tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60844870104534281672024-02-20T15:44:05.242-06:00v ä v a! v e v e!weaving cloth one thread at a timeMarian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-6089124148682511172015-02-02T13:17:00.001-06:002015-02-02T13:17:14.389-06:00Tea Towels at Summer Studio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvnkIpSRpfY/VM_KLx_G13I/AAAAAAAAUTw/HPkgdgyrQsk/s1600/tumblr%2Btea%2Btowels_nizbcmTJj31s9buq0o1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvnkIpSRpfY/VM_KLx_G13I/AAAAAAAAUTw/HPkgdgyrQsk/s1600/tumblr%2Btea%2Btowels_nizbcmTJj31s9buq0o1_1280.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
I have spent the last month at Summer Studio, weaving on my smaller 48" AVL due to an equipment failure and subsequent need for ordering a part that was not available for about 3 weeks. No problem! I love it there and get quite a bit of work done, while enjoying the solitude and warm crackling fires in the fireplace. I had a few tablerunner orders to complete, and an overdue payback of some towels to a jewelry artist friend of mine in North Carolina. <a href="http://www.laurelsbench.com/" target="_blank">Laurel's Bench</a> We have a strong affection for each other's work and while I keep her buried in linen, I just can't have too much of Laurel's jewelry! She LOVES color in her linens, so I wove a couple of towels for her after I was done with the tablerunner orders. These Tea Towels still need hems and wet-finishing, which will have them looking all GLAM for Laurel! I had some fun putting my color theory studies to work! Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-36182092097851924812014-12-04T19:07:00.002-06:002014-12-04T19:07:54.536-06:00This weekend you can find Väva! Veve! at The American Swedish Institute where we will have a booth in the Julmarknad Handcraft Fair! We would love to see you there!!!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1-2Nu24l6Y/VIEFOcMAuqI/AAAAAAAAUTM/AkQuEmGm59Q/s1600/Julmarknad%2BHandcraft%2BFair%2Bpostcard%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1-2Nu24l6Y/VIEFOcMAuqI/AAAAAAAAUTM/AkQuEmGm59Q/s1600/Julmarknad%2BHandcraft%2BFair%2Bpostcard%2B001.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-29528820478940446512014-07-17T15:56:00.000-05:002015-12-16T22:09:38.006-06:00Sent a linen package to a friend of mine<br />
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<a href="http://instagram.com/p/PXY-57KE-o/" target="_blank">Instagram photo</a> of väva! veve! package when Branda Crow received it upon its arrival at Our FoodShed in Portland, Oregon.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5eblKfLQ5OA/U8mFvTnqqUI/AAAAAAAABvM/ff93NsrB7-g/s1600/vavaveve+Foodshed+photo+with+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5eblKfLQ5OA/U8mFvTnqqUI/AAAAAAAABvM/ff93NsrB7-g/s1600/vavaveve+Foodshed+photo+with+card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Brenda says, "<span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1.0">Gorgeously wrapped gift from Vava Veve! Even a card adorned w/ her handwoven textiles. Wow."</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://instagram.com/p/PXaPO9qEwQ/" target="_blank">Instagram photo</a> of väva! veve! Hand and Spa Towels sent to Brenda Crow at http://www.ourfoodshed.com </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0LDcm3mVT-8/U8mFvPAWQmI/AAAAAAAABvQ/uhxIPv0iH5Y/s1600/vavaveve+Foodshed+photo+of+2+towels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0LDcm3mVT-8/U8mFvPAWQmI/AAAAAAAABvQ/uhxIPv0iH5Y/s1600/vavaveve+Foodshed+photo+of+2+towels.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Brenda says, "<span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1"><span data-reactid=".0.0.1.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:1.0">Oh my goodness, these kitchen linens are something special. Handwoven, from Minnesota: www.vavaveve.com"</span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://instagram.com/p/PXaPO9qEwQ/" target="_blank"></a><br />Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-69638324835749515082014-07-11T18:30:00.000-05:002014-07-11T18:30:39.023-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Cottage Series I</div>
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Bath Towel 36" x 72" </div>
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Design: Damask, One Block</div>
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Color: Dark Neutral with Cornflower Blue stripes </div>
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<br />Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-69424422700113082582014-06-29T14:31:00.001-05:002014-06-29T14:31:05.622-05:00Martha Stewart's American Made Awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent">väva! veve! has just been informed that we
have been nominated for the Martha Stewart American Made Awards!! This
is so beyond cool!! Take a look at the link, Follow! And then
SHARE!!!!! SHARE this news to the ends of the earth, and to the moon,
and everywhere in between!! Then come back and VOTE starting September
15th!!! OMG!! I have to go lie down!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/89163/design/vva-veve" target="_blank">http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade</a> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l6OTnDiR5qU/U7Bm-VeZvAI/AAAAAAAABtw/9UXJ8PF84Dw/s1600/Vavaveve+CSII+Hand+Towel+in+Cabin+Road+in+Slate+with+violet+hem++910x1005+IMG_2749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l6OTnDiR5qU/U7Bm-VeZvAI/AAAAAAAABtw/9UXJ8PF84Dw/s1600/Vavaveve+CSII+Hand+Towel+in+Cabin+Road+in+Slate+with+violet+hem++910x1005+IMG_2749.jpg" height="320" width="289" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7fKc78npkTc/U7BlqAPKFeI/AAAAAAAABtA/UAD3PpTjHlo/s1600/Vavaveve+CSII+Spa+Towel+in++Pine+in+Cornflower+Blue+on+chair++932x1012+IMG_2674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7fKc78npkTc/U7BlqAPKFeI/AAAAAAAABtA/UAD3PpTjHlo/s1600/Vavaveve+CSII+Spa+Towel+in++Pine+in+Cornflower+Blue+on+chair++932x1012+IMG_2674.jpg" height="320" width="294" /></a></div>
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Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-40787090018729363222014-05-28T00:58:00.000-05:002014-05-28T00:58:04.732-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArYb5srX4oo/U4V6ODd_XzI/AAAAAAAABsk/bhQcEqcJxLs/s1600/Vavaveve+CSII+Spa+Towel+in+Pine+in+Slate+with+Violet+Hem+IMG_2864+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ArYb5srX4oo/U4V6ODd_XzI/AAAAAAAABsk/bhQcEqcJxLs/s1600/Vavaveve+CSII+Spa+Towel+in+Pine+in+Slate+with+Violet+Hem+IMG_2864+.jpg" /></a></div>
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Cabin Series II Spa Towel in Pine Design, in colors Slate, with Violet accent band.</div>
Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-71822584387270594832014-05-21T14:06:00.001-05:002014-05-21T14:06:15.297-05:00Seeing things anew.<br />
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<span class="userContent">When we take pictures we are usually recording
something for a memory. But taking pictures can also open one's eyes
to a fresh view. I have things coming into my studio here and there all the time,
and the things that were there before get pushed further back in my a<span class="text_exposed_show">ttention.
