Maja Lampa.
I am a handweaver, based near Vancouver, BC. My weavings draw inspiration from nature, traditional craft, and the deep connection between maker and material. My favourite projects begin at the source–when I know the sheep who grew the wool or the farmer who tended the flax.
Weaving is both a grounding ritual and a quiet act of resistance against disposability. My work speaks to those who seek everyday objects infused with story, sustainability, and soul.
As a member of the Southern Gulf Islands Arts Council and Webmaster for the Guild of Canadian Weavers, I share my work in community exhibitions and through my monthly newsletter, where I write about slow making, local fibres, and the quiet joy of weaving by hand.
Origins.
In 2023, I rented a 60-square-foot studio space and purchased my first loom: a vintage Ashford table loom.
Since then, I have added four more looms to my collection, including my workhorse: a four-shaft 27" F-Type Leclerc from the 1950s.
Practice.
While weaving is today predominantly a solitary pursuit, it was once a craeft passed down from generation to generation within skilled communities of artisans. I am grateful for the online and offline communities supporting and instructing me in this art.
Nonetheless, I sometimes step off these conventional learning pathways and to experiment. Most recently, my focus has been on adapting commercial sewing patterns to accommodate the fabric widths achievable on my handloom.
