[nfbmi-talk] {Disarmed} nfb krafters division

Sun Apr 8 06:27:27 UTC 2012

> 
> 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>. 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.
> 
> Becky Frankeberger
> Butterfly Knitting
> 
> Custom-made knit throws, shawls, and more!
> 
> Phone: 360-426-8389
> E-mail: becky at ButterflyKnitting.com
> Website: www.ButterflyKnitting.com
> 
> __._,_.___
> Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic
> Messages in this topic (1)
> RECENT ACTIVITY:
> Visit Your Group
> How many children in America are not taught to read?
> The answer is 90 percent if the children are blind.  
> 
> Don't miss your opportunity to make change with a dollar! 
> Watch this video:
> http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=ZR5rM_4vdwhiO_bZ-VffRg..
> 
> NFB of Pennsylvania  wants to hear from you 
> phone 215.988.0888
> 
> 
> Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use
> .
>  
> __,_._,___