Don’t get me wrong.  I have done other things, I swear.  Took days off, read books and hung out with friends.  Even crossed the border and did some antiquing.  Even did a bit of  shopping online, worked on paperwork and watched another birthday come and go.

It hasn’t been high excitement, but I find myself more content than I have ever been in my life.  It’s a big statement for sure, but it is a truth.  All of the events of our life strung together with these beautiful spun threads.  Hand spun wool runs through all of it.

The new yarns from the Rustic Collection are almost ready as is the hat pattern that goes with it.  It feels great to be releasing a new pattern for this yarn.

Show acceptances have been streaming in.   I’m not sure what I was thinking applying for so many, but it’s exciting to see that my season will be busy.  I don’t really enjoy breaks in the work (even if you’ve heard me say otherwise).

I was planning on going to the Game of Thrones Marathon at VanCity Theatre tomorrow.  I would only have to line up at 6am and spend 10 hrs there knitting.  I even bought a pair of knitting needles with tips that light up so I could see my knitting in the dark.  But I’ve decided not to go.

I think a day in the studio with CBC radio is an excellent way to spend a Friday.  And instead of watching something I’ve already seen, I can take a few breaks and make some headway on Book 5.

Happy knitting and spinning this weekend!

I found out that Birkeland Bros. was closing.  It wasn’t a shock.  I think Cara had been carrying the burden of the shop for a while.    I’ve enjoyed teaching there.  As a matter of fact, I never considered teaching until Cara asked me to and well you know the rest.  I have been running classes  there for the last three years.    I never really realized that a nice portion of my livelihood came from this….until it stopped.

Suddenly I find myself flooded with emails from people wondering where they can take classes and if I’m willing to teach.    Other people wondering where to get wheels.

The classes are scheduled, my Louet Dealership secured so bring on your questions and get ready for some learning.  The changes in the studio have made it so much easier to shift this part of my life down the street.

I was also fortunate enough to keep working on Once Upon a Time.  This time more of a challenge (which I love) trying to breathe new life into a pretty wrecked CPW.  Very old, brittle and wobbly and yet with still one more scene left in it.  After that scene I am uncertain!    It was a wild ride working with Disney, and although I see this gig coming to an end, I’ve realized that I have some weird fibre horseshoe thing going on.  One gig ends and another one finds its place.

I’ve just been asked to custom dye alpaca fibre to be used in the production of wigs for a costume department.  So there you go.  And the studio classes, well they are practically full for the month so my work life seems to transition enough that I am always provided with new learning opportunities and skills.

I am embarrassed to say that I am still working on jury pieces, but I am trying to make something exquisite, and it’s taking more time than I imagined.  Free form is a wonderful medium for me to work in, but I am so careful to keep it uniquely mine and not infringing on Prudence Mapstone’s wonderful work.  So when I see something evolving in that direction, I pull it out and start again.

My shows are starting so much earlier this year so I have to have a full show’s worth of production by the end of April.  The blog will be sparse other than yarn updates, but if you have any questions for me regarding classes, where to get fibre, some wheel help, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

Still scrappy, but thinking more rag rug look. I always joke with my students about the condition of the studio and how you could spin straight from the floor. No longer a just a joke.

A bit bulkier –plied onto itself with some glitter bit, definitely a rag rug vibe. 147 yards, just enough for some funky mittens.

Okay, not as bad as I thought, it seems I did get quite a bit done, but not nearly where I hoped to be.  I am still doing my last minute scrambling for show applications.  Thank goodness that I have enough seniority now that I’m not rejurying for everything from scratch.  That is a killer.

Birkeland is closing down at the end of the month.  For those of you that follow the blog or have taken classes from me, you know that this is where I did most of my teaching.  I’ll be sad to see the shop close.  It has been a landmark on the Main Street strip now for 73 years.  I’ve made many friendships through the shop that are irreplaceable.  I’ve had so many opportunities come my way because of my affiliation with the shop.  My gig with Disney is because of a referral from Cara.  So ends a chapter.

