Born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, the heart of the Dutch Country, history and a rich ancestry of weaving tradition were strong influences in the early life Bill. Pennsylvania German traditions were observed first hand. While at Delaware Valley College, where he studied ornamental horticulture, his fascination with antique textiles began with the purchase of an old loom. With paramount interest in geometric masterpieces of a by-gone era, and the rich weaving tradition of the Leinbach family, Bill has chosen to research and develop a similar line of geometric textiles reminiscent of Colonial America. All his textiles are handwoven, some on early Pennsylvania and New England looms, tools of professional weavers, or on new loom, custom made to accommodate sixteen and twenty shafts for complex weave structures and fancy patterns. His functional textiles include bedspreads called coverlets, children's keepsake coverlets, table runners, wall hangings, rayon chenille scarves and jackets. Exceptional designs are sometimes matted and framed. Colors can be dyed with indigo, madder, and cochineal or commercially duplicated. Weave structures include overshot, tied beiderwand, point work, expanded point work and summer-winter. Limited editions have featured stars, flowers, tulips, snowflakes and trees. His coverlets and workmanship have received national as well as international recognition. Press coverage includes Country Home Magazine, Early American Home, Weave Magazine and the New York Times. He has served as a weaver and consultant for textile projects at the Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge, Old Economy and the Ephrata Cloister. Bill is a state juried, member of the Reading-Berks Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and has been given the honor of being one of American's most outstanding master craftsman. In addition to weaving and dyeing, Bill has found time to restore a mid-19th century brick house in Lebanon County where he lives with his wife Edna. He and his wife dismantled an old log house and used a portion of it to construct his original weaving shop. In need of more space, Bill has now incorporated a two-story frame studio with the log shop to house his eight looms and textile tool collection. |