by carmen | Nov 8, 2009 | Uncategorized
You all know I love guests at the studio, but I am officially up to my arse in boxes packed for the show.
Last minute details are still ongoing, but now checked off the listed..
- wire mannequin painted
- tree branches glued
- pussy willow scarves done
- commissioned sheep (long story)
Not completed.
- new wireless
- finishing felts
- receipt books
- ball bands printed
- tomato yarn
On a separate note…must clean the house before it reaches toxic levels of blek.
Oh, and the dress up at the studio was fun. Lisa (already a convicted melonhead, now brings her sister into the group)
My apologies for the quality of the IPhone pics and my wobbly hand.
by carmen | Nov 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
Toni and I went on what I would basically consider a show scavenger hunt. Some things found, some not, some decided against. At least several things were drawn to a conclusion.
The order of the day…Starting at 9:30am
1. Display supplier
2. Fibre supplier
3. End of the Roll (new 5X20 carpet) in chocolate brown
4. Commercial laundry for linens and fabric booth walls. There was knitting while waiting.
5. Lunch at Naam……Sesame fries and miso gravy…so good.
6. Furniture Salad (checking out my furniture pieces for the show) Molly rocks!
7. Pearl at Birkeland for a visit and some moral support
8. Back to the studio – At this point Toni was returned to her family.
9. Home 9:30 pm
There was still festive and frantic knitting until about midnight.
Today, all I wanted to do was finish things…Something, anything..yesterday’s errands made me feel even more under the gun even though so much was completed.
Neige
Inspired by my favourite Whistler model, my love of felt and my longing for snowy Ontario days.
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.
My apologies for the quality of the IPhone pics and my wobbly hand.
