Favourite things vs. Evil things

Favourite Things
(because it's always good to start with a positive)

I had the best time at Portobello yesterday. I loved the show, my space, my neighbours, the feedback, the custom work and the entire energy of the place.

I loved that Mike was able to help and he was still speaking to me by the end of the day.

I met great new artisans.

I had 3 specialty coffees in one day. No, I had no trouble drifting off to sleep.

I just ordered new Moo's and treated myself to a book of MelonHead KnitWear stickers....Where will I put them???


Evil Things

GST filings, paperwork and anything that does not involve touching wool, housework (unless it's organizing wool) brushing the cats during what appears to be their molting season. For the first time in my life, the cat fur is overtaking the fiber dust. Did I say paperwork???

John keeping my papers for safe keeping and me forgetting so that I spend 2 hours looking for something.....ARGHHHHH. Not mad at John ---keep forgetting I give him anything that I don't want an animal to yack on.

Back to the good stuff

I will successfully cross three things off my TO DO list and will still have time to work on two custom orders.

Holli, the amazing designer/model

Too busy to look after my own issues, not only does Holli participate in the shoot, model for it, she burns the photos on to CD and then delivers them to my house. Seriously -----this kindness I do not deserve.

Some of the shots.... Holli and her new friends.

Holli draped in luxurious handspun.

Carmen wants to marry her wool. It may be illegal in Canada, but I can dream, can't I?

Since I always have dreams of wool, this is definitely a shot I can live with.

Getting ready for Portobello....come on down and check out some great artisans!

The Craft Goddess still running interference.

I had so many things to do, see list from previous days. I promised not to beat myself up for not completing things but I do have a nasty habit of preferring to do fun things over the "need to do things".

I planned a leisurely lunch with my talented friend Claire - lunch at her place is a 5 star dining experience. Then, an afternoon in Squamish knitting under The Chief with Judy and Toni, who are my preferred knitting road warrier people.

Unexpected tradespeople changed all of that. And why of all days----because the Craft Goddess is not about to let me get my way...A faint and subtle reminder about staying home to finish what I started. And just as I was starting to get a bit grumpy about this, Toni calls and offers to keep me company knitting for the afternoon. Okay, so the Craft Goddess is not without her small mercies.

Lately, more than ever, I am aware of bending to the universe --and when I bend, more gets done. A 2nd silk, mohair and lace weight merino scarf more pink this time, the last one was coral and a bit more narrow.


This one is in the silk and kid mohair as well, but I have blended a tan with an olive green and the colour has a wonderful depth to it. Rather than a purl stitch, I have dropped the stitch on each side of the cable for a more lacy effect. Here is the blocking.

Here is the finished scarf.



Starting to get the hang of blocking (even though I still don't like it)....Today I am working on the shawl. It is all overlay embroidery and crochet so I am looking forward to having that design come to life. There will only be one, this piece needs to be special.

Finished project to be displayed at a blog near you.

P.S. Tiny skein of wool was spun.

Let the Craft Gods Decide

Before I get philosophical today, warning...this will be a long post....I would like to show you the skull caps that I finished and crossed off my list from yesterday.

The design is simple, it appeals to me, a little change in stitch and I'm looking at leaves. Crochet is becoming another way I am expressing myself. The yarn was unbelievable to work with. It is a blend of 65% silk and 35% bamboo from France. I got two cones and thought I might attempt a shawl. I am NOT a shawl girl. Although today a few mini scarves may appear, something to actually match to these hats...I was going to do 5, but the pattern is still changing, so I need a sixth to actually work out the sizing. I will have these at my show this weekend at Portobello West. $60.00

Moving on to my issue. I was turned down for a show. No, it was not one of the ones I was dying to do, an untested venue, but to be rejected, turned down, ouch baby. I am an artisan because I need approval (tell me who doesn't) and this flies in the face of how I earn a living and goes to the core of the ego I claim not to have.

I have been lamenting that I am too busy to fit in one more show and that I couldn't do it anyway, but it still burns my cheeks.

A little prayer.....

I throw myself at your mercy, goddess of craft, understanding that you only have my best interest at heart, that you love me unconditionally, allow me to pursue my craft and are only trying to keep me from carpal tunnel and other repetitive injury.

I know that you want me to live a calm, stress free life, in an uncomplicated creative bubble and that this rejection was meant to keep me humble and my life unhurried. I know I am not meant for the demands of 9-5 and you have chosen an artisan life for me for a reason.

I accept your plans for me and I thank you for this humble reminder.

Okay.......now how to find another show. I am all about acceptance, but this girl has an American Express bill to pay.

Today I will drown myself in silk and mohair and let this experience wash over me.

