"I am a retired life long educator, and was an art consultant for a suburban elementary school distrct. I presented teacher workshops in arts/crafts/ceramics to augment the SocialStudies and History curriculum,. This position required research to create projects which would enhance the teachers' art resources. . Since retired I have the time to create 24/7. I started with a series of fiber sculpture cats,and other critters , then a period of creating dolls, then painting unique themed dollhouse futniture sets. Presently I derive peacefulness and happiness in knitting garments. I have been greatly inspired by Jane Thornley's Free Range Knitting which suits me perfectly,. This" Way of the Yarn" evokes the muse, to whom I must listen. Very often I have several projects in progress or in mind like the dragonfly in motion. So many ideas, so much yarn, so little time." JT: RoseMarie, I’ve always known you as a creative, passionate, and brave knitter but were you always so explorative in your earlier knitting days? What caused you to fly free? RM: I knitted the usual patterns of baby and toddler togs but invented ways of knitting in a flower, bear or a train ( intarsia, I guess). When I started knitting fiber sculpture cats, they aways were made with fanciful textured, self-striping, multicolor yarns. The more I learn about knitting stitches and types of yarn ( or anything really) the more I can boldly go where I have not gone before. My mind has always been free even when the circumstances were restricted. JT: Creativity rarely expresses itself in only one direction. What other ways does your spirit fly? RM: My spirit flies to music, as I have been a classical piano and organ teacher/performer, children's choir director and pageant producer. I love to cook and bake, create decorative festive food. JT: Sometimes knitters will say to me that they feel embarassed wearing their knitted wonders in the outside world, to a supermarket, say. Do you? RM: I thought at first that my pieces were "too arty" to wear to the grocery store, and it might arouse attention (verbal or looking). Before I retired I seldom wore bright colors, keeping to black and taupe. However I decided I like to wear my pieces and it is right because I am arty. I do like to wear my vests and jackets for shopping and wear the wraps and shawls for meetings/lunch though. JT: The most recent piece you created using one of my designs as a mere seed is your expression of an African Market textile. I just love that piece because it so captures the spirit and vibrancy of an African market. Have you been to Africa and, if not, what sang those colors and patterns into your fingers? RM: I have not been to Africa but have always been fascinated by the textiles. masks and sculpture. My vest started with attention to the center back diamond design on the Great Zimbabwe Vest. Then I thought of all the Kente cloth I had seen, and that led to research about the symbolism. A serendipitous yarn appeared. The initial knit began with the horizontal stripes which I used as an alb, a motif of some tribes' costumes. One thing leads to another . The drum beat and chanting insisted on being heard: After working on a project for a little while I can almost always see what it wants to be, so I play along. | 
