Chasing Heartwood
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I'm definitely not a professional blogger, website designer, photographer or really a professional anything at this stage in the game. So forgive my odd writing style, run on sentences and over use of the comma. This is just the my story of finding myself somewhere that I didn't really recognize and the journey to rebuild myself again by taking the time to enjoy the little things and zeroing in on what adventures stirred within me. Mid-life crisis or just letting life take it's course without setting sites on what was ahead? I'm really not sure. But I had lost myself in the shuffle of day to day responsibilities and life in general.
This is story of what has set this life change and site into motion:
In the beginning of 2017 my son showed an interest in archery. I had been wanting to get back into it and had purchased a bow a year or so earlier so I was excited to have someone to help me rekindle the hobby. We, as a family, began to attend events and quickly felt like we were a part of a huge community of traditional archers. I can not say enough about the warm welcome we received and the overwhelming offers of learning experiences that have come about since. Once a few of the members realized I was "into yarn and wool" they were offering for me to come sit and knit and spin yarn with them. I loved joining in but the thing that kept running through my mind was "I do this at home 7 days a week". Now don't take that the wrong way. I love joining in but I go to the events to learn about bows and shooting and all the good stuff that encompasses the "Longbow Lifestyle" that we were just getting into. (So PLEASE, don't stop asking me to join you. It's just a little tid bit on how I came to the creation of Chasing Heartwood. I love you all and want to continue knitting and spinning with you) I already knew that the fiber world part of "myself" existed and I was just on a journey to find something else to relax and enjoy. This was my vacation from work and wool/fiber was my actual career.
My son became completely enamored with archery. And after attending a primitive bow rendezvous, he not only decided that the move from a traditional bow to a primitive bow was what he wanted to make, he also decided to learn and engage with all things in a "primitive lifestyle". So, as a mother, I began marking the calendar with events and searching the internet for anything that could help him learn and grow from his new passion. A year later, we found ourselves back at the very event that had sparked this passion in him. This time I wanted to make my own bow like he had the year before. This would enable me to help him at home with the process more and not feel so helpless when he would become frustrated with his work.
Prior to my leaving for this event there was a conversation with a friend in which I realized that I really no longer had any hobbies. I homeschool my son, I dye wool and yarn and I pretty much do nothing else other than regular adulting responsibilities and I really wanted to find a hobby to enjoy and relax with. A get away of sorts and going camping and enjoying nature was on that list of potential activities. We arrived and set up camp. Not long after some friends arrived and I was asked if I brought my knitting and spinning wheel. I had not. There was a look of confusion on their face when I had replied "Nope, I left those at home. I brought my camera and hope to get some good pictures of everyone. I'm taking some time off."
The next morning we all got up and headed to the pavilion and began to split our logs into staves and chose which one we were going to make into our new bows. I had no idea what was about to happen. I thought I was going to learn the basics to help out my son. But, somewhere in the next hours I was completely taken in the process. When making a bow, one must "chase the ring" of the wood to create a strong back for the bow. I'm not going to get all technical on the bow making process but it's basically slowly shaving the layers of the rings back to a strong non-violated layer. You do this first by using draw knives and spoke shaves and other various wood working tools of sorts. The final steps of ring chasing become somewhat tedious with using a thin blade or cabinet scraper. (see header picture) Now I have already become more technical than I wanted but it was in that final "chasing of the ring" that I found myself in some sort of cathartic trance. This was very surprising to me. I have never been one for the extra fine details. I'm usually not a patient person with those sort of crafting projects. But this, for some unknown reason, called to me. The guys all laughed a little when I decided to use the cabinet scraper at the point I chose. Although, they all could relate. I could have used the harsher tools a bit longer but part of me was afraid that I'd ruin or violate the ring and have to start over chasing another. This was that impatience coming out a bit. Yes, it took me waaaaaaay longer than it should have but in that process I found something more than the shine and beauty of a piece of Osage, I had actually found part of myself. It was at that moment that it hit me that I knew I had to look at myself like the bow stave that rested in front of me. I needed to peel back the layers one by one and find the things that made me strong.
That, my friends, is how Chasing Heartwood has come about. It's funny how when we least expect to find that moment that explains it all, it slaps us in the face. I knew that this was my outlet, my sanctuary of sorts. Not just making a bow but the lifestyle that comes along with "all things nature". I had always loved being outdoors and taking time to actually see what was around me. And this is my first step. All I needed to do was take a moment to find it.
I now have a hobby.
I looks forward to sharing my adventure with you all. My plan is to share all the things I have learned and love along the way. I hope you enjoy it. I hope to share my barefooted nature journeys, fiber art techniques, archery adventures, recipes and all of those other things that I find while I'm "chasing my heartwood" and revisit the core that has made me who I have become today.
