Life keeps bringing challenges....

But that builds character, right?!?  Ah, well.... one of the current challenges is that I haven't had internet at home for about a month now, which is why you haven't heard from me.  It's a long story, and I am (right now, this very minute) posting from the library computer so am just going to stop here.  I did want you to know why I have been so quiet ~ it hasn't been all holiday stuff.  Hope everyone has had happy holidays and will have a very blessed New Year!

Come Sail Away....

I'm not doing a lot of writing on this post - I really wanted to share this link:
http://vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/index.php?id=1313&L=1. 
In my world, this is really fascinating stuff.  I think being able to re-create historic textiles really does give us a connection to our past ~ it makes it more personal... almost intimate... when we, as modern people, use the tools, techniques, and materials of our ancestors to make the things that they did.... it allows us, in a very limited way, to really know them and get inside of their world. 

Two things in particular that struck me when reading this were:  1) that it took five people a year to spin and weave the cloth for one sail.... but that sail would last 30 - 50 years.  To me, among many other things, that denotes skilled craftsmanship.  How many fabrics that are machine mass-produced in our modern world would stand up to that kind of rigorous use for 30- 50 years???  I don't know the answer to that, but I'm betting that there aren't many.  2) And that, in the case of the iconographic checkered sail, "perhaps that every household in the area produced a 'square' ".  All I could think when reading that was that it really did take a village.... just to survive and provide for the necessities of life.... and that we are all that much poorer to not have to really work together as a community to meet those needs in this modern world.  Which is all the more reason to celebrate and encourage those times when we do come together.

I hope you enjoy it!

Better in blue jeans

After reading Kristin Nicholas' most recent post on her "Getting Stitched on the Farm" blog about being outside last weekend (http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.com/2010/10/colorful-walk-on-our-road.html) I started thinking again about how much I also enjoyed my time outside last weekend.  She included some gorgeous photos that really bring you right along with her as she talks about the walk she took.  I wish I had done the same.  In fact, I actually wished I had the camera with me while on my walk on Sunday but by the time I thought of it I was so far into the woods that I was not going back to get it.  What a shame!  I would have loved to share some of the beauty of it with you.  It would have also been fun to share photos of Saturday's hay bale moving excursion (three pick-up truck loads).  I think I am going to try to remember to carry the camera with me more often.  I also need to remember to use it when I am home!  After all, what good is it to tell you that I have knitted a pair of socks (or am in the middle of it) and not also SHOW you what they look like?!  Sigh... don't know why I haven't done this before now.

So, what does all this have to do with textiles?  Interestingly, a good bit.  As I mentioned above, I helped move three truck pickup truck loads of hay on Saturday.  Now, I haven't done any haying since I was a teenager, but I remembered how hay can make you itch so I wore a long sleeved cotton turtleneck, jeans, socks, and sneakers.  Oh, yeah, and gloves... but those were leather.  I topped it off with a fleece vest, because it was a little chilly.  So, big deal, right?  Well, I found out in no time that fleece was a poor choice ~ the hay loves to stick to it.  A better choice would have been a sweatshirt ~ pretty sure the hay wouldn't have stuck quite as much.  Jeans, on the other hand, were the best thing I could've worn.  Sturdy, smooth (no hay sticking here!) and comfortable.  I wore jeans again when I went for my walk in the woods on Sunday afternoon.  Same benefits:  sturdy, comfortable, and brambles, branches, and briars didn't stick.  In addition to the jeans, I wore a long sleeved t-shirt, a cowl that I had knit last year (chilly again), gloves, and a fleece jacket.  I'm sure at this point you are saying "big deal" again and wondering what the point of all this is...