Free to Knit

So, let loose for good behavior, time served, and the working world is done with me.

This would be the time to be clever and seriously slag the 9-5....but to what end? It has made me appreciate how very lucky I am to make a living doing what I do. --No, it's not glamorous and full of diamonds....

but it is full, rich and divine.
and all mine.

this fiber life I have.

I am in the midst of a landmine of projects at the moment. It's always about inventory and building stock--my two arms can only create so much. I need help, an apprentice, a time management consultant.

Instead of beating myself up for what I can't get done--I saw enough sullen faces on the bus ride to work this week----I have opted for a wish list.

"I will feel like a goddess of yarns if I can finish the following items before Portobello West on Sunday"..........

• 5 crocheted silk and bamboo skull caps with new leafy design. -done
  
• pink and brown barbie pirate sweater for wholesale order
• 5 wool, silk and bamboo hair bands/neck wraps
• finish embellishing mohair and silk mini shawl wrap
• return show contracts with media photos
  

It's only Tuesday afternoon. This is possible. Accepting all words of encouragement....

YOU MUST NOT BUY YARN THIS WEEK. There is no where to hide it and John will find it, seriously.

60,000 Race, 1 Races home to spin.

Working in Kim's office has it's perks...we were able to avoid this crush and the cold pre-race by heading up to the 14th floor of the HSBC building where we enjoyed breakfast and a bit of knitting. I KNEW I would be able to work some face time with the needles into my day.


White tags for our start time so these became our peeps. I was only crushed moderately, however this is the only time in my life I would allow this close contact with complete strangers without several layers of "protection". Cigarette, anyone?

The clothing at the right side is for donations and is apparently scooped up after the race. Since I was modestly dressed, I spent the entire race trying to better deal my wardrobe by seeing if there was anything exciting at the side of the road. No changing rooms and an actual desire to finish the race kept me from shopping too heavily.

Shortly after the 1st km of the race, we ran into this friendly gentleman near Stanley Park.
I didn't think Jesus was into competition.

Not long after our encounter with this serious warning, I slipped on some kind runner's luggie left by the side of the road, SLID, for God's sake. It only took me slightly off track, but that is the first time I've ever been almost sidelined by a huge chunk of gob.

The 5th km of the race was over the Burrard Bridge. This photo is of the runner's behind us below on Pacific Avenue and the Burrard Inlet in the background.

Who knew that cozying up to 60,000 complete strangers could be so invigorating. We only made one trip off track for an Orangina and chocolate covered marshmallows. Race food ---awesome.

This is my ass crossing the finish line, Kim taking photos.



I had a marvelous time and to top it all off, I came home to a Sunday delivery of two batts of Terra Bella Spun batts.....This one is called Zen Garden---since plied with silk and mohair.

This one is Queen of the Forest. After I plied it with an olive silk haze, it is now "Faded Christmas". There is a fair bit of red and green sparkle, not showing up here. I'll take another photo after I finish plying it.

My butt hurts. Later.

SUN RUN sans sun.

So far the sun is fighting its way out, and it's a solid one degree temperature wise...Questions for the run...

How many layers... ?
(so far, 4) I think that will tide me over

Which hat and scarf should I wear?
It's always about accessories people.

Where is my number and time tag?
I actually found them! Tag on shoe, number on chest.

Camera. Me walking 10k, this is something that must be documented...I will also be looking for friends on the route to photo. Look, I know people.

And most importantly, how am I going to bring knitting....? And which knitting....New silk and mohair cable scarf project sounds about right to me. Sexy!

There is wait time and I refuse to stand there stretching for an hour and posing in my running pants.

NOTE TO KIM - I know you think bringing knitting is a bad idea, but really, if anyone gets in our way, I have sharp implements at my disposal. Is this not an advantage...?

Wish me luck...I will actually report my lame timing on the blog --proof for you naysayers that my legs work as well as my knitting arms.

Tah!

Yesterday and Today -Another chance to wear wool.

Weather in Vancouver is seriously twisted! Yesterday, before my photoshoot I was strolling around the creek on Granville Island and took a snapshot of this lazy little turtle catching some rays. It was a gorgeous day for human and turtle alike.

Around 6:00pm Kim and I are registering for the 10K Sun Run---a perfectly normal day and when we come out of BC Place we are pelted with hail. This is my Japanese Maple in the front yard by 11:30.

And this is the Magnolia Tree.....

So what would any self respecting knitwear designer do on an evening such as this? Go for a walk, with camera, decked out in your wooliest accessories ---an 8ft scarf and a tall pointy hat.
This might be my last chance for the season ......

Hope I don't need the heavy artillery for the Sun Run.

When you need to borrow babies.....

