Registration
Open for Workshop Scheduled in Boston Area
Tempe, AZ
Weaving in Beauty instructor Jennie Slick will be teaching a three day
weaving workshop at the Friendly Crossways Conference Center in
Harvard, MA from September 18th through the 21st (Thursday evening to
Sunday afternoon). Workshop days run from 8 AM to 8 PM and
participants can chose to learn Navajo techniques on a small loom built
from a picture frame or on a workshop sized traditional Navajo
loom
built prior to the class. This is Jennie's first trip to the
Boston
area and coordinator Mary Walker will also be along to assist with
instruction.
The
workshop fee includes enough yarn to finish a small weaving, a booklet
on Navajo weaving techniques and the use of authentic tools for the
duration of the class. Students learn basic Navajo weaving
techniques and typically complete about half of their weaving during
the weekend and finish using instructions supplied. Navajo
spinning technqiues will also be demonstrated so that students will be
able to make the edging and side cords needed for future projects.
No prior weaving experience is required and the workshop is
open
to students as young as 10 who are accompanied by an adult.
Tuition for the workshop is
$360 and overnight
accomodations including breakfast are available at the conference
center. For more information, or to reigster for the workshop
please click here.
If you have questions on the workshop, please contact Mary Walker.
| 
Jennie Slick (r) will be
teaching in the Boston area this September |
2008
Sheep is Life Celebration Scheduled for June 16-21 in Tuba City
Tuba City, AZ The
Sheep is Life Celebration for 2008  will
take place in Tuba City, Arizona from June 16-21. The Diné be' iiná (Navajo
Lifeway)
organization is in the process of forming planning committees
and
invites the participation of all interested persons. If you would like
to volunteer for a committee, please
contact Ferlin Begay. DBI is also seeking those
interested in being vendors
or presenters.
This
annual event celebrates the role of sheep in traditional Navajo life
and is an opportunity for all interested people to learn and share.
At left you'll see a wool grading seminar being conducted at
this
year's celebration by Dr. Lyle MaNeal of Utah State University.
Planned workshops and programs include:
- Herd Health care and management of sheep, goats,
and other livestock
- Evening spinning and storytelling
with Navajo elders during the week
- Two days of
free events, vendors, and hands-on demonstrations, Friday and Saturday
-
Workshops in wool processing, weaving, and other fiber arts, Monday –
Friday
- Navajo Rug Auction
-
Benefit Awards, Dinner
- Fun events, food and
entertainment for the whole family are being planned now.
We
will keep you updated on the Celebration as plans develop and please
check http://www.navajolifeway.org for further details.
"Sheep is Life" in every essence is an
important part of our culture and traditions, to celebrate our sheep
traditions and our lifeways once a year."
"The event re-centers us in the cosmos of
our universe; it is our blessingway ceremony for our continuance here
on earth, and for the next generations to come."
Roy Kady, Dibé be Iiná, Inc. president.
|
c
The
2007
Celebration included a workshop on native dye plants. Here,
the
participants are cutting wild carrots. (photo by Mary
Walker)
From
left, Roy Kady, Jennie Slick and Gilbert Begay check out yarns dyed at
the Celebration workshops. (photo by Mary Walker)
Yarns
dyed with cochineal, indigo and wild carrot from the 2007 combines
workshop on native and non-native dyestuffs (photo by Mary
Walker) |
.
|
This page is
dedicated to the art of weaving as practiced
by the Navajo people of what is now the Southwestern United
States.
This is also the home of
the Weaving in
Beauty Textile Tour and the Navajo rug
doctor (Mary
Walker) in case you have questions regarding repairs or care of your
textiles.
Please drop us a line.
