The tradition of Irish crochet in my family

Irish Crochet is a tradition in my family that goes back to my great-grandmother on my mother's side.

Below you see a portrait, the one and only photograph of her in her youth.
This is Catherine Gibson Nethery Turner, who emigrated from County Tyrone, Ireland, in the late 1880s.

She was already a master lace maker.  She may have learned the tradition from one of the teachers who taught the Irish to make lace during the Great Famine.  She and her husband Christopher Turner settled in New York.

Catherine continued to make crochet items in small thread with tiny hooks that are barely visible to the eye, while raising four children in their brownstone apartment.  I have surviving examples of her work, such as the one shown here, and also her hooks, which were passed down to me by my grandmother.

In my own work, I make every effort to live up to the standards of quality passed down to me by my grandmother, Lillian Turner Horn.  She taught me to make things with meticulous attention to detail, and to have and eye for durability and utility, as well.  She made me to understand that my character would be reflected in these items!  I take that very seriously.

I adapt the tradition of Irish crochet in terms of what modern life is like, to suit the needs of today's women for a unique expression of quality and style.  I have added color and texture to the display, while still keeping to the traditional values.
Visit my Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/bettyofbigsur.com
to see how this tradition moves forward.

Below you can see an example of her work, a small collar intended to be worn by a girl.  It has boning in it to make it stand up around the young lady's neck.  Not very comfortable by today's standards!

Getting Simple

Heading out for a walk on the trail, one finds a vista like this one near the road entering the property.  Oaks and maples have a thick covering of moss, and the smell of pines, just behind you, fills your lungs with the fresh feeling of health and vitality.
visit

Waking up in the southern mountains of Big Sur is always a delight.  Songs of birds and the lovely chirps of small creatures add just the right sounds to your mornings as you hear only the sounds of the hills.  You may very well see various types of wildlife on your way through the woods.

It is easy to see how simple life really is without the distractions of too much information of too fast a style.  Give yourself the chance to really relax in nature and set your spirits free by coming to this delightful refuge.  Visit the south coast and find the hidden world of the back country.

Contact me at www.bettyofbigsur.com/retreats to arrange for your ideal nature retreat.
I will make every effort to ensure you a fantastic experience.

Working studio in the mountains

The brook shown at left is one of the water sources for the pond.  In winter, the little creek bubbles along and sometimes even roars as it ducks through the culvert beneath the road.

Here is a great example of how nature provides a clean and spontaneous flow of energy for the creative spirit.

Here in Mill Creek, Big Sur,
it is possible to find many such small streams, dry in summer but lush and full of life in winter.

As a working artist, I am always looking for examples of beauty and truth to take back to the studio and share with the world through my work.  Colors in the forest are fresh and change with each day.  Here in the mountains, we like to say that if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes.
So when you come to visit, bring layers of clothing for camping, hiking, bicycling, nature retreats of all kinds.
I will happily show you my studio and work process if you like, constantly evolving as it is.  My work space is in the main ranch house, where I also live.

You can see some of the drawings I have made of these mountains, reproduced as prints, by visiting my Etsy shop at  
www.etsy.com/shop/bettyofbigsur