About Me

My name is Robert Schweitzer (aka Rufus of Stamford, OL, aka Hrobjartr) and I'm a high school chemistry teacher in Toronto, Ontario.

I taught myself how to tablet weave by using Peter Collingwood's book "Techniques of Tablet Weaving".  I was very pleased that I got the opportunity to meet him before he passed away, and I will always appreciate the great depth of knowledge that he has passed along to future generations of weavers.

I learned how to weave in the early 90's, and while I haven't produced the quantity of work I would like, I've had a number of fascinating experiences.

I've taught at a number of locations, including Forward Into the Past (www.fitp.ca) (an annual conference which includes hands-on classes), WASOON (Weavers and Spinners of Ontario North) and the Creativ festival.  I've also had some articles published in TWIST and Handwoven magazines.

As a part of several historical groups (Dark Ages Recreation Company www.darkcompany.ca and Society for Creative Anachronism) I've given demonstrations at a number of different schools, libraries and museums, including the ROM, Woodstock museum, Peterborough museum, and Bowmanville museum.

In the year 2010, I had the privilege of being a part of the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the site at L'ans aux meadows, Newfoundland, where the Norse founded a North American colony around the year 1000 A.D.  It was an incredible experience to be able to weave in such an environment.  The success of the trip also led to return visits in 2012 and 2017.

Beyond Weaving

DARC is a group of individuals who were brought together to perform high level demonstrations as well as carry out research on the crafts of the Viking Age.  My recent focus within the group has been research into the design of Norse bead ovens and the rediscovery of the techniques needed to create the various bead designs found in Norse artifacts.  Details of the research can be found on the DARC website (www.darkcompany.ca) and has been published in part in the EXARC journal.

My profession is that of a high school chemistry teacher - primarily within the International Baccalaureate system.  Since I am a firm believer that knowledge should be shared, I have worksheets available for use at  https://sites.google.com/site/schweitzerscience

Other interests include the harp, reading, and choral music among others, but they don't tend to get the time they deserve.