The excitement of something new overtakes the old and my eyes tend to
not see what is right there in front of me. So today, I took my camera
and looked . . . really looked at all the color, fantasy, and detail in
my studio. It was fun to see things with a fresh eye.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tpmja437rfQ/U3z0NT_35cI/AAAAAAAABrk/ga7KETyHjtw/s1600/Scandinavian+Candelabra+IMG_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tpmja437rfQ/U3z0NT_35cI/AAAAAAAABrk/ga7KETyHjtw/s1600/Scandinavian+Candelabra+IMG_0052.jpg" height="275" width="400" /> </a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-PfBBLgWGQ/U3z1edZ7MVI/AAAAAAAABsU/_HWRJSg366s/s1600/vavaveve+Accent+colors+IMG_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-PfBBLgWGQ/U3z1edZ7MVI/AAAAAAAABsU/_HWRJSg366s/s1600/vavaveve+Accent+colors+IMG_0021.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KP_x-qkqD_M/U3z0LRFZ8tI/AAAAAAAABrM/xWJzC0G6inI/s1600/Krokbragd+IMG_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KP_x-qkqD_M/U3z0LRFZ8tI/AAAAAAAABrM/xWJzC0G6inI/s1600/Krokbragd+IMG_0062.jpg" height="400" width="281" /></a> </div>
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<br />Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-49778965980898469012014-05-05T17:07:00.000-05:002014-05-05T17:20:30.943-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am beginning to feel assured that we will get no more snow, but I am not yet secure in that notion. After all, this is Minnesota, and here we are always waiting for that 'other shoe to drop' when it comes to the weather. In other words, if it is nice today, it will probably be either really hot and muggy tomorrow, or it will snow and sleet tomorrow. It has happened that way long enough that people in this state are always waiting for the bad news. We have been trained by the weather to be suspicious of a nice day and anticipating that it won't last long.<br />
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But even so, I am in good spirits! I am in count-down mode to make a road trip to Chicago to pick up a another AVL loom.<br />
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This is the loom waiting for me in Chicago.</div>
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This one has air assist mechanisms for the harnesses and flybox shuttles! My plan is to take the air assist mechanisms from this new loom and install them on my current AVL. I will have to do some adapting because I have 24 harnesses on my loom rather than the 16 on the loom from Chicago, and I have the newer version of the flyboxes which uses a rubber tube as an elastic powered return for the fly mechanism . . . .<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWvA3Zih8YU/U2fhs4yqBAI/AAAAAAAABq8/9YbfuJ-Det4/s1600/AVL+Shuttle+NewerIMG_0861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWvA3Zih8YU/U2fhs4yqBAI/AAAAAAAABq8/9YbfuJ-Det4/s1600/AVL+Shuttle+NewerIMG_0861.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Newer flybox shuttle mechanism.</div>
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. . . . rather than a spring, which in the case of the loom from Chicago (far bottom of photo below) is replaced by the air assist mechanism.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fq3FAzthYjQ/U2fTCgU6CeI/AAAAAAAABqw/fnqGqy5DXhk/s1600/avl11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fq3FAzthYjQ/U2fTCgU6CeI/AAAAAAAABqw/fnqGqy5DXhk/s1600/avl11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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It will take some thinking to get that one to work, but I have confidence . . . . <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhmnF0RlvmQ/U2fTGZI7xoI/AAAAAAAABqY/QLXjpoZtvAs/s1600/avl9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhmnF0RlvmQ/U2fTGZI7xoI/AAAAAAAABqY/QLXjpoZtvAs/s1600/avl9.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
. . . . I should be able to figure it out!<br />
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The unaltered original loom will probably placed on the market for about $3,500. It is a 60" - 16 harness AVL mechanical dobby loom, with a sticky (sand paper) breast beam, auto cloth advance, auto cloth storage, and a 1 yard sectional beam. The loom is in excellent shape. The loom has been maintained very well, which explains the wood oil marks on some of the wooden pieces. Buyer will pay shipping (as is standard). It will not have the fly shuttle boxes, since I may need those in adapting the flyboxes onto my current loom.<br />
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The heart of the mechanical dobby.</div>
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The counterweights for the auto cloth advance.</div>
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16 harnesses</div>
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1 yard sectional beam.</div>
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Auto cloth advance system.</div>
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Sturdy enough for rugs or silk!</div>
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Areas of oiled wood</div>
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If interested, contact me through this blog or through my website: <a href="http://www.vavaveve.com/contact" target="_blank">http://www.vavaveve.com/contact</a><br />
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<br />Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-18027286118659234172014-05-04T20:10:00.001-05:002014-05-04T20:12:22.660-05:00150 mile wardrobe: local fiber, real color, Gandhi economy<br />
I ran across this video showing Rebecca Burgess talking about Fibershed. It gives you a little more information and leaves you with the thought that just one idea can really have an impact! Just one person, one idea. And we are seeing her idea sweep the nation! Fibersheds are sprouting up all over the United States. This is something that everyone is deciding they CAN do and that they WANT to do it! It is very exciting to be part of this movement!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rEJmXmTFpMg" width="480"></iframe>Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-60869500312318604622014-05-03T22:09:00.000-05:002014-05-03T22:09:58.919-05:00Selvedge Magazine and me . . . we're like 'THAT'<div style="text-align: center;">
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Every once in a while something really fun and unexpected happens! Back at the beginning of 2011, I received an email from Polly Leonard. Polly Leonard is the editor of "Selvedge Magazine", a magazine published in the UK. In their 'About' section online they describe the magazine as follows: "Selvedge is a design-led, 100 page, bi-monthly magazine that covers
every facet of textiles – interiors, fashion, art, craft, travel and
shopping – in an intelligent and inspiring way. Founded in 2003 the magazine revolutionised the way textiles are
presented and quickly became the world’s leading textile publication.
Six times a year we cover textiles made with time, thought and skill in a
magazine produced in exactly the same way – with quality writing,
stunning photography and original illustration. Focusing on textiles
doesn’t mean we turn our back on the rest of the world... the exact
opposite is true. We see the world though a textile lens but cast our
eye far and wide looking for links between our subject and achievements
in other fields from architecture to archeology.
More flexible than other textile magazines – Selvedge fits seamlessly into a creative lifestyle."<br />
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Sounds pretty awesome, huh?! Well, Polly Leonard wrote to me asking if they could mention Väva! Veve! in their magazine. As far as I was concerned, they didn't even have to ASK! And could I please have 2 MILLION copies?!! Polly explained that she had been perusing Etsy.com and she wanted to feature <i>her </i>favorites! So, I picked myself up off the floor, and wrote back saying that of course she could and what did she need from me. We worked all that out, but you know? I never mentioned it in my blog~ <br />
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So here is Editor Polly Leonard's Etsy faves featured in Selvedge Magazine! I'm #11! Wheeze! Cough! Snort!!</div>
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Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-2701885960424922972014-05-03T16:54:00.001-05:002014-05-04T20:14:50.218-05:00Local Sourcing and Fibershed.com<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We are finally
seeing some sunshine here in Minnesota, after more than a week of dull gray, low ceiling clouds. People have been getting pretty crabby
without the sunshine, so today is a special day for everyone!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FyQheKJJMjk/U2VQCLfciCI/AAAAAAAABfw/UySCUPaDtVw/s1600/adjusted+sunny+dayIMG_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FyQheKJJMjk/U2VQCLfciCI/AAAAAAAABfw/UySCUPaDtVw/s1600/adjusted+sunny+dayIMG_0031.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is
like being reborn! It is joy in a sunbeam!! Today people will be in
such a good mood! Perhaps springtime has finally reached us. (it
snowed this past week!) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgJ2fntmlow/U2VQQCJWJGI/AAAAAAAABf4/ACFA9K_wHGs/s1600/resized+sunny+day+IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgJ2fntmlow/U2VQQCJWJGI/AAAAAAAABf4/ACFA9K_wHGs/s1600/resized+sunny+day+IMG_0032.jpg" height="514" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Such unpredictable and unusual weather! This
is why I am working with Fibershed.com and involved in getting our textile industry back to our
country. <span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">We need to change some basic ideas in order to shift our current impact on climate change! I am currently working with Rebecca Burgess, the founding member and<span class="ecxApple-converted-space"> </span>Executive Director of<span class="ecxApple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.fibershed.com/" target="_blank">http://www.fibershed.com</a>,
and Dustin Kahn, also of Fibershed, and second in command, to develop
the fiber community in the United States. Besides having a good and huge impact on the greenness of the textile industry, my motivation is to
eventually establish the first linen fiber mill in the United States
since the Civil War! I don't know that 'local' linen will be any less
expensive in terms of $$ but I do know it will cost the earth a lot less
in terms of fuel used for shipping, not to mention the horrible working conditions forced on people in 3rd World countries. We have a lot of work ahead of us
before we can approach my linen mill dream however.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Currently we are
researching<span class="ecxApple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="ecxApple-converted-space"> </span>working
on the Hemp project, establishing it's uses, setting up farmers willing
to grow it, finding out what equipment is needed for harvesting, and
processing hemp into fiber, and learning about the characteristics of
hemp blended with other fibers.</span></span> It will help reduce the carbon footprint of such a massive
industry. And by connecting farmers to local processing mills to small
local textile mills to the end users, we are creating a small economic
hub with a very small carbon footprint. Also by encouraging farmers to
grow organically, and by encouraging the mills to process with little
waste, again we are reducing our carbon footprint. By doing this, we will help reduce the carbon footprint of a very massive
industry. <span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">It is an incredible opportunity to work
with people so concerned about our earth and to actually be making a
difference!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I </span></span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">recently </span></span>gathered a group of </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"><span style="font-size: small;">accomplished fiber
artists</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> to tour a newly established northern</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Minnesota woolen mill located in Fosston, MN to find out about the various machinery used in processing wool, and to learn a bit more about what type of machine would be needed to blend hemp and wool. The mill is aptly called Northern Woolen Mill and after a 4 hour drive we finally arrived, late and a bit disheveled. But the energetic owner of the mill, </span></span></span></span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stephanie
Anderson</span> </span></span></span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">still took the time to
take us around the whole operation, telling stories of the birth of a
new woolen mill. Some of the stories were humorous, some were
agonizing, but all helped us to see the determination, creativity,
genius and sometimes just pure luck that Stephanie Anderson has had in
starting this new business of hers.</span></span></span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6_ZCX1Qp74o/U2VSJBqKmSI/AAAAAAAABgE/VidEB5mgOBk/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6_ZCX1Qp74o/U2VSJBqKmSI/AAAAAAAABgE/VidEB5mgOBk/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span><br /><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Stephanie
is explaining how she heard about a place where bison were being raised for
meat, but were burning the hides. She negotiated a deal where she
bought the hides, and is now processing bison fiber into yarn. Bison
fiber, that is taken when the winter coat is thick, is as soft as
cashmere! Her mill is also singular in accepting black fleece.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIl-UxhGFIE/U2VSJvKgLkI/AAAAAAAABgI/YR510l1CfU0/s1600/Northern+Woolen+Mill+-+receiving+dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIl-UxhGFIE/U2VSJvKgLkI/AAAAAAAABgI/YR510l1CfU0/s1600/Northern+Woolen+Mill+-+receiving+dock.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a> <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">First
stop is the receiving dock, where we saw bags and bags of various
fleeces. Here Heidi Goldberg, Professor of Art at Concordia, listens to
the stories being told by Stephanie.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ECZx36hSMlU/U2VSM1gO7aI/AAAAAAAABg0/ufoZF6QJ8aQ/s1600/Northern+Woolen+Mill+-+washing+room+with+sorting+screen+on+right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ECZx36hSMlU/U2VSM1gO7aI/AAAAAAAABg0/ufoZF6QJ8aQ/s1600/Northern+Woolen+Mill+-+washing+room+with+sorting+screen+on+right.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The
washing room has a screened surface as a picking station on the right
where organic animal matter and vegetation is removed from the fleece to
ready it for washing. Sharon Marquardt and Charlie Hovde view the
Washing Room.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_37ecHqA7E/U2VSLkncIOI/AAAAAAAABgk/A_lr1Ojwc-g/s1600/Northern+Woolen+Mill+-+washing+room+3+with+ceiling+winches+for+lifting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_37ecHqA7E/U2VSLkncIOI/AAAAAAAABgk/A_lr1Ojwc-g/s1600/Northern+Woolen+Mill+-+washing+room+3+with+ceiling+winches+for+lifting.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The impressive array of sink stations available for different fleeces is located on the other side of the room.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HN5H8OdYPuw/U2VSMD7efVI/AAAAAAAABgo/_k4xVSNFYGc/s1600/Northern+Woolen+Mill+-+washing+room+4+-+Dye+Lab+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HN5H8OdYPuw/U2VSMD7efVI/AAAAAAAABgo/_k4xVSNFYGc/s1600/Northern+Woolen+Mill+-+washing+room+4+-+Dye+Lab+area.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The large dye vat and table are just the start of the dye lab that Stephanie envisions.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><br /> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OM7eU77nIM/U2VY5Ho_kBI/AAAAAAAABhE/KYYbiYTvuE4/s1600/Drying+room+with+Merino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OM7eU77nIM/U2VY5Ho_kBI/AAAAAAAABhE/KYYbiYTvuE4/s1600/Drying+room+with+Merino.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">As
we proceed into the drying room, we are struck with a wall of heat.
