Phew!

Well it's been a while since I posted here - bad bad bad me! Never mind, onwards and upwards.

I visited St Fagans today - or as it is also known the Museum of Welsh Life in Cardiff. I had a chance to speak to the weaver based there - Dewi - who was busy prepping the wool for the dyeing process. He hadn't had much luck this year with the weather for dyeing and intended to take in all the wool he had dyed earlier this week (drying out in the sun on tarpaulin) as the weather is meant to change tonight to more rain!

It was interesting to speak to someone whose sole job is to weave. Well, prep the wool, dye the fleece, card, spin and finally weave! Far more labour intensive than someone like me who goes for the convenience of pre-prepped yarn!

I got to see his absolutely huge warping board propped up against the wall. But then, he warps up for 9 items at a time! He ties on a new warp, rather than rethreading either of the two looms he has warped up.

The building he is based in was just being finished with a new whitewash - 6 coats in total! It lasts around 10 years with a few touch ups. Nice to see the building looking well kempt - although I suspect it wasn't that pretty wherever it originally came from!

I think the most interesting thing for me though, was the difference between 'hobby' weavers (or those who don't rely on weaving as their sole source of income) and those who do it professionally. I've found in speaking to other craftspeople (most notably a jeweller I know) who do what I love for as an actual profession. The difference between the hobbyists and the professionals can be quite a gaping chasm. For Dewi, fancy weaves and re-threading are something he could do with his eyes shut. Only he doesn't. Because his job is to demonstrate the making - and get the making done. The jeweller I know doesn't make some of the textures I was taught. Why? Because it's not getting the work done and it isn't art he's making. He's making things to pay his mortgage and the rent on his storefront. He doesn't make arty pieces (unless commissioned) because his concern is the bottom line. He can make incredibly expensive pieces - worth significantly more than the jewellery you find in craft stores. And he makes them - when he is paid to.

I think, perhaps, this is something we forget as craft makers. We have a habit of underpricing ourselves because we think it isn't worth it. We may not be competing with the likes of professionals when it comes to how we make/design/work. But we are in the same business and we should put a similar value on our work.

I'm still percolating the differences between professional makers and hobby makers. It's all very interesting! I would, however, like to note that in using those terms I do not intend to make any emphasis on the quality of the work produced. You can be a part-time-maker and be superb, and you can be a professional and utterly suck *thinks of some jewellery she has fixed for other people*.The terminology does not determine your skills!

Right - I'd best get off and do some coursework. That would be part of the reason I haven't been on here very often!