Sherri Woodard Coffey

… equals a perfect day for weaving.  I did a few things on the to-do list and ignored the rest.  The fire in the woodburning stove is going, and many inches have been woven today.  I hope to get to the part where the tapestry starts by the end of the day.  My focus is not great, but I do feel rested finally.  Two naps yesterday and an early night did the trick.  Tomorrow may mean more dreary weaving weather and a few more things from the list.  At some point I really do have to call a plumber for the kitchen sink.I went to the art supply store today to buy a few things for my grandson.  He’s a pretty good little artist, so I got a set of graphite pencils, good sharpener, eraser, and a sketchbook.  He may be too young for the pencils, but he wants a “real” compass.  Thought I’d make him what I call a design kit.  In my design kit, I keep a protractor, pencils, sharpener, compass, rulers, scissors, and whatever other stuff I may need.  Since I can roll it up, I carry it with me when I travel—you can never tell when the muse will visit.  Beck was really fascinated with the compass, so I have warned his mother that it a sharp point.  Now, the younger one is playing the piano.  Wonder how his parents would feel about a harmonica—with instructions for play the blues, of course!  

Unfortunately, I sat down last night with a calendar and realized how much there is to do in so little time.  I took my daughter to the airport today for her early flight, but she and her family will be returning in almost exactly two weeks.  Yikes!  I am so excited about having them here though.  I love having those little boys in the house and hearing them call for grandma.  Of course, it’s nice that their parents come with them, but …..

One of the major things to accomplish this week is a visit from the plumber for the very slow draining kitchen sink.  We will also have to discuss options for my shower repair while he is here.  I would also like to wiggle my nose and bring warmer weather back.  But today, it is a nap before all else and then perhaps some weaving time.  Weaving seems to bring peace and comfort to me, and that’s what I need.

In Loving Memory
Herman Woodard
12/15/1920 – 12/2/2009

My father was born in 1920, one of eleven children. He grew up in the hard times of the Depression; he worked hard all his life, and provided well for his own family of five children. He left home at an early age as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps Basically, this was the first time he had been away from home, unless you count going to Arkansas to bring his father’s body back for burial. With the CCC, he traveled to California and finished his CCC committment in Texas. Until the Parks Dept of Texas started interviewing men who had participated in this program, I did not know many of the details, just that he had participated in the program. In the interview, you could hear the tears in my father’s voice as he talked about his experiences. He was very thankful for this program because he learned new skills and could help out his family. The “boys” (and they were really young, most of them) got to keep a few dollars, and the rest was sent home to help the families. Here in Texas there are many outstanding projects from the program still in use. The Municipal Rose Garden in Fort Worth is a good example of one as are many of our state park facillities.

Amazingly, my mother, an only child who had graduated from high school at 15, was allowed to take the bus and travel to Corpus Christi (where he was serving in the Navy) to marry my father when she was only seventeen. I simply can’t imagine that now, but it was wartime, and my mother’s parents realized what a responsible man my father was. For his part, my father looked upon his father-in-law as a father. My parents later returned to their “home” area, and my father started a business. My parents were married 66 years.

All of us (we were a family of four girls and one boy) were expected to go to college. We were all made to feel that we could do whatever we wanted to do, and that hard work was what made one feel good. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren.  For me, the knowledge that I could do anything is probably the most valuable gift I have received from my father. 

Right before Thanksgiving, my father had a severe stroke. We were able to arrange hospice care and bring him home. Even though he appeared to be sleeping peacefully, it was hard for me to look at my father in that bed. This was my first experience with hospice, and I have come to believe that those nurses have a special calling. They took such wonderful care of my father, which was comforting to us all, especially my mother. I am grateful that he had a good, long life. I am grateful that my son was able to see him the day before this event happened, and that he was here to say his good-byes.  I am grateful that my daughter was able to be here for the funeral and the next few difficult days.  I am grateful for my father’s “can do” attitude. I am grateful that the grandchildren all have such wonderful memories of their grandfather (he was so patient with them). I am just grateful that I had him as a father.

how much to actually write here.  What’s totally private and what can be shared? 

