Megan Leedom spends most of her time in nature, drawing inspiration from the world around her. She combines the traditional arts of macrame and weaving to create unique wall hangings that are rich in both color and texture.
How did you get started with weaving and macramé? Always an artist, or was there a “moment”?
I started doing macramé as a hobby in 2019. I spent a summer in the tiny secluded village of Stehekin in the North Cascades of Washington. There is no cell service or internet or TV there, so I took up macramé as something to do in the evenings in my cabin.
The act of tying knots and making patterns was really enjoyable and meditative. My love for the craft really took off during the winter of 2020/2021. I was living in a barn in the Methow Valley in Washington. The barn had huge walls and very high ceilings, so I started experimenting with different macramé styles and doing more large-scale pieces.
I decided to start an Instagram page to see if I could maybe sell a few things and was surprised at how much local interest I received. I ended up doing a few commissions and selling in some of the local shops.
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I didn’t start weaving until about a year ago. I moved back to Bend, OR after a lot of traveling and built myself a couple frame looms out of old canvas frames. I immediately loved it, especially how the process allowed me to play with more colors and textures.
When was the first time that you remember realizing that you are a creative person?
I think I’ve always been a creative person. I probably get it from my mom who is a writer and artist. But until recently, my creative endeavors have just been hobbies. When I discovered weaving it really clicked with me that I wanted to make a go of this and try to be a full-time artist.
Where do you find your inspiration for your designs?
I find all my inspiration in nature. I spend most of my time outdoors and I love long-distance hiking (also known as “thru hiking”). Moving across a landscape at 3 miles per hour from sunrise to sunset for months on end has made me much more observant of the world around me–the changes in light, interesting textures, colors, patterns.
I base all of my pieces on something that has caught my eye while being outside. I’m always stopping to take photos of little details I find beautiful or interesting.
Do you plan your work out ahead of time or do you just dive in with your materials and start playing?
I often have an idea based on a place where I’ve recently hiked. I’ll start with a color palate I associate with that time or place and then I just start weaving and see where it takes me.
I generally don’t sketch anything out, I just see how it evolves. When I’m doing more geometric macramé pieces I do tend to start with a more concrete idea and a sketch of some kind, but the weavings are created much more organically.
Describe your creative space.
I currently have a studio at The Workhouse in Bend, OR. It’s a former ironworks building from the early 1900’s that has been converted into a gallery and artist studios. It’s a beautiful building with huge windows and brick walls. My studio gets tons of natural daylight which is ideal.
There are seven other artists in the building so it’s really nice to have a community of fellow creatives. I also use my camper van as a studio when I feel I need a bit more solitude or want to be creating out in nature. I love to park somewhere really quiet and beautiful to work with the doors open.
Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?
My favorite part of the design process is when I’m in the middle of working on a weaving. At that point I have a good idea of where it’s going and can really get into the flow of creating.
My least favorite part is the finishing work I have to do. Taking the piece off the loom, tucking in all the stray yarns on the back to make it look finished, attaching the fringe and the hanger. It takes several hours to do these final details, but it’s a necessary step in finishing my work.
Is there an overarching theme that connects all of your work?
My overarching theme is nature and landscapes.
I am at my happiest and most calm in the quiet of nature and I really enjoy channeling this into my work. My weavings are an outlet for expressing the beauty I see in the natural world.
When others view my work I hope it evokes a sense of peace and ease and maybe reminds them of places they love.
My work doesn’t necessarily have to be of a specific place, it’s often more about the idea of a place or the interesting colors, lines, and patterns that occur in nature.
My goal is to help bring the beauty of the outside world into a space.
Do you prefer the kind of project that is challenging and requires attention or the kind where you get in your meditative zone and enjoy the process?
I prefer to be in a meditative zone while I’m working. When I’m in a nice flow with my weaving is when I think I create my best work. When I try to force a piece it often doesn’t come together as well as I’d like it to. This is when I like to take a little break, go for a walk, and then come back to it with a fresh perspective.
Sometimes just the act of stepping away for a moment is all I need to get back into the zone.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?
Spending time alone out in nature keeps me motivated and interested in my work. When I’m really moved by a place I get excited about creating a piece to capture that beauty.
I also use a lot of found wood to hang my pieces from. I collect driftwood when I’m at the coast and love going on hikes around Central Oregon to find interesting pine, juniper, and manzanita branches.
I’ll often make a weaving based around a really cool piece of wood that I’m excited about. I don’t think the natural world will ever cease to inspire me or create a sense of awe. It’s always changing.
The same location will never look the same and I think picking up on the beauty and magic in all the small details will continue to inspire my creativity.
Where can people see your work?
People can see my work in person at my studio at The Workhouse in Bend, OR, and on my website and Instagram.
Interview posted February 2025
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