Tommye McClure Scanlin, Tapestry Artist

Tommye McClure Scanlin had a choice. To make the images she wanted to create with weaving, she could either pursue complex forms of weaving that rely on dobby, jacquard, and draw-loom technology—or she could go the other way and place every color and pick by hand using tapestry techniques and a very simple loom. Preferring a drawing pencil to a calculator, she made the choice that now seems inevitable and dove headlong into tapestry. She speaks of herself modestly as a “picture-maker,” but Tommye’s imagery reveals the richness of her surroundings. She has lived most of her life in the Southern Appalachian region of North Georgia, and her artwork delves deeply into the natural world that surrounds her. Her woven work comprises many leaves and plants as well as feathers, seeds, and stones. The restrained subject matter is all the better to play with a variety of styles and perspectives. In addition to her main artistic works, Tommye explores creativity through formal restrictions: using the roll of a die to direct her next color, or challenging herself to add an installment each day in a woven diary. The woven diary project has developed into not only a series of beautiful records spanning more than a decade but also her latest book. Marking Time with Fabric and Thread : Calendars, Diaries, and Journals within Your Fiber Craft describes the daily textile practice of not only weavers but also quilters, embroiderers, and other fiber artists. Tommye’s first steps in fiber art came as an art teacher, and she went on to establish the fiber arts program at the University of North Georgia. Now retired from her academic career, she has taught at programs such as the John C. Campbell Folk School, Arrowmont, and Penland. Besides teaching in person, she writes articles and books on tapestry techniques and design principles. Links Tommye McClure Scanlin’s website (https://www.scanlintapestry.com/) Gallery of Tommye’s daily tapestry diaries (https://www.scanlintapestry.com/tapestrydiary) The Nature of Things: Essays of a Tapestry Weaver (https://www.scanlintapestry.com/new-page) Tapestry Design Basics and Beyond (https://www.scanlintapestry.com/new-page-3) Tommye’s latest book is Marking Time with Fabric and Thread : Calendars, Diaries, and Journals within Your Fiber Craft (https://schifferbooks.com/products/marking-time-with-fabric-and-thread?_pos=2&_sid=ce1eb2a0e&_ss=r), available October 2024 Read Tommye’s articles for Little Looms (https://littlelooms.com/author/tommye-mcclure-scanlin) and Handwoven (https://handwovenmagazine.com/author/tommye-mcclure-scanlin) This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com (https://www.treenwaysilks.com/). You’ll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you’ll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. You’re ready to start a new project but don’t have the right yarn. Or you have the yarn but not the right tool. Yarn Barn of Kansas can help! They stock a wide range of materials and equipment for knitting, weaving, spinning, and crochet. They ship all over the country, usually within a day or two of receiving the order. Plan your project this week, start working on it next week! See yarnbarn-ks.com (https://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/) to get started. Sustainability and regenerative ranching have been a way of life for the ranches of Shaniko Wool Company for decades. They are the first “farm group” in the U.S. to achieve certification to the rigorous international Responsible Wool Standard and NATIVA Regenerative. Shaniko ranches raise Merino/Rambouillet sheep in the Western United States, delivering a fully traceable wool supply that gives back to the Earth and its ecosystems. To learn more, and discover Shaniko’s yarn partners, visit ShanikoWoolCompany.com. (https://www.shanikowoolcompany.com/)