Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The Yarn Therapist Speaks: Four Steps to a Healthier YOU!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
33rd Annual Mountaineer Folk Festival : OM Times Magazine :: September 2011
Fall Creek Falls State Park
www.tn.gov/environment/parks/FallCreekFalls
This is more than just another “craft fair!”
It is NOT just about food!
The music is sung from the heart. We believe that this event, is one of many that serves communities who wish to support INDY Artists, Crafters and those who keep the dying Tennessee Arts Alive!
If you can’t attend, but wish to support the Friends of Fall Creek Falls - who sponsor this event - Click HERE!!!!!! www.fallcreekfalls.org/
To DONATE to the Friends of Fall Creek Falls ::ning.it/qLRmwA</a>
Homestead Blessings!
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tags:mountaineerfolkfstival, fallcreekfalls, statepark, tennessee, yarntherapist, leilacook, 33rdannual, fiberarts, wool, cotton, crochet, knitting, omtimesmagzine, humanityheailng, arthealing, knittingtherapy, dezengodesigns, sacredspacestudio, humanityhealing, namaspirittn
Sunday, August 21, 2011
33rd Annual Mountaineer Folk Festival - Fall Creek Falls State Park
Offering a free weekend of traditional music, country cooking, pioneer skills demonstrations and more than 120 craft booths. This three-day festival kicks off Friday night, at 7 p.m. with an old-fashioned square dance and jam session. Beginning at 10 a.m. on food booths. Storytelling, music and demonstrations will continue on Sunday, Sept. 11, with crafts and foods booths officially opening at 9 a.m.
Pioneer demonstrations will include sorghum making, sheep herding, blacksmithing, spinning and soap making among other time-honored skills. Wagon and pony rides will be conducted both days. A civil war encampment will feature cannon firing and drills. Two stages will highlight both music and storytelling, with several groups and individual performers sharing a variety of music. In the Park Village area, over 120 craft booths will display an array of handmade wares, including woodworking, folk art, soaps and candles, leatherworks and basket weaving. Tempting visitors’ taste buds, local non-profit groups will be on hand to serve home-style country cooking, offering many menu options.
The event is free and open to the public, though optional donations benefiting Friends of Fall Creek Falls can be made at festival entry points.
The event is co-sponsored by Fall Creek Falls State Park, the Tennessee Arts Commission and Friends of Fall Creek Falls, an organization focused on preserving the natural and cultural riches of the park.
Tags:
yarntherapist, leilacook, mountaineerfolkfestival, 33rd, vanburencountry, fallcreekfalls, statepark, tennessee,fiberarts, wool, cotton, crochet, knitting, omtimesmagzine, humanityheailng, arthealing, knittingtherapy, dezengodesigns, sacredspacestudio, humanityhealing, namaspirittn
Knitting therapy: Maximize your breathing
If you have ever watched an infant or toddler breathe you will notice that their stomach rises and falls with each breath. Somewhere along the line of growing up we lose the natural reflex of deep breathing and begin to practice what is called shallow breathing- where the breath stays high in our chest. This type of breathing actually encourages stress in our bodies. Some of the benefits to learning how to belly breathe include: increased oxygen levels in the lungs which, in turn, increases the oxygen in the blood stream, improved energy levels, elimination of toxins and a strengthened immune system, reduction of stress and anxiety and increased metabolism (which can also play a direct role in weight loss). So why belly breathe when you are knitting? First, because knitting is such an effective form of stress relief and relaxation. Combining knitting with an awareness of your breathing further enhances the stress relieving benefits of knitting. Second, because knitting forces you to be still long enough to be able to pay attention to your breathing. You might as well use your still time to bring some additional health benefits into your life. Goodness knows, most of us do not have enough of these still and quiet moments in our days.
In order to retrain yourself to breathe correctly, here are a few simple steps to follow next time you pick up those needles or crochet hook.
1. Place your hand on top of your stomach area. As you breathe, concentrate on making your hand rise and fall with each breath. Concentrate on filling your lungs up and then fully exhaling and emptying them.
2. Now that you have seen and felt correct breathing, pick up your needles and pay attention to your breaths while you are working, taking slow breaths in and out. If you are working on an uncomplicated pattern you can even inhale for a count of 8 and exhale for 8 counts. You can also add a 2-3 second hold between your inhale and exhale. You might feel a little light headed at first as your body gets adjusted to having enough oxygen.
3. Continue to pay attention to your breathing through your knitting session and feel yourself relaxed and with a little more energy than when you started. You may also find that practicing belly breathing for 5- 10 minutes before you start a complicated pattern may increase your attention and patience.
Happy breathing and happy knitting!
Rip it, Rip it: Life Lessons from Frogging
Tunisian Crochet Obsession
Aside from my somewhat pitiful attempt at drama, I have really become obsessed with my new mad skillz I learned from last week's Tunisian crochet class. Here are some of the results:
Local Yarn Shops, Tunisian Crochet and Fun with deZengo
Tunisian crochet is also referred to as Afghan crochet although it is not in any way limited to stitching up afghans. In fact, it's boundaries are really only limited buy the skill and imagination of the person using the techniques. It is kind of a hybrid between knitting and crocheting and is a lot of fun once you learn some basic stitches. It creates and thick and plush fabric and provides some really interesting texture in your pieces.
