Author: Bunyaad

All of us here at Bunyaad believe in preserving the rich cultural heritage of traditional rug-making. We love to share our love and knowledge of hand-knotted rugs, Pakistani culture and artisan stories. Stop by anytime and enjoy a cup of Pakistani green tea with us!

  • My Love Affair with Weaving

    ByBunyaad

    woven-tablerunner

    Fiber artists can be found around the world, using all kinds of fibers from wool to silk to bamboo and hemp, just to name a few. The styles of items produced are as varied as the artists themselves, from elaborate fabric designs, baskets to complex hand knotted rugs. It is an ancient skill that was very useful for clothing, coverings for tents, ship sails and more.

    My first experience with weaving came in the form of a Christmas gift from my parents—a Lionel Porter Science kit of a loom modeled by those used in the industrial revolution. So I put the loom together and wove runners and small rugs for my dolls.

    I really did not get back into weaving again until my husband and I were doing archaeology in Tennessee and we were gifted a large barn frame loom that was literally stored in a barn.

    That began my love affair with weaving that ultimately resulted in six looms. We recently downsized and I am down to one floor loom, a table loom and a journey loom. Still weaving and spinning after all these years, my upstairs loom room looks like a yarn store!

  • |

    Fair Trade is a Revolution

    ByBunyaad

    bumper-sticker-fair-trade-revolution

    “A bond with customers based on shared values is the strongest bond you’ll ever make,” stressed Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s and currently working with Stamp Stampede, a venture dedicated to getting the money out of politics.

    Sitting in the room with over 280 other fair traders at the Fair Trade Federation Conference in Burlington, Vermont last week, I almost stood up and shouted “AMEN.”

    Renee Bowers, Fair Trade Federation Executive Director, opened that morning sessions reminding us that “as fair traders, we work to give voice” to those who otherwise would not have as loud of a voice in the world.

    And in this week where we celebrate World Fair Trade Day, I want to say thank you to our customers who are using their economic dollar to vote for the change they wish to see in the world.

  • The Diary of an Adventurer

    ByBunyaad

    rug-adventures-02

    … or adventures on a rug as Gil Melo recalls childhood memories

    I have been fond of adventures my whole life. I always look forward to face the dangerous and perilous places around the world.

    I have climbed the highest mountains and the deepest seas, visited volcanoes and ran through places full of lava. I’ve flown over numerous canyons and evoked my paleontologist vein into dark caverns.

    But there is nothing more exciting than driving my car along sinuous roads, surrounded by cliffs and snowy lanes prone to avalanches, speeding through deserts and sliding over sand dunes.

  • | |

    Going Green with a Hand Knotted Rug

    ByBunyaad

    For many, going green means recycling, composting and mass transit. Now, hand knotted rugs want to declare themselves among that list.

    Gabby loves to crawl on the rug. It's soft and warm.

    Five quick reasons why hand knotted rugs can help you go green:

    1. Buying a quality hand knotted carpet means it’s lasting you for generations. Literally. No filling the landfill with cheap throw-aways that never clean up nicely and show wear and tear in two seconds.

  • | |

    A Rug Should Fit Your Home, Your Lifestyle

    ByBunyaad

    rugs-living-room-95

    A rug should fit your home. A rug should fit your lifestyle. A rug should be easy to take care off. A rug should… Fill in the space for what you think a rug should do. These are all valid expectations when you are looking to find a rug for your home.

    How will you know that a rug will fit?

    We work with customers every day and guide them through the process of selecting a rug, sharing our knowledge and understanding of how a Bunyaad rug is made and able to withstand many years of active living. Our favorite stories to tell though are those we hear from our customers who own a Bunyaad rug. These stories best answer the questions above as they show how you can find a rug to fit your home and your lifestyle.

    Rug Expectations? Yes. Rug Found? Oh Yes!

    Wanessa, our accountant here at the Bunyaad Rug Room at Ten Thousand Villages in Ephrata, shares how she found the rug that answered all of her “a rug should” expectations.

    We use our living room
    all the time

    “I’m in love with my rug and very happy to share with you!