And So It Begins...

Well, this is something I never thought would happen. A change has happened in my focus as of late. 2015 was the year that I rediscovered quilting. I have enjoyed my stay in the quilting community and just as I started to think the quilting world was my home, I found myself called into another direction.

Changing crafting directions comes naturally for me. I'm use to it now. Read far back enough in my blog and you will see that I have been a knitter, jewelry designer and lace maker among other things. But this new direction has completely caught me off guard.

A few years back I purchased a rigid heddle loom on Craftsy.com. I don't know why. I never had any interest in weaving before. My mom had just died and I just felt like I wanted to make something. But I didn't. I ordered the loom and there it sat, never opened. For three years it just sat.

Rigid Heddle Loom

This past December I finally opened the box. No actual reason for it. It was there and so I opened it. A couple of Youtube videos later I had the loom put together and the warp dressed. It was a slow process weaving. I had no desire for it. I did a few rows here and there, but nothing to write home about. Actually it felt a bit boring, and I seriously questioned the mental state I was in when I ordered the thing.

First woven scarf fresh off the loom

Then, near the end of December something happened. I was moving the loom out the way to get to some other project when I decided to do a couple of rows. This time something in my brain seemed to shift. Before I knew it I had finished a scarf. That same day I tied off the scarf and dressed the loom for another scarf. Over the course of the next two weeks I would make six more scarves. With each scarf I would shake my head in pure amazement. Weaving was the last thing I ever wanted to do and now I couldn't get enough of it.

Full view of woven scarf

Throughout my crafting life, I have always chosen my next crafting adventure. But this time was different. This time the craft choose me. I'm not sure where this weaving adventure will take me. But for now I walk cautiously into this new territory of fiber arts and making sure to document my journey along the way.

3KCBWDAY7- Craft Whore

Craft whore. Fiber slut. Yarn ho. I am not faithful to any craft. Just when knitting thinks it has me in a monogamous relationship, I have an affair with crochet. And when they are both not looking I make a booty call to loom knitting. Occasional I'll even have a weekend fling with my hand spindle.

I can't help it. Crafting with yarn turns me on. If someone ever creates a support group for yarn crafting nymphomaniac, I'll be the first to sign up and join.

Now, I didn't start this way. I started out being a fully committed woman to my crochet. For several months I was the 'good wife' in my relationship with crochet. We were always there for each other and crochet gave me such joy. But then one day walking through the craft store I was seduced by a couple of long shiny rods. I wasn't looking to cheat on my crochet, I just liked the attention I was getting from those needles. Well, one thing lead to another and before I knew it, I was see knitting behind crochet's back. At first it was just occasional visits, but soon it grew to be more. At one point crochet started to suspect, but I always came up with good excuses as to why I'd been neglecting my granny squares.

But one day I crochet came home early and walked in on me and knitting in bed. I begged for forgiveness and swore I would end the whole affair. And I did. . . .for a while. The need was too great. I just couldn't stay away. So now I lead a double life, neither one knowing about the other.

At one point the stress of leading this double like got the best of me and I needed a vacation. So I figured a weekend in Hawaii for myself was a good way to clear my head and get my life straight. Instead I met loom knitting. Maybe it was the sun and sand or fifth Mai Tia I had, but I just remember waking up the next morning with loom knitting by my side. It was a magical weekend that I never wanted to end. When it was time for me to go home we just couldn't break it off. We promised each other that we would meet every chance we got.

As you can see, once I started down that slippery path there was just no turning back. I'm addicted. And I can't help myself. You can judge me. Call me names it you want.  But this is who I am. Will I be able to do this forever? No. But I'll continue to do it as long as I can. My desires far outweight my shame.