My Brain is still the Same.

After months of trying to reprogram my brain, I have given up. This is the only way I can work. I bulldoze through my knitting. I cannot prioritize. Anytime I see a UFO I must attack it --regardless of what other orders or projects are waiting.

And now with Whistler thrown into the mix, I am literally knitting week to week replacing sold inventory. Don't get me wrong, I love replacing inventory, but my stock for my Christmas shows is sad to say the least.

Whistler was exciting this weekend. The weather was unbelievable, warm, breezy, casual. More people stopped to chat and shop and browse..they seemed to have the time and weren't running off to something else. It was delightful. I brought a bunch of UFO's and didn't have a chance to knit one of them until we were in the car on the way home.

I had a celebrity sale which I will not name drop, but I have to just say out loud, it was a thrill meeting you, I have loved your work forever and you made my day with your kind words....Oh and your children are gorgeous...Okay...enough drooling. I have never wanted to be one of those people who falls apart when they meet someone they admire......but talent, in whatever medium, is hopefully infectious....you always hope a little of the talent virus will rub off on you.

I am focusing on my little people designs as that inventory has been wiped out and I know I can depend on Pearl to get me back on track. She is a great friend with amazing focus.

List of shows upcoming

September 13/08 - West End Market (last date of season)
September 20/08 - Trout Lake (last date of season)

I can't believe the market season is drawing to a close....only 5 more trips to Whistler for business this season. Hopefully many more for the snowshoeing, snowboarding, new friends and beautiful views.

Where has the Week Gone

I'm not a touchy, snugly kind of person, generally happy, mostly content. My favourite expression is "I have no needs" (other than wool of course) and here I am at the end of a week visit with my friend, absolutely aching that she is going home.

I am lucky. I have good friends. Sometimes I regret not having instant access to all of them. When you move across the country, you leave a lot behind. Through all of this Julie and I have remained friends. BTW she does not knit and I still consider her a friend.

Last night we went to dinner with Pearl to the Chai Gallery to enjoy an ayurvedic buffet and belly dancing. It was the perfect way to wind down our visit. It was a long lazy evening.

I'll return to the regular posts, finished objects, new wool spun. Life goes on, friends leave and come again. More wool gets spun and hats are knit. The circle of my life.

Ferry Knitting

I have hating not having the entire week planned out when friends come to visit. I want to entertain, but I need to knit and I feel obligated to "entertain". Kind of foolish really as Julie is really good at being amused and entertained by anything....(seriously).

So, how do you provide the best vista, get your job done and look like a hero in the process. A gorgeous day including taking the ferry to Nanaimo and coming back the same day...Perfect for me ----4 hours of quality "ferry" knitting time.

Once off the ferry, how to stay entertained....Here's a rack of brochures. I am torn between a bus trip to Tofino to dip my toe in the ocean and a visit to Qualicum Cheeseworks....I think the cheese may win.

After mathematical calculations regarding time, the universe and everything else, we have settled on local sightseeing in Nanaimo.

The bus terminal at the ferry....The new terminal at Nanaimo is beautiful BTW...

We walked the entire town taking a break in between shopping districts for fish and chips on the pier.

Tea shops, more chocolate, a yarn store, and some lovely boutiques....A quick bus ride back to the ferry and we were ready for Vancouver. I love this idea of being a tourist in British Columbia. Seeing things through someone else's eyes makes my province fresh and new again. (not that I would ever get tired of living here). Julie will be going home tomorrow, and I can feel her trying to suck up the last mountain views.

Leaving the island in our wake.


Oddly enough, once we were back in Vancouver, I managed to mislead a tourist by giving him incorrect directions for the bus to the airport, having him miss his stop, and then Julie and I had to walk him to the correct stop and ride the bus with him (just for a bit) to make sure he got off to the airport ok......Wow, bad directions, I REALLY am a tourist this week.

A Tourist in Your Own Town

Once a year Julie comes to visit. Once a year, I am a tourist in my own town.

