WELCOME TO THE FIRST POST ON MY BACKSTRAP  WEAVING  BLOG.

My name is Laverne Waddington and I have been learning the traditional weaving techniques of South America since 1995.

I wove the above piece on my backstrap loom as a wall hanging for a friend of mine in Utah. The designs are typical of the Guarani people of lowland Bolivia where I live. A snake skin design adorns the outer bands while the center is made up of stars. Each star has a slightly different inner pattern some of which are my own.  This piece has been woven in pebble weave -a complementary warp technique which I learned in Huancayo, Peru with my very first indigenous weaving teacher.

Margarita –  my first teacher in Peru

I plan to frequently contribute to this blog with stories of my experiences learning to weave and live here in South America as well as with details of my current projects and aspirations.

Santa Cruz-my home in Bolivia

I hope you will learn something here about the simple joy of backstrap weaving and maybe even be inspired to try it yourself.

At my loom weaving the above Guarani- design piece.