Every so often I get the opportunity to sit together with someone who wants to learn a little more about a particular folk art. That is what Spin With Me is all about – learning alongside as I interpret at a historical venue here in Florida. Recently Holly and I spent the afternoon sitting together making crocheted rag rugs – rugs crocheted from discarded twin sheets that we cut into one continuous strand of ‘yarn.’ Others have learned to spin…
One of the things that I have enjoyed doing for many years now is producing yarn by spinning cotton, Angora, and wool. I find it just amazing to see how the texture of these individual textiles change when you combine them together. One year I grew an heirloom green cotton plant called Erlene’s Green. I found that in its natural state is spun up into a beautiful pistachio colored yarn. When I took that yarn and added it to a…
What could you learn today that could be something that you could offer to others tomorrow? I think John articulated these thoughts well in his video. He talks about how communities long ago were producer oriented. What I mean is that the folks who lived together each had a skill that they contributed to the community that enabled that community to subsist, to provide for itself, to thrive. One of the things I love about learning folk art is that…
Do you have a friend who happens to be an animal? My feathery friend, Igor, has had a rough go of it. Some time back wild dogs got into his pen and he was wounded quite badly. Being the tough whippersnapper that he is he managed to heal up. He continues to parade around the barnyard thinking that he owns the place!