Knitting Nite

Thick yarn, big hooks and an easy pattern were the order of the night at Swift Weaver's as 8 girls scouts and their 2 leaders stopped in to learn to crochet. Making a super chunky cowl neckpiece seemed an easy-to-do project for the girls and many of them caught on quickly. It is always a joy to be able to pass down the crafts to a new generation.

People have always knit or crocheted for many different reasons beyond just producing garments or giving gifts. There is a satisfaction in a job well done, surmounting a new or challenging project, learning a new technique, creating something beautiful, keeping busy, giving to charity, relaxing the mind, exercising the joints, and gathering with others. In this day and age it is so easy to be busy, busy, busy. Knitting and crocheting allow us to be "busy" in a relaxed way, recharging the body and spirit.

We have a dedicated group of knitter's who meet every Tuesday afternoon from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. here at Swift Weaver's. Originally the group began by knitting helmet liners for the men of the armed forces from our area who were to be deployed overseas. Over 600 hats were knit by the women of Benson and the surrounding area. It was amazing! Not having had enough of hats, they turned their attention to chemo caps. Inspired by different patterns and yarns many hats were made and donated to our own hospital here in Benson and also to Rice Hospital in Willmar. Some were and still are given out here at the shop directly to patients or relatives. A need for hats for dialysis patients at the hospital in Willmar has presented itself and we will be knitting for that cause in the coming months. Anyone wishing to participate may stop by Swift Weavers's for yarn or patterns. Don't knit or crochet? Donations for yarn purchase are also accepted.

What are your favorite reasons to knit or crochet? We'd love to hear from you!

Winter

It looks like winter has finally arrived though I would swear I was at the beach in the middle of a hurricane. What a wind! I blew into Our Redeemer's for Smorgasbord dinner tonight. I just love to see everyone dressed in Norwegian costume. I especially like to see everyone's out in their Norwegian jewelry. It is just beautiful.
I am getting ready this week and next for the Clara City craft fair which is November 6th. I have been to it many times but never as a vendor so it should be interesting. I'm sure many in the area will be going. Hope to see you there!

TIME is My Enemy

With another year gone by and a birthday coming up TIME is on my mind. At this stage of my life opening this business was an effort to fulfill my desire to work as an artist. Trying to keep in mind Grandma Moses career as a folk artist took off when she was in her 60's I leapt into the fray. There is a warm and welcoming community of family and friends at Swift Weaver's/Bugs and Flowers without whose support I would not have had the heart to try. To all of you I say "Thank you."
Community support for local businesses is necessary if they are to succeed. In this day and age we also have to be aware of another type of community in which we must involve ourselves in order to succeed. And so this week I have spent TIME jumping into the arena of social media and the internet community. Along with this blog and a flickr site I now have a business facebook page and a twitter account. While the setup is fairly painless, as with all internet pursuits, it takes a large amount of one's TIME to post, upload pictures and design pages. However, in order to compete in this an ever evolving marketplace it is a must do. And so feeling a little like Alice down the rabbit hole I have taken the plunge. I am committed to updating my social sites a little more frequently in the hopes of at least establishing a small following of craft and fiber enthusiasts,especially those at home. With TIME as my enemy I prepare for battle. Next up - selling on Etsy and a website of my own. Yee hah!

Make and Take Is Back

After a long and busy summer I am happy to be able to start the monthly Make and Take Night back up at Swift Weaver's. Our first project will be a Collaged Candle inspired by the latest issue of Cloth Paper and Scissors, my favorite idea magazine. Using a combination of paper and fabric I have crafted these collaged candle's as samples. Make and Take will be at Swift Weaver's on Monday night, October 18 from 6-9 p.m. These candle's work well with as holiday decorations or gifts. The sample's reflect Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Vintage theme's. Hope to see you there!

Spring

Ahh, spring. When a young man's fancy turns to love and Minnesotans to gardening. And who can blame them. After a long, cold winter we are experiencing a very mild and wonderful spring here in Benson. I just love the gardens here in our town. Most of them are beautiful and full of hidden treasures such as birdhouses, old antique pottery, and a wide variety of garden art. Inspired by a recent swap which involved birds I pulled out the miniature birdhouses I purchased last year during Crazy Days. I decorated these tiny havens with paper, ink, glue and paint. A final varnishing and they are ready to pop into large houseplants, peeking out of the foliage and bringing a little of the outside in for the year round garden enthusiast. Nicknamed "Sweet Tweets" Birdhouses here is a small sample... with more to come.

Continuity and Quilting

So much for blogging once a week. It sounds so easy until you find yourself with so little time. At any rate - I received a call this week about the Minnesota Quilt Show in St. Cloud. The show is Saturday, June 19th and a group of quilting ladies west of here know as the Hands Across the Lake Quilt Guild are sponsoring a bus trip to the show. To sign up call Erlys Sis at 320-839-3786. The bus will leave Milbank at 7 a.m., Ortonville at 7:20 and Benson at 8:05. This is a luxury bus tour for the cost of only $28. Reserve your spot, first come first served for seats. The show will have a variety of quilt styles, from heirloom, to contemporary. Special exhibits consist of children's quilts, State Fair quilts, Fiber Art collections, Studio Art displays, hand dying and surface design. Something for everyone! I won't want to miss it... don't you.

Zentangles

What are Zentangles you ask? I discovered this fun and creative drawing technique in an issue of my favorite magazine "Cloth, Paper, Scissors." Zentangles are a way of creating a image from patterns laid down one stroke at a time within a set parameter or "string" inside a 3.5 x 3.5 framwork. Using the techniques pioneered by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas at zentangle.com it is easy to catch on and very fun. I warn you though, they can be addictive