Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Opportunities
Received this lovely bag of yarn goodness on Wednesday and have no where to unpack it because I've got two other warps in process and they both need the work table very soon. If I unpack the bag it will no longer be contained but spread out all over, so other than take a quick peek, it's quietly waiting in a corner.
Wednesday was recuperation day and I really didn't accomplish very much. Yesterday and today I've had appointments that have interrupted my weaving, today especially as the X-ray department was running way behind. Seems there are sick people at the hospital who take precedence! Not to mention equipment failure that needed fixing. So my 2:30 appointment became a 3:45 procedure. But the bone density scan is done. Not sure how long it will take to get the results. (Good thing I had my book with me. Really good thing!)
The AVL still needs to be put back together and the liftplan generated but the sample on the small loom is now officially at the half way point. With more committments over the weekend and appointments early in the week I'm not sure when I'll get to the end of it, but it's getting there.
While I was away I got an inquiry for an article but I've not been able to touch base with the editor - not sure if it's my email or hers. With a Nov. 14 deadline it looks like that opportunity may slip away. And if I don't get the warp off the AVL toot sweet, I may not get the samples for the designer done any time soon either.
Can you tell I'm feeling the pressure????
Seems like the life of an independent weaver is feast or famine - if you don't have any work to be done you panic about finding some, not to mention fret about the lack of income. Then the work seems to flood in and you scramble to get it all done on time.
My teaching calendar for 2013 is essentially full, especially if I get a contract from the designer. During 2014 there are fewer regional conferences so if I'm going to apply to any of them I will have to check the calendar and see when the application deadlines are. If anyone knows of smaller conferences looking for an instructor, let me know. So far I've got one date pencilled in for '14 but that's all.
After the weekend I will be going through the emails for the tour in Jan/Feb as I will want to mail out the yarns for those workshops needing them no later than mid-December - late enough to miss the Christmas mail crunch, early enough to arrive for the holiday in case the participants have 'spare' time to get their looms dressed before the workshops.
Booking dates a year in advance always makes it seem like everything is so far away, but the pages of the calendar flip over very quickly!
Currently reading The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Weaving Longevity
No pictures today - I'm still unpacking and getting stuff organized, but I wanted to recap the class in Texas.
The class had 8 participants all 'middle' aged or seniors. Several had problems that were preventing them from weaving as much as they would like.
The general public - and even many weavers! - have a very romantic notion of what weaving - the actual sit down at the loom and throw the shuttle, over and over and over again - is.
What that level of weaving is, is physically demanding. Our bodies can do repetitious tasks but if we do them against the grain, so to speak and don't take rest breaks to allow our muscles to recover, we can begin to have problems with stress leading to inflammation, pain and reduction of our ability to do the things we want to do. Proper posture and position at the loom is crucial to a long weaving life.
One person had already had both knees replaced and one of the replacements was 'coming apart' causing a lot of problems with inflammation - swelling and pain.
She expressed concern with the amount of strain she was feeling in that knee. I watched her weave, suggested slight adjustments to what she was doing and she proceeded to weave - 3 weaving sessions the first day. I was very concerned about her and had told her that as soon as she felt strain to stop. In weaving there is no such thing as 'no pain, no gain'.
The next day I asked her how she was feeling and she grinned a great big smile as she said that not only did she have no pain, the swelling in her knee had actually gone down.
Now I don't claim any credit for the improvement, but was delighted to hear that she was not hurting.
During lunch we had a show and tell and several of the other participants said that they had never woven so much and hurt so little as a result.
When I got home last night there was a program on tv showing someone weaving at an AVL. Right away I noticed that her elbows were lower than the breast beam.
This is very bad in the long run. If a weaver is sitting with hips lower than knees and elbows lower than the breast beam there are going to be physical ramifications to the body.
My goal in teaching these classes - in Texas and again next year at John C. Campbell, SEFAA in Atlanta, NEWS and so on is to try to let people know that if they sit poorly at a loom and weave for extended periods their bodies will rebel.
Weaving should be joyful, not painful.
The class had 8 participants all 'middle' aged or seniors. Several had problems that were preventing them from weaving as much as they would like.
The general public - and even many weavers! - have a very romantic notion of what weaving - the actual sit down at the loom and throw the shuttle, over and over and over again - is.
