07 Aug Weave Your Pet with MJ Lord
MJ Lord is an experienced tapestry weaver and teacher who returns to the Folk School this fall to teach “Weave Your Pet” from September 20-26, 2026. This intermediate class with teach students how to translate a photo of their favorite furry friend into a woven work of art.
Read more about MJ and her class in our interview below! Interested in signing up? Register today to secure your spot.
JCCFS: How long have you been a weaver?
MJL: I have been weaving for most of my life and focusing on tapestry weaving for the past 30 years. Having tried lots of ways to weave tapestry, I started making pet portraits as well as people portraits, and it has been so much fun! I taught Weave Your Pet at the Florida Tropical Weavers Guild about ten years ago and I have to say, the results were pretty amazing. My process involves simplifying as much as possible, while trying to find the essence of the pet.
JCCFS:Tell us a bit more about what students learn in Weave Your Pet.
MJL: In this class we will start with a good close up photo of your pet that clearly shows facial features. The photo is enlarged to fit the format, about 8″ x 10″, and printed in black and white. From there, we will make a simplified cartoon with as few marks as possible to obtain the spirit of the pet. After that the weaving begins!
JCCFS: What can students expect to leave your class with?
MJL: Expect to leave on Friday with a completed or nearly completed 8″ x 10″ pet portrait. I am also providing some cartoons of other people’s pets in case anyone wants to try weaving with a little less emotional attachment to the subject. It can make a difference.
JCCFS: You’ve taught here before; what is your favorite aspect of the John C. Campbell Folk School?
MJL: My favorite part of being here, besides being in class, is the daily conversation that occurs during meals. So many interesting and interested people to talk with! Not to mention how pretty the campus is.
JCCFS: Where do you draw inspiration for your portraits?
MJL: Inspiration for my pet portraits comes from friends’ pets and from websites featuring shelter and rescue animals.
JCCFS: Are you working on anything special right now?
MJL: I have been working on several portraits this summer, and am particularly pleased with one of my friend’s corgi, Izzy. And most wonderful is that he likes it!
JCCFS: What tips would you give any aspiring weavers?
MJL: Persistence is the key. Don’t give up halfway through, because the thing you are making keeps changing as you go.
The weaving Studio
Upcoming Class with MJ
Weave Your Pet
September 20-26, 2026
Weave a small tapestry portrait of your favorite, furry friend. Spend the first part of class working out a cartoon based on a photocopy brought from home. Take into consideration composition and color, especially eyes, ears, and nose. Study your subject using up-close photos and aim for an impression of your pet. Focus on simplification and imagination as you weave your companion cartoon into a beloved treasure. Intermediate to advanced levels welcome; basic tapestry weaving skills required.
About MJ Lord
Mary Jane Lord has studied with tapestry masters at Penland School of Craft and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. She is also a member of Tapestry Weavers South and the American Tapestry Alliance. Mary Jane’s tapestries have won awards in juried exhibits, including at the 2019 Florida Craft Art juried members show and the 2018 Art in Gadsden at the Gadsden Art Museum in Quincy, FL. In years prior, she exhibited 15 large and small tapestries in a show called “Warp Weft Image” and was included in Small Tapestry International 4, put on by the American Tapestry Alliance. In 2014, Mary Jane participated in a two-person show called “Threads of Light” at the ArtPort Gallery, a dedicated art space at the Tallahassee Airport.
No Comments