Friday, November 11, 2011

The Good, The True and the Beautiful


A sneaky peek at a portion of my
Yarns of Italy design submission.
Never fear, my design vision is far
clearer than this enlargement.
 So, I received word yesterday that a design I had submitted for a Yarns of Italy competition has been accepted! Happy? Me? Yes!!!! There were a few fine details to smooth over, but I am pleased (and just a little honored) with how it all worked out.

The submission/acceptance process is not always so mutually agreeable. As much as I want my designs to be accepted and published (as every designer does, I'm quite certain), it doesn't mean that I must accept all of the terms all of the time. Especially if I feel I'm getting a little too much smoke blown in my face. I have retracted design submissions. This doesn't please me, but I think it's important to be true to myself, and if I feel (with evidence to back up that feeling, of course) that I'm being sent up a lazy river (or to that bridge to nowhere), I will absolutely listen to my gut and not think twice about the decision.

Fortunately, I've had far more positive interactions than negative. I get to play with fiber I truly enjoy, and create beauty and good (at least my version of those concepts). I get to decide who I want to associate with - which is why I have so loved my Friday Fiber Arts adventures. I have always believed that how we make others feel is what drives how we act. Making another feel included and appreciated and valuable, done with authenticity, will always lead to good things. Manipulation ... not so much.

Which leads me (the good, the true and the beautiful - not the manipulative) to speak a little more about the spindle and fiber I received a few weeks back. I had swapped with someone earlier in the year, and it was a very pleasant exchange, and afterward we went our respective fiber ways. However, since I hadn't heard from the swap mate in a while, I got in touch with her. I also discovered she was trying to clear away some things she no longer used or needed. The spindle, which has a few small dings in it from being dropped, seemed a perfect first spindle on which to learn my hand-spinning technique (since I know I'm gonnna drop that thing at least once). Well, communications ensued and we decided another swap was in order. I was overwhelmed when I received such wonderful fiber to play with as well as the spindle! And, I saved the best for now - she included a note written on a card that needed to be put together:


Check that out. We're not talking mere pop-up card, but one with actual creation instructions, with pieces to insert and interlock. I had so much fun putting this card together, and am thrilled with the thought put into the entire package. I'm in the process of getting a package together for her, and I'm pleased to bits to be doing so. (BTW, I'd love to hear what helped each of you as you learned to spin.)


I thank everyone (and especially Andrea!) for being such great fiber mates all of these past Fiber Arts Fridays. Please check back with Andrea's blog, and make certain to take the time to enjoy all the wonderful creativity this group displays each week. Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. to that, my friends!



14 comments:

  1. Hooray for your pattern being accepted. Just think...I knew you when ;-) Swaps are fun and hopefully you develope a friendship so you can continue to learn about each other. It's like having a pen pal. Ah, do you remember those? I still remember the girl I wrote to all through elementary and middle school. Hooray for spinning! I may need to send you some roving to play with because...you know the Wonder of Alpaca will truly lead to addiction.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have never thought of seeking out swaps. How I love blog exploring and learning! Yours is wonderful. I have enjoyed poking around a bit. And that note card Idea....How Fun!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a cool card idea! And again, I cannot wait to read about your spinning adventures!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a wonderful swap, Denise!! The card is amazing...and I can't wait to see your hand spinning, since I haven't touched my spindle in months! Sighhhhh. XXO-

    ReplyDelete
  5. It seems like you've had so many positive responses to your designs lately. I am so happy for you. :-)

    Along with an actual intro to spinning class at a LYS, Youtube is a tremendous resource.

    This is one that I like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPUORvO-GZE&feature=fvsr

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations! How exciting. Your card is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That card is something else, all those details! I tried spinning twice, on spindles. Apparently I still can't spin, so you can imagine how it went. My spinning friends tell me it's easier to learn on a wheel, but I don't have the space for it, and don't really want start a fiber stash. Good luck with yours!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations! That's a great card and very thoughtful of the sender. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congratulations! I will be working on a design using Yarns of Italy, too - it seems that (our) great minds think alike about where to submit :). I love the card as well - you are one lucky swapee (if that is a word).

    ReplyDelete
  10. That card is INTENSE! Congrats on your design acceptance! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congrats! What have been some reasons why you retracted design submissions?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congratulations on your design's acceptance. I appreciate what you wrote about the experiences you've had submitting designs. I've only done it once (it didn't make it) but the experience was fairly painless. Now for the card: gorgeous! What a great swap/exchange you participate in.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Séverine / CidrolinDecember 11, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Hey Denise, I'm really glad you liked the card and I hope we continue in contact and swapping informally, though communication may be a little spotty at times (I've been a little occupied recently. The occupant was in my body, and is now in my arms !). I need to post a picture of the wonderful romney you sent me in the first swap, as it was the first fiber I spun on my new-to-me wheel that I bought right before my baby was born. I'm very happy with how it turned out, and am now choosing a pattern for it. Unfortunately, yours require more yardage than I have, so I'll have to use them with a different yarn.

    ReplyDelete