Sun, 29 November 2009
Episode 3: Intent to Spin (featuring Judith Mackenzie McCuin)  There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin. If you are a spinner, weaver or fleece lover, you will very likely recognize (and revere) the name Judith Mackenzie McCuin. She's the author of two books on different aspects of spinning: an introductory book, Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning and the more recent and holistic The Intentional Spinner. A familiar face at Spin-Off Annual Retreat (SOAR) and and co-founder of the Golden Gate Fiber Institute, she remains one of the most sought after instructors and speakers and is one of spinning's most tireless advocates. This episode I talked with Judith after her presentation on sheep and human co-development at the Spindles & Flyers guild meeting in El Cerrito, California. The following people, places and things were mentioned:
The WINNER of our second Fiber Beat CONTEST is Katrina and she receives Little Box of Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott. We also did another Twitter promotional contest for the podcast. Our winner for the that contest is Maryjo and she receives a skein of Curious Creek's Wasonga sock yarn in the exclusive "Happiness Is..." colorway. Thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations to our two winners! Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 3 I have 1 oz of delicious Bison fiber from Judith's company, Buffalo Gals. All you need to do is tell us who your favorite instructor was (can be any discipline/level/school) and what they taught you. To enter, please leave your comment on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum. The winner will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS DECEMBER 21, 2009. A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who downloaded and listened to the first four episodes (audio/video) of Fiber Beat. Let me know what you think and leave a review on iTunes! A very special thanks to our "potential" student actors: Chris and Barbara! We used snippets of the songs below in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artists (links provided for your convenience):
My name is WonderMike and I'll see YOU on the Fiber Beat!! Comments[22]
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- Excellent audio and video podcast. I\'m just catching up and will be spreading the word to all my knitting and spinning friends. I missed the deadline for the inspirational teacher in my life, but want to leave mine anyway. A college professor taught me the art of patient persistence. I was in training to educate people with disabilities and it was a very important lesson to learn. I teach children who struggle in reading and math and continue to teach them the skills of patient persistence while using them myself. I also use these skills as a parent and certainly in all my fiber adventures. Learning and teaching are arts and need to be practiced with patience and persistence.
- It\'s not a secure site; I can\'t list my e-mail. I am on Ravelry.
My favorite teach is Steve Hicks, and he taught me almost everything I know about knitting. He has more patience than anyone I know and doesn\'t regard my yarn snarls as problems, just a puzzle to solve. He\'s an excellent teacher because he explains things in ways I can understand. - Hi Mike,
I just discovered your podcast and it\'s fabulous. What a great interview. I have to say my favourite teacher is Meghan from the Sticth It Podcast. Because she has inspired me to spin and I LOVE how she shares all her knowledge with us through her podcast.
I will definitely subscribing to your podcast now. Thanks. :) - Fun and inspiring episode WonderMike!
At first I was like, \'Hmmm who would I consider to be my favorite teacher? That\'s hard.\' But then in hindsight I would say that it was Junior High school Spanish teacher, Miss Watkins. I don\'t think I would be wrong in stating that she wasn\'t everyone\'s favorite. In fact, she was nicknamed La Bruja because most students felt she was a witch. I don’t think that I would be wrong to conclude that they probably meant, ummm Bitch. Miss Watkins, I thought, was far from looking like The Wicked Witch of the West (or East). But she was quite stern and had a high bar for teaching and for how her students participated; it was hard to get the As & Bs. I didn\'t realize until after I returned from a summer abroad program in Guatemala that she actually prepared me for that experience. And, it wasn’t until I was in her class post-Guatemala that I realized that she was actually quite funny and good at her job. I think I was the only one in her class that really knew that she had a bit of a funny/sarcastic edge when she spoke in Spanish and would often be the only one laughing out loud. Miss Watkins became my benchmark for good teachers. - Mr Arnold, my high school social studies teacher, encouraged his students to see the world in the context of history and economics. I always liked history, but he really made those stories come to life by reminding us that people are people, regardless of when they lived or their circumstances.
In fiber arts, Judith Mackenzie McCuin and Cat Bordhi would have to be my favorite teachers. I\'m glad I\'ve had the opportunity to learn from them. - I loved and respected Mr. Donald Grant, who was the art teacher at my high school in Springfield, Ohio. He was not only a good teacher, allowing us artistic and medial freedom, but taking the time to point out one small, fine change that might make the difference between \"art\" and mediocrity.
He was also a good mentor, conveying a moral code without being obtrusive or intrusive. If not for him, I might not be the artist I am today, nor be raising other artists. Thanks, Mr. Grant!
