I've been away from the Internet since Tuesday. School and all its attendant meetings and report cards and classroom clean-ups was over at 4:00 pm and, by some cruel twist of fate, our neighbors decided to move their wireless hub or forgo wireless for the summer or some such nonsense, because there is currently no 'Net Chez Frick. It took a few deep breaths, but then I realized that this could be a good thing. While I'm NOT obsessively checking your Flickr streams and my Ravelry friend activity, I can, say, potty train my son. Finally de-clutter the dining room table. Learn to quilt (!) And make good on the promise I've made to Ms. Kingsolver to become part of the solution. To that end, I've planted three varieties of heirloom tomatoes in the past three days (Cherokee Purple, Hillbilly, and Green Zebra) and brought home a whopping haul from the farmer's market on Friday:
It's nice to know you're a part of a movement. A real, honest-to-gosh change taking place in our culture (taking the optimist's view here). Like this blogging/photo/knitting/crafting space we've created for ourselves on the Internet. People talk about friendship and community and getting back to the roots of handcraft when they reference blogging as a movement, but there's something else about this craft movement that I think is really special and I haven't seen folks talking about, and that's beauty. Redefining beauty. Taking beauty BACK from the magazines and the movies and the Botox parties and the red carpet. Taking it back into our own hands. Have you noticed how we're doing that?
First of all, there's the power inherent in having the ability to make beautiful things with one's own hands. As I've grown as a knitter, I've honed my aesthetic sense. Every pretty, flirty skein that winks at me from the shelf doesn't automatically end up in the basket. I'm choosier about colors in some ways, bolder about them in others. I'm less likely to second-guess my gut when it comes to style. Knitting has both expanded and refined what I think of as beautiful because it's put the creation part into my hands.
Lately, though, maybe because of all that stuff absence does to your heart, I've been thinking more about how being a part of this community has reached all the way back into my pre-adolescent, Barbie-torturing, running-wild-in-the-woods childhood and revived my sense of what makes a truly beautiful female. Back then, I thought my mom was the most gorgeous woman alive. Consciously or not, I thought this way about my friends, too. Scraped kness, twigs in pigtails, crooked noses, dirty feet- it didn't matter. At the end of the day, I still wanted to be rolled up in a sleeping bag with them, just staring at each other's faces and giggling. And I thought I was a pretty hot mama, too. Lip synching to Sheena Easton with the hairbrush and the bottom of my t-shirt pulled through the neck, insta-kini style? You know you did it, and you know you were thinking, "I am hawt." Right? Then came seventh grade.
That's what I love about Project 365. Folks will tell you it's narcisistic, but I don't buy that. How many of us are really initially comfortable with putting our faces out there, day after day? It's taken me almost two years to show mine on this blog. But all over Flickr you can find these amazing photographs of beautiful women whose stories and knitting you know. And if you look at them enough, you start to think, "Where's my sleeping bag? My hairbrush? My Sheena Easton tape?" Screw mass media's idea of what beautiful is. I mean, Rolling Stone's got nothing on Carrie. Want to jump-start your workout? Forget Shape- check out Brenda for inspiration. Want to read a great parenting story? Move over, Angelina, Jen, Madonna, JLo. Diana's got yer heartstrings right here. Jen Aniston's shag is SO out. Get the Ashley. Betcha haven't wanted Jell-O this much since you were five. (Erin can sell me just about anything.) Pigtails! Oh, and Pam? Anthropologie called. They want their mojo back.
Blogging has spolied me for the slick mass media version of beauty. Kind of makes me want to get all the girls I teach a Typepad account.
The photos in this post are of my best friend Adrianna. She's a farmer and an artist and a mother and one of the most gentle, graceful, beautiful people I know. I wouldn't trade her as a model for anyone. In fact, she looked so beautiful in my Sheltland Triangle that I gave it to her on the spot. That's another thing blogging has taught me. Generosity. But that's for another post.
It's amazing how the Internet and blogging communities can bring people together. Especially as newspapers and magazines and mass media goes on and on about how the Internet is a dangerous place and never let your children alone on the computer... So many people talk about the "dangers" of the Internet, when there are so many good things about it. I can't wait to read your post about how it taught you generosity as well. =)
Posted by: Stephanie | June 15, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Amen!!! The women that I'd like my daughters to choose for roll models are all over this blogging community. I am glad they are a part of my blog so that they know about and learn from all of you.
Your Shetland Triangle is a beauty. I'd forgotten how much I love that pattern.
