The world sure feels different.
I feel different. I am lucky that I have a job that I can continue to do and that gives some focus to my days, because I definitely feel distracted. I am generally able to focus on a project fairly consistently, but the last few weeks, I have struggled with sticking with pretty much anything.
I’m guessing some of you know what I’m talking about. So I’m just going to say it again, it is okay to be rudderless for a bit. I’ve been struggling particularly with what to weave in my daily Change the Shed broadcasts.*
This should not be hard for me. I have been teaching tapestry for almost a decade now, I have a personal artistic practice, and I have scores of ideas of what to weave. But still, nothing seems to have quite the interest that it did a few months ago. So maybe I’ll weave about that. Or maybe I’ll just weave back and forth with some handspun. The color changes are fun and it takes away the stress of making any decisions. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t so much matter what I’m weaving but that I am weaving.
I have a tapestry all planned for my large loom. The project is 6 feet square and I just can’t seem to bring myself to warp the loom. The step that is stopping me is getting the finished cartoon enlarged. It is so easy to uses COVID-19 as an excuse. But even if my local print shop isn’t processing any orders (which they are because I just made myself check), I could use my projector to enlarge the cartoon myself. Nope, this is about resistance. I just don’t feel up to diving into a 6 foot square tapestry right now.
So I’m going to give myself a break. I’ll continue to work on the small pieces I use for teaching and for sketch tapestry pieces I’m showing on Change the Shed, but the big tapestry can wait another day, or week, or month. It is possible that I will wake up tomorrow ready to take it on. If not, small tapestries it is.**
The image below is in my studio set up for broadcasting on YouTube. This tapestry is one I finished this week. It was my word of the year, chosen in January. I had no idea how much I would need this word when I chose it.
Rebecca Mezoff weaving tapestry during #changetheshed broadcast on YouTube
If you want to hang out with me virtually, join me on YouTube every weekday at 10:30 am Mountain. I have been doing this for two weeks so far and am so grateful for all of you who bring your good cheer, great ideas about tapestry weaving, and support for the community to the gatherings. If you’re up for it, I’ll see you tomorrow.
*If you’re interested in joining me live on YouTube every weekday, I’ll be there from 10:30-11 am Mountain at THIS link. There is more information on my website HERE. This program is free, so if you want to hang out with people who weave tapestry, please join me. Also share this with your friends!
**If you want to dive into small tapestry making with me, my Little Looms course is still on sale for 25% off with code WeavingCalm. More information is HERE.