Skip to main content

I Have a New Friend and Her Name is Deb

Since moving  across state lines in December, I have kept relatively busy with all the things that go along with a big move to a new house: errands to get those little hardware essentials, hanging pictures, finding the perfect storage solutions, rearranging the craft room to "try" and fit it all in. There are the boring things, too, like getting a new driver's license and car license plates, plus learning my way around as I accomplish all these things.

My time is limited to the caretaker's schedule for hubby, so I usually feel rushed; but that's okay...there is always tomorrow! Finally, on Monday this week I felt like I had a snippet of time to have lunch with an acquaintance. I call her an "acquaintance" because we had only briefly met for a minute at the closing on our house and had communicated via email a bit before that.

Word to the wise...if you are a designer, author, blogger or any kind of professional, promote yourself on your email signature. Because my email address is unique (crochetkween@gmail.com), it is pretty common for conversations about crochet to develop - or at least it gets a smile. Often I will hear,"My grandmother was a crocheter; or I always wanted to learn."

What's not so common is for someone to pick up on the link to my book, The Fine Art of Crochet, and actually go to Amazon to thumb through the pages! But that is exactly what Deb did; and she is not even a crocheter! She is, however, an avid crafter and appreciates the art of crochet. I was so pleased when she was complimentary of my book and said she would look forward to meeting me.

Deb wasn't directly involved in our closing; but when met that day I gifted her one of my crocheted bangle bracelets. We talked about getting together and about 2 months later, we made it happen! It was enjoyable to think about a relaxing and peaceful time just for myself to enjoy a new restaurant and a potential new friend.

Have you ever experienced the instant connection that happens when you meet another crocheter? It is one of the joys of participating in an annual Chain Link Crochet Conference. That was the case with Deb and I. We share common interests in crafting, not just crochet. The joy of making, be it hand-made papers, color combinations or any fiber craft. It doesn't have to be just crochet that attracts the artful mind to another crafter.

We also share the experience of having moved from a familiar home base to a new and different area. I won't call it "work," but it definitely takes "intention" to reach out and start to make new friends. Deb has a head start of 8 years on me, but I am so glad she was kind enough to reach out to me.

We were so busy talking and eating during her lunch hour that I didn't take any selfies, but I will because I am sure there will be a next time for Deb and I!

In just a few days, we will begin to celebrate National Crochet Month sponsored by the Crochet Guild of America. What do you plan to do to bring attention to your favorite craft of crochet? I suggest inviting an acquaintance to lunch. Who knows, they could have a hidden desire to learn crochet or they may even know how and just want to share their skills with a friend! The worse that can happen is that you'll have a nice lunch!

Comments

So glad to hear that you were able to make that connection. HUGS.
Alice said…
So glad you have a new friend!

Popular posts from this blog

Craft vs. Fine Art: How is Crochet Blurring the Lines

I was awakening to the world of crochet in 1972,a time of immense artistic expression through fiber arts; and crochet was not the “ugly stepchild” at the time. In fact, Ferne Cone Gellar who I admire as a successful fiber artist said in “Knitting: The Stepchild of the Fiber Arts?” ( Fibercraft Newsletter 1978), “Has knitting been slighted among the areas of the fiber arts? The very word ‘knitting’ evokes images of the little old lady in tennis shoes. Over the years, I’ve learned to ignore all those jokes.” Cone Gellar went on to publish Crazy Crocheting in 1981 and encouraged her readers to create more than bedspreads, providing ideas such as “things to play with or to display on a shelf or hang on a wall.” A photo of single crochet from bread wrappers served as inspiration.  In 1972 in her book, Creating Art from Fibers & Fabrics , Dona Meilach wrote: “Why are fibers and fabrics becoming increasingly appealing to artists? Most artists agree

Wartime Crochet With Attitude, Part I

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 Karen Ballard and I have a mutual love of free form crochet. We met for the first time in a class taught by Prudence Mapstone of Australia at the Chain Link Crochet Conference 2011. I admire Karen's vast knowledge of needle work history and am grateful for her willingness to share with us as my guest blogger this week. Karen wearing a World War II-era knitting hat with stubby needles on top Karen's Heritage Heart,  with flowers symbolic of her heritage, is currently on tour with Prudence Mapstone's traveling "Hearts & Flowers Exhibition" in Australia and New Zealand   World War 1 Attitudes About Crochet by Karen Ballard In 2008, I coined that term, "Workbasket Campaigns" to describe the organized efforts during World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII) coordinated through the American Red Cross {ARC} and the Navy League to create needle crafted items.  These items were mostly knitted but also sewn, qu

What is Free Form Crochet?

Monday, January 6, 2014 This topic came about from the title of my article recently in Fiber Art Now magazine.  "Crochet As Art: A Conversation with 5 Free-Form Crochet Artists." Yes, the 5 artists I wrote about, all of which are in  my book  The Fine Art of Crochet , are free-thinking when it comes to their creativity. They are free-wheeling with the hook and use unique fibers in many cases. Once you read the article, tell me what  you think? Are these artists doing free-form crochet? In order to define free-form crochet, we must look way, way back to it's origins: Irish crochet. A brief history of crochet, including the Irish method, written by Ruthie Marks is available through The Crochet Guild of America . Unfortunately, there are no images on the site. On her blog, Nancy Nehring has a beautiful montage of Irish Crochet in reference to a class she taught in 2013 at Lacis . I wrote an article in Old Time Crochet Magazine (Spring 1998), "History of Irish Croc