Woven Alchemy
The long tradition of functional art manifested in rugs and textiles was the inspiration for Woven Alchemy. Years in the rug business gave me great appreciation for the sumptuous beauty of these creations; the colors, texture and patterns come together in ways that never cease to stir my soul. Studying the cultural context of these textiles taught me that in spite of the obvious differences in the weavers' and our modern lives, we share one strong common thread. That is the universal need to have our environment filled with beauty. Traditional weaving arose out of utilitarian needs for items such as bedding, clothing, bags and floor coverings. What awes and humbles me is that weavers have for centuries gone beyond meeting these mundane needs to create pieces that are magical, colorful, artistic expressions.

I am particularly drawn to the wonderful quilt-like patterns of Central Asian weavings. Those weavers' exceptional skills in literally piecing together scraps to create new works of powerful graphic beauty are a constant source of admiration. My work in the rug business exposed me to not only wonderful and collectible pieces, but also to those created with the same spirit and energy, yet too worn, damaged, or not as successful in their original form. I thought that to reuse these textiles, to transform them, to tap into the creative vein that women for centuries have mined, would honor and perpetuate this art form.

With that background and the once-forgotten sewing skills learned years ago in HomeEc class, Woven Alchemy began. I started using textiles to cover switch plates and make holiday stockings utilizing carpet pieces and tribal jewelry. Add in the crazy love for my dogs, a light bulb moment, and Magic Carpet Beds was the natural progression. One day while hiding the hideous dog beds before company arrived, I wondered why couldn't these be more integrated into home furnishings? I had long thought even most upscale dog beds looked like dog beds and the fabric choices never seemed to hold up. The dogs always sought out the most expensive rug or piece of furniture in the room, so why not give them their own place of luxury?! With lots of broken sewing machine needles and input from my resident 'product testers', a new style of pet bed emerged - one that incorporated durable woven rugs, fabrics consistent with well-appointed interiors, and comfort.

As with all art, Woven Alchemy continues to evolve over time. I am experimenting with different fabrics and structures for the beds. I also work on developing new products, integrating textiles with everyday objects. Just like women have been doing for centuries.

Judy Rejebian