#wool and fiber artists on facebook

[kaiyonohime]

Sherry Tenney: the bitch that just won’t stop

So update to the Sherry Tenney situation.  If you don’t know who Sherry Tenney is, I have a pinned post here.  But, in summary, she is a scam artist operating in Pennsylvania that has currently stolen USD $15,000+ from people, is under investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General, has neglected animals to death, owns guns and claims to own even more than she has shown in photos, has threatened to shoot and kill people, and will occasionally send shit covered and moth infested fiber to customers.  

In short, Sherry Tenney is a piece of shit.  Of the lowest form.  I wouldn’t spare piss to save her from a fire.

The current situation: the Attorney General has started serving her with paperwork, so Sherry is taking revenge.

You see, when people would join Sherry’s business facebook group, Sherry would require everyone to friend her.  And then she would dig through their entire facebook history and find information on them.  Everything from their children’s names and birthdays to where they work.  Every.  Single.  Detail.

And what would she do with those details?  She would save them in files to be used later as a just in case.  You see, if anyone from the group was ever caught talking badly about her, or reported her scam to authorities, she would use those details.  Just how cult leaders use what they know to control people.

Sherry Tenney is currently using those details now.  

She is calling up people’s employers and trying to get them fired.  She is claiming they are drug addicts and describing their behavior to their employers.  She is demanding that her followers call and report these people, and report them to CPS to get their children taken away!  Just like a violent, aggressive cult leader would.

Yes, Sherry is now knowingly filing false reports with authorities to try to damage the lives of anyone that has ever reported her or left her group.  And because people have so much information on facebook these days, she has a lot of ammo to use for her illegal activities.

So please, be warned about Sherry Tenney.  She is a woman that brags about being armed with multiple guns and willing to shoot people at all times.  She has shown that she is willing to file false reports against people.  She loves to talk about the sexuality of her sheep and how all the rams are attracted to her and want to fuck her.  She enjoys bragging about walking around pissing on all the fences on her property with the excuse that it’s to ‘ward off bears’.  

There is something very, very wrong with Sherry Tenney.  And now that she is in a corner, she is reacting violently and unstably.  So please, pass the word and warn others.  She is still operating her scam on facebook, she is still friending people and collecting their information to use against them if they turn on her, and she is still threatening to shoot and kill people.

Stay away from Sherry Tenney at all costs.  She is dangerous.

This warning is especially for those who may attend Rhinebeck Wool Festival, as she is still threatening to attend as well.  

[bumblebeeappletree]

Welcome to my artist residency dye studio in the Sacred Valley of Peru! Come explore the natural colors of the high Andes as I study alongside a Chinchero dye master. Local organic matter of chilca, flor q'olle and cochineal bring about vivid colors used in the beautifully crafted textile products of the Quechua people. This tutorial dives into some of unique ways natural color is created and how it has inspired my dye practice in a remarkable way.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction - Natural colors of Peru

1:25 Welcome to my dye studio

3:53 Locally foraged plants

5:14 Cochineal

6:15 Wool yarn

8:38 Dye color mixing

10:42 Peruvian intuitive dyeing

12:32 My dye notes

13:32 Measurements

15:03 Dye matter & fiber

16:33 Wool in the dye pot

18:02 In the pot mordant

20:21 Local mordants

20:55 pH shifts

22:17 Natural color results

23:47 Urine - modifier & mordant

26:02 Wrap up

26:42 Sneak peak of next tutorial

28:09 Blooper

SUPPLY LIST

Dye matter - chilca, flor q'olle, cochineal

Mordant & modifier - alum, colpa, lemon salt (citric acid), iron, urine

Wool yarn

Dye pot

Mortar & pestle

Spoon

Bowl

THE 100 DAYS OF NATURAL DYE POSTER - https://www.margaretbyrd.com/shop/100...

2021 ICE INSTALLATION NOTECARDS - Grab a slice of my ephemeral installation practice with a bundle of 10 cards featuring the natural colors of Aruba infused in ice. The notecards are 3.5 x 5 inches and include envelopes. Perfect as gifts or to keep to write love notes! https://www.margaretbyrd.com/shop/ins...

COOKIN' COLOR DIGITAL COURSE - Self-paced video workshop on the basics of natural dyeing and a step-by-step demonstration of an ombre dip-dye technique on textile: https://www.margaretbyrd.com/cookin-c...

DOWNLOAD FREE NATURAL DYER'S QUICK START GUIDE - 11 tips to a successful natural dye practice: https://margaretbyrd.ck.page/natural-...

DOWNLOAD FREE COOKIN' COLOR BREW BOOKLET - 4 natural dyes to make from food in your kitchen: https://margaretbyrd.ck.page/cookin-c...

ABOUT MY CHANNEL

Color Quest is a creative channel where we explore the wide world of natural color! If you love using organic materials in all of your arts & crafts projects, join me as I share tutorials and vlogs on how to find and create a rainbow of color from plants and the earth they live in.

I'm passionate about natural dyes and pigments which I use extensively in my art practice, so I'm thrilled to share my curiosity, excitement and knowledge of nature's palette with you.

xoxo - Margaret, aka Byrdie

FOLLOW ME:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8DZ...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonbyrdie

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/moonbyrdie

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/margaretbyr...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaretbyrd...

Website: https://www.margaretbyrd.com

Blog: https://www.margaretbyrd.com/trailtales

MUSIC:

Playground Fun

by Ahjay Stelino

https://mixkit.co/free-stock-music/

Ukelele Song

https://canva.com

Healing by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

#naturalcolor #organic #artsandcrafts #naturaldye #tutorial #diy

[crossconnectmag]

Elin Thomas creates petri dishes filled with mold, but she’s not using any week-old peanut butter sandwiches.The fiber artist builds her science experiments using a felted wool base, and then carefully crafts individual growths using crochet and embroidery techniques.

Via (-)

Posted by Skumar’s

Want to discover more stunning art like this? Check out Cross Connect’s blog and hit us up on Facebook!

[maximumpenguinmusic]

Anna Shepelieva

#embroidery "I'm a Ukrainian fiber artist. I love experimenting with different kinds of yarns, wool, textiles and fibers. It's always a mystery what I will get at the end of my creative work. Sometimes the result is very unexpected but still very inspiring and interesting and made with all my love." Follow Anna Shepelieva on her Instagram Etsy shop Facebook #ukrain #fiberart #fiberartist #weaving #yarn #wool #walldecor #homedecor

[orientalrugco]

What makes a Persian rug different?

