Rooted in Mississippi

I will be at the Craft Center on Rice Road tomorrow demonstrating needle felting, spinning and embroidery. I am scheduled to be there from ten until four.  Come by and see me if you get the chance.

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But, I just have to share a recent email that I received by someone who is offended by my needlefelting.

On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 11:07 AM, Bryan Tankersley <email deleted> wrote:
> Hello,  I am just curious about something I saw on your web site. It appears
> that your needle felted teddy bear and rabbit have “protruding parts”…???
> Is there a reason for this. It seems kind of perverted to me. Would be cute
> without making them obscene.
> Bryan
> Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®

My gut reaction was to respond, even though it probably would have been wiser to just delete it and move on with my life.  That said, wise choices are difficult in the heat of the moment and here was my reply.

First of all, it was one animal, a polar bear.  I do not find the
“protruding parts” to be obscene, it is merely bits of wool shaped
into a figurative representation.  In fact, it was that precise
attention to detail that helped me get juried into the craftsman’s
guild.

Secondly, I was not going for cute, I was demonstrating my skill in a
manner I found both whimsical and amusing.  When you are the artist,
you can make your own choices.  As for me, I would not change a thing
about that piece.

I suppose it says more about me that I felt compelled to respond to an to email complaint about my “perverted” and “obscene” needlefelting.  Since there is only one such creature in my menagerie, I suppose it says more about him that he is seeing “protruding parts” where there are none.  While most of my figurative animals are gender neutral, that particular one is not and I have my reasons.  I get more positive response from that one item than any other, because people think it is funny. Maybe I should knit some pantaloons to cover his naughty bits…NOT!!

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Once again, we are approaching EGA National Seminar and there is a hurricane aimed at the Gulf Coast.  Three years ago, all of our lives changed when Katrina hit.  Lisa, Cynthia and I were scrambling for gas. Ben and I were cleaning up debris.  It seemed so surreal when we made the decision to go to Atlanta and leave our loved ones behind to deal with things.  Yes, we had already paid for the event and we were planning to stay with my mom, but it was still a tough choice  When we finally got gas, after getting into line at Sam’s at 4 AM, we felt like it was the right one.

It feels sort of ominous with Gustav passing over Cuba and Haiti and then heading into the Gulf Coast.  I can only imagine what the people in New Orleans are thinking and feeling with most of the projected paths coming straight through their city with its barely patched levees.  I was relieved to hear that the mountains in Haiti helped break up the system and take away some of its power.  Maybe I am falling prey to alarmist newscasters who want you to remain glued to the television.  It is hard to know, but by time the remnants of Gustav make it to Jackson, I will probably be in Louisville.

At least we are better prepared now than we ever were before Katrina and I am no longer “key personnel” at a hospital. I am more worried for other people, especially on the coast and in NOLA.  If our electricity has not been right since Katrina, what does that mean for them?  How much of our infrastructure is sub-par?  How much of an insult can it take before it all falls apart again?  Deep thoughts, I know, but the idea of another hurricane coming so close to the anniversary of Katrina weighs heavily on my mind.

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OK, so I did take some photos of my work from class at Share-A-Stitch. I have finally taken everything out of the bag and even put it into my hoop and worked on it for a short while yesterday, but this is a photo of just of the work I did in class.

The second photo is of the wool needle-nest that came with our kits. I was surprised when I saw it, because this was a custom order I did for Barbara Jackson. I completely missed the whole concept of what she intended to do with them, so it was fun to see them and it was a great addition to the kit. What a great way to supply needles to students, especially in the humid south.

I do not think I included photos of this project while I was working on it, but I did take pictures of the wet felted wool drying on a screen out back. I did this project for Barbara between trips to Atlanta, so there really was not a lot of time for taking pictures. I was lucky to get it done in at all!

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I am having to make more Artist Trading Cards, because some of the ones I put into the display at the library did not make it back home. I have made four this week, but I still have one more to go to be able to complete the CyberStitchers swap. I must have been off kilter when I cut one of my backs, because it is a little too long. It is too late to go back and fix it without risking ruining the card completely, but we will see if I can leave the mistake or not. Probably NOT!

The other thing that went missing were the two materials bags from the Sock Spinning class in Huntsville. Both mine and the one I picked up for Lisa have gone MIA. They must have fallen out of my tote somewhere along the way. The good news is that it happened to be the kit that I bought from Lewis when he decided to sell the extras, so I have something to give Lisa. The bad news is that I paid twice, or is that three times, for materials. Oh, well, that is the way to goes sometimes.

Now for some unbelievable dog cuteness provided by Roscoe:

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I had a good day on Wednesday, I got plenty of sleep, I took a nice yoga class, then ate lunch with Rhonda at Aladdin’s. We chatted, I saw some of her new things and she loaned me a serger to see if I like it enough to buy one for my business.

I am teaching a punchneedle embroidery class on March 29th and a silk ribbon embroidered Iris Vest two weeks later. I need to get my classes down and make some proposals to the craft center and maybe even set some things up for ARTichoke.  I should probably work up some proposals for EGA too.

