Twist of a Stitch

Through each movement of my hand
I see purpose
in a twist of a stitch
I see my own quest for perfection
in interpretation

The lightness of the fibre
is my heart
my art

I wonder,
in the building of things
what I add to this world?

I hypothesize that I am
entertaining myself

doing "busy work"

the eye absorbs
the mind interprets
the hands speak the language

creations drop like rain to the
ground
in big, glorious puddles

I splash around a lot.

Martini Hangover

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Just a Peek

Things have been crazy around here and I mean crazier than my usual crazy. Everything is falling in line. Just a few final tweaks and it will all come together. Here are the results of the madder dyeing. The top skein is seacell and superwash merino and the bottom skein is silk and superwash merino. The saturation of the colour is lovely and the yarn just shines.

Now back to the hand spun. Pretty plying, vibrant colours. Look familiar?

And a slice of knitting. Playing with more hand spun.

There are so many more things to finish. But a girl's got to have a little fun, right? All of this the calm before the knit storm...Last few jury pieces and the coordinating paperwork for them will be out the door in the next day or two.

Pearl's coming by today and that means that there will be knitting and needle felting and yarn talk and who knows what else while I'm catching up on my deadlines. Make sure that you find some time for yourself to knit or spin today.

It Doesn't Really Madder

School was fun today. Other than running late as usual and stabbing myself in the knee with the doffer, it was a fairly regular day. Our premordanted fibre was ready for dyeing. Thank goodness for not having to grind the madder roots myself (and for Maiwa).

Washed and now drying in the backyard, I think it was a success. I can hardly wait for it to dry so I can see the subtle differences between the seacell and silk blends. In the meantime teaser pics of my latest project.......


Nothing to get excited about......just more yarn..But when I'm done....

A Day Off.

I decided to take a day off and spend it with Pearl...No wool, no knitting, no fibre...just a nice walk around Granville Island, some thrift store shopping, maybe lunch...nothing complicated or wool related. And you know that any day that starts like this is going to be a good day. I heart pumpkin spice lattes.

We ended up taking a lovely walk around the Island and "accidentally" ended up at the happiest place on earth. Maiwa is the penultimate fibre experience. If you make your way to Vancouver, this is a must do. Now, we just went in to have a peek since we were in the neighbourhood...first foul up on my no fibre day.

Yes, dyes and a dozen silk scarves. Charllotte has created an amazing oasis of colour and texture. A shrine, if you will.

Since it was only one little hiccup, I forgave myself and we headed off to the next destination. Unfortunately for me the thrift store had this right at the front door, basically jumping into my lap. On the left I have an Incle Loom and the right is, we believe, a ridgid headle loom. (thanks Irene)

Since both items were only $5.00, how could I say no? Oops, my 2nd fibre experience of the day on my non fibre day...BTW, it's only 11:00AM.

Then a little walk on East Broadway and lookie....

I loved the display and of course we had to go inside...Damn, only jewelry. Based on this, I don't understand the display....but it did get us in the store. No fibre slip ups here.

We headed our separate ways and I had to cut my losses. I decided to get together with Mike. He doesn't even like yarn, it's not on his radar (and yes we are still friends). Oh, now I remember, we have this is common. And he doesn't like olives!

I did not spend the evening knitting. The forced break felt weird, but I was spinning this morning before I had fed the cats or made a pot of coffee. Normalcy has been restored.

A Model Citizen

I am going to be 46 soon, and therefore not the best model for my own hats, seriously, I am looking tired a great portion of the time...Most of my friends are my age which means.....

Gorgeous teens to model my stuff. So you get to meet Joan's daughter first....She has remained unnamed to protect her from all the unwanted paparazzi attention.

My plan is to hit up Toni next so that her daughter can model the knitwear. And I'm thinking one of Toni in something as well (haven't asked her yet) Oh, and Pearl's daughter....things are looking up. I'll have a finished porfolio by the end of February if I can keep up the momentum.

Aren't kids great?

Loud and Clear

After a few phone calls and visits from people reminding me of a few things about myself....it is over and I am back on track. Thanks for the kick in the ass. Y'all know who you are....

Just finishing the buttons this morning and we are good to go. A hat on the blocks, another secret project finally realized in felt form. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks to the cats I was up so early this morning and without caffeine propelled out of bed and out for a walk. It's amazing how fresh air clears the head...

Oh, and I found a pile of cashmere...Can't even talk about it, hard to breathe, might faint....yep, piles of cashmere! There is a plan and the world is a beautiful place with cashmere in it.

Due to the jury season being an ongoing concern, I will not be posting pics of any of the jury pieces in advance of acceptance into the shows. Deliberate copying is NOT the sincerest form of flattery and I apologize for not being able to share as I go (which would be my preference), but it seems that I have to adjust my blogging habits. 'Nuf said.

No Knitting

None - No knitting at all. I keep looking at the yarn and waiting for it's secret whisper and.....
nothing. I feel like I am being given the cold shoulder. The wool is not loving me. It is teasing me and spinning easily through my fingers, but is keeping secrets as well.

It feels empty, cold. It scares me like a world without chocolate would scare me. Here is the pretty wool, aloof and distant.

I think I'll go for a walk. Throw some hand spun in the bag and walk in the direction of water.

Here's to coming home with more than a tangled bag of yarn.....

Now We're Cooking.

John is gone. He has up and left town and has the nerve to be on vacation. Now this should be upsetting and I should be missing him like crazy, but.....

The first day he left, I got to play window display. While I was napping on the couch to recover from having to use my brain and crawling around the window ledge the buzzer rang. It was JP at the door with all of the ingredients to cook me a fabulous dinner.

Now believe me, for him, this was a very simple thing. I gave him some challenges because we have no salt, sugar, butter,cream or cheese in the house. This was simply not acceptable for this French man (I think butter and cream are as necessary as oxygen). However he made do, and then made this.

The chicken is cooked with several different types of olives, spinach and asparagus. The salad on the right is fennel with grapefruit.

Great company and conversation coupled with good food. His business is called Maison Cote. On top of creating the most amazing spice blends, rubs and oils, he also give cooking classes on how to use them and has a million good food and entertainment ideas. His product list will have you drooling.

A note to JP....many thanks, Toni and I enjoyed the left overs for a fabulous lunch on Monday.

Window Dressing

911 - Hello, emergency services, what is the nature of your emergency?

Caller - I am a yarn store without a window display for the month of February and today is February 1st.

911- Well, what took you so long to call. This IS an emergency. We'll have someone right over, stay on the line with me, we can talk you through this. Is the emptiness overwhelming....

Caller - It is, there is no yarnie goodness in the window.

911- Hang on, keep talking, envision colour and texture and we'll be there in just a few minutes.

At least that's how it played out in my dream.

I was ready for the store opening this morning. A bit of this, a bit of that--some rustic shelving and it was a go. I love solving a problem, playing dress up and giving Gertrude her first formal outing. Even when I was coveting and buying the mannequin, in the back of my mind I was thinking I could probably do without her. The fact that she got me a working gig 2 days into ownership validates this purchase.

Isn't she exquisite?