It got me thinking about jeans.  They've become the ubiquitous (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ubiquitous) garment of our time.  Do you think Levi Strauss ever imagined that they would become so popular?  I doubt it.  Originally, they were work clothes.  In fact, Levi Strauss originally marketed them as "waist overalls" (ie:  overalls without a bib).  I did a little digging out of curiosity, and found that they didn't come into regular use for everyday wear until after James Dean popularized them in Rebel Without A Cause.  After that, they became the garment for rebellious teenagers and there was no stopping their creep into modern-day mainstream life.  The fabric that jeans are made of has been around for much longer, though.  In fact, I wove denim twill as a sample in one of the 18th century weave structures classes I have taken at the John C. Campbell Folk School (www.folkschool.org).  Ahhh... so, what's twill, you say?  Ok, at least you non-weavers may be saying that... Twill is a fabric that is woven so that the weft threads (the "back and forth" threads) pass over one or more warp threads (the "straight" threads that are attached to the loom) and then under two or more warp threads.  In what is referred to as a 'straight twill' this creates a "step" pattern that is characteristic of twill fabric.
This is an example of a 2/2 twill fabric, where the weft threads go over, then under, two warp threads at a time.  Denim is a warp-faced twill (meaning that the warp threads are dominant on the face) that is sturdy and hard- wearing.  The word 'denim' is thought to come from an abbreviation of "de Nimes", which is a reference to Nimes, France where a sturdy serge fabric (a 2/2 twill) called serge de Nimes was originally woven (and dyed with indigo for the characteristic blue color) during the Middle Ages.  The word "serge" comes to us from the ancient Roman sarge, the twill fabric woven for Roman soldiers over 2,000 years ago, which just goes to show that everything old is, indeed, new again.

Life changes and decisions

Oh, my goodness, where to begin?  As a friend of mine used to say, I'm whirling... meaning that my thoughts are churning and I am getting caught up in them as they hurdle past me, one after another, many of them conflicting.  Not just thoughts, but hopes and dreams, too.   In many ways, I find that I am returning to my core passions, my core values.  It's almost as if my life has come full circle.

So, what are these core passions?  Textiles, traditions (hence the blog name) and traditional ways, nature, food and nutrition, health, and history.  It hasn't been easy to nail this down.  The real challenge:  figure out how to incorporate all of these into my life in meaningful ways.  'Textiles and traditions' I already incorporate into my life in many ways:  I collect antique linens, I knit and weave gifts for friends and family, I knit and weave things for home and personal use, and I have made it a point to learn as much as I can about historic methods of textile production and use (at least some) of these techniques when I am making things, which also touches on 'history' in regards to textiles.   My other connection to 'history' in regards to textiles is a research project I have been working on for several years now documenting clothing worn in the backcountry of the Carolinas in the Revolutionary War era (yes, really).  I hope to get this completed and published in the next year or two.  'Nature' has been neglected for a long while now, but I am starting to get back to that.  Just being out in nature helps and having moved to a more rural area makes it easier.  Planning the garden for next year is another connection to nature along with returning to, and making plans to realize, a life-long dream:  organic farming.  Seriously.  I'm thinking veggies and maybe some chickens come first - after that, well... we'll see.

'Food, nutrition, and health', well, that's another story.  I am a great believer in "food as medicine" and am truly passionate about how important good nutrition is for good health.  I am currently working towards becoming a PA (Physician's Assistant) because I want to be able to help people.  I also hope to promote health and wellness through education about food and nutrition.  That is a serious dream, and it ties in to the above mentioned (equally serious) dream of an organic farm.   Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could someday help to teach patients (and anyone else who is interested) about food and nutrition by bringing them to the farm and teaching them right there, where the food is growing?  Sharing easy recipes for fresh food that will improve their health?  Time will tell if this will happen, but it sounds great on paper...

All of this comes under the heading of 'one step at a time', much like making and growing things does.  You can't knit unless you first acquire or make the tools and the yarn, same with weaving.  You can't eat unless you first acquire or grow the food.  And, you can't be a PA unless you first complete the pre-requisite courses for the program and then complete the program.  That's where I'm at now - just a couple more classes to go. 

