Simple Pleasures…

Another week of intermittent connectivity, or not enough of a signal to actually post anything other than the occasional text.  And so it goes…

I just returned from probably the best teaching experience I’ve ever had, I adore teaching at Sievers Fiber School and though I say it each time I finish there, this was undoubtedly the greatest class, both in personalities and in talent, and dogged perseverance and tenacity.  Out of thirteen students, ten were making “Daryl Jacket’s”, the silhouette I use for teaching garment construction, and not only were they all different, but many of the new students made at least two garments and were planning number three.  All in four days.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  And my repeat students are bringing amazing skills and projects to the classroom, and I couldn’t be more proud.

The setting, the facilities, and the spirit of the administration at Sievers is sort of like dying and going to fiber heaven.  I can’t imagine ever having a bad experience there.  If you want a fiber retreat, as one of the students said in the Sunday night get acquainted session, “It isn’t summer without Sievers.”

I’m including a few highlights, everyone brings their own agenda to the table, even the beginners, most of whom really aren’t beginners, but need the kind of intensive I’m offering to get them back on track sewing garments from their special fabrics, many are handweavers.  Cindy has taken this class so many times I think she could teach it, but each year she comes with the most amazing fabric, and this year’s didn’t disappoint.  She wove her friend’s alpaca, after having it commercially spun, not a person passed her table that didn’t reach out and pet her jacket.  Cheryl is a skilled sewer, and new weaver, she wanted to include her first handwoven sample strip, narrow as it is, in her jacket.

Nancy brought a fun madras pieced and quilted fabric, quite challenging to cut out, and she worked tirelessly to make it become a fantastic jacket.  Her table mate Peggy brought a basket of oddities, and was able to piece them together into quite the fun jacket, as did Karen who also brought a wonderful basket of mixed fabrics and fibers, and created two distinct garments, both variations on the “Daryl Jacket”.

Cindy E, an alpaca/sheep farmer, also created two garments, the second from a small piece of handwoven alpaca from her own animals.  There were lots of squeals of delight in this class, along with some very late nights, and the occasional adult libation.  Washington Island weather was exceptional, not too hot during the day, and beautifully cool and breezy at night.  Great sleeping weather.

I’m home now, arriving late on Friday.  I put together a presentation for another online class through Weavolution, which I gave this morning, while I was in the air enroute to Newark via Cleveland.  And I knit.  And I read.  And I took time to chill.

My entire family arrived home just before me, so this weekend I got to spend with my husband and kids for the first time in a long time.  He flew in from Saudi Arabia on Thursday, and faced much of the same re-entry crap I usually do.  The airconditioning system is permanently down, at least in our bedroom wing, and looks like it will have to be replaced…  Another $5,000…  Oh well, it’s only money…  Fortunately it is actually chilly outside, with a steady rain, which the parched ground and thirsty plants are just loving.

Kevin and I spent Saturday puttering around in the yard.  We weeded, making the smallest of dents in an overwhelming property of lush gardens and ponds.  We cleaned up, we picked up, and then we just sat together on the swing under the gazebo.  We quietly watched the busy birds, squirrels, butterflies, and chipmunks doing their thing, and enjoyed the oasis we’ve created in the 30+ years we’ve been in this house.  In the distance we heard some odd music, eventually realizing the sound was from an old fashioned Good Humor ice cream truck.  I ran out to the front yard to flag him down, and like little kids in the summertime, we got our popsicles and resumed our swing sitting.  I’m glad to have my buddy back, even if it is only for a few days, since I’m leaving again on Wednesday for Los Angeles and the American Sewing Guild conference.  And so it goes…

And today, in the rain, we took Brianna college dorm room shopping, the colors this year are plum and lime, fortunately her favorite colors, so we picked up all the little items that make a dorm fun and cozy, all of which I’m sure won’t get used since most of what she owns will end up in heaps on the floor.  Just saying…

And last night Brianna dug out her loom, to finish beaming her first project on the new puppy, her graduation gift.  She chose a cone of acid orange and a cone of yellow chenille I’ve had on shelves for awhile, and wove up a structure from the recent Robyn Spady workshop, a four shaft diversified plain weave on six shafts.  She was able to weave a couple of rows and is so pleased.  I realized I’m going to have to find her a bobbin winder, she needs the narrow shaft of the Swedish type, which is more than $100.  Oh well.  We spent that on dorm do-dahs…

Stay tuned…