craft in america
So! Did everyone catch Craft in America on PBS last night? I had originally planned to record it and watch it some other time, but by the time I was 1/2 hour in, I knew I’d be sitting there for all 3 hours. Absolutely fantastic. Adam only watched the first hour with me – admittedly, it probably wouldn’t have been as interesting to someone who doesn’t work with his or her hands – and afterwards, I went into his office and said that the biggest problem with the program is that now I want to try EVERYTHING. Glass blowing, metalwork, Native basketweaving, pottery, quilting, everything. Honestly, you’d need a lifetime and some lottery winnings, heh.
But seriously, it was really inspiring. If you missed it, definitely click that link – there’s a lot of material from the series online, and you can also see if it’s going to be re-broadcast on your local PBS.
The series was divided into three components of craft – memory, landscape, and community. The community segment showed a lot of people crafting together, either in quilting groups or summer-long art camps, socializing and sharing their craft/art experiences, and I had more than a little twinge of jealousy. Living in the middle of nowhere, I don’t have those options. I don’t even really have friends here, much less friends who knit. I can get by most of the time, babbling about it to Adam, who patiently listens but still thinks it’s “voodoo black magic”… but then something like Fiber Frolic comes up, and I feel the pain. Because the idea of driving 3 hours, each way, alone, to go to something where I’m not going to know a single blessed soul, just really isn’t appealing. But I want to go!
I’m making it my mission to knit in public CONSTANTLY this summer. I find that knitting is second only to my tattoos in terms of random-conversation-starting, and I’m hoping that some of that gab will eventually net me a knitting friend or two. So far, I’ve only found little old women who used to crochet back in the day. But I’m ever hopeful.
oh man, I would have loved that… mom too. I’m gonna check online to see if it plays again!
Hi Casey –
I watched that show and was also inspired. I’ve always been crafty and have tried my hand at beading, paperfolding, sewing, plastic canvas… I am a lifelong crocheter and am attempting to learn how to knit – it seems so backwards to me! I took a pottery course last year that I loved and would like to do more of that. I took 10 years of piano lessons when I was younger and am trying to decide if I can afford to start guitar lessons right now. And yet when I watched this show I had the same feeling you did – I want to try it aaaaaalllll!!
p.s. I found your blog after I spent the last hour reading through the comments over at today’s Crazy Aunt Purl post. Isn’t she a wonderful person? Hmmm, maybe I should start my own blog…lol lol lol!!!
I’m back. I just wanted to add that I feel your pain about being in the middle of nowhere with no one to talk about yarn with. My husband has to ooh and ahh over all of my crochet, and all my crochet friends are on the net which just isn’t the same. I’ve tried to remedy the situation by asking my local library if I can teach a crochet basics class. If I can find people who already share my obsession I’ll make them, dammit!!! I’m done now, have a great day!
Hi Rayleen! I’m probably biased, but I definitely think you should start your own blog.
I’d read it! Especially now that I know you crochet… I don’t find nearly as many crocheters online as knitters.
It crossed my mind to start my own knitting group, but I live in such a small town, in a rural area – I doubt I could scare up even a few people to meet on a regular basis. I KNOW I’d never get the interest to start a class. But I sure hope you do – I think that’s pretty much awesome!
There’s very few common crafts that I haven’t tried – meaning, stuff you can do with supplies from a craft store – but the things on that show were a whole different level, you know? I’ve actually done a little blacksmithing and pottery before, years and years ago, and it was fun, but I never got to make anything interesting like sculptures (I made a fire poker and a mug, respectively). I’d *love* to have the opportunity to try those things again as an adult… someday, maybe!
Aunt Purl’s blog is fabulous – I’m surprised anyone found me from the comments, just because she gets SO many comments! Heh. But I’m glad you stopped by, and hope you will again!
Hi There! Just found your blog on the New England Knits ring. I’m a Flatlander these days but spent my first 25 years up in the Island Falls/Houlton area. Will have to go back and ready your back entries for signs of home! Great Blog!
We watched most of it! We caught the Sam Maloof segment, which needless to say made us happy. After he (sam maloof) talked all about how instrumental his wife’s support was in him becoming who is he — Art got a sweet and romantic.
Aww! That’s so cute.
I actually did think, during the furniture-making segments, “I hope Art and Carly are watching this.” I’m so glad you did.
Side note entirely, I was showing Art’s site to Adam’s father, and he was really impressed by the originality of his work. Not that Dave is going to ever be much of a customer, but I thought I’d pass along the compliment anyway.
Hi Molly! *waves* Always good to see another Mainer in these parts!
I’m not far from Island Falls at all – well familiar with the area. Small world!
i followed you from your ravelry profile. how awesomely creepy can the internet be? i watched a good 2 hours of Craft In America and im so loving the fact that someone else in this world was aware of its broadcast!
i actually get more attention from knitting than i do my tattoos (strange right? knitting is considered one up on the oddity level then a chick with sleeves). worst case scenario: i had to sit in the social security office for 2 hours and thought “no sweat, i can knit” ..hmm ask yourself this: what is the common age/gender of the most social security office patrons? i had no less than 6 eighty year old women gabbing in my ear. if it werent for the creepy, smelly man next to me, i might have enjoyed it.