What that level of weaving is, is physically demanding. Our bodies can do repetitious tasks but if we do them against the grain, so to speak and don't take rest breaks to allow our muscles to recover, we can begin to have problems with stress leading to inflammation, pain and reduction of our ability to do the things we want to do. Proper posture and position at the loom is crucial to a long weaving life.
One person had already had both knees replaced and one of the replacements was 'coming apart' causing a lot of problems with inflammation - swelling and pain.
She expressed concern with the amount of strain she was feeling in that knee. I watched her weave, suggested slight adjustments to what she was doing and she proceeded to weave - 3 weaving sessions the first day. I was very concerned about her and had told her that as soon as she felt strain to stop. In weaving there is no such thing as 'no pain, no gain'.
The next day I asked her how she was feeling and she grinned a great big smile as she said that not only did she have no pain, the swelling in her knee had actually gone down.
Now I don't claim any credit for the improvement, but was delighted to hear that she was not hurting.
During lunch we had a show and tell and several of the other participants said that they had never woven so much and hurt so little as a result.
When I got home last night there was a program on tv showing someone weaving at an AVL. Right away I noticed that her elbows were lower than the breast beam.
This is very bad in the long run. If a weaver is sitting with hips lower than knees and elbows lower than the breast beam there are going to be physical ramifications to the body.
My goal in teaching these classes - in Texas and again next year at John C. Campbell, SEFAA in Atlanta, NEWS and so on is to try to let people know that if they sit poorly at a loom and weave for extended periods their bodies will rebel.
Weaving should be joyful, not painful.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
And God Laughed
They say that if you want to hear God laugh, tell him/her your plans.
I had a plan. It was a good one.
See, the older I get, the more light/dazzle sensitive my eyes are getting which makes driving on the highway in the dark very uncomfortable. So with darkness drawing in earlier and earlier I decided that I would not drive all the way home in one day. Instead I would leave my friend's at a respectable hour (any earlier than 9 am and you are part of the rush hour) and drive until it was dusk, which would get me to around Williams Lake, where upon I would stop and spend the night. The next day (that would be tomorrow) I would arise, not terribly early, and have an easy 4 hour or so drive home.
Can you hear the chuckling now?
I left my friend's house at about 5 minutes to 9, entered the highway at a few minutes after 9 am and noticed right away that the traffic was very heavy. But it was after 9 am and it should start easing soon, right?
Um, not so much.
The traffic stayed heavy and got thicker the closer to Seattle I got eventually becoming bumper to bumper, barely moving. Ah well, nothing to do but go on.
In the meantime I had a Leonard Cohen cd in the cd player and the nice smooth melodies kept me calm. Since I'm alone in the van I can also sing along if the spirit moves me.
With the traffic so heavy I let it continue to play over again as I didn't want to risk trying to change it. I like Leonard Cohen, after all.
It wasn't until well after Everett and about 2 and a half times through the cd before traffic thinned enough that I felt I could carefully change the cd. Hmm. That's odd. It didn't turn off when I pressed the off button. If you don't turn it off the radio will come on when you eject the cd until you get another one into it and I don't like the blaring static noise. Push the button again. Several times in quick succession. Nothing.
Well, what's up with that?
Try the eject button. Nope. Volume? Nope. Huh.
Okay, it's good old Leonard until I stop for lunch and turn the engine off.
Lunch time and a quick stop at Mount Vernon. Turn the ignition off and.....Leonard is still singing? How can that be?
Punch more buttons, getting desperate. (Need to pee!)
Ok, leave it play and go into the restaurant. It won't harm the battery too much to leave it for a bit.
Come back out, Leonard isn't singing but the light is still on. Puzzle over why this is happening and what I can do about it. Oh geez! Here's Leonard again. Punch the off button. Several times. Hit the mute button. Still nothing. Agh! I have to cross the border in a while - I always shut the cd off to talk to the customs agent. What am I going to do???? I'd turned the volume up before I left the driveway to highway volume - it's too high for trying to talk to someone.
Just before the border I stop and turn the van off hoping Leonard will go to sleep again, at least until I cross the border. Thirty minutes later, Leonard is still crooning with no stop in sight. Resigned I start the motor and head for the gate.
