An avar pile rug

Avar kilims from Dahgestan are ubiquitous here in the Southwest; their tribal aesthetic appears on the surface to resonate with local Native American symbolism. Here is a rare variation on the theme; a pile rug of the Avar type seen in Hali Magazine:(http://www.hali.com/NewsImagePopup.aspx?address=&Image=/Assets/Images/News/May06/bostonryan_lrg.jpg)
Thanks to Chuck Patterson for help in identifying this rug. His (older) version:

Dog bites Caucasian

A skilled restorer can take a bad situation and make like it never happened. At some cost, though; in this case about $170.00.

Back from the brink

A family heirloom with severe water damage and a huge tear down the middle is reconstructed and brought back from the brink. To match the color, size and texture of the original wefts we card and spin various fibers together. New warps are anchored then plied around the old warps. With this project there was the additional challenge of matching the colors of bleached and stained wool that could not be corrected in the wash. Thankfully, the rug is staying in the family and is being hung on the wall, safe from harm...

Listen to The Dude

Available for purchase at http://www.lebowskifest.com

Color run, before and after washing

This is about as bad as it gets; flooding moisture and dry-wall plaster detritus that sat for weeks on a 100-year-old Transitional Navajo blanket. The dyes on these blankets, in addition to being fugitive, will tend to discolor if over-washed, and will leave a yellow stain if over-treated. While some bleed is still visible in the turquoise and green, the overall result David achieved was stupendous. It should be said that while the visual integrity of the weaving was reclaimed, this kind of washing does take a toll on natural fibers, especially 100-year-old Transitional Navajo wool--every effort should be made to avoid water damage and color run. As a result of the de-bleeding process, the wool in the finished/washed blanket has lost some of the bonds that keep the fibers together. Treat your antique textiles well! Washing cost: $400.00