Mel Mendez & Lucy Mendez

I first learned how to weave rugs at age 12 growing up in my parent’s home in the small town of Teotitlan Del Valle in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.My family have been skilled weavers for nearly 500 years. I learned by watching my father weave and, with his guidance I have become an accomplished craftsman in the trade.I have been weaving rugs for 24 years. I use contempary and traditional designs and colors in my rugs. I now weave rugs in my shop in Arizona with my wife. We both dye the wool together and decide on colors. The traditional designs are woven by both of us. I weave 32”X 5′ on my own, my wife weaves the 2′ x 3′. The bigger pieces are woven by both of us. Since the loom for those have four pedals and it needs to be done by 2 people. Our modern design are first drawn up on paper and then we weave it on to the rug.