Martini Hangover

by | Feb 25, 2009 | Uncategorized

Finishing up bits and pieces of things had me running around the apartment in circles…..

Spun some, dyed some, knit some, designed some and ended up with a huge mess. This is what I was able to salvage from the chaos.

This is an art batt spun with tons of olives. This is my martini hangover. Inspired by one of my plurk friends sampling the perfecting of a cocktail.

The rest is pretty much still hanging to dry, but I am really thrilled with this BFL roving (which did not do so well when I dyed the skein).

The spun and plied version of this in Wensleydale gave me just what I wanted.

I have decided I will be happy when things get partially done. Attempting to clean the studio yesterday and the avoidance of it gave me some wonderful things. I shall “try” to clean the studio today and see what happens. Oh, after I ship my web order, redesign the window display at Birkeland Bros and then have the card a thon at the messy studio this afternoon with Toni.

I am targeting for the end of March. And no, I will not post the before photos of how horrible the studio is now.

Still Playing Ketchup

by | Feb 22, 2009 | Uncategorized

What an amazing weekend. Dedicated to the decadent pleasure of spinning. I have homework for school and haven’t managed to get a boucle happening, but my custom order is now in “full bloom”. Our recent VAC meeting for the Farmer’s Market left me wanting for the fruits of the upcoming season.

These tomatoes have made me very happy. Only because they actually looked like tomatoes and the fiddly needle felting took my full concentration and was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. No, this is definitely a not for profit yarn, but more a “made Carmen uber happy” yarn.

The Farmer’s Market is such a joy for me, silly to some, but the ability to be outside for the summer and fall in different parts of BC just fills me. It’s people watching, produce admiring, and constant inspiration.

These are for a custom order and really filled the weekend. This order hits the same time that I am turned to thoughts of spring and my magnolia buds are all out on the tree. In a few weeks I will not be able to see out my front window for the mass of blooms on the 80 year old tree. In the meantime, I have these blooms passing out of my hands.

One of my plurk friends was commenting on getting snow tonight…..I’m getting an idea….Stop me, please.

What You See is What I Got

by | Feb 20, 2009 | Uncategorized

Another woman gave John flowers. Wonderful pretty gerbers. Now, thank goodness it was Pearl and it was for the small tub of turkish delight and cinnamon. They have been on the fireplace mantle all week and I just love the intensity of their colour. Much brighter than what I would normally enjoy.

I realize that I will only have a few more days with the flowers, but the memory of them will remain in this.

I was so thrilled to be able to translate this palette onto the yarn. I have no problem doing this with my rovings and custom blended batts, but to get it all in one skein was a lovely treat. This is 50g of superwash merino and seacell (and it is just glowing)….oh, so happy.

And now for something a little more tedious and injurious….

I’ve been spending way too much time at the farmer’s markets!

I proclaim today finish 3 projects day! I can/will do this…they are just laying around taunting me. Today is the day…..

Nothing Weft of Me

by | Feb 19, 2009 | Uncategorized

I have not been able to stop staring at the Ridged Headle Loom that is sitting in the corner of the dining room..You may remember my earlier post wherein Pearl and I scored the most amazing deal in the thrift shop.

I don’t know how to weave, therefore I felt compelled to conquer this strange device. So yesterday there was much warping (people really enjoy this?). Once that was out of the way, it was a battle as there is nothing to hold everything in place easily. I was traumatized, uncoordinated, and almost ready to give up. Pearl was there with her “just do it” attitude so I persevered.

The warp is silk and bamboo. The weft is my own hand dyed and hand spun BFL. I’m not used to seeing the wool laid out this way. The thick and thin gives it a beautiful wave and I’m eager to finish it, wear it and love it to pieces.

Well, I hope I do a good enough job so that it stays in one piece. Try something different with your fibre today. You never know what you’ll end up with.

Something is Not Quite Right

by | Feb 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

John is home. Massive amounts of Turkish Delight have been distributed. If you are local and read the blog and haven’t received your sample yet, please let me know.

More than the delight, I am enjoying the gizaria (made from carrots) and the tarchin (cinnamon) and kekik (oregano) from the Egyptian spice market. Every year, John makes the trek for me to bring back these small things that just mean so much…Unfortunately, this year I am the recipient of some wonderful Turkish coffee which is now off my radar.

I have been working like crazy, but it’s all just for me. It doesn’t seem right somehow. New booth displays, luxuriating in new spinning techniques, dyeing. Building things….it is almost too easy, too stress free.

I decided not to jury for Granville Island this year and I now believe this is what has relieved me of such a huge stress. The jurying is done, people have been chosen and I can walk away. It was an oppressive and uncreative environment to sell in. Whoever thought that CMHC (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) was appropriate for managing over a hundred artisans jocking for space to sell their wares must be on crack.

And so the year is all mine. I am in the places I want and need to be, not overtaxed, with enough time and space to make the things I want to sell. Giving me the chance to work on this…These photos are a teaser for Danielle..

This is two pounds of the Crossbred, pre spinning in it’s glorious bump phase. This breed is Australian. It is lovely to spin and it the result of breeding merino and corriedale together.

It’s a good thing I’ve decided to branch out. Three years ago I made a tree hat and scarf set, keep revisiting it, but this project is of a more monumental proportion. If you can’t go big, go home, right?

There will be a finished item post. I am almost there. But today belongs to Pearl and the wonderful fibre adventure I know we will have. I am really hoping not to come home with another loom however…I am seriously running out of room here. The studio is a massive disaster and the living room is turning into a lovely studio alternative and the ball winder and swift are turning into lovely decor items.

Spin or knit something beautiful today. Touch some wool…enjoy your day. I am sensing something wonderful is going to happen today.

My Brain Revisted

by | Feb 14, 2009 | Uncategorized

I try not to go here often. It is a dark and scary place. For the first time in a long time, there are other thoughts in my head other than yarn or where to hide my yarn. The predominant and overwhelming thought of the moment…Yes, what did I do with my fracking mailbox key? Oh, and John is coming home tomorrow night…

The hunt for “the key” has taken on epic proportion and has become the task du jour…ie : a sampling of my day.

6:30 to 8:30 Revise work process for jury submission
8:30 to 9:15 Explore interior of couch, chair, underneath carpeting and fireplace mantel.
9:15 to 11:00 Edit photos for jury submission
11:00 to 11:30 Dump recycle bin paper and recyclable containers in continuing search for mailbox key.
11:30 to 12:00 Have friendly chat with mailman who has become best friend if intercepted before mail gets into mailbox…note to self…invent more excuses for “running into” mailman in the hallway.
12:00-1:30 Joan and I realize we have filled out jury submission incorrectly.
1:30-2:00 Examine dining room for possible key location.

I think you can follow how the rest of my day played out. It is currently 1AM. I am cool with my submissions, now ready to ship in the morning. The key, on the other hand is an ongoing concern.

I would really like to fill that larger brain portion with more knitterly concerns so wish me luck.