Its a Wrap…

I finished the last class of the year.  You have no idea what a relief that is.  Navigating the planning and prep for my last half a dozen venues has been challenging to say the least, given the complications in my home life.  But I did it.  I finished all my commitments for the year, and that was actually important for me to see everything through.  I’m grateful for all the patient people out there, students and organizers alike.

And I’m really grateful for all those who said, “What can I do to help?” and for those who just showed up on my doorstep and rolled up their sleeves.  I couldn’t have done it without you all.

First things first.  We made it through Thanksgiving.  At least Thanksgiving day anyway.  I got to bring out my “good” dishes.  Johnson Brothers’ Friendly Village ironstone. Got it when I was married back in the 70’s.  Dishwasher friendly too.  I don’t use it often, but when I do, it sets a lovely table.  And I got to use my mother-in-law’s silver for the first time.  I’ve had her silver for ten years, so it shows how often I entertain, but I was proud to use it and feel like she was included in the festivities.  I miss her terribly.  (And yes, I looked at the photo and realized that my mother would have ironed this tablecloth before putting it on the table, but alas, I’m not my mother.)

My sisters and families descended upon us on Thanksgiving day, bringing all the food, wine, and good cheer.  I am so grateful for all the work they went to, in addition to driving a few hours each to get here.  It was as a family gathering should be.  Chaos, controversy, noise, wonderful smells, and lots and lots of love.  We all managed a family portrait outside.  I had a roaring fire greeting everyone in the wood stove and it quickly became apparent that my house was about 90 degrees and I couldn’t shut the thing off.  The weather was glorious for late November.

Saturday night, the lovely weekend ended abruptly with an ambulance ride to the ER for my poor husband, who still couldn’t eat, still suffered from the effects of the chemo/radiation, and my sister and her husband who had stayed to keep us company for the weekend followed us over and stayed by my side until about 2 am.  I will say that my husband needed to be in a safe place, with round the clock attention, fluids, and antibiotics and after three days in the hospital, he was released, still unable to hold food down, but at least stable.

I’m really happy to report that within 48 hours of his return it was as though a switch got flipped and suddenly all the nausea and vomiting stopped and he has begun to eat again, to hold food and fluid and meds down, and it was with glee this morning that he actually ate a toaster strudel for breakfast.  It is the small things that matter in life.  Who would have thought that a toaster strudel would be such a milestone?

And so by mid week I was feeling a bit panicked, I had a class on Saturday that required a lot of prep, and with all the commotion of a sick husband and holiday gatherings and appointments with everyone except God, and I was working on scheduling that as well, I wasn’t sure how I was going to pull off everything I needed to do to get ready.  Enter Diane.  Lovely wonderful creative Diane.  She called me and said, I can come tomorrow, I’ll do anything you need.  She didn’t ask if I needed help with anything, she just came.  I’m thinking that appointment I was making with God sort of worked out.

Diane helped me finish prepping looms, build another half dozen CD drop spindles, pack four large suitcases and by noon on Thursday I was prepped and packed and ready to go for Saturday.  A whole day early.  Diane and I walked into town, and we had lunch, and did girl stuff, and my confidence in angels appearing when most needed soared.

And so Saturday, I drove to the Newark Museum, an amazing often overlooked treasure in Northern NJ, to teach a one day workshop called Spin a Yarn, Weave a Story.

I had 15 eager and excited participants, and we jumped right in with homemade drop spindles, learning how to spin.  I provided lots of wool roving, some of it wild colors, and they kept at it.  By lunch time they had enough “art yarn” to add to the tapestry they would weave in the afternoon.  I use the park and draw method, which is to spin the spindle first, so there is an intense amount of twist in it, and then park the spindle between your legs while you work on the draw part, distributing the spin up the length of the fibers.  I call it learning to spin with training wheels.

After lunch and a lovely tour of the museum’s current exhibitions, all involving light and color, we returned to the classroom and I showed them how to weave quickly, filling up the small tapestry loom with lots of roving.  Once the loom was filled, areas could be opened and spread aside to add color and texture with art yarns, novelty yarns, and whatever was available on the table.  They were all so excited to be able to create with stuff at hand and simple equipment.  Amazing what they could accomplish in about 3 hours.

I gave them pre-cut sticks that helped frame the finished tapestry.  They were all beautiful, thoughtful, and personal.  It was a wonderful day.

Since I had finished my prep on Thursday, and had essentially a free day on Friday, I started in on one of my looms, weaving off a couple of dishtowels.  Finishing this warp today, which I started in October for a demo, also at the Newark museum, will give me some much needed Christmas gifts.  I propose a law that separates Thanksgiving and Christmas by more than four weeks.  I’m happy to say that all nine towels are woven, off the loom, through the wash and in the dryer as I write.  More later…

Stay tuned…