by carmen | Dec 30, 2011 | Knitting & Crochet
I’ve been spending more time in the studio over the holidays than I thought I would. I thought that after the craft crash, I might enjoy a little time off. Nope. Want to work, want to play with work.
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?
by carmen | Dec 29, 2011 | Ramblings
Every year I do a little soul searching about the business. Things to change, to improve, to do more of….and finally –things never to repeat.
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.
by carmen | Dec 25, 2011 | Personal
I have been watching my Dr. Who special since 4:30 this morning (in my fabulous TARDIS socks). I know. I have made excellent use of my time, working on some knitting and preparing various side orders and the turkey during commercials. It took a while, but the results were well worth it, with us sitting for dinner at 7PM and me only missing one of the old Christmas specials.
My curried turkey with lentil rice and cilantro stuffing worked out nicely. My cranberry sauce was runny. I consider this a success since I have hosted some pretty awful holiday meals!
I am enjoying working on a lovely pure angora scarf and taking my time with it. This is the luxury of a semi day off. The fibre is divine. John is cleaning up so I can get back to my TWho – a- thon.
Had the most awesome dinner at our friend Claire’s last night. We started with her pate with fig balsamic jelly, a pinch of hibiscus salt with a rosemary brioche. And the meal only got better if you can believe that. She makes her own holiday log as well. I think I may be able to enjoy the cooking of others and left overs right until new years.
I hope everyone is enjoying knitting with some great yarn over the holidays. I have been asked to work on some new kits for next year. Consider it done.
Might not make it to the studio until Tuesday if you are planning on stopping by.
by carmen | Dec 19, 2011 | Uncategorized
It’s unusual for me to go so long without a post. It’s also over the top for me to have 3 huge shows almost back to back. All done. It feels great to say that. Of course there are still a few loose ends to tie up. Just a few more orders to knit —and a lot of unpacking and reorganizing. It will happen and I will stand back and marvel at the fact that I am still in once piece.
All the help I had this year was stellar. Due to a lot of donated time things got done.
Just having a few custom orders to contend with is a nice way to end a year of knitting and spinning.
I’ll be pulling back from a lot of shows next year so I won’t be as visible, but you will still be able to find me for yarns and classes.
Stay tuned for an update to the website. New yarns will be posted and for sale straight from the post.
There will be new kits available in the new year as well. Seeing what others make from my yarn is quite a high. Having people at the studio who have been inspired to take their craft to the next level is another rush. This is what I want to put my focus on.
I’ll have a list of classes and workshops posted in January. I look forward to seeing you at one of them.
Warm wishes for the holidays. Still time for last minute Christmas knitting!
by carmen | Nov 24, 2011 | Special Projects
I haven’t had a chance to be in my comfort zone much lately. Everything I’ve been working on is pulling me away from that. It’s always good to be able to think on your feet, but I am finding my brain is creating solutions before problems even present themselves.
On set this week, the wheel has chan
ged (again). I’m trying to keep up. I want authentic, I really do, but filming requires bigger than that, so it’s been a lot of retooling.
Prop guys are the really the unsung heroes of tv/film and I’ve had a small chance to live in that world. While I was working on my spinning props, there was a firestorm of activity around me—a broken trident needing to be repaired, a bent sword and the matching hand that went with it….it doesn’t seem like much, but on screen —-pure magic. I love what they do and realize I could never, ever do it for a living. It’s such a high sense of urgency for everything. It’s almost scary.
I got my first call sheet last night. Emailed at after 11:30 for today’s production. I need to be there for 2pm and Robert is spinning in the first scene that they are filming. Even though the wheel is not in the subsequent scenes I will still have to stay on set for when they turn the set around and shoot it from other angles.
I’m a bit nervous with them shooting a film behind the scenes on the “Making of Once Upon a Time” and will do my best to stay out of their way. However, some lip gloss just in case. I am still wearing the scar of evil cold sore and would not want to see what that looks like on camera…Perhaps some green screen or some other Disney magic?
I am looking forward to returning to the slow comfort of fibre. I set my objectives and expectations high, but at the end of the day, I am not working at a pace that puts me at risk. The expectations are my own, so the whole world doesn’t know if I haven’t met a target. (Unless I blog about it, of course)
