Home sick, schmome sick

It's been a busy couple of days here at the WSW. I know it looks like I haven't posted since Monday, but due to technical difficulties that post didn't go up until Tuesday so bear with me.

I have been learning and doing some really rad stuff so far. I have started processing some flax type R fiber for one of the Artists in Residence (AIR), which means first an overnight soak and then today we cooked them down with soda ash. We will rinse them tomorrow and then put them in the fridge until it comes time to make her paper.

Today, on top of checking the fiber every 30 minutes I was helping another AIR with some binding. We are doing a basic kettle stitch, and I am learning new knots constantly. There was so much talk about a weaver's knot today that I looked it up, we also went over the square knot and a granny knot. Phew! Ooh, I was also sewing on a frame which is a first for me, and really satisfying. I love that you can just keep stacking the books one on top of another, I felt like the energizer bunny of bookbinding. On top of all the in studio commotion, we also have the front yard veggie garden completed. Pictures soon, its been raining everyday, we planted yesterday during a brief respite.

The icing on the cake for today was that I got an email from Lady J in Philly saying she was headed up this way for the weekend, and not a second too soon! I've been terribly homesick, which is a new feeling for me, and was planning on making a trip back to the region. I feel terrible leaving, you know, because I should be embracing the experience, and I could miss something really awesome here, but I've kind of been aching for some kitty cats and bacon bread and roof decks and familiar faces and conversations, and not feeling all those awkward silences. Now that Lady J is coming up though, I get the familiar face and lack of awkwardness, with out the travel time. I am hoping that this family visit will tide me over till next weekend, when Kfed is coming to visit, which will then have to keep me happy until the Summer Arts Institute is over.

Did I mention I am assisting some really awesome classes? Well I am, more to come on that later.