by carmen | Nov 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
does anyone hear my first attempt with power tools?
It’s nature, only better…
I wanted a winter hat tree for the booth. I am so over the commercial hat tree holder that I’ve been carting around since Toronto. Birch tree harvested from the side of the train tracks where the city left them after cutting them down near Granville Island earlier this year. Tomorrow the painting and I am good to go. It will make a nice addition to the display.
It felt good to work on something other than inventory. Marigold gave me my first instruction in power tool usage. I used a drill and a saw. This is huge.
Next step…flooring…..I can hardly wait. Will show you the tree again once it is fully loaded with hats.
by carmen | Nov 1, 2009 | Uncategorized
In all of this time that I have been spinning, I have depended on the kindness of friends for loans of wheels. None were mine. Several friends have found wheels for free, wheels for sale….but none of them worked for me. I just could not “feel” them.
Thank you to Pearl, Toni and Irene who have kept me in wheels all this time. Without further delay, I would like to introduce you to “Nesheh”. The name is Turkish for “Joy” and completely describes how overwhelmed I am at having finally met my perfect partner. Thank you Pearl for facilitating this.
The wood absolutely glows (South American cherry wood) each piece finely crafted. The first wool that graced the wheel was a hand dyed merino..the wheel did not bend easily to the wool and I could not find it’s groove. I tossed this to the side and grabbed a large section of Wensleydale and found myself drafting to my left side with ease.
My foot found it’s motion and I was complete. The wheel did not squeak or squeal, we were in agreement. Beyond the Wensleydale, I quickly moved on to the BFL and promptly spun an entire pound of the good stuff.
I thought I was spent, but then found myself choosing a batt of merino, corriedale and silk and spinning that and a companion batt. Does anyone have a cigarette? We are together.
As if this was not enough, Nesheh came with this……..a beautifully hand crafted skein winder.
It was heart breaking to have to go back to my knitting. The best friend hat is taking up a lot hand hours.
Here’s hoping that you are already in possession of your true love. I am.
by carmen | Oct 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
……two new hat designs. How the heck did this happen?
I got some sage advice and I’m not dumb enough to ignore it. Since it’s too close to the show to sit still I spent a good portion of the day reskeining yarn and finishing up a new hand painted colourway.
Soon available for your knitting pleasure…..The Boyfriend Hat and the Best Friend Hat….!!!
Well, it’s just after 11:00pm, I’ve got a nice hot cup of Gen Matcha and I’m getting ready to watch Savage Grace. That gives me two hours of knitting. I should be able to finish up the last of the tike hats.
Working digits update –the hand feels stiff, but good and my forearm is radiating a bit of heat, but the ice pack is going well and I’m ready for this last hat of the day.
Thanks for the great advice. I really am listening.
by carmen | Oct 27, 2009 | Uncategorized
My right hand feels like a pounded out pile of meat. The pain radiates up to my shoulder and across the back of my neck. My left hand feels happily left out, although I am using it to massage my right hand. My consolation. Wonderful hand dyed and knit children’s hats. Too much effort for something so small???Not at all.
I missed the studio today entirely due to a weird ear ache and I felt stupid sitting and knitting on the couch. I wanted to be surrounded by the drying fibre, the stacked fleece waiting to be spun and my coffee pot. And good friends who stop by offering encouragement, yarn skeining and snacks.
I’ll be back there tomorrow. Regardless, I need to see my drying yarns and dig out the pile of almost done stuff. And have a visitor or two and a coffee or two.
by carmen | Oct 25, 2009 | Uncategorized
Since I’m spending the bulk of the day in the studio now, I have fortified myself with coffee, hot chocolate, tea and a bag of apples from the Apple Festival and enough extra cups for expected and drop in guests.
So much done in so little time. Many, many skeins dyed of the chunky merino for the What’s Your Point Pattern. All Circle Craft bound (if Pearl stops sending people over to the studio to buy it!). I’m knitting samples in all of the colours and …..wow, exactly what I wanted.
After putting all the dye pots away, I managed to spin just a bit. It was a fully designed skein of smoke and fire. The hand dyed first cut locks worked into the carded alpaca gave such a plush result. This is 120 grams of squishy goodness.
And finally, hats ready for labels. Are you reading this Toni? The new hats are only missing one thing. The feedback on the pattern has been terrific. No errata, clear instructions and I’m so glad it’s finally out the door.
Fridays are now work at Claire’s studio so that the two of us can work on more pumped up production. She made the most wonderful thing for her Circle Craft display. This giant teacup is almost 4 feet across with the saucer.
