I think this may be my favorite time of the year – the respite between the activity leading up to Christmas and the start of a new year. I never plan anything if I can help it. Somehow, with the glow of celebration still around me and satisfaction from my completed (or not) gift creations still intact, the new year seems full of promise. My friend’s blog (Resolutions…Just Say No) helped me address my resolution plans so I have decided to clean! Nothing like making that slate as blank as possible, right?
I must start with a definition of terms. My studio is never uncluttered. I do not need complete order to create; in fact, I think it gets in my way. I need to see my raw materials. But I can’t manage in complete chaos either. So I am taking this time to dive into my studio and figure out what I actually have. My goal: to straighten up what I want to keep and identify things that need to leave.
My husband built me beautiful shelves and drawers across the entire room to house my stash. And mostly it does. What doesn’t fit in the drawers or shelves tends to explode into baskets and stacks. So I tackled all the baskets and I found my tastes have changed since I started my fiber journey. How to decide what should stay (and be finished) and what should go? I have gathered the old starts in a special area – a contemplation spot. In the next week, I plan on examining each carefully, thinking about the original plan (can I remember it?), its current potential (is it looking like it will get there?), and, well, the love I feel for it. Would I wear what I make? Give it away? Sell it? If the answer is no, the yarn will be reclaimed and the project will be history. I have a number of these (here shown 2 sweaters, 1 baby garment, 1 stole, and 2 lace somethings), so I may find my self with new yarn aplenty!
As much as I love spinning, it is a relatively bulky craft. I have collected a few fleeces along my way, and processing them has seemed an overwhelming investment of time, especially in the winter. Thanks to a friend at our spinning group, I found a place that will make my fleeces into roving. Off they are going right away. I have them packed up in the car – tomorrow to the shipping store. And I am spinning, spinning, spinning. Because the best way to reduce the fiber is to turn it into yarn. Which I then get to knit and weave. Ideal, don’t you think?
Of course, my experience has affected my taste in weaving materials as well. I now know I will never use certain colors, weights, or types of fiber. But one woman’s loss is another person’s gain! I belong to one spinning group and two weaving groups. I can easily pass along my unwanted items to others who will use them. We also have a local thrift store whose proceeds support our island clinic. Many items can be donated to support their efforts and islanders often find the stray skein of wool, mohair or cotton for a small fraction of the original cost – all for a good cause.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Words to live by here in the Pacific Northwest and everywhere. If you want to find me, I am in front of the fire spinning for the next little while. I hope to have many skeins to share with you in the New Year!
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