Creative Bicycle Blogger Women: Dottie...

And last, but certainly not least,
D.O.T. is in the house...
I came across LGRAB
back when neither Dottie or Trish had a Dutch-style bicycle.
LGRAB was here and I stumbled upon it through another blog. I think it must have been sometime late in 2008 or early 2009.
Whenever it was, in blog years it seems like forever ago.
I was there during that first search,
and I have watched the evolution.
And of course,
being a Midwestern gal,
I am drawn to her fortitude and positive attitude.
Dottie may not think she has been creative, but I think she is terribly so.
It's not necessarily about picking a specific craft,
it can be done in words,
and in the mind,
and obviously she's got something going on...
When I think of Dottie's creativity,
I also think of her adventurous spirit and of course,
her ever increasing skills behind the camera.
You can find Dottie at Let's Go Ride a Bike and also at Dream Camera.



Dottie:

What is your preferred form of creative expression (i.e. knitting, printmaking, photography, sewing, etc.) and why?

Photography, because it's the only form of creative expression I'm any good at. I always wished I could be a creative person, but I'm more a consumer of creativity: reading novels and listening to music and gawking at art voraciously. At my age, I'd given up hope of developing any artistic talent, but I sort of stumbled into photography and now I'm obsessed with what my camera can create.

What is your preferred bicycle and why?

Choosing a specific bicycle among the three I own is impossible. My preferred type of bicycle has characteristics shared by all three: a city bike with a steel frame, sloped top tube, front basket, rear rack, fenders and a bell. This type of bicycle can take me all around town in any weather while wearing a skirt and ballet flats.

You are a woman who rides a bicycle who has a creative side. Tell us about that.

That statement would not have applied to me three short years ago, but yes, I now ride my bike everywhere and spend a lot of time on photography.

There has been great discussion throughout time of women being creative. I see our current time as one we have taken as our own when it comes to craft, creativity, and being a woman. Much different than say the time of our mothers. I feel the same about my bicycle and why I ride ~ not necessarily out of necessity, but a conscious decision. Do you ever think about this ~ what are your thoughts?

I think about this a lot on a personal level. By the time my mom was the age I am now, she had three daughters in elementary and high school. Pretty much the same story with my mother's mother. Both of them are talented painters, who create beautiful works of art without much formal art education or even much time to themselves. My mom is also skilled at crocheting, sewing and cooking. Unlike my sisters, I was never good at art and during my girlhood I sort of shunned traditional women's crafts. Now here I am a few months shy of 30 with a law career and no kids and I find myself drawn for the first time to that traditional crafty world. I'm learning to knit with a group of women at work - I never thought I'd want to knit! This change of heart may have to do with disillusionment with the traditional world of work and power.

I see a clear line for myself that links biking, crafting, creativity, and blogging. Do you see a connection between how you express yourself when being creative, being bikey and blogging?

Yes, I also see that type of connection. First, from a practical standpoint, a lot of what I photograph revolves around bicycling and places I see along the way, which I then blog about, using the photographs to illustrate my experiences. From a more philosophical standpoint, bicycling creates time for me to take in the world at a slower pace and let my mind wander. Writing about it all later allows me to be more introspective about everyday experiences.

Have you ever practiced your craft whilst riding your bicycle? :)

Absolutely. I always carry my camera (or cameras) with me on my bicycle and pull over any time something catches my eye. I also use my bicycle (or bicycles) as photographic muses.

What most inspires you?

Conversations with really smart, funny and friendly women inspire me more than anything else.

If you could not ride your bicycle or express yourself creatively, what would you do?

I suppose I'd spend even more time reading and listening to music than I do now - soaking up others' creativity.

Anything more you want to add?

Thank you so much for putting this series together. I've enjoyed reading everyone's interviews and I'm humbled to be among such wonderful company. Also, a huge debt of gratitude for sharing your own creative world here on My Hyggelig, an endless source of inspiration for me.



In some ways I am speechless on what to say about Dottie.
I think it is all really quite self evident.
A strong woman,
with a vision,
who rides beautiful bicycles,
reaches out with her smile,
and tells it like it is.
Roll on D.O.T.! roll on...



And this concludes what has been a lovely month here at my hyggelig.
I want to thank all of my Creative Bicycle Blogger Women for sharing this space with me.
I am honored by your presence, touched by your thoughtfulness, and appreciative of the time you gave me.

