We Weave!

We've recently discovered that a member of our group from Burma, Thin Mya, has experience weaving and has been wanting to weave here in the U.S. but never had the supplies.  Weaving was her source of income in the Thai refugee camp where she lived for 21 years.  We'd been looking for weavers, but until now hadn't found anyone with the inclination.  We also needed to find someone who knew how to make the backstrap looms they use.  As it turns out Thin Mya's husband Wah Koh is a loom-maker.  What a great pair!  Sue and Heather took the couple on a trip to Home Depot where they had a grand time buying the right supplies to make a backstrap loom.  We figured with their limited spoken English, it would be better to take them along to the store rather than try to have them describe the things they needed.  They totally enjoyed the outing and the Home Depot sales associate was completely charmed by these two new clients.  Wah Koh took the parts home and within a few days they had not only a new loom, but a new Karen-style bag to show for it.

Wah Koh also 'rescued' a broken crib and took it home to use to make more looms.  He told us he had enough wood to make 4 looms.  On her next visit, Heather even got a weaving lesson.

So I fully intended to update before our next sale, but Sue's church hosted one on such short notice I didn't get the chance.  Christ Community Mennonite Church--our parent organization for the time being, has been very supportive of our whole endeavor.  This past Sunday they had Sue give an update of our progress and hosted a small sale afterwards.  Some of the items we sold included our ubiquitous winter scarves--the staple at every sale--washcloths (made by beginning knitters), and flowers (made by beginning crocheters).  Our most exciting sale was that of our first woven bag.  It will be a gift for his daughter's birthday.