[NFB-Krafters-Korner] For the newbies here something interesting

Mon Jun 8 23:44:11 UTC 2020

This is what was on the page, not sure if there is a second page or link in it.

Satisfy Your Artistic Flair or Make Some Extra Money
by Ramona Walhof

Shown here is a large, free-form bowl with edges fluted like an open
flower. It is glazed with celadon and is transparent green and
Acapulco blue with a deeper blue wash over all. The bowl has a light,
airy appearance, but it is so large that it took three people to apply
the glaze�two to hold the bowl while potter Lynda Lambert applied the
glaze.From the former Editor: I can’t count the times that I have
spoken with a newly blind person who laments the loss of crafting as
an inevitable consequence of blindness. I know that this does not have
to be true, but, except for knitting, I am not an arts-and-crafts
person, so I can give little hands-on advice or help. Ramona Walhof is
a longtime Federation leader who has always enjoyed sewing, knitting,
and other handcrafts. In the following article she describes the work
of one of the NFB divisions with which she is active. Some readers
will be interested in becoming members, but all of us should know
about the Krafters’ work so that we can pass along the information to
those who need to know about their work and learn how to keep active
with the crafts they love. This is what Ramona says:

Although only three years old, the Krafters Division of the NFB is
probably the most active of the thirty NFB divisions. Federationists
may wish to know more about its activities, and some may wish to join.

President Joyce Kane from Connecticut has done crafts all her life.
She knits, crochets, makes clothing and quilts with her sewing
machine, does safety pin beading, and is interested in all sorts of
other arts and crafts. Joyce lost her vision fourteen years ago and
began looking for and creating techniques to do the things she had
always enjoyed in order to continue doing them without vision. She
joined the Federation and was soon elected to office in her chapter
and state affiliate. She was president of her chapter in southern
Connecticut for eight years. Joyce made contact with other blind
crafters and found that most had experience and ideas to share.
Several years ago she contacted President Maurer about forming an NFB
division. He recommended she hold an organizing meeting at the 2008
convention.

Before that meeting Joyce had recruited officers and board members
from all over the country. Dr. Maurer asked me to help the group write
its constitution along the lines customarily followed by NFB
divisions. I didn't think I had time for one more activity but was
elected to the board and now serve as secretary. This division is
different from others in which I have been active, and it is a lot of
fun.

By the time of the organizing meeting in 2008, Cindy Sheets of
Kentucky had agreed to develop a website: <www.KraftersKorner.org>.
Laurie Porter of Wisconsin and some others had agreed to teach classes
by conference telephone. Diane Filipe of Colorado brought handmade
ceramic Braille pins to sell at the 2009 convention as the first
division fundraiser. Before organizing, the group had already begun
holding Monday night chats by conference phone calls each week, and in
2012 these chats continue.

The listserv, nfb-krafters-korner was established before the division
was organized. Today approximately 150 people are subscribed to this
list, and it is one of the most active of all the nfbnet lists now in
operation. From 15 to 40 messages may appear on this list most days.
Topics cover crafts from quilting to pottery, from crocheting to
weaving, from making Christmas decorations to using the sewing
machine. Some of the topics discussed during December of 2011 were
candy wreaths, blocking knitted items, crafts that can be done
one-handed for someone about to have surgery on her shoulder,
crocheted cupcakes, snowmen made on the knifty knitter loom, gumdrop
trees, sewing rags for rugs, and on and on. To join this list, go to
<www.nfbnet.org> and select the link entitled Join or Drop NFBnet
Mailing Lists.

President Kane is always eager to recruit volunteers to teach classes.
Frequently three or four classes are taught by conference phone call
each week. Some classes are complete in one hour, while others stretch
over three or four lessons, each lasting from one to two hours. During
2011 twenty-nine classes were offered and completed. Anywhere from
three to fifteen students can be in a class.

As usual Joyce was recruiting teachers and students last fall. After
some thought I realized there might be some interest in machine
sewing, but we had to find out whether members had access to sewing
machines. It turned out that some people did. They had to learn how to
thread their machines before the class began. We couldn't teach that
by phone to people using a variety of machines. Each student in that
class now has a new apron. Both Joyce and I were very pleased that we
could explain the techniques by phone, and the students were also
happy. As you might guess, Joyce is encouraging me to teach another
class, this time on making T-shirts as a means of teaching techniques
used to sew knitted or stretchy fabrics.

On the listserv, problems are posed and answered by other crafters.
Members have learned new crafts and new methods. Newly blind people
have gained confidence and ideas for pursuing the craft activities
they wish to master.

