Carmen's Story, Part 1: Let's Start at the Beginning
Hello Yarn Lovers,
This week I'm bringing you a series of five blog posts answering the question I get asked most often: How did you (American) end up owning a yarn shop in England? I have an elevator pitch version of the story that I give regularly but I thought it was time expand on that. So here we go, let's start right at the beginning...
I was born in Eugene, Oregon in 1980 - it was the year Mt St. Helen's erupted and the ash fell as far as my home town. Photos from my early childhood all look classically from the era and there is serious nostalgia in those slightly soft photos that don't have the vibrance an iPhone can capture today. My parents were both born in Germany - not far from one another in fact - but didn't meet until well into their thirties on a blind date in Eugene. What are the chances of that?
If you've ever been to Eugene or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest really, you'll have noticed it has a rather distinct vibe, probably in large part due to the immense forests, coastlines, mountains and high desert that make up the geography of the area. Eugene itself is very much a hippie town, The Grateful Dead came on tour every year, there is a market every Saturday anchored by stalls of tie-dye, hemp jewellery and other artisan crafts. It is also home to the university of Oregon Ducks. This is where Nike was founded and much of the life in town revolves around athletics at the University - even more so now than when I was growing up.
My parents opened a restaurant in 1983, shortly after my younger sister was born and from then on we were a small business family. My Dad was the chef, the only one, it was a tiny space and there wasn't room for anyone else in the kitchen so for 25+ years he cooked every meal served, on a busy night that could have been more than 100 covers. It was a true family business as my Mom made every dessert served as well as doing all of the bookkeeping. The dessert making was tricky for us kids sometimes, as she made them at home, early in the morning and we would often wake up to the smell of delicious baked goods that we weren't allowed to eat.
I had no idea how difficult those early years must have been for them raising a young family and starting a business until I started my own. My appreciation for everything they did has only grown over the years. I'm sure this it true for a lot of people, being able to look back on one's childhood with the eyes of an adult gives you a very different perspective.
It was a fine dining restaurant so not a place we would go hang out or eat at. I always loved when we had to make a delivery of an extra dessert or mushrooms from the grocery store because they'd run out, it always felt really exciting being in the kitchen and hanging out there. I enjoyed feeling a part of that.
Much of my childhood was spent making things. Prior to having me my Mom was the Creative Director at Stretch & Sew (some of you from North America may remember this brand of fabric and sewing patterns). Needless to say I spent many an hour in our local fabric shop, playing amongst the bolts of fabric and flipping endlessly through the pattern catalogues. They were BIG spaces with so much to choose from, all independent shops that disappeared by the time I was a teen.
My Mom and I made a lot of my wardrobe until The GAP came to town and it was cheaper to buy a t-shirt than make one. Not only did she sew but she drafted patterns as well, so my 6'9" dad had clothes that fit him perfectly and I had swimsuits, sweatshirts, leggings, dresses - you name it. She taught me to sew and I loved it. We also had a knitting machine that could be heard whirring on the weekends, I had a little weaving loom and my dolls house had extravagant rugs in every room. I got into beads and clay and scrapbooking too. Many of these things fell by the wayside over the years as sports became my focus but at my core, I am a maker and lover of all things handmade, of the bespoke nature of what you can create as well as the creativity and calm it allows you.
My Mom's circle of friends was one full of makers, she had friends in the local fabric and yarn shops, friends would come over and they would sew together and there were many a party full of adults talking about sewing. I felt surrounded by a creative energy that was infectious. Through these friends we participated in a fundraising fashion show every year. Dozens of women would sew entire outfits to show off in an extremely well produced fashion show. Several years in a row my sister and I walked down the runway in matching outfits my Mom had made us. (The photo above in the pink cardigan was one such ensemble) These were big events and I remember a giant hotel conference room being full to the brim with an audience all keen on the inspiration the runway show gave. Where did that passion for handmade go?
This circle of friends also lead us to participating in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica fundraising event in town. Walkathons were all the fundraising rage in the 80's and I was 6 when I participated in my first one. I set out to get pledges for the event - and let me remind you that this was way before the days of online fundraising portals, I had to go door to door and go ask people in person to donate money. Most pledges were based on the idea that a kid my age would only walk 3, maybe 5 miles.
"Race Day" arrived and I started the event with my Mom and a group of friends but somewhere along the way they mostly fell away and I walked on and found some new friends to hang out with. I thought it was all very fun. At some point in the afternoon I crossed the finish line of the 26.2 mile walk having made a bunch of new friends. I didn't think this was a big deal at the time, seemed like a normal Sunday activity but goodness were people upset with me when I went to collect the money - in particular the person who pledged $5 per mile... In subsequent years most everyone gave me a flat pledge, having learned their lesson. Looking back I can see why a 6 year old walking 26.2 miles exceeded the expectations of adults but at the time, it's just something I had fun doing and I felt good about raising money for a good cause.
In reflecting on what to share this week these were strong core memories that arose. Both that circle of creativity I feel enveloped my early childhood alongside the enthusiasm from a greater community for making and then this easy 'of course I can do it' attitude I had as a child. I'm not sure I could go just walk a marathon on a Sunday now but it didn't feel like a big feat to me at all at the time.
I was a thoughtful, sensitive little kid; happy and wanting to get involved in helping those around me. I was a founding member of the Kids for Saving the Earth club in elementary school and I was part of the committee that implemented an anti-discrimination policy at my middle school, I also volunteered a fair bit - something my Dad was really big on too. He didn't have a lot of extra time but he believed in giving back to the local community and was a mentor through Rotary for many years.
It's fascinating how those earliest experiences shape who we become later. They aren't necessarily obvious activities or traits that lead somewhere but if you manage to find yourself in a life that builds on those core values and passions of your youth - that time when you didn't know enough to not just be who you were - then I think you're really lucky. The path to get there isn't always easy and doesn't always make sense but it's one worth taking nonetheless.
Carmen's Story
Part 1: Let's Start at the Beginning
Part 2: You're Tall - You Should Play Sports