Background and Artists Statement

  • Weaver, spinner, dyer.
  • I consider life as a work of art – the process of creating a unique environment, personally designed and crafted - embellishing daily life with beautiful textiles.
  • Working with fibers is intensely satisfying. I love to begin with fiber at a point, early in its existence, and develop it into the finished product. We have even raised our own sheep and flax at times, although there is not always enough time or land to do this on a regular basis.
  • Traditional techniques and fibers form the base platform. My goal is to produce beautiful, decorative items, fulfilling a functional need in a way that is also personally fulfilling.
  •  Began spinning and weaving in Germany beginning in late 1970's
  •  Partially self-taught, with help from books, visits to any and every local museum and weaving business in Northern Germany, mentored by museum staff and professional weavers over a ten year period. Mentors included Klaus Tidow, museum curator and member of NESAT.
  • Career in IT - programmer, analyst, network administrator and support - paralleled work in fibers from 1968 to 2005.

  • Married to an engineer, interest in the technical specifications of fiber tools is high. Knowledgeable in how the laws of physics govern weaving equipment and influence the production of quality textiles.

Education

  • Association with Klaus Tidow, curator Textile Museum Neumunster, Germany (ret.) and founder of NESAT, 1983-1990
  • Association with Freilicht Museum Kiel-Molfsee – Dr. Carl I. Johanson, Fr. Gabrielle Reher, 1984-1990
  • Association with Fr. Marlies Becker, Master weaver and Fr. Etta Bahn, Journeyman weaver – 1984-1990
  • Flax Processing Seminar, Simone Schoeneberger-Straub, Bremen, Germany – 1984
  •  Various Wisconsin guild workshops – 1991 – 2000
  • Drawloom instruction – Joanne Halll – 2005
  • TC-1 Jacquard weaving classes – Pat Williams, Eastern Michigan University – 2005-2007 (waiting for last class to be offered to complete certificate).
  • Training in Pointcarre – NY office, 2009
  • Jacquard Training and fabric design - Oriole Mill - 2010
  • Jacquard Workshop Convergence/RISD - 2014

 

 

Teaching History

1980-1990 – living in Osterroenfeld, Germany

  • Spinning and weaving classes at the Volkshochschule, in Rendsburg, Germany
  • Demonstrated weaving at the Freilicht Museum Kiel-Molfsee in Kiel, Germany – a large open air museum

1994 to present – living in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

  • Spinning classes at UW Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
  • Workshop at Midwest Weavers Conference, Milwaukee, WI – topic weaving with linen
  • Flax demonstrations at various events, most recently Wisconsin Sheep and Wool 2006
  • Basic weaving workshops at art center, Shake Rag Alley, Mineral Point, Wisconsin, 2006
  • Classes at various Wisconsin Spin In’s – weaving and spinning with linen, intermediate weaving – most recently Oct. 2009
  • Seminar presentations at Complex Weavers Seminars, Tampa 2008 – History of the Drawloom, Industrialization of Textile Production Prior to the Industrial Revolution
  • Basic Weaving and Basic Drafting classes at Midwest Folk and Fiber, IL – 2008, 2009
  • Individual instruction in knitting, spinning and weaving at own business – The Woolgatherers in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
  • Seminars at CW Seminars, Albuquerque 2010 and Convergence, Albuquerque 2010 - Topic: Designing for Ondule Reeds
  • Seminar at CW Seminars 2012 and 2018 - Systematic Weave Drafting
  • Seminar at CW Seminars 2016 - Aspect RAtio
  • Seminar at CW Seminars 2022 - Tied Weaves on the Drawloom

Member of

Wisconsin Handweavers

Handweavers Guild of America

Complex Weavers

Damask Weavers Network

Complex Weavers

Exhibitions: 

Wisconsin Handweavers – since 1990*, 2009 as featured fiber artist, 2010*

Celebration of Creativity – Whitewater Weavers Guild – 2000 – 2006, 2010*

Wisconsin Spin In – since mid 1990’s*

Blue Ridge Show - 200*4, 2006, 2010*

Midwest Weavers - 1994

Damask Network, Stickhausen, Germany – 2006, 2014

Midwest Folk and Fiber – 2008, 2013

Fond du Lac Artists Assoc - 2013*, 2014*

Convergence - HGA - 2016, 2020, 2022

Feuer und Flamme - Weben+ (Germany) - 2022