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When it Stops Raining at the Market

but continues raining inside your tent and other misadventures from market day.

We had an amazing day in Whistler yesterday.  We managed to finish our entire set up before the skies opened up in a biblical way.  A great flood with the intention of wiping bad crafters off the planet, perhaps?  The rain was ridiculous and the customers were nowhere to be seen.  Due to the water on the ground in my booth, I was unwilling to release the wheel.  I found a corner where the tent didn't drip and pulled out my knitting.

We just completed a waterproof coating on the tent top and were quite satisfied with it.  Easy to be so confident considering none of our markets this year had any rain.  I think I heard the thumping of a few frogs and some locus on the roof as well before the rain started to slow down.

Then around 11am people started trickling out of the Chateau Whistler with their beautiful golf umbrellas.  I was hoping that a few of them would be left behind in my booth, but alas.......and then the sunshine and the heat came--steaming off the water that dripped on to everything and the tent became what I love it for the most.

Shade.

Out came the wheel, and the market was a whirlwind of activity.  The kit yarns were being spun.   Everything was drying.  Dry things were being sold.  Compliments were flying and friends came by for visiting and purchasing.

A lovely little doggie came into the booth, so adorable that I stopped spinning to pet him.  Unfortunately this created the effect of "I'm so excited to meet you that I think I'll pee in your booth syndrome".  Apparently this has happened before as the parents were armed with plenty of clean up tools.

As I was relaying the story to a friend, she indicated that she had to go home and clean her truck that her dog had just thrown up in twice (and I thought I had it bad).  Hope everything is back to normal Jan!


The day ended with lamb korma in our favourite restaurant in Squamish ---Essence of India.  Even rain days at the market are great days.

Saturday Studio = The Best Day Ever

We loaded up the car early and Kim and I made our way to the studio for reskeining, some tagging and braiding rovings.  She was handling all of that while I was working on the kit yarns.  And yippee....the first 4 colourways have been spun.

 

I honestly never thought I'd get to this stage.  Finally, I've got the right amount of push to get this happening.  Next step, my layout for the pattern and the packaging.  Let's see how long of a drawn out process I can make this.  This is one thing I am definitely good at.  Procrastination.

Transportation Issues

I want to start riding my bike to the studio.  When Jennifer visits the studio, she rides her bike from Steveston and I am only 5 miles from my studio....so why aren't I riding....

This is what I will usually cart back and forth with.  Far right, needing seaming and labels, middle box yarn needing to be wound for knitting and on the far left (since I'm a mood spinning) every dyed top in inventory.

Even though I have a plan there is no way I can commit to colours or "these five soemthings".  My one pannier rack on the back of the bike definitely doesn't cut it.  Anyone know of a great bike accessory place to recommend.  I'll need to pack like I'm going to war.

I spent some time at Birkeland yesterday, visiting with Pearl.  It gave me time to finish off some inventory, shop and work on some spinning.  The Matchless is calling to me.  I may need to make an addition to the herd.  I think it would be my home wheel.

A little cupcake inspiration.  It even had me inspired for spinning.

 

It was more important to work on the 355 stuff, so I finally starting taking some shots and I'll get those uploaded today.  I am having a huge order of baby alpaca dropped off today.  More on that later. I love it when beautiful wool just shows up at my house.

Last Carding Group

Things are just too busy to run the carding group at the studio anymore.  Also, the size of the group is expanding to such an extent that we are running out of space.  Having Kristen and Jennifer there as studio mates often finds them there on the group nights as well so this makes things even a little more tight.

Last night's theme.  Exotic fibres.  Well, one in particular, some super fine dehaired llama for carding.  What people did with their fibre was just amazing.  Louet, by far has the best carders and the super fine does a great job with these special blends.  There were batts, hand pulled rovings, core spun yarns and even some knitting as well.  Although class ends at 9pm, the foolishness carried well into the night.

I am going to miss running this group and hope we can find the time for at least one more before the end of the year.

Off to the studio.  Kristen and I are doing Game of Thrones audio books today and getting our knit and dye on.

Too Calm

....something must be wrong.  Oh, doomsayer me.  I am less than 30 days from Filberg, behind in inventory, postal strike deeply delayed my fibre shipments, I have two too full classes to teach and a bunch of fibre at the studio to be rinsed (thanks Kristen) and somehow things are still pretty awesome.

