I had a fantastic day yesterday, getting a tour of some of the better, more interesting and downright perplexing craft supply shops around Portland. I didn't get to have my own yarn spun at Yarnia but I did find some amazing insane old craft magazines at Knittn Kitten (expect vegetable bouquets to appear here in the near future), and some Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric at the Fabric Depot .That's going to be my kitchen curtains. Seriously, it will be awesome.
But the most inspiring spot was Twisted. I invite all of you to visit me and we'll go there. There are couches, and tea, and wonderful people and they only have one (1!) yarn that has acrylic in it. I couldn't find it. They have patterns all over, books, you can sign up for lessons... and some sock yarn so stunning it made me want to conquer my fear of double pointed needles.
In between my new printer/scanner, my new camera, and the existence of Twisted, I am excited for what I can do this year. But here's the thing. I'm not going to assign myself anything. I'm not going to say now what I will and will not do this year. The only promise I'm going to try and keep is that I will finish the projects I start, in some form or fashion.
I have some old (1902) issues of Good Housekeeping magazine. So many articles and ads on how to keep busy with fabric and paint, home decorating and food. How lucky we are that these things we call "crafts" can be our comfort and solace, inspiration and meditation as they have been for generations before. I wonder if it isn't so much the finished project, but the work itself that is important. After all, how often is it that we keep the work for ourselves? But the time we spend in creation, that is ours, and ours alone.
Save some time for yourself everybody, and fill it with what you love. Happy New Year!
1 comment:
Funny you mention how we get to do crafts for pleasure...my 93 old grandmother told me that her mother used to crochet. My grandmother asked her to teach her how to do it and her mother said, "no, I don't want you to become distracted from your chores." My grandmother then order a "how to crochet kit" from some catalog (this had to be in 30's) and taught herself. She crocheted two large wall panels, both religious in nature. I only found this out in August. My grandmother never ever told me (or my mother)she had made such things and until a few months earlier she had kept them in a cedar chest. They are quite beautiful and are actually filet crochet. I will have to ask her why she never did any more.
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