I AM A WEAVER

Hi there and welcome to my website and blog!  I am so glad you're here.  

For my first blog post (yay!) I will take a minute to introduce myself and let you know what I hope to include in my blog.

I started weaving a few years ago, after I was unexpectedly laid off when I was 8 months pregnant with my second child (crazy right!?).  I had lived my whole professional life working in a somewhat stressful corporate job at an advertising agency.  Being laid off was very hard on my ego.  And after my son was born, we decided I would stay home - and that was REALLY hard on my self identity.   I was 37 years old and I had no idea what I was doing with my life.  I didn't know how to "stay at home" with my kids, and honestly, I didn't know if I even wanted to.  This identity crisis coupled with newborn mama hormones and complete exhaustion resulted in a severe case of postpartum depression and anxiety.

I was so overwhelmed with anxiety and depression I found it hard to complete the most simple tasks like putting my sweet daughter to bed or getting myself dressed.  I had little desire to hold my son and just wanted to be alone.  And worst of all, I was always paralyzed with fear.  Lucky for me, I had an amazing support system and an acute awareness of what was wrong with me - so I sought help quickly.

During my "rehabilitation" I decided to buy a small loom and take a stab at weaving. Weaving came very naturally to me and it quickly became a source of therapy, escape and meditation.  I loved the over and under of a simple basic tabby weave and I got lost in it.  

From there I took a class from the incomparable Maryanne Moodie and was blown away by her talent and aura.  In my free time, I perused yarn stores, bought a number of new looms,  held local trunk shows to showcase my work and was even featured in a store down the street from my home.  My business started to grow and the support was overwhelming.  

I soon realized that I was becoming an artist.  I had to trust in my vision and the skills I was learning along the way.  I could do this and it was time to let go of what had happened to me in the past and blossom into the person I was becoming- a happy and healthy mother of two, who stayed at home with her children.  I could be there to drop them off and pick them up from school.  I could listen to them and be attentive to their needs,  And in my free time - I could create beautiful art that I was proud of.  My identity was shifting and I was becoming the best version of myself I could be. 

Almost four years later, I have created a wonderful home and I am so grateful for my family and friends.   I still struggle with anxiety at times, but the process of my art always helps me.  I never forgot what I went through because without that experience I would not be where I am today.  My business continues to grow and I am fortunate enough to keep this journey going with a steady stream of commissioned work.  

Thank you to all of you who have supported me along the way.  And to those who are here learning about me for the first time - its nice to meet you.  I am extremely grateful for you all.

My plan is for this  blog to include product reviews, weaving and macrame video tutorials and maybe a little insight into my other passion - home decor.  

Thanks so much for visiting!

xo, Sarah