by carmen | Mar 31, 2009 | Uncategorized
I am so excited. I found out via a conversation with Joan that I was accepted to the Filberg Festival for another year….Wowee, I am so happy. I love this show……Love, love, love it. And Joan will be with me, tents side by side. I am really looking forward to it.
I was just asked to knit baby hats for a movie. Hush on the details until I have them all.
I was also offered a job in the real world, which means someone actually appreciates me for more than just my knitting tension. It’s nice to dip your toes back into the real world every once in a while, but no time…..
And all of this on the heels of heading out to Whistler. This is going to be one fun filled week. Panties packed, spinning wheel bagged, okay. I am good to go. Will fill you in from the road…
by carmen | Mar 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
….and only 44 more to go. No really, I added them all up this year including Farmer’s Market Days, that is how many shows I will be doing. (not number of days at shows). I guess I’d better get my ass in gear.
No grid walls. This is the first time I have managed to do a show without gridwall. They are evil, heavy and I HATE loading them in the car. So I just threw everything in the car that looked like it might fit on a table.
John was there for the set up, so most of the heavy lifting was out of my hands.
I spent a lot of time sketching out a complete set up last week. This barely resembles the intended set up.
Nice things about the show.
I had some sweet neighbours — Hank and Cheef — they have some amazing handkerchiefs (you will want some).
The energy and flow of the market was nice.
I had several friends drop by. Some of them shopped….
One irritating thing about the show. Chocolate. How can that be irritating, you ask? When the little sample papers end up on your table the entire day (and you yourself haven’t eaten any) —Well that is just downright cruel and unfair.
One last little look at the display…
Heading out for a big road trip to Whistler. There will be thrifting, yarn shopping and possibly gelato. Will keep you updated from the glorious final destination.
by carmen | Mar 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
I remember the teacher reading this book to me when I was quite young. Did this have any impact on my choice of careers later in life? Pearl managed to find this book for me at a thrift store in Seattle (originally published in 1940).
In a nutshell, this old guy stacks all his hats on his head and sells them. One day (on a slow sales day) he falls asleep under a tree and when he wakes up, the monkeys are making a wild fashion statement.
I won’t be the spoiler for how he gets the hats back. My friend Holli has a fantastic inventory of children’s books that mention knitting. I was thrilled to have my own all about hats.
Pearl, I can’t thank you enough for this blast from the past. I will treasure it forever. And one more shot for the day. Pearl in the shop with my favourite thing she has ever knit….giant monkey (an homage to Caps for Sale?) Someone (?) needs to knit him a hat.
Well, I guess I’ll go back to tagging inventory for my show tomorrow. I can’t believe how much I have knit/crocheted/spun and dyed since the beginning of the year. Really, I didn’t think I had done much.
I love them. I hate tagging them on to garments. It can’t be lovey, dovey all the time. Such is the nature of relationships.
by carmen | Mar 26, 2009 | Uncategorized
I feel like I have betrayed my one true love. I pick up the sticks for the first time in ages to work on some production work and I dropped them a few hours later. That was two days ago and I just realized that I have been crocheting non stop since.
Why, oh why have I turned my back on my first love? I feel so dirty, and yet…
This piece just speaks to me.
Whenever I am crocheting, my mind is free. I am following a path set out by the yarn, twists, turns and curves which all come to me effortlessly. Theus palette is inspired by the magnolia blooms just starting to break forth.
I believe there will be a hat as I am not done with this beautiful fibre. Silk and wool together just excite me. Did I just say that?
And on a completely different note, I spied this on my walk today. Whoever knows what this blossom is, please let me know. The smell was heavenly.
Heavenly, I tell you.
by carmen | Mar 25, 2009 | Uncategorized
My online friend from Rita Vindedzis blog tagged me the other day and I have no new knitting to share so I thought I’d give it a shot.
What are you wearing now? Yoga pants, my favourite turtleneck.
How often do you blog About 4 times a week.
Who was the last person you hugged? My cat Habib. He’s a bit needy.
Which item from your closet are you wearing most lately? My favorite turtleneck. It’s been chilly in the house.
What’s for dinner? A big ass steak for John, a portobello mushroom burger for me, cauliflower, soba noodles with mushrooms and pepper and a little spice from JP…
What’s the last thing you bought Another display piece for the booth from Pier One Imports.
What are you listening to right now? The rain and my dishwasher.
If you could have any super power what would it be? The ability to convert ice cream into pure energy.
What is your favorite weather and why? Sunny, light rain, not too warm.
What time do you usually get up? Between 6:30-7:00.
What is your most challenging goal right now? Trying to keep up with the inventory necessary for the all the shows I’ve committed to this year.
Say something about the person who tagged you. I miss the time we used to spend together in Toronto hashing out ideas to improve our fledgling businesses. She is a very gifted artist.
If you could have a house-totally paid for, fully furnished-anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Vancouver Island. Probably around Comox Valley. I like the idea of deer running across my front yard.
Favorite vacation spot? Paris – the streets, the museums, the food.
Name the things you cannot live without. Wool, vintage knitting needles, a bamboo crochet hook, my favourite travel mug, turkish cinnamon(it goes with everything) and my camera.
What movies can you watch over and over again. Lord of the Rings, Star Trek-The Undiscovered Country, Serenity and one chick flick – Steel Magnolias.
What is your favorite tea? Kardade- Dry Egyptian Hibiscus flowers boiled. Makes a great ice tea as well.
That wasn’t so bad. But now, who do I want to pick on…Definitely Yarn Piggy, Joan,Holli, Stephanie and BB.
by carmen | Mar 24, 2009 | Uncategorized
If it was only knitting and fibre, life would be a breeze. There are so many elements to the business that are just not my area of expertise. Like most self employed, sole proprietorships, you don’t always have access to the best of the best, but you do what you can.
The last jury submission out the door…..
Sketches for a new booth display.
And now my quarterly GST and PST reporting. No photos of that! One day when the business can afford it, I will have a professional style the display, a bookkeeper and someone to complete all my submissions as well as a photographer. If anyone wants to volunteer for any of these jobs, I would gladly pay you now in yarnie accessories or just yarn. I have plenty.
I had another glorious walk in the rain this morning. And the best view was in my own front yard. The magnolias have finally shown themselves to me…but just a peek. The tree is 85 years old and in a few weeks, I won’t be able to see out the front window for all the pink. I can hardly wait.
