Happy New Year
Wishing you all warmth, love and the satisfaction that only comes from completed knitting and spinning projects.
Disappearing Act
The last few weeks have been busy, but frightening. I don’t know a single crafter who doesn’t get their aches and pains over the crunch season and I’ve spent more than a few days, icing, heating or elevating some part of my body that suffered absolute breakdown from getting ready for a show, but this…..
Well I thought I wasn’t going to knit or spin again. Unbearable pain making knitting almost impossible This is the first time in my life I cried and knit at the same time. Everyone knows how much I appreciate knitting and I would never take my craft for granted. I am always grateful for the gift and the skill of hand work, but one thing I have abused all of this time was my body’s ability to do this work non stop.
I would like to thank all of my well meaning friends who humored me every year as I joked about “sleeping being overrated” and /or “January is for sleeping” Also thanks to the ones who did not and gave me the dire warnings that I did not heed—I did hear you though.
I haven’t even begun to assess how this will impact my business model for next year. It’s hard to think about another season of shows while the radiating pain in my shoulder, neck and fingers is just starting to subside. I have worked through most of my custom orders with just a few remaining, The last orders to be mailed will go out today.
More than anything I think next year will be about collaboration. There are a few in the works (still secret) but the not so secret partnering has been with Gabi. She has pushed my work, provided me with the most amazing photographs and given me new eyes to see the work with. So because of Gabi (and with a bit of work on my part) I leave you with this photograph.
So Many Gifts
On the heels of my first seriously out of town show in awhile, I have landed back on snowless land intact. Our instant gift upon arrival —hugs and cuddles from our three fur children. Thanks Kim for keeping them alive in our absence. No small feat since two are elderly with a myriad of medical conditions.
Elated rather than tired, I headed to the studio immediately after a good night’s sleep. Jennifer surprised me by offering to go to the studio with one pit stop. We visited with Sheryl. OMG, I can’t remember the last time I laughed this much. Some of the humour, a bit twisted –granted, but so necessary. I need to make this more of a regular thing and find a way to get Pearl into the mix. Sheryl…..let me know when you are ready for another visit.
I had some hand spun alpaca resting in my bag and gave it over to Sheryl. I know how much she loves natural fibres and all the colours were undyed. I have access to the fibre in the studio and nothing would make me happier than spinning another pound of it. Sheryl then gave Jennifer some Madeleine Tosh that she had been coveting….Yummy – fabulous. Then back at the studio Jennifer hands me these.
Jenkins, hand make size 50 needles…Yes, 25mm…..I have been wanting these forever and have held off ordering them. It’s amazing how generous knitters are. Things are coveted, loved, passed on, treasured and then passed on again to be loved some more. I can’t think of any more generous group of people.
One word regarding an inadvertent give —- my brand new issue of Interweave that I left at JJ Beans ……boo…To the next knitter who picks it up, please knit something fun from it. I thought Mariegold took it, but I left it by the fireplace. Sorry Kim. I’ll pick up another copy for you.
Grey Cup
Doing a show in Edmonton during the Grey Cup—-what was I thinking? I was thinking a lot of women would be sports widows and need to shop. I was wrong. Everyone likes the game here. No widows, but everyone did make the time to shop….Thanks you freezing cold city with the warm, wonderful people.
I love it here! I love being on the road. A great night in Banff, followed by 5 days in Edmonton. Heading out to Canmore today and can hardly wait to get on the road. I seem to have gotten over my inabiility to knit in the car through sheer desperation and force of will. (it worked).
I ran out of a few things but for the most part I was properly stocked. The vibe was great and I got some feedback on a few new designs.
My absolute favourite thing about Edmonton is the amount of Second Cup coffee shops. Something I really missed about Ontario. I also enjoyed the combination of cold and sunshine. I also discovered I like eating Greek take out food in hotels. Oh, and that I resent sleep. I really could have stayed awake knitting on the bed, cross legged and hogging pillows all night long, but John needed some sleep. Got to be kind to the driver.
Have a great cup of coffee today, whatever your blend and knit a bit. It feels good.
Show Down
It’s Monday morning. I’m enjoying a fabulous instant espresso that my friend Kim brought me back from her recent trip to Germany. Delish. It’s helping me keep my eyes open and the T3 I took for the sore back is kicking in as well. Thankfully.
