You know… kindred spirits who weren’t born in the same family as you, but, bless them, they have come to mean more to you than words can say?

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I am really lucky.

I have been blessed

with a couple of

friendships that

have grown into

the heights and depths

of what can only

be described as sisterhood.

It’s a huge blessing

to be cherished deeply,

when one of the

sisters of the heart

shares her voyage of  discovery,

and you recognize in her journey, your own path.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Her journey is probably

not exactly the same as

your journey,

but, because of the

deep trust between you,

she is willing to share

the process of navigating

it with you….

and you see, in her flight plans

and navigation charts,

an echo, a resonance,

a ring of truth that

echoes in your heart….

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

And, because of the

things that you have learned,

you are able to be of service

when she bumps up

on the rocks…..

and because of the things

that she has learned,

she can offer you wisdom

that will keep you from

harm in unexpected ways.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

and sometimes,

if you’re especially

lucky,

there may be more

than one sister that

sets your heart to singing.

And, sometimes,

there can be challenges

and pains and griefs

and horrors and

losses and disruptions……

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

And, sometimes,

the losses and

separations

feel like they are

going to shatter your

heart…..

when cruel circumstances

seem to tear sisters

apart….

and the tear

unleashes tears…….

and sorrow,

and suffering…..

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

And a sister

thinks that

now,

she must

carry on

alone…..

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

But, then,

the feeling

of having

connection

and memory

and dreams

with the sister

who has gone along

another path, or

through a door that

remains closed to you,

for now…. lightens…..

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

And, as the grief

passes, and joy

bubbles up,

laughter

suddenly

appears again.

Like magic,

and wonder.

And all the gifts

of sisterhood

are remembered,

and treasured

and seen again,

in a new light…… and everything feels new again.

Sisters.

Yes……

The recent anniversary of the death of a beloved sister, as well as deep connections with the voyages of my other sisters of the heart triggered this post…. and triggered my making of the series of Cordelia cordmakers in the photos.

I love metaphor, and for me, creating tools for working with yarn and then working in yarn  is powerful. It helps me to see and understand the meaning in the metaphors:These are the means of creating blessings in small and loving ways….

They are a way of creating loving ties that bind up beauty and memory.

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So, I am delighted that the Tech Wizards at b5 have now set  up all kinds of forums for us.

Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

There is now a forum

for crafty folk- so

the friends of

Hankering for Yarn

can now connect

directly to each other

and to me

and to other folks

who read and write for b5 media.

It’s easy to post questions and chat with other yarn-o-philes.

See the ‘Community’ tab at the top of the page?

Click that.

Then, when you see ‘Crafting’ pop up, click it.

Feel free to respond to any of the topics that are already up, or start your own conversation.

Share what you are working on, thinking about, wondering about….. that’s what forums are for!

Of course, I still love getting your comments right on the  Hankering for Yarn page!

I will get back to you as soon as possible, whether you’ve posted a comment, or jumped into the forum.

Either way, I LOVE hearing what you have to say -  Hankering for Yarn is all about our mutual love of the yarnie life, so please share the yarn love! 

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Jane is a very funny and charming woman who just knocks me out with her delicious and wry comments.

I am dazzled by her ability to ‘draw’ with tatting. Just look at this incredible Kangaroo:

photo courtesy of Jane Eborall copyright. Used with permission.

I asked Jane some questions about her work, beginning with where she lives:

I live in a famous town in the centre of England.  To give you a clue – the most famous writer in history was born here!

photo courtesy of Jane Eborall copyright. Used with permission.

1.  Do you have a favorite kind of project to design?

I think my favourite design project is always going to be something that nobody has thought of doing before!!  I like designing small projects but ones that can be expanded too.

Not really.  I love using beads, though.

Getting started!  Oh, and designing a pattern with the fewest ’starts and finishes’.  I don’t like having to hide ends so wherever possible I avoid those situations.

I love to see my designs being made by other people and seeing how they can vary.

I’m not sure I’d be classed as a professional as I don’t ask for payment for patterns.  But I have been designing for probably thirty years. I started by accident in order to amuse a class of four/five year olds.  I made earrings!

