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This month we feature one of our weavers, Karen Greeley -- pictured above, and the four harness barn loom that she donated to the Museum Weavers Barn.

Karen started weaving 35 years ago while living in the West Virginia mountains near Cherry Grove in Pendleton County. Karen’s neighbors still lived in the old ways – working their farms, raising their own food, and using outhouses and cranked telephones.

Workshops on local customs – woodworking, music, and storytelling - were going on in the summer of 1973, and Karen learned that weaving had been a traditional craft. Karen became interested in an old loom in an adjacent farmhouse.

The loom was owned by Mrs. Virginia Armentrout, and had belonged to her great-grandmother’s parents. Her great-grandmother Sidney Wimer Harper, born in 1826 when the area was still part of Virginia, used the loom as did Virginia’s grandmother, Eliza Harper, and her mother, Sallie Harper Hedrick. The Harper family wove wool blankets, rag carpet, and cloth for their clothes. They also grew flax and wove linen hand towels and tablecloths. Sidney even passed down a draft dated February 17, 1846 on how to make a cover lid “peach seed” design.

By 1973, the loom had fallen into disrepair, but when Karen inquired about fixing it, she was told by some of the local people that you could not weave on these looms anymore. Karen took that as a challenge, restoring the loom, purchasing it from Mrs. Armentrout, and going on to help local women restore seven different looms. She also learned to spin and dye. In West Virginia Karen had two shops, and also a place in Washington DC that bought goods woven on barn looms.

When Karen returned to California, however, the pace of life was different, the loom was large, and there was no room to set it up. She stopped weaving for many years. In the summer of 2007, Karen started thinking about what to do with Virginia’s loom. She felt responsible for it, could not stand to have it just stored in the garage, but knew no one who would want it. By chance, she saw an article in the weekly Fallbrook paper about the new Museum Weavers Barn. “I was in heaven when I walked in”, Karen said, “and this got me back interested in weaving again.” Karen donated Virginia’s loom to the Museum.

Virginia wrote to Karen when she learned the news, “I am so glad you still have it and want to put it into a museum to preserve it.” Now this 1840s era loom is the oldest in the Museum Weavers collection. It is second on the left as you walk in the Barn door with a lovely pillow cover being woven on it.

Karen has “tried everything” and enjoys weaving rugs, pillows, small blankets, and afghans. Karen’s favorite loom is a Glimakra loom like the one in the Weavers Barn. It is similar in design to the old looms but has a lot of modern features that make it work better. “However, I’m still attracted to big looms with overhead beaters,” she confided.

Karen has been invaluable at the Museum Barn in evaluating and restoring looms to working condition, and in helping new and old weavers stretch their wings and try new things. Karen’s advice for those interested in weaving is to come to the Weavers Barn on Thursdays, be a part of the group, and learn together. “I am so amazed by this place and what people have done with these looms.”


May 15, 2008 Marty Foltyn photo
Also at the Weavers Barn, a work crew led by Donna Beers, with paintbrushes wielded by Wanda Eddleman, Marty Foltyn, Sharon Foreman, Mimi Loutrel, Judy Maddox, Bill Rafnel, and Pat Townsend, gave the children’s playground a patriotic feel - painting the helicopter, truck, and barrels red, white, and blue with a splash of yellow. Wanda, assisted by Rudy, even created a new tarp for the fort. We know the children enjoyed playing there at the Spring Show.

At the Show, water was a “hot” for sale item, and along with the great rugs and woven goods created by our members and sold over the two weekends, Weavers raised about $600 for the Museum. The spinning wheels captivated many a visitor, and for the first time, three different fibers were spun on the porch - Mimi Loutrel spun wool, June Lister spun silk, and Donna Beers spun flax (linen). Judy Maddox fielded many questions while warping her loom.

Many thanks to them and also to those who helped set up and work the Spring Show, including Gail Eager, Wanda Eddleman, Mary Fager and daughter Kim, Kathleen Flanagan, Sharon Foreman, Karen Greeley, David and Cathy Lake, Chad and Janice Mansfield, Tyler Orion, Bill Rafnel, Keith Richards, Lupe Romero, Diane Ruth, Tish and Lou Schweizer, Benva St Morris, Leslie Stone, Suzanne Stone, Nichole and Brittney Sullivan, and Pat Townsend.

Judy Maddox reminds Museum visitors that the Weavers Barn has many books available for check out that have to do with all kinds of fiber arts. The Barn also has numerous magazines covering weaving, quilting, knitting, etc. that are for sale to any museum member. Come by and visit us and see our new collection of rugs for sale displayed from the rafters. Museum Weavers send our thoughts and best wishes to member Mary D’Amelio, who has been in the hospital.

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