You also can't give Christmas gifts unless you make them if you, like me, make all your gifts.  My list this year is slightly shorter than last, but still long enough.  :)  This year it includes: 3 scarves, 4 hats, and 7 pair of socks.  There may be more, but I think that's most of it.  Two of the hats are already done, 3 pair of the socks are half finished, and one of the scarves is started.  I think I can do it.  As far as the rest of life goes... well, I think I can do that, too.  I'll just keep plugging away at it, one thing at a time.  Thanks again for joining me on the journey...

Until later, God bless....

Running Away to Home....

I ran away at the beginning of August.  Not from home, but to it.  I grew up in a beautiful area of Western Massachusetts, in the Pioneer Valley, and that's where I went.  When I was young, I couldn't wait to get away from the town I grew up in... it seemed like such a backwater to a kid who thought she wanted something more from life than what she saw around her.  I was so impatient, in fact, that I never took the time to really find out what was there.   I can see, now, that I missed a lot.  I can see now, too, that my fundamental personality was shaped by living in that area, in that community.

I spent two weeks back in my old home town, not far from the house I grew up in.   Not much has changed since I left... it all looks pretty much the same.   It's farm country, so there's not a lot of development.  No big malls, no expensive stores, no "city" stuff like I am used to now.   However, for the first time I can appreciate the peace that I found there.  No real rush hour traffic, no constant barrage of city noise (sirens, traffic, airplanes, etc.).....just peace and tranquility.  I'm sure that I am romanticizing it some, but for the first time I felt like I really belonged there.

I've lived in the South for going on twenty years now, and have come to deeply love it.  In fact, I have been referring to it as "home" for a good while now.  However, I realized during my two weeks in my old home town that I have missed New England terribly and never realized it.  The smells are what really got me.  Just the smell of the air is different.  Somehow comforting and familiar....the trees, the grass, everything.  I spent a lot of time outside when I was a kid - walking in the woods, climbing trees, playing in the yard.  Then, when I got old enough, it was helping with yard work - mowing the lawn, pruning trees and shrubs, working in the barn, even splitting wood.  Very "country" kind of stuff, not "city" stuff like I've been living with for most of my time in the South.  Not sure why, but I feel a deep need to return to "country" living.  As I said, I am probably romanticizing it some, but it's still where I want to be.  

That being said, that's what I have been doing and why I have been quiet.  I moved back to my old home town on September first.  It's going to be hard.  My kids still live down south and, while they're grown ups now, I am still adamant about spending birthdays and holidays with them.  I've lived away from them for about four years now and have adjusted to seeing them about once a month and hope to be able to continue that.  I'll also be going back to school and working, so that is going to be a challenge.  Hopefully, they will come and visit me sometimes, too.  Weather will be another challenge.  I am NOT used to New England winters anymore!  Good thing I'm a knitter and weaver, eh?!  Which leads me to....

What I am working on now:  well, for the extended short term, my weaving stuff (along with the VAST majority of my belongings) is in storage and mostly inaccessible.  It wasn't supposed to be that way but that's the way it came off the truck so that's the way it is for now.  So, that means that what I am working on now is knitting.  Right now, socks in heavy brown alpaca.  Not sure about the wisdom of using that particular yarn for socks (here's the link:  http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-fiber-alpaca/webs-knitting-yarns-valley-yarns-deerfield/) - but it sounded good at the time.  Probably would be better if I had chosen 100% alpaca, instead of an alpaca/silk blend.  It's a lovely yarn to work with, just not sure how it will hold up as socks.  I have one finished and it's very nice, and will certainly feel good on the feet, we'll just have to wait and see how it wears over time.

Until later, God bless and be safe!

"He played knick-knack on my knee"

No, I didn't forget you... honest.  I've thought about you almost daily since my last post but "life" has been persistently getting in between me and the computer so that I could write.  It's been getting between me and the loom, too, which is also not good but it's part of the experience of living.  "Two steps forward, three steps back", indeed!  I had no idea how pertinent that was when I wrote it and am starting to wonder if I inadvertently jinxed myself!  The title for this blog comes from the "This Old Man" nursery rhyme and seems appropriate because I've found out since my last post that I have a torn ACL in my left knee.  (The whole nursery rhyme can be found at http://www.singingbabies.com/OldMan.html).  So, between visits to the doctor, an MRI, physical therapy, and other life commitments, I am moving pretty slow and haven't been back to the loom since my last post.  Bad weaver!  Seriously, though, I know if I don't take care of it I will have permanent problems, so I am doing my best.

