In my new novel, THE SUMMER WE STARTED OVER, Barrett Grant opens a shop on Nantucket. It’s named Nantucket Blues, and everything in her shop is blue. There are so many shades of blue! Blue topaz earrings, navy blue sweaters, hydrangea blue vases, robin’s egg blue hair bands. . .
At the same time, my daughter Sam Wilde had become enchanted with weaving, probably because she has only six children and had nothing else to do. Here she is in her studio.
At Christmas, Sam gave me a tour of her studio and talked about her weaving. She showed me the dress she’d woven and the beautiful shawl she’d been commissioned to weave from someone’s mother’s wedding chuppah.
I asked her to make me a blue shawl that Barrett would put in her shop. Sam made me the shawl in the photos below. She modeled it for me, and I’m modeling it for you.
From Sam, I learned about “upcycling,” using “found” material such as discarded clothing, plastic bags, and bits of nature to make tapestries and shawls, scarves, and clothing. I especially love this wall hanging made with wild nature.
Sam’s having a show at the Hadley (MA) library from now until April 24. And of course, you can see her online anytime at Thesamanthawilde.com.