From Wool to Web: Acclaimed Weaver Launches e-Commerce Website

Fiber Artist Kathy Wishnie Embraces Modern Means to Share an Ancient Art Form

BELGRADE, MONT.—April 5, 2005—Belgrade, Mont., artist Kathy Wishnie today announced the launch of her online gallery and e-commerce website: www.MountainWeaver.com.

Bridging the gap between modern and traditional, Wishnie admits, "While I use ancient methods to create my artwork, I couldn't live without e-mail—I even have a blog."

Wishnie uses a traditional spinning wheel and loom to create one-of-a-kind tapestry wall hangings, blankets and woven apparel including purses, shawls and scarves.

"My tapestries are developed from my own drawings of nature and from my imagination. When the design seems right, I begin to prepare the yarns and colors. I dye the most lustrous long wool fleeces I can find, often blending several colors in each yarn to give them a rich depth," she said.

Wishnie then spins the wool into yarn, and the detailed weaving begins, often taking a month to complete.

"Textiles have a tactile dimension that other wall pieces lack," said Wishnie. "They invite a viewer to come closer and look, but also to touch."

Wishnie describes her blankets and accessories as both luxurious and practical.

"My blankets are meant to be beautiful but to also honor the timeless tradition of their functions—warmth and comfort," she said.

From unprocessed wool fleece to finished piece, a handspun, handwoven blanket takes more than three months to complete.

"The yarn has extraordinary life and vitality resulting in a blanket of exquisite character," she said.

Wishnie's one-of-a-kind purses give women a new way to differentiate their wardrobes from their friends' and neighbors'.

"In today's mass-produced society, handcrafted pieces made using time-honored methods really stand out," she said.

Wishnie has been weaving since childhood and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Fiber and Weaving Department.

Prices for handwoven tapestries, blankets and accessories range from $36 to $875, shipping to U.S. and Canada included.