The End of an Era

I was downtown yesterday afternoon when the space shuttle Discovery was launched for the last time. Even though we had partially cloudy skies, we were able to see the vapor trail and the last burn of the expendable booster tank before it dropped off. It was a very beautiful moment. Everyone in the nearby shops had walked out into the street and cheered as we all watched and shared this historical event.

My grown children and the newest generation probably won't quite understand the impact all of this has had on my generation. The space program began during my lifetime and the world was changed forever.

Why is this a post in a fiber artist's blog?

As I said before, the world changed forever in almost unimaginable ways that affected all areas of life. Spinning may be one of the oldest art forms but it has been greatly affected by the space age. Many of the new fibers that we use were able to be developed because of the technology developed during the space race. And they are beautiful! The softness and silkiness of Latte (a beautiful fiber made from milk protein), the loveliness of yarns made with bamboo and seaweed. There are many more fibers waiting to come into being. I still prefer natural fibers like wool and cotton and alpaca, but I like to blend these with the glitter of Angelina (a polyester metallic).

What's the Anal Artist?

Several friends were discussing the habits and artistry of the fiber artist a few days ago. We came to the conclusion that many of us are pretty anal in the organization, preparation and facilitation of our fiber creations. At first the thought of an anal artist almost seemed like a contradiction of terms when you think of the usual artistic stereotype. But then I decided that fiber artists just do not fit the stereotype. I also think most fiber artists are very passionate about their art and are more actively involved in their creations from beginning to end. (How many painters do you know who actually create their own paints and canvases?)

The end product of this discussion was the general consensus that "The Anal Artist" would be a fiberful title for for the blog or business of a fiber artist. And so "The Anal Artist" was conceived and is in the birthing room.

Best wishes to the rest of you anal artists out there!