The pattern we were learning was a cabled pattern which left me somewhere between Frustration and Total Bliss. It was actually really simple once you got into the groove and the pattern and stitches were very easy to learn thanks to the talented teaching skills (and apparently unlimited patience) that Susan had.
If you have not had the pleasure of trolling around in a local yarn shop, it is an experience that you really shouldn't live without. Why are local yarn shops so important to the fibers community? First, they offer a shared common experience. Whether you walk into a yarn store a complete beginner or an seasoned crafter, there is no sizing up, no judgement. Just helpful friendly people who love what they do and are more than happy to pass that love on to you. The second is knowledge. These gals know their stuff and are willing to answer questions, help you with fiber selection, patterns- whatever you need. Third- therapy. When you walk into a yarn shop you will encounter people that are willing to spend unlimited amounts of time listening to you ramble on about how many pieces you have on needles, how you fudged up the last piece you were working, each family member you made a present for (and what you made) etc., etc... AND they even seem to be interested in hearing all this stuff from their customers. I don't know very many regular therapists that act that excited over an hour long description of your last felting fiasco.
The Yarn Patch, nestled away on the Cumberland Plateau in Crossville, Tennessee is a truly lovely place. Every square inch is filled with love for needlecraft and they invite people to pick up, touch and love on the skeins and hanks of yarn as long as it takes to make a selection. Here are a few shots of the shop I took:
If you are ever in our neck of the woods, The Yarn Patch needs to be on your list of places to go. But make sure you call me first. Because I always need an excuse to go to the yarn store :D
WIP Wednesday
Getting organized- holiday projects
The Therapeutic Qualities of Knitting
It is being reported now that stress may be responsible for up to 90% of medical conditions. There are a lot of people who make a lot of money helping people cope with the stress in their lives. Where does knitting fit into this picture?
1. Knitting occupies. People who are occupied feel less pain and depression. When the brain is engaged at something that requires attention and detail, it often forgets to remind you that something else is wrong. Knitting provides distraction but of the constructive variety and this can have a profound effect for someone who is dealing with stress, depression or chronic pain.
2. Knitting calms the mind. Engaging in knitting closely resembles the techniques of meditation and mindfulness practices that are employed throughout the medical community for the treatment of chronic pain. Knitting slows down the mind processes and allows for improved concentration. The relaxation that follows is also important to the process of relieving stress.
3. Rhythm, Baby! Although the exact reasons are not known, the rhythmic movement knitting provides is soothing. Knitting is logical- it can be done without too much thought once some basic concepts are learned. Simple patterns are best for someone who is looking to experience the healing benefits of the practice of knitting, although complicated patterns can fully engage the mind and increase a person's concentration on the process at hand.
4. Knitting is creative. Do not underestimate the effect that creative activity has the psyche. Knitting and crocheting allow a lot of room for creative exploration. With a few basic skills, needle craft lends itself easily to interpretation. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with finishing a piece. Wearing or gifting a handmade piece is to give something original, bursting with good vibes and love in every stitch. The joy that goes into creating it cannot help but be absorbed into the fibers the knitter welds.
In short, knitting is beneficial in a multitude of ways. In the UK, knitting groups are even popping up in hospitals and therapy centers as a way to engage patients in a creative, relaxing activity. I envision that in the future we will see the popularity of this craft rising even higher then the surge it is already experiencing as an inexpensive and effective form of therapy.
Niche Knitters: What kind of knitter are you?
Fabulous, Fantastic Wool
Free Pattern- Felted Baby Banner
Row 6: Knit all.
Row 7: knit8, K2TOG, knit 9.
Row9: Knit 8, K2TOG, knit 8.
Row 11: Knit 7, K2TOG, Knit 8.
Row 13: Knit 7, K2TOG, knit 7. (total of 15 stiches).
Row 14: Knit all.
Row 15: Knit 6, K2TOG, knit 7.
Row 16: knit all.
Row 17: Knit 6, K2TOG, knit 6.
Row 18: Knit all.
Row 19: knit 5, K2TOG, knit 6.
Row 20: knit all.
Row 21: knit 5, K2TOG, knit 5
Row 22: knit all.
Row 23: knit 4, K2TOG, knit 5.
Row 24: knit all.
Simple vs. Complicated Patterns
Sometimes simple is the right thing to do, though. Those of you who are experienced with selecting fibers for projects know this. You can buy a beautiful art yarn or variegated yarn and the effect can be ruined by an overly complicated and textured pattern. It is important when choosing yarn for projects (or as I do it- choosing projects for yarn) that you listen to the fiber itself and pay attention to what it is telling you. (Now obviously if your yarn is actually speaking to you , you may need more than yarn therapy can provide). There is such a thing as having too much going on in a piece; texture combined with a complicated stitch pattern, multiple colors... it is too much for the mind to process all at once. A single color may scream out for more of a textured stitch but even these can look quite lovely in a simple garter or stockinette. Especially when you may spend close to $20 a skein, you want to make sure that you choose the right pattern that will showcase the fibers you have purchased. This is a good reason to get an opinion on your pattern and yarn. It is also an important reason to shop your local yarn store every once in a while as well. These stores are full of people who know their stuff and are eager to help. You can also join a group online (I would recommend the Yarn Therapy Group on FaceBook located on the sidebar, but that is just me) where you are able to get opinions from others who are just as interested in your craft as you are.
While I usually keep it simple all the time, remember to keep it simple some of the time. Your yarn and your hard work will thank you :D