Dear blog friends, I miss you--I'm sorry to have been so quiet, and that the new blog isn't up yet. It's been a long winter; I spent the last six weeks just going to work every day and then watching every episode of The Wire (yes, it's as amazing as its reputation) and waiting, forever, for more light, more warmth, and more optimism.
The exciting news is that I've been awarded some funding from the Textile Society to attend the International Symposium and Exhibition on Natural Dyes (ISEND) in France at the end of April. Who else is planning to go? Let me know! I've never been to France, and it's a place I really want to go, so I'm thrilled. The conference is in the charming seaside town of La Rochelle, from whence my French-Canadian ancestors probably came, and I hope I'll get a day or two in Paris. The symposium speakers on natural dyes are from all over the world, and it promises to be a great adventure.
I've also dipped my toe in the Twitter waters, as @artcraftculture, mostly with posts about books and design and crafts that are related to my day job, but as usual I have other thoughts to share too...if you're there, connect with me. I don't know if it'll stick for me; it feels like a bit of an echo chamber so far.
Meanwhile, I've got books to be read (a few of them above), stitching to be stitched, paintings to paint, words to write, and on it goes. I'll try to make that long-promised blog switchover and get back on a regular blogging schedule. Until then...I hope you are all hanging in there through this long winter (and long fiery summer for my friends in the southern hemisphere) and staying well in this crazy world.