The right side of the room was lined with racks of merino that had been
washed and were drying overnight.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgU-gSeyJ_k/U2VY52w3-eI/AAAAAAAABhU/lhJCqq37CgA/s1600/Drying+room+with+Bison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgU-gSeyJ_k/U2VY52w3-eI/AAAAAAAABhU/lhJCqq37CgA/s1600/Drying+room+with+Bison.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The left side of the Drying Room was lined with racks drying multiple levels of Bison fiber.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gA6pCzB4jkc/U2VY6DmKLgI/AAAAAAAABhQ/3bnuvd0cpJg/s1600/Drying+room+with+Bison+on+right+and+Merino+on+left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gA6pCzB4jkc/U2VY6DmKLgI/AAAAAAAABhQ/3bnuvd0cpJg/s1600/Drying+room+with+Bison+on+right+and+Merino+on+left.jpg" height="480" width="640" /> </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Each piece of equipment throughout this facility was often designed on-site, put together on-site, and even constructed on-site.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0HKTlieOyBQ/U2VZ9STU2oI/AAAAAAAABh4/XnIFRQIIk30/s1600/Roller+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0HKTlieOyBQ/U2VZ9STU2oI/AAAAAAAABh4/XnIFRQIIk30/s1600/Roller+machine.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Stephanie
told one story that would have made most people walk away from this
project in defeat. It left me absolutely amazed at this slight woman's
strength of character and determination. She had contracted with a man
who's credentials she had thoroughly vetted, to find the various
machines she needed, bring them to the facility, put them together and
teach her staff how to use them. Well, she got most of the equipment,
but the man skipped the country, and she was left with crates of machine
parts.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BuqY2hLmqz4/U2VZ8V_ByMI/AAAAAAAABhs/fyVqsH1fhN8/s1600/Roller+machine+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BuqY2hLmqz4/U2VZ8V_ByMI/AAAAAAAABhs/fyVqsH1fhN8/s1600/Roller+machine+4.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">What
she does next is amazing! She decides that the only thing to do is to
dump each crate out on the floor and try to figure out how to put it
together. Each machine's operator was empowered in this process by now
knowing exactly how their machine works, down to each nut and bolt!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6svLFDr0Zes/U2VZ78dOCiI/AAAAAAAABhk/bcxkIdkrDFg/s1600/Roller+machine+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6svLFDr0Zes/U2VZ78dOCiI/AAAAAAAABhk/bcxkIdkrDFg/s1600/Roller+machine+2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">This
Roller Machine is next in the line-up. It takes the picked and cleaned
wool fiber and rolls it in a combing action through 6 different
rollers, with each pass processing the fiber to a higher, cleaner state
each time, until it comes out the end in what is called a sliver, which
is about a 4" X 2" fluffy batting of fibers all running in the same
direction.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8yxfd_r6ms/U2VbVoh1AGI/AAAAAAAABiI/BPHRXpFuvec/s1600/Combing+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8yxfd_r6ms/U2VbVoh1AGI/AAAAAAAABiI/BPHRXpFuvec/s1600/Combing+machine.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">This sliver is inserted into a combing machine, for further alignment.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tChJ8-F1Bow/U2VbVeEGiOI/AAAAAAAABiE/il3opD14Cu8/s1600/Combing+machine+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tChJ8-F1Bow/U2VbVeEGiOI/AAAAAAAABiE/il3opD14Cu8/s1600/Combing+machine+2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">The sliver runs down this channel and through the combs, coming out the other end as roving.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuVWQjzKLPk/U2Vb31sNvnI/AAAAAAAABiQ/ZPz8CDGtI98/s1600/Spinning+and+plying+S+or+Z+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RuVWQjzKLPk/U2Vb31sNvnI/AAAAAAAABiQ/ZPz8CDGtI98/s1600/Spinning+and+plying+S+or+Z+machine.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span></span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">This
is one of the Spinning Machines, spinning the roving into yarn. Yarn
can come in either an 'S' or a 'Z' twist, which can be done to order at
this mill.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KndpEIZwkKA/U2VcKbU1kII/AAAAAAAABic/CJIraGDvEEo/s1600/Bobbins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KndpEIZwkKA/U2VcKbU1kII/AAAAAAAABic/CJIraGDvEEo/s1600/Bobbins.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Bobbins at the ready by the Spinning Machine</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg0qUVgov1Y/U2VcJ7a1c3I/AAAAAAAABiY/aUU0_bpc-gY/s1600/Bobbins+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg0qUVgov1Y/U2VcJ7a1c3I/AAAAAAAABiY/aUU0_bpc-gY/s1600/Bobbins+2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Bobbins needed for the spinning and plying process.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_YiybcTI0c/U2Vcyuz4zTI/AAAAAAAABio/hdq8KD9ZCIw/s1600/Another+Spinning+and+plying+S+or+Z+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_YiybcTI0c/U2Vcyuz4zTI/AAAAAAAABio/hdq8KD9ZCIw/s1600/Another+Spinning+and+plying+S+or+Z+machine.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Dawn Tommerdahl inspecting a spinning/plying machine.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLVfR_dczOU/U2VdDPzTWJI/AAAAAAAABiw/gAaiXa8Y8gc/s1600/Cone+winder+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLVfR_dczOU/U2VdDPzTWJI/AAAAAAAABiw/gAaiXa8Y8gc/s1600/Cone+winder+machine.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Some
of the freshly spun and plied yarn is wound onto cones via this Cone
Winding Machine. Cones are usually used by professionals needing yarn
in larger quantities, in an easy form to use.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0q3-gaw1kI/U2VdZo0qXlI/AAAAAAAABi4/TnaK9iGNo7E/s1600/Skein+winder+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0q3-gaw1kI/U2VdZo0qXlI/AAAAAAAABi4/TnaK9iGNo7E/s1600/Skein+winder+machine.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Other yarn is wound into skeins for use by hand knitters and other fiber artists.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg">We learned so much during our trip to Northern Woolen Mills, and I plan on going again, if only to luxuriate in the wonderful yarns made there! </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They are spinning wool yarn for Bemidji Woolen Mills, and spinning
private label yarn, and they even have spun yarn for Ann Taylor! They
are experimenting with Bison (which surp</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".2.1:3:1:$replies695569807155847_6594915:0.1:2:$comment695569807155847_6596253:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".2.1:3:1:$replies695569807155847_6594915:0.1:2:$comment695569807155847_6596253:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:3:1:$replies695569807155847_6594915:0.1:2:$comment695569807155847_6596253:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0">risingly
is as soft as cashmere!), They need to get a few suppliers who can
provide enough wool on an ongoing basis to last throughout the year. I
am hoping to work with Stephanie in the future to see if we can get a
Hemp blending experiment off the ground.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".2.1:3:1:$replies695569807155847_6594915:0.1:2:$comment695569807155847_6596253:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".2.1:3:1:$replies695569807155847_6594915:0.1:2:$comment695569807155847_6596253:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:3:1:$replies695569807155847_6594915:0.1:2:$comment695569807155847_6596253:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".2.1:3:1:$replies695569807155847_6594915:0.1:2:$comment695569807155847_6596253:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:3:1:$replies695569807155847_6594915:0.1:2:$comment695569807155847_6596253:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.0:$comment-body.0.3.0.$end:0:$0:0">Northern Woolen Mill has been featured on CNBC! <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/101469428" target="_blank">'Crazy' innovative: How one entrepreneur is reviving 'Made in USA' wool</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-52847286427351866322013-07-26T11:29:00.003-05:002013-07-26T11:32:13.755-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Linen Bath Towel in the Damask design. Natural Color with Cornflower Blue accent.</div>
Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-22591426266855765872013-02-18T16:17:00.000-06:002013-02-18T16:20:44.453-06:00An ancient solution to our modern-day global warming?I am in the middle of reading the book, "Hooked! Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume" as edited by Stephanie Kaza. It is so nice to read a book that seems to take it's words right from my heart, and by placing them on paper, makes it possible for me to begin to understand and put to rest some of my heart's turmoil about treating our earth with delicate and tender hands. It has given me some simple direction, since the challenges of living green, and doing what is right, and voicing my opinions, leaving a world in which my children can live healthy lives, and reducing my carbon footprint . . . are all pulling me in so many different directions as to make my well-intentioned efforts fragmented and inconsistent.<br />
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I'm told from several different sources that the <i><u><b>most</b></u></i> important issue is . . .<br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">reducing wasteful use of water</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> reducing herbicides and pesticides in our farming<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">eating only grass-fed beef</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: orange;"> changing out my lightbulbs<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">RECYCLING MY PAPER</span></span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>developing an alternative energy to fossil fuel</span></span></i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>saving the whales</span></span></span><span style="color: #274e13;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">hybrid vs. electric?</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>hemp forever!</span></i></span></span> </h3>