The Persian rug is one of the oldest and most beautiful types of home decor. Persian rugs in New York are a unique and beautiful type of home decor. The intricate patterns and designs that are woven into the carpets are often made using a combination of silk, wool, and cotton. These materials all help to add to the beauty of these Persian rugs.

The term Persian has been used for centuries to describe carpets. Today, there are many different types of Persian rugs available for sale on the market. Some are hand-made while others have been produced by machines.

A Persian rug is a type of rug made in the region of Persia, It is usually woven with wool, cotton, or silk. Persian carpets are renowned for their beauty and high quality of construction, and many are considered works of art.

Why Persian rugs are different from other types of rugs

Persian carpets can be found in many homes around the world. A lot of people love them because they look so beautiful on their floors. However, several things make a Persian rug different than other types of rugs:

Persian Carpets Are Handmade: Each Persian carpet is handmade by skilled artisans using traditional methods. The production time can vary from one year to several years depending on the size and complexity of the design.

Persian Carpets Have Patterns: Many of these carpets have intricate patterns woven into them to add visual interest to the room where they are used. Some designs have been passed down for generations while others have been created by contemporary artists who want to express themselves through their work. Some patterns may represent religious symbols or other important images that will help you better understand the culture behind your new piece of art.

Long-Lasting: The durability of Persian rugs is another reason why people love them so much. They'll last for decades if properly taken care of, which can't be said about all types of rugs.

High Quality: You can tell a Persian rug is high quality by looking at its material and design. The material must be wool or silk, and it must have intricate designs on it as well as soft colors like reds and blues.

Texture: Most Persian rugs have a very soft texture that can range from very fine to coarse. The quality of the wool used for the rug will determine how thick or thin it feels. There are also many different colors in Persian rugs which can give them an elegant appearance.

Colors: Persian rugs come in a variety of colors including red, blue, and yellow. They may also have different shades within each color group so they can be used in many different rooms throughout your home.

Handwoven: Another thing that makes Persian rugs stand out from other types of rugs is their hand-woven nature. While some other types of rugs may be made on a loom or in a factory setting, Persian rugs are handwoven by artisans who take great pride in their workmanship and attention to detail.

Density: A rug's density refers to how tightly woven it is higher density means denser fibers that make up the rug's pile (the flat surface). A high-density carpet will be more durable than a low-density one, which won't last long before it starts shedding fibers or fraying edges. Low-density rugs also tend to shed fewer fibers over time than high-density ones do.

Name: J & D Oriental Rug Co

Address: 838 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA Phone: (212) 695-0880 E-mail: sales@jdorientalrugs.com Social: Facebook Instagram E-bay Etsy Chairish

[sarahinskeep]

This is the story of a fun design project I’ve been working on that will bring you two new scarf patterns, and which I am very excited to share with you!

Inspiration…

It all began when I came across this scrumptious yarn by Expression Fiber Arts one day,…

Pearlescent Fingering yarn (50% superwash merino wool / 50% mulberry silk) by Expression Fiber Arts, in colorway “GIVERNY.”

I fell instantly in LOVE with it. All the creative wheels in my brain went into overdrive, flooding my mind with endless possibilities and ideas… I could practically hear that yarn calling my name! But I had such a huge yarn stash already… So of course I had to show my girlfriends Kathryn & Kayla the amazing yarn so they could talk me into buying it anyway! 🤣 😉

Kathryn and Kayla fell instantly under the spell of the gorgeous yarn too! But not being knitters or crocheters, they weren’t sure what they’d do with it… Which sparked one of the best ideas ever: We’d each buy a skein, and I would design similar “sister” scarves for each of us, specific to our individual style and taste! It was perfect! I got to play with 3 whole skeins of the amazing yarn, and they got scarves custom designed and handmade just for them by a friend! 😄👏🏻🎉🎈Needless to say, I went back to my cart and clicked “submit” on my yarn order right away!

Style & Construction…

While waiting for our yarn to arrive, we discussed neckwear shapes, styles, and construction techniques. Kathryn and Kayla are both very artistic people, but in different ways and with unique styles. They were both very certain about what they wanted though, which made things SO much easier (and more fun!) for me! 😉 Kathryn had her heart set on a super long and thin, flowing scarf with a light, airy, open feel. She wanted to be able to style it in many different ways, and wear it in any Season – even Summer! So very Kathryn – elegant, lovely, dramatic (the good kind only!), yet practical! Kayla on the other hand, favored a medium length infinity type scarf that she could choose to loop around her neck once, twice, or three times. So very Kayla – Gorgeous, super fun & trendy, cozy, yet versatile! I couldn’t wait to get started!

Swatching…

Once the yarn arrived, I immediately got out my swift and ball winder…

I was anxious to start swatching as soon as possible! 😀 I knit several swatches, using different stitch patterns, but we found it near impossible to choose between them…

Stitch Pattern #1: Norwegian Fir Lace

Stitch Pattern #2: Falling Leaves

Stitch Pattern #3: Arrowhead Lace with Cables

So we put them on display in the office so we could look at them and think about them throughout the day. We even talked about them with our customers and kept a tally of customer votes as to which swatch was favored and why!

It was SO much fun! We also put photos of the swatches on Facebook and Instagram so our friends and followers could give their feedback as well!

The time for un-hurried visual contemplation, along with the discussions we had with friends, co-workers, and customers turned out to be super helpful, in addition to being super fun! In the end, Kathryn fell in love with swatch #3 (Arrowhead Lace and Cables); while Kayla was drawn to swatch #2 (Falling Leaves). We concluded that although we all loved swatch #1 (Norwegian Fir Lace), that particular stitch pattern would look better in a solid colored or at least less busily variegated yarn, and shelved it for another time. 🙂

Knitting Kathryn’s Scarf…

Once I had done all my math and charted my Arrowhead Lace and Cables stitch pattern, it was finally time to cast on for Kathryn’s Scarf!

I like math. I like planning and charting and writing. But the actual knitting has always been my favorite part, and I have a feeling it always will be… 😉

This is my doggy niece, Pepper (an adorable Boston Terrier). She is one of my best knitting buddies, and kept me company through most of the knitting of Kathryn’s scarf! 😀 (I can never get over her tiny doggy socks! They make me squeal every time…! XD Wish I could say I had made them for her… ;))

Tools shown in the making of Kathryn Scarf include…

Needles – Knit Picks Options Interchangeable Sunstruck Circular Knitting Needles.

Tape Measure – from The Loopy Ewe, one of my favorite yarn stores! This tape measure was a little gift they tucked into one of my orders a while back (they have a fabulous rewards system! 😀 ). I think the tape measures are macaron themed now… SO cute!