My father had a massive stroke on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and, after a short stay in the hospital, is now at home with wonderful hospice care.  I am grateful that he can be at home with his wife of 66 years in a comfortable setting.  I am grateful that my son was here, saw his grandfather before this event, and was able to make his own personal good-byes in the hospital.  I am grateful for all the wonderful memories that all the grandchildren have.  I am grateful for my father.

Check out the Facebook Fan Page of the Fine Art Department.  There are lots of great artists represented there with some beautiful work.  The website itself is here.

This has been pretty much a non-weaving week for me after cutting off the last piece.  The whole time I was weaving it, I thought about the meditative quality that it seems to have for me.  Several others have also commented on that.  However, Meditation does not seem quite appropriate as a title, so I thought Peace might work.  Still thinking about that.  Any ideas?  I’m anxious to get to work on the next project, but have had many other things interfering.  Real life, you know… 

We joined the YMCA that’s fairly close by, so now workouts have to be scheduled in.  I’m sure that right now they take longer than they will later when we become more experienced with the machines.  And, of course, the Thanksgiving holiday is coming up.  Cleaning, cooking, etc.  The good news is that my son and daughter-in-law will be arriving sometime Monday. 

American Craft Council Show in Atlanta update:  I decided that I just don’t have enough inventory on hand right now and don’t think I can weave fast enough to get what I consider the best number of pieces finished in time.  And, since the cheapest booth costs $850, I decided to pass this year.  I felt sad when I sent in the form, but also felt like it was the correct response.  This lack of inventory has caused me to really focus and weave much more.  Every time I cut off a piece, I record the date and am amazed at how much faster I am getting pieces completed.  This week I will do the finishing on the last piece and get its official formal portrait made.  The guild is participating in a sale on December 5.  Boy, that’s coming up soon!

The TA DA Part

Okay, as usual, the picture isn’t great. This is the one that has just been cut off the loom. And, as usual, the colors are not quite right. Oh, well, I’ll try to get a “real” photo taken next week. But, you know, it is the holiday season and other things may have to take precedent. Like visiting with my son and daughter-in-law next week. They will be arriving on Monday, so maybe a little extra housework is in order. As I have been weaving I worried that the color gradations might be too subtle (and they are more subtle than this picture shows). But when I look at it laying on the floor, the gradations look good. I don’t have the final measurements yet, but the width is about 38.5 inches. If plans had worked as planned, it would be square, but I don’t think it is.

Studio

I am now going to clean the studio–good for the soul–and then tie on the warp again for the next project. If I have learned nothing else lately, it’s that tying on the warp immediately means that more weaving gets done.

For the first time in a really long time, I have had to take out small sections of my weaving.  Before I start the next change, I have to really think!  And even then it sometimes doesn’t seem to work…thinking that is. I’m hoping to get finished in the next couple of days, though. But for today, I’m going to get the next section started, so I’ll know where to start next, then move on to more mundane things like vacuuming and laundry.

The weather here has been wonderful for the last several days—sunshine, warm, and no rain.  However, that appears to be changing this week.  Expected cold front, maybe our first frost, and rain again. In anticipation, I brought firewood up to the porch so I’ll have something dry to start a fire with.  Love weaving in the winter with the fire going in the woodburning stove. 

I found a small tomato plant growing outside, so maybe I’ll plant it in something big and keep it covered for a while. There’s also a cucumber plant still blooming.  I used to have a small greenhouse and loved working in it in the middle of winter.  Alas, a tornado got the greenhouse, but no matter…I have a hard time making myself go outside in winter nowadays.  The idea of coldframes is appealing, but there again, you’ve got the cold part.

For a long time I have been wanting a small portable loom, and have tried several. I’ve looked at the Mirrix website, and they look good, but still can’t make a decision. What kind of shed do they get? Are they really portable? Will I need a stand for weaving? I recently saw a used one for sale, so the questions come to mind again. Anybody familiar with this type of loom?