When it is my turn, LC is singing a very soft song - I can talk to the agent without too much difficulty. She lets me cross without any hassle. Phew!
But in reality I'm beginning to see that I am not going to be able to stay overnight somewhere. I don't want to mess around pulling fuses (if I even had something that would pull them out) because I'm not sure what all else is on the same fuse. I can't leave the cd player run all night - the battery might run down.
I listen to LC croon, over and over and over again while God laughs. 13 hours worth of crooning and laughing.
I drive home. All the way. The last 3 hours in the dark.
And Leonard? You know I like you but I trust you'll understand why I won't be playing you for a while. A good long while.....
I had a plan. It was a good one.
See, the older I get, the more light/dazzle sensitive my eyes are getting which makes driving on the highway in the dark very uncomfortable. So with darkness drawing in earlier and earlier I decided that I would not drive all the way home in one day. Instead I would leave my friend's at a respectable hour (any earlier than 9 am and you are part of the rush hour) and drive until it was dusk, which would get me to around Williams Lake, where upon I would stop and spend the night. The next day (that would be tomorrow) I would arise, not terribly early, and have an easy 4 hour or so drive home.
Can you hear the chuckling now?
I left my friend's house at about 5 minutes to 9, entered the highway at a few minutes after 9 am and noticed right away that the traffic was very heavy. But it was after 9 am and it should start easing soon, right?
Um, not so much.
The traffic stayed heavy and got thicker the closer to Seattle I got eventually becoming bumper to bumper, barely moving. Ah well, nothing to do but go on.
In the meantime I had a Leonard Cohen cd in the cd player and the nice smooth melodies kept me calm. Since I'm alone in the van I can also sing along if the spirit moves me.
With the traffic so heavy I let it continue to play over again as I didn't want to risk trying to change it. I like Leonard Cohen, after all.
It wasn't until well after Everett and about 2 and a half times through the cd before traffic thinned enough that I felt I could carefully change the cd. Hmm. That's odd. It didn't turn off when I pressed the off button. If you don't turn it off the radio will come on when you eject the cd until you get another one into it and I don't like the blaring static noise. Push the button again. Several times in quick succession. Nothing.
Well, what's up with that?
Try the eject button. Nope. Volume? Nope. Huh.
Okay, it's good old Leonard until I stop for lunch and turn the engine off.
Lunch time and a quick stop at Mount Vernon. Turn the ignition off and.....Leonard is still singing? How can that be?
Punch more buttons, getting desperate. (Need to pee!)
Ok, leave it play and go into the restaurant. It won't harm the battery too much to leave it for a bit.
Come back out, Leonard isn't singing but the light is still on. Puzzle over why this is happening and what I can do about it. Oh geez! Here's Leonard again. Punch the off button. Several times. Hit the mute button. Still nothing. Agh! I have to cross the border in a while - I always shut the cd off to talk to the customs agent. What am I going to do???? I'd turned the volume up before I left the driveway to highway volume - it's too high for trying to talk to someone.
Just before the border I stop and turn the van off hoping Leonard will go to sleep again, at least until I cross the border. Thirty minutes later, Leonard is still crooning with no stop in sight. Resigned I start the motor and head for the gate.
When it is my turn, LC is singing a very soft song - I can talk to the agent without too much difficulty. She lets me cross without any hassle. Phew!
But in reality I'm beginning to see that I am not going to be able to stay overnight somewhere. I don't want to mess around pulling fuses (if I even had something that would pull them out) because I'm not sure what all else is on the same fuse. I can't leave the cd player run all night - the battery might run down.
I listen to LC croon, over and over and over again while God laughs. 13 hours worth of crooning and laughing.
I drive home. All the way. The last 3 hours in the dark.
And Leonard? You know I like you but I trust you'll understand why I won't be playing you for a while. A good long while.....
Monday, September 24, 2012
Looking Northward
This morning I packed up my stock from the Fair, brought it back to my friend's house, re-inventoried with the tags for the Seattle guild sale, packed everything up ready for October, packed my bags/van and I'm ready to head north tomorrow morning.
I doubt I'll get all the way home as I have to stop in Quesnel to pick up my stuff there so I'll likely stay overnight in Williams Lake as it will be getting dark by the time I get there - probably. It's a long way and days are getting shorter 'up north'.
