Weaver finds inspiration amid natural beauty
of Brown County in southern Indiana.
Story and Photos by Diana Lambdin Meyer

Brown County, Ind., is one of those places that we wish the whole world could be like. Beautiful rolling hills and winding roads lead to quaint homes and friendly communities. Known for an abundance of creative people, Brown County has been attracting individuals who respond well to the gifts of nature since portraitist T.C. Steele first came to the area more than 100 years ago.

Chris Gustin holds one of the woven rugs made on an antique loom at her studio in Brown County.

Chris Gustin is one of those creative individuals whose path also led this region about 90 minutes south of Indianapolis. Her husband’s career as a newspaper editor brought the family to Brown County in 1998, but she believes it was destiny calling.

“I had only been here once, but the people of Indiana talk about Brown County with such awe and reverence, I knew this is where I could make it as a weaver,” she said.

She has since fallen in love with her natural surroundings, which in turn have blessed her with inspiration. The Homestead Weaving Studio, located on the Gustin’s 20-acre property near Columbus, has become her sanctuary, the 20 antique looms an altar of sorts to the gifts of Mother Nature. Wild deer, turkey, rabbits and raccoon wander through her front yard as she works, leaving their tracks on her creative spirit. Dried remnants of her flower and vegetable often find their way into her creations, while birds and butterflies oversee her work and as many as six kittens purr at her feet.

However, Gustin’s passion for earth is targeted primarily at man-made waste. As her studio was under construction using native Indiana poplar, she contacted textile mills throughout the southeast United States. The textile industry is notorious for filling landfills with mountains of unused scrap material.

Their response was and remains beyond generous. A barn on the back of the Gustin’s property now accommodates literally tons of end pieces of every color and texture of fabric available.

In addition to fabric and carpeting remnants, she weaves plastic grocery bags, old soft drink bottles, men’s ties, socks and basketball jerseys. You name it and Gustin can weave it into rugs, blankets, clothing, purses and totes.

“One of my favorite projects was for a woman who had recently been widowed,” Gustin says. “She gave me a number of her husband’s work pants that made a wonderfully sturdy and meaningful rug for her living room.”

The number of looms allows her to create complementary products for the rugs and have numerous projects underway at the same time while incorporating a number of different weaving techniques. These many looms also allow her to teach weaving to small groups in her studio. In just four or five hours, previously untrained fiber artists can leave the studio with a small rug or shawl or throw of their own, and maybe just a smidgen of the excitement Gustin felt when she walked into that first college classroom more than 35 years ago.

“I remember walking in the door of the classroom and there were these huge cabinets with the doors flung open and all of these beautiful cones of yarn. I’ve never gotten over that excitement,” she said.

The cost for such classes begins with a $25 per person class fee and will vary from there based on the fabric and individual project. Homestead Weaving Studio is open most days between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. March through December. Visitors are asked to call ahead in January and February to make an appointment.

Diana Lambdin Meyer is a contributor from Parkville, Mo.