Natalie Selles

I am sure that everyone comes to SAW for their own reasons; a break from family or work a chance to get creative juices flowing again. I have seen ecstatic faces because knitting mojo has returned and flushed cheeks and hurried tones as plans for collaborations are made. We all end up at SAW for our own reason, but I know for sure that no one's path to SAW has been quite like mine. 

I ended up at the first ever SAW in 2009 a bit by accident. Megan, the owner of the yarn store I work at had found out about it and contacted Elizabeth about teaching there. The hitch was that her son was 10 months old and she wanted to bring him along. She asked me to come along with her to look after him while she was teaching. Of course I said yes! 

I was totally unprepared as to what the event would be. I wasn't taking any classes, so I didn't even know what other people would be doing. What stands out in my memory the most was how much making was going on. Elwood and I wandered from cabin to cabin, peeking in on what people were doing. We learned about creating fabric prints, saw people carving printing blocks, and dozed off while Sally Melville explained knitted stripes. 

My experience that first year was through walking. I walked from place to place trying to keep Elwood entertained and I walked him to sleep. We got to see how the camp was made as well. There was work to be seen everywhere. Leaves were being raked up, a roof was being mended, a dock was replaced. There were animals doing their busy work around us as well. By the end of the weekend there was an ache in my soul to join in all this making around me. I didn't want to just dive in with my beloved knitting, but to also get out my sewing machine, to draw and paint.

I needed to create for creating sake. 

SAW 2010 and 2011 were equally exciting. Elwood was old enough to stay home without mama, so I was able to take classes and participate in the making. In 2010 I drafted a t-shirt pattern, learned about storytelling, block printed and embroidered. I also took a leap and made a formal debut to my indie knitting pattern designs and sold them off a cardboard box next to the Lettuce Knit table at the marketplace. It felt so right to have started things in such a safe space. In 2010 I was able to upgrade from the lowly box to my own table. 

For me SAW is about growing artistically. I have gone from taking no classes to teaching them, from observing the marketplace to selling at it. Each time I have taken a big next step in my design life it has been at SAW. The people I have met have become inspirational friends with whom I can consult, collaborate and admire. They are from all different textile and artistic backgrounds. I look to my fellow Squammies for inspiration in how to live a more creative life. 

SAW is a place to get your hands dirty in the making of things. Open your mind to what your neighbour is doing and absorb all that is going on around you. Learn a new craft or rekindle an old one. It is amazing how it will all expand what you are already doing when you get home.