Calling all Gorgeous Children

Still trying to poke my head up from under the ginormous pile of hand spun that I buried myself under. I did manage to make it to the post office and get an order shipped out, but it will be a few weeks before I have all orders done....If you have ordered something custom from me, please bear with me. I am working through my inbox to get everything out in time.

I have had two e-mails that just jumped out at me that I had to share. One is this photograph

Neige

There's nothing better than a gorgeous child modeling your knits to increase sales....Thanks Suzanne for sending me those pictures!

And just a little note from a customer.

"I bought one of your hand spun wool hats at Circle Craft and I have been stopped on the street with compliments. Perhaps you might want to mail me some business cards to pass out to people who are coveting my hat. Hope to see you there next year!" ----Louise.

Thanks so much for all this delicious feedback. Back to the real world, knit, pearl, spin, REPEAT.

Show Coma

I want to tell you all about Circle Craft and how great it was and all the funny and weird things that happened, but the truth of the matter is that I feel like I'm wearing a lead pantsuit. Every part of my body is aching (including my brain)...

So I will just leave you with this (courtesy of Joan)

This is the actual fuzzy article. I am a proud mama.

On the other hand I am knee deep in show carcasses. Orders to be completed, custom work to be done and orders to be shipped. I am confused but happy. I should have it all sorted out in a few days. Just in time for the Fab Fair at Heritage Hall this Saturday and Sunday...

Come and pop by...I'll have yarn!

So Where are these Imaginary DIY Hat Kits?

I've been called out. The kits have yarn, and they have a price, and they have been knit, but they still aren't a kit. I have sold so much hand spun at the show that I am now obligated to have patterns for people to use.

The yarn is sweet heavenly baby soft love. It shimmers, it moves, it has life and it needs to be knit by someone other than me. It's like leaving your children on the first day of preschool ---you know they'll be fine on their own, but you want to be there for any misstep because you aren't just quite ready to let go.

It's time. Give me a month and the kits will be live.....yes, in time for Christmas gift giving to your favourite knitter.

There is only one more day left of the show. It's going to be a long knit nite...only because I know what's missing from the booth that needs to be replaced. It's going to be a long night because JP took John and I out for dinner to an amazing restaurant and it will take 6 hours to digest this food. It's going to be a long night because my brain is racing with possibilities and I just can't put them to rest. Oh, and it's going to be a long night because my cat has recently started snoring (like loudly).

Oh, and I have a show next weekend.

Circle Craft Day 3

I am exhausted, elated, inspired and floating on air. Tonight is definitely an all nighter. There is no way that I will have enough inventory left to carry me through to Sunday.

Here's just a little peak at the booth.

And just when I thought the day was at it's apex, the concierge from the Hotel Vancouver brings me today's Georgia Straight with the article about my designs. It was thrilling to see it all in print and all I could think was "is this really about me?". I truly appreciated the wonderful article and I think I need to send some yarn to the writer. She also has awesome taste (being a crocheter herself). This was the photo that was featured. Nelson is gorgeous!

I have a few hours of knitting ahead. I won't even care that sleep is not on the agenda for tonight, or that my feet feel like raw hamburger. I'm feeling as light as a feather. Tomorrow I get to talk about yarn all day and watch people play dress up in my hats.

When it rains it pours

and for once I'm not talking about our Vancouver weather. I just found out that I am going to be in an article about Circle Craft for the Georgia Straight. I just got off the phone and finished up the interview. And to top it off, the woman who interviewed me crochets. Yeah....

It's not just all about the knitting anymore folks..Time to round out those skills and bring crochet into the forefront where it deserves to be. Kim Werker has done more for crochet cool than anyone out there at the moment. There was even talk of a crochet Stitch n Bitch. I would love that.

I hate myself in photographs, but it's part of getting the work out there, and why am I doing this if not to get folks jonesing for the accessories. This is the photograph being used in the online Circle Craft Brochure.

Oh, and this one as well...

I'm not sure which photo they are using for the Georgia Straight. Just as long as I'm not in it, things will be fine. It's just coming up to 5 years in Vancouver and finally the work is getting noticed....It feels good and I'm feeling pretty grateful.

Well with all the surprise new press, I best get my butt in gear as far as the inventory goes...And I was having so much fun spinning this morning.

The Accidental Latte

Yesterday I needed to get away from the studio. There are so many UFO's in that room that I feel like there is an actual alien invasion of fibre. Who ever thought I would run away from my own yarn?

All I wanted was the serenity of one yarn, one project, all in white and no distraction. This caused me to head out at the ungodly hour of 6am to Starbucks for my usual fake beverage. Since I have given up caffeine, I have been very careful about that part of the beverage ordering. Also, since the detox, very careful instructions on non fat, no sugar, etc and yet, most of my beverages have been wrong in at least one area. I consider a correct fulfilling of my order a delightful surprise.

The single project and the latte

The sleeve on the latte

Yep, somehow I managed to get a skinny vanilla latte. I sat down in the big chair, pulled out the crocheting and thought " I will have a peaceful morning and I will accept this latte" (regardless of its possible consequences down the road). It was the most serene hour I have had in weeks, even with the morning bustle of people behind me trying to get their "on the way to work" fix.

Once back home the entire felting day left me pleased with the results and inspired to stay up a bit later to see what else I could complete.

Here's a little gallery of shots for you. Please contact me if you see anything in the felts that you like. They will be one of a kinds for the show and I can put one aside!

I'm supposed to be working on children's sweaters today. I'm not sure that's going to happen with the amount of UFO's still currently choking up the studio.

All Hail the LYS Staffers

I ventured out into the world today with a goal, a real job for a day working at the LYS. Not just hanging around, not shopping, actually standing behind a cash and being responsible and doing the retail thing.

I have always loved and respected yarn store staff, but now I see them in a whole new light. The morning was a flurry of activity and the things that people wanted/needed from me ranged from emotional support to physical knitting repair. It was a wild ride.

My only curiousity (and if any of you work in a yarn store or have friends that work in one) I have a question. Why aren't they homeless? I would spend every single penny I had on what I was surrounded with. Always a sexy new box to open with surprise Fleece Artist yarn.....and the list goes on.

My services were only required for a few hours. I think I actually started to leave drool on the yarn and I was sent home.

Hug your LYS staffer today. They are an unappreciated breed.