One thing doing something like winding skeins allows for is the subconscious mind to pick away at things and one of the realizations I came to is that while I can dye yarn, I don’t actually want to any more. And so once these skeins are dyed I will be inventorying my dyes and will likely offer them for sale. I’ll no doubt keep some for myself, just in case I want to do some dyeing in the future, but I’ll have no need for the box of dyes that I currently have on hand. Rather than have it go bad through aging or getting damaged (by getting damp) it will be far better to sell them on to someone else who actually wants to dye yarn…
Another question that has been simmering away in the back of my mind is that of teaching. Darryl Lancaster has jumped into on line classes with a will and made them sound very attractive, indeed, from the stand point of the teacher. (Anyone taken a class – what are your thoughts from the stand point of a student?) Since the biggest expense involved in my traveling to teach is the actual cost of traveling, I’m seriously looking at offering classes via Weavolution and have come up with two topics that could quite easily be done in an on line format – Magic in the Water and A Good Yarn.
One of the things I’ll be doing in May is dropping my computer off to my computer wizard who will try to get a microphone working. Since the last upgrade the microphone I was using no longer worked – not sure if it is just an incompatibility issue or if the settings just weren’t correct.
Anyway, if people are interested in an on line class on either topic, let me know. Part of the impetus for exploring this venue for teaching will depend on interest. (i.e. students registering)
As I have been standing at the winder watching the counter run up I’ve had time to think about what I want to do with the rest of my life, for however long that may be. The events of the past four years have left me in no doubt about my mortality. If I have 20 years left, how do I want to spend those years? (In reality, in terms of travelling to teach I probably only have at most 10 years, if that). Teaching on line would extend the time I have for effective teaching – no more bustling through huge airports dragging heavy suitcases, sleeping in strange beds, eating foods that might make me sick. Seems pretty attractive.
The downside would be not having face to face interaction with others – although on line classes would at least allow for real time conversation.
But in terms of how I want to spend the next 20 years? Weaving is at the top of the list. Therefore I need to get back to finishing the weaving for the Big Project. I’m over the half way mark now but running out of time if I’m to get it done by my intended publication date. So I’m thinking I may have to revise that to September. The deadline is, after all, my own and can be changed if I need it to be different than originally planned.
One of the benefits of self-publishing. I know I won’t lose the contract because I miss my deadline. :^)
Currently reading Blink by Malcom Gladwell – interesting that this book should be subtitled The Power of Thinking Without Thinking when all I have been doing for the last couple of days is thinking very hard, indeed!