Now this is difficult to answer.  Almost impossible.  It can be anything.  Something I see while out walking, something I see in a shop.  It can be something somebody suggests or just an idea that pops into my mind.

I dabble in sewing and have done a little work with crochet, netting and combining netting and tatting.

Hmmm, once a design is finished it’s of no further interest to me, I’m afraid!  I tend to put most of them onto my web site.  I do give to other sites and magazines too.  I’ve never quite ‘got round’ to doing a book as the next idea is usually ready to be started!

No, see above!  Too busy on the next idea!!

Nowhere!  They can get them for free from my pattern pages.

Yes, I do have a blog.  It’s the one place I can be really myself and talk tatting and make fun of myself!  JANE’S BLOG

photo courtesy of Jane Eborall copyright. Used with permission.

12. Do you have a tatting community that influences you and is important to you?   Is it important to you to be in touch with your peers?

I belong to lots of online tatting lists and am an avid watcher of blogs.  It’s very important to me to be in touch with other addicts and to talk to them regularly.

The next one but that’ll only be my favourite until the one after!  I think I have a certain special feeling for one or two.  The Tattysaurus because he was one of the first patterns I put up on the internet and the flower fairies too – they took roughly three years of ‘return visits’ to get sorted.

Oh yes, loads!!!  There’s currently an ostrich that’s lurking in the corner waiting to be taken out yet again!!

You could link to my WEBSITE- and just keep asking questions!!!  I’m really only small fry in tat land, though!

Bah, humbug, say I- Jane is one of the jewels in the crown of the tatting world, she’s just a very humble one.

Bless her funny and generous heart and hands! Yay, Jane!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

So, when I heard about the ‘Knit a Poem’ event, I was enchanted.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

The mission of Poetry Society in Britain is to advance the study, use and enjoyment of poetry.  It’s a charitable organisation founded a hundred years ago. Their mandate is to provide support, information and merchandise for specialists and also to the general public.  They are engaging and expanding the quality of poetry, and inviting people to be engaged by it and involved with it through events, publications, café, promotions and prizes .

Here’s a link to NATIONAL POETRY DAY

But, back to the yarnie content, here is the link to the KNIT A POEM EVENT

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She has just curated an incredibly wonderful show by 52 fiber artists from around the world, called, ‘The Four Seasons’.

The show is now online at: 2009 INTERNATIONAL FREEFORM FIBER ARTS FOUR SEASONS SHOW

It’s totally gorgeous, with painterly and sculptural pieces that include a broad range of mediums and techniques.

There will be a book available soon, featuring all the pieces that are in the show.

You can see my 4 pieces at:  NOREEN’S 4 SEASONS

Here is my Homage to Summer: Sophia at the Window

photo and project by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

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Well, you are still invited to continue doing that, and linking your pics so we can see them.

image & photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I said that I would be giving away a one of  a kind handmade crochet hook that is an homage to Jane Austen.

And I think that it is so appropriate that Jane Austen is going to be heading to England for her new home.

Caroline shared 2 of her Faces of Joy, and so she is now the companion to my Jane Austen crochet hook.  It seems so perfect that Jane Austen is going home to England.

I hope that Caroline will take pics of Jane in England and share them with us!

Thank you Caroline!

And, since we continue to be living in extremely ”interesting’  times, I am absolutely ecstatic when I see evidence of people working together to create moments of pure delight and joy.

How wonderful that people are also using technology to share those glorious moments!

One of my dear friends finds amazing and delightful links and sends them to me (she was the one who caught the electronic sheep and Susan Boyle videos for me before they went viral).

Well, my friends, she has done it again! Turn up your sound, because you are going to love the outburst of enchanting joy and delight that recently happened in Antwerp Belgium!

Hope that joy springs up in your life today!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

twitterweave group.

The twitterweave group is open to anyone who weaves, (or used to weave, or hopes to learn how to weave), has a loom of any description, is involved in a weaving guild  or not, or has news and notes about weaving that they would like to share…..

It’s a little baffling, but  I am working on figuring out how it’s supposed to work.

