i was lucky to have been born into a crafty family! my mother and aunts were all very creative, always designing, sewing and making beautiful, fun items. although, i was constantly surrounded by these items (literally- our dining room table was always covered in my mom’s ongoing projects, and i thought a sewing machine was a normal feature at dinner), i somehow never learned to sew. i have always been drawn to the creative process, but i guess somewhat insecure about my own abilities. in college I majored in women’s studies and film and was very interested in the history of women’s artistic and creative endeavors. i especially loved female artists who explored the history of women’s craft making- including quilt making, sewing, and embroidery. after having children I sought out a means to express my own creativity. i was looking for ways to involve my children in making art but also for expressing my own sense of self.
when my son joined a waldorf playgroup i was unexpectedly given the task of making a doll for the children to play with. i met with several other women and simply pretended i knew how to sew. i was terrified, but was somehow able to produce something resembling a doll— and i was hooked! i loved not only the satisfaction of creating something with my own hands but also loved the very act of sitting in a circle with other women, sharing the creative process. i felt a connection not only to these women but to all the women seeking companionship and self- expression before us. i began meeting weekly with the other women in the group and was introduced to the tradition of waldorf craft, and to my favorite material- all-natural wool! i find wool to be such a unique fiber to work with. strong, but soft to the touch, it is a very tactile fabric that appeals to both adults and children.
craft making is an ever evolving process for me. i love making items that are useful but also celebrating what is beautiful. i am particularly inspired by the beauty in my surrounding world-- in my children, in the seasons, in honoring the natural world and the city i live in. i especially strive to find beauty in simplicity, in the things we often over look in our busy lives. i hope you will enjoy my work as well.
