Trying to Live with Intention and Joy

Today is the last day of September. It has been months since I have blogged. It seems that every week I have blogging on my to do list and then I get through a busy Thursday and realize that yet again I have come to the end of the day and don't have the energy to blog.

September Sunrise



I try to remember that I am a weaver out of enjoyment not commitment, I weave because it brings me pleasure and not because I have to do it to pay the rent. That goes for the Tuesday Weaver community and the blog. I show up because I want to (when I am in town) and I write because I want to. When it gets to be an obligation then I should probably find another creative outlet. That is not to say that I am not committed to the people who make up the Tuesday Weavers – they are a great group and wonderful individuals – I am there for them, too – because I want to be. It is about intention.

As we move in to the craft fair season, I need to keep all of this in perspective – I weave for fun. I know there are others of you who do this or want to do this as a significant part of your livelihood. I will be there to support and have fun but I need to remind myself not to over commit myself in the process or suddenly it will be an obligation. I have enough of those.

So here I am finally blogging – because I have slowed down long enough to remember to do it – on a Sunday. It isn't my day – but it is a free day on the schedule – at least last I knew.

So where am I and what am I doing. I am in Northern Michigan – looking out over beautiful Lake Charlevoix.

The View from in Front of the Cottage

The Cottage in the Glow of the Sunrise

Thursday's Sunrise

I have been here on and off for over 8 weeks since the middle of June. The first 5 weeks were work. I was President of a resort community and worked my tail off. This trip – 3 weeks in September and October - is purely down time and I have been very gentle with myself about making commitments to do much of anything.

But in the midst of managing staff and getting new Bylaws written and approved this summer I did get some weaving done. I have done a little so far this trip,too.

Just before I came up in June, I purchase a used rigid heddle loom. I knew that it would be easy to transport but more important easy to hide in a closet in my family cottage. In July, I wove three table runners for my daughter to take as host gifts in Japan. I tried a variation on what we at the center call Ellen's pattern. They are simple and basic – American – I thought. Two of the runners were packed in her suitcase – the third ready to ship mid October. The first host mother loved hers – my daughter will move in a couple of weeks – her next host mother will get the second one. I now understand that she may stay with as many as 6 host families – I guess I had better get weaving more table runners.



Prepping shuttles on the porch





Weaving on the porch



One of the table runners



Log Cabin Scarf



This trip I have woven a scarf. Trying to stretch my use of the rigid heddle I decided to do a variation of a log cabin structure. I used wool from a local fiber mill, Stonehedge Fibers in East Jordan. It is about 10 miles from the cottage. The colors are subtle and the pattern interesting but not over the top – I think I will like it when I get it wet finished at home. It will be very warm.

At the end of July there is a Fiber Festival at Castle Farms – an event venue about a mile from the cottage. Having completed my club obligations I treated myself to several hours at the festival. I talked to many vendors and touched lots of beautiful stuff. One vendor was selling rigid heddle looms. She had a her demo loom warped with a beautiful mohair shawl. Ooh, and then in the next room there was a vendor with beautiful mohair. Yes, I bought some – in two colors. I am ready to wind the warp this evening.....after I take a long afternoon walk on this beautiful Northern Michigan fall day.

From my walk...



The road behind the cottages



The road up from the beach



I will be back  - really I will - in a little over a week.

Be well, Ann