It takes many skillful and creative hands to make a place like Tierra Wools run and one of those accomplished sets of hands belongs to Leanne Gardenhire, display designer and shopkeeper at Tierra Wools. Leanne has an excellent eye for layout and color which serves her well not only when designing Tierra Wool’s weaving and yarn displays, but as a weaver in her own right. This month, we sat down with Leanne to learn more about her work at Tierra Wools and what she’s weaving right now.
Tell us about how you came to Tierra Wools.
I started coming to Tierra Wools when it first opened in Los Ojos. I always had some kind of art project going and Tierra Wools would put it on consignment for me – so I’ve been involved with them for a long, long time. I started working at the shop in Chama a few years ago: I went into the shop – I can’t even remember what for – and I was talking to Toni. And Toni said, “Come and work for us.” So I became a shopkeeper and I also do display and I clean. I managed two galleries in Santa Fe for several years and display is the most important thing for a shop because that’s what catches peoples’ attention. I love our displays this year. It took a few years of going back and forth listening to Molly’s dream at the shop and trying new things – I think we’ve hit on a winning combination this year. We’re a business – we want to sell weavings. And when you enter the shop this year that’s what you see – our beautiful rugs and weavings.
What do you enjoy about working at Tierra Wools?
Everything I think! We have such a wonderful group [of employees] right now working together so well. I’ve always wanted to work where women came together and made a difference together and I think we do – so it’s almost like a dream come true for me. Especially for me at my age, had no idea that I would finally find a place with a community like this. We make a difference in people’s lives – it’s very fulfilling.
When did you begin weaving?
I started weaving late in my 70s, so about four years ago. It’s amazing. I decided to learn to weave initially in order to help weavers and weaving students at Tierra Wools. But it’s become more than that for me – I really feel like it’s a primordial thing, something that’s in everyone, especially me as a woman. Molly taught me how to weave and she’s amazing – her weavings are so good.
I live in a teensy house and so I have a lap loom, and I weave “Mug Rugs” with Churro wool from Shepherd’s Lamb all through the summer. We’re so busy in the summer here at the shop sometimes it’s hard for me to weave in between visiting with people. I have done a couple of runners recently but mostly I prefer doing smaller things.
You have a fantastic sense of color in your displays and your weavings.
Color is the first thing for me always. When I first started weaving it was the colors I was drawn to because we have such an incredible array of yarns here at Tierra Wools and I loved to use the bright colors. Now I tend to prefer using the natural sheep colors and the natural dye colors. Toni’s [natural] dyes are just out of this world – they’re just incredible. I think sometimes I tend to go for “odd” color combinations, if that makes sense. I just sold a runner that was four shades of indigo on brown – just beautiful. And I tend to be more monochromatic these days – layering different depths of color – I love that. I also just finished another runner with different shades of natural grays in light to dark – people love the naturals and I do too. So that’s what I prefer these days.
One of Leanne’s “Mug Rugs”
Tierra Wools is lucky to have you.
I just feel blessed to be a part of all of this at Tierra Wools and I do feel like we make a difference in the life of everyone who comes to visit – whether they come to shop or take classes. It’s magic – it’s really co-creation at its best.