In the meantime, I am knitting.  Treadling the loom aggravates the knee right now, so knitting has moved to the head of the pack.  What am I knitting?  Too many things at once!  Well, not really at once since I still only have two hands, but I always have multiple projects in the works at one time.  Two baby things, three pair of socks, a hat, and a shawl.  There are several others, but they are on the far, far back burner and will move forward as I finish these primary ones.  Crazy?  Yes.  In love with textiles?  Absolutely!  There's no telling what else life is going to throw at me but, regardless, I do seem to be able to engage in some form of textile art no matter what's going on.  It brings me peace and feeds my soul to work with beautiful fibers and colors so, even if life gets stressful, textiles have a way of tempering that for me.

I am in love with knitting needles from Lantern Moon.  I feel that, in working with (sometimes expensive) beautiful yarns, it is a joy to work with equally beautiful tools.  I would advocate purchasing them from your LYS, but if you can't or don't have one, they can be found on Amazon:   Lantern Moon knitting needles on Amazon

Since I do a LOT of driving and travelling, I have several yarn stores that I consider to be my "local" yarn stores, even if they aren't geographically local to me.  I've included them in my links.  It's really, really hard to choose a "favorite" between them and, since they all have their own personalities, I really don't think I can.  Obviously, Webs (Northampton, MA) http://www.yarn.com/ is huge and has a fabulous selection.  They also do a wonderful job with mail order.  In my mind, they are sort of a "big box" type yarn store with a great staff and a hometown, LYS feel.  Hard to explain, but I think that sort of captures it.   On the other hand, there are some smaller stores that I am in love with and visit semi-regularly ~ anywhere from once or twice a year to once or twice a month.  In the once or twice a year category, there is A Likely Yarn (Abingdon, VA) http://www.alikelyyarn.com/.  They have a fabulous selection of yarns, books, and patterns with a wonderfully helpful and friendly staff.  I had a great experience there last September and look forward to returning this year.  The also have an interesting program they call "Yarn Amnesty" - check out their website to find out about it!  Moving along, there is a great shop in Greensboro, NC called Gate City Yarns http://www.gatecityyarns.com/.  Beautiful shop, very well organized displays of equally beautiful yarns.   My yarn "home" however, is near the Folk School in Murphy, NC.  http://www.yarncircle.com/  Yarn Circle is the creation of my friends Pam and Martha.  I absolutely cannot say enough about this shop!  Great selection for everything from spinning, to weaving, to felting, to...?  It's a "must visit" yarn store if you are anywhere near, or even just in the region.  Both Pam and Martha are Resident Artists at the Folk School, are tremendously helpful, knowledgeable, talented folks who also happen to be just plain wonderful people and dear friends.   Another dear friend is behind Peace Weavers http://stores.ebay.com/peaceweavers.  Even though the shop is on line, the yarns are fabulous and should not be missed.  They have a great selection of Fleece Artist and Hand Maiden yarns that are just gorgeous!

In the once or twice a month category, in Pineville, NC there is The Yarn Shop by Rainy Day Creations http://www.rainydaycreationsinc.com/.  My dear friend Linda is there and, wow, what a shop!  Gorgeous, gorgeous stuff!  Wonderful, friendly people! And not just yarn - patterns & books galore, weaving and spinning supplies, too.  Check out their website or, if you are anywhere near, it's also a "must visit" yarn store!   In Bedford, VA there is Yarn Theory http://yarntheory.com/.  I've always had good experiences with these folks, too.  Fantastic selection of sock yarns ~ I LOVE to knit socks, so I go there as often as I can.  Very friendly, helpful folks.  They have an program called "Warm Up Bedford" that is a wonderful, generous, caring community oriented program - please see their website to find out about it.

