Judy Sprague – Lilies of the Incas

Description

Weaving is many things to me. It is a time for quiet and solitude, a time for playfulness and creativity, a time for learning, a time for new friends, and a time to celebrate special events and people in my life.

One such event occurred on a textile-oriented trip to Peru when a morning was spent dyeing wool with the weavers and spinners of the Andean village of Chinchero.

Steam rose from seven gigantic cast iron pots. Crushed insects, fresh leaves, and dried vines that had been beaten to a pulp spread through the water working their magic. Smiles spread from ear to ear as we stirred the fragrant mixtures.

The resulting colors were stunning. Cochineal, a parasitic insect that infests the surface of prickly pear cactus from Arequipa, produced shades of red. Greens came from Chilka, a low growing shrub from the Cusco region. While Chaphi, a vine from the Amazon, yielded a delicious melon color.

These woven gardens keep those special memories alive.