Welcome.  My name is Karen Arman, and I am what is known as a wheat weaver.  I have been working in the medium of straw for over 20 years.  Over the years I have displayed and demonstrated my wheat weaving throughout Ohio.  
        I use grain that  has been harvested in the "milk" or "dough" stage,  tied into bundles, and hung upside down in a barn to dry.  Plenty of room is left between the bundles of wheat so that the wheat can dry properly.

      After many weeks I will take one of these bundles of wheat and begin to prepare it for weaving.  It is at this point that I begin the task that is known as cleaning the wheat.  It is a totally dry process and does not involve water or soap.  I cut the bundle open, take each individual piece of wheat, and cut it just above the first joint below the wheat's head.  I then take hold of the stalk and gently pull off the outer leaf cover that is around the actual straw.  This process of cleaning the wheat, one straw at a time, is continued over and over again.   Next I sort the individual wheat straws according to their length, thickness, and head size.


     When I have enough wheat cleaned and sorted for the weaving or weavings that I intend to do, I soak the cleaned wheat in water for a minimum of 20 minutes.  The length of soaking time depends on the variety of wheat and growing conditions of that particular year.  Soaking time could take upwards of 8 hours on a few varieties.  It is determined by trial and error with each new harvest and variety of grain.  An experienced weaver can generally determine the time in the first few weavings and then knows about how much time to soak the grain in the future.
    It is only after all this advanced work is completed that the actual weaving begins.
    I have offered on my website just a few of the many items that I make.  I expect that as time goes on I will be adding and/ or changing these offerings.