First, you join the group:

twitterweave

and when you tweet  anything about weaving on twitter, and would like the rest of the group to know about it, include the tag:

#twitterweave in your tweet.

That should send your tweet out to other group members.

AND…. I have started a yahoo group so twitterweave members can post their links, and info or start conversations and post pics, so please feel free to join it, too, and add your twitter link:

Here’s the link to the yahoo group: /TwitterWeave/

And, if you don’t want to join TwitterWeave, but want to follow me, my twitter link is: NCroneFindlay

Happy Weaving and Happy Tweeting!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

Susan’s Joy Piece:

Susan's joy piece copyright

Susan wrote:

Hey Noreen,

Here is my first entry! I had a great time making this. First time all around! I chose a butterfly because they are signs of renewal and Spring is all about renewal of trees, flowers, everything! So I call this Renewal of the heart.

I made the square out of Bamboo Yarn on my Hazel Rose weaving loom 4 inch, followed by my colorful butterfly which I spool knit and the antennas are chenille stem with lil black beads. So as not to attract away from my butterfly I used yarn to free hand a flower LOL! I am very proud of my lil french knot in the middle of flower! Took me a while to figure that out. Thank God for the internet!

Not sure of what I am gonna do with this frame it without glass or magnet for fridge? Any ideas much appreciated!

Please let me know if you are able to view it and it will need to be resized I am not good at any of this blogging or posting pics.

Thank you so much for this challenge! Now on to my next creation!

Thank you
Susan

Caroline’s  Healing Mini quilt:

Caroline's healing Goddess mini quilt

Caroline wrote:

I thought you might like to see this small quilt embroidery that I stitched in 2007after my return home after a cancer operation ( see the scar! ) I hung it near my bed where I could see it when I woke in the morning….. the phoenix like image ties in to my sun sign, Scorpio. It was a way of expessing a lot of emotion without using words.

Sorry didn’t mean to sound so serious but I was SOOO glad to be home…..PURE JOY!!

Bye for Now

Caroline

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

The invitation is  from Luib na Lùban, (Lùban air an Drochaid in Gaelic, pronounced, roughly, “Loooban er n drawkitch”),

copyright stitches on the bridge

which translates to: In Amongst the Stitches.

They are  a new textile art group in Skye, Scotland, that is inviting all Scots, ex-pats, Scotophiles and any other stitching folk  to take part in a wild and woolie project to cover the Skye Bridge in knitting and crochet.

On their Ravelry page, they have listed the dimensions of all the pieces that they need. (They need a lot, and don’t worry, the pieces won’t be wasted! They’ll be re-configured later to donate to charity)

The Skye Bridge links the Isle of Skye with the mainland in the West Highlands of Scotland.

The plan is to link this gigantic and glorious feat of urban stitching with Highland Homecoming 2009.

The Highland Homecoming is an exuberant  celebration of Scotland’s many wonderful contributions to the world, in October 2009.

Here’s the website: stitches on the bridge, where you can find links to myspace and facebook as well as other group links,

and here’s the  link for the yahoo group yahoo stitches on the bridge and the  Ravelry page

Get your hooks and needles flying! They need to cozy up the bridge to Skye starting now!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

Mother Earth doll designed and woven by Noreen Crone-Findlay (copyright)

But, I am just going to mention it one more time….

just a leeeeeeeeeeeeetle reminder, so you can get yourself organized for it:

Earth Hour.

Earth Hour, on one level, is a statement about stopping for one hour to pay attention to how much power and energy we consume EVERY hour.

So… it’s: Turn off all the electrical stuff and have some quiet time.

BUT…. on a deeper level, it is about the power of community, of people forming a sense of resolve to address the issues of  creating a habitable, hopeful place to live and thrive.

So, this evening… yes, turn off the lights and all the stuff we have plugged in, and plug into another kind of power….

the power of connection and community…..

Our family has a dinner in the dark planned, and then some seriously silly ‘family rules’ Scrabble in the dark….

Hope you have fun in the dark this evening! Hope it helps to lighten us all up!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn