Better Than a New Studio

New hair!

It has been more than six months than I have even had the time to consider my roots or the length of my hair. It's been pretty much, high school pony tail since the beginning of the year and I was really starting to feel blek...

Now hairdressers can only work magic on your hair, they don't give you make overs or magically make you lose 20 lbs, but boy can a new haircut uplift you. I appreciate the artistry of his work.

I do nothing but work with colour, so I'm surprised that I let myself get so drab. Maybe it's just the wet Vancouver winters. It's May now. No more excuses. Forgive the photo, I'm really not much into make up. After 46 years I much prefer simple, which means on a weekend I may have mascara and chapstick on.

Now for an entirely different range of colour. This weeks projects.

The colourway on the left is Bark and the one on the right is Tofino. Both are 250g wool and silk blend.

This thick and thin single is Moroccan Spice.

And this is all the new sock yarn. From the left Lagoon, Gothic, Kelp, Clematis.

And I would never consider any of these colours for my hair. However I am thinking a nice avocado for the main studio wall.

It's a Done Deal

Well, I've been to the studio and it is perfect for what I need. Yes, perfect. I like the location, the feel, the actual space and well it's just gonna work.

It's just concrete and wood, but it's my space. The other artists seem really cool and the common area is circa 1950-60's...I love it...

I walked around the neighbourhood and it has all the things that I adore...Food, shoes, antiques, more food, hip clothing stores and a great place for lassi across the street.



I have always dreamed of "going to the studio" on my bike, front basket full of goodies for the day. A place to see clients, have knit friends over without having to worry about cleaning the entire house first. A place to put out my eclectic collection of mirrors, wheels, skein winders and weird egyptian chachkas.

And finally, my house with only one or two beautiful well placed baskets of hand spun and a normal amount of WIP's that don't make my home look like a sweat shop (for one).

Studio MelonHead

I'm off to see the studio this morning and I can't help it...I'm excited. I just found out that there are no windows, but this is Vancouver. I intend on biking to the studio so I'll have enough sunshine and view there and back and it has a small kitchen, common area and a full bathroom and shower. In case I feel like working all night (which happens) and no one at my house needs to be tortured by my working hours.

The yarn is being reskeined now, I love the colours (and the cashmere---sorry it's all spoken for). However the sock yarn is up for grabs. The only thing I will not make, except for my test pair for the yarn.

And the rovings dried so quickly that I had no excuse not to spin them. I realize I didn't have to spin them all, but what the hell.....

I seem to be consistent at 125 yards plied for 100- 105 grams giving me somewhere between a sport weight and an aran weight.

I just figured out why I spent so much time on the wheel yesterday.....This thing...honestly, I wish I could say that I was a swift cookie with the paperwork, but it overwhelms me and actually makes me a little sick. GST isn't a difficult calculation, but this form makes me all sweaty..

Here's hoping that the studio is all that I need it to be. I am bringing Joan for an objective 2nd opinion. I would be inclined to love it, even if it was a dungeon.

Where There's Smoke.....

there's this representational skein of yarn. How appropriate. With a million things to do to get ready for the next show, this is what I was consumed with yesterday. Grey alpaca, silk noil, mulberry silk and merino and corriedale. It smoldered in my mind and on the wheel for the better part of the day.

My moo cards arrived yesterday. One of the photographs was not cropped properly so I have several lovely pictures of Sophie and what appears to be the brim of a hat. Crap, but even more wonderful was how Canada Border Services deemed fit to charge GST, PST and duty on my business cards. I have a number to call them to appeal the charges. Given I only have a few days left before leaving town, I am quite certain this is not going to happen. Lately, I am given to weighing decisions over how much it costs of my time per hour to fix them rather than the "principal of the thing".

And yes, I am able to let go whatever the wrong may have been. Time to move on.

The laundry list is huge today. Reskeining, pick up at the post office, scheduling an appointment to look at the studio and finishing the scarves. I would love to spin the rovings I dyed yesterday, but that may have to wait, unless I am rescued and taken to a gorgeous destination to spin.

It would not be that hard to convince me.

Studio, Here I Come

And it's about time. The dyeing has taken over, the rovings are insurmountable and there is no room to move in this place.

Wow......I wonder what it would be like to have a small bed, a chair and table for reading and the laptop in the spare bedroom.....hmmm. Yep, it's time to take this show to it's own little space. John will be pleased. The cats will be pleased. I will be delighted.

MelonHead is growing up.

I Get By With a Little Help from my Friends

What do friends do?

• They pick you up in their van and help you load it
• They help you set up shows
• They keep you company at said shows
• They shop from you
• They give you many compliments
• They make you laugh, I mean gut wrenching belly laughs
• They make you feel better on a sucky day.

Toni this week, Pearl next week and Joan a few weeks after that. I always feel a bit overwhelmed and apologize ( a lot) for my inabililty to drive a car. I try to stuff them with pastry and coffee, make them pick out inventory or buy them weird presents. I really want to learn how to be really grateful without gushing. I guess I'm looking for a bit more dignified response to what is always a cherished generosity from the people that are close to me.

Yesterday's show brought much in the way of conversation and laughter but not much in the way of sales. I'm not complaining, really, but there is a definite difference between having my last real show being Circle Craft and then setting up for a little one day show. I never bing, bang, big bucks, boom into the season.

I enjoy the yarn chats, seriously get off on the compliments (no, I don't get tired of hearing how fantastic and creative I am). It's what I do every day and I sometimes forget how wonderful it is, so it's nice to be reminded.

I have a simple display this year. I think I am walking away from the gridwall. If you know anyone that needs 2by6 and 2by4 incredibly heavy chrome grid wall, is local and wants to give me money, just let me know.

I have some cashmere. I might dye it today ---after I go to Stanley Park to knit for a while---pics later.

Market Season in Full Swing

I consider that the market season is in full swing. Starting tomorrow, I am pretty much booked for shows until December. Tomorrow you can find me here.....then again in 10 days in Calgary, then Vernon, then Whistler, then.......The blog will keep you updated on the full season and if you need tickets for Portobello West, then just send me an e-mail with your address and number of tickets and I'll send them to you.

Since it's a spring thing I'm finishing up the blossom scarves. They are my signature piece as well as my favourite for this season.


Hope to see you at the market tomorrow. Stop by and say hello if you get a chance.