by carmen | May 2, 2014 | 30/30, Studio
Day 1/30 Welcome to the new office. David Suzuki’s May Challenge of thirty minutes outside for 30 days is a challenge I’m willing to take on. Rain or shine, finding the time to be outside in nature changes everything. The first idea for day one was to move the studio outside. But we’ll call this day “near nature” just to the backyard. I made some tea, grabbed a chair, a spinning wheel and a box of dyed mohair locks and planted myself in the middle of the yard.
Taking it outside
The sun was out (not too bright) and it was nice and breezy. Thirty minutes ended up not being the challenge, but rather coming back into the house. The lilac tree was wafting intoxicating aromas through the yard. How amazing is this? How tranquil. It’s hard to believe that I am in the zone, in the yard with no Netflix to guide me. It was an hour and a half before I even realized the time so I packed up and came back inside. I continued to work, but with the perfume of lilac still in my nostrils and the heat of the sun still on my skin. And this is only Day 1, yah! I was thrilled with the yarn, and set the bobbin to the side. I had a student coming for a spinning lesson at 6:00pm. I wondered if she would want to spin outside. Maybe next week.
First outdoor work of the year.
Not sure exactly how I’m going to finish this yarn. Thinking I might Navajo ply it, just to trap all those fabulous mohair locks. Mohair generously donated by “Pepper”
by carmen | Jan 14, 2014 | Personal
I received the most incredible gift over the holidays, this poem. Thanks Jennifer!
Ode to a Pair of Socks
by Pablo Neruda
Maru Mori brought me
a pair
of socks
that she knit with her
shepherd’s hands.
Two socks as soft
as rabbit fur.
I thrust my feet
inside them
as if they were
two
little boxes
knit
from threads
of sunset
and sheepskin.
My feet were
two woolen
fish
in those outrageous socks,
two gangly,
navy-blue sharks
impaled
on a golden thread,
every day.
Like jungle
explorers
who deliver a young deer
of the rarest speciies
to the roasting spit
then wolf it down
in shame,
I stretched
my feet forward
and pulled on
those
gorgeous
socks,
and over them
my shoes.
So this is
the moral of my ode:
beauty is beauty
twice over
and good things are doubly
good
when you’re talking about a pair of wool
socks
in the dead of winter.
by carmen | Mar 7, 2013 | Markets, Studio, Workshops & Classes
I’ve been busier than usual the last week or so. Hard to believe, since I have always set myself such a rigid schedule. I’m busier because I’m going on vacation. It has been more than 10 years since I’ve been this reckless? …. but it is something that has put me into overdrive.
I’m going to Paris for my 50th birthday with my best knitting gal pal, Jean. It seemed like a no brainer since we have the same addictions; yarn, chocolate, cafe creme, pain au chocolat and museum crawling. I can hardly wait….but now I’m in this crazy place where I am trying to get done the work I would have done if there was no holiday. I’m also taking quite a bit of yarn with me to France…..(more on that later) and I really want it to be my best work.
I’ve had a lot of creative time so far this year, more than usual and I’ve given myself a few days a week of just doing what I feel like. This is new and has led to some lovely finished pieces that got snapped up just after being posted on facebook (in a few cases). Weird,because when I first started posting on FB, it was just so my customers would know what I’m up to. Not that I’m complaining!
My show confirmations are rolling in and it’s going to be the most hectic season yet, but I am thrilled to have the chance to share my work with a wider audience.
Classes at the home studio are going really well. I’m surprised at how at ease I am with work at home. I expected a few more hiccups but so far it’s all rainbows and puppies. After I get back from France I will be having the Intuitive Crochet Class, another Beginner Spinning class and the Dye Workshop. I’ll post as soon as that schedule goes up.
My friends are busy as well. One of my former students, Mekkin, owner of Hanahmin’s Fiber is going to be doing her first show at Fibres West. Pearl Chow will be teaching Needle Felting at Wet Coast Wools this weekend.
Just a few more things to finish off. I’m in Whistler this weekend for the Made In Whistler Market at the Westin Hotel, sponsored by the Whistler Arts Council. It’s my last show before my trip. There is also one custom order to finish off. All I’m missing is sleeves and a collar and then we can call it a cardigan.
Final order of business? Decide what my project for the plane will be. Knitting or crochet? And how much room to leave in the suitcase for new yarn Oh yeah, there will be yarn.
by carmen | Feb 12, 2013 | Ramblings
I don’t knit and spin for the riches or the fame. I’ve never gone into this line of working thinking ” I will knit X number of hats and reach that first million in sales”. I knit and spin because it satisfies me. Over the years I have been told stories by customers of lost hats recovered, passed down to younger siblings, repaired and reknit hats and hats that have offered comfort for cancer survivors. They have all warmed my heart.
But this story, well, this is why I do what I do….
Ellie’s mom bought her a MelonHead hat. That hat definitely got some love and out of all the hats, this was by far her favourite. Then one day a hat tragedy occurred. The hat was run over and scooped up by a snow plow (as is more possible in Whistler than in Vancouver)
Ellie was determined to find her hat. Certain it would turn up somewhere, she designed this poster to put up around town. This one was pinned to the community board in Nestors for several months. Notice that a reward is offered.
Since there was a phone number on the poster, several knitters called and offered to knit a replica of the hat for her. Ellie rejected these offers as she felt it just wouldn’t be the same. After the snow melted down, they did find a small piece of hand spun yarn left from the hat and she scooped it up and still has it.
Fast forward to last weekend. And then Saturday, I ran into the whole family at the Westin Hotel. Ellie and her brother tried on several hats. Mom asked if we could remake the hat from the drawing that Ellie made, and I agreed that it could be done. It didn’t matter. Ellie seemed to be quite pleased with any hat on the table. Her brother said my hats were better than video games. I don’t think I could get higher praise.
Here is Ellie’s new hat. Apparently it wasn’t that she needed that hat. She just need a hat knit by me. *sigh*
by carmen | Dec 13, 2012 | Personal
I am giving up my studio at the end of the year. You’d think this would make me sad as the last three years have been awesome there.
From flooding to Frank, having the studio was magic to me. Two of my studio pals have gone on to other things or new spaces and it’s just too big to carry on my own, so I’m coming home.
Does this mean a change to what I sell, how often I teach or what shows I do….Not at all. With the help of a lot of fantastic friends I am going to create one stunner of a studio in the house. I can hardly wait.
While the move is going on, I am still kicking out custom orders and trying to keep up with the crazy demand for all things handmade this year. As you are getting ready for the holidays trying to finish up those last few knits remember this….one mitt, or sock or piece of a sweater is still a great gift if you can include a done by date with your package. Previews are nice and build excitement!
Enjoy the holidays everyone.
I’ll check in when the chaos subsides.
Fun at the studio with Quincey.