Thank you Sandra for lending me your gorgeous son, Nelson, for the afternoon (and the ride home in your Mini---cool car). Officially announcing his formal deput and his modeling career.


Sandra is providing the invisible arms holding him in place...She was a bit camera shy today. As you can see Nelson was not!

It's not every day that I have access to a baby model. This is so much better than mannequins and t-shirt stands.
OKAY, no more photos without a signed contract. The entire morning was spent on a shoot on Granville Island with Holli. I adore how she looks in my designs. Once they are complete I will post a few of my favourites.

First Kelp of the Season

In retrospect, I realize that my previous kelp sucked. Layers and layers of the same vine, who am I kidding, kelp does not look like that. In my mind it looks like this new and improved kelp.....



I appreciate that I am not so "in love" with my own designs that I can't see the need/room for improvement. I still feel like it takes me 10 times to love a design, to feel that it is absolutely expressing my intention. I am now at one with the kelp and can move on to another design.

Permission

I gave myself permission to knit something I don't care to sell. I don't often do this. With a wholesale order incomplete, mailings, paperwork and other daily issues, I gave myself permission to knit a small scarf with a simple cable.

I wanted the feel of something airy through my fingers, breezy, spring like and something that would caress me. I chose a pale peach silk kid mohair and blended it with a laceweight merino in pink and fell back into a zen like joy.

I knit with my vintage needles and a tempo of happiness. Knitting........is there anything better? I did not allow the "duties" of my day to interfere and let the dust bunnies pile up around me.

Nothing special to the buying public eye, but something delightful to me. I will have to do this more often.






A few more views of my happy, happy scarf. I really enjoyed the garter ruffle at each end and the simple cable at 8 rows gave me something to pay attention to. The finish was a crochet picot around the entire scarf. Even the blocking was a pleasant experience.

Input and Output

Output............Having had the luxury of Toni's Ashford, I have managed to spin all the fiber I had. Now, I am completely at a loss. I am only waiting for two little fiber batts from Terra Bella Spun to work on.

It was a hard core spinning weekend and I was able to use the rest of my Pigeon Roof Knits rovings. A lot of it ended up being plied with the Turkish Angora John brought me back from Istanbul 2 years ago. The result is some light fluffy, bumpy merino in wonderful colours.





Input.........okay, so I bought some more yarn. Yes, I promised I would not and that this week would be stash knitting, but tell me please....how could anyone say no to this...The cones are silk and bamboo from France. The kid mohair is almost gossamer like with an incredible haze to it. The reds and blacks are wool, silk and bamboo and I am giving up four of them for my swap partner for my coffee group swap on Ravelry.....(which needs to be mailed this week).

There are also 3 balls of fine, fine alpaca in a grey and black. Potentially for socks for John so that I can knit my first thing on my gorgeous double points from Blue Sky Alpaca...what, knitting for pleasure and not commerce ---unheard of.

I am waiting for an order of merino as well......oops....I just can't help myself. I vow that it will all be knit this year. I'm sure someone will remind me of this post before the end of the year when I am still sitting on a huge pile of fiber.

Lots of knitting to do today. Will take a picture of the entire store order when it is complete. Only two more hats, 3 crocheted necklaces and a pirate baby sweater to go.

With these hands

With these hands
I create,
I comfort,
I relate

These hands provide
all that I need
translate my visions of fibre freed.

With these hands I
hold your hand
and teach so you will understand


Another generation picks up the needles
the yarns are wound
and told
and so you will continue
when my generation's old

carmen craig-martin
2008

The Grass is Always Greener

As a social experiment, I have taken a temporary job in the real world. For two days last week and a few more this week. I am helping a friend prepare files for review.

Now I know many of you would be asking "how can you give up such a glamorous life of knitting for the grind of 9-5?''. Good question.

Reasons for taking on the task..

• I needed to use my brain in a different way.
• I wanted access to free coffee all day long
• Water cooler talk
• People watching in a different context
• See what my friend Kim does all day.

I have had an amazing time. It gave me a chance to get out of my yoga pants and see what everyone else is doing. There's a lot of hard work and coffee drinking going on out there.

I raise my travel coffee mug all who do this on a regular basis... I had to leave at noon today - wholesale knitting to finish...I guess I am still dedicated to my first love!

She Knits, she shops

Okay, so today was a freakishly busy day....finished seaming a tonne of hats a la cafe knitting in quick time. On top of that had time to crochet that basket I mentioned in the previous post.

On my way home from knitting and grocery shopping I found this in a store closing out of business on Granville Street. I am sorry for Chic, but extremely happy for MelonHead KnitWear.


