MJ Martin

Chesterfield County

Handweaving & Spinning

MJ is a professor at Northeastern Technical College in Cheraw, SC. 

My first loom was built by my Dad in Kansas from old family pieces of furniture. I was a member of Handweavers’ Guilds in Spokane, Washington and Valdosta, Georgia, took classes and workshops and attended national and regional conferences to learn the art and craft of handweaving. As my skills grew, so did my involvement. Demonstrations, commission and consignment work, shows, and teaching followed.

My interest in spinning grew out of my interest and involvement in weaving; I wanted to create my own yarns. I like to “start at the sheep”, clean and card the wool, spin and sometimes hand dye the yarns. I also spin cotton and have experimented with a variety of other fibers. It is enjoyable to demonstrate spinning and also to use handspun yarns in my woven pieces.

I have a BFA in Studio Art and work in a range of media, but have a special interest in and desire to share my love of handweaving and spinning.

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