Barbara Schutzgruber – Storyteller & Weaver

       

My fiber journey involves the weaving together of my two great artistic loves fiber and stories.

Over the past 30 years using a wide range of materials, I have created wall hangings, yardage for garments, rugs, vessels, hats, scarves and shawls. I have been inspired, challenged, and supported by fellow Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild members and fiber artisans from around the world. I need all my fingers and toes to count the cool tools, equipment and looms I’ve collected and constructed. I have had the honor of sharing the stories and parts of the vast history of the textile arts on stages across the country and internationally. The seeds that were sewn so many years ago when I was a child watching the weavers at Greenfield Village (the historical village of The Henry Ford museum complex) are now being reseeded into a new generation as I demonstrate weaving and wet felting at fairs, sales, historical settings and being part of the AAFG team of weavers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.

When asked, “What do you do?” I answer this way:
I am a weaver. I weave words, fiber, reed and fabric to create stories, garments and containers because stories are the threads that connect the world
and every weaving tells a story.

Clothing/costume construction – since 1970 ~~ Thanks to Mrs. Smith – HS Home Economics teacher
Weaver (fabric) – since 1985 ~~ Thanks to Gloria Teeter
Weaver (baskets) – since 1993 ~~ Thanks to Susan Fowler
Feltmaker – since 1997 ~~ Thanks to Suzanne Pufpaff

I have continued to learn from fabulous artists and teachers…
BASKETRY  Linda Lemieux, Hilary Burns, Averil Otiv
BRAIDS  Makiko Tada
DYE  Beth Pennington, Dot Seddon 
FELT  Jill Gulley, Sheila Smith, Patricia Greaves, Helen Melvin, Suzanne Higgs, Charity Van der Meer, Gladys Paulus, Martien van Zuilen, Sharon Costello
GARMENTS  Anita Luvera Mayer, Mary Sue Fenner, Helen Welford, Daryl Lancaster
PAINTED WARPS  Jane Evans
TABLET/WOVEN BANDS  Michael Crompton, Inga Dam, Susan Foulkes
TAPESTRY  Dot Seddon, Rebecca Mezoff, Alastair Duncan

…and improve my skills by participating in summer schools, workshops and conferences offered by:
Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers (UK)
Michigan League of Handweavers
Michigan Fiber Festival
Handweavers Guild of America
International Feltmakers Association

I get ongoing support and encouragement by being a member of:
Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild
Michigan League of Handweavers
OnLine Guild of Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers (UK)