Friday, January 11, 2008

MICHELLE BISHOP: HARLEM NEEDLE ARTS



I recieved this e-mail from Michelle Bishop a few days ago, I thought I would share it...

Happy New Year!

I am so sorry that I was not able to attend Isisara’s Kwanzaa. When Aliyah arrived home she was sick so I had to stay home.
Let me know if you are free next Monday January 14 so that we can get together. Aliyah will be away the entire week with her school.

Just wanted to let you know that Lowery Sims is no longer with the Studio Museum but now she is a curator at Museum of Art and Design (MAD) with David McFadden. I will be meeting with David and Lowery in a few weeks. Thelma Golden is now the new Executive Director of Studio Museum .

Also another piece of good news – Harlem Needle Arts Inc.non-profit status was approved by the IRS. HOORAY. It’s official. There has been so much going on I’ve been meditating every minute of every day.

Chat soon.

Peace and blessings,
Michelle

Michelle Bishop is the founder of a major part of the Needle Arts Movement in Harlem that has been going on for the past 5 yrs. This Hard working UpTown Sistah is Focued, Driven and No half-Stepper.

A Full Time Single Super-Mom,

A Full Time Homemaker

A Full Time Director of Harlem Needle Arts.

A Full Time Up-Holder of the Culture.

A Full Time Friend.

I first met Michelle about 4 summers ago one evening at a African Film Showing in a park in Harlem, (I just can't recall the name of the park at this moment).... But, anyway, Michelle was busy passing out flyers and talking to folks about crochet and knitting classes that she was starting in Harlem.

I introduced myself to her, we talked a little about needle arts, and the rest is history.

She has organized for the past 3 or 4 yrs, this amazing Bus Trip, from Harlem to Rhinebeck New York in the Fall, to The Sheep & Wool Festival, I really, really love this trip because I never saw so many Blue Ribbon livestock before, Alpaca's, lama's, goats, sheep, rabbit, sheep, sheep dogs, yarn spinner, any kind of felters, just stuff and more stuff connected to wool is at this festival. People come from across the country with their livestock, wools and yarns, it's out of this world.

I have gotten some of the best wools & silks that is made in this country at this event for a really good price. Plus they have wine maker, cheese maker, maple syrup, candies, honey bee people. Jellies, Jams, cider's, sausages and other prime meats straight from the farm. and it is always so beautiful, the leaves are changing into their vivid autumn colors this time of the year. It's just the place to be at that time of year.

This year Michelle left her corporate 9 - 5 gig as a Digital Information Technologist for 12 yrs. to work full time to build her EMPIRE,... I ment,... home based business/organization and raise her 13 year old daughter Aliyah.

Just to mention a few of her activities, she has curated a annual quilting exhibits at Lincoln Center in the summer for the past 3 yrs, she organized a regular quilting-bee with quilting sistah artist in Harlem, she has organized a clothing drive drive for a children's performance group from Kenya, caught in cold New York this past winter.

I'll just see... Remember the name... Michelle Bishop and The Harlem Needle Arts, and I am sure she will tell you all that you need to know.

harlemneedlearts@verizon.net