Rachel Beckman » Weaver & Textile Designer

Thank you, thank you!

And another thank you to everyone who came out to MICA’s Art Market this year. I had a great sale and got to talk with some wonderful people.

I’m still working on getting everything up on Etsy again, but I plan on posting when I succeed in that. The best part so far, though, is that LOOM BOOK: A Workbook for Weavers is now available in my shop. If you missed it at Art Market, or haven’t seen it yet, you really should check it out!

Etsy Sale and December News

Hey friends and readers!

Now through Dec. 2nd, use the code SPECIAL10 to get 10% off everything in my Etsy Shop. Grab things quick- I’m pulling my shop down on the 3rd to get ready for my Baltimore craft shows!

December 3rd

Waldorf School of Baltimore
10am-4pm
Entrance: $3 for adults, children under 12 are free
From the Waldorf School Website:

“Holiday Fun for the whole family. Vendors. Arts & crafts. Marionette show. Kid’s shopping room. Children’s crafts & activities.  Cafés. Live musical performances. Expanded Spring Garden…and much more.”

Not only will I be selling handwoven goods and printed fabric, but I’ll be doing live weaving demos!

December 7th-10th

MICA’s Brown Center, 1301 Mt. Royal Avenue
10am-6pm
This is my third year selling with MICA’s fabulous students, faculty, and staff. This year, look for me in the Staff section in Leidy Atrium. You can read more about this annual sale here.

September News

September is a big month. Even though I’m no longer in school, working at a college library still has me on that student time table.  Decker is buzzing with new, hopeful undergrads and I’m buzzing about trying to mantain a good balance between the job that makes me money and that job that, well, doesn’t. Hopefully with a little hardwork, and a little elbow grease tightening up the loom (I literally wove the screws off last week), I’ll be able to make weaving a part of my working life.

Step One

Get A Studio- Check!

Remember The Star Factory? Well if not, that’s the name of the studio I’m now sharing with Carly and a writer-friend I have yet to meet. A three person studio is sure to be a party. It’s going to be good having a place to go that’s not my living room to work, and It will be nice to be around another weaving again, in a place with many looms sporting many projects. And using a loom in the studio and my loom at home will make me twice as productive. I’ve never been able to work two projects at once before, and I’m going to count my blessings while they last.

Step Two

Have a few big projects off-loom

-Join up with friends to sell work together in a coming-soon online shop of beautiful handmade work and love. We’re still putting things together, and I can’t wait to finally share the link with all of you!

-Team up with your graphic designer boyfriend to develop a book. (Coming Soon! December 2011!)

-Finally start that puppet show you’ve been dying to work on.

Step Three

Finding Balance, Balance, Balance. Sticking to your guns, following through, developing innovative and fun projects. Stop stressing out. For the love of God, stop stressing out.

It’s going to be a busy September!

July News

You guys, it’s been crazy. Two weeks at Haystack, I came back to Baltimore to work for two days, and then it was 4th of July weekend. I’ve hardly had time to unpack from my two trips, so my apartment looks like a serious fiber disaster area right now because I’m prepping for Baltimore’s fabulous Artscape.

I’m very thankful that I get to participate alongside MICA staff and faculty for our Art Market, Special Edition. Like our annual December sale,  15% of all profits will go to MICA to cover the costs of set up and, most importantly, for scholarships.

Stop by my table in MICA’s Brown Center for handwoven bookmarks, rugs, towels, and accessories, limited edition digitally printed fabric, pins, and patches, and a whole lotta charm!

MICA Art Market Special Edition @ Artscape

1301 Mt. Royal Avenue, Brown Center

July 15-17, 12-8pm

Hope to see you there!

Needles. Don’t Lose Them.

The above astute observation is from my nearest and dearest oldest friend upon my announcement that I was at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. In fact, I almost did lose several needles through the many cracks in the sprawling deck outside the fiber studio where I worked, but no harm was done.

I decided to go to Haystack for several reasons, among them the chance to learn from artist Warren Seelig and to give myself a chance to think after graduation. I don’t think I’m going to ramble or talk too much about my artistic journey in Maine- there are many things I could say that anyone else could voice about such an experience. Maybe those things will work themselves into a story some day. It is a truly inspirational and life changing place in the most unexpected ways. It was difficult; it was a challenge forcing myself to work off the loom without any preconceived ideas. It was difficult to trust my hands and my instincts with the materials I stuffed into my suitcase. Working in the studio all day proved to be exhausting but rewarding- a luxury I never had in undergrad because I had to work and because I chose to be involved in many things. I’m excited about the results; pictures of my work will follow this post.

What I’m more excited about are the things that came to me unrelated to my studio work. For example, the friends that I made. The inspiration to continue to perform. Affirmation that I am a writer. The memory of walking through the woods by myself to find the small beach in the midst of high tide, the great glacial boulders swallowed by the rising waters, the iciness of the bay beating at the backs of my knees, and the bird of prey circling me high above. Then walking back in my bare feet. Contrary to that, of walking down the winding road, arms swinging, long shirts tied around our waists the sound of girls’ feet against the pavement, finding the small path between the pile of lobster traps and rubble, and emerging out of the forest into a meadow, with the sparkling water beyond (see picture at top of post).

I promise to read everything. Everything I can get my hands on.

To laugh more.

To study fabric structure until my brain is half fabric structure.

To make puppets, and puppet shows. (And to really learn my camera, seriously!)

To practice piano once a week, at least, at first, and then find time every day no matter what.

To continue to write, even if it’s only for Nicole. The nearest dearest oldest friend.

To make without knowing, to trust myself, and my hands, to be patient and wait. To understand that sometimes the work makes itself, and I can’t control everything. It’s okay to just do what I want. That there is nothing that I’m supposed to be doing, nothing that I have to do, that I can just do and make and make and the good work will come, the work that is supposed to happen will happen. Not that I shouldn’t be thinking about my work in a critical way, but not everything has to be so big and important. I never wanted that anyways. As long as I keep having fun, and stop stressing out (all the time!) and keep a clear enough head. It will happen. It will all happen.

I know Nichole thinks that needles comment is silly and ridiculous, but to me it’s a perfect fit, it’s poetic. It’s going in my pocket, and I’m carrying it with me, holding on, holding on tight.