I have a long list of artistic skills that I want to work on some day but even though I haven’t found the time to learn how to actually do them, I enjoy seeing other artists’ creations. Hand-woven fabrics are one of my absolute favorites and I had an opportunity this past weekend to sit and watch a woman dressed in Revolutionary garb weave a table runner on a floor loom at a local festival.

 As I watched, it occurred to me that our lives are much like her weaving.  Woven cloth is made up of two elements - the warp and the weft. The warp is a series of long threads, yarns or strings that are affixed to the loom and run continuously through the length of the cloth and are generally all the same. The weft are other fibers, which may be absolutely anything, that are woven in between the warp threads in a variety of patterns.  Often the weft is a different color, a different thickness or a variety of different fibers, strings or yarns.  In weaving projects that are created as art for hanging, other elements such as feathers, buttons, sticks, ribbons or wires may be used. 

Then I realized that I have been changing the texture of the weaving that is my life in the last few years.  The warp threads that hold me together are my family members and long-time friends, my spirituality, my ethics and moral code, my love of learning, my eternal optimism, my independence and even my stubbornness.  These will always be the basis of my life.  But, I have been adding a lot of new weft yarns in recent years.

First I created a couple of holes with some hard but important personal decisions, but they are hardly noticeable now. Then I changed the background color by moving to a new locale and home; I’ve added lots of interesting buttons and beads in the form of new acquaintances and friends; there was a short strand of color for a JOB that turned out to be all wrong for me, but that has been replaced by rows of thick, lush brightly colored yarn that represent a new direction for my life’s work. There is a sparkly golden thread starting to appear for a new romantic relationship. There are a few feathers for travel and adventure opportunities, and a scattering of sequins for a whole new set of goals and dreams.  Suddenly, the fabric of my life is colorful and interesting again!

How about you?  Has the fabric of your life become a monotonous pattern in pale colors?  Think about hanging it up on the wall.  Is it a work of art to show?

There are so many ways to add interest to your weaving.  Join a new hobby group; take a class; explore a neighboring city; spend two hours in the library just browsing whatever catches your eye; take the time to set some new goals; make a decision to change something that is toxic for you.

Create a vibrant new pattern - you can do that - and you might discover new things about your self in the process.