I did have my new year fairly well planned out from January, but the delayed house move has caused a little disruption (and this is not a complaint, just a fact). So now my revised plans centre around Before house move and After house move.
The shop is nearly out of thread, so there’s something I can be getting on with Before house move..
I wind every skein of thread by hand. Some threads come on cones, which are relatively easy to wind, and some come in large hanks, which have to be strung up on the skein winder. It takes a couple of weeks to wind a batch of assorted threads for dyeing, and then the dyeing/washing/rinsing/drying/sorting/labelling/photographing/listing takes another couple of weeks or so.
I’m a one-woman operation, so it does take a while. I really need to try and keep on top of it more this year.
For After house move, I have lots of plans. I’d like to write a book proposal at some point, and I’d like to create another online course – I have a couple of ideas for that. I’d like to cultivate some sort of daily drawing/collage practice, just for my own development.
I also need to plan some free time into this year’s diary, which is something I overlooked last year. When thread and textiles are your hobby and your business, it can sometimes feel as if everything is work, because work expands to fill the available time. All work and no play is no good for anyone. So I’m cultivating a new spare time activity and am looking forward to spending a little time on something that is just for my own amusement. More on this later.
For now, back to winding.
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I was intrigued by your thread winding and would love to see photos of the whole process. You sound awfully busy, though, but if you find yourself with “extra” time, that would be a fun blog post to read!
ha, watch this space 🙂 Yes, I’m busy all the time – often weekends as well, which is why I need to block out some free time in the diary. There isn’t really much more to the thread winding than what I’ve shown here. It’s just a matter of winding smaller skeins from the large hank or cone so that they’re a more manageable size for dyeing.
I was hoping for more thread production. I seem to miss getting the colors of bronze, silver and gold and hope to this round. Thanks Karen!
thank you, MaryAnne – it will be a few weeks yet but I hope you’ll be able to find what you want. Incidentally, I have no idea how I make those colours – they mostly happen by accident 🤩
Yes, sensible to carve out time for yourself so it doesn’t all end up feeling like work. I too am looking forward to new thread “drops” as I am always behind the curve! Will you get the chance to stock the shop with supplies for your online course at some point? (I fully understand this may not be possible under your current circumstances!). And a plea from someone who is habitually indecisive: any chance of putting together a few mixed colour packs? Just a thought… Anyway, best wishes for the house move, it’s stressful even when relatively straightforward!
thanks so much Gaynor – I think the move could be a few weeks into February but I’ll believe it when I see it. There are fabric packs for the Stitch a Little Landscape course, but the threads are more general purpose and not targeted at anything specifically. I do usually do a few coordinated silk and cotton collection packs, but yes, mixed colours as well are a good idea. That may be later in the year as I’d need to wind some extra skeins for making up into packs. Never enough hours in the day!
Remember that repetitive things like winding can do nasty things to joints and muscles, and stop frequently to wriggle or dance around the living room (something I don’t do nearly enough – I promise to try to do more of it if you will!).
A good point, yes. I only wind for an hour or so at a time before taking a short break and I run two or three times a week. I have a pretty low boredom threshold, which probably helps. I wish I could listen to music while winding but I can’t help singing along and that makes me lose count… But I do very much like the idea of dancing – I think we have a deal there 😆
(((Karen))) one of the best things about being an artist is we can never get bored as there are so many dreams yet to make!
That’s so true, Mo – I’m really excited about the coming year and only hope I can fit in all the things I want to do.
I love the idea of your doing a book … but I do hope you find time to just be in the moment, to recharge your creative batteries and enjoy your new home once you get there
yes, I’m going to try really hard to work less – the last twelve months have been pretty much non stop. Absolutely not complaining! But it would be nice to have a little free time to play 🙂