Weaving and Working

I have always envied people who actually weave for a living. Like what a gift to be able to weave at home all day and be creative and that be the whole part of the work day. One day I really hope to be able to weave for a living and weave all day everyday. Though I do feel that with weaving being a large part of both my personal and professional life, it is like I am weaving most of the time. I have had the luxury of having jobs that let me be creative and use my artistic passions with clients as often as possible. I worked pretty hard to get bosses to allow me to do this and even make art during meetings, just as long as I am paying attention. I also constantly weave at home. If we are watching TV or have time on the weekend where we are just chillin out I am weaving! Doing all of this weaving all the time has gotten me to really figure out how to balance working a full time job and basically full time weaving! I wanted to share with y’all how this has worked for me and how you can maybe do this in your own life.

WEAVING AT WORK

Sometimes you really can weave at work! I know that, that seems like a wild idea but it truly is something that you can do. A lot of time, these very large meetings that you have to go to monthly or even weekly can be a bore and it is a total jam to be able to weave during these meetings. I keep a small weaving kit in my bag with me most of the time. It has yarn, a small loom from LOOME, scissors and a weaving needle. It is small enough to make a weaving or two in an hour or and you have all the tools that you could need in one little small pouch.

As a therapist, I see clients and run groups so I have the ability to teach clients how to weave and to even run mindfulness groups that focus on weaving. If you work similar jobs, I urge you that if you love weaving you should bring it to the workplace and weave with others. if you work a job that you have a lunch break, or down time. This is a perfect time to get some weaving done! Your lunch break is your time so if you want to eat and weave, you do you!

Quarantine/ working from home has been such a great experience for me with weaving. When I am in meetings I am often weaving off screen. There are also a few hours in the day in between things where I have some time and I can get some weaving done in the middle of the day. To me it feels like what it might be to actually be a full time weaver! What a luxury and fun time.

WEAVING AFTER WORK

When you get home from work sometimes the absolute last thing that you want to do it weave. Maybe you have kiddos to care for, there is dinner to be made and you may just be all around tired! If you are making weaving your mindfulness and meditation, it will be useful to build it into your schedule as self care! Maybe it can be when the kiddos are asleep and you are winding down. Honestly if I could figure out how to weave in the bathtub I totally would 😂 Self care should happen as often as possible but it does not have to be everyday. It can just be totally fun to have a weaving that you work on when you are home after work or on the weekends to look forward to.

I like the concept of weaving before work too, especially if you are an early riser who likes to have time in the morning to do things. Weaving can be a perfect addition to a morning coffee so if it can fit into your schedule, I say do it! Weaving in the morning sunlight is probably one of the nicest things!

THREE CHEERS FOR WEAVING

During this odd time, when I am home all the time I do feel like I am weaving more an more because I with all my weaving supplies all the time. I also find that it helps me get through the day a little bit more because I have the ability to do something that keeps me grounded and is time away from a screen! Weaving and working are things that can happen, but it is all about balance. When I am in the office, I make time and space to weave, even if it is just five minutes. I like the feeling of “me” time even when I am working because that is when I can do my best work and be my best self. I also feel like when I take a break and weave I am more like to actually get more work done because I am more relaxed and in a mindful head space, making my work easier.

I hope that you guys reading can start to implement weaving into your work day or sometime before/ after. I personally feel that it has helped me a lot and I often make some fun weaving when I work on them at all different times of the week because the represent how I am feeling. Weaving can truly be a coping skills for you wherever you go, because it is so portable. So next time you are leaving the house think about bringing a small pouch of weaving goodies to be there with you if needed.

XOXO