Sharon White I have been spinning with a wheel and weaving for over 20 years. Since setting up the Three Bags Full ranch in Mora, NM in 1988 I have been raising my own sheep for my own use and to sell the fleece and wool products. My weaving has evolved into doing "bound weave" rugs, and I am now concentrating on that process. My aim is to produce a beautiful, durable rug by having control of the entire process, from the sheep to the finished process. I am currently weaving on a "4-harness, counter marche" Cranbrook loom with a 6 foot weaving width. I am weaving my bound weave rugs on the four end block draft (summer and winter) with shaft switching. This technique produces a double thick, reversible rug with total control of the design. If woven in two colors, the two sides are mirror images. If additional colors are used in tapestry techniques on one side, the two sides are very different. I am currently raising Churro and Churro/Cotswold sheep. The crossbreds offer the best of both breeds. They are a medium size sheep with a nearly straight, double coated fleece. The two coats are nearly the same length, with a high luster, silky hand and a staple length of 8 inches or longer. They come in white, black, brown and red. The blacks turn silver as they mature, and the reds become cream, many with some red remaining. The white fleeces dye beautifully, with a clear, intense color. My processes are environmentally friendly, I catch rain water and use a biodegradable washing product. I use natural dyes only and when I collect native dyestuffs I am careful to leave enough to keep the stand going. I am willing to work with a customer to weave a rug from their design, or to help design a rug to meet their wants. Designs should be shown in black and white, as those that rely on color shading, as tapestry does, are not suitable. Email me, or my artistic consultant, to discuss a custom rug. |
