap-estry", a sort of tapestry weaving with salvaged fabric.

Now my studio practice involves spending time at the loom each day working with discarded, leftover and waste materials. With these cast-offs I'm able to translate the patterns and rhythms I see and feel into tangible pieces of art. Through this slow and physically demanding process I'm recognizing my superpower, although Grandpa would have likely used the Finnish word sisu. My style of weaving and choice of materials allows me to preserve moments and explore ideas connecting me to you and both of us to the greater world in which we live. I can make something from nothing.

As the seasons shift, I hope you have an opportunity to slow down and nurture (or discover) your own superpower to guide you into the new year.