Laid off!

Right before my vacation, too.  Bummer.  Oh well.  The economy is buzzing along here, and people are hiring, so I’m not too worried – it took me only three weeks to find a new job the last time I looked (which was only four months ago), and I’m hoping my current unemployment will be equally short.  Whatever.  There’s not much I can do about it right now, since I’m heading off to China in four days, so I’ll deal once I get back.  I have a nice cash cushion that, with unemployment, should be enough to take me through six or seven months of unemployment, and I doubt it’ll last that long.

Which comes to the next question: what to do with a month of free time?  I am in an enviable position – I have loads and loads of yarn stashed away, so I don’t need to buy anything, and now I’ll have the time to play with it.  I rather think I will start by (a) finishing my dye samples and (b) doing (of course) more weaving!  I have been reading up on network twills and they sound exciting, plus there are of course the placemats and napkins to finish.  I have a handpainted rayon chenille warp to put on, and another silk one.

I also want to do some sewing.  After we get back, I’m going to get Mike to measure me (so I can put the numbers into Patternmaster: Celebrations) and then I’m going to try designing my own outfit using their patterns.  The champagne silk and red velvet are just dying for attention, and I may dye some of that white fabric for use in outfits.  I may design and weave some yardage for outfits, too.  Fortunately it doesn’t take much fabric to lay out an off-the-shoulder top, so I won’t have to weave too many yards.

It will also be a good opportunity to get back into the saddle after a month or two off the bike.  I imagine it will take some time to get the endurance back, but I have time to devote to it.

I would be lying if I said I were happy about being laid off, but my goodness! there’s so much to do.  I think my time will be really productive.

Knitted the first part of my first sock last night (couldn’t sleep very well due to stress – sort of predictable under the circumstances) and am moderately pleased at how it’s coming out.  I think I’d have preferred a color-change yarn with longer stretches of color, but it’s what I’ve got right now.  We’ll see how it turns out.