An Interview with Sue Kenyon
by Gwen Blakley-Kinsler
Before we ever met, Sue and I were crochet pen pals. I lived in Mexico City and she lived in Libertyville, IL. I still remember our first meeting face to face in a restaurant after I returned to Rolling Meadows in 1992. Did we each wear a granny square vest or carry a beaded purse to identify ourselves? That part is hazy! Immediately we were “linked” by our love of crochet.
Together we planned and presented the first Annual Chain Link Crochet Conference in 1994 that is now sponsored by the Crochet Guild of America, a not-for-profit organization that was launched that weekend.
Sue says she taught herself to sew in 1967 and to crochet in 1969. “I have taken many classes and workshops over the years and went back to school at Barat College in 1980. I juggled young children and classes and in 1985 I got my BA Degree in Arts Psychology. I have struggled with what or who I am and all of this taught me what I don’t want to do. My conclusion: I am truly a fiber person who loves to embellish with beads.”
Sue says that she has always sewn and has tried many other techniques, but crochet is the craft that has been the most consistent in her life. “For seven years I ran a business, “Hooked on Sweats,” in which I designed crocheted yokes for sweatshirts and sold them at craft shows. One of these designs was published in Crochet Digest Magazine.
A friend belonged to BSGC and even before attending a meeting, by happenstance, Sue ended up alone at a weekend conference put on by the Bead Society of Washington. “I decided to talk to everyone and ask them about their particular interest in beads. My first question was to a woman at breakfast and she told me she had written a book called “The History of Beads.” I bought the book in the vendor market and later asked Lois Sherr Dubin to autograph it! She then sent me over to a man standing nearby for his autograph because he had written the forward to her book. He turned out to be Robert Liu!!”
Sue’s journey to BSGC continued that night in line for the vendors’ market, she met several members from Chicago. They invited her to the bar later and encouraged her to pay a visit to a Society meeting back home. The rest is history, but it seems that rubbing shoulders with important bead people at that weekend gathering in Washington was the precursor for all contacts Sue would make, people she would approach and programs she would plan over the six years she was vice president and program chair for BSGC! Sue says, “ignorance was bliss” that weekend in Washington, but the superb programs she has brought to us over the years show that her “ignorance” was short-lived!
Combining two things she loves: fiber and beads has been the mainstay of Sue’s work. Early on, she learned to do bead-crochet from Elsie Carl and a version of the Victorian-style rope has become her specialty. She began to take basic beading classes from NanC Meinhardt and along the way has taken innumerable workshops. “I was warned not to become a workshop junkie by Jason Pollen,” she says. “Now I am not taking so many classes; after a point they become distracting and it becomes time to get on with one’s own ideas.”
In 1992 Sue started making her “Enchanted Entities” after taking a class from Jackie Dodson on fetish dolls. “My work has always had a healing effect on me and laughter was an important part of my upbringing. I am sure my father’s strong sense of humor got him through his many visits to the hospital. The “entities” are short-term projects that are very satisfying to complete. They helped me keep my head above water when my mom was in the hospital.”
Sue says the concept, “Laughter Sounds the Same in Any Language,” laid dormant for about two years until she heard about the Anita Mayer project, “Mantles 2000: A Celebration of Women’s Journeys.” “I immediately went to the closet and pulled out the notes and the materials I had gathered.” The six ethnic entity dolls on Sue’s mantle represent Ireland, Scandinavia, Native America, Japan, Guatemala and Africa, all places that hold meaning for her. “These particular “entities” reflect the different techniques that I know: crochet, beadwork, cross stitch and machine embroidery. Anita’s guidance and encouragement was the opportunity I needed to complete the process and my mantle turned out exactly as I had originally planned.”
Admitting that she heaved a sigh of relief as she turned over the files to the new Program Chair, Patricia Jeffers. Sue goes on to say, “It is a freeing feeling to now have more time to myself, but I would not have done this for six years if I didn’t enjoy it.” I have grown as a person as I have watched the Bead Society grow. I have met a lot of people and we have such a diverse membership that I worked hard to bring lectures that addressed all the interests of our group. It has been a real kick working with all the program presenters; I gained knowledge and learned to stretch my creativity. These are the perks that come from volunteering, but it is time for new blood and fresh ideas.“
Asked about what her future holds, Sue says she now has more time to work on her own projects. “Now I am focusing on making another mantle that further explores the concept of laughter. I also plan to do more teaching.”
Good luck, Sue, and we will look forward to the fruits of your labor!
