The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines the word 'paradigm' as : example or pattern, esp. of inflexion of noun, verb etc. Show side by side.
A friend of ours, Miles Gregory, gave a lecture yesterday evening, based on the subject of paradigm changes. His Masters thesis related it to Shakespeare, but I won't go into that. In a short half-hour talk, Miles displayed and relayed theories to us, all theories that have caused paradigm changes in their fields. And I found it fascinating, which I did not expect.
And now I hope I'm not going to offend Miles by applying the term, 'paradigm change', to my life.
You see, I've begun to crochet.............. This is, I propose, a paradigm change in my life, or maybe I should just call it a miracle.
I was always one of those people who had tried to learn to crochet, but just never quite got it.
I was a knitter....... crochet was going to have to remain this physically impossible thing for me to achieve.
Then I fell into the hands of a most remarkable lady called Pat. Pat is eighty-one years old, and has lung cancer. I think she's extraordinary. She has been through some gruelling chemo-therapy, but looks un-touched, and fabulous. And she has a stoical, no-nonsense attitude to her situation. My impression is that under no circumstances am I to feel sorry for her, sympathetic is probably just about acceptable, after all, life goes on, I can hear her saying.
Throughout the time Pat was going through her chemo-therapy, she turned up each week to teach crochet classes, and I must say, still does! All her classes are free of charge, which is extraordinarily generous. She must have been feeling terribly ill most of the time, but her generosity led her, to not let her class down.
I presented myself to Pat as someone who has been on a course to learn to crochet, and annoyed the teacher with my ineptitude. I just couldn't hold the crochet hook properly, and my tension was a disaster area. No problem for Pat. (A relief to know I wasn't going to irritate her). It was music to my ears when she said she had not had a single person she hadn't been able to teach crochet to, in her sixty years of crocheting. These words gave me confidence!
And as you can see in these photographs, Pat succeeded in teaching me to crochet. I still prefer to knit, but I make sure I practise the crochet.
So can this momentous shift from not being able to crochet, to being a sort-of crocheter, be classed as a paradigm change? An insignificant one maybe............. which is probably a contradiction.
I must sew a pin to this corsage, and wear it.
.jpg)
The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines the word 'paradigm' as : example or pattern, esp. of inflexion of noun, verb etc. Show side by side.
A friend of ours, Miles Gregory, gave a lecture yesterday evening, based on the subject of paradigm changes. His Masters thesis related it to Shakespeare, but I won't go into that. In a short half-hour talk, Miles displayed and relayed theories to us, all theories that have caused paradigm changes in their fields. And I found it fascinating, which I did not expect.
And now I hope I'm not going to offend Miles by applying the term, 'paradigm change', to my life.
You see, I've begun to crochet.............. This is, I propose, a paradigm change in my life, or maybe I should just call it a miracle.
I was always one of those people who had tried to learn to crochet, but just never quite got it.
I was a knitter....... crochet was going to have to remain this physically impossible thing for me to achieve.
Then I fell into the hands of a most remarkable lady called Pat. Pat is eighty-one years old, and has lung cancer. I think she's extraordinary. She has been through some gruelling chemo-therapy, but looks un-touched, and fabulous. And she has a stoical, no-nonsense attitude to her situation. My impression is that under no circumstances am I to feel sorry for her, sympathetic is probably just about acceptable, after all, life goes on, I can hear her saying.
Throughout the time Pat was going through her chemo-therapy, she turned up each week to teach crochet classes, and I must say, still does! All her classes are free of charge, which is extraordinarily generous. She must have been feeling terribly ill most of the time, but her generosity led her, to not let her class down.
I presented myself to Pat as someone who has been on a course to learn to crochet, and annoyed the teacher with my ineptitude. I just couldn't hold the crochet hook properly, and my tension was a disaster area. No problem for Pat. (A relief to know I wasn't going to irritate her). It was music to my ears when she said she had not had a single person she hadn't been able to teach crochet to, in her sixty years of crocheting. These words gave me confidence!
And as you can see in these photographs, Pat succeeded in teaching me to crochet. I still prefer to knit, but I make sure I practise the crochet.
