I was first introduced to the world of fiber arts, when a great grandmother gave me curly hair ribbons. This little gift made a huge impact on my life and soon I was learning to crochet. I remember the first thing I crocheted was a green scarf, that turned out to be two different widths by the time I finished.
My mom was the greatful owner of that new scarf. She must have truly encouraged me, because I continue to this designing and creating and I am thankful for her love of color and design and her investment in my life and the lives of everyone she meets. She instilled in me, that Art is to be a place of connection.
Pictured are some of the things I have enjoyed creating throughout the years.
I really enjoy fiber arts most, because it is a place where people can sit together and have great growth in conversation and creativity, and it is a place where people can be encouraged and learn new things.
It was about 12 years after I crocheted that scarf, before I met the love of my life and I began to crochet rag rugs and placemats, and connecting straps of fabric to crochet and sell. As my children grew, I found our home to be a place where, I could teach them. Soon I would teach them what I knew...crocheting and connecting strips of fabric...fiber arts became the place that I spent with our daughters,, connecting and learning and growing...and designing and creating clothing for them.
In 2005, our family grew and we were blessed with a son. There have been many adventures and many different avenues of growing and sharing, besides fiber arts. Animal husbandry and spindle creations have been, some of the things we have been able to share with our son.
Our children have all grown and our family has grown too. and fiber arts has, in some way or another become new avenues of creativity in all their lives!
As the seasons flew by, and in the midst of music and studies, fiber arts continued to be a tool to create and soon I learned filet crochet design. Which was a great tool for supplementing income and helped me through long hours away from my family at work. I began to share filet crochet with new moms at the hospital I worked at, and made many banners for new babies born there. I also learned to weave on peg board loom and this became a wonderful avenue for my coworkers and I in the middle of long shifts.
Here in this new season, within the last five years, a sweet opportunity has been afforded, through my husband's sweet love, we have been able to enjoy and learn about fiber animals and the tools of processing their fiber into beautiful yarns. So In this part of the journey we have been learning and growing and stewarding animals together. We have a sweet dog named Sam, who is our livestock guardian and so far we have had, Navajo Churro, Shetland sheep, and Angora goats and Angora rabbits. There are many challenges and opportunities to grow.The thing I have enjoyed the most about fiber arts, has been in the experiences and the people that I have met and walked with along the way. Growing with them and learning and creating. Maybe you have a fiber arts journey to share, or maybe you are just beginning.
