by carmen | Sep 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
Last weekend’s market at Whistler was the best one, ever. Great sales, conversations, customers and crochet lessons. I love sharing what I know about craft at the market. John was a designated dog walker this weekend (which helped immensely) Whistler is definitely a dog market.
We had our AGM for the market at the end of the day. One of the few chances I have had to see some of the vendors as the sales day doesn’t normally present time to wander. It was also my opportunity to step up and be more involved, so this year, I am now a member of the Board of Directors. (more reason to spend more time in Whistler)
I believe in farmers’ markets and how they build communities and my best experiences are at the market, so I am thrilled to serve.
The ride home was mysteriously beautiful.
The ride was the perfect time to think about my week ahead. I’m looking forward to teaching my first spinning class on Thursday. Really…..me. Irene, I defer to your brilliance and I thank you for everything you taught me. I hope I am adequately able to pass your knowledge on. I want people to love spinning and I want to have a hand in creating that excitement like you did for me.
Hand spun yarn makes wonderful things. And everyone deserves the pleasure of knitting with hand spun. Even I steal a skein away from my inventory now and again.
Spin or knit something squishy, fashionable and warm.
by carmen | Aug 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
It was all about the twist. Hand spun, core spun, redone, plied, felted…..I’m doing my best to catch up, but the yarn orders keep coming and I’m starting to be buried under the pile of fibre. Today was a success insofar as I was able to complete a few orders and get a leg up on the weekend.
Some process photos first.
And the resulting yarns in all their fluffy loveliness.
SOLD
The flowers are cashmere. I did not mind spending my day knee deep in cashmere.
SOLD
I decided to offset the black, grey and white with red fruit loops. The mix of kid mohair, alpaca and silk is decadent.
SOLD and SOLD
The yarn on the left is loaded with hand dyed mohair locks in beautiful coppers and greens. The yarn on the right is the tomatoes on the vine. I never get tired of this yarn and it is so loaded.
I was plurking this as I was spinning this. It was hot, sexy love, love for this yarn…I haven’t reskeined this yet. (Bad sign – it means I’m probably knitting it). I’m calling it Angel Blush. Please email me if you would like the stats on this yarn. I’m just going to molest, I mean weigh it now.
Hope all your dreams are fluffy and yarnie tonight.
by carmen | Aug 24, 2009 | Uncategorized
I have been waiting all season for Neige to return to the market. Everything was spot on about today’s market in Whistler, particularly seeing my favourite hat model again.
So many things clicked today.
1. The energy was amazing. A true hustle and bustle.
2. I sold several pieces that were “favourites”
3. I found a knitter who had not heard of ravelry. She may not forgive me for this introduction.
4. I had my first “trunk” show. Two fantastic women turned up as the booth was fully packed into the car and we were just getting ready to drive away. Needing a few gifts, (and personal hats) it wasn’t hard to convince us to pop the trunk. Thanks to the B gals for the fun conversation and most unique shopping experience.
5. Dinner with JP at the end of it all. What a smashing day.
Thanks Suzanne. I can hardly wait to see the rest of the pics.
by carmen | Aug 20, 2009 | Uncategorized
How could it be a week already? I feel like I just got back from Whistler and it’s almost time to load up the car again.
Trout Lake on Saturday was a warm and breezy day with a lot of activity. I actually had some time to get some custom knitting finished and before I knew it the day was over.
From Trout Lake it was straight on to Whistler Market, but not before a little pit stop in Squamish for what is now our favourite Indian Restaurant. (Essence of India)
The Whistler Market on Sunday had an amazing energy. Perfect weather and the last day of Crankwerx—-definitely my people. I had a great time with the kids in the market this weekend.
Was really tempted to spend one more day in town and drive back on the Monday, but we had a date with destiny and a trip to Chiliwack for some fibre investigation and thrift store shopping.
On the Lion’s Gate Bridge, Sunday night.
Moday’s Chiliwack trip had me scoring many, many pairs of knitting needles and some fabulous vintage patterns for my collection.
Official ambassadors of town from the Corn Hut.
Another show today and I am pooped. The Electronic Arts Centre is an incredible collection of buildings in Burnaby. And I’m not just saying that because John worked with the architects on one of them! I can’t tell you how great it was to set up on a 6 ft by 3ft table only. No tent set up, no grid wall……heavenly.
Lots of yarn to finish for the weekend. Mostly custom orders, but if I forgo sleep between now and Saturday, I should be able to get it done.
by carmen | Aug 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
As a member of the Vancouver Weavers and Spinner’s Guild, I had the pleasure of a volunteer shift keeping watch over the most wonderful collection of Hanji in a cooperative exhibition between our Guild and the Jeonju Hanji Artists Association of Korea.
The Colour of Mine
Emily Carr was a perfect backdrop for this impressive exhibit.
This will be a photo heavy post, my apologies, but I wanted to capture as many different translations of the fibre as I could.
Dream and Hope
528 Circles
Papyririne (Tree Hugger)
Hand knit and Dyed Hanji Paper by Louisa Chadwick
Neither myself or Pearl had tickets to the fashion show and settled for a nice sushi dinner instead. This transformative mulberry tree has been used for centuries in Korean clothing, making an incredibly durable and luminous fibre. And in printing has been maintained in books more than 1,000 years old. Sigh.
My bag of knitting seemed very uninspiring tonight.
by carmen | Aug 11, 2009 | Uncategorized
Thursday…..outstanding day of coffee shop knitting with Marigold (who finished her fabulous sweater tank). She designed the most incredible sweater on the fly —with earth, compost, grass and tomatoe wool from yours truly. I just need to get her to model it. But here’s a pic of part of it and the crochet hook she carved out of a hazelnut branch….How do I find all these talented people?
Friday was a perfect day and I ended up with a great picnic at Queen Elizabeth Park. The food was outstanding, but then again, Claire has never put together a bad meal. She came by to visit the studio. I’m almost embarrassed showing it to people and have officially dubbed it the “shit hole” just because it is in a basement, but really….it’s where all the yarnie good times happen, so to me it is a gift.
Saturday was full of fibre goodness with the
Surrey Museum PicKnit and a knit in the park day. I was helping out Pearl with Birkeland Bros display and unveiled the kits. I was thrilled at how well received they were. While the rest of the knitting world was at Sock Summit, we had a lazy fabulous wooly day.
No, the llama did not fit in Pearl’s van. Don’t think I didn’t try to plan out a quick getaway. I loved this little guy from a far.
Our booth was beautiful. A full mix of alpaca and hand dyed and hand spun. Pearl did some needle felting demos while I snuck away to see Mandy’s chat on her new book Yarn Bombing. It was a great presentation and I mananged to snag one of the first handful of copies. Please check out the site and support these very avant garde artists by buying a copy of the book or encouraging your local yarn store to carry copies.
Our display…Yes, yarn lady made her usual appearance.
On Sunday, the world returned to the familiar with the Whistler Farmer’s Market. The day was perfect MelonHead weather. A taunting of rain, overcast and cool. I had several visits from the local S&B and convinced two crocheters to return to knitting as well as two knitters to walk on the wild side for crochet (you know who you are!).
We took our time coming home on Monday, a nice lazy day, but the list of undone from the previous week as well as orders are starting to pile up. Will not be able to post for a few days.
Knit like crazy.
