Most people that don't know me assume that I grew up spinning, knitting, felting, weaving, etc. These crafts though are something I had to discover on my own. I do and did have many aunts, cousins and great aunts who did spin, knit, crochet, tat or embroider so it is something that is in my blood.
I come from a culture where you learned to make and preserved what you used or needed, but my mom wasn't much into it. She tried, but beings it wasn't something she was brought up with she wasn't comfortable with it. I can remember my aunts coming over and teaching mom how to make soap, can and with some baking, but it wasn't mom's thing. Me on the other hand loved it all. I wanted to learn it all. I can still remember the first time I baked cookies. I was six years old and my sister and I got them done just in time to take them out to the field to dad who was out there working. We pulled them out of the oven and popped them into a container with a slice of bread. We had seen all our aunts have bread in their cookie jars to keep the cookies moist and hadn't given it a second thought as to whether the cookies fresh from the oven needed it or not. ;o) From that point I wanted to learn everything I could. I did most of the cooking around the house as I got older and enjoyed working in the large gardens and also in the field on the tractors. We also had cattle and other livestock and even though I did complain sometimes I enjoyed being out with the animals.
You are probabley wondering right now what any of this has to do with where I am today. Well it has everything to do with it. I am a very back to the basics kind of person so once I got out on my own I grabbed every book I could find on knitting, crocheting, embroidery, spinning, dyeing, herbs, soapmaking, aromatherapy, candlemaking, herbal medicine, gardening and the like.
I enjoy all the crafts I do and am always wanting to learn more and teach others what I know. One of the best ways I have found to teach others about my crafts is to demonstrate them at shows and festivals. It is always fun to watch adults and children alike as their eyes light up and the wheels begin to turn in their minds about what I am doing. I bring my tools along with me and show them how I go from start to finish on my spinning. So many people have no idea what it takes to spin a yarn. I show them the raw wools I start with and the tools I used to prep the various yarns they see. Sometimes they appreciate the process and purchase something and other times they just look and comment on how they don't have the time for such foolishness. My crafts might not be commonplace anymore, but I don't seem them as foolishness at all, but as a way for me to stay in touch with my ancestors and their culture.
I hope I was able to give you a little picture of where I come from and why I love what I do so much and also why I love to share it with others.
Blessings!
I am a stay at home mom that enjoys many different crafts and hobbies. I enjoy making my own homemade soaps and toiletries as well as spinning wool and other fibers to use to make knitted and crochet items. I homeschool my children so my children are learning new skills as we create our crafty creations and I enjoy teach others new crafts and skills as well.
