Loretta Oliver began her interest in textiles by sewing doll clothes under her mother’s direction. She learned to knit while in the U.S. Navy, and spent many off-duty hours making sweaters. While in college Loretta discovered weaving. She developed her weaving skills through workshops and seminars offered by the Michigan Weavers’ Guild and the Michigan League of Handweavers. In addition, she studied the first segment of City and Guilds Textile Course while living in England. Loretta’s passion for felt began in 1988 with a workshop taught by Kathy Zasuwa, and has since studied with Chad Alice Hagen, Patricia Sparks, Polly Stirling, Suzanne Pufpaff, Beth Beede, Jori Johnson, Joan Livingstone and others. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel Design and Master’s degree in Fiber Arts from Wayne State University.
Loretta has exhibited locally and nationally, including 1st place winner in the yardage exhibit at Convergence 2006 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2007 she exhibited at the Museum of African American History in Detroit MI and Downriver Council for the Arts in Taylor MI. She recently taught “Wavy Woven Felted Fabric” at Penland Craft School in North Carolina and Peter’s Valley Craft School in Layton New Jersey.
