We asked members of the Weavers Guild Board about their weaving, spinning and dyeing journey. Read on to get to know Sarah Nassif on a more personal–and creative–level.
SARAH NASSIF
Board Term: September 1, 2018- August 31, 2020
Member of WGM since: 2017
Craft of choice, I am a weaver, spinner, dyer, combo, other: ALL
Skills I bring to the WGM board: I’m a cheerleader for fiber art! I love introducing people to the many ways to work with fiber—from raw wool to weaving to sewing. I’m a practicing public artist bringing fiber art into public environments and combining it with other disciplines like environmental education. I have a B.S. in botany.
My story: I fell in love with weaving in college and rediscovered it in winter 2017. I got a rigid heddle loom and took a floor loom rag rug class. Then my daughter took a SAORI weaving summer camp with Chiaki O’Brien, and that’s how I found the perfect loom for public art. I am currently prototyping a new public art project using the SAORI loom in conversations about water.
First project and what I did with it: Harvested polyester pants from Goodwill in the early ‘90s to weave into brightly colored rag rugs. Sold them for $10 at a college art sale.
Best class I’ve ever taken: Michel Garcia’s introduction to indigo dye at Textile Center, summer 2016.
Loom of choice: SAORI loom
I am inspired by: The plant world, nature.
Current project: Weaving Water, a new public art project exploring the connections between weaving, water and community (2018 MN State Arts Board grant artist initiative project)
If you looked in my stash, you’d find: Some vintage rag balls my aunt’s best friend’s mother made in the 60’s—great colors!
Another WGM member who inspires me: Robbie LaFleur, she attracted my daughter to a rya project when she was seven and got us both excited about weaving. I love Robbie’s work and friendly nature.
Find my projects at: sarahnassif.com Instagram: @sarahjnassif
