[NFB-Krafters-Korner] A Blast from the Past & a little History..

Sun Apr 25 02:18:44 UTC 2021

I came across this article written by Ramona Walhof & thought some would
find it interesting.

Joyce

NFB Krafters Division
Satisfy Your Artistic Flair or Make Some Extra Money

by Ramona Walhof

>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
<https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1204/
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
<http://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
<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
<https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1204/
www.butterflyknitting.com> >. A write-up on her and her work appears on
<www.KraftersKorner.org
<https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1204/
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, <
<https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1204/
www.KraftersKorner.org> 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 <mailto: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.

f

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