Threads of Peru Blog

Hand/Eye magazine article focuses on ToP weavers!

Jun 28, 2011

Wondering what we're up to this week? Terra just had an article published on the online version of Hand/Eye Magazine. Read the article to learn more about the iconography used by our weavers and check out the beautiful photos, some by past volunteers.

Midwestern students meet South American weavers!

Jun 21, 2011

Students and teachers from the Hathaway Brown School in Ohio came biking down the Patacancha Valley and stopped to have an educational exchange with the weavers of Rumira Sondormayo the first weekend in June. Threads of Peru Project Leader Terra Fuller met the group and provided an introduction to the weavers and explained the importance of supporting this ancient art form. The students asked lots of questions about fair wages for the weavers, life in developing countries, and how to get involved with Threads of Peru projects, such as summer internships and selling ToP textiles at their winter school fair.

Project Leader Terra Fuller introduces weavers of Rumira Sondormayo to students of Hathaway Brown School.[/caption] Then the weavers invited the students to try their skill at using the p’ushka to spin sheep and alpaca wool! The girls practiced their Spanish and asked Maria Quispe Cruz, the President of the weaving association, questions about their lives and families. The girls all gasped when Maria demonstrated the technique of swinging a baby up over her head and (safely) onto her back in a lliclla, the traditional woven blanket for carrying loads on ones back. For the opportunity to learn more about Quechua weaving, speak to weavers and try the backstrap loom for yourself, check out our unique Threads of Peru weaving tour!

Thank you to our volunteer models and photographer!

Jun 03, 2011

Many thanks to Lynn Dao and husband Drew for volunteering their time in April to respectively photograph and model Threads of Peru weavings. Threads of Peru co-founder Ariana Svenson saw Lynn’s professional website (based in Phoenix Arizona) and blog and after they booked a trek with Apus Peru asked them if they would like to give up a day of their holiday to help with Threads of Peru.

We are delighted they did!!! A few of our favorite photos are posted here and here. You can also check out Lynn’s blog. Many of the shots that you see on our ebay store were taken by Lynn. And we also just added all new products on our Ethical Community online store! Also special thanks to Katy Shorthouse (Lonely Planet Peru Contributing Author) for coordinating the day and models Claire (from The Muse), Fiona (from Tika Soaps) and Fredy (from Apus Peru). If you are a professional photographer or professional model, perhaps you would like to volunteer with Threads of Peru for a day or two… see ToP´s volunteer positions.