Judy Stowe’s basement is a weaver’s paradise. When she begins creating a new piece, her fingers move gracefully along the design and she pushes the pedals to lift different sets of strings as if she is playing a melody on the piano. The attention to detail and delicate fabrics and strings used to pull the pieces together create beautiful works of art, including towels and table runners almost too pretty to use, that have garnered Stowe numerous ribbons at the Hennepin County Fair.
Stowe’s floor loom sits prominently in the center of her dedicated arts area, and it’s surrounded by beautiful woven pieces she has made or collected from around the world during her travels. The pieces inspire her creativity and reinforce her love of the ancient art of weaving.
Although Stowe claims she is not a natural-born artist (she studied business), by the looks of her work, she is an artist at heart. Her detailed, delicate pieces combine traditional art with a personal touch that only Stowe can provide. She has been weaving since 1988 when she discovered the art by joining her sister at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
The art of weaving is one of those centuries-old traditions that is practical, beautiful and soothing to the soul. Stowe joins men and women of all ages for regular weaving at the Weavers Guild. From those in their mid-20s to the mentors in their 80s, the weavers share and learn from each other—keeping this tradition alive for future generations.
Founded in 1940 by six women, the Weavers Guild of Minnesota has established itself as a nationally-recognized resource for the arts of weaving, spinning and dyeing. The Guild offers classes and events year round, serving nearly 700 new and experienced fiber artists each year. It was the catalyst in the formation of the Textile Center, where the Guild currently maintains classroom, retail and library space open to anyone interested in learning more.
Connie LaTendresse, also a member of the Guild, started weaving in 2012. A former middle school social studies teacher, LaTendresse says she always enjoyed learning about how things were created, even as a young child. “I was always a fiber person,” she says. “My mother was a sewer and crocheter, and my aunt a knitter.” They taught LaTendresse to sew and knit as a young girl.
Her love of creating sent her in a completely new direction when she went to a spinning class at the Weavers Guild in 2011. She was fascinated by the weaving loom and soon joined the Guild. When LaTendresse was teaching, she found weaving to be her creative outlet in the evening. Now that she has retired, she’s proud to call it her “passion” career. She is not only an assistant at the Guild, but she also created her own business, Traveling Treadles, where she visits people in their homes to teach them about weaving. “Some are hesitant to travel to the Guild because of the distance,” she says. “Through Traveling Treadles, I’m able to spread my love of weaving to others. Even if they don’t take up the craft, they still have an appreciation for the work.”
LaTendresse received her first loom from her parents. She then created a special piece for their table. Her father called her after receiving the gift and said it was made by an angel, a sentiment she holds onto dearly since he passed away shortly thereafter. She has continued to give items to those close to her and has a special interest in Scandinavian weaving.
There is one piece in particular that she plans to give to her baby grandson—quite possibly an heirloom in the making. LaTendresse saw the design on Facebook and couldn’t get it out of her head. She ordered the pattern from Sweden, along with the wool used to complete the special piece. The weaving is 16 inches wide by 70 inches long and tells the story of a farm from the end of winter to the beginning of fall from the bottom to top. The remarkable piece has such detail in the images of the farmer, geese, sheep, corn and other items used to tell the story that it is not a surprise that it took her months to complete.
Judy Stowe sent her granddaughter to college this fall with a colorful rainbow rag rug to brighten up her new living space. Using old pieces of cloth given to her over the years, she created the rug on her floor loom. It will not only brighten up her granddaughter’s room with its colorful design, but also provide a little reminder of the grandmother’s heart and soul that went into making the special piece.
“It’s not an inexpensive hobby,” LaTendresse says. “But it’s so worth it.”