I feel compelled to plan out the week and often have it brimming with "events". This year, we are taking it day by day. Today we started out early at Kits Beach. Thanks to a quick lift from Pearl, we were all able to enjoy the early day breeze and sun trying to fight its way through.

The kids are back in school, a lot of the tourists are gone, and the beach was pretty much ours. We did manage to share it with this fun dog, some abandoned coffee and a cluttered mound of clams.


After the beach we decided to walk for a while. Up to 4th Avenue to enjoy some eclectic shopping, have a coffee and hang on a patio. That is, after all the true Vancouver experience. Once we hit Burrard we decided we would quick step it back home and were stopped dead in our tracks....


Chocolate.....Not just any chocolate.. MONDE Chocolat. In think anyone that can take cheesecake, drizzle it in chocolate and then put it on a stick and freeze it will automatically be my hero.

I picked this up for John, two small bars for myself and let me just show you Julie's stash. Now, in her defense, she is a tourist and most of this will be going home with her.

Chocolates are of their own design as well as a fair sampling of world chocolates. A lot of focus on organic and fair trade and of course, exceptional taste. We were fortunate enough to be able to sample a few ganaches (imagine lime, coconut and cilantro).

Now in search of the perfect beverage to accompany our fine chocolates. Any suggestions?

Nature Knitting

Due to family/friend obligations, my knitting is falling by the wayside. I now have a backlog of custom orders which has not happened to me before. I somehow always manage to stay on top of things, but today I am looking at my inbox and feeling completely overwhelmed.

So how to start?. One foot in front of the other, or one yarn over and carry forward. I was able to take some knitting with me on my Whistler adventure. Nothing done. I took my knitting to Squamish. Marginal knitting done. Please see picture of Squamish knitting.


Apparently I was more concerned about the view and art shots of the hand spun. I love what I do and I even appreciate so much more that people are standing in line to buy it. But time and my love of the work are competing and putting me fearfully behind. For anyone currently waiting for an order, please bear with me.

Back to the pile of fibre, optimism intact. How fantastic are these hats going to their new owners? Freaking fantastic.....

Knit One
Pearl One
Finish One

Repeat

Tourism --You can't live with it.....

......and you can't make money without it....Today's post is about spending the weekend in Whistler as a tourist.

Bear Sightings half way up Blackcombe

I don't think this is the one they meant. However, I am assuming tourism bear can be dangerous to your wallet.

As well as bear traps, you must beware of tourist traps. They are brightly coloured and cleverly disguised....Usually recognizable by the name of the city embellished on a normal household item that does not require it, for example salt and pepper shakers.......BEWARE

Alone in the Pool

Another thing to be cautious of on any holiday......The not so elusive super sized Caesar.

After a few of these, you are far more likely to be lured in by the other traps noted above.....BTW, I really do love Whistler....

I Love it When a Plan Comes Together

I should NOT have been able to make it to the Farmer's Market this weekend.

• animal with conjunctivitis
• spouse had gum surgery
• friend coming in from Toronto
• no vehicle or means to get to Whistler

With all of these issues, I thought to myself, what a great time to spend a weekend home. So much to get caught up on and "what's the big deal about missing a market?"

In a flurry of minutes and a few phone calls Saturday morning, plans were made, things were planned and a van was loaded. I have amazing luck and friends who are definitely invested in my success. THANK YOU.Whistler helped in it's own way by providing perfect weather and a vibe just ripe for shopping.

Julie, Pearl and I saw the town as tourists. We partook of Mountain meat for the last BBQ of the season on top of Blackcomb Mountain. Imagine dinner at 6,000 feet.

While we were outside having dinner on the mountain top -- a cloud blew right through us. It was exhilarating. With a market the next day things weren't too crazy....I've got to tell you, it's not tough to spend a night knitting in the Fairmont. Again, my high praise to www.whistler.com for the BEST last minute hotel deals.

Haunting and gorgeous. Knitting in a cloud, wrapped in a big knit sweater, there ain't nothin better!