We have heard many stories of individuals who have conquered fears or
other problems. One member, Jewell Boll from Sheboygan, Wisconsin,
sold her sewing machine when she lost her sight and is now excited
about taking up sewing again. She wants to tell those who are newly
blind not to become angry and frustrated. She says that, if she had
been in touch with more blind people when she became blind, she would
have done things differently. She is looking for a machine to purchase
and has sought opinions on the listserv about various models.

Another member, Lynda Lambert from Pennsylvania, was a painter and was
depressed and angry when she became blind about four years ago, but
she is now enthusiastically producing large and beautiful pottery and
beaded items. She held an art show displaying her work last fall and
received compliments from those who visited. She also sold several
pieces at satisfactory prices. You may wish to check out her website,
<http://lyndalambert.com>. Lynda has a lot of ideas, and she
entertains other listers as she shares her experiences. She says an
artist just can't stop being an artist, even when she has to turn to a
different art. Her standards are high, and that will not change. Lynda
also knits and does other arts and crafts.

Another painter who lost her vision continued to knit dish cloths
while recovering from her surgery, but this was not enough of an
outlet for her love of art. After some training at BLIND,
Incorporated, in Minnesota, Jeanny Nylander returned home to Lacrosse
to find that her husband had bought her a potter's wheel. She had
taken pottery in college and enjoyed it. She contacted Joyce Kane and
Lynda Lambert through the Krafters Division, and pottery has become
her new art. She is again making and selling art. Both Lynda and
Jeanny are extremely complimentary about the opportunities they have
discovered from each other and from the division. The two led a
discussion about pottery for other crafters and taught a class in
January of 2012 by conference call. They are planning to teach other
classes in coming months. Both say that artists have a need to share
ideas and techniques.

Another crafter, Jaselli Walter, uses clay that does not need to be
fired. She has led a Monday night chat about this, and members are
eager to learn more about what she does. Division members are
encouraged to list items they have made for sale on the first and the
fifteenth of each month. We have plans to make sales opportunities
available on the website as soon as possible. The group also makes
items for charities.

Becky Frankeberger from Washington State taught a Tunisian crochet
class in January and February, using an email list.  Becky is a
machine knitter and has gone into business selling items she has made.
See her work at <www.butterflyknitting.com>. A write-up on her and her
work appears on <www.KraftersKorner.org>.

Representatives from a group of blind quilters have joined the list,
and I am sure we will learn more from them.

Division dues are ten dollars per year and may be paid directly to the
treasurer, Diane Filipe, 1455 44th Avenue Place, Greeley, Colorado
80634, or pay using PayPal on the website, <www.KraftersKorner.org>.
Classes are free to members, and they are described ahead of time on
the website. Anyone who has questions or suggestions should contact
President Joyce Kane at (203) 378-8928 or email her at
<blindhands at aol.com>. All those interested in arts and crafts should
come to the division meeting at the convention in Dallas this summer.
I believe we will also have a display and sale of handmade items
Saturday afternoon, the day before the exhibit room opens. Please
check your agenda for times and locations. Plans are moving forward
for a busy week. If anyone has requests, don't be shy. We can't
guarantee to do everything you can dream up, but anything could
happen.

On 6/8/20, henry osborne jr via NFB-Krafters-Korner
<nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I just got the same results as did Terry.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org> On
> Behalf
> Of Terry Powers via NFB-Krafters-Korner
> Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 3:46 PM
> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists' <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: terrypowers59 at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] For the newbies here something
> interesting
>
> Joyce;
> Were you able to open this document?
> I am getting, not found on this server!
>
> Terry
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org> On
> Behalf
> Of Joyce Kane via NFB-Krafters-Korner
> Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 3:20 PM
> To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> Cc: blindhands at AOL.com
> Subject: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] For the newbies here something interesting
>
> I came across this article that was written about the NFB Krafters Division
> going back several years.
>
> It tells a good story about our division beginning and as each one of   you
> , can add your thoughts and comments into this.
>
>
>
> https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/
> bm1204/bm120417.htm
>
>
>
>
>
> Joyce Kane
>
> Krafters Korner is for everyone and Everyone makes Krafters Korner what it
> is!!!
>
> _______________________________________________
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> 59%40gmail.com
>
>
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> can still follow Krafters Korner on Twitter. Go to:
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> 40gmail.com
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>
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> Facebook page:
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> Krafters-Korner Blog http://krafterskorner.org/
> "Follow NFB Krafters Korner on Twitter: Our Handle is @craftingblind
> Don't have a Twitter account? You can still follow Krafters Korner on
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>