"Learn more than anyone else knows about a single subject and the world will beat a path to your door."

As a young woman, in the 1930’s, Virginia Harvey developed an interest in weaving. Over the next sixty-five years that interest led her to become one of the most influential individuals of her generation to write, teach, publish, and research the textile arts. Two of her books, "Macramé, The Art of Creative Knotting" and "Techniques of Basketry" have influenced generations of artists and craftsmen. Both introduced new ideas and techniques that are now a standard part of the artistic vernacular.

Virginia was the first curator of the Costume and Textile Study Center at the University of Washington where she designed a storage system for textiles that was so innovative it was adopted by countless institutions around the world and is still in use today. Her ingenious system for cataloging textiles, initiated in the 1950s, has become invaluable to museums and textile researchers and continues on an international level.

A lifetime of mentoring, teaching, and research led to Virginia’s induction as an Honorary Fellow of the American Craft Council. Her sharp intellect and graciousness put her at the center in a web of personal and professional contacts, sharing information about plaiting, knotting, wrapping, and weaving with craftsmen – both professional and amateur, museum professionals, art historians, industrial designers, and space scientists. This video will give you a glimpse of the vast impact an individual can make when armed with curiosity, dedication and a generous spirit.