[Nfb-krafters-korner] Article
Susan Roe
dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
Tue Aug 3 15:43:12 UTC 2010
Eileen,
Thanks on the article. This was the seventh article I've written for
MatildaZiegler.
Susan R.
dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eileen Scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 7:43 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Please
> Susan:
>
> You did a really nice job in writing your article. Congrats on having it
> published in the mag.
>
> Eileen
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Susan Roe" <dogwoodfarm at verizon.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 7:08 AM
> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Please
>
>> Terrence,
>>
>> If it was, I'm so glad it brought you to us!
>>
>> Susan R.
>> dogwoodfarm at verizon.net
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Terrence van Ettinger" <terrencevane at gmail.com>
>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists"
>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 4:45 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Please
>>
>>
>>> Actually, I think this was the article that brought me in; I recognize
>>> some of the text from reading it. I didn't see it in the Ziegler itself
>>> though; I think it was a reprint somewhere.
>>>
>>> Terrence
>>>
>>> Twitter: www.twitter.com/terrencevane
>>> Kingdoms Live Code: bgc5a6
>>>
>>> On Aug 2, 2010, at 3:48 AM, Blindhands at aol.com wrote:
>>>
>>>> Our friend Susan has been writing for the Matilda Ziegler Magazine and
>>>> I
>>>> wanted to share with you an article she recently wrote. It appeared in
>>>> the
>>>> magazine just a couple of weeks ago. Thank you Susan.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hands On Living: Blind Crafting for Everyone
>>>> By Susan Roe
>>>> I have been an avid crafter both before and after I lost my sight over
>>>> thirty-two years ago. There is nothing I love more than working on a
>>>> project
>>>> and actually seeing it through to completion. Whether I sell an item,
>>>> give it to someone or donate it to a charity, I always have the
>>>> satisfaction
>>>> knowing that there will be someone somewhere who will appreciate owning
>>>> what
>>>> I do best.
>>>> There have been quite a few people who have either encouraged my
>>>> crafting
>>>> or have taught me different skills. My mother, Katherine, first taught
>>>> me
>>>> to crochet when I was eight years old. She showed me how to crochet
>>>> granny
>>>> squares in matching or contrasting colors. We would then sew them
>>>> together
>>>> to make warm afghans for our beds. She didn’t stop with crocheting
>>>> and
>>>> soon taught my sister and I to quilt by hand, as well as how to use a
>>>> sewing
>>>> machine. When we were small children, she made handmade Hobby Holly
>>>> dolls
>>>> and sold them to make extra money for our Christmas. Later on, she
>>>> tried
>>>> her hand at the cutest little clothes for Cabbage Patch dolls and they
>>>> were
>>>> even more popular.
>>>> Not too long before I lost my sight, I had just discovered a talent for
>>>> drawing. My sister Pattie encouraged me to start taking art classes
>>>> in
>>>> school like she did. She was a wonderful artist herself, starting
>>>> with drawing
>>>> and painting. When Pattie began having vision problems of her own, she
>>>> switched to woodcarving. No surprise to us, she excelled in that
>>>> craft as
>>>> well. Pattie had just started showing me some basics of oil painting
>>>> when I
>>>> lost my sight at age fifteen.
>>>> I have never allowed my blindness to be a hindrance in my day to day
>>>> living and that included my current crafts and learning new ones along
>>>> the way.
>>>> Pauline, a family friend, took the time to teach me how to knit and it
>>>> has
>>>> been my favorite ever since. She also introduced my family to liquid
>>>> embroidery, making Christmas ornaments with beads and sequins and latch
>>>> hooking
>>>> rugs. From school I learned to work with clay, coil and reed basket
>>>> weaving and tapestry weaving using colored burlap. I even managed to
>>>> take a
>>>> class on using the potter’s wheel while attending my local community
>>>> college.
>>>> Luckily, I stopped myself from adding a potter’s wheel to my small one
>>>> bedroom apartment before I started rearranging the furniture.
>>>> Believe it or not, my crafting curiosity still was not satisfied.
>>>> Pattie
>>>> and I took ceramic classes, enjoyed working with beads, making hats
>>>> and
>>>> scarves on circular and rectangular lap looms, and successfully
>>>> figured out how
>>>> to crohook. When I attended our local Rehabilitation Center for the
>>>> Blind
>>>> one summer, they showed me how to set up my sewing machine to make it
>>>> easier to use. I have heard that curiosity killed the cat, however,
>>>> it only
>>>> expanded my thirst for crafting to collecting the tools of the trade
>>>> along
>>>> with many books and magazines covering even more crafts. I could
>>>> definitely
>>>> open my own crafting store.
>>>> My mother-in-law, Anna Roe, was someone else who loved crafting. She
>>>> loved
>>>> knitting, crocheting and plastic canvas work. To her credit, she
>>>> also
>>>> passed on crafting to her children as well. Matt likes to draw and
>>>> paint,
>>>> wood working and Native American leather working. I suppose Anna also
>>>> passed
>>>> on to Matt some of her patience, because he does tolerate my boxes of
>>>> yarn
>>>> and shelves of crafting books. In fact, he doesn’t even get ancy
>>>> while we
>>>> are in a craft store. Matt is really good at ferreting out all kinds
>>>> of
>>>> hidden crafting treasures.
