Not knowing when my surgery would take place or how long it would take to recover, I cancelled all my commitments for teaching and vending for this year. Now that the surgery is done, I have been tentatively making bookings.
My first is doing the local guild program in April, then a two day workshop on lace weaves – I think the dates are April 25/26 although I’m going to have to check because it appears I didn’t actually write it down anywhere. (It was supposed to happen in March but I felt that was just too soon – and I was probably right.)
The next date of note is the HWSDA conference, this year taking place in Red Deer, Alberta. Doug and I will drive out and set up a vendor booth with yarns and some textiles. I didn’t apply to teach so the trip probably isn’t really worthwhile financially – believe me you don’t make a whole lot of money selling yarns. Normally I’m teaching, which helps to subsidize the booth. But with my health issues so much in the front of my mind, I decided that getting rid of some more of the yarn I bought to re-sell is probably A Good Thing. The conference happens in May and I’m really hoping for good weather for the drive.
In June is Olds Fibre Week at which we will be vending, plus I’ll be teaching Level Two again.
Beyond that, I’m reluctant to apply to teach anywhere because I just don’t know what state my health is going to be in. I have a feeling that my teaching is going to be confined to western Canada from now on. Or possibly the internet, if I can figure out what to do and find the energy to do it. With most bookings happening one to two years in advance, I just don’t know if I will be able to do it and I really don’t want to be in the position – again – of having to cancel events because of my health.
When I began weaving I really thought I’d be teaching well into my 70’s. Well, I may be, but it might be digitally, not in person.
Time will tell…