My name is Kathy Kobyljanec and I am the owner of Misty Dawn Handwovens in Aurora, Ohio. The name is derived from both Misty, my little quarter horse mare, and the literal meaning of “aurora” - the dawn.
This photo was taken on early fall morning in the pasture where Misty lives with her buddy, Talon. Talon is an older, almost blind Curly Appalossa who has been with our family since colt-hood.
The Loomy Bin was built in 2020 to house the looms Kathy uses in her weaving. It is just across the driveway from the house, which quickly became to small for the looms. tools and yarn that are needed for weaving. The side windows overlook the pasture where Misty and Talon reside.
I began weaving in late 2017. I had enjoyed fiber crafts such as knitting, crochet and needlepoint for years but my first passion was horses. I got my first horse, Rusty, when I was 18 and have had 2 or 3 ever since. My focus was trail riding - nothing is better than strolling along a woodland trail on horseback! However, a serious shoulder injury in 2009 put an end to my riding. Although I can ride, my doctors advised against it due to the fragility of the joint. The shoulder could not endure another accident.
While I did enjoy other crafts, I fell in love with one particular weaver’s scarves and blankets that I discovered at a local fair, the Yankee Peddlar fair in Canton, Ohio. This weaver, an accomplished woman from Scotland, came every year to sell her products at the fair. In 2017, she told me she was retiring. I was so sad and disappointed as her woven items were beautiful and useful. It was then that I decided I had to learn to weave myself!
I was able to attend a 2 day workshop in Asheville, NC, using a rigid heddle loom. I was pretty bad, but loved weaving. It was only weeks before I realized that a rigid heddle loom had its purpose, but I wanted a bigger loom and more shafts! An internet search led me to Youngstown, Ohio where I bought my first 4 shaft, 32” Macomber loom from the early 1960s. This was soon followed by a 48” Macomber that I found in Rochester, NY.
I started to educate myself on how to weave, and soon realized that there is no end to what there is to learn! I took an in-depth online course on using a floor loom, went to the John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC twice, and acquired several books, both recent and older.
As with many weavers, I bought and sold looms to find the ones that fit my physical requirements and interests. Most are pre-owned, and come with interesting history. As I become more proficient, I became interested in computer-assisted weaving and added 2 “compu-dobby” looms with 16 and 32 shafts.
Inspector Casey the Dachshund checks things out during set-up.
The Loomy Bin currently holds 6 looms. My two Macombers, a Swedish designed Glimarkra, two Schachts (a Baby Wolf and Wolf Pup) and a 32 shaft AVL compu-dobby. The back wall is devoted to my yarn supply. A worktable is indespensible! Also a small workbench is used to winding yarn on bobbins. A warping reel and warping board are on either side of the back area. A sitting area with small couch and rocker, plus a desk complete the front of the Bin.
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Twist Drill Cleveland Building 2023
VALLEY ART CENTER 50TH ANNIVERSARY JURIED SHOW, 2021
My tencel woven shawl, named “Striped Snapdragons” was featured in the Valley Art Center 50th Anniversary Juried Show in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
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Honorable Mention, Art on the JoAnn Green, 2023
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