One thing we’re grateful for here at Tierra Wools is the outstanding contributions of one of our newest employees, Cynthia Whitmore! Cynthia joined our TW team this past year and has been a huge help with everything from photography to the website to organizing our storefront in Chama. She’s also learning to weave with us and has a real talent for it! We recently sat down with Cynthia to find out a little bit more about this hardworking lady.
Tell us about how you came to Tierra Wools!
Well, I’m originally from Albuquerque, but I’ve lived here in the Chama Valley for about 7 years. I started at Tierra Wools in 2022 as an intern with Toni learning how to natural dye. I loved the colors, talking to people, visiting with the customers, and I’m still here!
Cynthia with Toni and Molly at a recent craft show
What was it like to intern with Toni as a natural dyer?
Oh, it was hard work nonstop! The creation of unique colors is such a big part of what Tierra Wools offers and doing it the old way by hand I think is what I enjoyed about it the most – doing something that has been done for generations. Toni knows so much! It took her so long to know what she knows and I’m not sure I’ll ever learn everything she knows. It’s like stepping into a piece of history.
What led you to weaving?
I had no clue about weaving culture - I had never been exposed to it before coming to Tierra Wools. After being hired, they threw me on a loom and Nathaniel was my teacher and I think I fell in love with it right away. I really enjoy it! Before that I don’t think I ever tapped into my artistic-creativity side and with this job I’m totally immersed in it. I love it.
When you’re planning a new weaving, how do you get started?
Honestly, I don’t usually plan ahead. I weave in a more contemporary style, so my starting point is picking my colors. The design just happens once I’m on the loom. Sometimes I get ideas from other weavings in the shop and I make it my own.
What are you weaving right now?
Right now, I’m working on some tapestry – making animals and a cactus! I’m looking forward to learning how to do more saltillo – the traditional sharp angles of traditional-style Rio Grande rugs or blankets. My current tapestry has two deer with a cactus in the middle.
What’s your favorite part of the weaving process?
I think it’s picking the colors but also the end result. As I’m working on a weaving, it feels like it’s taking a long time but in the end it’s always worth it. I put so many hours in and here is this amazing finished product – that’s what’s exciting about it for me.
Is there a particular weaving that you’re most proud of?
There’s one weaving – a blanket – it’s a contemporary weaving and full of color, but in the middle it’s only black and white. That weaving is kind of special because the lady who bought it fell in love with it immediately. She told me there was something calling her to stop at the shop in Chama that day and as soon as she walked in, she said “This is mine!” She immediately fell in love with it, and I was so happy that it was something that I made that she valued and loved the way I love it! I asked her where she was going to put it and she said, “Wherever it wants to be.” It was really special - this was the first weaving where I thought wow, I can make a difference in people’s lives with these things!
That’s the magic of coming to our store in Chama!
It is – it’s a part of history! A great organization and great people, going back generations and preserving this part of our culture. This place is so much bigger than the job I come here to do – the work we all put into the shop and raising the sheep, shearing, all the processes that go into what we do is really unbelievable. People should come see it for themselves!