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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.