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 LILLIE
TAYLOR-Weaver
Lillie Thomas
Taylor was born on February 15, 1931 at Indian Wells, AZ on the
Navajo reservation, where she still resides today. At the age of
5 years old, Lillie’s father Frank Thomas passed away and she
was raised by her mother Lillian Thomas and her other brothers and
sisters. She was raised herding sheep most of her early childhood
through motherhood.
Lillie started to weave when she was 5 years old: she is self taught
by observing her mother weaving and also other relative weavers.
First she learned how to herd sheep, next was to spin perfect strands
of wool and so on. She sold her first rug to a trading post man
at Indian Wells Trading Post. She received $5.00 for her first rug,
which all went to credits at the trading post. She later became
a fine weaver and always sold to the same trader until her youngest
child Diane went off to high school.
At that time, Lillie started to go out into the world and try her
hand at selling her own rugs to different shop owners. Indeed, she
did well at selling her masterpieces and to this day her rugs are
all over the world. They are in museums, galleries and collector’s
homes as well as featured in magazines and books.
Today, she still weaves from sun up to sun down. She lives in a
modern home with her grandchild, who keeps her going and very active.
Lillie’s educational background is varied. She attended Luepp
Boarding School up to 3rd grade and hd no other formal schooling.
Other education was gained from her eight children plus her grandchildren.
They are her teachers when it comes to the non-indian territory.
Lillie’s ever smiling face and her silver gray hair tied up
in a traditional bun tell who she is and her traditional clothing
tell of her past and future. She is a very special lady of her time
behind the loom and weaving is her life and story.
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