by carmen | Aug 25, 2008 | Events
Friendly Tomatoes
I haven’t been to Trout Lake in a while. The weather was incredible for personal comfort, but not so great for hat selling. Except for yesterday. Thank you to the people who think your seasons fashion wear in advance!
Joan and I have been sharing space since the beginning of the season and I love how our stuff works together. Her polymer clay buttons are a necessary part of anything I knit that needs buttons and her knitting needles are to die for.
…Joan manning the booth
Probably while I was taking pictures of my talented neighbour Laura (who was also my neighbour at the Filberg Festival)
Her objet d’art…the colours!
Now the most important reason for loving Farmer’s Markets…..the people who come out rain or shine every week and support their local growers and makers. Since I didn’t get permission for these photographs, I only shot feet! If you recognize your shoes, I apologize for any improper usage of your footwear.
And now the best reason of all
I was going to take a picture of the cheese and onion scone I bought….I ate it before I could pick up the camera…Oops.
Please support your local makers and growers.
by carmen | Aug 5, 2008 | Events
Another year at Filberg over and done. This year by far was the most fun. Eleven hour days at outdoor shows are never easy. With good friends around you things can be more holiday like than hard work like.
Highlights:
- Pearl killed for me. Yes you heard me correctly.
- Judy and Toni MacGyver-ed a tarp that kept my inventory dry.
- A young girl tried to tip me for her hat
- My customers can actually communicate with me now.
- My yarn sold out.
- My yarn was knit up immediately at the show.
- I have custom orders to keep me busy for weeks.
- It only rained one day.
by carmen | Aug 4, 2008 | Events
It all starts by putting one foot in front of the other and stepping out in a vintage pair of Fluevog’s. Pick the shoes and the rest will follow. And these are definitely my lucky show shoes.
At this point I had just finished dragging everything going to the show to the side of the house and was waiting for Judy and Toni for the “pick up”
At 6:00am a residence challenged man (homeless fellow) asked me if any of this was garbage. Now consider any angst a designer might have before a show…I considered it a philosophical question more than a recycle question so I replied “Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder, oh, sorry –do you mean am I throwing any of this out? –no sorry I’m taking it to Vancouver Island.
To which he replied, then you shouldn’t leave it alone in the alley, someone might take it. It was just at that moment that the girls showed up to load the vehicle.
So begins a journey of one station wagon, 4 women, several bottles of wine, 40 pounds of wool and the anticipation of 4 days of shopping for most (and 4 days selling and working for others).. Yikes.
From Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo on the new largest ferry ever ……I will call this leaving chaos in our wake.
Tomorrow is the last day of the show. I promise a full recap with many photos, the story of a best friend who would kill for you and the adoption of fanciful hats into fabulous new homes.
by carmen | Jul 22, 2008 | Events
It just hit me. Filberg is basically a week away…Holy fat crap. Due to a brisk selling season, my inventory is a bit low. Don’t get me wrong this is NOT a complaint. I am thrilled that people are getting me as the designs are a bit off centre this year —but not enough inventory for such a well attended show is not a good thing…
I just keep thinking that the yarn gods will provide. My artisan hands will not give out and the inspiration will be continuous and free flowing. Perhaps my problems lies more with the inspiration. I can’t contain myself long enough to make 5 of anything and I’m always in the middle of graphing out a new design…This does not bode well for production work.
Sleep annoys me (unless I’m dreaming about yarn). It forces my hands to rest when they want to be doing something else. Unfair….How to steady myself and stay on course for this show? Any suggestions…John suggests not spending so much time blogging, but this is my one true decadent pleasure outside of knitting or spinning. It’s the diary I never had when I was eight.
Filberg, filberg, filberg,
Oh, how I love you and your large and lovely grounds, historical buildings, appreciative customers, wonderful sunshine and inspirational artisans.
Oh, Filberg, how I hate your demand for my handwork and making me worry that I may sell out. Who am I kidding….?This would make me love Filberg even more. I can hardly wait to see the customers that make this show stand out so much from the other shows that I participate in. Come to the Comox Valley and check out this show. You’ll see what I mean…..
by carmen | Jul 10, 2008 | Events
Finally, a yarn inspired by Whistler. This is my custom blend in singles, mixed ply and two ply, I have stocked up on this yarn and will have the neck wrap pattern available shortly. Yes, I know I’ve said this before, but it’s being test knit and it’s ……almost ready. The yarn is a beautiful blend of cream, caramel, a pale yellow and silver glitz. Here is the yarn in its various states. I spun like a dervish.
I have been thinking about this since my first week in Whistler. While in the warm cozy market, watching the snowboarders looking so much like puffed up marshmallows heading to glaciers. And to show that I am not a one trick pony—- my homage to Tofino. I am not just a beige girl.
Kelp, water, foam coasting on tide waters, it’s all in this little blend.
It is going to be a wonderful experiment of felted kelp bits on the ply……I might not be able to tackle it until next week (which makes me sad). More chance to work out the delicate intricacies of felting seaweed. A new adventure.
I can’t even consider spinning this today. Serious count of spinning 2lbs —enough is enough. Pearl is coming over tomorrow! She’ll set me straight.
by carmen | Jun 16, 2008 | Events
This is the first time I have been too busy to take any photographs of the market. The drive was uneventful and inspirational. The weather was outstanding and everything just seemed to glow.
This is the car after it was packed.
Thank God, there are coffee options on the way up throughout Squamish. At that time of the morning I could choose Starbucks or the true Canadian option.
I had a terrific reunion with folks I haven’t seen since last year….Wanda, Micheline and Jean Marie, and Rebecca. All talented crafters in their own right, substitute Wanda for Jean Pierre and we had a nice dinner gathering at the end of the day to celebrate the start of the season.
Something wonderful happened. For the first time ever, I sold more wool than finished goods. People are really starting to dig the hand spun. This is something I have been waiting for since I started spinning…….now…where is that first pattern you ask.
Custom orders, great vendor neighbours, beautiful babies, and believe it or not herds of snowboarders. I can’t believe I didn’t pull out my camera for that.
Whenever there was no traffic, John and I grabbed a nice patch of sun and people watched. We were celebrating father’s day. After all we are up to 3 fur kids.
Observation –The most favoured snack of the day was kettle corn —what an intoxicating smell— with a close second, the Apple Fritters from my neighbour across the way. Although I didn’t partake, I heard TESTIMONIALS to their extreme deliciousness.
This was the booth at tear down -when I remembered my camera.
Overall impression. I am going to love my summer at Whistler —–Need to do a happy yarn spin and get myself organized….Custom orders to work on. Next weekend I promise full pictures of all the yummy goodness of the market.
Friendly Tomatoes
…Joan manning the booth
Now the most important reason for loving Farmer’s Markets…..the people who come out rain or shine every week and support their local growers and makers. Since I didn’t get permission for these photographs, I only shot feet! If you recognize your shoes, I apologize for any improper usage of your footwear.
