Today, Day 3, went quite well.
Hawk and I left early to make a quick stop at the grocery before heading out to Independence to pick up the screens. I had had a lovely conversation with Meredith yesterday when she agreed to do the screen burning job. We arrived at 10 as she had suggested and spent 45 minutes listening to Radiolab (great podcast BTW) and playing Boggle.
I started to question how well I knew Meredith after our 20 minute conversation. What if she had flown the coop and was on a plane to a foreign country with my 2 cheapass screens? She could probably get $7.50 each for them in a dark alley in Prague. I started to wonder how long it would take me to call all those who had RSVP'd for today.
Meredith arrived the way I see many of the women in my life arrive to places; later than they intend, more harried than they deserve, and carrying a large tote full of something heavier than they ought carry. Being someone who is way too fluid in my allocation of time I couldn't hold much of a grudge. The woman was doing me (us) a HUGE favor and after all, she informed me apologizing, she had to feed 3 puppies and 3 snakes before heading to work!
The screens were fine, not the quality they we have come to appreciate from the Thermofax but no worse than we have dealt with when I burned them at home.
Claudia, Josh, Christy, Dakota, and Hawk me set up for a day of silkscreening of spectacular proportions, Ok, I am really exaggerating. The silkscreening was more frustrating than awe inspiring but that seems to be part of the practice of that art form.
Alot of folks arrived just as the setup was done(ish). Angie had sent shirts for screening and had cleverly devised a system for us to help those doing the screening determine which print would go where. It made things much faster and there was much less guesswork required. I will be writing that down in my handy, dandy notebook.
Screens were primed and the first couple of swipes of the squigee onto the test fabric seemed like we were off to a good start. As often happens in the screening process, prints started to come out uneven. Grrr!
Claudia, Monica, and Dakota saved the day. The screen was acting up but the 3 of them figured out what was wrong, corrected the problem and went on to do the bulk of the screening. Ann K had brought by some of the fabric that will become the bags so a few of those were completed as well.
Ann B and Christy filled a clothesline that was hung around the trees and the driveway was dotted with a colorful array of happy shirts and bags fixings. Everyone got to screen what they brought and the finishing touches will take place tomorrow. I sure hope the 3 Musketeers are coming back just in case :)
While folks took turns screening their shirts Pat, Bennett, Allison, Delayna, Cheryl and I helped to make time fly. Literally, we spent the afternoon making the wings for the clocks that families made last week. Mason and Dane uncoiled wire from the bales of hay consumed by the horses which served as a great framework for the papermached wings.
Tracie, Jonah, Zane and James as well as Katie, Kai, and Miro joined in prep for the first time. They jumped right in and seemed to enjoy themselves. BJ and Cade came as well which gave James a chance to meet a fellow guitarist who might be able to collaborate with him for the live music portion of Unprom. Cade was not as interested in taking part in the silkscreening as he was in understanding the anatomy of the hen from whom he had recently eaten eggs. Who says Unprom prep can't be counted as Science?
My ever willing partner in paper mache Mieke took the prize for the most creative wings! I'll take a picture tomorrow to share the fun.
The younger set played together well and made sure the playhouse in the basement didn't feel unloved. Come play when you can. There is still much time left.
What I learned today: Be patient. Good things come to those who wait, and wait, and wait.
To any and all of you who have had or will have to wait on me. I never mean to take advantage of your time and I don't mean to take you for granted even tho it may feel that way while you are waiting. Also please know that I will never sell your posessions in a dark alley in Prague.