Today I am taking my supplies up to ARTichoke to work on Artist Trading Cards.  I need to get a few more finished to complete the challenge from last year on CyberStitchers.  I really want to be able to send everyone their ATCs before the next general meeting.

I also want to share a few pictures of dog cuteness and one of them is even fiber related!

First, Rudy did me the honor of modeling the sample socklet from the class last weekend. It was knit from yarn I spun that weekend. I am not likely to knit from my homespun without washing it first in the future, but this was for class. I have enough yarn to make a second sock, so that there is a pair.

Princess is digging some really giant holes in the back yard. This particular has gotten even deeper since the photo. Ironically, she abandoned it for another spot on Tuesday, but went back to it after the heavy rain. She spends about half her days completely covered in mud.  She really seems to have fun while she is out there.

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Monday, my friend Johnnie Glen read Proverbs 31:10 as part of her grandmother’s eulogy. In case you do not know the verse, I thought I would share two versions.

First from the New American Standard Bible:

10 An excellent wife, who can find? for her worth is far above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, or all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, hen he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

And this the version from the Jewish Publication Society Tanakh (1917).

10 A woman of valour who can find? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he hath no lack of gain.
12 She doeth him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant-ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth food to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and maketh strong her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her lamp goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; and she laugheth at the time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her:
29 Many daughters have done valiantly, but thou excellest them all.’
30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her works praise her in the gates.

I think it was the inclusion of this verse in an unusual (for me personally) context that I found so thought provoking. I mean, I have heard and read the verse hundreds of times, maybe more since taking up spinning. In Jewish tradition, this quote is often read at weddings, but I do not remember if the rabbi read it at my wedding.

I am continually working on being a worthy woman and I fall short in a few areas. Yet, when I wonder if my husband sees me as more valuable than rubies, I know the answer is yes! Although I surely “look for wool and flax” and work with my hands in delight and I even go all over town to get him just the right ice cream, those things do not tell me if he values me above rubies. I know that, because he encouraged me to quit a paying job to become a full time Fiber Artist! He was more interested in my personal satisfaction and spiritual journey than he was in my paycheck.

Blessing counted!!

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I attended Marjorie Slade’s funeral today. I wish we all got together in good times as well as bad, but that seems to be the way things happen when family and friends reach a certain age. I was shocked when I realized that Gran was just five years older than my father and a little over a decade older than my mom. I have always had “older” parents, but I often wonder how strange that must have felt for my youngest brother, since dad was 52 when he was born.

Anyway, after the service, I ran to the cemetery ahead of everyone, so I could have a few minutes alone at Charlotte’s graveside. I can scarcely believe it has been over ten years since she died. The passage of time has always been a mysterious thing to me, how the same time period can see like both an eternity and an instant. I still miss her terribly and the grief is as raw today as it was five or ten years ago. While every moment from the time I heard about the accident to the minute she drew her last breath is permanently etched in my memory, I can not really remember the days after or her funeral. It was another one of those confusing contradictions for which I am famous, I managed to be both numb and a raw nerve at once.

Then there comes the funny. I had to beg off from lunch at the church, because I had started to feel a breeze other than the strong winds blowing today. I was wearing a very old dress, one I have worn many, many times over the last fifteen years. I have worn it to interviews, on dates and even to a few funerals. Today the nylon zipper came apart from the bottom up and my backside would have been flapping in the wind had I not wisely chosen to wear a lightweight silk cardigan over the dress!

Then there comes the joy. I got a call from Anne Campbell over at ARTichoke, she wanted to know if I had gotten my letter from the Craftsman’s Guild of Mississippi. Sadly, I had not. I was in the process of updating my resume, so I decided to call Julia and just ask. She told me I got accepted in all five textile categories for which I submitted: embroidery, spinning, knit, crochet and felting. I am SO excited and I really look forward to getting my packet.

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I am home from the Useful Knowledge Seminar in Huntsville. I am so tired, but I have a full plate of things to do, so no rest for the wicked. I almost finished my tiny sock made from my own yarn, but not quite. I will post a photo of the socklet when I am done. Merike Saarniit has an interesting way of working a toe-up sock without grafting, but do not ask me any details, you will have to take her class!

I did buy a little fiber, but not as much as you might imagine. Until things start to take off at ARTichoke, I am going to go slow. I kind of feel like I have to be careful.

A friend’s grandmother died while I was away, so I will be attending visitation and the funeral on Monday. I had to dig out something appropriate to wear, which can be a challenge these days. I am just NOT a pantyhose kind of a gal any more. I was glad an old dress worked, because I would hate to wear a suit with my bellyring right now!

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There is tremendous satisfaction in actually finishing things!

I also finished Barbara Jackson’s Strawberry Trio! It was a great little project and I worked on it in front of the television.

We also worked out the plans to do a Punchneedle Basics class for our Mississippi NeedleArts chapter on March 29, 2008. Many thanks to Lisanne at P is for Primitive for helping me get the cameo punchneedles for the class. It is free for members and just $25 for non-members. I just need a head count before the class, so I will know how many kits to purchase.

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