Knitters Tool Tin – by The Sexy Knitter, this one was a special edition featuring an angora goat from Juniper Moon Farm. The cable needle shown (my fav!) is just one of the handy knitting tools included in the tin!

Coffee is also a faithful knitting buddy of mine… 😉

Although the scarf is really long, it’s not super wide, and the stitch pattern is easily memorized…

…so it was a delightfully relaxing and satisfyingly quick knit!

Kathryn Scarf before blocking

Many thanks to my gorgeous sister-in-law, Annelies, for modeling the finished scarf for me; and to my wonderful technical editor, Allison O’Mahony of Kniterations, for her help in polishing the pattern so it can be it’s best self! 😀

This pattern has just been released, so if you’d like to knit your own Kathryn Scarf, well now you can! Customize your scarf to whatever length you prefer, and use only one skein of any fingering weight yarn you have available in your stash! 😀 Or if you want to use the same yarn used in the sample, hop over to Expression Fiber Arts and have a look at their lovely colors! 😀

Check out my Ravelry shop and use coupon code: New20KS to receive 20% off your purchase of the Kathryn Scarf pattern through Monday, May 13th, 2018!

Or, if you’d like to save even more (50% off new patterns!), and receive knitting tips, discounts, notifications of test knitting opportunities, and/or the latest news from Sarah Inskeep Designs, sign up for my e-Letter!

And of course we’d LOVE to see your projects! Share pics & progress on social media with hashtags #kathrynscarf and #sarahinskeepdesigns !

~ Happy Knitting!

P.S. Stay tuned for Sister Scarves Part 2: All About Kayla to get all the details and back story about Kayla’s scarf and it’s pattern release coming soon! 😀

  Sister Scarves Part 1: All About Kathryn This is the story of a fun design project I've been working on that will bring you two new scarf patterns, and which I am very excited to share with you!

[knitcircus-luxury-yarns]

We are thrilled to be participating in the September Virtu-Wool Fiber Festival on Sunday, September 13th. This festival is being hosted on the Virtu-Wool Facebook page which will be streaming live videos from a multitude of yarn dyers and fiber artists. Knitcircus will be going live on Facebook and Instagram on Sunday, September 13th at 6:00 pm CDT/ 7:00 pm EDT to show off our favorite yarns and samples. Hope to see you there!

[shanky316-blog]

Wool Sisal Area Rugs Dubai Supply and Installation in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Are The First Choice Of Customers

Characteristics Of Wool Sisal Area Rugs    

 Wool is considered one of the best available quality floor coverings. best wool sisal carpet are in great demand because of their value, style, beauty and longevity. There are many types of wool and you can find various designs Wool Sisal Area Rugs from it. One big advantage of woolen carpet area is resilience: wool have greater durability of synthetic materials. And it is also ideal for people with allergies, because dust mites naturally refused.

A popular style that has made a comeback the shag carpet. Although you may be dreaming of the vision of the orange carpet in the style Wool Sisal Area Rugs Dubai the sixties, very elegant contemporary wool rugs and add great style to the house. There is a reason why you see them so frequently in home design magazines and television shows, they are so popular.

 Numerous Types Of Wool Sisal Area Rugs

         i.            There are many factors to consider when it comes to designing a wool sisal area rugs abu dhabi. Color, style and even the texture will build the road space "feels".

      ii.            Just remember that the light carpet will increase the perceived size of the room and a dark carpet will make the room warmer shades. contemporary rugs can add an artistic touch to your home or you can create the look of a more traditional with oriental or Persian rugs.

    iii.            Now, before you start Buy wool sisal carpet in Dubai, you need to do some planning. If you work with an empty space, considering the first floor, then paint, furniture, textiles and accessories on the floor.

     iv.            Just try to imagine what the whole room will look like. Concentrate on what area of ​​the carpet to be achieved in the room.

  Outstanding Services Wool Sisal Area Rugs

 Always evaluate the size of the space you want to cover. rugs provide comfort and help muffle sound in a large room. small rugs can be used to add a touch of color or chic to another room, such as a bathroom, bedroom or Wool Sisal Area Rugs Abu Dhabi kitchen.There no end to the style and design of carpets: Persian, oriental, Tibet, hairy, flokati, contemporary, braided, animal print, children rugs, interior or exterior corridors and stairwells. They come in all shapes and sizes, including rectangular, square, hexagonal, octagonal, oval and round. Actually, you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to adding a touch and functionality to your home with a wool sisal carpet.

Wool sisal area rugs dubai not only come in different colors and shapes, but another important factor to consider is the material. They can be produced from synthetic or natural yarns using various types of construction. natural Buy Wool Sisal Area Rugs In Dubai using animal or vegetable fibers, such as wool, cotton, sisal, hemp and even bamboo. Synthetic carpets made from man-made materials, such as rayon, nylon, acrylic and viscose.

 Sisalrugs.ae

Sisal Carpets, Sisal Rugs and Sisal related products!!

Call Now 056-600-9626, 04-2959449

Visit: https:/sisalrugs.ae/

Follow us on Social media for more update:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sisal-Rugs-972001146340430/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SisalRugsAE

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/100076396813070718310

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sisalrugsae/

Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/sisalrugsae/

YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cViFYzLHaug&feature=youtu.be

Google Map Link for Dubai:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/25%C2%B008'50.7%22N+55%C2%B014'39.0%22E/@25.1474204,55.2419879,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d25.1474204!4d55.2441766?q=25.1474204,55.2441766&z=17&hl=en&shorturl=1

We serve our clients across UAE in Dubai, Abu dhabi, Sharjah,Al Ain, Ajman,Al Fujairah andUmm al Quwain

Read More-

https://carpetcurtaininterior.blogspot.com/2019/10/give-your-home-protection-with.html

[art-heathen-blog]

Blog post #2

How are art and craft different? According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of fine art is “art concerned primarily with the creation of beautiful objects” (Merriam-Webster). Fine art is something that was created to be beautiful and to be displayed, not just sit around and not be looked at. Webster’s dictionary also defines craft as “skill in planning, making, or executing” (Merriam-Webster). Crafts are made for the pleasure of oneself, whether it is for a gift or for something around the house. Before the  21st century craft had nothing to do with art, it was something that you had a good skill in, but now it is mostly used in the context of art. Most of what is looked at as a “craft” are things like blankets that are knitted or drawings of children. Arts and crafts time is often used in daycares and preschools as times to let children use their creative side and make things, but fine art is carefully made to suit the artists intent and to be beautiful. I believe that crafts and fine art is different, crafts can be made to be beautiful, but not the same way that fine art is made to be beautiful. Most of us have seen those videos that pop up in Facebook or Instagram feeds about the “5 easy DIY crafts” most of them are cute little crafts that are used to decorate homes by people who need creative outlets. Fine art is more like The Mona Lisa, or Starry Night. They should be seen by millions of people. As much as I would want to consider my art as an example of fine art, it is more like crafts than anything else. From painting a moon as a gift for my boyfriend, to sketching in my notebook during class. Most of these things are what other people would not consider fine art. According to an article written by S. Prabhat “Art is often described as unstructured and open ended” (Prabhat). This means that no matter what people think of a piece of fine art there can be many different views and outcomes of what people think. Later in the article, it states that “Craft, on the other hand, is structured, which means that it has a certain form that is visible” (Prabhat). Crafts are things like pottery, jewelry making, knitting, and glass working. Art is things like sculpture and painting. 

