Monday, October 29, 2007

Crochet a Controversy

I'm back from New York. Too bad I was there on business. I didn't even get to go to Purl!

Sucks.

I don't talk much about my daylight hours, but I am one of two administrators managing a global investment banking practice. After I quit teaching art I fell into the Cube Farm and clawed my way up the proverbial corporate ladder. Currently I am the lone MFA in a sea of MBA's firm wide. It's actually kinda of funny...

Anyway, while toiling away in my NY office, unbeknownst to me, I (or rather this lovely example of crochetdom) became the center of heated controversy. Many of you sent me emails alerting me to my new found outlaw status.

My first reaction was, "Wow."

My almost instantaneous second reaction was, "I wonder why they didn't take notice of me sooner?"

You know folks, in a world where "different" or outside what is generally viewed as "the norm" is often despised or even feared, the reaction my little creation provoked from the author(s) of that blog is not surprising. In fact, there are many blogs out there who mirror What Not To Crochet's approach to blogging (I won't list them, but you know the blogs that I speak of).

Hey, who doesn't love a little vitriol and public humiliation as part of their daily media deluge?

Making fun of others makes us feel better about ourselves, right?

Uh, sure, I guess.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I've been an artist who has been showing her work to the public for many, many years. I am no stranger to criticism via print or otherwise. Nature of the beast, so to speak. I am also the first to admit that my work ain't for everybody. Nonetheless, I believe that there is plenty of room on the planet for a plethora of viewpoints and creative expressions. And anyway, negativity is such a drag people!

So Padawans, if I've got any advice for you as a result of my being WNTC-ed, it is as follows...

Make what you want.

Embrace what you love.

Ignore the rest!

Be fearless my friends for, truly, one person's trash really is another's treasure.

32 comments:

Marietta said...

i guess i can believe that you made it there - and i cannot believe that you made it there at the same time - I take it they just don;t get it! No sense of humour, these people :) Wonder what they thought about the eyeballs and severed finger, eh?

Anonymous said...

well, it looks like the bloggers readers think your saw scarf is awesome inspite of what the blogger thinks. Looks like you got a ton of great press there!

MonkeyGurrrrrl said...

It's people like that what make muggles (for lack of a better term) think knit and crochet is for grannies (despite the myriad articles about how "it's not your grandmother's anymore!") They need to get a sense of humor, or at least a sense of the intent of the designer they're dissin'. At least you know that your loyal readers all *LOVE* your sense of humor and daring.

Actually, the only thing I don't like about your designs is that I don't crochet, and that's not really the design's flaw, is it?!

Andrea said...

Oh boy that blog is petty, poorly written and a complete waste of time. We don't need negativity we need more crafters with a sense creativity and whimsy just like you!

Monique Marie Sauniere said...

There will always be people who don't want to see anything new. I find they are not very interesting people.

Keep the creative pieces coming. I love them!

blackbird said...

yo! I bought this pattern, made it, wore it to work yesterday and people love it. Although occasionally the authors of what-not-to-crochet are quite hilarious, (i remember one purse with a doll face in the middle, and matching earmuffs) I think they are getting a bit too closed minded for their own good, as evidenced by the outcry of blog readers.

Anonymous said...

Wow. I can't believe people had problems with the pattern! I thought it was the coolest, funnest thing ever to bring to my stitch n bitch the week before halloween. It was gonna be my costume...alas, I'm still working on my 'blood.' :) Ah, well. I'll wear it next year. We need more creativity and less doilies and boring stuff to crochet. I think you're a creative genious, so don't ever let the 'haters' get you down. lol. Thanks for sharing your creative genious with the rest of us. (PS- I'm so proud of myself for working so hard on my saw...its my best piece of crochet anything ever, actually. lol!)

garlic=love said...

haven't crocheted in years, but i love stopping by to see what your working on. Love the "bloody saw" and echo others' sentiments of "creative genius".

Can't wait to see what you think up next!

Anonymous said...

They should take that extra time on their hands and crochet stocks for themselves so we can lock them there! I heart creativity and if they can't appreciate the thought and effort then they have no allowance to even being to harp on such talented individuals

Vorpal Knitter said...

I love your work because it is so out of my "box." When I saw your saw I actually cackled.

Keep up the good work Regina!

Anonymous said...

I've never had much respect or interest in that site. Too bad they goofed when they put your saw on there. You're one of the most creative & unique crocheters out there.

