[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Introduction

[Cathy Flesher]

Hi Ray,

I enjoyed reading your story. I feel so good hearing aboutfolks who have lost their sight, but did not let it stop them from creating a new and interesting life for themselves. If you stick around you will hear many stories of this kind. I have two sighted friends who do wordworking. One enjoys making walking canes with carved animals on top. When my husband came home with his most recent guide dog, our friend gave him a cane with a head of a golden retriever on it. The detail on the dog was amazing! There was no doubt what breed of dog it was. My other friend has made many things. One of the project s most impressive to me is the sailboat he made. It is so detailed and realistic and has such delicate carving of the rigging. I really admire these folks.
I enjoy working with yarn, as well as other crafts. I never have had experience with woodworking. My husband has made some things when he was in the school for the blind. One thing was a huge cabinet. He keeps promising to make me some shelving, but we have been married thirty years and I still don’t have those shelves. <smile>

Please let us know what you are working on now? I would love to know. I am sure that if you wish to sell your crafts on this list on the first or fifteenth of the month you will find folks who are interested.
 
Welcome.
May God bless you.
 Cathy F

> On Jul 9, 2021, at 11:40 PM, Ray Wright via NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Fellow Crafters,
> Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ray Wright and I am new to
> this list. I have no light perception and am  totally blind. I became
> blind 20 years ago from Retinitis Pigmentosa after 17 years of
> deteriorating vision. I am originally from Southern California and
> currently live in Sandy, UTah, just south of Salt Lake City.
> 
> My hobby/craft is woodworking. It is also my profession. I am the
> Woodshop Instructor at the Utah Division of Services for the Blind and
> visually Impaired. Except for taking woodshop in Junior  High School,
> I never had done any woodworking since then until I went totally
> blind.  When I went blind I attended a training center in Northern
> California to learn my blindness skills . At that time I was
> reintroduced to woodworking. I fell in love with it.  I enjoy the
> artistic process  of creating something from   a board or two. When I
> was sighted, my hobby/profession was photography.   I find that making
> something tactilly with my hands fills that void I felt when I lost my
> sight and now I can create an image of a different kind.  I also love
> teaching woodworking to students who have lost their sight. It's a
> great way for me to pay it forward and instill in my students that
> just because you can't see, doesn't mean you can't use your vision to
> make beautiful keepsakes.
> 
> I have 2 favorite tools in my shop. The first one is the click-rule.
> It is a specialized measuring tool for the blind. Basically, its a
> tactile ruler. My other favorite tool is my lathe. I love to do
> woodturning and make writing pens, bowls, vases, candlesticks,
> backscratchers , tops,  ice cream scoops, bottle stoppers, pizza
> cutters, seam rippers, crochet hooks, and whatever else I can think
> of.
> 
> Anyway, that's my basic story. I look forward to being on this list
> and expanding my crafting horizons. Thanks for being so welcoming
> during the  convention.
> 
> All my best,
> 
> Ray
> 
> _______________________________________________
> NFB-Krafters-Korner mailing list
> NFB-Krafters-Korner at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> Division Website:  http://www.krafterskorner.org
> Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/NFB-Krafters-Division/269246643109571
> 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 Twitter. Go to: Twitter.com/craftingblind
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-Krafters-Korner:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/flowersandherbs%40gmail.com