February is a shorter month, but also the month where things kick into high gear.  It’s when my calendar is set for the whole year.   It is also the start of the new yarn project.  Details to follow.  I think you’ll like this one.  New half pound skeins of the thick and thin BFL.  Imagine, an entire project with no ends to join.

Check back for some updates shortly!  I also am happy to hear from anyone who has a special request or an idea for  a class they would like me to teach.

Cappuccino machine…….just saying.

While I decided that I would not have $5 take out coffees, I seem to have found another way to spend even more money by having already gone out for dinner twice this year.  Note to self, do not let your alcohol bill exceed your food portion of the bill.  Primos is the oldest and best Mexican restaurant in town.  Thanks for keeping pace with me on the Bombas Nancy!

I had dinner for the first time at Les Faux Bourgeois last night with some crafty friends.  The meal was amazing, but really, eating out twice in one week is a bit decadent for me.  Full austerity measures are now back in place.

Monica will be working with me on a new cowl pattern as well as a scarf pattern for the lovely, lumpy BFL that I am spinning.  If anyone has a better name for this hand spun bulky weight thick and thin BFL than lumpy, could you please let me know.  I would be happy to send a skein to whoever can think of the best name.

So, it’s pretty, it’s soft, it’s lumpy and it needs a name.  Help a spinner out would you?

So in your face 2012 —-this is what’s going to happen

• No yarn store purchases of yarn —sorry yarn stores.  I have given you plenty of money so this year you’re going to have to get on without me.
• No new wheels.  Not a Sidekick, not anything new or shiny or used or in need of attention.
• One wheel from the herd must go.
• I must not leave stock dye in the studio without putting the lid back on.
• No more $5 coffees ($2.50 Americanos are still okay and only if I haven’t any coffee at home
• No takeout food unless we are out of town for a show.  If I’m eating at home it will be the food from my own fridge.  Not a health concern more than budgetary.  A year in review of expenses can be quite shocking
• I will not get another kitty.  It was hard losing Hadiya this year.  She would be impossible to replace.  Not even gonna try.
• I am taking a fibre vacation this year.  Most likely to Salt Spring for one of Terri’s awesome classes.
• I will learn to hug like Pearl but give it my own spin.  I don’t want to be a copy cat hugger.

The punishment for breaking one of these “resolves” is that I have to clean the house.  You notice that I have nothing about housework in my list of things to do/not do this year.  Yep…nothing at all.

Peace.

  These made me happy.  I was definitely smitten with the mittens.  This was after I stopped swearing.  A miscount in the number of rows for the rib cuff had me, dare I say it, ripping it back to correct.  I was only about 14 rows in to the knitting when I noticed it, but damn, it still hurt my feelings.

The yarn is a hand spun and hand dyed 2 ply merino wool.  The thrum is some hand dyed merino from my friend Jennifer (part of her giant destash before she left for India)

I core spun some wool today so I could make a non matchy scarf.  I might be feeling weavie —we’ll see.

While cleaning today I found some more hand spun that I think would work great for mitts.  Well that’s my evening planned.    Did someone say cozy fireplace knitting?

I am thrilled to say that this year there were no “let’s never do this again moments”. I’ve been navigating through the craft system in this province long enough to –dare I say it–have things reasonably figured out.

I am no longer going to be buying commercial wool to dye for my kits. If it ain’t hand spun it’s not landing in one of my kits. This means I am changing my strategy to be much more production geared…Yes, more than before. With John’s help we’ve set out a ridiculous production schedule, a grueling list of shows and yes—I couldn’t be more thrilled.

More workshops at the studio. Yov’ve been asking for them, now help me fill them up so that I can continue to offer them! Spinning, knitting and crochet classes are what are on the table. If you are looking for something different, let me know. I’m always up for a good challenge.

Decluttering I will be selling my Kromski Sonata and my Louet super fine carder (excellent for alpaca). There is just too much in the studio right now. I want to make room for my electric fireplace and new comfie chair (yet to be purchased but coming soon to a studio near you)

A regular studio schedule. I need to not be mood motivated for the studio so expect to find me there Mon – Thursday starting in the new year.

To never stop spinning .  Making yarn for others to get their creative on is a joy I can’t imagine being without.