Since I was a teenager, I’ve loved going to the downtown library to wander the extensive magazine section.  I stopped by last Friday, and came home with a few issues of Modernism Magazine.  The Spring 2009 issue has a great biography of textile artist Cynthia Sargent.  Ms. Sargent and her husband, Wendell Riggs, moved to Mexico from the East Coast in the 1950s, and established a studio and factory.  She designed the rugs and fabrics, he handled the business aspect.

Her life story is fascinating and inspiring.  Ardis Berghoff’s article isn’t available online, so you’ll need to track down the Spring 2009 issue to read up on Ms. Sargent.  There are some beautiful photos of the rugs from the Riggs-Sargent family collection in the article.

The ebay seller Una Vida Moderna currently has a vintage rug for sale, in addition to a reproduction.  The reproductions aren’t authorized (there aren’t any authorized reproductions), but they are made in the same factory as her original work.

These handmade rugs rugs are just as beautiful close up.  Ms. Sargent wanted people to use her rugs, not just look at them, and I can only imagine how great it would feel to walk barefoot on one.

Images: Treadway/Toomey Gallery, Una Vida Moderna blog, Una Vida Moderna ebay store