Hi, I'm Tara and I'll be your host this month for Interview days. I've lined up some very crafty gals, which, I see, goes right along with our swap this month!
First up: Lauren, of LollyKnittingAround. She's the knitting mastermind behind the incredibly popular Project Spectrum and Socktoberfest. Socktoberfest is a month-long (in October, of course) celebration of sock-making; full of tutorials, pictures, a flickr group, book reviews. You can check out last year's action here. I've struggled to describe Project Spectrum, as it is a vast create-along with so many opportunities and iterations and ideas. The Project has over 1000 members who have officially joined. The flickr group has 761 members at last count, and those members have organized movie-alongs, read-alongs, photo-challenges.
Lauren doesn't just mastermind creative projects; she recently graduated with a Masters of Library and Information Science and works as an archivist/librarian at a large non-profit organization. She also knits, gardens, watches hockey, reads, and inspires other bloggers!
How did you get started blogging?
I started my first blog in early 2004 at LiveJournal.com I primarily used it to keep book reviews, and talk to other voracious readers. The previous year, I had taken a learn-to-knit class, and I put some of my finished projects on the LiveJournal page and received some nice feedback. I joined some of the knitting communities there and saw that there were more capabilities in a stand-alone blog. Thus, my blog, LollyKnitting Around was officially founded in July 2004.
What prompted the beginning of your blog?
I wanted to document my early days of knitting, and wanted to use the visual format as a way to see my improvement in the craft. Sort of a digital scrapbook of my projects, and the details surrounding them.
Do you consider yourself an artist?
Although I have some artistic inclinations, primarily in the literary and visual arts, I do not consider myself an artist in the true sense of the word.
Who are your major influences and inspirations in your craft?
I can point to a great number of influential people in the craft - ones that have shaped my vision, and my love of the craft. I have recently started reading the works and patterns of Elizabeth Zimmerman, the "mother of American knitting", and have been moved by her words, her stories, and also her "take" on the craft. I also greatly admire the large body of work by Nancy Bush. Her approach is historical, cultural, and anthropological, and she produces patterns with a history behind them. I am also greatly inspired by a number of knitters and bloggers that I encounter on the internet. There are some wonderfully inspired pieces coming to the forefront, and that excites me to no end!
Do you find a connection between your profession (librarian) and your blogging? Is blogging another form of archiving?
There is most definitely a connection between my profession and my blog. I employ several of the concepts that I have learned from experiences in libraries, archives, and museums to showcase my craft materials, and organize that information in a way that they are usable for me, and for anyone doing research (or just reading) my blog. For me, my blog is my own archive. I blog about many things, primarily craft-related, but I also blog about personal events, struggles, and items that I have found particularly interesting on a number of different levels. For many bloggers, their blog is a daily journal, even a diary. In my profession, we use diaries and journals, and personal manuscripts to reveal the character and motivations behind historical figures, and to recreate their story through their own words.
Do you feel blogging has any impact on your creativity? Why or why not?
A major influence in my creative pursuits and inspirations comes from my fellow bloggers; therefore, I feel that my own blog reflects the inspiration that I have received from others. Blogging also gives me a boost of confidence and motivation - before I started sharing my work in this medium, I was not as productive, or willing to make a high quality piece. Sharing my work and research with others has fueled my creative fire so much that I have organized large-scale collaborative craft projects as a tool for inspiration, and a step-off point for education and learning more about the craft (like Socktoberfest), or about certain concepts, like color, as is the case with Project Spectrum.
Has being creative and crafty (and being involved in the crafty blogging community) impacted your work as a librarian, the things you study?
Since I began knitting, I have taken a greater interest in textiles - and the history and culture behind them. This general interest has impacted my reading list, and in turn, in my day-to-day work. I am interested in pursuing textile history courses in the future, as well as continuing my undergraduate studies in archaeology and religious and cultural studies in the context of textiles. I am very interested in the process and history of creating textiles - both functional and decorative pieces - and how librarians, archivists, and museum curators can learn more about the history of textiles, how to preserve and display them, and the documents surrounding them, for future study.
As a librarian (and student) you've been deeply immersed in books and studying; are your creative pursuits an extension of that or an escape from it?
My creative pursuits have spurred even more of an interest in the history and cultures behind the crafting traditions. My education as an historian and a librarian helps me research these things more extensively. When I was in graduate school, my crafts were an escape from the daily grind of homework, but now that I have finished my classes, I find myself studying the craft in the way I would have studied any of my school materials.
What inspired Project Spectrum? Did you imagine/intend for it to be such a broad-based crafting explosion?
Project Spectrum was completely organic from the beginning. It started to form in my mind in late 2005 as I worked on my own crafts. I liked to delve in to color in my crafting - learning more about color theory, fibers, dyeing techniques, and how this related to different crafts. I began to see that color could be interpreted in a number of different ways, and I wanted to explore this more. I wanted to bring crafters and artists of all stripes together to study color, to collaborate, and to share their progress and finished objects. I also wanted crafters to be open to trying something new, and breaking the routine. So, from the beginning, I did want it to be broad - and now in its second incarnation, we have even more crafters, artists, and designers joining in the fun! This was a simple concept from the beginning - there are no restrictions, and no deadlines. I think that attracted people to take part.
On your blog, you often discuss your crafty plans; what's on the horizon for your creative life?
Right now, we are still in the beginning of Project Spectrum 2.0, the second year of the create-along. We have over 1000 participants who are actively contributing crafts, and works of art. It is truly inspiring! Later this year, I will host the 3rd annual Socktoberfest, which will feature tips, information, and interviews on sock making (primarily knitting and crochet).
Of a more personal nature, I am planning to do more research on crafting/color traditions of some select countries, possibly gathering information for a series of articles, or a book. I am traveling to Peru this summer for a vacation, but I am also planning to gather information on the rich textile history of the country. Right now, my full-time job as an archivist is keeping me quite busy, but I also have some desire to return to graduate school and study textile history. Who knows what the future holds! For now, I will continue to craft to my heart's contentment. I have plans to try several new crafts and techniques this year.
Sounds like fun! Thanks, Lauren, for taking the time to answer the questions so throroughly! I've enjoyed reading the answers and I appreciate your inspiration!
This is a great interview. It is so interesting to see how all aspects of ones life intersects to create who they are.
Thank you!
Posted by: Tori | March 20, 2007 at 10:10 AM
What a great interview Tara!
I love learning about someone new.
I can't wait to explore all the links you provided ~ Especially Project Spectrum; sound so interesting and fun!
XO,
Melba
Posted by: Melba | March 06, 2007 at 09:57 AM
Great interview. It makes me sad that she doesn't consider herself an artist. We have such a narrow definition of art, don't we. My husband is an air traffic controller. Seeing him in action, sitting at the airport in Atlanta and seeing hundreds of planes coming in and going out, that illustrates the art of his profession. I want to learn to recognize the artist in others ... it is what keeps me connected and motivated to be the artist that I am.
Posted by: Cynthia | March 06, 2007 at 07:33 AM
hello.
i think i rediscovered this blog after ages!! glad i found it again.:):)
also, could you please add my blog to the link list on your page? The blog name is WATERMARK and you can see it at
www.mahimasblog.blogspot.com
thank you.
Posted by: mahima | March 06, 2007 at 12:28 AM