Craft Consciousness

I always have a bunch of fiber projects of various types at difffrent stages of progress. I'm an ultra creative person, so I'm always thinking up new ideas about diffrent things etc.


Yarn is particularly dangerous for me because when I look at a ball of yarn I imagine a new project. I might start it and get frustrated or enthralled with something else which will result in it being but aside. So, I'm working hard to finish new projects before I start them.


I'm begining to understand the importance of doing a gauge swatch. Especially since I constantly do yarn subsitutions. I have to because of my budget. I'd love to use the cashmere,silk or ngora yarn, but right now I can't afford it. As a result, my knitting and crocheting techniques need to be more technical to accomadate this skill.


Patience is something I need to develop with my crafting. But because I lack gratification in so many other areas of my life. So, I try to get instant gratification with crafting.


Just the same as time goes bymy crafting expertise has evolved and I'm proud of the work I have produced. Now I just need to market it successfully and sell

Crafting During Darkness

I love doing my craft work. Knitting, crocheting or doing altered books, and art journals provide me with a artistic spiritual whole. I'm a loner so- oftentimes, crafting is my way to stay connected with myself in the world.

Times have been rough I'm unemployed, need money and I'm trying to balance beginning to start my own business. I've been so frustrated because things have been so very slow.

But, I'm trying to have the courage to continue on even though at times I don't want to.

Beginning

For many years, I've done crafting in the fiber arts. But for the past 3 months I've actively been working on developing and starting my own business. I decided to go professional with my work for several reasons. First of all, I want a new life. 11 years of teaching for very little pay at a community college, I was drained and burnt out. Second, after years of crocheting and knitting I have developed an expertise in stitching and crafting that I feel is suitable to offer for sale. Third, I've taken a gander of some of the other stuff that ' out there and my things are comparable or beyond. Fourth, I want to work independently doing something that I love and skilled at, because I do not want to depend upon a corporation or bureaucracy for income. Most importantly, the sheer delight and joy I get in working with yarn is just about unsurpassed from anything else id do. I think it is absolutely magical to turn a skein of yarn into a accessory or garment.


But, I've been discouraged. Yes, it's really hard having your own craft business. Most people in the USA don't appreciate the skill,work and expenditure involved in creating an art craft object. As a result, they're seldom willing to pay you for your expertise or wares. I'm trying not to stay stuck in frustration and to forge ahead. Many of my fellow artists have told me it takes at least 5 years to finally get a business fully operative. But I'm determined to do this sooner!



In the meantime, I'm trying to do this while looking for a job and keeping a "roof over my head. Currently, my finances are strapped and I have sparse resources. So, it is indeed magical for me to continue to embark on this journey. At times, I get so scared about his that I can't breathe. But I know, for so many reasons that I have to do this now.

I'm a fiber artist who works in the realm of knit and crochet. As a result, I have a huge yarn stash and a large stich vocabulary. Knit kit cables, ribs and basic stockinette/purl stichs. Crochet kit just about stitch too many to name.

After decades of making and giving things away to family or friends. I am now going professional with my work. I have shown at local craft fairs and bazaar's. Currently I am teaching fiber arts classes at the Art Salon Design Studio gallery 2219 E 21st Ave Denver, CO

This blog is under construction...in the future I will be posting pictures of my work.