I have spun my 355 yarns and knit them before they got photographed.  I've been such a fibre slut lately (greedily knitting my own stuff) but that has to stop or I will have no hand spun for the kits.  Yes, they will finally be released for Filberg and the Edmonton Folk Festival.

Please forgive me if you have been following the yarn updates ---sorely lacking as of late----I will be back in the saddle as I will no longer be knitting them myself.

As my friends will confirm, I am usually a big freak this close to the large shows.  Not this time.  I have great friends, helpers, partners, companions that keep me working and loving every minute of the work.

On another note altogether, Hadiya is recovering from the surgery, better than recovering. She's already off the pain meds and is reverting back to being her usual snarky pain the butt.  I couldn't ask for better.  Knit outside if you can, the weather is amazing here in Vancouver today.

Hot Day, Cool Chicks

Whoever says you can't sell wool in the summer never met these lovely ladies....

 

And from California, no less.  Thanks ladies ---it's great to have awesome models hanging in the booth.  Very good for business.  

The market was the perfect combination of sunshine and great company.  Kathy and Kim were the demo knitters in the booth while I rocked the spinning.  Me ----laceweight hand dyed shetland.  It took all day but the results are going to be worth it.

I love a good wool wall.  Full day at the studio to replace inventory.  Ciao for now.

Spinnerella

Yesterday, with Kristen and Season One of Buffy (finally someone to share it with) the spinathon began.  It was so great to have my groove on, the best company and buffering Buffy on the computer.  Kristen's needles were blazing (they aren't called Addi Turbos for nothing) and I was in spintastic form if I say so myself.

 

I know this will make me sound like a bad cat mommy, but it was nice to have a break from Hadiya for a few  hours.  The pain meds that she is on are making her do ridiculous things and as well as having the cone on her neck, flipped upside down (John thinks she looks like a French Nun) we have had to tape a sock to her foot to keep her from scratching the wound.  So now every three steps she does this crazy cha cha with her back leg.

This is better still than the exhausting adventure of Thursday which was the entire night of chasing her around the house with a baby onsies on one leg, and the 2nd arm hole around her neck as she ran through the house with half of it trailing behind her.  Anyone have any friends that would like a set of onsies 0-3 month size, 6 of them embroidered with days of the week.  ----Only Wednesday is missing.

Getting ready for Ladner tomorrow.  John's on kitty duty for this one. 

Never Dye Alone

When Kristen and I dye together, I feel a bit more adventurous.  It makes me consider colours outside of my normal colour pallate .  Not that I am shy about colour, but it's easy to fall into a rut of the familiar.

Since most of the hand spun is used in my own designs, I'm also thinking of the finished product when creating colours.  Here are a few pretties from the weekend.

I still haven't managed to take photos of the new inventory.  I'm making it a goal this week as well as

1. Finishing dyeing the shetland (lace shawls anyone?)
2. Catching up on my 355 posts
3. Uploading the new hat pattern to Ravelry
4. Choosing packaging for the kits
5. Digging out another bag of inventory to label...Are you reading this Kim?
6. Taking a stab at the back bedroom redo.  I still need some studio space at home.  Sorry John.

I'll be off the grid for a few days.  Hadiya is having surgery and I need to spend some time snuggling with my girl while she is recovering.

Updates and The Best Cookie in the World

Since I keep forgetting to take pics of anything and haven't photo'd yarn.  Here is an amazing picture of a tray of cookies that Monica made for a studio visit last week.  Yes, they are balls of yarn.  Delicious yarn.

 A quick wrap up of the more than a week.  At the studio dyeing like crazy with Kristen.  Working on the new pattern and an exciting project with Monica.  Ladner was amazing and the first Whistler market went off without a hitch.  As a matter of fact, even better than I could have hoped for.  Visits from new and old friends made the market a breeze.

The constant of working on inventory is a bit overwhelming, but that is nothing new....Just an explanation for the raging heat in my right arm.  I am full blown in the season.  Toni and Kim have taken over the tagging jobs altogether so at least that is off my plate.

Now to get back to that inventory!  Hope you all had a chance to knit and spin lots.

Market Wrap Up

I'm going to need a lot of inventory this season.  Thanks Kim.  You really made this tear down a snap.

You've Got to Have Friends

Calling my business a sole proprietorship is not at all accurate.  I know I would not have this business were it not for the generosity of my friends.  This week for example.....

