It feels like my life since becoming a production weaver has been one long stab at de-cluttering.
Since I have been working to earn an income from weaving, and there are so many steps that need to be done to get a warp into the loom, weave it, wet and dry finish it - I have always worked in batches. The warp is the initial batch - planning multiple items on it, winding the warp, dressing the loom (beaming, threading, tying on, weaving it off) - then wet finishing, dry finishing (or vice versa depending on the dry finishing involved), tagging, then storing until they are sold.
As a result there has been a constant heap of bins with warps in various stages of preparation, then bins of finishing (hemming, fringe twisting), etc.
When I taught, there were bins of yarn with drafts being prepared to be mailed out.
When I did publications, the number of bins increased exponentially.
With all of this creative activity, my life was similarly cluttered with teaching dates, publication dates, deadlines, soft and hard.
Finally I have come to the point in my life when all this activity is becoming less of an issue as I downsize my expectations, and therefore the number of deadlines, projects, teaching that I am willing to schedule.
Normally with the conference just six months away, I would have been loading up my calendar with deadlines post conference.
Right now I have a few - Olds College (if they want me) in July, one teaching event in September, then three craft fairs I have decided to do in Oct/Nov. But otherwise? I am not booking anything for the second half of the year.
Realization has dawned that not only can I downsize my calendar, I am actually looking forward to it.
Even more, I am looking forward to downsizing my stash, the general physical clutter in my studio, and even, maybe, in my house.
Currently reading The Woman who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone (the true story of love, spies and the unlikely heroine who outwitted America's enemies - Elizebeth Smith Friedman)
3 comments:
That book sounds fascinating - thanks for the recommendation! Simplifying and downsizing are two ways to reduce stress (so I'm told). I think it sounds like a great idea ... sadly, we couldn't manage to do it when we moved to a smaller house (hurray for storage units!), but hope to work on that this year.
I could not even contemplate downsizing to a smaller house until I'm done with production weaving. I included the woman's name because no where on the cover did it mention it. The book is written well and I'm wishing I had known Elizebeth - she sounds like quite a character. :)
CONGRATULATIONS to you for reducing your obligations!! I’m needing to consider that right now...can I/will I weave enough for my 2 good shows this summer, or will I drop one? If I drop one, which will I choose? Decisions, decisions.
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