“Mumps” September 2024
We have four kinds of squirrels that visit our yard: gray squirrels, the native Douglas squirrel, chipmunks, and the California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi), who we’ve dubbed “Mumps” for obvious reasons. Mumps is a burrower and doesn’t climb trees easily but is quite the acrobat when trying to access its favorite sunflower seed feeder. Apparently vacuuming up the seeds that have spilled on the ground isn’t enough to fill the cheeks completely. We have yet to discover where the seeds are stashed, but a clue might be when sunflowers begin to grow in unexpected places.
Barbara J. Walker, Fiber Artist
About The Author
Barbara was awarded the Master Certificate of Excellence in Handweaving from Handweavers Guild of America in 1990. She is an active member of Northwest Designer Craftartists, has been a faculty member of the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, and has taught for guilds and conferences in the United States, England, Canada, and Japan. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and two of her pieces are the only examples of ply-splitting included in Lark Books' 500 Baskets. She is an enthusiastic educator and has had numerous articles published in Strands, Complex Weavers Journal, Handwoven, Weaver’s, and Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot. Barbara has published two books, Ply-Splitting from Drawdowns: Interpreting Weave Structures in Ply-Split Braiding in 2012 and Supplementary Warp Patterning: Turned Drafts, Embellishments & Motifs in 2016.
Barbara’s home studio overlooks the Willamette Valley in Salem, Oregon.