Some places become part of us.
Not because they are extraordinary in the eyes of the world, but because we return to them again and again. They become the backdrop of our daily lives, the landscape that quietly witnesses our joys, griefs, celebrations, and becoming.
Held by the Rivers was commissioned by a family in Nebraska as a way of honoring the place that has held them through more than a decade of life together.
For ten years, they have lived and raised their twins among mature forests, rolling hills, and two rivers: Honey Creek and the Grand River. They shared photographs of children climbing trees, stories of wandering well-worn paths, and memories gathered along the banks of water that changes with the seasons. Their home sits within this landscape—not separate from it, but woven into it.
When describing what the finished piece symbolizes for them, they wrote:
"Held by the Rivers is a representation of the sense of place we have at our home. We are fortunate to be surrounded by mature forests and two rivers. Here we feel peace, growth, and vitality. We feel connected with the land and water, as well as our dwelling, which serves as a foundation for our family."
As I listened to their stories, a composition began to emerge.
Green fibers trace the pathways they walk between home, creek, and river. Blue follows the movement of water as it winds through the landscape. Near the center of the tapestry, a small handmade clay bead quietly marks the location of their home—a simple but meaningful reminder of the place from which all journeys begin and end.
The material palette is composed entirely of natural fibers: wool, cotton, raffia grass, and recycled silk. I wanted the piece to retain a tactile connection to the landscape that inspired it. The varied textures create movement and depth while the soft, mostly undyed tones allow the rivers and pathways to gently reveal themselves over time.
Like many of my custom woven commissions, this piece was not designed to simply depict a landscape. It was created to hold a relationship—a relationship between family and place, memory and belonging.
As I worked, I found myself reflecting on the rivers that shape my own life.
The process of creating this tapestry became its own act of remembering. Sitting with their stories brought me back to the riverbanks I visit with my own family. I found myself noticing familiar patterns: the way children are drawn toward water, the way certain paths become sacred through repetition, the way a landscape slowly becomes woven into our identity without our realizing it.
There was a sense of recognition in that.
Something familiar in the movement of water.
As if it knew me first.
During the weaving process, these reflections found their way into a poem:
Held by Two Rivers
Weaving a tapestry of memory,
Held by two rivers
While shaping their path
I remember my own
Gathering scattered stones
Small, forgotten offerings,
Like Easter eggs left by something kind
That never asks to be named.
A whispered wish
Traced three times
Then offered back—
To wind, to water,
Which answers with a splash
To climb over or go under?
Nature's playground beckons
A kind of invitation
To meet myself differently
A gentle reminder
With each fork in the path
You are free.
You are free.
The stones, they hold stories
They are glad to be heard
Glad to be gathered,
Glad to be returned to the quiet.
The river, she sings melodies
And welcomes the harmony of prayer
A song sung in gratitude
Even with a trembling voice
And in that small exchange,
Between hand and world
Between voice and heart,
Something softens
And remembers
How to live.
One of the greatest gifts of creating custom artwork is witnessing how a piece continues to live once it leaves the studio.
After installation, the family shared these words:
"Working with Rebecca was an absolute delight. She is warm and inviting, including us in the creative process from start to finish. Our connection to the piece was strengthened through the photos, video chats, and sense of purpose she gathered before and during her work."
"She created a poetic, meaningful piece. I feel so fortunate we found Rebecca to weave this beautiful and meaningful family heirloom for us."
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to create works like this; pieces that honor the places, stories, and relationships that shape a life.
Because sometimes the landscapes that hold us deserve to be remembered, not only in photographs and memory, but woven into something we can live alongside every day.