marshfield school of weaving: Former Student Snapshot - Bill Griffith

"I began to weave in the spring of 1980 soon after moving to Vermont and have been weaving ever since. I first heard about Norman Kennedy and the Marshfield School of Weaving in the mid 1970's when I was living in Williamsburg, VA. Several of my friends worked at Colonial Williamsburg and they knew Norman, who had recently moved north to start the school. In late 1979, I made a trip to New England to visit the weaving school and liked life in Vermont so much that I found a job in Montpelier and became a neighbor.
My early hands-on experience with weaving was with Craig Evans who was at that time an apprentice at the school. Between Norman and Craig they taught me to make my first warp for cotton dishtowels and to dress the loom. My first loom was a beautiful barn frame loom from Burke, VT that Craig has used for many years. I took to wearving easily since I was already interested in the creative process. Weaving applealed to me as a quiet meditative activity with endless possibilities and I like the importance of perfection and balance.
In 2001, I moved to Spain and purchased a 137 cm Eeva loom from Toika in Finland. For years, I have woven mainly baby blankets, rag rugs, sofa blankets and scarves. Future projects are rag rugs for our home and to try to repoduce some early 20th c. Catalan floor tile patterns (Rajola Hidraculica) as textiles. For me, weaving here in Sitges, a coastal town south of Barcelona, isn't all that different from how I worked in the US. I have woven a lot of things for our home, gifts for friends and I also take commissions and sell now and then through word of mouth or on the internet.
Happily, Norman and Craig have continued to be inspirations and good friends. We keep in regular contact and I visit them and the school whenever I am in the US. I have also enjoyed knowing Kate Smith through the years and being familiar with her beautiful work. I love her blog, which keeps me informed of the activities at the school more then ever before.
Weaving is a skill that continues to fascinate me. Over the years, when people have asked me why I weave, I often reply that at one time in m life I was fortunate to live in a place where there was a weaving school. The weavers were open to sharing their knowledge and I was fortunate to learn from them. I continue to weave because I believe in the importance of preserving traditional ways.. Besides, I love it and it's a wonderful and productive way to spend my time!"