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.

Tools of the Trade

Yet another wheel has entered the herd.  Finally, I have my Kromski Sonata.  I've been wanting this wheel since the first time Irene talked one of her other spinning students out of her seat for me to have a wee spin.  I test drove one in March and realized that for the price, functionality, bobbin size and portability that this wheel is a bargain.  Oh, yes, and it's also pretty.

While I am enjoying the slick nature of the Majacraft Suzie Pro, it's insanely heavy.  Definitely not leaving the studio.

I love the Lendrum, but again, even though it breaks down for travel, the bag is awkward and with all flyers and bobbins it's also pretty heavy.

I bought a Hitchhiker Wheel last year.  At only 7 lbs and fitting into a tote bag, this seemed like the perfect solution.  I've never felt great on that wheel.  I consider my wheel of last resort.  Basically, the thing is just too low and small.  I feel like I'm playing with a Fisher Price spinning wheel.  Shame really, as it actually spins quite well.  I often use it for an extra lazy kate.

Now you think I'd be done with the wheels and that the studio is pretty full, but well, the shop's Schact order just came in.....the Matchless is still in the box....it IS calling to me.  I know the Sidekick is coming, and it's cute and all, but the Matchless, well its heavenly.

Your Knits + My Yarns = Happy Good Times

On the Road Again

I love, love, love taking the bus to Whistler for meetings.  I'm heading home on the bus after 9PM, using the time to update the blog.  Seriously cool.   

This is pretty much how it's going to be starting next month right up until the end of the year.  On the road, on the way to a show, home from a show, packing for a show.....EEK.  This is officially the most number of shows I have attempted in a year.  Why, I'm not sure exactly......I mean really, I know I haven't grown extra arms, I didn't hire an army of assistants,.....so what makes me think I can do this?

It's all for the love of the craft, baby.  I cannot deny that if I am not in a permanent state of busy, semi-panic, I am not happy.  I apologize to my loved ones for this constant heightened state of freakiness, but at least I am finally admitting that this is how I roll.

My meeting with Gabi went well.   Here's a sneak peek at the new little topper, but for a better photo, well I'll leave that to the pro. 

Caffinated With Updates

I know that this is supposed to be a blog about knitting spinning and dyeing but due to Kristin, it also seems to be a lot about our coffee consumption.  We both discovered the same sale at London Drugs and the carding station is also now a coffee pod warehouse.

 Show Updates For This Year

Filberg Festival

Edmonton Folk Festival

Vancouver Farmers Market


Ladner Village Market

That's all for now, although I am still waiting to hear back for one show.

There have been several new yarn updates.

New Toys

The arrival of a new drum carder today was a thrill for the studio...One more carder Louet Fine Cloth it was taken for its first run and I think Kristin is up spinning that alpaca right now.

I was appreciative of a more frivolous item.

A Capsule Holder for the Dulce Gusto

I finished the hat and scarf that I started yesterday.  I just could not put the knitting down.  Clearly a combination of yarn love mixed with caffeine overdrive.  Here's a pic of the yarn near coffee.

 

I have Jennifer to thank for the lovely addition of locks.  These were hand dyed back in January just waiting for this batch of yarns I've been spinning.  I wasn't going to knit a hat, but Kristin insisted.  I love a space where we all enable each other to spin and knit even more.  I'll put up a picture as soon as I find a model.

Lily Pond

I managed one more corespun today, ever mindful of the upcoming 100th yarn.  It's also in the garden theme.  I'm done with cores for now though...Spun that, done that.  I think I'll tackle something large tomorrow.

Unrestrained Knitting

Oops.  I could not and did not contain myself.  I knit one of my 355 yarns for my own guilty pleasure.  I blended it with a hand dyed bulky merino just to extend the experience.

It was a ridiculous afternoon in the studio with Kristin, Joan and Toni, all coming over to fondle the fibre that was inspiring such a insane reaction from me....Half pure decadent knit pleasure and half knit coma. 

There's a matching hat for this scarf and a new scarf on the needles with the 355 yarn of today "Victorian Rose Garden".  I would have taken a picture of the yarn, but I can't seem to put my needles down.

A Projected Shift

Somehow my yarn a day seems to be turning into a batt a day with me being just fracking addicted to my carding machine all over again.

I was intending on working on a seascape type of yarn, but when two blobs of pink and purple got picked up from the carpet and carried into the finished yarn, I ended up with this lovely surprise.

Lurking Starfish

More details on 355 Page.  There will be knitting today...Pretty knitting.

Caught up in Carding

I seem to have attacked my carder over the last few days.  There are a mountain of  batts flying off of it.  So happy, so fluffy, so lovely....

This batt contains  BFL, alpaca, merino, angora, tussah silk, mohair locks, angelina and possibly a wee piece of my heart.  Three of these were turned into yarn today that I could easily marry.

Battle of the Batts

I only had a short time in the studio today, so when I reached the carding machine I was on a frantic mission.  How much could I card and spin before my student showed up......Two batts later, a new skein and a sigh of relief, I managed one skein before class.

I'll be spinning the next skein on the Sonata  (and going to the studio much earlier)

A Month without Change

....just isn't going to happen.  Another studio mate leaves and this time we are not looking for anyone to take their place.  Now it's more about expansion.  Joan needs more space, Kristin and I need more space so things have shifted yet one more time. 

Thank you artisan studio mistress for this lovely opportunity.  Much gratitude.  Can I ask this to be my last alteration for this year? Peace of mind and blessings upon you.

This is the first time I have been able to greet people with a yarn foyer.

Somehow I managed to find yet one more IKEA shelving unit.

 

There are a few wheels missing from the herd.  Not pictured the Majacraft Suzie Pro and the Kromski Sonata.

This week's crop of dyed top for spinning.  I mananged to spin a pound of it today while sorting yarn and moving shelves.  Let's just say they were highly motivated spin breaks.

 

Tomorrow is my last day for show submissions.and then off to the studio.  It's going to be a good day.