cobalt & indigo

I work in a ceramics studio that specializes in high-end crystalline artwork - see www.jessehull.com for some delicious pictures! Jesse, my boyfriend and lead partner in the business, is an incredibly talented and visionary artist in the ceramics world. I feel privileged to be able to contribute in some small ways to such amazing work, however, he does deserve most of the credit. One day I plan on developing my own line of ceramic work as well.

I have been exploring the fiber arts for a long time now. My mom taught me the basics of crocheting when I was about 8 or 9. I became extremely frustrated when I tried to move beyond a basic chain, but I persevered, motivated by the need to be able to make the awesome hat patterns I found in vintage pattern books at the local library. In middle school, I made one such hat, and after completing it wore it to school where everyone decided it was the coolest hat they had ever seen.

I am mostly a self-taught crocheter, and knitting was another craft I taught myself from books. I learned to knit in order to make a baby sweater for my cousin, and the ‘yo’ in the pattern instructions puzzled me so completely that I stalled out on the project at least four times before I finally completed it after realizing that it really was as simple as passing the ‘yarn over.’

In 2000, I attended a shearing festival at a local angora goat farm, and bought my first drop spindle and roving. I was intrigued, but didn’t really practice all that much until I became a Resident Assistant in the dorms during college. With all of the time I had to spend in my room, I began to explore other crafts that could be done in a small amount of space with limited noise and fumes, and I rediscovered my drop spindle. I was hooked… in 2003, I received my first spinning wheel for a birthday present/Christmas present from my parents, and I have been spending most of my free time spinning since then.