>>>> On a sad note, when Anna passed away, Matt and his family asked if
>>>> there
>>>> was anything of her’s that I would like to have in remembrance. I didn’t
>>>> hesitate and asked for anything dealing with her knitting and
>>>> crocheting.
>>>> Well, my ever-growing craft stuff was increased by four large boxes.
>>>> With all of my accumulated crafting energy and supplies, I needed an
>>>> outlet for my items because I just couldn’t keep it all. I sell a few
>>>> items here
>>>> and there as well as making items for friends and family. My biggest
>>>> joy
>>>> is knitting and crocheting for the Webb of Hope, a charity group that
>>>> is
>>>> run through the Red Cross. A local group of women get together here
>>>> at
>>>> Black Creek Baptist Church and meet once a week. They share patterns,
>>>> discuss
>>>> items being made and who the organization will be sending them to,
>>>> both in
>>>> the United States and several countries over seas. The women also
>>>> provide
>>>> lessons for those who want to learn and participate with them as well
>>>> as
>>>> providing yarn so it doesn’t have to cost you anything.
>>>> Over the years, I have done searches on the Internet and have found
>>>> several on-line crafting groups, and several of them have been for
>>>> blind
>>>> crafters. I had to narrow my participation down to only one blind
>>>> crafting group
>>>> or I would never tare myself away from the computer. This group
>>>> works
>>>> together from the Krafters Korner. The group is filled with some of
>>>> the most
>>>> talented crafters I have ever known. Everyone is either blind,
>>>> low-vision,
>>>> or works with the blind. The Krafters Korner also provides lessons to
>>>> its
>>>> members via conference calls and everyone works at the project
>>>> together.
>>>> All classes are recorded for the students that attend each class and
>>>> are
>>>> provided as downloadable MP3 files for easy reference at a later date.
>>>> Some of
>>>> the classes have been beginning and advanced knitting, beginning and
>>>> advanced bead working, soap making, origami, plastic canvas work, small
>>>> loom
>>>> weaving and even tips for finding the best tool for the job, to only
>>>> name a
>>>> few. They are even working on knitted and crocheted helmet liners for
>>>> our
>>>> soldiers over seas as a community charity project.
>>>> I have even taught two classes myself, coil basket weaving and paper
>>>> basket weaving which seemed to be a success with those who attended. I
>>>> have only
>>>> taken one class, which was a beading class for making your own Rosary.
>>>> The teacher even gave a brief history on the different styles of
>>>> Rosaries
>>>> through the years. All classes are open to members once you have paid
>>>> your
>>>> $10.00 membership dues. Krafters Korner also has a weekly Monday
>>>> Night Chat
>>>> which runs from 8:00 Eastern Time to about 9:30 via the conference
>>>> line.
>>>> This gives everyone an opportunity to talk to someone about their
>>>> crafts and
>>>> exchange information as well. Members also have the opportunity to
>>>> get
>>>> help with problems they may be experiencing with a project in order to
>>>> work
>>>> through it instead of getting frustrated enough to set it aside, never
>>>> to
>>>> be picked up again.
>>>> I have found that many members take their projects quite seriously and
>>>> even attend numerous crafting shows as venders or sell their wares at
>>>> Farmers
>>>> Markets. There are those who have been blind and crafting for several
>>>> years, or they find themselves wanting to learn to craft. Also, there
>>>> are
>>>> those who have been sighted crafters for years and recently lost their
>>>> sight
>>>> and now want to find ways to continue crafting. It is really nice
>>>> when a
>>>> member seeks encouragement with continuing a craft after losing their
>>>> sight
>>>> and seeing the eager responses from other members sharing and
>>>> explaining how
>>>> they have managed to continue that very craft. All of this and more
>>>> can
>>>> be found at the Krafters Korner. They have even had guest speakers on
>>>> blind
>>>> wood working so they can explain how they manage their wood working
>>>> craft
>>>> with no sight.
>>>> Joyce Kane is the group moderator and President of the National
>>>> Federation
>>>> of
>>>> the Blind Krafters Division. She has been an avid blind crafter for
>>>> many
>>>> years and is always available to assist members as well as eager to
>>>> learn
>>>> new crafts and techniques from others in the group. You can call
>>>> Joyce for
>>>> more information at (203) 378-8928 or via e-mail at
>>>> _Blindhands at AOL.com_
>>>> (mailto:Blindhands at AOL.com) . Please feel free to visit Krafters
>>>> Korner at
>>>> www.KraftersKorner.org. Krafters Korner has also recently gone
>>>> International,
>>>> bringing blind students from around the globe into their classrooms
>>>> with
>>>> the use of SKYPE. Come and join us and see what you can learn!
>>>>
>>>> Joyce Kane
>>>> www.KraftersKorner.org (http://www.krafterskorner.org/)
>>>> Blindhands at AOL.com
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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