Inching Forward

 

Spent some time over the past couple of days trying to think how best to organize myself, given the extreme limits on my energy (if I had more energy, my available time would be plenty).

I think I've sorted out a few things.  One of them is the necessity to re-thread the sample warp in order to get the results they want to see and then be able to compare, to what I sent them already.

But the current warp is nearly finished.  Maybe Monday?  I doubt any sooner, given the above mentioned lack of energy...

For some of the issues of concern, I've figured out what I want to do, but there's that lack of energy to do them.  However, I'm slowly building up steam in order to get them done.  I hope.

A few weeks ago I made a promise to myself to *try* to reach out to people more.  Since I seem to be feeling a tiny bit 'better', I have contacted a few people.  It helped to get a couple of phone calls on my birthday, and the bd greetings on FB was a bit of a spur to me, too.  Plus the interview last week for HGA - it was so much fun.  I have missed talking weaving like I used to do.  However, the next issue of WEFT is being distributed, and I'm going to book a weaver's meeting to talk about it - and anything else anyone wants to chat about, in the guild room.  

We have not yet been particularly successful in pain management and I will be discussing modifying that when I see the pain doc on  Aug. 12.  It may take a while to get the 'adjustment' put into motion.  But it is one more thing to try, and I feel like I have to keep trying, as long as there is something else to tweak.

But it seems every day my world shrinks a little bit more and if I can prevent that, then I need to try to do that, too.

Today I am going to wrap my brain about beginning the 2nd article on cotton for WEFT, plus chart out the additional samples to add to the article (deadline Aug 30, so I need to crack on!).  Because I need to get that warp into the loom as soon as the current warp gets cut off the loom.  I think there are 4 or 5 more towels to weave, which means Monday at the earliest, given the plans for Sunday, which I'm looking forward to.  Of course my involvement may be minimal - I've invited someone to come weave on that warp on the Leclerc.  I can't weave on that loom right now, and it would be nice to clear it off in case I start feeling better enough to weave on it.  I don't hope for a cure, just more effective pain management that will be let me do things that I want to do.

One of the things I've been doing is scrolling through my photos, and frankly I'm not even saving most of the photos I take these days, in part because of the barriers Google and Windows are placing on my software which makes doing what *I* want to do more difficult.  (Piss off AI - seriously, right now!)  

However, I have a couple 1000 photos saved and I really ought to send a bunch to the 'garbage'.  Maybe one job I can do after I get the next back jab on the 12th of August.  

Anyway, when selecting the above photo, I was reminded that the curtains in my office are, in fact, handwoven.  I have several windows in this house with handwoven curtains/shades.

Kitchen:  Roman Shade - stitched double weave

Master bedroom - side panels and valance - huck lace stripes

Office - curtains - twill

Studio, all four windows have handwoven curtains (couple different weave structures)

During the interview for Textiles and Tea, someone asked about how much I wove when I was weaving for the fashion designer and myself - I shared that I averaged 240 yards a month - 200 for the fashion designer (60", 100 yards each warp) and 40 (49" width) yards for myself.  Someone expressed amazement - that meant I was weaving 10 yards a DAY.  Well, yes, that was my daily goal.  Frequently I would do more than that.  Because there were days that were needed to set up the loom and take care of business.

I never set out to set any kind of 'record' by weaving.  I just did what was necessary to get enough income to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.  I knew how to work 'hard', and was willing to do the job.  I am not the only one, by any means.  But most of 'us' didn't say a whole lot - we were too busy working.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, the interview is supposed to be uploaded to You Tube on the HGA channel.  If I notice it appearing, I'll post the link here.