Barbara Walker

I knew going to Sock Summit was out of the question. It is physically difficult for me to travel, and the funds just weren't there this year anyway. I am happier than I can properly express that it turned out to be such a magical event. I have enjoyed reading various blogs and posts from people who attended.
Although there are many wonderful gifted knitters I would have enjoyed meeting (Lucy Neatby, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Anna Zilboorg... the list would fill this blog page) I think what I would have looked forward to the most was getting to meet and express my admiration for Barbara G. Walker. She has been a part of my reading life since long before I was a knitter.
Her books inspired many women who were breaking free of old stereotypes. She writes about cultural anthropology, spirituality and religion based on ancient matriarchal societies.
From Wiki:
Barbara G. Walker describes herself as an athiest. In the book, The Skeptical Feminist: Discovering the Virgin, Mother, and Crone, she writes about her belief that there is no deity. However, she believes that people, and woman in particular, can use the image of the Goddess in their day-to-day lives. Her book Woman's Rituals: A Sourcebook is an attempt to show how she puts her "meditation techniques" into practice, and is meant as a guide for other women to do the same thing.
Then I rediscovered knitting, and started collecting knitting books, and there she was, as inspirational and innovative as ever.
Every time I read about the warmth and gratitude she met with at Sock Summit, I get a little choked up. Part of it may be because I wished so badly to be there, but mostly I am so deeply grateful that she was there to experience the honor in which she is held.

Thanks Barbara. And thank you Lynn, for bringing her a little of my love :-}
(image above is a quilt block I designed, back when I was quilting)