A lot of people are blurring the lines between art and craft, one of my favorite contemporary artists is Kim Stanford. Kim Stanford uses knitting to combine art and craft. The example I picked for this is called “Granne” made in 2014. According to her website, Kim Stanford used “found crocheted blankets, acrylic medium, armature, and spray foam” (Stanford) to create this piece.

This piece is a really cool way to bring the two together, it may not seem that cool to anyone else, but when I first saw this piece, I was in awe of how amazing it looked, and how realistic it looked. There could be an actual person under that blanket! Kim Stanford has so many pieces that are like this that use crocheted or knitted things as a part of the art itself, but this is by far one of her coolest. I found a website called World of threads fest that features other works of Stanford’s such as “Unbalanced; 2009; dimensions variable …; steel wool”, or “WifeMother; 2012; dimensions variable …; steel wool, adhesive tape, wire, skewers, stickers, acrylic paint, PVC filament” (Bate). I would personally recommend taking a look at her work!

Unbalanced

WifeMother

The next artist I picked was Melanie Chikofsky. The piece I picked was called “Crowning Glory”. This piece used Wood, rope, Abaca, and Japanese paper. The piece portrays what looks to be a woman standing tall and proud as a tree trunk, and then she has roots into the ground and leaves almost.

Chikofsky has so many other pieces like this, and according to World of Threads some of her most known pieces are “If You Prick Me: 31"x 7"x7", Sisal, glue, wood” and “Mommy Dearest: 29"x 7"x7", Hydrostone, cheese cloth, glue” (Bate). Both of these other pieces feature different mediums, which help stretch the “Arts and Crafts” kind of art movement

If You Prick Me

Mommy Dearest

The final artist I picked to showcase was Jennifer Yang, her piece “Kaleidoscope”. According to Jennifer Yang “which it interacts with the viewers, the Colors changes from the movement of the viewer as they are viewing it” (Yang). This piece reminds me of the Kaleidoscope I had as a kid and how the colors would move and change all the time.

These pieces are all very different but all combine the Craft element of art and bring it to the fine art world.

References:

Bate, Gareth, and Dawne Rudman. “Artist: Kim Stanford of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.” World of Threads Festival | HOME | International Contemporary Fiber Art Craft Textiles | Oakville Ontario Canada, www.worldofthreadsfestival.com/artist_interviews/087_kim_stanford_13.html.

Bates, Gareth, and Dawne Rudman. “Artist: Melanie Chikofsky, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.” World of Threads Festival | HOME | International Contemporary Fiber Art Craft Textiles | Oakville Ontario Canada, www.worldofthreadsfestival.com/artist_interviews/036_melanie_chikofsky.html.

Merriam-Webster. “Craft.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craft.

Merriam-Webster. “Fine Art.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fine%20art.

Prabhat, S. “Difference Between Art and Craft.” Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, 14 Jan. 2011, www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-art-and-craft/.

Stanford, Kim. “Kim Stanford | Visual Artist.” Kim Stanford Visual Artist Home Comments, www.kimstanford.com/.

Yang, Jennifer. “Jennifer Yang Design Studio.” Go to the Work Page, www.jennifer-yang.com/kaleidoscope-5.

[mkuniquedesigns]

Facebook Rules

Not really complaining but posting on Facebook Groups is exhausting.

Who knew that this above Facebook post would cause me so much drama today?  I created what I thought was an innocent little post to sell off some fibers quickly. Usually I don’t try to sell on Facebook – every group seems to have a lot of rules. Too many for my brain to understand but after a week off work I thought I could tackle this! How hard could it be??

I created my post and then I shared…

[kaiyonohime]

A Sherry Tenney and WAFA warning update

If you are unaware of who Sherry Tenney is, I have pinned a post here.  But, in short, Sherry Tenney is a scam artist in the fiber arts community that takes money and almost never ships out product.  What little she does ship out is covered in feces and infested with various forms of vermin, including moths and ants.  Her, and several accomplices, also target and damage and destroy small fiber sellers online.  She is also extremely aggressive and has threatened to both shoot and sue people, and brags about the guns she has.  She is under investigation from the Pennsylvania Attorney General.  She has stolen, to date, $15,000+ USD from customers.  This is not counting the amount of money she has stolen from suppliers.

Lawsuit update: to the surprise of no one, no, I have still not been served any papers even though she has threatened to sue me personally.  I guess that’s what happens when you ask a chicken to do everything for you.  Shit just doesn’t get done.

Sherry Tenney, currently known as Sherry Tennay, has renamed her main FaceBook sellers group from ‘Tenneys Fibers and raw wool buyers group’ to ‘Wool and Fiber artists supplies buyers group and silks too’.  She has done this in an attempt to draw in new victims that may mistake her group for the WAFA group on FaceBook.  WAFA stands for ‘Wool and Fiber Artists’.  

Unfortunately it’s a little more underhanded than that.  One of the main parts of Sherry’s scheme over the years has been to purposefully destroy other small fiber sellers.  What she, and multiple accomplices, will do is infiltrate a group on FaceBook, message buyers there telling them Sherry will sell better for much cheaper, and then continuously report the group until it is removed from FaceBook.  Sellers have reported 60%+ losses from Sherry’s actions, with some going out of business as well.

Sherry is not only now targeting WAFA and WAFA members, at least one WAFA admin is one of Sherry’s accomplices and is working from the inside to help destroy WAFA and financially harm sellers that use WAFA.  WAFA is a compromised group that is being targeted the same way Sherry destroyed other groups.

