Thrums
Cathy Koos
Welcome to the mid-winter edition of the CNCHnet Journal and happy St Brigid’s Day! Whether you celebrate this Irish woman’s life as a Saint or a Goddess (or neither), many in the Gaelic world associate her with healers, poets, smithies, childbirth, and inspiration, as well as home fires and hearth. Join Gaelic folks in celebrating by gathering reeds or stalks in the increasing sunshine and weaving Brigid’s cross for your doorway. https://scoil-bhride.com/how-to-make-a-st-brigids-cross/
Figure 1 Traditional Brigid’s icon, hung over doorways, Wikipedia
Figure 2 Spotted Towhee, National Audubon Society
Mid-winter gives us hope of spring with lengthening days and greening meadows. Here in Fiddletown, we have quite a few birds that winter on the ranch – a community of western bluebirds, a colony of about 15 gold finches; spotted towhees and robins rummaging in the lawn; an occasional titmouse clinging to the rain chain; and even a young pair of redtail hawks hunting for the ever-present gophers. Yesterday, I saw a flock of about 30 turkeys heading for the lake next door.
We are a month into the new year, and it may be a time of reflection on how well our New Year’s resolutions are holding up. Or not. I choose not.
Here are some interesting snippets:
PBS Craft in America Series https://www.craftinamerica.org/
Celebrating broad-ranging topics from textiles to the alchemy of metal forging; creative family environments to expressing messages in art; celebrating traditions to exploring nature; from rustic expressions to finely crafted jewelry, PBS has acclaimed American craftspeople since 2007.
Figure 3 Jim Bassler, PBS Craft in America
Textile Research Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
The TRC has a new online exhibit of head-to-toe fashion from the 1920s; woolen kimonos from the 1950s; and announces a new 6 session course on figurative bobbin lace.
https://www.trc-leiden.nl/trc/index.php/en/
The National Nordic Museum, Seattle, Washington
I check this site often for textile exhibits. Here are some past shows https://nordicmuseum.org/exhibitions?page=5#past-exhibitions
Figure 5 The Dream of America
Substack
Substack is a fairly new subscription-based platform that has attracted a lot of bloggers recently. Some subscriptions are free and others are fee-based. Here are some that may interest you:
- Austin Kleon writes about planting creativity seeds to keep those creative fires burning here https://austinkleon.substack.com/
- Of course, the amazing and creative tapestry artist Sarah Swett is here: https://sarahcswett.substack.com/
- An unapologetically chatty weekly knitting from Louise Tillbrook https://everydayknitter.substack.com/
- Christine Jablonski explores weaving and shares tips and patterns on her blog at https://soulspace.substack.com/
Ontario Handweavers and Spinners check in from the cold North Country with two virtual weaving groups that run from February to May. Details here https://ohs.on.ca/
