Monday, September 29, 2008

Welcome fall...

Finally, a beautifully cool, yet sunny, fall day. I love this weather. It inspires my weaving, house cleaning and just about everything else. This is the season I live for, the transition from the hot muggy days of summer to the dreary, grey skied winter days. Although the snow does give me an excuse to act like a little kid again.

I have tons of weaving to do and this is the perfect day to get something done about it. The Endless Mts. Fiber Festival just about cleaned out my inventory and I have three shows coming up. My pattern books are adorning my living room floor as I spend endless evening hours picking out my next projects. See, I am addicted to buying patterns. There are so many creative minds out there that are willing to share their creativity with us. I must support their efforts! Now I just need to find the time to weave and guess that is my cue to stop babbling.

Enjoy the beauty of today!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Hello gang...This is my first attempt at a blog, so bear with me. I'm not sure I have too much to say but here it goes.

I used to ride horses, for pleasure and competitively. It comforted my heart and soul, there is something about the smell of a horse's breathe, the warmth of their body and their willingness to do most of what we ask, blind trust. When I was diagnosed with MS in 2000 I had to give it up due to some of my symptoms at the time. I still have my beloved Abby, but we do not get to share the same time any longer. Life continued, I got married, had my children and even though I am capable of riding again, it has to wait a few more years. I was left with a huge void in my life and my soul longed for fulfillment.

Not thinking anything of it, I took a basket weaving class at a local craft shop. I was instantly addicted and slowly built my skills, discovering a hidden talent. Slowly the void began to fill. I started selling my baskets at local craft shows as a way to get out of the house, but that has now turned into a way to rid myself of the many baskets I have accumulated. I can now work out situations and problems while weaving the same way I used to be able to work them out on the back of my Abby. She was always willing to match my mood, wether it was somber and I needed to just spend time alone with her, or energized by a bad day and filled with tension. She was always there and together we managed to make it through many tough situations that only she and I knew about. I can now work out my demons while weaving. There are some baskets that are woven and, due to the mood at the time, do not leave fond memories and therefore I vow to never make another, while others are done with peaceful tranquilty and I can not wait to weave more like it.

There is something about taking a piece of a vine that once grew to the treetops and by using just a few simple techinques making something beautiful. I spent the weekend a few weeks ago at a fiber festival in northern PA. Now I want to learn to spin. Again, taking raw fiber, just sheared from the animal, washing, carding and spinning into yarn that can then be used to make a wearable garment speaks to my soul in a way I don't think I will be able to ignore.