Introspection

I had a wonderful weekend at a spinning workshop which I will discuss in the next few posts as I get some time in to rest and process the myriad of ideas in my brain. After the first full day of class and a wonderful evening with new found fiber friends, I was driving to a hotel and something interesting happened. I was faced with insights on myself.

I am an observer. I love people and I am always fascinated by them. Their eye contact, body language, facial expression, ease of laughter, what is said and what is told by what is left unsaid is amazing to me. The interactions between two people versus group dynamics is fun to watch and to analyze. I love to try to figure out why people do what they do. I am usually pretty good at sensing people's "vibes" which has been a great asset in my life.

That being said, when I turn the tables and look at myself, which I was presented an opportunity to do this weekend, I am constantly learning new things. I love hearing other people's stories but I am hesitant to tell my own. I get so excited about hearing other people's stories that it is often difficult when "on the spot" to share, to think of something to say about me. I am generally not the focus. I guess this presents a challenge in blogging doesn't it? One that I will try to overcome gradually by "coming out of my shell" so to speak.

Which brings me to pictures, I unfortunately did not take a camera this weekend. DUH!! I have a blog now where I want to share my experiences! Why did I not take a camera? First of all, I guess it is ingrained in me from way back when, not to interrupt or disrupt a forum as a show of respect for the person leading it. I know, I know, I need to relax a bit. Hey, in my defense, 8 years of parochial education with handsmacking ruler rapping nuns in charge puts a damper on some very basic instincts to be a "renegade".

Another reason for not taking a camera with me probably goes a lot deeper. I rarely have my picture taken. That being said, I posted a self shot with me holding the camera above so that you can truly see that I exist. Haha. Relish it now folks, pictures of me are usually scarce. My children will probably look back on photos decades from now and say, "Did we really have a mom or was that a figment of our imaginations?" I am usually the one behind the camera taking the photos. So it was very interesting this weekend when Jenny was taking photos while we were spinning. I didn't mind having my photo taken but it was a really weird sensation as to "what does she want me to do in this photo?" Should I look serious and keep spinning with my head down? Should I look up and smile for the world? Or should I jump up and dance gleefully exhibiting my latest handspun? Going back to the ruler rapping nuns, I was not a renegade, I quit laughing or chatting or whatever I was doing at the moment and demurely looked down in "deep concentration" at my wheel. Why???

I'm going to tell you a secret. Come a little closer and listen carefully... I am shy. Now people who really know me say, "YEAH RIGHT!" "Once she gets talking, she never shuts up! Egads!"
Seriously, I was extremely shy as a child. The first 8 years of school were spent with basically the same 14 kids in my class. It varied a bit from year to year but mostly it was 9 girls and 5 boys and then I was thrown into a public high school of 400 people and although I was in gymnastics and cheerleading...yes, I was a cheerleader and pom pom girl. I know some of you are gagging right now! I was considered in the "in crowd" so to speak but I never felt part of the crowd. I was often mistaken as being stuck up when basically I was still extremely shy and overwhelmed by people. Eventhough I loved people, it always surprised and amazed me when they liked me. I was like Sally Field, "They like me! They really like me!" Ha ha. Over the MANY QUADRILLION years since then, it is funny to see that part of that shyness still exists.

A friend once summed it up that I am very careful who I give my heart to. That being said, I will share a few more secrets about me.
I am: humble, extremely grateful, playful, inquisitive, creative, love challenges,intelligent, intuitive, compassionate, passionate and extremely loyal. I love to laugh and be around people who make me laugh. I would give the shirt off my back to you or do anything I humanly can to ease your pain. If nervous or really excited about something, I will "chatter" like a squirrel. (That is in reference of never shutting up.) I find pleasure and greatness in nature and the simplest things. I am a hugger and when my heart encompasses you, look out world; I'll defend you until the day I die. It may take a while to get to know me but all in all, not too bad, eh?

Starting With Socks

Hello,

No pictures today. I just wanted to give you a little background information about me. I have always loved fiber arts, texture, color, the amazing act of making something from nothing, etc. I learned to knit about age 9 from my mother but I don't have a specific recollection of it, only that I knit little bitty garter stitch Barbie scarves and that was the end of that. That was the same age as when I , with the help of my ingenious and talented mother, learned how to sew a dress for my Raggedy Ann doll. And yes, Mom, it had to be the yellow fabric with blue flowers on it! You have been recently "gifted" with that doll and said dress.

As a youngster, I tried crewel, needlepoint and counted cross stitch. I taught myself to crochet and made afghans as big as a tent! Don't laugh, Mom! You probably still have that one super duper monstrosity! Haha. But hey, I got better and won an honorable mention in Women's Day Magazine for my design when I was 19. I still have my prize, a full set of Bernat crochet hooks.

As I entered high school, I was enamored with quilts. Not knowing anyone who quilted at that time, I read everything I could and I taught myself handpiecing and handquilting. Quilting kept me busy up until the past decade or so. I even taught quilting classes for awhile when I was pregnant with my daughter (now 9).

While I was teaching at a quilting class, I met a lady who made hand hooked rugs. Well, that new passion ruled my life for awhile. I was fortunate to learn from a lady in her 9th decade of life and she was a wonderful mentor. Thanks so much, Alberta! I was also very fortunate to learn from several gifted teachers from across the country including Joyce Krueger, whom I will always be gratetful. They truly inspired me and I learned to express myself with dyeing wool fabric for hooked rugs. I even did a few commission pieces between chasing toddlers and changing diapers.

Then I happened to stumble across the book, "The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook" by Lynne Vogel. It totally changed my life. I looked at the colors and the fiber and KNEW just KNEW that this was a new medium for my dyeing. I needed to learn to knit and spin... NOW!! Being a stay at home mom with two small children, and knowing that as they grew, I needed something "portable" to do, my rugs and quilts were put away to make way for this new phase of fiber arts.

I discovered Needles and Pins yarn shop in Delavan WI and signed up immediately for a sock class. Doreen Marquart, the owner (and now author), was wonderful in helping this "crazy lady" who was a beginner knitter learn to knit socks. She explained that knitters don't start with socks. I was not deterred. I was on a mission! I figure, if I want it badly enough, I'll figure out how to do it! And so it began... Thanks, Doreen, I've loved the time we've spent together and with Kim. Then I was fortunate enough to meet, Lisa, www.sheepeez.blogspot.com who welcomed me into her home and her life. I was enamored with her sheep, the shearing and the spinning process and purchased my first wheel from her. I was off and running which later included being a part of her knitting group and making great friends with creative souls, starting the quest of fiber festivals and even dyeing fiber for Wee Croft Finn Sheep for awhile. Wee Croft is owned by the wonderful Sandy DeMaster. We were thrilled when my dyed fiber was chosen one year to be used in a class for the Midwest Felting Symposium in Madison, WI.

So where does that leave me now? I am currently living in a new state since the first of the year. We moved from Southeast WI to Northeast IN. I am doing some production spinning to help feed my "fiber addiction". I am enjoying time with my family; a wonderful husband, a daughter (9), a son (11), a rough coat Collie named Simba (he's not embarrassed to have his name on my blog), two cats, Tigger and Jaguar and my daughter's hamster (who likes to remain anonymous...haha). I am trying to convince my much missed WI neighbor, friend, and creative knitter extraordinaire, Judy, to blog so I can keep up with her "works of art". I am slowly uncovering and unpacking WIP's and my yarn stash so that I can make a dent in it. And most of all, I am trying to find my way to new fiber friends.