A List of Lists

by | Oct 23, 2010 | Events, Personal

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

by | Oct 19, 2010 | Events

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)

Revisiting the Past

by | Oct 16, 2010 | Events, Felting

I have spent the last 4 days immersed in felt, hanging with felters, soon to be felters and otherwise unique and forward thinking people who want to learn, grow and take their skills to the next level.  (except for one woman who was definitely adverse to joy).

Sitting back and watching others create was really a trippy experience.  I was in and out of it as my needs morphed.  Explore an idea, get wet, make something resembling my intentions, but a bit off and then dig through my wool and work on my freeform scarf.  Thank God I had an instructor who understood my need for random acts of knitting.  It helps me stay focused (YES, it does)

Many moons ago I studied millinery at George Brown College in Toronto and quickly discarded is as a way to earn a living. Just a chance to make myself a few stylish hats and then move on.  Definitely not a way to earn a living or?

Now here I am, spent…still in my wet apron with my wrinkly hands admiring my new hats when I should be finishing sewing the worms on the apple hats for the UBC festival tomorrow.  Could I?  Dare I?  Nah.  I am still so in awe of the transformative nature of wool.  I enjoyed having yet another thing to appreciate about fibre and fibre arts.

I know that I am already thinking about new elements to incorporate in my work.  And I can let it rest at that.  Yes, it was a very hectic and satisfying last 4 days.  There will be pics as soon as I can get caught up with everything.

I hope your week offered you new learning opportunities and challenges.  If it didn’t ….seek some out.

The Dangers of Getting to Market

by | Sep 21, 2010 | Events, Knitting & Crochet

Sunday 6:00am……leave house. check, head downtown with relatively little traffic, cozy up to the Lion’s Gate Bridge full of optimism for the day.   Road block.  Suicide has closed the bridge.  Plan B…..drive the long way round to Second Narrows Bridge.  Since we don’t often take that route, it was a lovely hazy drive, a little quiet, how do you get on with your day knowing someone just ended theirs.

We were late setting up due to the side trip and putting things together was a bit more frantic than usual, but even with the rain outside, the loan of a tent top (thanks Joan) kept things relatively dry inside.  And the customers still came.  When it rains that hard and unrelenting, you either laugh or cry.  We laughed a lot.  And I got some knitting done.

On our ride home HWY 99 was turned into a parking lot for half an hour.  It took us a while once we got going to realize that there was a burned out Greyhound bus at the side of the road, lots of foam, several EMS vehicles, an ambulance and firetruck…No injuries.  What the frack?

When we got home we were too tired and wet to unload the car, but there was a great piece of fish I had picked up from the market on Saturday.  Halibut almandine, couscous and quinoa and some grilled mushrooms.  Hoping the rest of the seasons days are less eventful.

When it rains, it pours and other misadventures.

by | Sep 14, 2010 | Dyeing, Events, Knitting & Crochet

I am hearty craft stock, I can take the rain, I really can.  No wimp here.  I never cancel outdoor shows in the rain and I hate looking at empty spaces in a market on a rainy day from last minute cancellations.

Ladner was excrutiating this weekend with more rain inside my tent than outside.  (evidenced by people leaving their umbrellas open inside the tent)  ….and this….

The table cloth started taking up the excess water, which the hats and scarves then started to absorb.  Thanks to Jennifer, Kim and Angela for coming to my rescue.  Jennifer, I’ll return the poncho and the towels as soon as they dry up!

Saturday was beautiful and sunny and I had the happiest customer I’ve ever had.  Someone as excited by the handspun and lovely felted cloches.as I am.


And a week of dyeing and knitting gave me such a bright and cheerful stack of baby hats.

 
I’ll be in and out of touch while I’m working on some fundraising efforts for RIPE.    I can’t say enough how I appreciate the local farmer’s markets.  Buy a ticket or two if you can and if not and you can consider donating something for the silent auction, please email me at [email protected].  There will be a few MelonHead items available for you to bid on.