2022 Summer Weaving Challenge: Week Two,
"Weave Something Challenging"
This week's challenge is hosted by Sandy Sternard, Mirrix's Operations Manager.
Planned or unplanned challenges make up our lives. One day you can wake up feeling great and the next with a headache. Someone you care about might get into an accident. A surgery could not go as planned. But we are human and we are taught to overcome challenges, whether it is by thinking of different ways to do things, researching helpful hints in books or online or simply by asking for help.
Recently, I had surgery on my right wrist. I am very right hand dominant. I thought I would just have no use of my hand so, before the surgery, I practiced using my left hand more and thought of different things that would make using just one hand easier.
To my surprise, I came out of surgery with a splint that went all the way up my upper arm and did not allow the use of my thumb. No one knows how much one uses their elbow or thumb until you don’t have it to use. I was home by myself and had to fend for myself. Everything I did I needed to think through or research how to do differently. Every time I failed, I learned from that and figured out new ways to proceed.
This experience has gotten me thinking about overcoming challenges and how we grow each time and push through the obstacles before us.
Weaving is a great chance to explore challenges and get out of our comfort zones.
I adore bead kits. Give me a kit that tells me what beads and what color to use and I'm happy.
When Mirrix's Prism Tapestry Kit came out, I decided that I needed to try tapestry. The colors are gorgeous and I thought, “that can’t be too hard." I was wrong. To some this project was a walk in the park, but to me it was terrifying. Everything from choosing which colors to blend to deciding when to start and stop using said colors to keeping in my head which direction I was weaving in was a challenge.
I was definitely out of my comfort zone and needed to ask for help. Eventually, it got easier and I'm so happy with my progress so far. I'm still not done with the tapestry, but I will finish it when my wrist heals and I'm proud of myself for overcoming my fear of tapestry weaving and of being in control of my color choices.
For your challenge this week, I want you to weave something that you find challenging.
For some of you, that might be finally getting up the courage to try weaving a circle in tapestry, for others it might be tackling a pick and pick or creating your own bead pattern. Do some research, think things through and ask for help. Remember there is never failure, it is just a learning curve!
Share:
We hope you have fun with this challenge! When you're finished with it, we encourage you to post pictures on social media! On Instagram and Facebook, use the hashtag #summerweavingchallenge on your public posts. You can also email me (elena@mirrixlooms.com) pictures and lessons from the challenge. We will share some of these in the coming weeks!
Remember, Summer Weaving Challenge awards will be given based on participation and achievements, so let us know what you're working on (via email or on social media, as noted above) if you want to be considered for one of the amazing prizes (including a 12" Loom and goodies from some of our amazing partners like Rebecca Mezoff's "Introduction to Tapestry Weaving" class, a tote bag from Gist Yarn and some SoftTouch wire by SoftFlex.) at the end of the summer!