My guess is that many of you have Jane Brocket's Yarnstorm on your blog feed list. If not, you should certainly give it a read. She and I have never corresponded, so I can make no personal comment about her, but I share many of her interests and find her projects inspirational. On the whole she writes about her adventures in the "domestic arts" and books rather than her personal life, which is fine with me. I admire her choice to create a business model from her efforts and applaud her and other bloggers for their efforts in writing books. More power to them all. She's one of many blogs that uses the photo box set up (white boards and indirect bright lighting) to achieve consistent and consistently beautiful photographs. It would be extremely boring if all blogs looked the same, but I certainly appreciate that style of artful presentation done well.
She has a new book out that I've yet to see, so I"ll withhold comment until I do. What's interesting to me today is the review in a London Sunday paper and the ensuing, well, storm of comments both on the paper's site and Jane's blog. A wonderful democratizing effect of blogs and comment boards is that weak writing gets called out and eviscerated in real time. No waiting a week or month for a couple of letters to the editor to show up after you've forgotten the original story. Strong and opinionated writing can bring good comments too. I read Salon regularly and almost always look through the editor's picks of the comments to see other's viewpoints. Fast and public feedback is one way that the internet lives up to its hype.
The author of that review tries to equate one's enjoying the domestic arts - baking, sewing, knitting and gardening - to being anti-feminist. She also implies that these interests are the realm of the wealthy and pampered. Obviously, many women's meters went straight to red. My first thought was that her piece was so plainly stupid as to be below response; but then again, maybe not. I think it's great that so many took the time to write thoughtful comments to the Telegraph, potentially reaching a non-crafting audience with the news that Real Woman Knit. And they bake and garden and sew ... and have families and jobs and other pursuits. I keep thinking everyone got that memo, but then I get comments when I'm at the park knitting, or see that Grey's Anatomy rerun where everyone exclaims in a rather derogatory way about Meridith's knitting, and I know there's education to be done.
This blogging medium allows each of us as owner/CEO to determine the voice that suits us and the level of exposure we find comfortable. I read some blogs so filtered that I don't know where the writer lives or any details about their working or home life. Other blogs are literally public diaries. Most are in between, and all styles are OK with me if I enjoy the content. On the whole I think most of us with craft blogs focus on our creative endeavors while allowing natural intrusions of work and family life to filter into the text. (Oh, how much crafting could we get done without those pesky kids, husbands and/or bosses sucking up our time?) I enjoy Jane's odes to quince jam and Stephanie's odes to her family. I don't have to choose between them; I'll read both thank you very much.
I've read some vitriolic words from both craft bloggers and the uninitiated (like the Telegraph writer) about how some bloggers post about their perfect life. None of us live in Lake Wobegon (where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average) and I've yet to read a blogger who claims that as home. I think most of us post about our passions in the hopes of connecting with those who understand and appreciate our creations. All those gaps between posts are when we're busy with real life - the good, bad and in between. Personally, I write my blog to maintain adult connections regarding subjects that interest me and to entertain both you and myself. A photo of my muddy children may elicit (not illicit as I typed the first time - spell check only helps me to a point!) as passing smile whereas a pile of the same wet, muddy clothes forgotten in the laundry room basin for a week would not. That might be interesting if blog technology allowed for scratch-n-sniff, but I can guarantee it wouldn't make you smile. So I give you the kids and roses and not the mildewed clothes and compost heap. Writer's choice. Personally, I'll take Jane's tasteful and thoughtful blogging over a tell-all autobiography of someone's bad life choices any day.
To make the argument that by engaging in the domestic arts we've given up feminist ideals is intellectually flaccid. What's more feminist than having the choice to create as you desire, be it a post-modern political treatise or an heirloom quilt? What's more feminist than finding one's voice in an open medium? Isn't that what the movement was about? The freedom to be comfortable as women and to follow our interests, whatever they may be? I think we'd do much better to focus on women around the world without choices than to spend so much time picking at each other.
Why the flower shots? Well, I just couldn't resist prettying things up a bit. Yarn and fabric next time.
Great post! (and lovely flower pictures)
Posted by: Octopus Knits | October 01, 2007 at 01:26 PM
You are right on target! And I love the flowers, BTW. I do read that blog sometimes, I didn't know she had written a book. I think that the creative urge in some people is simply overwhelming. Others are consumed with ambition and careers. I don't find those rewarding, even though I has one. I like making things. It puts a personal touch on a life that is otherwise pretty darn consumptive in general. Even if I'm not a pioneer woman, I like to think I could have been good at it. My daughter claims I wield a chainsaw and a sewing machine with equal skill. Not true, but I keep trying. I don't think the world knows what to do with thinking women who also are capable and fearless and creative. So they make fun of us.
Posted by: Julia | October 01, 2007 at 02:07 PM
Gorgeous flowers and stunning colours......and I have to admit, I am very envious of the blue sky I see in the background - here, it's all grey skies, rain and cold.
Am going to investigate the links you posted about, in the morning when I'm not so tired.....
Posted by: Jules | October 01, 2007 at 03:16 PM
Very thought-inspiring links; thank you for posting them.
Posted by: Laura | October 01, 2007 at 03:49 PM
Thanks Nancy - I appreciate your insight and the way you put your thoughts together. . .
Posted by: Ruthanne (in Seattle) | October 01, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Thank you. How did I miss all that hoopla? I've been a Yarnstorm reader for awhile, and I totally love Jane for her style and eye for color.
