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Chris Gustin Homestead Weaving Studio

6285 Hamilton Creek Rd., Columbus, IN 47201 (812)988-8622

"Recycled Rugs," shawls, scarves,  household items and woven clothing   Gifted with an innate sense of color but minimal formal art training, Chris Gustin found her creative calling in a weaving class in college many years ago. Since taking early retirement from her real job as a journalist, she plies her woven wares to an ecologically minded public. Her unique rugs can be found in homes around the world but she is doubly proud of finding a new use for industry "scrap" which she reclaims to create her one-of-a-kind Recycled Rugs. Chris's rugs are carried by shops from Seattle to Brooklyn and her customers find her through her web sites: www.homesteadweaver.com and www.recycled-rugs.com. Chris does not take part in many art shows; instead she invites people to her studio where they may see her collection of looms and the weaving process. When she's not weaving, she builds web sites for other artists or works in her perennial, vegetable, meditation and weaver's gardens. Homestead Weaving Studio is open 11 to 5 daily from March to December.   Artist Statement: It was all because of that quilt. In 1974, long before recycling was politically correct, my husband and I went to the World's Fair in Spokane, Washington. There was a patchwork quilt on display that read "Reduce, Recycle, Reuse." Seeing that quilt has had a life-long impact on me and my weaving. Through the years, in order to find materials that I could recycled into my weaving, I have cultivated diverse sources: thrift shops, sock factories, bedding manufacturers, weaving mills. My efforts turn industry excess into contemporary and functional art. At Homestead Weaving Studio, we believe the future of the planet is in our hands. We practice recycling in our personal lives and in our business. We specialize in making rugs from recycled material, helping the environment by keeping usable goods out of landfills. Chris has been a weaver for more than 35 years, producing thousands of rugs, placemats, throws, scarves and other items using materials recycled from the textile industry. These components are new but considered scrap by the big mills. Chris' recycling efforts repurpose about a ton of "scrap" per year and have earned her recognition from environmental and waste management groups.  Chris's work was included in an article called "Nurture the Spirit" in the June 2007 issue of "Midwest Living" magazine. Her work was recently displayed in an article in  "Natural Home" magazine.  Chris works in her studio at 6285 Hamilton Creek Road,  Columbus, IN 47201, and accepts commissions.

E-mail Chris  or visit the website for Chris Gustin.