Each of these camps is saying that if we only got this part or that part under control, we would have a huge impact on global warming! So, not knowing who to believe, but believing that something needs to be done and doing anything is better than doing nothing, I attempt to remember my cloth bags when going to the market (but end up forgetting them in the front seat of my car when I drive to the store located 1/2 mile down the road); buy plastic solar powered yard lights (which are made in China - a half world away, and whose carbon footprint just in the shipping and plastic parts far outreaches any benefits of the solar contribution) to unnecessarily accent my totally inappropriate and water consuming lawn. And in a misinformed altruistic effort to start fresh, I throw out all toxic household hazardous waste in my home (which end up in a land-fill, leaching into the soil there, thereby contaminating the ground water in that area). Okay, I haven't actually <i>done</i> all of those those things . . . okay, well maybe forgetting my bags in the car, and maybe driving my car when I should have walked . . . and I did buy a couple of those stick lights that are solar powered for the steps going down to the lake at the cabin (which never really worked by the way), BUT my yard is a totally cool environment for wildlife, filled with native grasses, flowers, fruits and vegetables, rocks and trees. (No mowing!! No watering!!) And I have always properly disposed of household hazardous waste with our county treatment facility!!<br />
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It seems that we, each of us as individuals, and as part of organizations from corporations on down to small businesses, churches, schools; nay, no one is exempt; have let things get so far out of hand that at every turn, we accidently, ignorantly, naively, or just plain ignoringly misbehave and step all over our newly acquired, and quickly tarnishing green image. What are we to do?? No matter which way we turn we are messing up!! It is completely overwhelming us!! WE ARE DOOMED!!<br />
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But wait! I was talking about that special book at the beginning of this post. It is a book that talks about ancient ideas, putting them in modern context. Even in the book's foreword written by Paul Hawken , wisdom shouts from the pages! "It is tempting to see the problem of consumption as something other people do. People with SUVs should cut back and buy smaller cars, get more exercise, and use a bicycle. But this wonderfully edited volume shows us that it is more relevant and poignant to look at our own lives. A Buddhist perspective on consumption offers understanding of oneself. The quotidian ways in which we rob the earth are pathways to genuine insight. And in the awareness of self arises compassion for others, especially those who are weighed down so heavily by material desire. It is fair to say that people are overwhelmed by this world we share and live in. Alleviating people's sense of isolation and fear can do more than any recycling program. As Buddhist teachers so aptly point out, we can reduce our and others' desires by being generous and kind. It is hard to be grasping when we are reaching out."<br />
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<br />Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-41529352889805025512012-11-14T21:41:00.001-06:002012-11-15T01:54:51.977-06:00Linen: The Unfortunate Second Choice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Something that I have struggled to understand since I first started to weave with linen, is why there are no linen mills in the United States. From the research that I have done, although not exhaustive, <span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: black;">it</span> </span>has not revealed any record of any linen or flax mill in the United States, ever! Or at least none that were big enough to have any record of existing. Why is that?! Did we go so gung-ho for cotton from the beginning?? Did Eli Whitney and his cotton gin have such an overwhelming effect on the textile industry as to delete flax from our very shores?? Did the unfortunate use of slaves in the 1800's make it so that cotton was easy to be king? Did the politicians/land barons/cotton plantation owners of yesteryear buy their way to power, ensuring the dominance of cotton as the fiber of that century and centuries to follow?? Up until the late 18th century linen was probably the most important fiber in the world. So what happened? </div>
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It is my understanding that flax is an easy crop to grow. And although Belgium and Lithuania are in an optimal geo-climate, allowing that region to grow beautiful, long strong flax, it can be grown in just about any soil condition and in fairly harsh climates.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGW2ts_nicI/UKQoMtdZG2I/AAAAAAAABVc/gAaJHllvavE/s1600/siulas_fabric_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGW2ts_nicI/UKQoMtdZG2I/AAAAAAAABVc/gAaJHllvavE/s320/siulas_fabric_big.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Oldest active linen mill in Lithuania. </div>
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It requires water for the initial spouts to survive, but after that, basic rainfall works quite well for its healthy growth. It is naturally pest resistant so pesticides and herbicides are not required for its growth, and its growing season is only about 3 months long, alowing most regions, even further north into Canada to grow flax with success. The whole process of bringing the flax from seed to consumer is lots less costly to our earth in terms of toxic chemicals and water waste than cotton. The linen fabric is so much stronger than cotton, and glossier and more beautiful than cotton, and more absorbant than cotton, linen lasts and lasts and is used and used, and is still passed from one generation to the next. Whereas cotton is worn out in a couple of years at best, and thrown away. So why is cotton still at the top of the heap??</div>
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Large contemporary linen mill in Belgium</div>
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It just doesn't make sense to me, why the world persists in using cotton when linen is so much better! My thought is that people just don't know!! It has been a well kept secret and I guess I need to educate the world as to linen's functional, green, and beautiful qualities that are so lacking in cotton!! Not even organic cotton can stand up to the workhorse fibers of flax!! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9K0bL0pOyRc/UKQw7BJJJLI/AAAAAAAABVs/nMIUoa9KN10/s1600/linen_flax_combed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9K0bL0pOyRc/UKQw7BJJJLI/AAAAAAAABVs/nMIUoa9KN10/s320/linen_flax_combed.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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Combed Flax, being prepared for spinning.</div>
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So, until I can convince the world that flax is a very sustainable crop with very little waste, and what is waste is totally biodegradable; Until I can educate the world that flax is a very 'green' crop with very little to no use of toxic chemicals or herbicides to enhance its growth, nor has need of lots of water wasted in processing it into usable yarn and yard goods; Until I can demonstrate to enough people that the superior inherent qualities of flax plant make linen an almost perfect fabric, with a long wearing life, extremely comfortable breath-ability, a quiet elegance, extreme absorbancy, a long glossy fiber that enables fabrics to have a sheen only seen in luxurious linen; Only when all this is accomplished will linen once again touch our shores and become a 'staple' in our farming communities, and our clothing and textile industries! So help me spread the word! Wear LINEN! Use LINEN!! BUY LINEN!!! Linen: The fiber that does it all!!<br />
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Linen Yarns imported for <span style="color: #99cc00; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 70%;">v ä v a</span><span style="color: #99cc00; font-family: 'Corbel','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 70%;">!</span> <span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: 'Corbel','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 70%;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 70%;">v</span></span> <span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: 'Corbel','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 70%;"><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 70%;">e v e</span></span><span style="color: #99ccff; font-family: 'Corbel','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 70%;">!</span><br />
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<br />Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-45087835014590428432012-06-30T17:20:00.000-05:002012-06-30T17:20:20.083-05:00Conscious EvolutionThere are so many things in our world to concern us and take up our
attention; so much has gone awry. The US political system is corrupt
and it's economy is based on smoke and mirrors; Europe's monetary system
is in jeopardy; many of Africa's nations seem to be in war and/or
turmoil and their peoples in huge need; our earth's ecosystem is so out
of balance that ice is melting on our polar ice caps, and weather
systems are getting more extreme and intense; our wasteful living is
piling up and polluting everything around it; the poor are getting
poorer and the rich are getting richer. At the core of all of this . . .