Nikki
jesus_iscomin at yahoo.com and at twitter - I have to admit that I can\'t get your podcast at work, so I need to load and listen at home and haven\'t had a chance!
My favorite instructor must be Cat Bordhi because she is so multi-fauceted! She has taught me there is more than one way to knit a sock! And more than two ways...or three...or four! Fantastically brilliant and clever! - My favorite teacher was Mrs. Lee when I first came to the U.S. She kept me going back everyday and actually looking forward to learning the language. She was gentle, kind, loving, and did not judge my ability rather than respect me as an individual. Wish there are more of Mrs. Lee around the world. Thank you for a great podcast. Judith is my favorite fiber teacher. I was fortunate to be in a 4-day workshop with her this summer in Hood River and can\'t wait for my next retreat with her and Cat next summer!!!!
- Just when you think it can\'t get any better, it does! Bravo! What a great podcast!
My favorite teacher was my high school chemistry teacher (can\'t remember his name) because he taught me matter is finite which answered my biggest questions and ultimately gave my life direction. - Another great podcast! Please keep them coming.
My favorite teacher was my high school guidance counselor, Mrs. Faber. When I wanted to be lazy and take easy classes she wouldn\'t let me and I learned what I could really do when I used my talents. I have her to thank for the academic path I took after high school. - Only a few episodes in and Fiber Beat has already taken its place among my favorite podcasts. Such a great combination of information and entertainment!
I don\'t even remember her name, but a teacher who stands out in my memory is the woman who owned the nearest knitting/weaving store when I was 20 y.o. and picked up the needles again for the first time since I was a kid. Until then, I was a beginner knitter and these were pre-Internet days (well, baby Internet, I guess -- I did have Prodigy!). She showed me how to fix mistakes!! With her occasional help, I moved from a basic basketweave bulky sweater to a gansey and then to a full-on fisherman\'s sweater in just a couple of months. She helped me get through the rocky first steps, kept the enthusiasm alive long enough for me to discover growing Internet resources, and the rest is history. 20+ years later and I\'m knitting (and doing other fiber arts) more than ever, still psyched for more learning and experimenting to come. - Great show Wonder Mike!
Although perhaps a little outside the box of official \"teacher\". My favorite teacher was my grandfather. He is the one who taught me how to hone and experiment with my art through any medium. He taught me how to draw, paint, cut and sew moccasins, wood carve, the list goes on. Most of all he taught me to never allow limits to what you do, whatever it may be. Due to him I have tried things most people around me are amazed that I would take on and for most was able to take off with it and succeed. For those times I didn\'t I still learned valuable lessons from the experience. - My fav teacher was Mrs. Pollock. She was my music teacher in kindergarten. Since I grew up in a very small town, that also meant she was my music teacher all through my school years… elementary, junior high and high school. Mrs. Pollock always inspired me to joy in my music lessons. When she was up there playing her piano and all of us singing along it was the best part of my day. Mrs. Pollock inspired me to become a performer and a teacher so I could share this same joy with others. She was my mentor, my confidant and my inspiration.
- Great show Mike, I am realy enjoying the videos that go along with the podcasts.
My favorite teacher was my 6th grade teacher Mr. Crowley. I remember how surprised he was when I completed my art project. I really did no apply myself to the regular class work and he saw how I expressed myself with my drawing and painting. He really nurtured my creativity and self expression which has followed me into my adult life. - Wondermike another awesome show! Loved the interview, you are very fortunate to be able to meet with and interview such great and interesting people!
I think that my most influential teacher was mr. Gramlich in jr. High math teacher. Really took the time to help you understand math, algebra started out so hard form me but he flipped the switch and made me a confident A student. If only he taught all the rest of the subjects right?! - I\'ve had so many great teachers... from Mr. Clifton, 3rd grade, who nutured my creativity, to the guys at the Flying Circus (an antique airshow), who taught me to fly their WWII planes... actually they all taught me to relax and trust my instincts. I loved listening to Judith at the Sock Summit and here... she adds some much-needed structure to my laissez-faire spinning!
- Another great podcast, Wonder Mike! My very favorite all-time teacher is Judith McKenzie McCuin. She is amazing. I cannot recommend any time sitting before her. I\'d listen to her teach about anything. She taught me how to do double weave - not give me a recipe for warping and weaving, but taught me how to think about how these two interact so that I could really understand the weave structure. Amazing!
posted by: LisaK aka Convoluted String on 2009-11-30 20:24:00
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