Happy 2011 Everyone!
And Cheers to a Creative and Bicycle Filled year!
See you back here soon...

Creative Bicycle Blogger Women: Kara...

Rolling in from the beautiful state of Utah....
Welcome Kara!
Kara and I connected over bicycles ~
she contacted me off-line in the midst of her search
for that perfect bicycle in 2009,
and like any good bicyclist,
I wrote back and rambled on about all things bike.
Not long after Kara landed on a Pashley Princess Sovereign.
Turns out, the Pashley isn't the only thing we share in common.
Kara is a gal after my own heart,
and what forming a community on the blogosphere is all about.
I appreciate that Kara is a crafty bicycle blogger.
I enjoy her posts about her cycling adventures,
but also her accomplishments
on the sewing machine
and with the knitting needles.
Kara also travels, which I love to do too.
And lastly, we both love a good British period drama...
It is always fun to connect with people
with whom you can relate!
You can find Kara at knitting lemonade.

left: Me in a hat I knit and my bike
right: Knits on the bike

Kara:

What is your preferred form of creative expression (i.e. knitting, printmaking, photography, sewing, knitting, etc.) and why?

I am a knitter, sewer, embroiderist, and occasional authoress.

What is your preferred bicycle and why?

I am lucky enough to have two bicycle loves: a Pashley Princess Sovereign and a Rivendell Betty Foy. Each one reflects a side of my personality. The Pashley is old-fashioned and romantic, while Betty is fun, fast, and adventurous.

You are a woman who rides a bicycle who has a creative side. Tell us about that.

I actually learned how to ride a bike 2 years ago. So I came to the joy of biking pretty late. The benefit of this, however, is that I am fully aware of my life before and after bicycling.

Before bicycling, I was always looking for ways to express myself, whether it was choosing a knit pattern that reflected my particular style, teaching myself to play the ukulele, or writing a novel. And when I finished a project, there would be this feeling of “Yup, this is me.” When I discovered bicycling, I felt that feeling again.

What amazed me was how naturally bicycling fit into my life. Like if someone was a knitter/sewer/embroiderist/occasional authoress, OF COURSE they would pick up bicycling next. It hit me like a big “Duh.”

There has been great discussion throughout time of women being creative. I see our current time as one we have taken as our own when it comes to craft, creativity, and being a woman. Much different than say the time of our mothers. I feel the same about my bicycle and why I ride ~ not necessarily out of necessity, but a conscious decision. Do you ever think about this ~ what are your thoughts?

There seems to be a common slogan in the crafting world: “This is not your mother’s [insert craft].” I don’t think it comes from a place that is putting down the women of previous generations. Instead I think it’s more about establishing independence. We practice this “old-fashioned womanfolk” activity because we want to, not because it’s expected of us. And because we do it out of passion and not necessity, the results tend to be personal and full of individuality. I think creativity is the best way that people can share with others who they are. So there is a need to really establish your creativity as a product of your own choices.

I see a clear line for myself that links biking, crafting, creativity, and blogging. Do you see a connection between how you express yourself when being creative, being bikey and blogging?

When I learned to knit, I started knitting lemonade, my blog. It was a way to share this new love and be a part of an online community. When I learned to ride a bike, I immediately turned to blogs to see others’ bicycle experiences. As I did with knitting, I discovered this whole community of women of substance and style that had a passion for bicycling. At that point, I turned my knitting blog into a creativity blog, so it could encompass all my interests including my newfound love for bicycles. By doing this, my blog helped me connect with so many people that I now consider kindred spirits, whether they are bicyclists or crafters. At this point, blogging goes so hand-in-hand with my creativity that it is hard to tell which one is driving the other.

Have you ever practiced your craft whilst riding your bicycle? :)

As a rule, I never knit and bike at the same time (to the relief of others around me.) But a lot of my knits lend themselves to a biking lifestyle. It is not unusual for me to wear something I made when I go on a bicycle ride. For instance, fingerless mitts are just the things for biking to work on those brisk mornings.

What most inspires you?

Others. Whether it is reading loads of blogs for crafting ideas, seeing cute bike outfits on flickr, or just talking with my friends and family. I find in interacting with other people (whether in real life or online), you truly find out who you are.