And I have two of them, and possibly a 3rd. Time to get a real job to pay for all the things I am buying to support this job. Judy saw these and had already left me a message so her and I may "share" the last two. Back to the knitting--ahoy pirates.

Cake Anyone?

Now I know why the fiber folks call these "cakes". They do look good enough to eat. It would certainly work well with my new all fiber diet that I have committed to.

Mucho thanks to Toni for the KIWI, an incredible wheel to spin on.

After the 6 hour spinathon, I ended up with gray alpaca sock yarn, crazy yarn, plied merino and some things I'm just not quite sure what to do with yet.


I've just figured out what I'm doing with this....Crocheted into a basket...good, well that is settled. Will post the photo as soon as I can find my 10mm crochet hook! Have a pile of serious seaming to do, so off to Blenz.

"nothing can be finer,
than some seaming in the diner,
in the morning.....

(or early afternoon) Have a fibery good day.

Etsy Hates Me!

No matter, what how or when I post, I just cannot sell on Etsy. In person and at shows I have no trouble selling, but the site itself just does not like me.

I had a showcase yesterday in which I had the pirate sweater set, barely any attention! The sweaters were an absolute hit at Portobello so I am at a loss here.

What's wrong?

Dear Etsy,

If I have done anything to offend you, please let me know. I am happy to make amends. I know we haven't know each other that long, but I have been attentive, faithful and am always singing your praises to others.

Is it my descriptions, my photography, my shipping rates, please help me to help US. I am willing to work this out with a therapist if need be. I know relationships are hard work and I am willing to commit to fixing this.

Yours truly,

www.melonheadknitwear.etsy.com

Where has all my knitting gone?

I have a confession to make. I have not knit very much over the last few days. Why? I am not certain. Although I have had knitterly pursuits in mind. On Friday I had the most amazing spinning lesson from Pearl---as much as that should have been the highlight of my day, she took me thrift store shopping.

What a journey, what a whirlwind of fun. I kept it pretty knitty by picking up the most amazing collection of vintage plastic needles. I also scored some nice vintage wool, a bit of handspun and some navy blue silk roving (just a bit).

Saturday's rain cancelled my plans with Kim for snowshoeing on Grouse -boo hoo. I ended up at a Seniors Centre sale in West Van with Toni and Judy ----again, with knitterly pursuits in mind managed more than 5 lbs of grey pencil roving (which is spinning up beautifully) and two, not one pair of the elusive 7.5mm needles.

In addition to this, the girls have me planning well in advance for the show season by buying display pieces. I'll break down my score.

1. Indian Head Spinning Wheel top
2. 3 Vintage mini sleeve ironing board (I'm not sure what they are called
3. A white ceramic dessert tray for my wool cakes.
4. More needles
5. A little wooden branch tree
6. Small wooden candle holders to hold the vintage hat blocks (from previous day)
7. Funky gold painted frame on a perfect large oval mirror.


Also, for no reason, a small glass pitcher that was $3.00 and just really appealed to me and a few little linen bits for Pearl...I think I spent less than $60.00 in total. Toni scored a collapsible rocking chair and Judy ended up with a basket that you could hide a human body in. Don't do that Judy!

Once home, I was absolutely overwhelmed....Where do you put all your new treasures?



Now, on Sunday, a definite house cleaning is in order. Some of it has been artfully displayed. Hurray, the rest will be stuffed into corners until needed.

Swimming in Swirls

Lately, everything is circular, swirling, twirling and l seem to be in love with the hypnotic repetition of the embroidery.

The surface design is as enticing as the knitting itself. Whoever thought I would be saying that.
Here are my chocolate raspberry swirls. An aerial view....


From the side. The merino is light enough to make this a spring hat. I am working on a matching neck wrap.
Another view from the top. The flower detail on the top anchors all the swirls and just ties the hat together. Today I will make another attempt to work on my wholesale order! After that it is feltastic madness.

Luxury.....

So I found this amazing yarn which is 50% wool, 25% silk and 25% bamboo. This is something you would want to knit into a pair of underwear.....okay, a bit much, but seriously, GORGEOUS.


So, of course I decide it is going to be a hat --original. I rarely do things in one colour, but I didn't want to interrupt the wool and how lovely it was so I actually knit a bit of texture. Alternating with stocking stitch and reverse stockinette is giving it a lovely bounce and just for some visual interest some bobbles in every other stockinette space....Simple but perfect for this yarn.

While I think it will be an adorable hat, it is missing something....I am going to start from the cast on edge and add some eyelet or lace, perhaps a picot edge. I want something a bit more delicate.
I may even manage to get this in one skein!

Really, I need to be working on my wholesale order, however, I have to rework a sampler as an example for my workshop.....and will be tending to that right away. Can't put down the yarn, can't put down the yarn.......