. greed. And it is not somebody else, some nameless person living in
some other neighborhood, state or country who is causing this. It is
each and every one of us, trying to make ends meet, struggling to pay
the mortgage, feeding and clothing our families, trying to scratch out a
decent way of life. Sure, the rich are benefiting from much of the
chaos and destruction that is going on, but so are the rest of us.<br />
<br />
I
have talked about this before, and feel I need to address it again. We
all need to take responsibility for what is happening to our earth. We
each need to make many changes to our lives if we are going to
survive. I'm not talking about surviving in our own lifetimes. I am
talking about changing the way we walk through our own lives so our
descendents will be able to live in anything other than a bubble. Call
it Conscious Evolution.<br />
<br />
As each species confronts a
problem that threatens them, the ones that are not as subject to the
threat are the ones that survive. This is evolution 101. Built in
defense measures such as the spiky fins on a fish, or the odor of the
skunk are what have enabled these species to survive to date. Even now,
each species is evolving ever so slowly to accommodate our aggressive
world. But mankind has been manipulating our world, messing with this
natural order, and disrupting evolution. Through our striving to come
up with a bigger and better mousetrap, and through our insecurities and
needs which compel us to build up storehouses of supplies, we have
managed to strip our world bare, and created such gaping holes in the
world's balance, we now have outpaced the natural evolution and are now
required to figure out our own evolution. We now require everyday
things like sunblock for our skin, since our ozone layer, thanks to
humankind, is now letting in the wrong kinds of sunlight which is having
huge adverse affect on skin. We use so much water, we have to regulate
it's use. We have caused all manner of flora and fauna to die and
even go extinct long before it was meant to, never to be seen again. We
are polluting the air, ground and water, and stripping the earth of the
tools to mend itself, such as the large forests in our world which
clean our air, developing wetlands into condos taking away the most
efficient water filters we could have, and digging horrible sludge up
from the bowels of the earth and using it for fuel - something
definitely wrong there - and who knows what long term effects there will
be from disrupting our earth miles below it's crust??!!<br />
<br />
Each
of us is a consumer. We buy lots of stuff!! We buy lots of stuff we
just don't need, made in such a manner as to save money for the
manufacturer who is trying to compete with the market by making the
cheapest product he can make and still earn a profit, and who is not
paying any attention to the actual costs to our earth. We buy these
cheap products to fulfill our needs. Therefore we are supporting the
destruction of our earth by buying these products. We need to start
paying attention, and being responsible and accountable for what we
consume! Rather than buy the inexpensive salad bowl, made a 1/2 world
away, and which will need to be replaced in a year, we need to invest in
our lives and our earth by purchasing quality, locally made items that
will last, which are made with the least impact on our earth. These
items are more expensive, but in the long run, they have the least
cost. We need to change how we consume! We need to make a conscious
effort every day, about what we use and consume. This is difficult,
since it means having to pay attention to things we never really had to
think about because we let the manufacturer make decisions for us. If
we trusted the manufacturer/brand name we didn't have to look any
deeper. They did the policing for us, or so we thought. But now,
everything has changed. We need to take a look at everything, all the
time! We have gotten away with a very relaxed way of consuming for a
very long time. It is time that we started putting in some effort to
support a positive way of consuming, so we can stay healthy along with
our earth. It is time that we evolve in our approach to consumption in
our daily life so that we are not outpaced by the changing earth. Let's
start to consciously evolve and think about what and how we use our earth's resources by consuming less, local, and lime 'green'!!Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-68697123439958997312012-03-30T00:46:00.000-05:002012-03-30T00:46:46.485-05:00Goodness! It's been waaaaay too long since I last posted. Inhale . . . So, lots has happened in the last year. I have moved my studio, started working with retailers, set up a yarn business, added designs to my line, sent my son off to Kuwait, and my daughter to Europe! Pant! Pant! Wheeze! For those of you looking to respond to my plea for production weaving help through the Weavers Guild of MN, please go to my website <a href="http://www.vavaveve.com/" target="_blank">www.vavaveve.com </a>if you want to get an idea of who I am and what I do, then email me by clicking on the 'Contact Us' tab on my website. Thank you for your help!!Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-54733189974541933862011-03-16T00:55:00.002-05:002011-04-15T00:38:50.400-05:00How can we be more responsible in our daily lives?My parents were the forerunners of the recyclers of today. They reused aluminum foil, and plastic bags, which I hated because I was the one who had to wash them, and they were very hard to wash and actually get clean without destroying them! They reused paper bags until they didn't hold together anymore. We handed clothing down through the family, and I ended up having to wear my brothers clothes to play outside, which I thought was just fine since I thought my older brothers were pretty cool.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K7oW2JjYCtM/SrnKH9XbKMI/AAAAAAAAADA/-c7lcIctIMM/s1600/Scan_Marian%252Bchild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K7oW2JjYCtM/SrnKH9XbKMI/AAAAAAAAADA/-c7lcIctIMM/s1600/Scan_Marian%252Bchild.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> yep, that's me!</div>They brought clothing no longer used to Good Will or Lutheran World Relief. We rarely had things dry cleaned. My mother canned things from the garden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-da5YrJjoyLw/TX19nZeP1SI/AAAAAAAAAW8/vnisYnGZIIM/s1600/garden_plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-da5YrJjoyLw/TX19nZeP1SI/AAAAAAAAAW8/vnisYnGZIIM/s200/garden_plan.jpg" width="151" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>photo from</i> <a href="http://www.vegetablegardeningguru.com/">http://www.vegetablegardeningguru.com</a></div>We played outside until dinnertime. We always had a family dinner together every single night (no exceptions), until each of the kids went off to college.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EpDeO-Le_eo/TX2GbxrEsWI/AAAAAAAAAXA/CbARdRg_4eI/s1600/RockwellFamilyDinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EpDeO-Le_eo/TX2GbxrEsWI/AAAAAAAAAXA/CbARdRg_4eI/s320/RockwellFamilyDinner.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Rockwell Family Dinner</i></div>We were told to always shut off lights when we left a room! And we kept the thermostat at a steady 68 degrees F. We had no air conditioning except to open the windows. We didn't take regular trips to Target; that was only for just before school started, when we purchased paper and pencils (we reused the crayons, scissors, glue, and anything else we were required to bring to class), and a minimum of utilitarian clothing, and the rest my mother sewed for us. My folks told us they never had the money for snacks like pop or potato chips or candy. Any cookies, cakes or pies we had were baked by my mother. We often went on family drives to local parks for picnics. We rode our bikes once a week to the local library. We only had one phone in the entire house. And to be honest, I think I had the best childhood ever, even though I had to hand wash all those plastic bags and aluminum foil!<br />
<br />
In that little description of my childhood, there about 20 ideas about how we can slow our lives down and be more responsible to ourselves and to our earth at the same time.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><ol><li>re-use those plastic bags in which you purchase your bread from the store.</li>
<li>re-use the aluminum foil more than just once!</li>
<li>re-use the paper bags you get at the store until they no longer function and then put them in your compost pile.</li>
<li>reduce the number of paper bags that you use by sewing up some bags from old worn out jeans.</li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KQRUywAgaZk/TX2JSaif-WI/AAAAAAAAAXE/VneMgJJDNKc/s1600/sewing-green-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KQRUywAgaZk/TX2JSaif-WI/AAAAAAAAAXE/VneMgJJDNKc/s1600/sewing-green-5.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>Photo credit: STC Craft</i></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>from "Sewing Green, 25 Projects Made with Repurposed and Organic Materials"</i></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>By Betz White</i></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i>available here </i></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.abramsbooks.com/Books/Sewing_Green-9781584797586.html">Abramsbooks.com</a></i></div> 5. Purchase clothing from garage sales, especially for those<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><br />
young ones who aren't so aware of fashion and who grow<br />
so quickly. Often garage sales have brand new clothing<br />
which didn't get worn because the young owner grew too<br />
quickly, or was the right size but the wrong season!<br />
6 . Pack up unused clothing and household items and donate<br />
them to a local charity.<br />
<ol></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/">The ARC - for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.dav.org/">Disabled American Veterens</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_donateotherways.aspx?articleid=1701&zoneid=47">Lupus Foundation - Other ways to Donate</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
7. Purchase clothing that does not need drycleaning!<br />
8. Start a small garden this spring and plant some vegetables<br />
and melons and maybe even some berry bushes! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vegetablegardeningguru.com/getting-started.html"> http://www.vegetablegardeningguru.com/getting-started</a></div><ol></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-suXmhSM9mVo/TX2UJS4IrQI/AAAAAAAAAXU/MapXpHk73pA/s1600/watermelon_vine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-suXmhSM9mVo/TX2UJS4IrQI/AAAAAAAAAXU/MapXpHk73pA/s320/watermelon_vine2.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><br />
9. Establish a routine of having dinner with the family more<br />
than a couple times a week!<br />
10. Don't schedule so much into your children's life, so that<br />
they have a chance to develop independent thinking skills.<br />
Let them have some down time, where they aren't having<br />
to be anywhere or do anything!<br />
<ol></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wUPH7v1gTjA/TX2VXIv4eFI/AAAAAAAAAXY/a4ThloBVqps/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wUPH7v1gTjA/TX2VXIv4eFI/AAAAAAAAAXY/a4ThloBVqps/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div> 11. Remember to turn lights off when leaving a room. It<br />