One has to wonder if these people even know anything about crochet (or anything else that their other sites are about). It seems to me, they just find things they don't like & post them without ever knowing or caring about what goes into designing/creating something. It's so easy for people to hide behind a computer screen and poke fun at other people.

Don't sweat it. You're awesome!

Susan Schwake said...

oh lordy, i have been pulled in hook line and sinker to this let's make fun of something we were not clever enough to think of. honestly, creating a blog about tearing down other's work *whether you understand it or not* is just plain jr. high. (sorry chloe and lena)
Sorry, you know me, i see em as i call em and hello! it's the 21st century.
I wonder what they thought of the Fluxus movement... hee hee.
oh i am so bad. Love your saw. Did you think of doing a little sequel? saw II ? tee hee hee. those people are just plain square.

Gina said...

teehee... they can get over it! if they wanna make doilies an crap forever let 'em! :P We love your stuff!

Samantha said...

Humph. What not to crochet, my arse. The highlight of MY week was turning my page a day calendar crochet to your eyeballs. My Hunny looked at them and instantly said, "Are those Lady Linoleum's?" We wouldn't ever want you to make anything differently.

Maybe this will start a new wave of designers wanting to end up on their blog- to prove how cool they are, like you!

Gin said...

It's not as terrible as it seems. The lady on WNTC seems to post things that she thinks are funny. The title of the blog is harsher than what she actually says.

Once she posted an odd piece by an artist who specializes in installations made of crochet work. The artist responded in good humor and since then the blog has posted news about this artists' work.

Anonymous said...

Normally, I don't read WNTC since I find it too catty even though most of the stuff on there is indeed not anything I would wear. However, they totally missed the boat when it comes to your designs and I'm glad plenty of commenters told them so. Isn't recognition and funny thing?! Rock on!

Nichole D. said...

Rock ON! That's all I have to say.

Miriam said...

I had to leave a comment about the great reaction people I know have had to the scarf (which I bought). I love your designs, and this actually is my favorite so far. IMy brother, who doesn't even wear scarves, tells me he's going to wear this everywhere. I think the comments on the blog mostly shows how many fans you have. I saw that blog a while back and decided it can't feel good to be a designer who gets posted there, and didn't go back.

Caroline B said...

Is it 'cos I'm British, but I liked most of the things on WNTC, thought they were hilarious! (who wouldn't want a crochet cactus for heaven's sake!) I've always thought your patterns were brilliant and wish I'd thought of them first....

Anonymous said...

I love your blog and enjoy seeing your creations. They are an inspiration. Like another poster said, it was fun to seeing your "eyeballs" on my crochet calendar this week. - Blog on!

FinnyKnits said...

Those who can, do, and those who can't talk smack and practice their shell patterns.

Feral Housewife X said...

just shrug it off, Regina!

i don't know why people have to knock down others to feel better... but there will always be folks around like that! it's best to just ignore them...

while they are knocking you, they are giving someone else a break...

i count myself as one of your biggest fans... and think all of your work is just awesome...

as long as you keep churning out your creations... i, for one, will certainly be applauding!

Yeah So said...

Oh for goodness sakes. Why would someone have a blog like that in the first place? What artist would create a place just to bash other artists?? Insane.

Miranda said...

I'd like to know who's to judge things that others make? If someone made a creative piece, be it a painting, sculpture, or anything else and they are proud of it then who am I to judge them or their ideas? Us creative types have a hard enough time with our own thoughts on how something turned out. If I don't like it, who cares! I think you are great and I'm actually jealous of the things you come up with and make, that all I'm thinking when I see something cool and new is "damn, why can't I think of stuff like that?"

Megalion said...

Sometimes people have nothing to contribute but to snark at other people's creative efforts.

I don't find that a good personality trait at all.

I'd rather celebrate daringness than condemn it.

Batty said...

You said it!

-MLS in an MBA world

Anonymous said...

Yeah. She/He/It is not a big fan of freeform either.
Hey, leaves more fun for us.
Go on wit yo bad crochet self girl!!

Anonymous said...

I don't like parasitic blogs in general. If there's no original content, I don't read them.

k.kesecker said...

Shame on them! what is wrong with being quirky and thinking out of the box. Being a fellow MFA'er I wish others could just learn to respect a fellow artist. Whether you agree or not, respect the art!

nstssj said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Perhaps there should be a site called "Blogs Not Worth the Time," or "Blogs from People You Thought Would Have Graduated from High School By Now"...It sucks that there are so many assholes in the world.

electricbluebird.com said...

I love you.