The journey to a weaving studio...

Once our first alpacas arrived from California in 2000  and our first shearing was done the "fiber bug" planted itself firmly under my skin.  We had always planed to do "something" with the fleece.  Looking back, I'd say that Kush Kuntry Handwoven Designs was born right there in the middle of our pasture.   

In spring 2001, I enrolled in a full-time accredited fiber arts program at the Appalachian Center for Crafts in Smithville, TN and began studying weaving, design, and art for three years.  That experience changed my life and taught me the skills and beauty of building cloth. Building cloth is my passion and I am simply mesmerized by the process.

In 2003, during  my last year in school life began throwing some challenges my way.  Our oldest daughter, Suzanne  and her long-time boyfriend, Andrew announced their engagement.  Although not a surprise it is not easy planning a wedding while in college full-time, maintaining a farm, and home schooling our youngest daughter, Kaylen.  Life got even more complicated as the wedding invitations were being addressed. I received news from family in North Carolina that my brother, Bill had suffered a massive stroke.  During those next few weeks, Bill and I shared our last few visits and said our good-byes. He knew it was his time to be with the Lord and told me I needed to let go. With a wedding less than a month away, there wasn't much time for mourning his loss.  Bill was now in heaven, and Suzanne deserved the wedding of her dreams.  She made her walk down the isle to marry her "knight in shining armor" and it was the most beautiful day and loving event you could ask for (even without Bill co-officiating the ceremony).  When all the dust settled, my thoughts returned to weaving.

It was time to start planning a working studio at home.  However, after having a wedding tighten our belts, knew it would be hard managing to buy a loom and the equipment needed for a weaving studio.  Until then, I began clearing out and painting Suzanne's recently vacated bedroom and looked forward to the day I could use it.

A few months later, my fiber arts instructor, Jeanne Brady had received an extensive listing of weaving equipment being sold. A local weaver was retiring and had sent a listing of the studio equipment to the Craft Center. Jeanne made the announcement during class one day and we visited with Miss Esther one weekend and viewed all the equipment she had spent her lifetime acquiring. My husband, Philip never ceases to amaze me and found a way for us to buy it all and the weaving studio began taking shape!  In December of 2003, we bought it all and began moving the 8-harness oak 45" Schacht floor loom, warping equipment, cones and cones of natural yarns, Handwoven magazines, out-of-print copies of Prairie Wool Companion, Weaver's Magazine, and quite an extensive collection of books and guild notes to our home.  The experience was  emotional, overwhelming, and a time I'll never forget.  I felt the anxiety that Miss Esther experienced as she watched all that she had built carried out of her home in cardboard boxes and bags.  Yet, she wished me well with grace and ended her weaving journey.  Miss Esther became a mentor to me that day without even knowing it.  I truly understand how precious that blessing is. 

With a working studio at home now, I was able to begin working with alpaca on the loom, dying, and designing  at my own pace between class projects. The first year in my home studio was a  year of learning, failures, and happy accidents. Without those successes and failures, I would not be the weaver I am today.  

In 2005, I was gently nudged by my husband, Phillip, and a friend of mine to enter one of my designs in a national competition at Fiber to Fashion in Atlanta, Ga.  Much to my surprise, my ikat dyed 100% alpaca scarf won a blue ribbon and was chosen to receive the Judges Choice Award.  It was an incredible honor to receive such validation for my work and launched the next expansion of our business. 

On Mother's Day in 2005, shortly after our return from Atlanta, we learned Suzanne and her husband, Andrew were expecting their first baby (and my first grandbaby). She expressed an interest in learning to weave and was interested in partnering with me in the weaving business.  The timing was perfect and she was committed to learning to weave.  We began investigating a loom that would enable us to do production runs and more complex design and in August, 2005 the crates started rolling in for assembly!  Our business has expanded nicely right along with our family and Suzanne is now apprenticing with me in the weaving studio. In 2007, we purchased Suzanne her own loom and it is exciting to see where that leads... 

Our youngest daughter, Kaylen is still home schooled. Her exposure to my work and school at such a young age, has caused a special interest in fiber, art, and weaving.  When she was just 3 yrs. old, she attended a lecture class on Mesoamerican Art on campus at TTU.  My professor, Dr. Carol Ventura encouraged me to take the class knowing  that it wouldn't be offered again for 2 years and  was required, but it conflicted with Phil's work schedule.  She insisted that I bring Kaylen and let her sit in class.  I'm sure she was the youngest non-paying student in college history!  The class time fell during Kaylen's  afternoon naptime and although I was a bit worried about her becoming restless during the class I knew she wouldn't be as disruptive as some of the students were.   As class began, Kaylen crawled up in my lap, the lights would go off, the slides and Dr. Carol's narative would begin.  The first half hour or so, Kaylen was really attentive, but would fall asleep halfway into the class and wake up when the lights came back on.  

Kaylen and I attend the yearly Celebration held at the Appalachian Center for Crafts each year. She has the opportunity to  marble paper, explore felting, mold clay figures and see first hand many aspects of handcrafted art including woodworking, glass blowing, and many others.  She is, indeed Kush Kuntry's "Next Generation". She will jump behind a loom the first opportunity she gets as many can witness from the Southern Select weaving demonstration I do each year. Kaylen has pretty much reclaimed that Schacht for her own designs.  

Needless to say, I feel extremely blessed to be where we are today.  It's such a thrill to work in a fun and loving environment with  both my daughters. Suzanne and Andrew has blessed us with two grandbabies now, and we have the opportunity to enjoy them and spoil them most every day!