This marks another addition to the regular feature here at little Indiana: Indiana Blogs! If you are an Indiana Blogger, please use the contact form and send me an email. You may be featured right here on little Indiana.
Indiana Blogs: Acton Creative
Acton Creative is an Indiana blog about corporate woman turned full-time artist and weaver Christine (Chris) Acton!
Her blog is an amazing look at weaving in action. You will see projects from beginning to end and everything in between. Photos show each part of the process–and they are gorgeous.
If you haven’t found your artsy hobby yet, Acton Creative may inspire you to give weaving a try!
Indiana Blogs: Acton Creative
Why did you start Acton Creative?
I started Acton Creative for a number of reasons!
Before I started the company, I worked in the corporate world. So, I was looking for a way to be my own boss, make my own decisions and generally, play by my own rules. Plus, I had discovered weaving and realized that I could happily weave all day long!
So, finding my passion, plus searching for a new work format, equaled Acton Creative! I have been blogging since October of 2011.
What about that name? Why Acton Creative?
When I was pondering a company name, I went through a number of cool, creative options that didn’t really relate to me or my work. So, in the end I decided to use a play on my last name – Acton. (Lucky for me, I have an agreeable last name!)
What are three of your most favorite posts?
I’m a visual sort of girl. So, typically my favorite posts have some of my favorite photos, too!
- Have You Sleyed Your Reed today? — Take a peek at this process (and how the two ways to handle it are compared to fans of two rival sports teams).
- The Exciting Conclusion — Clutch bags made from neckties!
- Happiness Is — Another project completed and thoughts.
What keeps you ready and raring to post? Why do you blog?
I really began blogging at the beginning of 2012 after I pow-wowed with everyone I know who has a blog. They all had different, fabulous bits of advice that I have since tried to take to heart.
First of all, I decided I would try to blog once a week, rain or shine.
Second, I chose to write about something that I really love – the weaving process. I have formatted the blog such that a reader can follow me through a project from picking out the yarn and planning, all the way to the finished fabric at the end.
I’ve found that most people know nothing about weaving. So, if I can spread the love even a little, it’s worth the time! So far, it has been great fun!
What would you like others to know about weaving? Is it hard to learn? Expensive?
Weaving is the coolest art form ever! I love the fact that long before the Bible, people were weaving!
Weaving can be as simple as making a pot holder on a red, plastic loom or as complicated as a computer-run Jacquard loom that creates huge bolts of gorgeous upholstery fabric!
While it isn’t a hard skill to learn, there are a number of steps involved. So, like most things, it’s just a matter of practice to become efficient. It certainly can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. A student loom can be under $100. And looms don’t become obsolete. So once you buy one, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to pass it down to your grandchildren so they can enjoy, too!
If you could only weave one sort of item and that was it, what would it be?
What a tricky question! When I first began weaving, I would create items like scarves and placemats. Those things were a perfect place to start and I still do them on occasion.
But, I have to say I really love the challenge of creating a whole bolt of fabric that continually changes style from beginning to end. When I design the fabric for my handbags, I make sure that no matter how the bags are cut from the fabric, no two bags are the same. I’ve found that I really enjoy that format! It gives me plenty of time to work through the colors and textures that I like while using the entire width of the loom (my loom has a 36″ width).
I’ll create anywhere from 6-1/2 yards to 13 yards at a time.
Is there anything else that you would like little Indiana readers to know about you or your blog?
I am very excited to be a part of little Indiana! I love the small town I live in (Chesterton) and I try to be involved with the local scene as much as possible. So, it’s a perfect fit, being associated with the website!
The goal is to present my blog as a sneak peek into the creative mind of a weaver! It’s a little structured, a lot colorful and a touch of crazy! I promise there will be lots of pretty pictures and hopefully a dialog anyone can follow. So, please drop by any time! I would love to have you!
A Weaver’s Life for Me
After watching weavers at work and seeing the end result–even I want to give it a go! Thanks to Chris Acton for stepping away from the loom and sharing her brightly-hued world with us!
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