Paused/Not Paused

 

This shelving rack is now full - part of the production I accomplished during this time of pandemic.

Just because 'normal' is on hold, doesn't mean that things don't happen.  

I am privileged, and I know it.  I have a home, relatively secure income (retired), a craft I love and that I am no longer trying to earn an income from doing.

I am also no stranger to self-isolating.  From the time I broke my ankle, to chemo, to post surgical recovery, I had to figure out how to manage with not being able to weave or go out of my house (much).

My surgery happened in January, and with the cold and icy roads, I didn't feel 'safe'.  I didn't want to slip and fall, nor potentially cause damage in a car accident, even a minor one.  My body was 'broken' and had to heal before I felt able to leave the house.

So the pandemic, while disappointing in terms of the things that got cancelled, didn't much affect me.

Eventually, realizing that this was going to go on for a fairly long time, I decided to learn new technology and fought my way through getting more-or-less comfortable with Zoom.

I'm still not entirely comfortable, but so far?  It's working the way I need it to.

One of the reasons I hesitated as long as I did before attempting anything on line is that trying to teach a hands on craft is extremely difficult.  I don't have access to a team.  My digital video camera is too old and doesn't have high enough resolution to get really good close ups.  I don't have the space to set up to video, no lighting expert, make up expert, sound tech, no editor.  Really *good* video gets done by a team of specialists.  Nor can I be in front of the camera and behind it.

When I shifted my focus to the principles, things began to make more sense.  Here was an approach that I could make work, given my limited technology and resources.

So I have become a one person 'team'.  

The benefit to me on a personal level is that I find myself bringing the information into much greater clarity than previously.  The more I fine tune the Zoom presentations, the more I come to really consider all the layers of knowledge that are involved in the creation of textiles.

The first group got underway in January and the other two will begin this month.  I am working on the next programs and finding the process stimulating, intriguing, and in some ways exhausting, but in a good way.  

Without the 'pause' of the pandemic, I would never have even considered doing this.  Sometimes the detour is the best route to take.