So can this momentous shift from not being able to crochet, to being a sort-of crocheter, be classed as a paradigm change? An insignificant one maybe............. which is probably a contradiction.
I must sew a pin to this corsage, and wear it.
Another talent to add to your portfolio of creative goodness, congratulations and welcome to the world of Hookers!
Your crochet is exceptionally neat and beautiful Vanessa, the corsage is incredibly delicate then, done with a 1.5mm hook (i'm using 3,5mm for my DK cotton yarn)..yes do attach a pin and model it for us :o), you know, so we can see the scale of it?!
Posted by: Lucy | February 01, 2008 at 11:11 AM
FORPAT********************************************* A SKY FULL OF GOLD STARS AND 10/10 ********************************************
WELL DONE VANESSA,IT IS HARD TO LEARN ,BUT LIKE BIKE RIDING YOU WILL NEVER FORGET...
Posted by: RI | February 01, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Pat sounds like a really lovely lady, and she has certainly taught you well, that flower corsage is gorgeous.
I think I need to find someone like Pat!
Posted by: driftwood | February 01, 2008 at 11:15 AM
my sister can crochet and it's something that i keep meaning to learn but keep putting off as it looks sooo complicated! However I might just pop over to her for a lesson...thanks!
Posted by: Sarah | February 01, 2008 at 12:00 PM
The flower is so pretty! Well done.
Posted by: Lin | February 01, 2008 at 01:22 PM
where is this woman? i must meet pat.. failing that, video her and put her on youtube will you? i just can't get it from books. well done on your new skills xx
Posted by: hazeljoy | February 02, 2008 at 12:52 PM
You ask can this shift (from knitter to 'hooker' be classed as a paradigm change...the twiddled with phrase "one mans meat is another mans poisson" plays with words and language, which is fun...shift/change? Americans speak of gear change levers and gear shift leavers to describe the same car fitting...
Thomas Kuhn in his 1962 'STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS' ......"modernism tries to teach us that logical change is a fundamental process" and Kuhn offers a parallel notion of paradigm change and shift..
Kuhn view is that paradigm shifts are not changes at all.... because they are equal in measure....
I think it is better to move on from paradigms to conceptual diversity....you have a wonderful range of diverse talent Vanessa...art, photography, writing and a sensitive care for your fellow creatures..
thankyou for brightening up our lives with your blog...it never fails to lift and stimulate
Posted by: skypilot61 (almost 62) | February 02, 2008 at 01:18 PM
It doesn't seem fair that you can go from neutral to fifth gear without blinking!
That crochet flower looks pretty spectacular to me.
Posted by: Alice C | February 02, 2008 at 06:15 PM
My coffee table is scattered at this very moment with crochet practice and I've just started my first easy project - a table runner! It's so different from knitting, isn't it? I feel really cack-handed when I'm doing it!
I'll look forward to seeing your projects...
Posted by: Dragonfly | February 02, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Gasp! I'm suppressing the urge to avert my eyes. A knitter. Crossing over to the Dark Side. ;)
Posted by: Jen | February 03, 2008 at 12:51 AM
wow Vanessa,
It was lovely to see you yesterday,
Your blog is great and has inspired me to get back to blogging.
You are a very talented lady, your paintings are wonderful and your knitting and crocheting.
You have a wonderful view of life, I hope that never changes because it is a beautiful gift and it makes other people happy.
By the way I love your beaded beads, please bring them to show me when you come for the knitting group in St Abbs, I did teach a little knitting with beads and wire but your beads look very difficult.
Well done on everything you have made and a special well done on your wonderful blog.
Louise x
Posted by: Louise | February 03, 2008 at 03:34 PM
I am desperate to learn to crotchet but like you I just can't seem to get the hang of it. It seems we all need a Pat to help us! You have given me hope though, and looking at your lovely corsage it only makes me want to try again at learning how to crotchet!
Jennie.
Posted by: Jennie | February 05, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I appear to have put 'crotchet' instead of 'crochet' LOL! You know what I meant though right? ;)
Posted by: Jennie | February 05, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Vanessa, love the corsage I was wondering where you got the pattern? Or should I say is there any chance of a copy of it!!
Posted by: Ros Lister | February 13, 2008 at 07:26 PM