Preparing for Takeoff

Quirk and its sweet red door.

I've been taking a yoga class for the last month.  At the start of each class we take a few minutes to breathe in and out, slowly and deeply.  It's a wonderful exercise, and I'm glad I found this class, because for the next few months I think I'm going to need that reminder to breathe.  You see, two days ago I had a meeting with Quirk Gallery, a local place about six blocks from my home, but one with a radius of influence and community presence infinitely larger than my own little blog and brand.  I was so excited (and a bit nervous), because little fool would be right at home amid the one-of-a-kind jewelery, home things, and art in this approachable and totally refreshing gallery.  Sitting in their back office, I piled scarves onto a desk cluttered with newly unpacked candy-toned jewelery and the rather exotic minutiae of a busy and thriving gallery.  Business was discussed.  Scarves were petted.  By the time I walked out the bright red front door, I had agreed to (1) assemble a set of around five scarves to leave for sale at Quirk, (2) give a trunk show and gallery talk in October, and (3) represent for handwoven textiles in Quirk's booth at the Craft and Design Show at the Virginia Science Museum in November.  Ummm...did I forget that I'm also sending eight scarves to the Winter Show in Greensboro at exactly the same time that all these exciting events are going down?  Well, no.  But did I, perhaps, when agreeing most joyfully to these amazing opportunities for little fool, forget that other habitual actions besides the beat-beat-beating of weaver at work must also take place between now and November...eating and sleeping, for example?  That's a big yes.  But who needs dinner?  Reinstate the old M&Ms and Coke Diet from grad school, I say!  No, I'm exaggerating.  I'm taking yoga class, remember?  I have learned a bit about balance.  And breathing.  So bring on the weaving marathon, and hooray for having concrete deadlines and big opportunities!  If anyone is looking for me over the next few months, I'm in my studio.