One of the wonderful advantages to fiber arts is its portability. I have a dedicated studio in my house, but you’ll find needles and threads in the living room, in my purse, and dye stuffs in the garden (watch out for that jar in the fridge, too). If I can make it outdoors, I will!

Moving to the South Coast at the beginning of the pandemic slowed progress on building my artistic community. Time alone, outdoors and on the water, time reestablishing my studio filled the first two years here. It wasn’t a super easy time to create personal connections, but it has moved my fiber art in new directions.

I know from past moves that it takes me about two years to get my bearings. This time, it’s taken a bit longer. Social distancing, zoom meetings and social media are great, but… While that’s frustrating in some ways, the gift is there. The community is vibrant and I am jumping into the pool.

Launching “Sippizine,” the South Coast Massachusetts community culture journal is one way to spotlight our vibrant community. It’s exciting to see the first issue. I’m looking forward to the future.