The woven labels came in.........thanks for your nimble fingers Toni
The receipt books (many) need their stickers .....thanks Karen
The hang tags are printed ........thanks Kim for multiple days of tagging
Inventory needing sorting for this weekends show........Paula, your timing and sorting skills - unmatched.
Hotel bookings for all out of town shows (5)........John, thanks for finding the creature comforts of home on the road.

This is just one week in the life of my business.  I'm a lucky girl.


 

Inventory

I've been knitting a lot.  More than usual.  More than I thought possible.  A lot. It wouldn't take a lot to talk me into doing something else.  I sense a major carding day coming.  Photo of giant pile of finished hats will be available shortly.

Brain Drain

It's been a long time since I've updated my brain on yarn.

That is all.

A Relative Sense of Calm

Based on the number of shows I have booked this year, I should be completely freaked out.  One thing I have learned over the years is that the first market sets the tone for the rest of the season.

Sales, ease of set up, it all carries through.  And when the studio is tidy....well that's just a huge bonus.

 

 I had a great night with Kristen last night, I made yarn, she made colour.  We made magic.

Kitsilano Market - First Market of the Season

The market season has begun.  In an unprecedented race to be organized and on time, we were too early to set up.  That will not happen again.  SUNSHINE all day!  Heaven for a first market.

I have had this nagging feeling that I haven't been busy enough.  After setting up the booth (and realizing there is not one piece of inventory from last year) I am confident I am up to my usual standard of busy hands.

 

The Kromski Sonata is the best wheel for travel to a market.  Compact and light, with a quick set up (and cup holder), I was able to rock the spinning.  It will now be my market buddy wheel.

I am so lucky to have such great friends....Let's see early morning with Pearl, Vanessa slightly later, Jean for a good portion of the afternoon, and Kim for the latter part of the day as well as tear down.  Many coffee refills just added to the bounty of the day.

 

Support local food and artisans this season.  Buy local, buy hand made.

Shifting Gears

Just as  I finish posting about how much I love my carder, I come across a post on Ravelry where someone is looking for a carder.  So before you know it, I am online offering up my loyal and trusty carder for sale.  WTFrack?  Really, have I lost my mind?

No, I just happened to have another one, brand new, sitting in the box that I was dying to get at.  I have been a Louet Dealer since March so I have ample access to carders and this new one - The Classic Carder is replacing my model that is no longer made.  There was nothing wrong with mine.  I loved it and still love it, but like old boyfriends, sometimes you just want something new.  Thanks for the good times, sweet girl.

Here is my first batt off the new carder...No difference, but it has that new car(der) smell.  I'm a fickle chickie.

 

And the resulting yarn......well....judge for yourself.

 Good tools are important.

Why I Love My Drum Carder

My Own Units of Measurement

It was a good week.  How to you determine a good week?   Well for me, the measurements are simple.

pfd - Pounds of fibre dyed
bc - batts carded
ss - skeins spun
uoi - units of inventory

Simple measurements, easy to keep track of .  One week and the market season begins.

This merino is like a fluff marshmallow.  As well as the merino, I dyed a pound of wool mohair that is just lovely.  I also over dyed some alpaca for carding...Super sweet.

This weekend is about at home production.  Yes, it may have something to do with the Victoria Weekend Trekathon on the space channel.

Withdrawal

I haven't really been to the studio for days.  I miss getting my spin on and have two lovely bobbins full and ready for plying.  Then I will spin more and another bobbin and finally update my 355.   I need to fill those yarn cupboards.

Some new dye colours came in today.  I'm super excited to give them a whirl and with the sun shining like this, guess who's painting outside today?

Will show you some of the lovelies when they are finished.  Enjoy the sunshine.

Alpaca Love

I gave all of the students an alpaca top to over dye without saving one for myself.  That has been rectified.  Oh and more alpaca top has been ordered.

 

I adore alpaca, but have finally tired of spinning it au naturel.  I needed a bit of colour, not much, just a tich.  And this when spun will be blended with a natural oatmeal BFL.  Heading to the studio to ply it now. Just keeping it real.  Yes, I can do subtle.

UPDATE:::::Plied.

A Brief Warping Interlude

I apologize for the lack of posting this week.  I have had a bit of an identity crisis.  Who am I?  Eager weaver, spinner, dyer, knitter, crocheter, sloppy housekeeper?  Okay, we've pinned down one.