Posted by: Kirsten | June 15, 2008 at 08:17 PM
What an inspiring post. Hi, Julie. Thanks for your comment about my teacher gifts. I hope they liked them as much as you do! I am looking forward to reading more of your blog. Your knits are gorgeous as are your photographs.
Posted by: Lauren Hawley | June 15, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Amen.
Posted by: Nell | June 15, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Oh, you make me remember some of the fun things from before I cared so much about what other people think! I'm still a work in progress but you (and other human beings like you) give me hope.
Thanks. And I want to be the girl on the bike, too.
Posted by: Karen B. | June 15, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Gorgeous haul from your Farmer's Market! I stopped by ours and stocked up on veggies - I really will have to photograph them next time. I've just started Ms.Kingsolver's book and am squirming so...more changes to come.
Thanks for all the great 365 links - I've been toying with that idea for awhile.
I hadn't really considered it before but you are right - there is a movement to reclaim beauty. Here's to us all!
Posted by: Miss Scarlett | June 15, 2008 at 11:29 PM
I love this post. I love these thoughts. I do agree with you, I feel the same way. And it feels so good!
Posted by: Tora | June 16, 2008 at 01:03 AM
Thank you, I needed to hear that this morning. What a great, true post!
Posted by: Nicole | June 16, 2008 at 03:59 AM
Oh, and I forgot to say that your shetland triangle is so incredibly gorgeous, and it definitely belongs on your beautiful friend's shoulders.
Posted by: Nicole | June 16, 2008 at 04:01 AM
yeah, who needs a runway when the real fashion show is going on ALL the time on Flickr and Ravelry?
Posted by: KarWar | June 16, 2008 at 04:37 AM
Word sister. Thanks for writing this. YOU are beautiful!!
Posted by: Mandy | June 16, 2008 at 05:11 AM
Beautiful post. And I'm so happy that you are learning to quilt! Another one joins the ranks!
Posted by: Knittah | June 16, 2008 at 05:41 AM
Reading this post was such a great way to start the week! So inspirational and no truer words! Thanks Julie
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 16, 2008 at 05:54 AM
Reading this post was such a great way to start the week! So inspirational and no truer words! Thanks Julie
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 16, 2008 at 05:54 AM
What a great post - so thought provoking, memory inspiring. Thank you! Your shetland triagle is beautiful - you selected the perfect impromptu receipient.
Posted by: Stacey | June 16, 2008 at 06:01 AM
So much to respond to, Julie...as a mother of a girl who just left seventh grade, I so relate to your message. And the Ashley is SO my next hair cut!:)
Posted by: Heather | June 16, 2008 at 06:20 AM
you always say it the best, julia! take that tyra ;-) oh and i love the shetland triangle!
Posted by: margaux | June 16, 2008 at 06:31 AM
omg you link to my crazy eyes!? i love the shawl, Julie--it's gorgeous. It is so nice to be part of this "movement" with you!
Posted by: Mintyfresh | June 16, 2008 at 06:46 AM
Here, here!
Posted by: jillian | June 16, 2008 at 07:06 AM
goddamit woman, you went and made me sniffle. I gotta go pull a twig out of my pigtail now.
Posted by: Ashley | June 16, 2008 at 07:26 AM
Amazing thoughts said with such style! And it's very exciting to me to watch these 'movements' that are happening throughout blogland...food/gas/consumerism. It's so encouraging that more people are understanding how important this is! BK would be proud!
Posted by: Rachel | June 16, 2008 at 08:38 AM
Thank you. This was wonderful.
Posted by: Cynthia | June 16, 2008 at 08:47 AM
What a great, thought-filled post! I agree with you 100%. Now excuse me while I go download a Sheena Easton song.
Posted by: Veronique | June 16, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Was it "My Baby Takes The Morning Train" or "For Your Eyes Only"?
Really Julie, I loved this post. Loved. So eloquent and very profound. Thank you.
Posted by: Sarah | June 16, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Another beautiful post, J. This one had me experiencing a whole roller coaster of emotions. I was actually tearing up, thinking of my pre-adolescent angst, feeling melancholy, then sharp fast turn to pleasant shock to see you had linked to me! I clicked on the link and for a moment was all confused when I saw my own photo there.
Your writing always gives me so much to think about. If we ever meet in person, I'm gonna hug you so hard :)
Posted by: brenda in toronto | June 16, 2008 at 09:53 AM