Jazz, Strawberries and the World is Fine.

For the second week in a row, I was so occupied at the market that I forgot to take a picture of my booth or any booths for that matter.

The weekend was off to a great start with the first concert of the Jazz Festival --David Sanborn and the opening act truly fed my soul. It's been a while since I just sat back and let some wonderful music wash over me.

Up early the next day and on to Whistler. The Saturday rain had me feeling a bit gloomy about the Sunday, but it paved the way to a gorgeous day......and these.....John and I dove into a delicious quart of berries. There was no stopping at one.... the mix of tart and sweet and the way the juice ran down my hands made me so grateful for the unpretentious happiness that can be achieved from the first fruits of the season.

My spirit, my tummy, my heart....all full. Pictures of the market next week, I promise (unless it rains, then my display is crap).

Home, Suite Home

Well at least for 18 weekends. And yes, I've managed to make our room pretty lived in, fairly fast.

The bottom right corner is several bags of knitting being worked on. I am playing catch up on the finished goods.

And John and I are pretty beaten up after the River of Golden Dreams. A gorgeous day for canoing and we took full advantage. Just before the portage.....I brought absolutely no knitting with me.

Hope everyone is having an exciting weekend. I can hardly wait for the market tomorrow.

Hustle and Flow

This post is just for quick updates.

This will be the first weekend of the Whistler Market and John and I are heading into Whistler early. Jen, if you are reading this post, we'll be calling you and are expecting to finally head out paragliding with you! Hint, hint, keep your gear close to the door!

I finally designed and ordered a banner for the booth. It is massive and awesome and I love it so much. Pics after the weekend. There is no place in the house to unfurl this 6ft by 2ft beast. And did I say I love it.

Production was deliciously slow and fluid. Creative, spontaneous and I love what I ended up with. Little spinning, no dyeing ---just getting my knit and crochet groove on. Another reason why the studio is so perfect for me. I've even noticed that I am within map range of being in The Drift. A definite possibility.

The studio has a constant stream of visitors. I can often be convinced to take off the for beach or some park production if your vehicle can fit my wheel. I am easy to talk into a bike ride up to Queen Elizabeth Park if it's not raining. Or come and sit and chat. The accomodation isn't glamorous, but it can sure get your creative on.

Hope to see you in Whistler. Check out some of the amazing hotel deals on www.whistler.com.

To Market, To Market......

A full weekend of markets. Easy peasy..Great company, good friends (old and new) and the most amazing sunshine. I am working on what might actually be considered a tan!

Gratuitous market shots

oh and the most exciting news of all. I have a new skirt...!!!

Yes, it has knitting and wool on it and a vintage pink floral inset, and ribbon and it wraps around and it looks great with footless tights and well, I almost choked when I found it in the store. I love it so much that I want to marry it. I want an entire wardrobe of this skirt in every colour. It cost so much more than I would ever pay for a casual skirt, but I would have regretted every day I didn't own it. It's also a local BC designer and it stings less when you know you are supporting local and hand made.

Disecting Design

I've spend a lot of time lately looking at things I have already created. Deciding what designs to discontinue, to enhance and what if anything I would like to add to the line. It's all about editing. I can't just keep adding things or the booth will not be cohesive.

The free form designs, as always, will be the focus as it truly represents me and my design style. This decision has created a wonderful template for the season and put me at ease. A direction and a real flow. Dyeing my own yarn has been the icing on the cake in terms of making the designs truly mine. I am heading into this season truly proud of the work I've created.

Inspiration has me off in another direction this morning. Off to the studio (on bike again) The ride is lovely. I've picked some new colours for a design and then Toni and I are off to the beach. Vancouver has been blessed with amazing weather lately...sunny and breezy and I need to be in that while I'm working.

Oh and just for fun, I carded up what scraps landed on the floor in the studio. Yes, I believe a circus exploded. The yarn should be interesting....

Sometimes an ugly yarn is just an ugly yarn. We shall name you Thrift Store Bin.

Finding my Rhythm

Knit news...

Holli Yeoh has a wonderful design published in the new Twist Collective.
Sivia Harding (another amazingly talented Vancouverite) has a beautiful shawl published as well.
Felicia Lo (of Sweet Georgia fame) was featured in the Canadian section of the current Vogue Knitting. She is a master of colour and is appropriated credited.

And in my little corner of the world...far less exciting...

Riding between the studio at home has turned out to be amazing unwind time. Planning and preparing for the day is how I occupy my mind on the ride. My knitter friend Mariegold has found the path of least resistance for me (which I have altered slightly for a bit of strain).

Winter at home was cruel with what I am now calling my "spinner's ass". Also in a lot of ways I was a bear preparing for caloric hibernation without the ability to burn it off over the winter. The riding in combination with some mindful eating habits will hopefully self correct the SA problem.

The studio has pushed the spinning to a new level as I drift between the carder and the wheel. Toni and I will be dying in the studio for the first time near the end of the week. So much naked cashmere calling to me.

And just for some fun...There's A Fly in My Soup

And Pacific Rain Forest Moss

And at home....a wall without wool.

I know, shocking...I told you I would make the house wool free. But the studio, on the other hand...

At Home

Home is becoming my home again and the studio is where the work is happening. The amount of production I am able to accomplish is astounding. So much so that I did not knit when I came home in the evening. I read books, I played with my cats and John and I actually sat down for meals at the same time. But occasionally the work *did* drift into the house. This separation of the artisan at studio and knitting on the couch has made an enormous difference to my life.

Thank you for all of the wonderful comments and e-mails received recently. They have propelled me forward. Rather than not blogging, occasional blogging is a bit more reasonable (and I missed it) and apparently a few people missed me as well *blush*.

I lost myself in the drum carder turning out miles of kid mohair with small bits of glitter seeing what I remembered from my day with Lexi. The core spun is a wonderful surprise as each sweep of your hand creates a different dimension, fluff, cloud and layer of wool. Hidden, the base yarn which occasionally peaks through is a lovely surprise.

This is a mountain of fibre. The skein is 170 grams and 130 yards. I thought about putting it under my pillow. Then I thought about making it my pillow and thinking more clearly left it on the nightstand.

Yes, I had a yarn dream. It was a good one (well a strange one). It involved a London Drugs and a long airline flight of knitting. I have had a lot of yarn dreams lately. Must have something to do with the increased production and the start of the Farmer's Market Season.

There have been a lot of visitors to the studio. It's not fancy and a small space as well. But being shared, it has an amazing energy and creativity sparking the air. And this fabulous bouquet of flowers from JP as a studio warming gift. Liking their environment, even the bouquet is thriving in the space.

Oh, and just as an added bonus. I am able to ride my bike to the studio. Vancouver has an amazing system of bike paths that has kept me from most harm, except that which I manage to do to myself. I have stocked up on gauze and bandages.