Wondering more about me?

I guess you could say, in a lot of ways, I'm an Old Soul when it comes to crafting...

At 27 years old, I have tried a lot of different things... things that perhaps "normal" ladies my age are not usually interested in at all.   But then again, I won't try and tell you that I have always been all that "normal" in the first place :)   For some reason art, needle crafts, sewing, spinning, and general hand work have always been a constant source of intrigue and fascination for me.  To be able to create things, in my opinion, is such a wonderful and encompassing gift.  A hobby and a Passion really. 

I guess I got it all honestly enough...  When I was little I remember watching my Mom, and both Grandmothers working on all sorts of crafts and hobbies.  As far back as I can remember, Mom has always worked on some sort of project to keep her hands busy and as a relaxation tool.  And luckily for me, my Mom having the patience of a saint and the talents of a teacher, always encouraged me to try whatever she was working on, and helped me to hone my art skills and culture my creative side.  It never seemed to matter what it was that I wanted to try, she would sit and work with me until I got it figured out.  And help me ravel things out when I wasn't so successful.  Honestly, even today, if I mess up on a pattern, and have to ravel something back, or take apart quilt mistakes, I go home, and she helps me to fix whatever it is.  If I have a crafting dilemma, usually I only have to make 3 phone calls to get things straightened out... By the time I get to the third "expert" I'm loaded with sound advice, and am ready to keep on going.

I crocheted my first afghan at a very young age, before I was 10 I think, and learned to knit basic things like scarves and mittens early on too.  Through my childhood and teens, I flitted back and forth between needle arts (knitting, crochet, cross-Stitch, crewel, embroidery) and art lessons, where I learned to sketch and paint.   I have always been a "doodler", and like to try doing things my own way, and teaching myself unique or simpler ways to do things.  In my teens, I taught myself to do "tatting" and made lace and doilies.  Mom helped me to make my first quilt in 2001, when I moved off to college on my own and needed something to keep myself busy.  In a way, crafting as a creative outlet has always been a big part of my life.  It's a great way to make gifts for loved ones, and a great way for me to unwind from my stressful job.  This summer (2008) I finally got up the nerve to buy a spinning wheel, and try handspinning on for size.  It's been a whorlwind love afair... with no end in sight.

My goal in writing this blog, is to share my crafting adventures, and hopefully to show the world just how much my art means to me... how much of myself I pour into it... and maybe laugh with me along the way when the road gets bumpy.

A Thank You...

to my Marky, who set up this site, and who doesn't yell at me when the yarn and fabric starts taking over the whole house.

to my Mom, who taught me the majority of what I know at this point.