Hot topics for both consumers and webmarketers on WebmasterRadio.FM
Every Wednesday, 4PM Eastern.
L'Tanya Durante
Expert Guru
L'Tanya Durante has a passion for all things handcrafted and has been knitting and crocheting for more than 20 years. Though she has dabbled in cross stitch, sewing, and needlepoint, she considers knitting her favorite needlecraft.
L'Tanya's love for learning about different cultures led to her starting Black Purl Magazine, which she has published since 2004. Black Purl Magazine is an online needlecraft magazine that incorporates her love of culture, history, sociology and of course, needlecrafts.
L'Tanya uses her life coaching, teaching, writing and knitting experience as an opportunity to teach, tell and learn about our locally and globally rich histories through needlecrafts.
L'Tanya is a member of The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA)and is currently enrolled in the guild's Master Hand Knitting certification program.
Interview
What books have most influenced your life? I grew up in the church, so the Bible continues to influence my life.
"The Power of Now" helps me live more consciously and with more gratitude.
"The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "Eat to Live" just make so much sense and cut through the confusion that surrounds diets, nutrition and health.
Who are your favorite music artists? My music taste is ecclectic. I love "old" R & B artists like Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
My pre-teen has opened my taste up to include some hip hop and rap, especially Jay-Z.
A fan of the television show American Idol, I've also grown to love the music of Ruben Studdard, Fantasia and Kelly Clarkson.
What are your favorite websites and why? Artella (www.artellawordsandart.com)has something for every creative spirit.
Where else can people find you on the web? My online needlecraft magazine is my other home (www.black-purl-magazine.com) since I work on the site daily.
Black Purl Magazine has been in the news on sites such as About.com (http://crochet.about.com/od/newyear/tp/newyearparty.htm), Arizona Central (http://www.azcentral.com/home/crafty/articles/1106craft26.html), and The Detroit News craft blog (http://info.detnews.com/craftblog/index.cfm).
I've begun to write and submit articles related to knitting and other needlecrafts, so they may be reprinted on various sites.
What are your professional highlights? Starting Black Purl Magazine and developing its community of crafters has been particularly fulfilling.
I was recently asked to design a knit pattern for a book that will be published in 2008.
What advice do you have for the journey of life? Life can be difficult. By focusing on doing good work for others, i.e., paying it forward, community service work, etc., life's difficulties are put in perspective and are less oppressive.
What are you most passionate about in life? I have a passion for learning about and experiencing other cultures. I am fascinated by genealogy, deep ancestry, and migratory paths.
What ticks you off? Racism and child abuse.
Any thoughts or ideas on living a greener life? After reading "365 Ways to Save the Earth," and viewing "An Inconvenient Truth," I realize that we can all make a difference. Since then, my family and I have done a home energy audit, started recycling and reusing, and plan to start a family community service project that involves living a greener life.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I am nuts about commercial jingles and sing them all of the time.
Philosophy
One of my favorite quotes is "Water doesn't wash...it remembers." To me it means that we don't have to find our purpose, we just need to remember it. In order to live a more fulfilling life, it's important to slow down, live a more simple life, and listen.
Use this form to post feedback to this guru.
I have not yet had a chance to list by detailed project experience. Please check back soon.
3 Tips from L'Tanya Durante
Release Your Inner Designer - Be a Kid Again.
When was the last time you played with building blocks, Legos, or Dominos? Children's toys are great places to get design ideas and can be a source of inspiration to create beautiful, original pieces. Use Dominos to inspire an abstract sweater design; K'nex, a lace window treatment. Then either take a picture of the design, draw it, or use computer software to preserve a template to work from.
Too Busy To Knit? Plan Your Escape.
Time blocking, blocking out chunks of time and determining what you'll do during that period, is the middle ground between making a to-do list and having no order to your day other than "putting out fires." The fire department advises us to have an evacuation plan posted in case of an emergency. Similarly, once you've determined when your knitting time will be, post your own personal knitting escape plan, including times and days.
Have Your Cake and Knit Too.
Knitting birthday parties for adults and children have become a popular alternative to the traditional cake & gift parties. Many retail craft stores have classrooms that can be transformed into a party room where everyone works on a project, or invite an instructor to teach a home party workshop.
Founded in 2000, LifeTips offers fresh tips and advice to millions of readers. Become a Guru on a topic you're an expert in. Become a Sponsor and keep the tips flowing and traffic going to your website!
