a conversation kickstarted. i met dee clements yesterday because i was inspired to back her kickstarter project: new year’s weave.

after i made a pledge i sent her a note to wish her luck and ask what does hand weaving feel like? i’d love to know what it feels like physically, emotionally, spiritually. whatever comes to mind. it could be a few words, a poem, a story. she responded within minutes. i was thrilled. her response below not only strengthened my understanding of her work but encouraged me to revisit and double my initial pledge. connected.

…lets see, a few words. i came to weaving as a painter wanting to weave my own canvases though once i started to learn how to weave i fell madly in love with the process and the endless possibilities and combinations of color and pattern. each and every single thread runs through my hands hundreds upon hundreds of times before it is woven into fabric. in a world where much of what we buy is made by machines, hand weaving has the artist’s hand and essence in it. i love that. the act of physically weaving on the loom for me, can be quite meditational. press a peddle, a harness comes up, slide the weft through the shaft of the warp and repeat. the sound of the wood rising, the slither of the shuttle on top of the threads… my mind just follows the rhythm and before i know i have ceased thinking and entered a sort of meditative state where i am the act of weaving. it sounds kind of cheesy but it does happen that way. kind of cathartic now that i think about it. thanks for everything! warmly, dee