The Helpers

 

Had a conversation (via the internet) this morning with someone who is of the same mind as I am - life is about lifting others up, not putting them down.

Since the rise of Covid-19, I have seen a growth in presenters offering Zoom seminars and even on-line workshops.  Since meeting in person is not recommended at this time, the Helpers put their thinking caps on and turned to technology.

Events are being offered on line instead of in person.  Workshops, seminars, guild programs.  We have the means, we have the responsibility to act.

One of the best things to come out of this pandemic has been the opportunity to re-invent myself once again.  I just now accepted the offer to promote myself as someone who will do Zoom presentations - because I can.  (Well, working on it!)

This summer we were hooked up to fibre optic cable and got a new internet router which makes it possible for me to go down into my newly reorganized studio, set up for a Zoom presentation, and not disturb Doug while I do it.

Many others are working on the same thought - that just because we cannot meet in person doesn't mean that we can't continue to learn and interact with each other.

In Canada Thanksgiving is next Monday.  Health officials and governments (mostly provincial, who are responsible for health) are urging people to stay at home, not to gather in large groups.  My goal is to be able to publicly announce the line up for the Sunday Seminars by then, too.  Something to be grateful, thankful, for.  That we can still do this thing that we love.

Yesterday I collected photos off of the internet to go with the presenters for promotion and sent everything to the guild web maven.  And this morning I booked someone for August.  So I have a good start on the second half of 2021.

Heddlecraft will be listing presenters able and willing to do Zoom presentations, so watch for that if your guild is looking for people able to participate as speakers.

Look for the helpers, as Mr. Rogers was said to have advised.  Look for those lifting others up.  Helping when things look bleak.  Smoothing the road when it gets rough.

Light a candle or two.  More light is always better than too little.

Looking for lessons?  Craftsy has Janet Dawson's Learning to Weave 

Jane Stafford's On Line Guild.

Tien Chiu and Janet Dawson's courses and Weave a Longs on using colour in weaving.

Other resources - Long Thread Media and  Taproot Video for a variety of classes/workshops.

Publications - Long Thread and Heddlecraft.  The Ontario Guild has a magazine Fibre Focus, Guild of Canadian Weavers has a quarterly bulletin, comes with woven sample each issue.

And so many more.  I don't have a listing of all the on line events so watch for announcements on line.

Stay positive.  Stay optimistic.  Stay covid alert - until we can safely meet in person again.