If you use WAFA, or know anyone that does, please pass on this warning.  Any seller that they see or are approached by should be researched by looking them up on the Fiber Transaction Board.  The FTB has banned Sherry, and all of her socks and accomplices, from the FTB after several incidents she caused.  Sherry has enough red flags to her name on the FTB to put a communist march in China to shame.

So, as always, please be careful who you buy fiber from online.  Unfortunately there are scam artists out there that only aim to harm the fiber arts community.  And, of course, please avoid any physical contact with Sherry.  She is to be considered armed and dangerous at all times.  She is currently threatening to attend Rhinebeck Wool Festival.  If you see her at the festival avoid her at all costs, just turn and walk away.  She is dangerous, do not confront her.

[jenniferfaye34]

#Giveaway + Excerpt ~ For The Love of Fiber by Kate Bowman... #books #readers #booklovers

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Spin I'm In (For the Love of Fiber #1) By Kate Bowman Women's Fiction, Romance Paperback & ebook, 293 Pages August 26, 2019

A determined widow faces the challenge of a new life to regain the confidence and independence of her youth, but finds that life, unlike knitting, doesn’t always follow a pattern.

After twenty-five years of being the perfect wife and mother, Martha LeBeau finds herself unexpectedly widowed and shocked to discover her husband had been living a double life, leaving her penniless and in debt. Determined to regain her lost confidence and independence, she sells her suburban Chicago home and moves to the Wisconsin countryside to forge a new life away from cheating men and smothering children. There she meets the Wool Gatherers, a group of fiber artists who teach her the art of spinning wool and raising sheep. Along with one determined Border Collie, she begins on the path to self-growth and healing.

Riley O’Connor is the single father of a child with Asperger Syndrome. The child’s mother walked out on them because she found that life too difficult to handle. Since then, he has dedicated himself to protecting his son from any further emotional damage.

Meeting Riley and his son through her new job brings love and challenges to Martha’s newly found independence. Romance blooms like a finely knit cable, entwining their lives.

Can either of them learn to trust again?

(Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Apple Books | Kobo

It Never Felt So Good (For the Love of Fiber #2) By Kate Bowman Women's Fiction, Romance Paperback & ebook, 268 Pages May 9, 2020

Cara Olson is forced to put aside her struggling art career in Chicago to care for her ailing grandmother in Wisconsin. While journeying with her beloved Gram through the diagnosis of possible Alzheimer’s disease, she loses and then rediscovers her passion for art and experiences the resurrection of a past love.

Struggling artist Cara Olson is called home to Wisconsin to care for her ailing grandmother who is showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Leaving behind her mentor//boyfriend, Stefan, she begins to look at her unsuccessful career and relationship in a new light.

Surprised to find her Gram’s doctor is her high-school crush, Peter Andreson, she fights her reignited feelings. When Chicago critics dismiss her artwork as a poor imitation of Stefan’s, she is devastated and vows to give up art.

While caring for Gram and running her small Scandinavian gift shop, the Wool Gatherers, a local group of fiber artists, help her find new outlets for her creativity, designing works of art with hand-made felt and her re-emerging love of landscape and portrait painting.

Along the way, her feelings for Peter grow, and she realizes she has once again fallen for a man only dedicated to his career. When the opportunity arises for her to return to Chicago with the promise of a new career, she seizes it. But even her success can’t fill the void she experiences without Gram, her new friends, and Peter.

Can she return to Shoreview, the place that inspires her art, and be satisfied with a life that doesn’t include him?

(Affiliate link included.) BookBub | Amazon | B&N | Apple Books | Kobo

Excerpt

The next evening, I took extra pains with my appearance and was about to ask Gram if she was ready to leave when she announced, “I’m not going.”

“Don’t be silly. Of course, you are.” She caught me totally off guard, and I stopped dead in my tracks. “Peter’s expecting us.”

“No, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t feel up to it, I’m too tired,” she said, her voice suddenly flat.

“You were perfectly fine a few minutes ago.” I looked at her closely. Would I have to cancel at the last minute? “C’mon, it’ll be fun. You don’t want to disappoint him. Maybe he’s cooked a great meal.”

“You go without me,” she insisted.

“I can’t do that. He invited both of us.” A light flirtation at the movies was one thing, but I didn’t look forward to an entire evening alone with Peter at his home. That was too dangerous on so many levels.

“Yes, you can. I’ll call Peter and explain if you want me to. He’s a doctor; he understands these things happen when you get old. Besides, Nancy will probably be there. She said something about cooking dinner this evening, I think.” Gram had that vague air about her again.

I studied her closely. “You didn’t seem to be suffering from old age when you chased Zeke out of the barn earlier.”

“Well, maybe that’s why I’m so tired now. My head’s feeling all muddled. Guess it’s time I started acting my age.” She raised both eyebrows, daring me to contradict her. “You go on ahead. I’ll call Peter and explain. We can’t both bail on him, not after he’s prepared things.”

I huffed. “Fine, Gram. Go up and rest. I’ll check on you when I get back.”

I drove my Escort down the country roads toward the site of Peter’s home and mumbled all the while under my breath about being such a pushover. What if Nancy wasn’t there? Gram had remained vague on that score.

Putting more pressure on the gas pedal, I continued on up the winding gravel road leading to his lakeside home. It wasn’t fair. Gram was the one he wanted to thank. My annoyance grew with each passing mile until I was ready to snap at anyone within striking range. I really, really didn’t want to be alone with him all evening in his home. I expected the feeling would be mutual.

Thank God for Gram’s explicit directions, which in itself was a miracle. I never would’ve found the house hidden way back in the woods. The isolation added to my panic. We would really be alone if Nancy was a no-show.

I was curious to see his place though. Would it be all warm and inviting, like the persona he showed his patients, or cool and detached, as he fought to keep his personal relationships?

About the Author

Born in Wisconsin to an original Brady Bunch, I had the dubious honor of being #14 in the family. As a result, I’ll never run out of characters. The early years of my marriage were spent moving around the country with my engineer husband, collecting interesting stories and characters along the way. I picked up my first romance after a particularly stressful shift at a suburban Chicago hospital where I worked as an RN. Hours later, bleary-eyed and exhausted, but able to sleep because the story affirmed that good things can happen to good people, I was hooked.

After seventeen years in the Chicago suburbs we returned to Wisconsin and a new life of country living. After a local class in spinning, I decided it would be fun to have my own source of wool. Several years and many animals later, I found a new source of humor for my stories. I’ve always loved animals and you’ll find many of them populate my books. My stories are about real people trying to make it in this crazy, sometimes funny, sometimes sad world—but always with an ending that will renew your faith in love and life.

