Weaving as a Vocation

I've been thinking a lot lately about what I'd like to do when I'm finished with the dissertation.  I guess that makes sense since I'm almost finished with the dissertation.  While I've experienced a lot of down time with it recently (frenzy of work, then nothing for weeks, more frenzy...that sort of thing), it has occupied my brain and energy.  I'm "saving myself" for when I need to be in a frenzy and then recovering after the frenzy more than you'd think.

But, since I'm almost finished, I've been thinking how I will spend my time.  I'd really like to take back up my piano lessons.  Will try to find someone who teaches evenings or weekends.  I've also toyed with the idea of getting a French horn and learning to play again and possibly joining a local orchestra or band or something.  The one thing I miss about high school is the band.

Mostly, I've thought about whether I could quit the real world job and enter the studio--could I weave as a vocation?  The simple and easy answer to that is absolutely not.  I'd have to charge at least twice what I do and weave at least twice as much...and then get into a market where things were actually selling at a rate to support my yarn habit.  There's always the opportunity to open a store and see if I could make that fly.  I think in a different market than Hattiesburg I could, but I'd need money to set up a shop and I just don't have that.  So many things to think about, dream about, and hope that one day I can make it happen.

But I really would enjoy the opportunity to weave as a vocation--make it truly what I DO everyday.  Lately I've been dreaming of woven fabrics.  Last night's was awesome--this spotty white lacey thing.  This tells me that my brain is finally resting and coming to its own ideas of what I should be doing.

And how the PhD has anything to do with what I want to do with my life is a mystery I'm trying to solve on a daily basis...seriously, I should be finishing my studio piece if I were wanting to weave as a vocation.

Ah the curvy twists and turns that life takes.  And if you want to think WAY back, look at this blog post from January 2008 shortly after I got my loom.

Never Disappointing

The Annual Thornton Thimbler Quilt Bee never disappoints.  The 19th was no exception.  On the way home David asked our favorite highlight...so hard to pick one. 

• Mine:  Getting to spend time with my family
• Alyssa's:  Winning the quilt
• Elizabeth's:  Spending time with family (and not working)

Fun times.  I loved the literary event as always.  Watching Doreen rap was awesome.  Seeing Kirby's first quilt was also awesome.  Watching Alyssa win the quilt was fabulous.  Glad to have her officially inducted as a quilter...whether she's ready or not!  Getting to know Emma better was terrific. 

I think it's funny how somehow we manage to do similar themed events--even though we're all so very secretive.  I sit back and wonder how it is our brains can think so similarly.

So, now, I sit back and think about the 20th...what can I do that no one else will do?  How can the girls and I plan a lunch that will be impressive and unlike anything else?  I will have to do a lot of remembering over the next 12 months to plan ahead to June 2011...oh the anticipation is unBEElievable!

19th Annual Thornton Thimbler's Quilt Bee

The 19th annual Thornton Thimbler's Quilt Bee begins today.  I'll go tomorrow with my girls and am looking forward to the whole experience very much.  I have grown to love this weekend that we spend together each year having fun with family and quilting on a quilt.  We hardly ever finish despite adding an extra day and (now) 4 new people.  Things we do besides quilting?

• play games--made up, real, imaginary, etc., usually with prizes
• eat elaborately planned and prepared meals
• go out to dinner where people gawk at us--12 dressed up good-looking women usually draw some attention
• talk
• talk
• talk
• laugh
• laugh until we cry
• remember
• stay up too late
• tell (and write) stories

The bee has been extra-special to me because it allowed me to get to know my mother better.  As a person, not as my mother. I learned to appreciate who she is and her sense of humor and values.  I am so happy that I was able to break away from that traditional relationship we had and see her having fun with other people.  It allowed me to have more fun with her.  I certainly hope my daughters have had the same experience with me.  In addition, the bee has let me get to know my very special aunts and cousins.

It is a tradition like none other that I'm aware of.  Anytime I tell people about the quilt bee they are always curious about what we do and why.  And after I start talking (they'll eventually have to interupt to get me to shut up) they inevitably say, "Oh it's like a family reunion." Yes and no.  It is in that we're all family and get to spend time together but it's so much more than just a reunion.  I honestly believe it has become an "institution" in the Thornton family and I'm very proud to be a member of such a wonderful group!

Let the fun begin ladies!  But don't have all the fun today.  Save some for me tomorrow!

Bagatelle in A Minor by Beethoven

There really is a video here even though it doesn't look like it.  Hit the play button and enjoy!

Maybe I should have named her RheaLynn

Pearl Grew Ears this weekend!

The newest addition to my family

And her name is Pearl.  She's adorable and full of kitten energy.  Can't wait to go home and spend some time with that little ragamuffin!

What Have I been Doing?

So much, and none of it interesting.  Work has really been crazy busy and rather stressful of late.  I've had zero time and energy for blogging, weaving, reading, or otherwise enjoying life.  Things have finally slowed down and will hopefully maintain a regular pace so that I can keep up, have a life, and enjoy my job.  And don't get my wrong, I enjoy my job...just in littler pieces!  So, this is what I've been doing:

• conferencing with students
• interviewing and hiring peer mentors for our peer mentor program
• designing the training for our peer mentors
• meeting with our external evaluator
• meeting with our external consultant
• designing and delivering the training for our faculty advisors in the legal and ethical issues of advising
• designing and delivering the training for our professional staff in best practices of advising, intrusive advising and the legal and ethical issues of advising
• creating evaluation tools for all the above training
• managing our advisors as they began advising the students in my classes
• planning, designing activities and teaching 2 sections of a college success class (these are the pilot students who we will track for retention purposes and who are going through our advising model)
• grading assignments for the 2 sections I'm teaching

For fun I:

• Went to College Station and attended the season opener for the Texas Aggie football season
• Got my hair cut
• Went to bookclub
• Hosted my crafting group: The Crafty Vixens

And that's about it.  I hope to be back to more regular blogging soon.