Warp and Woof

I’m sure you remember the warp is the length of the fabric; the threads come up off the back beam of the loom so the shuttle of weft can be passed through the shedd and finish making the cloth. Listening to The Mill on the Floss yesterday, while putting a new warp on the loom (I have no recollection of ever reading that book!), the author referred to the warp and woof of the heroine’s life.

The new warp

I know the word “woof” as part of the stuff that makes up fabric. It has a murky history, seeming to come into the language from many olde sources. I cannot recall when I last read the word. It hasn’t been near as long since I last exhibited at a show, but that’s exactly what Linda and I are doing this Saturday.

I held out the opportunity to Linda a couple of weeks ago.  My ulterior motive was to have part of her booth, but she’s not amiss to selling some rugs, either. So, come Saturday two old weavers will share a booth at a venue I hope will become successful for the young entrepreneur sponsors.

The show is called The Peninsula Flea, modeled after similar affairs in towns much bigger than mine. Boston, New York. My thirteen year old grandson told me that if the Cleveland Flea is referred to as the C Flea, he supposes ours is the P Flea. Ha ha.

The premise of the shows seems to be upcycling, repurposing, clever ideas for old stuff. These new ideas just pass me in a flash. I suppose it’s as trendy as shabby chic was a decade ago. Here’s the link to The Peninsula Flea; you’ll have to smile. Or, as Linda and I once said to each other, waiting for Ann and her friend to be finished browsing an antique store, “Their collectibles are our mother’s junk.”

It’s been twelve years since I mounted an exhibit. I have nothing. Hence my invitation to share Linda’s booth at a show that was not even on her horizon before I told her. Then I told her how we would set it up to accommodate both of us, and then I set out to replace things. Receipts. Coat hangers. Bags. Cash box. What about credit cards? Hopefully in the nick of time I have purchased The Square. It’s supposed to come this week. Like my very first point of sale credit card terminal, I may learn how to use this one at the show.

We have two young women to schlep it all in and back out at the end of the day. And, we have lots of upscaled warp and woof to sell. We’ll see how it goes. Well I hope; I’ve signed up for three weekends.