Hookin’ Up Project Day 4: Art, Like Bread

Today I’m honored to present to you day 4 of the Hookin’ Up Project and an interview with Caissa McClinton from her blog named Art, Like Bread.

So here we go:

CWT: Who taught you to crochet?

Caissa: I tried learning from a book-with fun fur and a 3.75 mm needle! Any crocheter can surmise why that wasn’t very successful! A co-worker found out I was trying to learn, and showed me the basics. After that, I learned everything else from Debbie Stoller’s book Stitch N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. CWT: I tried to crochet once with fun fur too and I immediately gave up and gave the yarn to my daughter who has much more patience than I do.

CWT: How long have you been crocheting?

Caissa: I started crocheting in 2008. It has become my main hobby since then! CWT: I just love hearing this from the younger people who I meet, it makes me smile:)

CWT: What are some your favorite things to crochet?

Caissa: I’ve been an accessory person for my entire life, so it’s natural that I love making projects that can liven up a lot of different outfits. I do lots of scarves, armwarmers, hats, and other accessories. I love wearing them and giving them away, too:) CWT: She is truly a crocheter, because all of us love to give our masterpieces away as gifts; of course only to people who appreciate them, right?

CWT: What are some of your favorite types of yarn or thread to crochet with?

Caissa: I live in Mexico, and here some of the common yarns from the U.S. are expensive imports. I have taken to discovering some of the local yarns, and my favorite brand from Mexico is Filati Estambres, which is AWESOME!!! They do some great, basic acrylics, blends, and luxury natural fibers. They have everything! I love Filati for so many reasons.

For cotton yarn, Omega has every yarn weight from thread to chunky. It’s a great option in Mexico, and I think it’s also available in the U.S. CWT: Yes Omega yarn is sold in the U.S., but only in a limited amount of colors and Sinfonia is the only kind that I can find at Hobby Lobby. Can I say how much I love Sinfonia? I wish they carried all of the colors in this particular yarn. Another great Mexican brand is Rebecca Pick, which is really inspiring, and I’ve met her several times. That’s like meeting Debbie Bliss!

Speaking of Debbie Bliss, I love her yarn as well. Prices for Debbie Bliss are on par here in Mexico. I also love the old standbys, Lion Brand and Red Heart! CWT: Some of my favorite types of yarn also.

CWT: Do you use patterns or make up your own?

Caissa: I usually use others patterns. I love crochet design, and I have designed quite a few items. I am looking into publishing options. Some of my favorite designers are the Double Stitch Twins, Linda Permann, and Roby Chachula. CWT: These are some of my favorite designers too. I think Caissa and I are a lot alike and hope we will become really good friends. That is what’s so much fun about blogging and being involved with projects like the Hookin’ Up Project, you get to meet people who like the same things that you like.

CWT: What is your occupation? (you can elaborate on this if you want) I’m always fascinated with people’s occupations; crocheters come from some very different walks of life as I once got a kick out of teaching a lawyer to crochet. I can image the stress of that position and then just sitting back after a long trial and relaxing with yarn and a crochet hook:)

Caissa: I am a 7^th grade English teacher! I love my job and I learn every day from my students. People usually retract in horror when they hear of my students’ ages, but I have to defend my dear students! I maintain that people remember what it *felt* like to be in 7^th grade, but most people do not know what it is like to *teach* 7^th grade. It’s awesome! I show my students my projects. They have been most fascinated by the Twinkie Chan crocheted food scarves🙂 CWT: I feel so old, I had to google Twinkie Chan to see what Caissa was talking about. You can see some of Twinkie Chan’s creations here. It looks like very fun stuff.

CWT: I would also love to hear how and why you got started blogging.

Caissa: Thank you for asking. That’s a really good question. I flirted with blogging for a few years before beginning in earnest.

I started a craft blog in order to get over my fears and simply put my creations out into the world, and to call it art. I chose the name Art, Like Bread because of a poem by Roque Dalton. The line that resonated with me was “I believe that the world is beautiful and that poetry, like bread, is for everyone.” I share that belief.

My mother always taught me to appreciate the beauty of nature: to look, to notice. The world *is* beautiful. There is inspiration in every culture, and the ability to explore other cultures is a luxurious necessity. Mutliculturism is a passion for me, and informed the entire trajectory of my education after high school. Multiculturalism is a personal, core value, and authentic intercultural interaction is of paramount importance in my life. Art can be the entryway because it is from the heart, and it touches us viscerally. If we approach multiculturalism from a place of love, we have a better chance.

I used to live in Berkshire County, MA, which is famous for the arts. (My hometown, Pittsfield, MA, was also the first American home of the Merino sheep!) Every time I was schmoozing at an art opening I never felt I could say I was an artist, although I felt like an artist inside. I would say, “I’m artistic, but not an artist.” This was mainly because I wasn’t creating anything I felt was original. For instance, I was folding lots of origami, but I was simply reproducing the forms. I was scrapbooking and making cards, but I wasn’t designing the stamps or paper.

This is one of her favorite pieces

Through blogging and listening to podcasts (Craftypod by Sister Diane, to be exact), I found crochet; which is a perfect medium for me, because I CAN design my own wearables, and the entire process feels more organic to me. Before I have a few balls of yarn and a hook, after I have something beautiful that I created with my own hands. Even if I am recreating another designers’ work, I usually modify it. I rarely use the suggested yarn. I feel that the final product is uniquely mine. It’s a great feeling. So through crochet and blogging, I’ve found that I am an artist, a crafter, and an artisan.:) CWT: Amen

Thank you Caissa for a fun interview and I do believe that you are truly an artist. I love your collage of beautiful creations above. Please go and visit Caissa’s blog and follow along with all her adventures. I like how Caissa blends a little bit about her personal life in with the fun artistic things that she’s doing. It was so much fun being involved with the Hookin’ Up Project and don’t forget there’s only 27 more days left, so race right over to Kathryn Vercillo’s blog here for all the other featured blogs and dates.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July and I’ll be talking to you real soon.