I've probably gone on enough for now.  I know there are other shops but these are the ones that I visit with any regularity and that come immediately to mind.  If I've left out anyone please know you have my sincere apologies and that it was probably because that "old man" is playing on my knee and distracting me!

Until next time ~ be safe and God bless!

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back

Life is, indeed, what happens while we are busy making other plans!  In this case, "life happening" is that I have discovered that I have a partially torn ACL in my left knee.  And a bone bruise.  Both from an accident I had last December.  The doctor says that hopefully, with physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the knee, I can avoid surgery.  I hope he's right because I don't relish the idea of surgery.  In the meantime, I am wearing a serious-looking brace with metal bars and hinges, held together with velcro.  The brace itself isn't terribly comfortable, but it helps keep the knee stable and I really don't want it to go out again so I'll keep wearing it. 
The "other plans" are, of course, this venture into weaving for a living.  I haven't gotten as much done as I had hoped since my last post but I can't blame that all on the knee.  There was a family birthday celebration that took me away for a couple of days, too.  I have made some progress and several napkins are woven, though the warp is still on the loom.  Honestly, I'm not sure how happy I am with them.  I'll let you be the judge when they are done and can be photgraphed with their placemats.  I should be finished weaving them in the next day or so, then I will have to "finish" (ie:  hem, wash, and press) them.  Hopefully I will have photos of completed sets to share next time I post.
In the interest if getting back to weaving, I am going to sign off for today and will post again in a week or so. 
Until then, be safe and God bless!

Never a Dull Moment...

Funny how life goes... one day you think you have it all figured out and the next thing you know, it all changes.  I'm not sure, but I think the quote is, "Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans".  That certainly fits.  You don't know it, but if you keep reading you are going to end up on a journey with me.  I don't really know where we're going yet, but I do know that it will be interesting! 
I am at the beginning of my career as a "professional handweaver".... or "artisan"... or whatever other appropriate label you might like to use.   I've been a weaver, knitter, and spinner for over two decades.  Lord!  That makes me sound old!   I sure don't feel that way, though, and I'm not.  I am excited about the future of this endeavor.  I love making textiles, and I've had success in selling them over the years.  People generally seem to like the things I make.
So, why am I here, writing this blog?   Well, I'm reading a book.  Books are another love, so I expect that I will be talking about them on here, too.  I'll try to keep it related to textiles as much as possible.  The book I'm reading is The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin. I'm including a link because, honestly, I think it's an outstanding book. I've started other businesses, read other "starting your crafts business" books, and watched other family members start businesses, plus I have a degree in business, so I'm no stranger to this stuff.   This book, however, is one of the best I've read so far on starting a business specifically focused on craft.  And, this book is why I'm right here, right now, writing to you ~ she strongly recommends blogging.   I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever write a blog. Really. I find myself interested in and inspired by others' blogs, and never thought I would find myself writing one but here I am.  She (and all the others that contribute) knows what she's talking about, so I'm doing it. 
Ok, so that's the reason I'm writing the blog.  So, what I am doing to start this business?  Well.... right now I'm building inventory (ie:  weaving!) and getting both my Etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/KarenASmith) and this blog up and running.  And trying to get my workroom organized.  Designing!  And creating inventory for an art fair that I have committed to attend in November.  I'll post more info on that as the time gets closer.
I've been away from weaving due to other commitments for a couple of months now, but have spent the last two days in the workroom organizing, getting inspired, and warping the loom.   The warp that is currently on the loom will grow up to be coordinating napkins for a set of cotton placemats I wove last fall.  I'll post pictures somewhere where you can see them when they're done.  Projects on deck:  'French - country' inspired yellow, blue, and white checked kitchen towels; what I'm thinking of as "the husband towel" in ketchup red, mustard yellow, and brown (think about it....); and a lightweight rayon scarf in blue and pink.  I'll keep you posted. 
Well, that'll do for a first post.  I plan to update this at least once a week so we'll chat again then!   Until then, be safe and God bless!