The Dervish in Me.

When you don't know what to do, spin. Really spin, with your whole heart, empty your mind and pour everything into the wheel. It will free you.

Now I have managed to collect enough for the market this weekend. The first time I'm actually selling primarily yarn. I think it's the right time of year for people to want to cozy up with something fantastic to knit.

I have held back a few skeins and a few sold this morning when someone came by to pick up a hat. Gorgeous BFL in white with grey and camel merino and just a bit of glitz. Boy, do I wish I had more of that (or had taken a picture of either of the skeins).

But for now, my favourite.....Harmony....See what happens when we all get along.....

This is everything from the studio carpet, blended together, possibly a little Asia in there as well but mostly kid mohair, BFL, merino, glitz and wensleydale. It is plied with a fine purple shiny rayon thread, just enough umph to let you know it's there.

Now the stats on the yarn....

125 grams
50 yards
super bulky ...I mean let's talk 15 to 20mm folks...

$40.00 U.S
GST applies to Canadian Residents and 6.00 for shipping is expedited, trackable and insured Canada Post shipping. Local pick up can be arranged.

SOLD

Now back to the spinning...I have a few of these batts just in time (well not really) for the holidays. I am thinking Santa drowning in a sea of candy canes. (possibly peppermint hot chocolate)

Tonight is the Weavers and Spinners Guild pot luck and gift exchange...I'm offering up smoked salmon pesto dip and a free form fern scarf....Hope they like it. I'm trying to make a good impression you know.

Why I Avoid the Mall

I had to go, I needed things that could not be purchased at a craft show. Staples, ordinary things. The mall was almost empty due to our current weather (beautiful, wonderful snow), which was a bonus for me. At least I would be able to see what was on the shelves.

All I saw was gigantic 50% off signs everywhere, before boxing day. Is this really a sign economic downturn or a belief in the machine that says there is economic downturn. My personal experience from my shows this season was an increase in shopping, not the other way around.

I decided to try on a ski jacket, since I only have one coat and I do not want to spend another season falling on my ass on the ice rink in the cashmere coat. I had to divest myself of all my hand knits while I tried on the 6 different coats and decided what I wanted ---plain, practical and affordable. Once my decision was made, I turned around to gather my things only to find that there was a woman wearing MY hand knit scarf.

Let me explain. Since the scarf was more than 8 ft long, I hung it on a hanger while I was trying on coats. I guess that made it fair game. I had to explain to her that it was MINE, prior to coming into the store and not some scam to get her to drop this great scarf with no price tag on it.

The whole exchange got me slightly overheated so I took my wonderful scarf and rolled it up and stuck it in my bag and continued around the store. I felt something a bit off and realized that I was being followed by an overzealous store employee who felt that she was about to foil the crime of the century.

I ask you, does this look like something that Old Navy sells....Before you answer, let me say hand spun blended kid mohair, silk and merino....If your answer is yes, I don't think I like you anymore.

In my altered state, I inadvertently purchased the wrong size coat. I am sending John back to the mall in my place. I just don't think I can do it again.

Fibre Mountain and a Trekathon

It's been almost 3 days and I've just now managed to dig myself out from under a pile of fibre...I am trying to finish several projects at once and can't get up without getting caught on something.

As far as I know, all the cats and John are accounted for. I can hear them, so I'm not alone in this mass of fiberous matter. Bits and pieces of the things that are occupying my time and my mind.

Don't be alarmed if you don't see your hat/scarf/yarn in here. It is coming. If you've sent an e-mail, it will be answered. I have one more show this weekend, the bulk of shipping has been done, but there are a few local orders straggling behind.

There has been a lot of traffic at chez MelonHead. People who saw things at shows, but couldn't commit and friends offering support. It's nice to have the company while I sort through everything. I'm even managing to fit in the guild pot luck this Thursday and still need to make food and a gift for the gift exchange.

Can someone tell me what was I thinking. The rest of the house is quiet and I've committed to just one more hour of work before I hit the sack. If I'm lucky I'll organize the outstanding issues in my sleep (and still remember it in the morning)...

I'm looking forward to Christmas this year in a big way and not for the reasons most of you might think. It is Trekmas this year on the Space Channel. Every single Star Trek movie starting at 6:00am until the final conclusion...Imagine the amount of knitting I can get done watching 12 movies....??

Anyone else up for a Christmas Day Trekaknitathon?