John came over in the evening to help with cards while Claire cooked some amazing lamb from Jay Spring Farms. A great gift from Joan that just keeps on giving. One more lamb shank to go, saved for a special occasion.
by carmen | Oct 21, 2009 | Uncategorized
I packed up linens, soap, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, the coffee grinder and cutlery and moved them into the studio yesterday. By now, you’ve all figured out where to find me until Circle Craft.
What a nice experience to put the studio back together and know it would stay in one place for three whole weeks.
The new website will be up and running soon and I’m thrilled that I have simplified it and given up on my shopping cart. Paypal invoicing just works better for me. This year I have limited edition designs that will not be repeated and I am recommending that people pre order their hats for the show as I ran out of several designs last year.
Please send me a note if you would like to reserve hats or hand spun. Here’s what’s going on in the studio right now.
Hand dyed silk and wool, luxe design for children this year. I’m so excited to forgo the more traditional children’s design and up the funk factor.
The giant chalkboard from hell is telling me that I should be working and not blogging so I’m on my way to the studio. Just to add a bit more stress to the mix I just took an order for 45 adult hats for a ski resort in Colorado.
Must walk towards the coffee pot…..must get to the studio.
by carmen | Oct 19, 2009 | Uncategorized
…..or several bags of rare varietals …not to be greedy, but the best thing about the apple festival is discovering all the wonderful types of apples.
This year I was definitely taking the year off. No time for any other shows before Circle Craft…really ….and yet a last minute call and I’m off to the races. It’s hard to say no to apple goodness or to a UBC Farm Fundraiser.
Best things about the festival….
- Homemade pie
- Apples covered in crushed Skor bars
- Apple chips, yes chips
- Apple cider
And Piper…..with her new hat and the largest candy covered apple I have ever seen.
Claire was there. Now I just have to get Joan to get her polymer clay in for next year.
by carmen | Oct 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
Eighteen weekends of trekking the yarn and hats and flotsam back and forth to Whistler. Eighteen weekends of hotel breakfasts and staying current on U.S. exchange rates. At an end. Over….and we are no worse for the wear, the bank account is healthy and the winter season is beginning.
……OMG, Circle Craft starts in 29 days. It is no longer more than a month. So how freaked out can I be? This year is by far the best position I’ve been in to start the show season. I have sorted out many important things.
- I have a calendar chalk board where I write down important things
- I have some? inventory already.
- I have furniture for the booth this year from a local artisan (french provincial, if you please)
- I will have help giving new life to my backdrop fabric (thanks Kim)
- Only a few minor details to work out (painting a tree).
I have just come into possession of Buffy Season 6. This will provide much knitting and dyeing time as I play the musical episode over and over again (instead of just listening to it in the studio).
This week I have to finish the cloches. Next week it is on to the scarves. This can actually happen. Wow.
by carmen | Oct 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
….have been greatly exaggerated. Not even near death, but a knitting malaise, if you will. It was hard to focus on any task…
Things did get done.
Hats were blocked and dried by the fireplace in the hotel last weekend.
Tales were told and yarns were spun. Yes, these skeins will be available at the market this weekend. The market is Saturday and Sunday this weekend….come out for one or both days.
Many hats were finally finished and sewn together….Toni’s label sewing skills are as sharp as ever.
And the intermediate spinning class started today at Birkeland Bros. My students are producing amazing yarns. I’m so proud.
I am looking forward to feeling better and can’t imagine what I will be able to accomplish when I am feeling 100%!
by carmen | Oct 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
I am quarantining myself from the rest of the planet. I made it through the market yesterday by laying in the back of my booth until required. I brought a wheel and tried to focus on spinning, but the headache and nausea just won out.
John was the huge hero of the day and stepped up to make the sales happen. There was no way anyone would want to buy from me . (mountain sized cold sore and overall grossness) . This is the first time I have deferred sales responsibility. It was thrilling to realize that I don’t need to control all aspects of market days.
We had a sumptuous dinner at the Fairmont, compliments of the Farmer’s Market. Local, organic, delicious, and gorgeously prepared. We shared a table with great friends and it was a perfect near end to the season.
Circle Craft is in a month…Production is in full swing…okay more of a slow motion version, but happening none the less.
I wanted a winter hat tree for the booth. I am so over the commercial hat tree holder that I’ve been carting around since Toronto. Birch tree harvested from the side of the train tracks where the city left them after cutting them down near Granville Island earlier this year. Tomorrow the painting and I am good to go. It will make a nice addition to the display.