When I’m not writing, you’ll find me with my family or out walking in my fields, spinning wool, knitting or weaving, but always listening to the interesting stories of those characters living in my head.

For more information about me and my books, visit www.KateBowmanAuthor.com.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[inquiringquilter]

My Day on the Island Batik Ultimate Home Decor Blog Hop

Welcome to my day on the Island Batik Ultimate Home Decor Blog Hop!

This month long celebration of Island Batiks features tons of giveaways, gorgeous batiks, and beautiful quilts. Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post to enter my giveaway, the Island Batik giveaway, and to find links to the other Ambassadors who are participating!

This hop features the Winter 2019 batik collections that are arriving in stores now. Click here to use the Store Locator to find a store near you that carries Island Batik.

For the blog hop, we were to make a home decor item using as many of the fabrics from our Winter 2019 collection as possible. I got Whispering Feathers, a beautiful collection of reds, purples, oranges and golds.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to make at first. I thought of pillows, cushions, curtains, tuffets, table runners and wall hangings. Then I thought of bed runners and I knew I wanted to make one for our bed.

The quilt shown here is our 10th anniversary quilt, “When God Made Me Born a Yankee He Was Teasin’.” I made it with southwest colors because my husband is from the southwest. Doesn’t the bed runner look beautiful with it?

I was inspired by the name of the collection (Whispering Feathers) and the motifs on the lush batiks to design a bed runner that included feathers of some sort.

As I pondered my design, the rich colors in Whispering Feathers reminded me of the American Southwest where my husband is from and my mind immediately thought of arrows with feathers on them.

This quilt is Emerald Lodge, recently home from its tour through quilt stores. I think the bed runner looks wonderful with it as well.

In the end, I created a design that combined feathers and arrows. I call my design Pierced.

The beauty of a bed runner is that it can double as a table runner when needed.

Pierced combines applique and foundation paper piecing. I really love each of the arrows in my design—big ones, small ones, feathered and fanciful. I also love the paper pieced arrows. I had a lot of fun selecting the fabrics for them.

There are such a variety of golds in this collection! I decided to use each of them to piece the background.

(This quilt is Summer Social in a new Island Batik collection called Metropolis. Metropolis will not be arriving in stores until August/September 2020. Again, doesn’t it coordinate nicely?)

I was sent a half-yard of each of the fabrics in the Whispering Feathers collection, plus two two-yard coordinates. I used the gold coordinate for the backing and binding.

I found a scrap of Hobbs Wool batting that was the exact size I needed, so I accepted the God-wink and used it in my bed runner. I kept the quilting simple—edge-stitching around each of the applique shapes. First though I edge-stitched the the long arrow shafts to the background. Then I quilted by edge-stitching all the other shapes using a matching thread. I quilted along side the long arrow shafts using a golden thread that matched the background.

I felt that simple quilting would keep the focus on the design, although I’m thinking of possibly adding a bit more quilting in the larger open areas sometime. For now though I really love how the wool batt pushes the arrows and feathers forward, giving them dominance.

Here are the quilt details:

"Pierced" 16” x 60" Original Design Fabrics: Island Batik Whispering Feathers collection, Backing: 121924229 Binding: 121924229 Batting: Hobbs Tuscany Wool Piecing Thread: Aurifil 50 wt. #5011 (Rope Beige) Applique Threads: Aurifil 50 wt. #2545 (Medium Purple), #2150 (Pumpkin), #2110 (Light Lemon), #2140 (Orange Mustard), #2260 (Red Wine) Quilting Threads: Aurifil 50 wt. #2545 (Medium Purple), #2110 (Light Lemon), #2260 (Red Wine), #1243 (Dusty Lavender), #4129 (Turf Green) Binding Thread: Aurifil 50 wt. #2130 Medium Butter Pieced and quilted by Jennifer Fulton

Be Sure to Enter My Giveaway!

The Whispering Feathers collection has lovely deep colors and it’s perfect for anyone who loves purple like me.

I’m giving away a charm pack cut from the leftovers.

To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below.

You’ll get one chance for leaving a comment. Be sure to leave your email address!

You can earn an extra chance for following me—just leave a comment telling me how you follow.

Finally, you can earn one more chance to win by visiting my special Facebook group, Quilting with the Inquiring Quilter. I’d love for you to join my group and get the latest updates from my blog and special content. If you join, be sure to tell me something about you and your quilting projects so we can get to know each other!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: No purchase necessary to win. Giveaway is open to legal residents in the contiguous US only that are 18+ years of age. Giveaway starts at midnight EST May 20th and ends at midnight EST on May 26th. One winner will receive one mini charm pack from the Island Batik Whispering Feathers collection with a total value of approximately $12. Odds of winning determined by number of eligible entries received. How to enter: complete the Rafflecopter above. Winner will be chosen by random.org on May 27th, 2020 from all eligible entries and notified by email. If winner can not be reached via email or prize is unclaimed after three days, a new winner will be chosen by random.org. Winner is responsible for paying any taxes related to the prize. By entering this giveaway, you release Inquiring Quilter from any liability whatsoever. Void where prohibited by law.

Island Batik is also Having a Giveaway!

This week, Island Batik is giving a fat quarter pack from the Smooch or Sundance collections by Kathy Engle to two lucky winners! Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. The giveaway ends May 22nd at 11:59 PM PDT. The winner will be announced May 23rd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Week’s Blog Hop Schedule

Here is the blog hop schedule for this week. Each day, a different Island Batik Winter 2019 collection is being featured. So be sure to visit the participating Ambassador’s blogs every day of the hop to see their gorgeous quilts and to enter their giveaways!

Be sure to visit the participants from Weeks 1 and 2. Not only are many of them are having giveaways that you can still enter, all of them have gorgeous quilts and lovely batiks to share with you! Click here to view the blog hop schedule.

Monday, May 18th - Smooch

Jennifer @ Curlicue Creations

Joanne @ Unicorn Harts

Tuesday, May 19th - Sundance

Mania @ Mania for Quilts

Sally @ Sally Manke Fiber Artist

Wednesday, May 20th - Whispering Feathers

Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter

Jennifer @ Dizzy Quilter

Thursday, May 21st - Winter Forest

Alison @ Honey Bunny and Doll

Sharon @ Sew Riley Designs

Friday, May 22nd - Blog Round Up Week 3

Island Batik is announcing their winner in a special post on Saturday. I’ll be posting the Week 4 participants on Monday, and announcing my winner at the end of the hop. Be sure to return for these special posts!

Disclosure: The products featured here were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik, Aurifil, Hobbs, AccuQuilt GO!, and Schmetz.

you might also like

Tell me…do you like Whispering Feathers? What do you like best about it?

