Calendars are important to me. I start looking for the following year's around August, and by about October I will have chosen one or two. The large visuals relate to something I want to aim in the coming year, colors, shapes, lines or mindset. And I have the smaller Cicely one to keep me grounded and write in work-related items only. I make a small ceremony for myself of buying calendars and a diary/appointment book every year, visualizing the cloths to come.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed Cicely had a diary, too. Or so I thought; it was near the diary section in the bookshop. Now, I know my Cicely products like the back of my hand, so I was in a slight panic not knowing of this new one, but it was perfect timing, and I took it down to have a look: A5 size, spiral bound, cover sketch very appropriate for where I am now. I opened the pages to see if I like the font and spacing for entries, and it was all white! No dates, no calendars, no lists of national holidays. And my mind went blank. Was that particular book faulty? Or is my 2011 going to be as blank as 2010?? Am I going to be as impotent for another whole year???
It turns out it wasn't a diary, it was a visual diary, a sketchbook, one I've coveted for years. But it took me a couple of dozen moments to gather my thoughts, the fragments of myself, to remember that, and I didn't feel relieved one bit.
I also had a strange Sunday. Outside was gloriously sunny, bright and hot, and I could have done anything I wanted to. I thought of putting on a warp, weaving the purple cotton piece, or designing a commission baby blanket. Or even reading up on one of the many structures I'm interested in right now; I could have gone over Sunner & Winter, return to Shadow or Color & Weave or Log Cabin, or just flip through the Eight Shaft book. But I didn't do it. I can't describe it, but the nearest I can tell is, I wasn't interested. I wasn't interested in textiles.
I could have read, drawn, cooked, gardened, whatever, but I was genuinely stunned I wasn't interested in textiles that I sat around contemplating the point. I better get a move on today before I loose my mojo completely.
In two days, it's December.
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I always thought if ever I do a giveaway on this blog, I would have liked to have woven a bunch of little things to give away to many folks. I haven't gotten around to it, but it so happens Cecily was having a special, and I actually got two calendars, and I'd like to share one with you.
To enter, please leave in the comment section your dream textile holiday and money is no object. It can be a workshop, visiting/revisiting a region or a museum or a particular weaver, or going somewhere to learn a particular technique. I'll draw one winner on a completely biased, subjective, "wish-I-thought-of-it" basis this coming Sunday afternoon New Zealand time. Multiple entries welcome.
8 comments:
This sounds too good to pass up, Meg! My dream textile holiday ~ spending a month in Italy traveling from Rome to Florence to Venice to Milan shopping for the most fabulous silk textiles in the world!
I hope to win!
Italy.... mmmmmm... Connie, I can see that picture of you sitting relaxed somewhere in Italy from your trip.
Meg, I've always wanted to visit the Hebrides and spend a month in a little cottage, weaving tweedy yardage in front of a window that looks out on the sea.
One of the most memorable books I've ever read, Margery, is "The life and Death of St Kilda" by one tom Steel, Fontana/Collins, 1975. I have no idea by I bought this book, because about the only textile things happening in our house was my mother knitting and me sewing ever so occasionally. I've read it several times since, and in 2003 we went as far (or near there) as Ullapool, but never closer. It appears one still needs to plan your trips far in advance and time it well.
I'll have to read it! The book that started the obsession for me was a more recent one, "Seasons on Harris" by David Yeadon. I began reading articles about the region, and the weavers there, and felt it might be the most wonderful place in the world to gather inspiration.
The book I mentioned, Margery, is not about the weaving, but about the evacuation of an Outer Hebrides island that was St Kilda. Though very near, even the language was different from where the people were moved to, which from memory was on the "main" island, so it must have been Harris? It was a very sad documentation of their old ways of life and how the transfer was done. Still, from afar, rather romantic.
I'm sorry for the delay in announcing that the winner of the giveaway is ... Connie Rose. However, for reminding me of one of my all time fav books, I have a wee prize for you, too, Margery.
Please send me your postal addresses. And thank you for your participation.
:-D
((... The delay was caused because for the last several months we've been experiencing intermittent Internet loss, of up to a dozen times a day. It gets me off silly computer games, but when I need it, it's embarrassing!...))
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