Everything you've stated is so true. I find it ironic that every time the feminism pendulum does a major swing it's us women who are the ones putting down the one's stepping out. Whatever happened to the word liberation?
Oh, and blogland would be one scary place if we wrote all the details of everyday - I thank God for the glossing over. Give me the pretties :)
Posted by: michelle | October 01, 2007 at 07:33 PM
Dear Nancy,
Thank you for your lovely website which always is filled with the most beautiful photography, is rich in insight and stimulates the artistic senses in various ways.
I wonder what camera you are using for your excellent photography? I am currently comparing the new "fully automatic", high mega pixel cameras with macro ability. Might you have suggestions for best quality?
Posted by: Barbara George in South Carolina | October 02, 2007 at 05:01 AM
Yes, I caught all the hoopla. I'm a big fan of Jane's blog, and that journalist's piece seems somewhat lazy. Jane spent years in the wine trade, I believe, so I'm sure she recognises the smell of sour grapes. Upsetting for her, nevertheless.
Love the new name, btw.
Posted by: Serenknitity | October 02, 2007 at 06:47 AM
You go girl! Well said.
Posted by: Tusa | October 02, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Very well written and said - so true! I do read yarnstorm and love it. Very interesting this public airing of one's (and many times uninformed) opinions, I often wonder where and how they were formed. Thanks for taking the time to write this post.
Posted by: Terry | October 02, 2007 at 01:21 PM
Amen, Sister! great post!
Posted by: moni | October 02, 2007 at 07:03 PM
Thanks for the link. I wonder if the reviewer did any research--reading Jane's blog, reading craft blogs, reading about the resurgence of crafting--or if she just aired her personal views on what she thinks domesticity is, because it's certainly harder than it looks, and it's a round-the-clock job.
A negative review would have been okay, nonetheless (because people do think otherwise) but this one was just spiteful.
Posted by: MJ | October 03, 2007 at 12:50 AM
Well, you know, that piece was in the [i]Telegraph[/i]. Nuff said?
Posted by: Spinning Fishwife | October 03, 2007 at 04:02 AM
Thanks for pointing to the comments on the telegraph article-- I hadn't thought to read them (though read the article once Jane had posted about it).
The juxtaposition of your flower shots amongst your writing is just great.
Posted by: aija | October 03, 2007 at 07:47 AM
I totally agree with you! The whole feminist movement is about having choices and none of them are wrong. It all lies with the individual. It consistently makes me sad to see women acting out like the writer of that article. Women have been through so much to get where we are today (at least those of us who are lucky enough) and we shouldn't be tearing each other down. We should be using that energy to support each other instead.
Posted by: melissa | October 03, 2007 at 08:45 AM
What a wonderful post--thanks for sharing this with us! I did some reading recently that was talking about women deciding to stay home as anti-feminist. I am constantly disturbed by all this. I went to all girl high school, all girl college, and then got my PHD at one of the most male dominated universities in an extremely male dominated field. Now I am home, taking care of the family and home, and sewing and knitting and enjoying it all. I have had several say I "wasted my time getting my degree" and oh what a leading women I could have been, blah blah blah. They forget it is/was my choice to take the time with my family. It is not anti-feminist. It is not feminist either. It is me, human, mom, woman, wife, making my own life decisions and doing what is best for me, and my family. I am not sure why others have problems with our generation looking for something in between.
Melissa, said it perfectly as well.... we should be using our energy to support one another and not looking to judge and condemn one another for making choices different from our own.
Now off to read the links you have shared.
And beautiful flowers btw.
Sheree
Posted by: sheree (sheree's alchemy) | October 05, 2007 at 08:58 AM
Well said! I visit Jane's blog regularly and am looking forward to her book. Her photos are always amazing and very appreciated.
Thanks for your thoughts regarding the article in the Telegraph. It seems beyond me when such silly articles are published - why is it so hard to just appreciate creativity in all its forms?
Posted by: Katherine | October 05, 2007 at 09:04 AM
I loved your recent column about feminism and domestic arts.
Having had a hard week last week (in a freaky car accident from which everyone emerged unhurt, but my car took at 180 degree turn after being pushed in the right-back corner by an SUV avoiding a mattress!) and after finishing up a fiscal year in a Gov't contracting office, I can unequivocally vouch for the healing power of crafts. I finished a little Peter Pan tunic for my grandson and boy, does that make me feel good. Being 4/5ths across the county, I forget I have them ! (step-grandparent - forget the intensity of being with them), but finishing something for one of them brings me closer to them. Is it therapy? Or just life? Whatever it is, it's good (the crafting & the product.
Posted by: Louise | October 08, 2007 at 02:41 PM
I'm a week late to this, but - Amen! After all, what is feminism about if not giving us all the ability to make our own choices and have them respected? It really bothers me when women - who often call themselves feminists! - tear down other women for engaging in domestic pursuits or staying at home with their kids instead of having a job. We should be able to make those choices and be comfortable with whatever it is we really want to do. A real feminist would totally support either choice, and respect that we even have the choice to make for ourselves in the first place.
Posted by: Kat | October 12, 2007 at 06:04 AM
Well said! I am always amazed when people (the reviewer) so totally lack critical thinking skills. Sheesh.
Posted by: Jeanne | October 19, 2007 at 04:54 PM