just makes sense!<br />
12. And keep your thermostat at a temperature that is about <br />
2 degree below your comfort zone, and then put on a<br />
sweater! This would give you all kinds of reasons to take<br />
up knitting!<br />
13. Try going a week without an air conditioner! See what a<br />
difference it makes on your utility bill! Open those<br />
windows and let the outside air in! Use a homemade fan!<br />
<ol></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-okZXOPUFpKA/TX2WZP0WSuI/AAAAAAAAAXc/LdDUIXvhylY/s1600/bp05-04a.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-okZXOPUFpKA/TX2WZP0WSuI/AAAAAAAAAXc/LdDUIXvhylY/s320/bp05-04a.gif" width="320" /></a> </div> 14. Start to use things until they wear out, and then instead of<br />
running to the store for a replacement, try to FIX IT!<br />
15. Go to the fabric store and see if you can sew something<br />
beautiful for your home or for yourself or your family.<br />
And don't give up with the first project. It takes a little bit<br />
of practice, and I guarantee you will get better at it!<br />
16. Start making your own snacks and you may find your<br />
health improve, because you will be making them from<br />
ingredients you know and trust without added chemicals<br />
or preservatives.<br />
17. Try taking your family or friends on a picnic to your local<br />
parks or zoo.<br />
18. Ride your bike to the grocery store instead of going in<br />
your car. You will get some exercise AND spe<span class="toggle closed-toggle"></span>nd less!<br />
Plus you will need to do this at least a couple times a<br />
week since you can't load up a bike like you can a car.<br />
. . . or can you? <br />
<ol></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-45plm6UDfkY/TX2b-8GeG4I/AAAAAAAAAXg/fXOeskf4JDM/s1600/4771115003_80cf106083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-45plm6UDfkY/TX2b-8GeG4I/AAAAAAAAAXg/fXOeskf4JDM/s320/4771115003_80cf106083.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 19. Take a trip to your library every week, just to get out and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 20. Reduce the amount of time you spend on your mobile</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> phone, iPod, computer, etc. Look out beyond the screen!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-paaT0yILt6g/TX2eAYXHssI/AAAAAAAAAXk/OHSiA0gE3jQ/s1600/main_tv_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-paaT0yILt6g/TX2eAYXHssI/AAAAAAAAAXk/OHSiA0gE3jQ/s320/main_tv_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/stories/too-much-tv-computers-bad-even-for-active-children-study-says">Too much tv and computers are bad even for active children study says</a> </div><ol></ol>Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-43374948630181016032011-03-09T22:41:00.002-06:002011-04-15T00:31:00.015-05:00The answer to EVERYTHING!I have a Facebook Page called "Slow Life"<br />
( <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slow-Life/127006940668282">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Slow-Life/127006940668282</a> )<br />
in which I started out extolling the benefits of slowing down my life. Of course, that is easier said than done! As a hand weaver, my existence is based on doing something that takes time. I don't necessarily do it slowly, since I am making my living doing this, but it is, by it's very nature, a slow process. I am weaving fabric thread-by-thread. But as I started really exploring HOW to slow one's life down, it also became clear to me that as life slows down, one also starts to notice more things, and the things that tend to grab the attention are the things that are out of place. Things like a McDonald's wrapper in the woods,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zYLnRvLb51c/TXgRBqt-XTI/AAAAAAAAAUw/MJ5ehXIlc9M/s1600/mclitter3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zYLnRvLb51c/TXgRBqt-XTI/AAAAAAAAAUw/MJ5ehXIlc9M/s320/mclitter3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo credit - Tim Barnes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>or as I take time to really appreciate my life, it is difficult to ignore the lives of others that aren't so great. These contrasts are what make us sit up and take notice. If we don't have some cloudy days, how can we really appreciate the sunny ones, right?<br />
<br />
I found myself at the beginning of a large maze where I could catch glimpses of ideas to improve one's quality of life, through being greener, healthier, more generous. I could see little snippets of concepts for slowing down so one could enjoy good health, a robust environment, and good relationships even with people we don't know. The further my thoughts wandered, the more I realized that the ways our great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents lived made a lot of sense. It wasn't always the most convenient to have to grow all their own food, and then process it, and put it on the shelf for consumption within a few months at most, and do without when things ran out!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BxsqzoC0QZU/TXgXGh8612I/AAAAAAAAAU4/VoY4HqHFNFA/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BxsqzoC0QZU/TXgXGh8612I/AAAAAAAAAU4/VoY4HqHFNFA/s1600/index.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZJlH9yKMhwI/TXgWp5mkThI/AAAAAAAAAU0/RyCUOgv2VKU/s1600/canning2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
Nor was it convenient to walk to most places, or save every bit of paper because it was such a treasure. All this took more time and thought! But it seems that many things they did are things we are trying to do now. Growing a garden, canning the harvest, walking to places, cutting back on consumption. And we are finding that all this takes extra time and thought.<br />
<br />
The creation of time-saving devices and the idea of circumventing inconvenience both seem to start out with good intentions. Time and convenience seem to be the commodities that have spurred so many 'improvements', from the washing machine and dryer to the car and robotic assembly lines. These things do save us time and do make things more convenient in accomplishing the objective of the various devices, but it seems we are finding there is a huge cost. I have a multitude of time-saving devices and modern conveniences; a car, a coffee maker, a washer and dryer,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DSmabh0hzYE/TXgcDR3rXuI/AAAAAAAAAVA/JQ7PPyqdnO4/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DSmabh0hzYE/TXgcDR3rXuI/AAAAAAAAAVA/JQ7PPyqdnO4/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qSNDjuxO3og/TXgbuZrqALI/AAAAAAAAAU8/bXkOypgT8Mo/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>That was then.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dR_qROS6jBc/TXgdXh3sG6I/AAAAAAAAAVE/05Vl9o1lMpc/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dR_qROS6jBc/TXgdXh3sG6I/AAAAAAAAAVE/05Vl9o1lMpc/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is now.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For which I am thankful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>a vacuum, canned food from the grocery store, electricity, automatic heating and cooling in my insulated home. But the question is, do I really have more time as a result of all these time-saving additions?? Is my life really better with all these things? I think it is more affluent . . . . but better?? That has me really thinking. If we have all these conveniences and time savers, why is it that I am still so short on time, and I am always finding that I am inconvenienced?! The answer is simple: All these wonderful time-saving devices and modern conveniences cost money and in order to be able to afford them, I have to work longer hours.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fZODs25fo0E/TXge-CMiVJI/AAAAAAAAAVI/8BclSIAOeNI/s1600/sleep_desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fZODs25fo0E/TXge-CMiVJI/AAAAAAAAAVI/8BclSIAOeNI/s200/sleep_desk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Are we just chasing our tail here?? Does it seem a bit puzzling that to save time we have to spend time and in order to have things more convenient we have to be inconvenienced??<br />
<br />
Now we are getting closer to the center of the labyrinth. Because very few of us are capable of doing everything to sustain our lives in a comfortable way, we have specialized, each of us doing something that we are really good at doing, and we have brought specialization to such a fine razor sharp edge that sometimes there is only one group or even just one person in the world who provides a specialized service or product! Many steps now need to happen and there are many more people on many more levels involved in accomplishing one task. From garden to plate, there could be hundreds of people involved in getting that broccoli to you. As a result, each of us as a consumer is so far removed from the actual production of a product as to make it's production almost non-existent. The example of the thousands of children who have never seen a real farm animal comes to mind!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jhcn4knY9Lo/TXgghlv9oXI/AAAAAAAAAVM/H6i2YnibEbA/s1600/cattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jhcn4knY9Lo/TXgghlv9oXI/AAAAAAAAAVM/H6i2YnibEbA/s200/cattle.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>See that hamburger in your hand? It came from that herd of huge animals over there called cattle! Most children stare in disbelief! Shock is next. Then comes the, "Ewwww!"<br />
<br />
So now, at the center of the labyrinth, I realize that, of course, we can't go back to exactly how things used to be for our great-grandparents. We have distanced ourselves too much from each aspect of producing what we need to live. So now we are back to having time-saving devices and modern conveniences, but with a twist. All of the things we consume we need to scrutinize. We need to be the oversight committee for all the things we eat and use. We have trusted others with our welfare and are now becoming aware that the trust may have been misplaced! We are realizing that our welfare may not have been their primary concern, but rather, profit and the bottom line. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eQk8uK6qka4/TXgs1qAm4aI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/zFstJiyY0iE/s1600/image001.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eQk8uK6qka4/TXgs1qAm4aI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/zFstJiyY0iE/s200/image001.gif" width="199" /></a></div>It is becoming apparent that we may have turned our heads while individuals and corporations with money hired lawyers to find a way to point fingers at anyone or anything else for mistakes that have been made which ultimately have damaged us, others or our earth. It is no longer something we as individuals or the earth can ignore or even bear. Whether on a corporate level or a personal level, having enough money to hide mistakes is not something with which our children can exist. Now that we are an interacting PLANET of knowledge, commerce and powerful nations, more than ever we need to take responsibility for our actions. Today our mistakes don't just affect the guy sitting next to us. They can affect the guy down the street, or the group in the next county, or the nation that is the poorest and can't afford to protect themselves against drought, famine, and disease, resulting from climate change. Each of us needs to accept the responsibility of taking care of ourselves and our earth. We need to read labels at the grocery store and buy things grown without pesticides and artificial hormones. We need to be aware of our food sources, and know that humane treatment is provided to the animals we process into food.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SKkTJMs7LWM/TXhQ8SYSm6I/AAAAAAAAAVc/Y2MYXG8Fob0/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SKkTJMs7LWM/TXhQ8SYSm6I/AAAAAAAAAVc/Y2MYXG8Fob0/s320/image001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is a picture of life for a corporate farmed egg-laying hen.<br />