[ssteezyy]

10th Anniversary Celebration and BIG Giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by participating brands and contains affiliate links*

Today is our 10th anniversary! I can’t believe it’s been ten years since I started this blog, inspired by Amber, the original Conscious Cat. And while this is a huge milestone for Allegra, Ruby and me, this day really belongs to you, our readers. Without you, we wouldn’t be here, and we appreciate you so much for reading, commenting, and sharing every day.

10 years – 3,654 posts – 88,000 comments 15 million page views

Since March 1, 2009, we have brought you 3,654 new posts. 88,000 comments are a testament to the strength of our Conscious Cat community. And with more than 15 million page views, our site is reaching an ever growing audience of cat lovers who want the best for their feline family members.

The Conscious Cat has become the “go to” site for cat parents looking for reliable information about cat health, behavior and nutrition, as well as new cat products, book reviews, and more.

225,000+ social media followers

Our community extends to our Facebook page, and Instagram. Both attract cat lovers who enjoy sharing their love for cats with a group of like minded people every day. It’s truly a joy to curate both. We post unique content and lots and lots of cat photos and videos several times each day. We’re also represented on Twitter and Pinterest. The internet is truly a wonderful place when it creates thriving communities like ours.

Happy, Healthy Cats and Humans

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Behind these numbers are countless cats who live happier and healthier lives thanks to the information presented on this site. There’s nothing that makes me happier than receiving messages from readers whose cats have been helped by the information found here.

To celebrate these last ten years, and to thank all of you for making it all possibly by reading, commenting and sharing, we have a BIG giveaway for you!

10th Anniversary Giveaway: 10 Grand Prizes, 10 Winners

We’re giving away a a Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed, a $100 gift certificate from Triple T Studios, a MaxScratch Oversized Scratching Post and Perch from Hauspanther, an Assisi Loop, a Jackson Galaxy prize package, a Meowfia felted wool cat cave, a 3-month supply of 1TDC® 4-in-1 Wellness Solution, a custom portrait by Jessica Lindell, a custom cat flower pot by KittyCat Studio, and a package of all of my books, personalized and autographed.

For instructions on how to enter to win, see the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post.

Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed

The Sleepypod mobile pet bed helps make travel with your cat easier because it is packed with features to make travel a breeze. It transitions from a pet bed to a carrier, thereby helping to alleviate travel stress and anxiety because your at is always traveling in his or her everyday pet bed. The Sleepypod mobile pet bed even converts into a crash tested car seat. Other features include durable, non-abrasive mesh panels that enable air to circulate on three sides, machine-washable Ultra Plush bedding, water repellent liner for easy cleanups, and a padded shoulder strap. The Sleepypod mobile pet bed is available in Medium (MSRP $189.99) and Mini (MSRP $169.99) sizes.

For more information and to purchase, visit Sleepypod.com.

$100 Gift Certificate from Triple T Studios

Triple T Studios creates and curates uniquely designed handbags and accessories with feline finesse. Shop their cat inspired handbags, jewelry, scarves, and cat toys. Triple T Studios donates to global conservation projects including Lion Guardians Project, The Cheetah Conservation Fund, Panthera, and select domestic cat non-profit organizations. Triple T Studios motto is Fashion with a Passion™.

Exclusive 20% discount for Conscious Cat readers: use code ConsciousCat20. Code never expires.

For more information and to purchase, visit http://www.triple-t-studios.com.

Hauspanther MaxScratch Oversized Scratching Post and Perch

The Hauspanther MaxScratch is big enough not just for scratching, but also for climbing and perching. This oversized cat scatcher is wrapped with natural jute rope, creating a durable and attractive scratching surface. A sturdy base keeps the post from tipping over. The built-in perch on top gives kitty a perfect lookout spot. Allegra and Ruby not included.

The MaxScratch Oversized Cat Scratching Post and Perch is available from Wayfair.

Assisi Loop

The Assisi Loop provides safe and effective pain relief without adverse effects. The Assisi Loop features targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (tPEMF™). This modality was first studied in the 1970s and is FDA-cleared for use in humans. It uses low-level pulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms to help relieve pain, inflammation and swelling. You can find multiple accounts of how the Assisi Loop helped cats with varying conditions ranging from arthritis to post surgical pain to lymphoma here. Please note that the Assisi Loop requires a prescription from a veterinarian. Winner will need to provide a prescription in order to claim their prize.

For more information about how the Loop could help your cat, visit http://www.assisianimalhealth.com or contact Assisi Animal Health at info@assisianimalhealth.com, 866-830-7342.

Jackson Galaxy Prize Pack

This prize pack contains an assortment of toys and supplies from the Jackson Galaxy Collection by Petmate. All of the items are designed by the Cat Daddy himself, so you know your kitties will love everything in this prize pack. Actual prize pack may vary from the image shown above.

For more information about all of Jackson’s fantastic products for happier, healthier cats, visit JacksonGalaxy.com.

Meowfia Felted Wool Cat Cave

Meowfia Felted Wool Cat Caves are handmade from 100% Merino wool, a soft, lightweight natural fiber. Merino wool is breathable, keeping your cat warm in the winter or cool in warmer weather. The beds are safe and eco-friendly. There are no plastic or other man-made materials used. Merino wool naturally repels odor, dirt and stains. The caves can be hand washed in cold water with a mild detergent designed for wool, and should be air dried. Machine washing is not recommended.

Meowfia Felted Wool Cat Caves are available from Amazon in a variety of colors.

3-month Supply of 1TDC™ 4-in-1 Wellness Solution

1TDC™ (which stands for 1-TetraDecanol Complex) is a revolutionary natural solution that keeps joints, muscles and gums healthy at a cellular level. This product goes beyond supplements containing glucosamine and fish oil. It works systemically as a catalyst to allow the body to improve joint and oral health.

For more information about 1TDC™ and to purchase, please visit 1TDC.com.

Exclusive 10% discount for Conscious Cat Readers: use code CONSCIOUSCAT10 at checkout. Discount never expires.

Custom Water Color Portrait by Jessica Lindell

Custom portraits are a wonderful way to celebrate a special cat, or preserve the memory of a cat no longer with you. Jessica Lindell’s water color portraits capture emotion and personality in vibrant colors. This giveaway will be for an 8×8 custom portrait on a 2 inch cradled hardboard panel (value: $297).

For more information, and to order your custom portrait, visit https://www.aquilawatercolor.com/p/custom-pet-portraits

Exclusive 10% discount off any custom portrait for Conscious Cat readers: use code CATLOVE10 at checkout.

