Madrona prequel

It is that time of year again, where red abounds in the stores.  Chocolate is ubiquitous.  The weather of the PNW is…unpredictable…shall we say? More importantly, though, Madrona is here!!!!  Sadly, this is the last year for Madrona.  However, there will be another festival to take it’s place for next year.  But, that is a concern for future me.

Let’s talk about current me.  More accurately, recent past me (?).  Yesterday was my travel day.  I got a call from Barb saying that Amtrak called her, and there were issues with the train, so we could wait until we were supposed to be in Tacoma to get our originally scheduled train, or they could bus us up to PDX, and we could get a different train to Tacoma.

This was frustrating to me because I love the train–not because of going from point A to point B; rather for the experience of the train.  If I wanted to ride the bus, I would have bought a bus ticket.  Oh well, needs must.  We made adjustments, and had a bus ride and a train ride, and a transfer.  Those of you who follow my Facebook or Instagram (latejedoracrafts on either one) saw my post of knitting on the bus.  Plan B.

Rather than talk about planning, though, lets talk about journey vs. destination.  Sometimes (particularly at these events), you may be asked if you are a process knitter (crafter), or a product knitter (crafter).  This is the crafter’s version of “are you an introvert or an extrovert”.  While there are a lot of people who can answer A or B, I’m not one of them.  I used to think I was B (to both questions).  I have since learned that I am more nuanced than that.  Dear Reader, please note how I spun being a pain in the tuchus into something snooty.  Please also feel free to steal that phrasing.

There are definitely times I just want to get somewhere…usually it’s that I just want to be home.  But just as frequently (I think more frequently now that I am older), the journey is a treat as well.  I think Barb was more frustrated than I about the change in plans.  Yesterday, it was probably helpful I knew where we were going, I was familiar with the process, and I knew we weren’t missing anything by the change in plans.

Similarly, with crafting, sometimes the process is just as enjoyable (or not) as the end product.  But, I need to have the right environment to enjoy the specific process.  Which is why I have so many projects in process at any given time.  My concert hats are wonderful at concerts.  Outside of those times, though? So boring, and I don’t have the patience for them, so I have other projects to fit that process.  Similarly, more complicated projects would not have an enjoyable process at some of the venues.

Pam is with me again.  Today, she is off for on Ikat weaving class.  This class is a “shortcut” method.  The traditional Ikat, as she explains it sounds terrible like you have to be *really* process oriented.  It involves weaving, painting, unweaving, and then reweaving.  This sounds like a lot of work for not enough payoff for me.  So…I am clearly not completely process oriented.  I’ll leave Ikat in her capable hands.

When people ask me what I’m weaving  or spinning, though, I do get frustrated that my answers of cloth and yarn respectively are not sufficient. Many people seem to feel like I have to have a grand plan for what I’m doing.  Again, people who know me outside of crafting can be more easily forgiven for assuming I do have a grand plan.  However, these are strangers.  Why is cloth or yarn not sufficient for them? Granted, I will eventually do something with the cloth or yarn, I just don’t know what yet.  Usually, “something” is code for sending it on it’s way to someone else.  But, if I never ended up with cloth or yarn, I wouldn’t likely engage in these activities. Weaving constantly with no payoff? I mean, it’s not a rock I have to push up a hill over and over, but it’s not far off.

So, we have 600 words to answer the question of destination or journey.  The answer by the way is it depends–and I’m OK with that.  I think the combination is also part of what made me OK with yesterday’s travel snafu’s.  On the one hand, I got to my destination sooner (destination).  On the other, I got to experience something different than the usual for the travel day (journey).

OK, I have to pick up the ladies now.  In the meantime, please enjoy the picture of the finished project from the bus yesterday (it was started before, I’m not that good).  Also note that the featured photo is the door art I was welcomed with.  (Still loving Penny Lane)