Note the de-beaked, featherless hens, packed 6 to a cage with a floor the size of a newspaper.<br />
<br />
</div>Take a close look because we are what we eat!! Perhaps there is some correlation between our horribly treated farm animal food sources who are highly stressed during their whole lives, and the level of stress in the world today!! But that's a completely different topic! I want to know that my food sources are pure and grown in a positive manner. The same holds true to everything else we consume! If we only knew some of the corporate secrets! The treatment of 3rd world labor, the pollution just under the surface, the frightening toxic things added to products that we consume, the profane treatment of animals that are raised for food, the presumption that if the consumer buys it, everything and anything is justified for a profitable bottom line.<br />
<br />
Each of us was raised with the naive idea that corporations keep our best interests at heart. We have the innocent belief that what we don't know, won't hurt us. We have the dangerous misdirected trust that if it is on the shelf it is okay to buy! Too much has been been done for the benefit of the bottom line to put our health and well-being in anyone's hands but our own.<br />
<br />
So we have reached the end of this maze and here is what we have found: At work we need to demand a more gentle planet. . . each of us needs to take responsibility and do the RIGHT thing!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4i-UvGZ-VjM/TXgt-QEtYHI/AAAAAAAAAVU/QLDUvqcLa6w/s1600/corporate_responsibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4i-UvGZ-VjM/TXgt-QEtYHI/AAAAAAAAAVU/QLDUvqcLa6w/s1600/corporate_responsibility.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We need to speak up when something isn't right, we need to step up and absorb costs rather than sidestepping them by abusing something or someone for that extra profit. We also need to take responsibility at home and quit assuming that all things in the store are suitable for purchase. Much of this does take extra time, and it certainly won't be convenient. It may even involve risk. But it does come down to YOU AND YOUR CHOICES both at work and at home!<br />
<br />
So, this maze wasn't so very huge, but maybe it was full of twists and turns. In order to enjoy a slower life filled with better health, a sparkling environment, and more positive relationships apply the following checklist:<br />
<ol><li>Read those labels!</li>
<li>Make responsible decisions, and assume that each decision you make affects you directly! (. . . because it does, eventually!)</li>
<li>At work and at home, treat others (even those you can't see) with respect and dignity, as you would want to be treated!</li>
<li>Do the right thing in all aspects of your life!</li>
</ol>This all takes more time and effort and thinking, but in the long haul, we all benefit! In my next post I will talk about how you can do this in your everyday life. Stay tuned!Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-76623646735155599482011-01-26T23:41:00.000-06:002011-01-26T23:41:14.473-06:00Ever have one of those months??So, it's coming to the end of the month and I have to ask . . . Who has stuck with their New Years resolutions?? No pressure, I'm just asking. Have you been good? . . . Or very, very bad??!! Me?? I have been very, very bad. I have not exercised more or eaten more healthy local groceries. Bad me! <b>BAD</b>, bad me!! Off to the corner for some time out to think about what I did (and didn't do)! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/niascissorhands/jen4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m176/niascissorhands/jen4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It has been less than 30 days and I couldn't even stick to my resolutions for 30 days! Okay, then. . . what is the problem??!! I have one of the best organic food stores quite close to my home. <br />
<div id="logo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lakewinds.com/store/index.aspx"><img src="http://www.lakewinds.com/store/site_images/lakewinds.logo.gif" /></a></div>I have a wonderful trail system, also close to my home, (used to be a railroad line, now converted to a walking/riding path) that is miles long and surrounded by wonderful woods, wetlands, and wildlife.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vfo08Ztmgxs/TUDJdfG0awI/AAAAAAAAATQ/zbGxpwJsy6g/s1600/trail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vfo08Ztmgxs/TUDJdfG0awI/AAAAAAAAATQ/zbGxpwJsy6g/s320/trail1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So I have the environment that should allow me to fulfill my resolutions which were to eat more healthy, organic and local foods . . .<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/calmguy3/food/healthy_nutrition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/calmguy3/food/healthy_nutrition.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><br />
and to get more exercise.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n524/dtifone/woman-running-776113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n524/dtifone/woman-running-776113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
What caused me to derail almost immediately?? The honest answer to that one is what happens to each of us when trying to change bad habits to good ones. We get our sites set on lofty goals and don't build the structure that is required to maintain the weight of our goals! In other words, we often set our goals too high and we go for those goals hell bent on achieving them in 6 months or less, without doing any preparation or easing into things and building up slowly!!! So, it is a recipe for failure! Then throw the variables of everyday life into the mix and failure WILL happen, and you can be sure it will take place sooner, not later! So here is why I failed: I had decided to change my eating habits. I decided to get more exercise. I did not define what it was that I needed to eat or what kind of exercise I needed to get. The goal was way too vague and open to slack interpretation. Agree so far? So I should have defined that I would be eating more fruits and vegetables from Lakewinds. Good! Even more definition would be great! Like, decide how many fruits and vegetable I should have per day. Maybe even establish a diet that guides me for at least a couple of weeks so I am not susceptible to slacking or misinterpreting my resolution. That's even better! As for the exercise, I should have identified which areas on my body needed help first and established that as Phase I. Don't think for a minute that I could start out like an Olympian running miles and miles and bench-pressing twice my weight when I am overweight and out of shape. I have to start out SLOW and build up. So, I should prepare an outline that defines what<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I will be doing for the next few weeks and add to that and tweak it as I achieve each phase. Wonderful! I feel like this is </span>providing a much better basis on which to start!<br />
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One last thing to add to the formula for success: <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Motivation!</b></span> I am doing this for MYSELF!!! I want to live longer! I want to bend over without grunting! I want an end to blubber-bind! I want to walk up the stairs without becoming winded! I want the pain in my knees to be able to subside when they are no longer required to carry all this unnecessary weight. I want to be able to fit in a nice swimming suit and not gross <u>myself</u> out! And if that doesn't do it?? . . . I'll just have to get a critter with a big head and little tiny arms!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vfo08Ztmgxs/TUDX-XAN8jI/AAAAAAAAATU/V-H539sgtyE/s1600/some_motivation_required_exercise.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vfo08Ztmgxs/TUDX-XAN8jI/AAAAAAAAATU/V-H539sgtyE/s320/some_motivation_required_exercise.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span>Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-24178549949740793972011-01-02T22:30:00.000-06:002012-03-30T00:49:00.249-05:00Starting freshStarting a new year gives us the excuse to wipe the slate clean, to start over, to begin again! Given such an opportunity, many people decide to take on huge challenges. The top 10 resolutions that people make are:<br />
<ol>
<li>Lose weight</li>
<li>Get out of debt</li>
<li>Quit smoking</li>
<li>Get fit</li>
<li>Spend more time with family and friends</li>
<li>Enjoy life more</li>
<li>Quit drinking</li>
<li>Learn something new</li>
<li>Help others</li>
<li>Get organized</li>
</ol>
Quitting smoking and losing weight make it into the top 3 resolutions that people make! One of these I have managed to do successfully now for 18 years, and one, well . . . not so much . . . so I know from experience that either of these is like trying to quit breathing! They are a huge, HUGE undertaking and I give all you people who are trying to do either of these things kudos and encouragement!! One second at a time, right?! Don't look too far down the road or you will panic and reach for your nemesis! Just relax and lean into it! You're doing great!<br />
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For all of you who are taking on equally huge challenges, keep up the great work! Remember you are doing this for many reasons and one of the main ones is that you are doing this for YOU!!<br />
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For myself, I have decided that I need to exercise more, and on a regular basis. I also need to start eating a more healthy and local diet. In taking on these two things I hope that I will lose some weight! As some of you know, depression kept me prisoner for over 10 years, and I self medicated with food. Those old habits die hard! But now with depression a part of my past, and a wonderful new year poised in front of me, I feel empowered. During my illness I looked to others for strength and solutions. Now, my strength has returned, my head is screwed on straight and I feel I am in control and can actually handle whatever comes my way! What a liberating and invigorating feeling! So now that I am ready to take on the world in my mind, I have to get my body ready as well.<br />