We're Coming in to the Home Stretch

How could it possibly be December 14th? How did that happen. Please do not explain the concept of the Gregorian calendar or lunar cycles or whatever would logically bring us to today.

I want the full science fiction definitely of how an entire month of my life vanished in a vortex of custom orders and craft shows. I have no memories of the past month (and I know it's been a month because I have at least that much worth of roots to be dyed) and it appears my toenails seem to be snagging my socks...

Crudulla...and there is more knitting.(still) I have some vague memory of a foodie friend of mine throwing bags of herbs at me while I was packing up my inventory. There was dinner, some chanting (the singer at the restaurant, not me). And a fireplace and Celine Dion on Youtube. That I refuse to explain.

And the knitting will continue. I am down to a handfull of orders. A sweater, the tail end of a pirate scarf, a felted hat to be shipped, 2 more hats and.....EEK>>>>I have a show at the Farmer's Market on Saturday..

I believe this would be sung to the tune of the Little Drummer Boy....

I will call it Ode to Handmade Christmas Gifts

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
Custom orders to be done, pa rum pum pum pum
The finest gifts they'll be , pa rum pum pum pum
But can you finish for me, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to keep your word, pa rum pum pum pum,
When will they be done.

Little knitter, pa rum pum pum pum
I'm lacking sleep as well, pa rum pum pum pum
Those new born hat to knit pa rum pum pum pum
So no one has a fit., pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

You promised oh so much, pa rum pum pum pum,
When will they be done.

The customers nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
With gift cards as back ups, pa rum pum pum pum
I knit my best for them, pa rum pum pum pum
I seamed and wrapped and pinned, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then they smiled at me pa rum pum pum pum
My work was done.

This is dedicated to every knitter out there that will still have something on their needles on Christmas Eve....

Needless to say, my own shopping has fallen by the wayside. I am grateful that this seems to be the season of forgiveness. We'll break even in January everyone! I promise.

Custom ORDERS vs. custom requests

I have spent the season picking and choosing custom commissions. I don't have time to do it all and some things I just don't want to do. Don't get me wrong. To be able to earn a living this way is incredible and I am grateful for it, but am also an artisan and can't make 50 of something because someone wants me to. It crushes me.

The commissions are from thoughtful people who appreciate the artistry and the hand work and are wanting something unique and truly theirs. So my hands and heart are full. I have just finished my most exciting piece of the season. Something that had already been started and then altered for the wearer....a vision we both shared.

I don't want to give it up.

I love the way the camel fleece smelled when I spun it. I loved the feel of the angora as it passed through my fingers. I laughed every time I dropped the crochet hook because it was just so tiny to hang on to. I treasured wrapping it up and taking it with me to work on small pieces when I could...

Yep, I'm really going to miss this one.

What happens when you don't listen to the yarn

I don't want to brag, but I just never frog (to the uninitiated, this is an evil process wherein you knit something forever, realize far too late that you've made a mistake, and then have to undo it).

Since most of my work is free form, I just get to go with the flow. For the work that is a bit more organized, if something does go wrong, it gets tossed into a pile of stuff that I will just make something else out of in the future...ie: felt and then turn into brooches.

But for the first time, I had only a specific amount of hand spun in just the right colours for just one design. I was trying to knit a scarf. What's so complicated about that, you ask. Good question.

I was commissioned to knit a scarf for an older, stylish woman. I felt I had a good sense of her, enough to spin something thick and thin plied with kid mohair and silk. I wanted something that would be rich in colour and luxurious next to the skin. Again, no big deal.

But once I started knitting, the hand spun betrayed me, at every turn with each design, the character of the thick and thin spin did not sit in the right place. My scarf was starting to look just like an ordinary scarf. One, two and three times carefully undoing the wool so as not to felt it. (this has been going on for two days)

And finally this morning it occurred to me. This was meant to be crocheted and not knit. Why I didn't listen to the yarn the first time around? It was so obvious.

I am so pleased with the flow of this piece. It curves, it has an organic warm feel to it. I enjoy the colours of the hand spun and I'm glad I finally listened to the wool.

Now the Fairmont knows how to Deck the Halls

Wandering through the Fairmont yesterday before I hooked up with Jan, I managed to snap a few pics of how the other half does the holidays. So fancy....

Jan brought her hat knit from my hand spun she picked up over the summer. It's a gift. And then I gave her a hat for her birthday...I know, like she couldn't knit her own!

P.S. The weather outside was frightful, but the fire was so delightful.....