AND it's future. Knitting and crocheting isn't the only things that I do. I've been sitting here thinking about what this blog means to me and what I really want it to be for you.
I have so many likes, dislikes, interests and real loves of so many different crafts and so many people don't understand how I can do so much and do it well. It's not all that bad to do so much. I was always told to stick to one thing and learn it well but I am not the type of person that can do that. Nope, not me.
I find nothing wrong with loving to do more than one thing, hobby, or interest at one time. Afterall, many women love their husband, their children, love to sew and cook........hey, that's more than one thing. I've done a real close look at my loves..........
I started out with fiber arts, that a more professional way of saying knitting and crocheting. My Mother was making a knitted afghan out of square blocks of knitted yarn in dark colors. I remember purple and blues for sure. I helped her knit them at the age of 10. Lots of us started knitting and crocheting at a very young age. Many say, "I've been knitting all my life!" And many many have been, just as I feel I have been. I would love to hear from all of you who would like to share what age you were when you learned to knit or crochet. Did your mother teach you? Your grandmother? Let me know in the comments.
Do you want to know my likes in crafting, needlework, etc?
I started with knitting as I stated above. I knew I loved art and did lots of drawing and painting as a child. I remember using bottle caps, erasers, toys and drew geometric patterns coloring in all the areas with bright colors. We only had crayons at that time.
We, my sister and I, as we got older would draw rooms or just one corner of a room and worked so hard at getting the perspective correct. Of course, we didn't know it was perspective.......it was just the corners. Art was my favorite subject in school.
Then I learned to sew in school; middle school and high school, as part of Home Ec. I always took on the hardest patterns I could find. I once tried to make a plaid men's sport coat! At age 15! I didn't know how to match plaid and a sport jacket?! What was I thinking! My poor Mother just shook her head and said she couldn't help but I did finally get it done. Amazing!
Then after I got married and became a stay at home Mom, I learned how to crochet and embroider and kept going with my painting.......this time pictures not geometric patterns. I tried oils but didn't like the smell nor how long it took to dry. I continued sewing and made all my own clothes and those of the kids. I used to create my own patterns by taking parts of one and combining it with another. I also have always cut our hair.......even my husband's and I still do to this day. The kids take care of their own now that they are in their 30s and 40s, but I still cut my own.
I really got into crafts when most everyone did. Remember the big craft surge, craft sales, and shows? Was that in the 90's.........early 90's, I think. I made it my full time job while the kids were off to school everyday. I had my own band saw and sander. I designed and painted all my wood items to sell. I did that for about 10 years till things just weren't selling anymore, the crowds got smaller and sales almost quit! I was doing shows and was in about 3 consignment shops. Remember them?
I continued to design and became a craft designer for that industry traveling about every 6 months to sell my designs. I went to NYC, Dallas, Orlando, MPLS, Chicago, places in CA and also took the test to become a Professional Craft Designer and Professional Craft Demonstrator at the trade shows. I worked for Plaid, Syndicate Sales, and a few others. I loved every minute of it.
Here we are to today. I continue to craft, knit, crochet, paint and create! I have added crochet jewelry, beading, working with wire, I love Kumihimo, working on our family tree, acrylic painting, filet crochet design, watercolor painting, mixed media and love love love paper........I make albums, journals and paper beads. I can't wait to add, polymer clay bead making and calligraphy. Oh there's so much to do and so little time. Have you heard of Viking knitting with wire!!??
I will be showing you all the things I've created. It's going to take some time but I hope to be able to go back and show you what I have done. If you've followed this blog or have gone into the archives, you can see some of the stuff or you can go to artsandcraftsdotcom.blogspot.com to see even more.
I have tons of filet crochet patterns I can share and some I can sell you, I have lots of jewelry to share, my crocheting, painting, on and on. So stay tuned.........
Don't forget to tell my about your knitting and crocheting beginnings. I'd love to hear from you!
Keep creating!
K
.JPG)
.JPG)
NO HOLE!
.JPG)
