Avery Williamson is an artist and weaver who explores the history of black Americans, specifically women, in personal and institutional archives. Show Notes: www.gistyarn.com/episode-7

Smita is the founder of Indigo Handloom, which works with over 500 weavers in rural India to produce beautiful, handwoven textiles using ancient techniques. In this episode, we talk about how Smita went from working as a journalist to founding Indigo Handloom, the challenges that weaving communities in India are facing, how she works with both emerging designers and large brands to build out a market for handwoven fabric, and much more. Show notes: www.gistyarn.com/episode-6

Rachel Snack is the designer and weaver behind Weaver House Co, and the Creative Director at Harrisville Designs. On this episode we talk about her journey to weaving, a day-in-the-life working at Harrisville Designs, a weaving cooperative she worked with in Peru, and lots more. Show notes: www.gistyarn.com/episode-5

I had so much fun talking the mother-daughter team behind Mirrix Looms, Claudia Chase and Elena Zuyok. Claudia founded Mirrix Looms in 1996 when she wanted a portable loom that she could take to weave with at her children’s sports games. 22 years later Mirrix looms are a beloved company and loom used by tapestry weavers and bead weavers all over the US and around the world. On this episode I chatted with Claudia and her daughter Elena about how their company has developed, what it’s like to run a family business together, their tips for people who want to dive into tapestry or bead weaving for the first time, and lots more.

Weaving Color and Complex Patterns with Tien Chiu. Tien Chiu is an award-winning textile artist and writer who lives and works in the Bay Area. Her weaving has appeared on the cover of Handwoven Magazine, her handwoven wedding dress was part of an exhibit at the American Textile History Museum, and she writes regularly for weaving journals. She is also President of the Board at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.

Natural Dyeing and Tapestry Weaving with Omar Chavez. Omar is a master weaver and natural dyer from Teotitlan Del Valle, in Oaxaca, Mexico. I met Omar last May when I was lucky to get to spend a week learning tapestry weaving from Omar and his parents Fe and Lola in their studio in Teotitlan. I was so inspired by the stunning creativity and the sheer amount of planning and hard work that goes into creating each of their tapestries.

Meghan Bogden Shimek is a weaver, fiber artist, and tarot reader living and working in Oakland, California. She creates stunning large-scale wall hangings and sculptural objects from wool roving. Meghan’s work has been exhibited throughout the US and internationally.

Weave podcast is launching Monday February 5th!