Dedication to Weaving Life

This is an introduction to my current project “Weaving Life’ I find typing into Medium makes it more book ready. I appreciate the opportunity.

This book is dedicated to all the friends and mentors I have met because of my passion for woven art. When I arrived in the Gaslamp area of San Diego in 2000, I was magically drawn into the Persian rug store there: The 4th Avenue Rug Gallery.

In the window was an octagon , aquamarine Tabriz rug. I kept walking in, feeling the other worldliness that textiles can bring. My journey from Rhodes near Turkey made me feel as if I bridged two different worlds. The realm of ancient cultures and the modern world.

As I studied philosophy, ancient cultures and religions a sense of history created a elation that is hard to describe. The owners were from Tabriz, my eyes lit up as in the Rubiyats of Rumi, Shamus-i-Tabriz, I knew in my soul there was something to learn here.

Over fifteen years I met wholesalers, retailers, repairmen, cleaners and rug lovers and world travelers Growing my knowledge base year after year, knot by knot, their story drew me in deeper. I studied many threads of education that made me love them even more! As rug friends, collectors and business owners who shared their stories with me, all the chat rooms revolving around rugs and textiles, I love you.

To the Persian community of San Diego, I thank you. A special mention to PEYK magazine who gave me the special privilege of publishing a few of them over 10 years ago. To the Jodari family that gave me the gift of rug knowledge and legends. To those who encouraged my love of rugs and sharing knowledge: Barry O’Connell, Dusty Roberts, Paul Lucas, Nathan Koets, Lynn Tall, Doug Heiferman, Scott Waring, the Mikaeli family, Richard Inman, and Prospect Rug Gallery, I thank you. So let’s begin.. I touched a thread and the history of Weaving Life began.