As far back as Nancy can remember, she has been fascinated with color and texture, especially in how they relate to nature. Growing up in the sprawling suburbs of southern California in the 60s and 70s meant that their little neighborhood was still surrounded by miles of hills and open areas…before the freeway was built and more tracts of homes took them over.
Nancy remembers her childhood making mud pies and cakes in the backyard and being distinctly aware of which dirt to use for the cake, the frosting, or the sprinkle of cocoa on the top…depending on the color or texture, of course! Even a bucket of water and an old paintbrush filled a lazy afternoon as she “painted” every surface she could find (trees, rocks, fences, our house) and watched how the color changed between wet and dry. She crafted, read, and explored her way through childhood, filling it up with as much adventure as one possibly could…and she has not stopped!
For Nancy, it was a natural progression to channel all of these childhood experiences and her love of nature into painting, sewing, and just about every fiber art I could learn. Her amazing Mom taught her how to sew, crochet, knit, and embroider, she discovered cross stitch on her own, and spent a week at John C. Campbell Folk School learning how to weave on a rigid heddle loom. "I absolutely love them all (and still manage to fit each of them into my life), but the art of knitting has captured my heart the most." The fact that simple knits and purls can transform into endless textures and patterns is completely and absolutely fascinating! The idea to combine the art of knitting with her love of the outdoors popped into her head one day as she was looking at a Joshua tree…and the concept for the National Park Inspired Beanies was born.
Exploring the National Parks of the U.S. and Canada continues to nurture that sense of adventure that is still with Nancy. Only now, she is inspired to bring the beautiful colors and textures of nature into her knitted beanie designs.
"I suppose it will take a lifetime to see all the parks, but that’s OK. A lifetime is all we have, and life is an adventure!”
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