I make stuff. Sometimes I feel like my hands just do, and I follow.
That path, since this website’s hiatus in November 2023, has been following head first into dyeing and quilting. While I still spin, I’m still figuring out how that fits back into my life with a crazy toddler, and almost no time to sit down for any stretch of the time. What I have found, though, is being able to integrate dyeing and quilting/sewing into my life in a more involved way (along with a few other things, but more on that another time).
As of this year, I’ve been quilting for five years, and natural dyeing for over 10. Both right now are really jiving with where I am in life.
The problem (if we want to call it that) with making just to make, is you end up with a lot of finished things, but not really any use for said things. You can give them away, but eventually you hit critical mass with that. So the things pile up, but you keep on making them anyways.
I hate to see things not live their purpose. What good is a quilt or a bag or whathaveyou if it sits on a shelf? Not sure what else to do, and with some encouragement of a couple friends, I’ve decided to very lightly reopen this shop.
What I’m not interested in doing is spending a lot of time trying to sell my items, or more importantly, myself. It seems like to make any kind of headway in an online creative business, you need to market yourself as the artist. I’ve never been one to do that, and I’m not going to start now.
But what I do have is a pile of things that I’ve made for the joy of making, but not a lot of use for them. I have this old website (that I’m not even going to bother changing the name of), and some time to list a few things.
All the things coming were not made with commerce in mind, nor will anything in the future. I make them because they bring me joy to do it. It allows me to stretch myself creatively (and sometimes my problem-solving skills). If they can bring somebody else joy, I think that’s pretty great.
So, after almost 18 months on hiatus, I’ve been dipping my toe back into this website. The way I see it, if they sell, great, I can get some more dyes and fabric. If they don’t, it’s no different than what they’re doing now anyway (sitting on a shelf in my sewing area). Either way, I’ll keep on making them anyway.
It seems a bit funny keeping the name Dominion Fleece, since I’m no longer selling fleece (although I may sell yarn from time to time). But really, it’s not a bad name, and I really can’t be bothered to create a new “brand” and website. That’s definitely not what I want to spend my time doing.
When I get the time I’ll photograph and list; I’m not exactly sure when that will be yet, but I was a bit excited to write a blog post about what is coming down the pipe.
