INSIDE Crochet | COlUMn
Crochet goes wherever you go, as Bee discovered when a trip to California took an unexpected twist that revealed a truly extraordinary wonder. By Bee ClinCh
L
ocated a few hundred miles outside of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a section of empty and wild high desert that has a unique beauty and a pristine quality. It’s a must-see spot for anyone travelling in California who simply wants to experience a taste of the weird and wonderful!
City folk love to escape there for a weekend spent stargazing or enjoying the artistic flavour of the small, quirky towns that dot the landscape. It has attracted a coterie of rock musicians to record music or just soak up the ambience and a history of musical legend – U2’s eponymous album and the sad demise of Gram Parsons all colour the local scene. I stayed in the most delicious guesthouse, The Desert Lily, set down at the entrance of the park. The owner Carrie has captured the artistic vibe of the town without sacrificing comfort. Now, you might be wondering
Well, you’ve got to go to the World Famous
Crochet Museum.
where crochet could come into this but it does and from a most unexpected quarter…
The Museum
Over a bottle of wine, Carrie asked what I got up to and I had to confess to the crochet. “Well, you’ve got to go to the World Famous Crochet Museum,” she said. That stopped me in my tracks. But not for long. The next day, I went down to Joshua Tree town to visit the extraordinary museum. Despite being closed, I was able to snoop about and take some pictures.
The building itself is a former photomat booth, neatly recycled into this petite homage to all things crochet. Tucked behind a small gift shop and a fine address number (61855 Highway 62), the museum is a homage more to its founder Shari Elf and her passion for collecting crochet creativity – mainly of the poodle kind! Her crochet curator, Bunny, holds court on Shari’s website and I would like to just offer a quote that sums up the lovely, humorous mood of the entire place:
98 | INSIDE Crochet
left AnD ABOVe: Beautiful wild desert surrounds Joshua Tree’s hidden crochet treasure!
tOp: The World’s Famous Crochet Museum stands proud for all to marvel at.
“Some people think Shari makes these crochet animals, she does not… She only admires it and collects it for the museum. One of these days, she hopes to learn how but, for now, she would like to thank all of the anonymous folks (well, mostly old ladies – you know who you are) who went to all the trouble to make these lovely creations and to make the Crochet Museum possible.”
If you have the very good fortune of visiting California, then I recommend this amazing Crochet Museum. Find more crochet musings from Bee on her blog, my-
sewing-bee.blogspot.com
Crochetmuseum The WorLd’s oWn
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