Show recap. Five days of 12 hr days absolutely flew by. Were it not for the continuous visits of friends, I don’t know if that would have been the case. Every year I talk about how lucky I am for the endless list of compadres that help us set up –tear down—suppport us….blah, blah, blah. They know who they are and I hope that they know how indebted we are for their kindness.
Physically, I was more exerted than any show in the past. Older? That has to be it? I hate to think that my ever widening butt is dragging us down, but balanced low cal meals hasn’t been my priority for several months getting ready for the show.
I’ll be grateful when the craft schedule is done and I can return to some semblance of a routine. Believe it or not this girl needs some structure.
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| Booth at it’s Best |
This Circle Craft was the best one of the three I have done so far. Finally, the last two years of assessing the demographic has paid off. It’s the first time I had the right amount of inventory in the sizes I needed to sell and in very few cases had to say “sorry sold out”. This seriously impairs my inventory for Edmonton, but I’m heading out to the studio to see what I can do to make this right.
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| Booth Coming Down |
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| Remains of the Day |
I know I’ll have a chance to sleep in January and when I finally do get a full night’s sleep, I’m sure I’ll be dreaming of hand spun and new designs and I’m even considering taking a vacation this year.
To everyone who attended the show —-thank you for supporting local and handmade.
Circle Craft At Last
So it’s finally here. A year of prep (the last months a few more frantic, for sure)and all those late nights at the studio have brought me to this.
Now for me this inventory has looked pretty much like this most of the year.
It is really decadent to sit back after assembling all of it to take the time to drink it all in. For all the times I felt I was slacking, this display silences that inner snarky voice that said I wasn’t working hard enough.
And we all know this didn’t happen by just little old me. Thanks again to everyone who make this jumbled mess of yarns and hats a booth that’s a sweet little bit of eye candy if I say so myself. (Bragging rights limited to 3 days a year)
Come by the show….G137….Nice and close to the bathroom, almost in it as a matter of fact. On the positive side, I guess that means I’ll see everyone at least once.
Name that Pain
So here is the symptom and then underneath the ridiculous cause.
Vomiting.
A dream about not having enough inventory.
Headache.
Assuming a burst blood vessel from the force of vomiting.
Lower Back Pain.
Sitting for 17 hours on the couch knitting.
Shoulder dislocation.
Trying to reposition a cat for a flea treatment.
Numbness in the fingers of my right hand (ongoing)
Stroke?
I think my hair hurt this morning, but I’m not sure how that could happen.
Thanks to the crew that is holding me together. Believe me, without them it would be a lot worse. Pearl, Nancy, John, Joan, Belinda, Mariegold, Jean, Toni and Kim…(currently on vacation but who will be jumping right back in when she gets home)
I am suspecting that an excess of coffee and tootsie rolls should keep me propped up until the end of the day.
A MILESTONE —-my webpage no longer says “spring is here”. I’m so proud of myself.
Time is Running Out
A List of Lists
I need lists for the following items:
- Things I need to Buy before the show
- Orders I have to finish before the show
- Things I need to mail before the show
- People I need to get in touch with before the show
- Inventory lists
- Packaging lists
- Things I need for furniture set up.
Some of these lists will have their own lists. No matter how I plan my days things don’t happen the way I want them to (I’m not complaining —it’s just life) Yesterday was altered by a memorial service for a friend whose spouse had died. My modified afternoon of production at Claire’s place turned into a full blown evening of feasting.. I need to remind myself that the world is larger than my studio and my knitting nook and that both joy and sadness must pull me out of my yarnie endeavors.
I don’t have my usual freakout three weeks before multiple shows. John reminds me of what is missing in the inventory, so I knit it. I feel a little spinning itch, so I scratch it. I’m still creating with pleasure rather than just stock replacement. There seems to be more balance. And there are friends, always friends laughing with me, encouraging me, bitch slapping me(if necessary) and making me feel like like in my own small way, my love of textile adds a little something to the world.
In the midst of all of this I finally decided on the design for a new banner. Inspired entirely by Gabi’s photographs. More and more lately I realize that the people around me are bursting with talent. I guess I don’t have to look far for my inspirations.
Give Me Shelter
I have no more outdoor shows this year!!! I am at capacity for tarping tents and drying my inventory. From now on it’s fireplaces and comfortable couches.
Have been powering through a lot of the handspun as well, so must remember to get more finished before Circle Craft. Booth #G137 for those who want to pop by and say hello (or fondle yarn)