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I will check back with you over the next year to fill you in on my follow through and progress! I love starting fresh!Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-45964653966132349042010-12-05T13:58:00.000-06:002010-12-05T13:58:49.618-06:00Tis the seasonNow is the time in which we have a chance to show our true colors. We have an excuse, a chance, an opportunity to practice what we really want to be. We all carry an ideal "me" inside. Now is the time to really try and be that person we admire and wish we could be. Why not make an effort during this time of forgiveness and rebirth? Why not choose to smile at strangers and help them with their packages instead of walking by as they struggle? Why not open the door for someone you don't know and let them ahead of you? Why not tip a little more and help those that help us? We all have so many gifts and blessings! We certainly have enough to share with someone who does not have enough! Shouldn't we be willing to give to those Salvation Army folks who stand in the cold and wish us a happy holiday instead of rushing by trying not to make eye contact so we don't have to put money in their little pail? Why not celebrate what we have right now and be thankful for it, and not begrudge giving a little of it away? Can you imagine the eyes on the child who gets to sleep in a warm bed for the first time in months? Or the happy tears of a father who is able to give his family a warm dry room again? Or the joyful hugs of a mother who is able to give her children a warm nutritious meal? How is it that we try to avoid eye contact with something like that?! Instead of judging those in need, why not open up a little. Yes, they may be a troubled soul who will squandor our generosity, but then again. . . <br />
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Now is the time to shine.Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-71098814903023244572010-11-22T15:20:00.000-06:002010-11-22T15:20:35.871-06:00Can depression make you a superhero?I can't help but let people know about this post on 'My Space' that has gone viral. It is about a 91 year old Hungarian grandmother whose photographer grandson saw that she was lonely and depressed and decided to try to cheer her up by taking her on a zany and humerous photo shoot. It is a tale of family love and concern, mixed with a great sense of humor and some spandex!<br />
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Through the holocaust, depression and loneliness . . . Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Super Mamika!<br />
See it here! ENJOY!!<br />
<a href="http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/grandmas-superhero-therapy-18">Superhero Mamika</a>Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-80073528329782299872010-11-18T22:49:00.000-06:002010-11-18T22:49:13.810-06:00Slow it down!Do you think that if we 'slow' down enough, we will not only see radiant beauty surrounding us, but will discover true meaning as well? Slowing down, breathing, meditating, appreciating . . . all are the beginnings in the journey to healthy spirituality. I feel there are 3 primary areas that make up each of us. Our physical self, our emotional (mental) self, and our spiritual self. All three together define who we are. Each of these three selves needs balance and health for us to remain truly healthy. If any of these areas is not 'fed' something healthy and conciously maintained, it will grow weak and frail. <br />
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The challenge is finding that balance that allows health to flow freely between all three areas. The phrase, "Moderation in all things." comes to mind. So, I need to boost up my moderate exercise just a bit, and maybe meditate more, but work less. . . be with my kids more, clean my house more, be on my computer less . . . slow down more, breath more, waste less. . . drink more water, eat less ice cream, hug more, drive less . . . garden more, eat more vegetables, heat and cool my house less . . .<br />
<br />
Okay. WAIT! This is what gets me all messed up. I need to start out with moderation too, yes? How about I just look at the clouds in the sky as they skid across the afternoon sky, and breathe. SLOW it down!Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-20661499335810976102010-11-01T22:27:00.000-05:002010-11-01T22:27:11.896-05:00Did you all know that there is an election going on tomorrow?It is always good to have good strong healthy opinions, no matter what they are. It is also good to be able to have a say in how the opinion of someone else impacts each of us. We need to ensure that the power of our voices is not eroded or worse yet, voted out of existence by politicians who have corporate agendas as their priority rather than that of the People! No matter what you have to say, whether for or against whatever issue there is . . . you need to let your opinion be known! <br />
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I have been politically apathetic too much of my adult life. I always felt that my vote had no power anyway so why even vote? When (and if) I went out to vote, I wasn’t prepared. I was so confused about the issues and distracted by the mudslinging, that when the time came to vote, I didn't have a clue. Many of the names on the ballots were strange to me and I had no idea how they stood on different issues. I remember one time I was so befuddled I voted because I liked the way a name sounded. Most of the time I just leaned heavily on the party line, trusting they would represent my opinions and beliefs. But all this time I have failed myself and my country. I have failed because I was just not motivated enough to learn about the issues, and hoped that someone I was voting for would know my mind and do my bidding without my having to do a thing! Here I was being given choices, and I was too busy and [tired, uninformed, unmotivated, uninvolved, uncaring, unresponsive, oblivious . . . ] unprepared to take a moment to vote and alter history and its impact on me, my children and my as yet, unborn grandchildren!<br />
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Now, FINALLY, as a mother and a business woman, I cringe at my past behavior! How could I let just anyone get elected and expect my concerns to be addressed??! Why did I risk the development of everything around me; the government that controls my neighborhood, my city, my county, my parks, my streets, my taxes, my schools (where our real treasures go to learn)?? Why did I leave it all to chance?? Wouldn’t that be like hiring a caregiver for ones child without interviews and background checks?? Or maybe it would be like hiring a person to be in charge of your finances, house, business, or other critically important aspect of your life without meeting them or reading their resume! That would be just plain reckless and negligent, right?? So why don’t people take voting as a grim and serious responsibility. Why is it that so many people see it as optional?? Remember, complacency will only deliver our freedoms, our interests over to people who WILL take action, and it most likely will not be in OUR best interest!! That is how we have gotten to where we are! Too many people assuming our government leaders will just take care of us without our having to do anything. <br />
<br />
Well, it is NOT optional!! It is everyone’s DUTY to vote!! Not only that, it is everyone’s duty to vote in an informed way!! There is to be NO 'throwing darts' at the ballot form to help in making your selection! Do your research!! Be informed!! Yes, things are much more complicated than they used to be. The issues are much broader, deeper, reaching further and weaving into other issues, etc. But it is still so important that we take responsibility and educate and inform ourselves about the issues, and their impact on our daily lives and the lives of those yet unborn. We can't do this while we are standing in line at the voting center. It is becoming more and more imperative that we all need to educate ourselves about the issues and participants ahead of voting day and then we need to get out and vote! <br />
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We still can be that great nation that Lincoln referenced in his Gettysburg address. We can still revive that awesome country where the government is again "of the people, by the people, for the people”! We can again have a government that will actually do the things that are in OUR best interest instead of the interests of rich corporations who are paying big money for lobbyists to sway politicians. But we ALL need to get out Tuesday and every election day and SAY SOMETHING OF SUBSTANCE!!!!Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084487010453428167.post-32852639172346521392010-10-23T22:27:00.000-05:002010-10-23T22:27:15.659-05:00SLOW MagazineSomething wonderful has just happened in my life and I am going to share it with you! I have been PUBLISHED in a magazine!! I kind of backed into an opportunity to write an article for a magazine in Australia called, "SLOW Magazine" (<a href="http://www.slowmagazine.com.au/">www.slowmagazine.com.au</a>). Almost a year ago the editor of the magazine had gone onto a Green forum on the Internet with a request for thoughts and ideas for articles that would be of interest to feature in their magazine. I just recently ran across this request and responded, not really thinking anything would come of my ideas not only because of the late date, but also because the Internet is such a gigantic arena, and one's voice is, more often than not, lost in it's labyrinth. To my surprise and amazement, the editor, Jacqui Mott, wrote back suggesting that <strong><em>I</em></strong> send in a submission, and they would see where things went. She had read my blog entries and thought that their topics and quality would be perfect for their magazine! WOW! I was floored! . . and excited!! Almost immediately I sat down and wrote my first submission. Now mind you, I have never submitted any of my writings to anyone! well, okay . . . there is this blog. But hardly anyone reads this do they? The only person to have read anything that I have written was my mother when I was writing weekly 3-page thesis papers for my 11th grade English teacher, Mr. Mraz. So, with no ego involved, I thought I would submit my article, the staff at Slow magazine would shred it and I wouldn't hear anything more. Just yesterday, Jacqui sent me an email saying they were going to use my article in their next issue of SLOW magazine!! WOW again! My mother, bless her librarian heart, would be so proud!!<br />
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I take much delight in writing about what I am thinking. It has been something that I have enjoyed doing since elementary school. I have always liked being able to craft my words, with thoughtfulness, before revealing them to someone. Speaking the words does not allow me to do that, and words tend to tumble out of my mouth, with me often wishing I could scramble after them, clutching them back into obscurity. But the written word has clarity and it's own space, making it take on a depth that the spoken word does not have. Both can be interpreted in any fashion, but only the written word can be truly studied, to reveal it's depth and intent. Crafting with words is a challenging process, trying to tease an idea out of many, and bring definition to it, so that one's original thought is there in clear, abundant, literal, black and white! All too often, a thought is just too wispy and ethereal to capture in text, but therein lies the challenge that all writers face. And as of yesterday, I can count myself as one of the members in the league of writers!<br />
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I will update you when the issue is circulated!Marian Quanbeck Dahlberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13684562211738284032noreply@blogger.com0