If you could not ride your bicycle or express yourself creatively, what would you do?

Perish the thought! I guess I would have to turn my attentions to my much-neglected dating life.

Also check Kara out on pinterest and flickr - good stuff going on there!

I feel like I could have written this post myself in many ways,

but not nearly as good as Kara did!

Stay crafty and stay bikey Kara~

ride on...

♡♡♡s

Creative Bicycle Blogger Women: LC...

All the way from Manchester,
to lil' ol' Minneapolis...
Welcome LC!
LC has been a great supporter of my hyggelig,
stopping by often to sprinkle some of her positivity on this space.
We share an interest in many things, not least of all,
the Pashley Princess Sovereign.
When I posted about my sadness in giving up the Pash,
LC was there supporting me, making me feel less guilty about saying goodbye
and giving me hope knowing someone as happy and lucky as she is on her Pashley may benefit.
I love to follow her allotment adventures, her creative side, her experiences as an Italian in England, her travels, and of course, her everyday adventures on her bicycle.
LC began her time here, but now...
You can find LC at Naturally Cycling: Manchester

left: me and bike

right: crochet cycling wrist warmers

LC:

What is your preferred bicycle and why?

What is your preferred form of creative expression (i.e. knitting, printmaking, photography, sewing, knitting, etc.) and why?
I love my bikes - a Pashley Princess Sovereign and a Dawes Sterling tourer - but my heart certainly belongs to my Pashley. I began cycling daily about 18months ago, going to work, doing the shopping, meeting friends, exploring my city - Manchester. As an architect, I find that cycling and creativity go hand in hand. Cycling gives me thinking time, to clear my mind, mull over new ideas; not to mention that I have the best problem solving moments when I am on the saddle. A part from my work, at leisure I enjoy photography and crocheting, I couldn't say which I prefer best. I can't quite put my finger on what it is specifically but my new found love for cycling has been a great spur for wanting to learn new craft skills like crochet, mostly as a renewed link to memories of my grandmother, who is now very ill, as well as progress my love for photography further.

You are a woman who rides a bicycle who has a creative side. Tell us about that.
There has been great discussion throughout time of women being creative. I see our current time as one we have taken as our own when it comes to craft, creativity, and being a woman. Much different than say the time of our mothers. I feel the same about my bicycle and why I ride ~ not necessarily out of necessity, but a conscious decision. Do you ever think about this ~ what are your thoughts?
Cycling has given me a new perspective on things, on everyday things that before I may have missed. I like carrying my camera with me all the time and on my bike, if I see something that captures my attention, I can easily take a detour and investigate further. I love this freedom that my bikes give me. The direct contact that I have with the environment as well as my body: the direct action of propelling my bike through my legs, arms, lungs, have no doubt given me a heightened experience of what I am, and of what I can do and achieve. As a woman working in the construction industry, I am aware of the expectations as well as stereotypes that still are placed upon gender difference - women v men - and I found a new self belief through my bikes and my everyday cycling that have resonated within other aspects of my life, and my ability to be creative, to think outside the box have certainly thrived thanks to this.

I see a clear line for myself that links biking, crafting, creativity, and blogging. Do you see a connection between how you express yourself when being creative, being bikey and blogging?
Being able to blog about my cycling adventures has given me a focus to record and go back on my learning experiences and changes that have come about as well as getting to know other, inspiring women cycling/creative bloggers out there. I have learnt greatly by reading other women's blogs and being inspired to push myself even more, to try new things I used to dismiss in the past. I am grateful for this cycling blogging community, which shares so much knowledge and information with ease and selflessness.

Have you ever practiced your craft whilst riding your bicycle? :)

The only 'craft' I could say I have practiced while riding has been taking photographs and videos while in motion, a very exhilarating experience especially when at speed (but on quiet roads for safety!)

If you could not ride your bicycle or express yourself creatively, what would you do?

Now that cycling is part of my daily life I don't know what I would do if I could not cycle; my bikes, especially my Pashley, have become an extension of my body so if I were not to cycle I would feel like I was missing a limb ;) Creativity is part of who I am, from my work to my craft and hobbies, to cooking a meal for my dear ones, to baking to relax... without creativity I feel I would descend into a very dark place... better not even think about it!