I am easily distracted by all things pretty and different.  I love being challenged by something new and the exciting learning curve of trying to master a new skill.  But this is different, very different than the usual distraction.  It puts me in the same zone as spinning, clear, calm, content and like I've been floated off to an island on my own.  Can you say a little slice of heaven?

HOWEVER, where is my inventory?  It is not happening at the super speed it used to.  I take more breaks.  I am more deliberate and purposeful in my work.  I know I haven't gotten any smarter, so I'll attribute it to getting older or more seasoned.

There is a lot of knit "stuff" sitting amongst the dust bunnies.  Time to give the house and my inventory mojo a good late spring dust off today. 

The regularly scheduled Project updates will return after the very brief warping interlude.Stay tuned.

Fibre is still drying...None of it is mine.  This make me sad.  The great colours make me happy.

Something else that made me not sad.  I was weaving today......not really weaving, but tossing a shuttle back and forth and making my hand spun live in a different way.  Pictures tomorrow when Pearl helps me get it off the loom.  I felt something.......I sense trouble.   I blame Terri, possibly Sonia....

It Takes a Village

It takes a village to spin a village worth of fibre and yarn.  Here's what's still drying from the Saturday workshop.

If you recognize your fibre, give it another day or so to dry and then it's all yours.  For the record, you were a prolific and enthusiastic group.

Again, no pink here anywhere.   Today was spent moving the furniture back, drinking a significant amount of coffee and dyeing with Kristen.  It was a great afternoon of dueling colourways.

I recently picked up a lovely alpaca that I overdyed and I love it so much, even though it isn't even dry yet,  I know I will sneak a cuddle. 

Remind me to show you a picture of the dyed top after spinning.   I guarantee you it will look less like this wildebeast.

Only one yarn to add today......but it sure is purdy.

Dyeing to Learn

Yesterday I offered what I hope will be the first of many full day workshops at the studio.  The dyeing class was something that has been in the works for a while.  Almost a side effect of teaching spinning, if you will.  Once everyone has spun their requisite pound of crossbreed or corriedale (learning fibre) they are all sick of white.  The first skeins are not as pretty, kind of quirky, but usually end up being unloved as white.

I headed into the studio quite early to get everything ready for the class which involved a lot of juggling of the space.  Cups, brushes, vinegar, buckets, cloths, wrap, gloves, masks, oh yes, and dyes. ----check, check, check.....enough espresso pods...Double check.

The group was wildly enthusiastic and have all been past students.  One of the most important impromptu lessons of the day --how to use the cappuccino machine.

Once safety issues were out of the way, not trivial, but not creative, there was an amazing symphony of colour in the room.  I am grateful to say, not one fibre was dyed with any pink in it.

There wasn't time to get a lot of photographs, with two power interruptions and a small flood keeping things hopping, but it is definitely something we will be doing again.

Thanks to Jennifer and Kristin for the classroom support.  It was wonderful for the students to see expert dyers in action.

Checking in on the 355 Project

I have been posting these yarns now for almost 4 months.  I'm not known for sticking to a plan, but I find that I have been able to keep up with this.  I've had a few comments from people enjoying the posts, but I'm wondering.......is there anything that you would like to see with the updates.  Are you okay with the eye candy and the details of the yarn or are you looking for more....inspirations? 

Has this project made any difference to your spinning or inspired you in any way, regardless of your chosen fibre medium.  What inspires you in your textile endeavours?

All Yarn, All the Time

I finished reskeining the yarns I dyed on the weekend.  It was first and foremost a matter of getting it out of the way.  There was yarn drying everywhere. Here's a bit of the spring in yarnie goodness.

After putting the fibre away, I managed to card a bit for what will eventually be this yarn.  I left the studio in the middle of spinning it.  Looking at this picture makes me want to set the alarm to get to the studio tomorrow.

I had the last class for Free Form crochet.  It was amazing and even had some impromptu spinning in the middle of it.  Now you'd be thinking that wrapping up at 9:30 would be enough, but oddly enough I found myself back at the studio rinsing some dyed top.

Home, fed and thinking I could take another crack at that baby cardi that I frogged last night.  The night is still young.

Studio Guests

Mad dash and special guests at the studio today....something to pull me out of my paperwork stupor.

