Stitch 'n Dish

Tag: creativity

  • Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: my review

    Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: my review

    I’m still trying to figure out how it’s already nearly the middle of October, as it feels that the end of the 2024 Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival (August 23 – 25, 2024) was just a week or so ago! I have been thinking about that festival, along with many related topics. As it pertains to the festival,…

  • AI, technology & fiber arts

    AI, technology & fiber arts

    I began watching a Netflix series on Artificial Intelligence (AI) this week. In my professional world (healthcare and education), I have been dealing with and writing about AI and its impact for a while. As I sat on my couch, cat tucked in beside me and yarn in hand, I began to think about fiber arts and…

  • Healing through giving

    Healing through giving

    When I was but a kid and rock music was a never-ending stream of talent, Supertramp released the song featured in the video above. I can still sing it from memory. I was driving, pondering life and yarn (a typical daydream for me) and this song came on my Sirius radio station. It made me…

  • My Emotional Support Chicken (ESC)

    My Emotional Support Chicken (ESC)

    I’ve officially joined in the ESC craze, and finished my first hen. “Fluffy Freda” – pictured above – helped me learn the pattern, think about how I might want to adjust the pattern, and perhaps most importantly; fall in love with these chickens! My interest in the many benefits of knitting and crocheting have taught…

  • For no particular reason

    For no particular reason

    Sometimes I get into a funk and wonder why I’m spending time and energy making things that don’t seem to have a specific purpose. I also sometimes get down on myself about the mountain of yarn, yards of fabric or tubs of supplies. I know I’m not alone in having an occasional moment of despair…

  • Some favorite sites

    Some favorite sites

    I have been thinking about the MANY sites that are out there for fiber artists that provide patterns, tips, tricks and more and wanted to highlight some of the ones I have found in my travels. NOTE: this is NOT to suggest that I know it ALL about great sites – there are MANY out…

  • Mark your calendars!

    Mark your calendars!

    I’ll be facilitating a discussion at this year’s Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival, focused on Yarn and Self-Care each day of the festival! Here’s the official description: This is an uplifting and positive session that will share widely-accepted practices for stress reduction in the context of yarn/fiber arts. We will explore the benefits of solitary practice,…

  • Quick and cute

    Quick and cute

    As I finished my most recent sunglasses pouch, I was still needing some “yarn therapy” so I picked up some pink, cotton yarn and was about to make ANOTHER glasses pouch when I got inspired to free hand something. I decided to make a small holder for folded paper money or ID to tuck into…

  • A sense of satisfaction

    A sense of satisfaction

    There’s something satisfying about finishing a project. It’s like an affirmation that we have our act together and on some weeks, I need that more than I care to admit!! I’ve referenced the many benefits of knitting and crocheting in previous blog posts, but tonight I want to highlight the positive benefits to our state…

  • Craft community drama

    Craft community drama

    Starting with last year’s Wool & Folk debacle, I have been discovering, here and there, the “corners of drama” in the fiber arts community and have to admit, I find it FASCINATING. Today I want to pivot off of a video by “Emma in the Moment” on YouTube who has just reviewed some issues around…