With the close of 2019 upon us, I'm giving some thought to the theme for my yearly project.
2019 was caught up with the move to the homestead and some of the basic decisions we've had to make. A great deal of time, effort, and resources are also going to be invested in the Homestead in 2020.
Upcoming posts will detail the progress we make on the Homestead, but my "Perfect Vision - 2020" theme will have far more to do with my fiber and art decisions.
I have gotten so much more production done when I have some underlying theme and goals. Three years ago was the 60 Years 60 Miles theme where I attempted to spin and ply 60 miles of yarn during the year. I was doing well, with over 37 miles before I got ill. Further progress was halted while I recovered, but I was on track for the goal.
I have several goals for this year:
- Build the garden beds, including dye and fiber plants
- Grow the cotton seeds I just obtained
- Spin 62 pounds of fiber in honor of having just reached 62 years of age. This would be in excess of 5 pounds per month, which is an ambitious target. I possibly have enough fiber in my stores for this target. If not, I hope the cotton that I grow this year will make up the difference.
- Weave the handspun into fabric for several projects. I have vague ideas of a couple wool blankets, cotton for historical re-enactment attire, and items for sale.
It may be a couple weeks before My Hero will be able to help me with the larger beds, but nothing is keeping me from filling five gallon buckets with some of the better soil on the property, and assembling rows of containers like I had at an apartment I had a few years ago.
The seed starting season is about six weeks out. I can put some attention on gathering containers for seed starting and setting up a space in the house for it.
The pound of cotton I just received needs to have the fluff picked off the seed - or ginned - but that can be done over the course of evening video watching.
With a little math, the 62 pounds breaks down to a little under 3 ounces of fiber spun per day. Every day.
It will be some months before My Hero gets the addition for my studio completed. This will keep me from putting my big loom together until the studio is available, but I can weave on triangle looms or frame looms until the studio is ready.