Custom Flower Pot Cat Sign from KittyCat Art Studio

Laura Anglemoyer, the artist behind KittyCat Art Studio, creates beautiful and unique handmade cat items ranging from ornaments to picture frames to food bowls and much, much more. Laurel can even create custom made items from photos of your cats. These adorable kitty signs are made of a thin gauge metal, cut to shape and hand painted. They are sealed in a weather resistant coating so you may hang indoors or out. Hangs by a removable wire hanger. Measures: 14 inch tall by 9 inch wide.

To see more and to purchase, please visit KittyCat Art Studio’s Etsy Shop.

Exclusive 10% discount off any product from KittyCat Art Studio for Conscious Cat readers: use code CATSTUDIO at checkout.

A Complete Set of Autographed Copies of My Books

This set will include one copy each of Buckley’s Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living, Feline Style, The BIG Book of Cats With a BIG Attitude, and Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living, Feline Style. I will also include a Kindle copy of Adventures in Veterinary Medicine: What Working in Veterinary Hospitals taught me about Life, Love and Myself.

All of my books are available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.

Enter to win one of 10 Grand Prizes – 10 Winners

For up to 13 ways to enter, see the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open to readers in the United States only, and ends Friday, March 31. Winners and prize will be chosen by random drawing.**

For up to four ways to enter, see the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open to readers in the United States only, and ends Sunday, March 31. Winners and prize will be chosen by random drawing.**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*FTC Disclosure: This giveaway is sponsored by the brands providing the prizes, which means that I was paid to feature this content. Regardless of payment received, you will only see products featured on this site that I believe are of interest to my readers. The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon and affiliated sites. The Conscious Cat is an affiliate partner of Jackson Galaxy and Triple T Studios. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission.

**No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. By entering this giveaway, you understand that you are providing your information to The Conscious Cat, and not to Facebook. We will never sell, rent or share your information with third parties. Winners will be notified via e-mail. Prize winner must provide The Conscious Cat with a physical address to which the prize will be mailed within 72 hours. If this information is not received, an alternate winner will be chosen by random drawing. Winners will be announced in a separate post following the drawing.

The post 10th Anniversary Celebration and BIG Giveaway appeared first on The Conscious Cat.

[resilienceredemptionresurrection]

Seems to be human nature to want to leave your mark somewhere. My sisters and I rediscovered this school book our Uncle Johnny put his imprint on, and recalled our childhood fascination with the handmade sword and personal notations. He would probably be happy, but also a bit surprised, to discover his efforts still touch our hearts nearly 100 years later. Where did his inspiration come from? Could it have been as simple as boredom, or was it a more lofty goal stemming from a vivid imagination? A peek into his inner world?

I don’t imagine my crochet or embroidery efforts are going to stand the test of time, but still, it’s a way for me to leave traces of my very ordinary life’s journey. The challenge is to be present enough in my life to recognize what journey I am on. To actually live my life as a participant not a witness. Why is this so hard? Sitting here now with my fingers on the keys of my computer, my brain still struggles with something relevant to say about the present moment. Why is it important, to everyone, it seems, that the moments that make up the hours, days, months and years amount to something? Could that something be as simple as a string of kind acts toward self and others? Do the things we do have to make headlines in Google News?

Experimenting with messages on hats. This one I cut out and stitched inside a hat. Subtle!

Another experiment with embroidery and wool swatches stitched to hats.

Often the “mark” we leave is not a big bold statement, but something more subtle–something that people may not even notice right away; an act of kindness, a bungled compliment, the rough draft of a poem, a yard half landscaped, a clumsy new behavior, an aborted stitch on a worn cloth. These small and seemingly random messages originate from a human being attempting connection and understanding, most likely from someone within their circle, a person close to them, though these attempts are often missed. It’s no one’s fault. The worlds we inhabit are mostly (completely?) in our own heads, and if your inner noggin is anything like mine, it’s monkeys all the way down. Do I really want others to be looking in there? Nope! I don’t think I’m alone when I share a mostly filtered version of my inner world. but I still become frustrated when others don’t see (and accept) the crazy unfiltered version that is my reality. We are both missing out.

This is the point when me and my monkeys must bravely skip into the land of Vulnerability–that scary frontier where the inner and outer worlds merge. So, no matter how we choose to express our private impulses–painting, writing, playing with fiber, molding clay, or gardening–we at some point must push into uncertain territory where we ignore the warning signs–Stupid Idea Ahead, Laughter & Scorn Next Left, or Danger: Exposed Mind. We laugh, give a one-fingered salute and hit the gas!

I love Jerry Saltz’s explanation from “How to be an artist”. “Vulnerability: What’s that? It’s following your work into its darkest corners and strangest manifestations, revealing things about yourself that you don’t want to reveal until your work requires you to do this, and never failing in only mediocre or generic ways. We all contradict ourselves. We contain multitudes. You must be willing to fail flamboyantly, do things that seem silly and that might get you judged as a bad person.”  Read all 33 rules here 

Private assertions, like my uncle’s sword, are evidence that we all want to matter, to be remembered. And while these gestures may be for our eyes only, they are no less brave than public declarations. Still, we often need a nod from the outer world to strengthen our resolve to make a mark. But, here’s the rub: Sometimes the “outer” world needs to be you. You can’t count on others to always provide what you need most. As Viktor Frankl notes: “…[man] will have to accept his suffering as his task; his single and unique task.” (From “Man’s Search for Meaning”)

So, Be Bold, Buttercup! Even if you must do it alone. Create, create, create! 

  Experimenting with leaving my mark through crochet.

Black felt, embroidered heart. Sharpie used to scribble red background.

PS: If you have a moment, visit StorylineCreations on Facebook and give me a like. Feel free to share this post and anything else you find here. Thank you!

Skipping into the land of vulnerability is a scary journey, but essential if you want to leave your mark. Is this the year I'm bold? Seems to be human nature to want to leave your mark somewhere. My sisters and I rediscovered this school book our Uncle Johnny put his imprint on, and recalled our childhood fascination with the handmade sword and personal notations.

[knitcircus-luxury-yarns]

We are thrilled to be participating in the September Virtu-Wool Fiber Festival on Sunday, September 13th. This festival is being hosted on the Virtu-Wool Facebook page which will be streaming live videos from a multitude of yarn dyers and fiber artists. Knitcircus will be going live on Facebook on Sunday, September 13th at 6:00 pm CDT/ 7:00 pm EDT to show off our favorite yarns and samples. Hope to see you there!