For centuries, weaving was an essential skill of the women who settled in this area. This skill clothed their families and sometimes provided supplementary income. Today weaving is more of an art form and for speaker Marjorie Warren, her particular niche is weaving tartans.

This talk will explore the history of the tartan and current efforts in providing artifacts of the lesser known tartans and designing new tartans for various golf clubs, colleges and organizations – including the creation of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games’ tartan.

About the Speaker

Marjorie L. Warren, a native of Cambuslang, Scotland, she studied art at Hamilton Academy and worked as a carpet designer before coming to the United States. Upon arriving in North Carolina she studied weaving with Catherine Ellis at Haywood Community College specializing in tartan design and weaving.

Marjorie has designed and woven tartans for colleges, golf club, pipe bands, and individuals. She also designed the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games tartan in Linville North Carolina. She is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Western North Carolina Fiber Guild, and Southeastern Fiber Forum.

She has been honored for her work by the Scottish Heritage Center at St. Andrews College in North Carolina and by the Scottish Society of Antiquaries. In 2015, Marjorie was presented with the National Tartan Day Award at Washington DC. Marjorie is a frequent teacher and demonstrator on Scottish culture, weaving, and cooking at Scottish Highland Games, public schools and colleges and at John C. Campbell Folk School. She lives at Lake Junaluska North Carolina where she designs and weaves for her company, Thistle Studio.

The Southern Highland Craft Guild presents, The Maker’s Table, a monthly program where we invite you to spend an evening with a master crafter while they share the ins and outs of their trade.

Free for museum members, $5 for non-members.