August 2025 Travel Itinerary

It turns out that carpets, especially those beautifully crafted tapestries of Persian or Asian origins, are not universally known.

Many cultures, particularly those in warmer climates, don’t cover their floors or walls with textiles and may not even have a word for tapestries in their language.  As a result, I’ve often found myself explaining what a tapestry is and why we would embrace that name for our organization.

As many of you know, tapestries are a type of woven rug with intricate patterns.  These carpets are constructed of vertical and horizontal cords, the warp and the weft. These cords form the foundation of the carpet.  The artisan ties individual knots of yarn on the warp.  Then, using a comb-like tool these knots are pressed against the weft to form a row of pixel-like knots of color.  Row upon row of these knots are built to form the intricate pattern of the tapestry.

What you may not realize is that the artisan tying the knots most likely isn’t the designer and may not even know what the pattern of the carpet will be.  Typically, the knot tyer is given a set of instructions to follow much like a recipe.  Something like, on this row, tie six reds, three blues, two purples, and so on.  The worker will frequently set a card of these coded instructions before them on the loom and faithfully reproduce those number sequences in knots of beautiful yarn on the warp and weft of the tapestry, the true pattern only revealing itself with time and perspective.

Life is much like that.  We are created with a design in mind.  Each of the connections and experiences of our lives are like those knots of color forming the final image. Knotted strand upon knotted strand, row upon row, all woven upon a corded foundation.  And it is only with time and perspective that we begin to see the image being formed.

I could go on further, elaborating about the importance of a strong foundation and a good set of instructions, or the peace that comes from yielding control to an expert Designer who can make sense of all of those individual knots of color in our lives.  At this point, however, my thoughts lean to gratitude for all of you who represent those connections and points of color in my tapestry.  All of you, friends, colleagues, family, and even those who wished me harm or inflicted pain, you are a part of the fabric of my life.  In a real sense, you are in our name, Tapestry International.  Thank you.

Many cultures, particularly those in warmer climates, don’t cover their floors or walls with textiles and may not even have a word for tapestries in their language.  As a result, I’ve often found myself explaining what a tapestry is and why we would embrace that name for our organization.

As many of you know, tapestries are a type of woven rug with intricate patterns.  These carpets are constructed of vertical and horizontal cords, the warp and the weft. These cords form the foundation of the carpet.  The artisan ties individual knots of yarn on the warp.  Then, using a comb-like tool these knots are pressed against the weft to form a row of pixel-like knots of color.  Row upon row of these knots are built to form the intricate pattern of the tapestry.

What you may not realize is that the artisan tying the knots most likely isn’t the designer and may not even know what the pattern of the carpet will be.  Typically, the knot tyer is given a set of instructions to follow much like a recipe.  Something like, on this row, tie six reds, three blues, two purples, and so on.  The worker will frequently set a card of these coded instructions before them on the loom and faithfully reproduce those number sequences in knots of beautiful yarn on the warp and weft of the tapestry, the true pattern only revealing itself with time and perspective.

Life is much like that.  We are created with a design in mind.  Each of the connections and experiences of our lives are like those knots of color forming the final image. Knotted strand upon knotted strand, row upon row, all woven upon a corded foundation.  And it is only with time and perspective that we begin to see the image being formed.

I could go on further, elaborating about the importance of a strong foundation and a good set of instructions, or the peace that comes from yielding control to an expert Designer who can make sense of all of those individual knots of color in our lives.  At this point, however, my thoughts lean to gratitude for all of you who represent those connections and points of color in my tapestry.  All of you, friends, colleagues, family, and even those who wished me harm or inflicted pain, you are a part of the fabric of my life.  In a real sense, you are in our name, Tapestry International.  Thank you.