Reviewing

 

When I first started weaving I had little expectation of doing anything more than just that - weaving.  But I was tossed into the deep end of the teaching pool by my then instructor - with no training, little knowledge, but a love for this intriguing craft.  And the desire to share with others how much I loved it.

As time went on I began - tentatively - writing articles.  First was my local guild newsletter, then I knew someone who knew someone, and my first article in a real magazine appeared.  Which whetted my appetite.  I had always loved reading and writing, and soon enough I was submitting articles to other publications.

My knowledge expanded and deepened, and I kept finding more stuff out.  There was a small group of 'local' weavers who had enrolled into the Guild of Canadian Weavers master weaver program, and they kindly allowed me to join them.  I got to learn from them as they worked through the problems, then helped me as I began my journey.  One loaned me a small floor loom to weave the guild samples.

As the years went by I continued to teach, but from a more refined perspective - as I taught I learned about teaching, especially a hands on, skill based craft.

Weaving is a combination of a variety of different 'sciences' - from mathematics, to physics, to mechanics, to chemistry (if you want to dye your own yarn), and then wet finishing, which is a whole other 'science' that melds everything you have done to that point.  And where it can all go pear shaped.

Then the internet appeared and I joined in 1994, discovering chat groups.  And I began answering questions - because I could see the crying need for information that was difficult to find or access.  And I began to gain a 'reputation' about weaving related issues, from very beginner to more 'advanced'.

I fought against the perception that a 16 shaft dobby with fly shuttle and auto-cloth advance 'wasn't really weaving', not always successfully.  Some people just could not give up that myth.  I boldly purchased a computer assisted dobby - fighting the same 'fight' about it not being 'truly' weaving if the computer was doing everything for me.  Ahem.

I had people argue with me about all manner of things.  Some of them accepted the information (the receipts as 'they' say in today's parlance) and adjusted their attitudes.  Some...did not.

Some other weavers were supportive, which was gratefully acknowledged, but not all were.  Some played the 'the customer is always right' card when they were clearly wrong, blaming me for their faulty expectations.  I learned to shrug and move on.  Let them be mad.  Some of these learned that if you made a complaint 'public' I will respond publicly.

Over the years, learning to weave was not just a lesson about learning to weave, but how I wanted to live my life.

No matter how much some people insisted I wasn't a 'real' weaver because I was using a loom with more technology, I had to pay my bills, keep a roof over my head and food on the table.  If they were not willing to pay my prices they didn't get to choose how I was going to do my work.  I remained steady - in the main - although I did have to adjust my attitudes when I realized I was too wrapped up in my reality bubble and needed to make room for other approaches.

Next month is the 50th anniversary of beginning this journey.  As with life, it has had ups and downs and turn arounds.

Did I expect to write a book?  No.  There were plenty of weaving books around.  But information on wet finishing was very difficult to find so I wound up creating a book of reference samples - and as much of the essential information I could find - and tell 20th century weavers how to adapt 'ordinary' equipment to process their webs to create whole cloth.

I had only just finally sold the last of those books and converted the file into a pdf when I began working on another book.  During that time my mother became ill and we did a fairly extensive renovation of the house - stress city!  And mom died so there was all the closure of her 90 years to be done.  Let's say that the stress was kind of over the top and I wound up contacting someone who agreed to professionally edit the ms.   A god-send.

Thinking that was me sorted, regarding writing, two years ago I found myself taken by the scruff of the neck by my muse and spending about 2 hours a day banging the keyboard.  That was no sooner done and sent to blurb when I was once again directed by my muse to keep going.   Apparently I had one more 'book' in me.  Even though I self-published all my books, I still hired professional help to get them off to the printer/seller.  I know that the bigger the project, the less accurate perspective I have the closer to completion.

Today is Aug. 11.  On Aug. 28 it will be the one year 'anniversary' of the day I almost died - but didn't.

As I sit here and reflect, I am so grateful to all who have, throughout the years, been supportive and encouraging of my desire to share my love of this craft.

Recently, I was asked what is 'next' for me.  I honestly do not know.  I feel like there is something else, something more, that I am supposed to do and that I need to do it.  Of course my muse does not ever provide a map with X marks the spot, on it.  So instead I get up in the morning, creaking and moaning, trying to figure out what to do today.

If I just keep going, keep trying, keep accepting 'challenges' (write another article?  YES!) and eventually I will figure it out?  

In the meantime, I see from time to time that some of my messages have landed as people quote me (always a shock when I see it) or thank me for showing them a technique or help them solve a problem.  I have met so  many talented people who are working hard within the craft within the dream they have for themselves.  I love to see it.

Right now I have a friend who is dealing with health issues similar to my own and she has decided she wants to weave again.  So I invited her to come and re-introduce herself to the craft by weaving on my small loom.  Another friend wants to get back to weaving when she is done getting her degree.  A few local weavers are interested in my coming to guild with issues of WEFT and having a small weavers gathering.

So perhaps it isn't one 'big' thing I need to do but a multitude of 'little' things?

Tomorrow I get the next injection for my back and I will discuss tweaking my pain medication in hopes of reducing my pain some more.  I am at once hopeful and dreading it.  My hopes for less pain have been dashed over and over again.  Will this last, final, kick at the can work or?

Anyway if anyone has a little extra positive energy to send my way tomorrow at 3pm Pacific time, I'd appreciate any thoughts/prayers you can spare...

Books available at blurb and kofi