Rug Of The Week - Dazzler by Jean Nez

by John Aldrich

This rug is an eye catcher. And that's exactly what eye dazzler rugs are supposed to do. Through tightly woven geometric patterns and color changes the viewer's eye is pulled into a dizzying world of design. This is quite a popular style among weavers, and this is an excellent example.

Jean Nez is offering this rug for $1500. It measures 36" x 46". The size partly accounts for the price, but it's also a very finely woven rug with an intricate design which adds considerably to the time it took to make. The catalog listing is 5407.

Jean is another of our Big Mountain elders. She has always supported herself through her weaving and remains very active at the loom. This is particularly impressive when you consider that she has advanced diabetes and is on dialysis. Jean lives at Hard Rock which is many miles from the nearest medical facility.

Here Jean is holding a rug which she is donating to the Program during a food run to Big Mountain.

Before her health made long trips impossible, Jean was a regular at the annual rug show. She was always part of the demonstrations for the school children showing how traditional Navajos tie up their hair in a bun. Her niece Mary would let her hair down before tieing it back up again. This would usually result in a few gasps from the children when they saw how long her hair was.

Traditional Navajos don't cut their hair, so long tresses are common.

At the spring food run to Big Mountain in 2008, Linda had a little "contest" to see who had the longest hair, and Jean was the winner.


See this 2010 post for more information about the rug catalog.

Notes: Every effort has been made to photograph and present the rugs with as accurate rendition of color as possible. It's not possible, however, to be certain that your computer won't show some variance. Where two prices are listed in the catalog, the higher represents what the weaver hopes to receive and the lower, the minimum she will accept. As has always been the case at ANE all the proceeds of every rug sale go entirely to the weaver. Prices are set by the weaver, and since there is no "middleman" they are typically very reasonable.

Rug Of The Week - Storm by Emma Jean Willie

by John Aldrich

Here is another pleasing storm pattern rug, this time by Emma Jean Willie. The colors here are somewhat unusual in that earth-tones aren't the most common in this style of rug. Since Emma is another older weaver, we again have a relatively simple, yet very pleasing design.

This rug measures 22" x 30" and is priced at $250. The catalog listing is 6927.

Emma Jean is one of our Leupp elders. She is usually seen in a supporting role as the wife of George Willie, one of the dwindling number of Navajo Code Talkers. George and Emma have been guests of honor at the rug show several times when George has been invited to take part in the Sunday morning Veterans Ceremony. Emma is always right there by his side helping with translation and other things.

But Emma Jean keeps busy herself, herding her sheep and weaving rugs.

See this 2010 post for more information about the rug catalog.

Notes: Every effort has been made to photograph and present the rugs with as accurate rendition of color as possible. It's not possible, however, to be certain that your computer won't show some variance. Where two prices are listed in the catalog, the higher represents what the weaver hopes to receive and the lower, the minimum she will accept. As has always been the case at ANE all the proceeds of every rug sale go entirely to the weaver. Prices are set by the weaver, and since there is no "middleman" they are typically very reasonable.

Fabric For The Elders

by John Aldrich

Traditional Navajos have a distinctive style of dress. For the women it includes tops made of panne velour fabric and long, full skirts made either of velour or cotton fabric. Part of the giveaway at each food run is fabric that the Elders can use to make these items.

Here is Rose Marie Clark at the Oljato food run wearing a skirt and top make from fabric provided by ANE. Although an Elder might be lucky enough to have a friend or family member with a sewing machine, most make their clothes themselves by hand.

Up until this year we obtained the material from Hancock Fabrics where employees worked together with ANE volunteers to cut the material. This year we ordered the material from a supplier, giving us a greater selection of colors at a lower price, and the bulk roles were delivered to the warehouse.

We had enough material to produce 977 three-yard pieces of panne velour and 500 four-yard pieces of cotton fabric. The challenge was figuring out an efficient way to cut all this into the required sizes. With the genius of Art Sleeper's engineering mind, a clever system was devised that allowed our volunteers to accomplish this task which took place over a period of a month.

This photo shows how spindles of metal pipe were inserted into the rolls and then suspended from our warehouse scaffolding.

The fabric is pulled out from the roll:

And then aligned to the pre-measured length:

It is then cut:

And folded:

While at the other end a different fabric pattern is being folded:

The final result of all this effort is enough fabric for the Elders to last through both the spring and fall food runs.

Rug Of The Week - Storm by Madge Shephard

by John Aldrich

Storm pattern rugs are among the most popular for buyers to purchase. This week we feature one by Madge Shephard of Big Mountain. It measures 23" x 36" and is priced at $500. The catalog listing is 7028.

Storm pattern rugs can be very intricate with many design elements and color changes. Such elaborate weavings are more likely to be produced by younger weavers who have the eyesight and stamina to produce such rugs.

Our older weavers, like Madge, are more likely to create simpler designs with fewer colors. In such rugs, though, the basic elements of the design stand out more dramatically which gives them a different kind of appeal.

Madge is a well-known weaver in her late 80's who continues to weave every day. She still lives alone, although her daughter does reside nearby. Weaving is in her blood; it's part of her way of life and who she is.  Madge, like many weavers, has supported herself and her family over the years through the output of her loom.

See this 2010 post for more information about the rug catalog.

Notes: Every effort has been made to photograph and present the rugs with as accurate rendition of color as possible. It's not possible, however, to be certain that your computer won't show some variance. Where two prices are listed in the catalog, the higher represents what the weaver hopes to receive and the lower, the minimum she will accept. As has always been the case at ANE all the proceeds of every rug sale go entirely to the weaver. Prices are set by the weaver, and since there is no "middleman" they are typically very reasonable.

Rug Of The Week - Crystal Star by Bah Yazzie Ashley

by John Aldrich

This week's rug is a beautiful creation in soft pastels by Bah Yazzie Ashley. She calls it Crystal Star.

The rug measures 18" x 23" and is priced at $300. It's beautifully woven by a master weaver. The catalog listing is 6786.

Bah is one of our Elders at Sanders and is quite a famous weaver. She has been wheelchair-bound for years, but this doesn't slow down her weaving.

At the Sanders food runs, Bah often makes a donation to the Program, such as the small rug she is holding in this photo:

Her weaving is usually done in the New Lands style and colors using yarns that are typically colored with vegetal dyes. Most of her weaving is sold through Bruce Burnham's trading post which is also the source of her yarn.

Bah Yazzie Ashley's rugs can sell for as much as $12,000.

See this 2010 post for more information about the rug catalog.

Notes: Every effort has been made to photograph and present the rugs with as accurate rendition of color as possible. It's not possible, however, to be certain that your computer won't show some variance. Where two prices are listed in the catalog, the higher represents what the weaver hopes to receive and the lower, the minimum she will accept. As has always been the case at ANE all the proceeds of every rug sale go entirely to the weaver. Prices are set by the weaver, and since there is no "middleman" they are typically very reasonable.