Name that Pain

by | Nov 9, 2010 | Personal

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.

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.

Blogger Bounty

by | Oct 1, 2010 | Personal

While I have been ignoring my blog for yarnier pursuits, other people have made me feel like I still have a place in the sphere, like a door staying held open for me…Thanks so much to two great blogs that are witty and wonderful.

Sheryl….huge fan of Elizabeth Zimmerman, a woman with extraordinary taste in fibre, and a mompreneur with her own on line fibre shop and an amazing knitter.   She is involved with BC Children’s Hospital’s “The Period of Purple Crying Awareness” as well and is having a sale in her shop for 20% off her purple yarns.  She also has yummy vintage buttons in her shop, check them out.

Gabi is an awesome photographer in Whistler who is using my hats for some of her photographs.  I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to have someone with her talent using my little designs for her work.  Her blog is full of photographs that are just breathtaking.

I had to take a step away from production for a bit to work on RIPE which was an awesome fundraiser for the Farmer’s Market.  I am so grateful to know people that are so generous, so much food and wonderful craft was donated and I never felt like I was asking for too much or that people did not want to give.  Land artisans and craft artisans alike were so giving (reinforcing why I am a part of the market community)

I’m just getting back into my groove with only 1 days to The Drift and only 6 weeks until Circle Craft.  I can’t believe that I’m funnelling down into the last few minutes.  Three days of being housebound with flu like grossness hasn’t helped, but I’m brave enough to head to Claire’s house for our Production Fridays.

Here are a few pics of the past week of markets….

All wet roads lead to Whistler
A study in blues
Coming and going
Neige has a new brother
Neige

BC Children’s Hospital

by | Sep 7, 2010 | Personal

I received this email the other day and thought I would pass it along to anyone reading this blog.  I believe I have a few eggplant hats I can pass along for this, how about you?
Good Morning Carmen,
I was reading your blog last night and I can see that you are connected to the knitting community in Vancouver and I wanted to ask you to help spread the word about a knitting campaign I am working in with the Period of PURPLE Crying and BC Children’s Hospital.
We are asking volunteers to knit purple newborn baby hats to be distributed at BC Children’s Hospital the week of November 15th.  If you are interested in knitting caps, any newborn baby pattern in any shade of purple would be fantastic.
If you would like more information please email me at [email protected]. We also have a Facebook group and event that is dedicated to this campaign.

Thank you,
Melissa
Melissa Pelto MA
Communications Consultant
778.558.8582

January Brain

by | Jan 23, 2010 | Events, Personal, Studio

Jury Pieces

Never jury with the same article twice (even if it got you into the show). You will look like a one trick pony. It’s not enough that an artisan makes something, but they must be able to show some growth in their work. After 10 years of putting myself out there for judging, I might finally be getting a handle on this.

GST Filing

It’s due in a week, but just because I have a week to go, doesn’t mean I should wait until next Friday. The box of receipts is an ugly tangled mess. Although they are in one place, it’s going to take a bit of wrangling to make them report worthy.

Custom Orders

They all have deadlines and all need to be done, but I need to decompress before finishing everything. One is straggling from 2009 and I’m just trying to make something perfect and maybe perfect isn’t what’s called for here. The others are apre Christmas, some designs for Olympic staffers, and replacement pirate hats. It will happen.

Clean the Studio

Substantial yarn purchases at the end of the year require more adjustment to the studio. A bigger dyeing area for sure and some drying racks. I need to maximize my vertical space…Mariegold…are you reading this?

Pet the Cats

When I’m at home, there is knitting in my hand at all times. I have to remind myself to put the knitting down so that I can pet the cats. Habib has learned over the years to insinuate himself under the knitting and on to my lap. It’s still not the same as a good hug and squeeze.