The trip to Texas was great, the people delightful. They have asked if I will go back, so stay tuned as details are figured out.
Recently I went and looked at my website from the public side (instead of from the publishing end of things) and realized I could do a whole lot better in terms of the information I provide on my Schedule page. So I will work on that when I get home - as time permits.
My plate is very full with appointments, committments, volunteer obligations and possible articles to sample for and write - not to mention, oh yes, the weaving - and all of that before the craft fairs actually begin mid-October. :}
Talking with another cancer (I am not fond of the term 'surviver' but can't come up with a better 'label') I realized that the greatest gift that the Big C experience has given me is renewed dedication in terms of living my life to the fullest. We only get one life to live (if you believe in re-incarnation, you still only get one life at a time!) so we have to make the most of our opportunities, deal with any challenges that come our way (because believe me, at some point some is going to be served in everyone's life!), focus on the positive, minimize the negative and look forward to the coming day with joy and delight whatever it may hold.
I doubt I'll get all the way home as I have to stop in Quesnel to pick up my stuff there so I'll likely stay overnight in Williams Lake as it will be getting dark by the time I get there - probably. It's a long way and days are getting shorter 'up north'.
The trip to Texas was great, the people delightful. They have asked if I will go back, so stay tuned as details are figured out.
Recently I went and looked at my website from the public side (instead of from the publishing end of things) and realized I could do a whole lot better in terms of the information I provide on my Schedule page. So I will work on that when I get home - as time permits.
My plate is very full with appointments, committments, volunteer obligations and possible articles to sample for and write - not to mention, oh yes, the weaving - and all of that before the craft fairs actually begin mid-October. :}
Talking with another cancer (I am not fond of the term 'surviver' but can't come up with a better 'label') I realized that the greatest gift that the Big C experience has given me is renewed dedication in terms of living my life to the fullest. We only get one life to live (if you believe in re-incarnation, you still only get one life at a time!) so we have to make the most of our opportunities, deal with any challenges that come our way (because believe me, at some point some is going to be served in everyone's life!), focus on the positive, minimize the negative and look forward to the coming day with joy and delight whatever it may hold.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Day 2
With just three days for the workshop I asked people to bring their loom already dressed so the first day we concentrated on posture and position and everyone wove on the warp they brought.
Today I demo'd how I dress the loom. Several people finished weaving yesterday or this morning so they are now dressing their looms while the rest finish weaving.
The weather has been lovely, sunny but not oven hot. The shop hosting the workshop is called WC Mercantile. Stephanie has been a most gracious hostess and the shop has lots of temptations.
I bought some fine alpaca/milk fibre blended yarn which I will sample once I am home. The combination intrigues me and I want to see how it weaves up and the results after wet finishing.
Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back. :^)
Today I demo'd how I dress the loom. Several people finished weaving yesterday or this morning so they are now dressing their looms while the rest finish weaving.
The weather has been lovely, sunny but not oven hot. The shop hosting the workshop is called WC Mercantile. Stephanie has been a most gracious hostess and the shop has lots of temptations.
I bought some fine alpaca/milk fibre blended yarn which I will sample once I am home. The combination intrigues me and I want to see how it weaves up and the results after wet finishing.
Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back. :^)
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Houston, TX
Arrived about thirty minutes late as the plane was late arriving in Seattle. My hostess had booked a limo for the two hour drive. I felt very pampered! My first time in a limo. ;)
There are eight in the class so a nice size. Not too large, I should be able to give everyone lots of attention.
Two hours difference so I am hoping I can get to sleep right away. Two hours doesn't seem like it should be an issue.
Looking forward to meeting the class tomorrow.
And I forgot to put my phone into the suitcase, so no photos! Unless I remember that the iPad also takes pictures. ;)
Going to go get my workshop stuff organized and head for bed with a book.
There are eight in the class so a nice size. Not too large, I should be able to give everyone lots of attention.
Two hours difference so I am hoping I can get to sleep right away. Two hours doesn't seem like it should be an issue.
Looking forward to meeting the class tomorrow.
And I forgot to put my phone into the suitcase, so no photos! Unless I remember that the iPad also takes pictures. ;)
Going to go get my workshop stuff organized and head for bed with a book.
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