A Weaver's Story
A woman owned and operated company, in Newport, Oregon.
As a weaver for over 15 years, I love experimenting with new techniques and materials. While searching for inspiration on weaving beach trash art, I came across lobster rope mats. That started me down a path of weaving with recycled crab pot line.
Lobster rope mats were designed in 2009 on the East coast in response to the ban of float line, used for lobster fishing, to protect the Northern Right Whale. Production of these mats saved miles and miles of float line from the landfill and provided revenue for fishing families during the off season.
On the Oregon coast, Dungeness crab fishing is an important part of the local economy. As with all gear, it isn't functional forever. That drove my hunt for local, retired crab pot rope to repurpose and upcycle as woven mats, baskets, jellyfish and artistic tapestries. I found an abundance of retired rope to recycle and weave at the fishing docks and working directly with Newport commercial fishing fleets such as the F/V Last Straw and F/V Tana C.
Dungeness Doormats, Fishermen Baskets, jellyfish and rope art can be found in Newport, Oregon at Pirates Plunder, South Beach Surf Shop and the COVE Gallery in the NewsTimes building. Also available in Lincoln City, Oregon at Ginger Roots Home in the outlet mall.
Every item is a unique piece of the local fishery's history,
supports Newport's commercial fishing fleets with an alternative to the landfill
and represents pride in Oregon's fishing culture.