My favorite quote from LC:
Cycling has given me a new perspective on things,
on everyday things that before I may have missed.

So true that is!
Thank you LC for gracing this space!
ride on...
♡♡♡s

Creative Bicycle Blogger Women: Meli-g...

First up in the January Creative Bicycle Blogger Women guests posts is Meli-g.
Meli-G and I have been in the blogosphere together for a few years now,
she has been there cheering me on like a faithful friend
and sending me thoughtful notes, especially when I needed them most.
We share a love for the City (my hyggelig), creativity, good design and bicycles.
Endlessly inspiring, always positive, and in need of no introduction...
You can find Meli-G at Bikes and the City

left: foto of me riding by my friend Ade
right: me being artsy, by my friend Rio (donated poster for auction to the SFBC)

Meli-G:

What is your preferred form of creative expression and why?
documenting what I see, peeps I see in photos sans editing. I have an eye for color, type and crop without the tools that I actually know so well, I almost refuse to use them for blogging them. I love paper, drawing and sending postal mail. Speaking Spanish. and fashion. I love fashion and dressing up and colour and fashion.

What is your preferred bicycle and why?
Frenchie. My old-school-bad-ass steel blue mixte bike. I can ride while digesting, is that comfortable. Food, very important.

You are a woman who rides a bicycle who has a creative side. Tell us about that.
These brown eyes are out, hungry for culture, colour, beauty in the everyday and nature as interpreted by us the citizens who roam around. Pen and paper over smarthphones, any day. Seeing, smelling having your senses fully awake at 7am while riding a bicycle to work for me, there's no better way to start your day. OK, in addition to a big dose of caffeine and some neighborhood gossip.

There has been great discussion throughout time of women being creative. I see our current time as one we have taken as our own when it comes to craft, creativity, and being a woman. Much different than say the time of our mothers. I feel the same about my bicycle and why I ride ~ not necessarily out of necessity, but a conscious decision. Do you ever think about this ~ what are your thoughts?
My mom also grew up as a big-time city girl. It is the difference and gaps between generations, that make each decade so distinct yet so similar as we continue to have the same reasons and renegade rebellious attitudes to be independent and have our own accomplishments. I began riding because of a necessity, it wasn't to be cool or hip or fashionable. It would be the safest and most efficient way to go from my house, to work, to school, without being in an idling car, or a late bus stuck in traffic.

I see a clear line for myself that links biking, crafting, creativity, and blogging. Do you see a connection between how you express yourself when being creative, being bikey and blogging?
They are all connected. People read various blogs from various reasons. Coding, hacking, bikes, recipes – people blog for whatever reason. You find something you like and it has its own voice, and you become inspired/interested/emotional about something that catches your attention or keeps you coming back to a specific story, a specific place. It's like a good friend, being totally different, and yet agreeing in similar activities and ideas is what keeps you connected. The international connection and live-time publishing, is quite fantastic. For me, is the multiple countries and moving around that helps you understand situations better, understand the human condition. Also meeting new friends locally, has been awesome.

Have you ever practiced your craft whilst riding your bicycle?☺
Dodging doors every other block, everyday. or not eating sh*t on cable tracks for many years, is a craft of its own. Bike scars are sexy though.

What most inspires you?
Early mornings and late nights. Riding solo, riding in masses, riding with good friends. Women and their stories, their experiences to share, their energy and drama. My beautiful city, my beloved home state. 4inch high heels, old chucks. smiles, throwing a punch. kisses. coffee. bikes, and boys not so much, but they try.

If you could not ride your bicycle or express yourself creatively, what would you do? I don't think that is quite a realistic question. If it must be true, then probably have been reincarnated as a cat, which I'd probably be already blogged with some I CAN HAS NOMNOM across my face. Thanks for the q+a post Sig. Now off to ride mi bike! much love from califas, as always ♥xxo.meli


I personally love all of Meli-g's mural shots around The City.
This is one of my favorites.
I am pretty sure at some point they will all be compiled
and published in a book by Chronicle...

I had a dream last year that Meli-g, David Byrne, H, and I
were riding together in the Headlands.
It was a lovely, lovely dream, I hope some day to make it a reality...
Thanks Meli-g for sharing your time and thoughts here!
ride on and always be you...
-s♡♡♡