This page is about how I got to where I am now. If you’re wondering about the details like when I learned to crochet, you can find it in this post here.
Here is my story. To start off with, I have an 8-year-old son who is the love of my life. We live with our dog-in-cat-clothing, Charlie. We are pet sitters. I also assist my little guy with his weekly paper route (he is currently working on saving up for summer camp).
The short, condensed version of my story is that I woke up one day and realized that I had been in an abusive relationship. He didn’t physically beat me. However, the night he refused to let me use the washroom and blocked my car in with a transport was the night I fled. I wasn’t going to stick around to see what was next. He abused me in every other form. Mentally, emotionally, financially – the forms of abuse that many professionals frequently ignore and/or don’t acknowledge because there aren’t any PHYSICAL bruises. It wasn’t until my son was born that I realized what was going on.
We came back to my hometown of Minden, Ontario. It’s about 2 1/2 hours north of Toronto. I’d had numerous jobs in the past (hair stylist, production worker, tech support agent), but nothing that really spoke to my heart that I could do at the time. I had always wanted to take a course in fibre arts. Since I had practically nothing after fleeing the relationship, I felt I had nothing to lose. I chose my former jobs based on what everyone else wanted for me and/or what was the “safe” route. Look where it got me. So I fulfilled my life-long dream and took the Fibre Arts Program at Fleming College in the fall of 2011. It was certainly a challenge between being a single mom to a then 3-year-old and taking a course that was 2 semesters compressed into one. But I did it! I was hoping that it would help me zero in on one particular medium, but that totally blew up in my face! That’s where I was introduced to spinning and re-acquainted with weaving (I have a 42″ floor loom and no floor to put it on!).
While I do enjoy crocheting and knitting, along with the other fibre arts mediums, spinning is my passion. I am currently enrolled in the Ontario Handweavers and Spinners (OHS) six year Spinning Certificate program.
Thank you for dropping by. I hope that you’ll learn something new, find some inspiration and/or get a laugh or two.
11 Comments
Keep Me In Stitchez: The Blog 
Hello. I am so glad I found your blog. My knitting was also taking over my Facebook. I look forward to following your projects. Judy
Than you for subscribing to my blog! Judy
I find your posts interesting and inspiring š I don’t get to swing by as much as I’d like to with just having an iPhone and limited bandwidth… But I’ll be following more (and probably more vocal! Lol) once I get the Internet here š Kyla
I’ve looked at some of your projects, and they are Beautiful! You are a wonderful knitter, and you knit socks! That’s my goal.
I also went to your blogroll and got confused with “Lost Needle” which had nothing to do with knitting, or sewing, or anything textile. I see you are also into computers, so is that another of your own sites? I’m so curious now.
Thanks for visiting Whimseytopia. I am at a point of frustration with socks that could become a medical problem for me. It’s an obsession, I think. If I don’t complete a sock soon I may stroke. OK, maybe not really, but I do want to get “good” at the sock! Be a SOCKER! I heard that term somewhere.
I’m
Thank you so much for visiting! š
Is there a particular part with sock construction that is causing you problems? I found this website to be VERY handy: http://www.knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/070719_a.asp My beloved Granny Girl had taught me when I was 16 (I had a boyfriend at the time whose toes were always cold… The things we do for puppy love! Lol), but I had lost her directions. This site has some really good photos too. I’m a visual learner and I was able to get this quickly. I hope this helps!
As for the computers, you’re the second person that has asked me today if that’s what I do/am going to do. I’m taking that as a sign! I’m going for the title of “Jane of all trades” and computers do interest me. I taught myself how to design web pages and make graphics. So I think computers are in my future.
The “Lost Needle” included me on their blog roll, so I returned the courtesy š I haven’t been able to keep up to date on reading blogs since my computer is mad at me and my iPhone takes so long to load. I was at my mom’s yesterday when I surfed in on your page. My presence will be known once I get back online fully! Hehehe
Oh, I clicked too soon. “I’m” going to subscribed and keep up with your posts. I also wonder if this is a business for you. You have so many projects going. Do you take orders? You must be really, really good then. Thanks for sharing. I’m sure to be back. Patsye
Hi Patsye š Thank you for subscribing! You have arrived in my little corner of the world at a very exciting time as you can see! My school endeavor is something that I’ve wanted to pursue since I first heard about Fibre Arts after I had taken an aptitude test nearly 19 years ago! I just decided that it’s time to follow my dreams. I took the “safe” road until now and all that did was cause depression and get me into one heck of a mess!
I have been taking some orders, but I’ve had to close the order book because I don’t want to have things pile up while I’m in school. My course is two semesters crammed into one. Add in a VERY active three year old and I won’t have much time for anything else. Once I finish school, I am hoping to launch a website, get an Etsy boutique going and a Facebook page.
My speed has increased over the last little while. I don’t know where it came from, bit I’m not complaining in the least! I think it may be the bamboo needles… I have developed an almost unnatural affection for them! Lol Maybe bamboo needles are the trick to those elusive socks! (and the link I posted in another reply… Here it is again: http://www.knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/070719_a.asp)
Happy stitching!
Kyla
I have not seen any of your work, since I am new to all this, though I have knitted and crochet all my life- can’t remember ever learning it. I am blessed to follow you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to follow my blog! I have tagged a large majority of my posts, so if you’re interested, just type in knitting and/or crocheting in the search box. I also kept very good notes of my experience with the Fibre Arts program through Fleming College. I shared quite a bit of what I learned there, so that may be of interest too š
Where are you now??????
Oh my goodness! Hi Patsye! I’m still alive and kicking. Just been super busy. Aside from my fibre adventures, I’ve been doing a lot of pet sitting – I stay at peoples’ homes while they are away and look after their pets. I didn’t expect it to take off the way it has, but I’m very happy about it! Anyway, I have been trying to get more organized and get back on the blogging track. A LOT has happened on my fibre adventures, so now I must catch up! Hope all is well with you!