"Lolly's Yarn" by Anna Laurene Arnett
Perhaps it's a lot like the old saying about getting the cart before the horse, but it's an invigorating thrill to see a possible book cover before the final editing has begun.
This is mock-up number four in the evolutionary process of it's design. I'm sure there will be changes. I expect the subtitle to read, "Tales from the life of a *crafty lady," with the definition on the back: *craf-ty (kraf'tee) 2. Archaic Skillful; dexterous.
Mother taught me to knit when I was about eight. My first embroidery stitches could only be loved by me and possibly my mother, but they improved, and eventually I tackled crewel and needlepoint. After I married, my mother-in-law and I spent hours hand-quilting together, and she taught me to crochet and tat. I became hooked. By twenty-five I'd reached addiction. Unless I held a child in my lap, most of my sitting time included plying knitting needles or a crochet hook. I've latched, braided and woven rugs, indulged in macrame, and bobbin lace. I carry yarn with me and knit afghans or crochet granny squares when riding as passenger in cars or planes, or in waiting rooms. I study yarn in shops and usually buy at least a few balls. I've given away most of what I've made, and am the only one I know of who's crazy enough to stockpile knit and crocheted cotton dishcloths to be given away at my funeral.
If you're wondering where the Lolly came from, it was my childhood nickname. I once repudiated Lolly, but reclaimed it some four decades later. But that's another story.
Though basically my memoirs, Lolly's Yarn will read like a novel. I believe every life is unique. If told well, they'd all make great stories.
The dough of my memoirs is now mixed, ready to be rolled out and cut into exciting cookie shapes. It promises to show as complete a metamorphis as takes place in any baking process.
The left-over scraps (or bulk of the story) will be saved in a refrigerator freezer or file, ready to be re-rolled, shaped and baked in future volumes.
As yet, this, too, is a rough draft. Feel free to critique it.
Anna Arnett