In March of 2020 (as the world was shutting down) I visited the Española Fiber Arts Center. I had visited their pop-up shop in Santa Fe and discovered Colcha Kits which are an introduction to the historical New Mexican Hispanic Embroidery Tradition and made in Abiquiu. I sent an email to the address on the instruction manual and introduced myself. The reply came quickly, followed by a phone conversation with Glenna Dean who suggested we meet at the EVFAC to chat.
When I returned to Dallas, I carried a bag of Glenna’s beautiful kits. I offered a workshop online as soon as I could, and it was a great time! The kits are well designed and easy to use. It helps to have some one sit down with you to demonstrate the stitches, but not necessary.
She makes other wonderful kits that utilize New Mexican wool and natural dyes, I plan to feature some in the Oil and Cotton Mercantile in December.
I tracked her down on the second day of the Mountain and Valley Wool Festival. She was scheduled to do a demonstration that day, called How to Spin with Nothing. She invited me to take a walk around the Fair Grounds to find material for her talk. We tested three or four plants to make cordage before she settled on some grasses that had nice pliable stalks. Standing in the path, she twisted two bits of the plant into nicely plied cordage. I had to leave before her presentation, but I got the précis. She begins with cordage, made strictly with one’s fingers, then talks the audience through the evolution of spinning to the Industrial Age. All in a matter of fact, engaging manner.
Here is a great article about Glenna and her work.
I hope you all get to meet her next year at the Wool Festival!
That would be an amazing workshop to take!