by carmen | Nov 18, 2011 | Special Projects
So I spent a few days at home, nursing a giant cold sore and a few canker sores (gross) realizing that stress will always manifest itself in some fashion. But still working. A lot of knitting can happen from the couch.
I used my gorgeous Paula calendar to write out a proper production schedule for the next three weeks, making sure that nothing is left out of inventory replacement.
Or so I thought. When the show called today and asked for a few more days on set next week and the following, I almost lost my lunch. Each minute of every day is crafted to create the maximum inventory for Butterdome.
Confession: I loved working on the show: with the wheel and the people. And it’s one thing I do that is not about inventory so how could I say no. Also, it is Robert Carlyle….who needs justification for that?
John, who is always reminding me how much sleep I need to get, is now calculating how much I can safely live without. It’s a small margin, let me tell you.
Here are a few before and after pics of the Circle Craft set up for you until the next time I update the blog.
The set up was pretty intense. Driven straight from Williams Lake and plopped into the booth. Ignored for several hours and then tossed up with rapid fire pace.
This photo is a bit more civilized. All that was left of the hand spun.
Hey, I think I may even get more done by trying to juggle both scenarios. A day on the set makes for awesome studio chat later. And due to Kristen’s last coffee run, we have enough java to last us through to the new year.
by carmen | Nov 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
John and I tore down Circle Craft on Sunday night. What can I say…The show was awesome, amazing even. By far the best show I have ever had. I’ve got to be honest with you. I was nervous. The show basically doubled the number of vendors in the fibre category this year and there are only so many shopping dollars to go around. It could have gone either way. I’m so glad that old and new customers made their way to my booth.
So what do you do on a Monday after two weeks of shows?
You got it–pet your cats, sleep in for an extra few hours and get back to work. The inventory for the next show is not going to knit itself, hmmm, or can it?
I have some pics from the show which I hope to post over the next few days. I also have an inbox full of custom orders. I am starting on those tomorrow. Yep, I need to spend some time at home. My stress cold sore managed to hold itself back until Monday morning (so I didn’t scare customers out of the booth). Whenever I run low on inventory my body flags me with the same cold sore. Unfair and disgusting.
To Toni, Paula, Pearl, Monica, Jean, Nancy, Jennifer and Lea —-from the bottom of our hearts —John and I thank you for all of your help before, during and after the show. We are the luckiest people to have such amazing friends.
by carmen | Nov 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
……nervous breakdown in six.
Hope to see you there! Booth # 223.
by carmen | Oct 26, 2011 | Spinning
I love everything about silk, from how it becomes silk to how it feels, to the strength of it. It’s delicate and tough at the same time. I like that. I particularly like this amazing gift from my friend Jennifer of dyed silk carrier rods which I have spun into several yarns.
Gone are the days of felted flowers and large hunks of things spun into the wool (just because I could). Things are a bit more tempered now. Like me? Who knows, but the work is very evocative of the fibre it comes from — resilient and precious. I’ll only have a few of them for the show, but I will definitely be doing more work with silk. I’ve also been able to incorporate dyed silk hankies into the carded batts as well. A gift from another good friend. Karen – how did you know?
by carmen | Oct 24, 2011 | Ramblings
I’m blessed to live in a house full of love. And even though there is one less kitty in the house, the love remains. I spent
our last few days in the spare bedroom with the loom and Hadiya. Just the two of us. I set her up in her bed on the table, beside the loom and listened to her soft breath. I could occasionally reach out between shuttle tosses to rub her under her chin and drown out the sound of her breathing with that of a sweet grateful purring.
I will not forget the moments she gave me, all the love and the aggravation and her sweet little quirks, I threw them all into the spinning and the weaving. Now more than ever, I am grateful for the grace of my craft. It bends with my emo
tions, balances and pushes me. Life is a tapestry….so many threads created by sharing my life with this small creature.
We took one last little visit outside on Friday. She stayed on the stairs. Hadiya never liked the way grass felt under her feet, but she loved the fresh air and the possibility of a bird. I can’t even describe the sense of loss, but right now I am trying to focus on all that I have gained from having 17 years with her. And I will spin and knit and wrap myself in the love that remains.
I would like to thank everyone for their hugs and kind words.