Something I have been trying to avoid for a long time now.  Don't get me wrong...it's not for a lack of respect or interest in the craft.  I am simply afraid of finding something else in the textile arena to love.  Saori weaving is a beautiful style of free form weaving and we have an amazing instructor right here in BC.  After having Terri at the studio for a brief time, I could feel myself doing a secret fibre dance.  I was not alone, hmmm Kristen?  Yep, a workshop is definitely in our not too distant future.

While I am coming down from my fibre high, I am nestled snuggly back at home with with my new yarn  Madelinetosh in the Parchment colourway doing some swatching....I know...This fibre is too beautiful to just carelessly knit away on....Sheryl from Any Spun Thread is having an amazing sale right now.  Check it out here... 

Busy, busy day at the studio tomorrow.  Lots of drop ins before my last free form crochet class at Birkeland.  It was a terrific class to teach and my students, well, they made beautiful things.

I'll leave you today with a yarn and kitty picture.  Sorry, but sometimes Asia is so damn adorable.

Places to Knit in Vancouver

Pearl took me to a wonderful place to knit today.  Queen Elizabeth Park.  At 5pm there was so much sunshine.  Thanks Pearl for reminding me that I can knit in places that don't have the space channel and that outdoors is pretty wonderful.

 

Current project on the needles, so much hand spun for this scarf.  Completed pics to come.  In the meantime I am exploring the new photo app on my phone.

 

Enjoy the sunshine.  Knitting looks better in natural lighting.

 

Studio Silence

What the?  I was the only person at the studio today.  (except for a momentary in and out Joan visit) Weird, weird feeling.  I dyed a lot of wool.  No pots to share.  I spilled things, I got wet, I made a mess.  I spun a lovely wool and then realized that Dr. Who is on today.....

Back at home for an evening of knitting and yes, this is in the 355 but I am claiming it for myself.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Blek

Paperwork makes me very crabby.  Taking small knitting breaks doesn't seem to help.  Stay tuned for happy times and spinning to return tomorrow.

Hearting Portland

Portland....I love you.....Food carts, arts, more food carts, festive coffee, boutique hotels and amazing service (everywhere)  A few days, a really quick get away and yeah!!!! Portland.  All I can say is that Knit Purl alone was worth the trip.   Oddly enough, our hotel was only one block away.  Who made that reservation.?

With their own line of yarns and carrying my favourite yarns the Knit Purl is great way to lose many hours in a day....I  left the store with several skeins of Shi Bui, thrilled to get it at the source.

Shelter - Jarod Flood's New Yarn

Shi Bui Fabulosity

Habu Goodness

We left our car at the hotel and did the entire town on food and transit.  We made a pilgrimage to Powell's, spent so much time just taking it all in...Heavenly...and at night, still time to knit and spin in the hotel room.  Since I didn't want this post so picture heavy, here is a collage of our Portand.

I'm busy knitting the Malabrigo that I bought at the Yarn Garden (Portland) in my 2nd favourite colour Velvet Grapes.  Favourite colour, Lettuce.  

Not Being in the Studio Has It's Advantages

With the Dr. Who marathon finally complete, I can get back to work.  At last, I wrote out and test knit the kit pattern I have been working on for months.  Pardon me, NOT working on.

There's a lot of garter stitch here and it looks great.  Kits will be posted sometime next week.  It feels so good to get a new design out there. 

 

The bobbin is not quite full, but I enjoyed the first core spun on the Kromski.  I thought the pegs might be a problem and was pleasantly surprised when they weren't.  There was a bit of cat interference trying to take a photo of the 355's.  Check it out.

Happy Easter (Gabi does it again)

 

Thanks Gabi!

BFL + Dr. Who Marathon = Bliss

It started last night with the scarf knitting until after midnight.  In preparation for the new season on Saturday, the space channel is rerunning Dr. Who.  Hand spun and great sci fi television are the most amazing combination.  It started again today, but I think I can do better than just knitting some scarves.

Yep, the Kromski is home and the dyed top are completely dry, lovely and waiting for their chance to be great yarns.  I feel a batch of singles coming on.  BFL is my favourite go to for a plump thick and thin single.  Getting the kit yarns ready.

I apologize for greedily spinning them myself.  There is more at the studio. Eight was all I could fit in my bag to bring home.  It's going to be an awesome day.