More days of recovering

I am still a little drained from the whole project trip. I think that mostly it has to do with everything being in such a whirl at the moment.

Did I mention that while I was away Fran decided that the bathroom should be redone? It has been gutted and there are boxes of everything piled in my "studio". There are also things in every other part of the house. That is making it a bit difficult to relax.

I had to laugh at the link to my stash from Bonnie's blog. Fran pointed out that it was a very very small portion of the true stash and it looks so organized.

I added a bit more to the stash today. I couldn't help myself. I was at the farmer's market and my favorite wool fix was there and, well, before I new it I had bought 4 skeins. Destined for scarves. I'm still trying to come up with a cardigan pattern....time, time, time.

I am home. This morning I'm at the shop getting ready for the final push of getting all of the stuff out of here. The unpleasantness continues with the bar, I'm trying to ignore it since I am nearly out of here.

Melissa has posted photos of our intense 4 days of studio work. I think the piece "Everwhen" is successful and not what either of us expected.

I thought that I would have photos of Toronto and visits to yarn shops and art venues, but we were in the studio for the whole period.

I have got to thank Nina for taking care of us. We probably wouldn't have eaten meals if she wasn't around. That was in between doing her own work .... So a great big

THANK YOU NINA.

Also big thanks to everyone who emailed support.

Some images are here.

A broken promise

I know I said that there would be some photos here...... I lied.

The work is going so much slower than we anticipated. It's at a slow crawl and We have both been feeling the frustration of it.

Otherwise the little bit of Toronto I've been able to see on this trip has been fun. I am sort of hoping for a little break this afternoon maybe for a walk or a little shopping.

This post is very uncreative.... all of that energy is in the studio. I'm on a coffee break.

1st full day in Toronto

Crazy long drive yesterday and then a little bit of work and a brief stop at The Knit Cafe. I was there for about 5 minutes and had to run when our ride showed up. Gotta get back. Great people + place.

More studio time is planned for today. First we have a morning of errands.

Photos next post, promise.

It's still hectic around here. I think that not having the time or a place to work makes me feel even more frazzled.

My day on Saturday was so so. I picked up our share at the farmer's market and I also bought a bunch of heirloom tomatoes.

Besides all of the knit blogs that I read I'm also addicted to food blogs. One of them Anne's Food has a great tomato soup recipe that I have been wanting to try. It was the perfect soup for an end of summer meal. It is spicy/peppery though. I also added a little extra virgin olive oil to the bowl, I think it helped to round out the flavors.

What really intrigued me about the soup was the ingredients. I've been reading about the foodways of precolombian America and I really wanted to use stuff that reflected the foods that were available before the conquest. Tomatoes, chilies with the addition of the sweetness of the sugar. The recipe seems like a riff on , I think Mayan cuisine. Any way try this soup, add the cayenne to your taste, but don't be afraid of the kick. That is part of the beauty of this soup. Thank's Anne.

More moving today and I need to prepare for Toronto. Blogging may be light.

My life with objects

The moving has really pointed out to me how much I am involved with objects.
I've got a room that will be a studio filled with boxes of things. The entire house is filled with the stuff that we're bringing out of the store. It's filling up. I have accepted it, and the truth is I like it.

I like the business I'm in dealing with material culture.

I like making objects.

So what if I don't really have a spot in the house to sit in. It isn't at the Collyer Brothers stage, yet. In fact I see myself as rather organized. I have neatly arranged piles of stuff (everywhere).

And I'm getting rid of things in this sale.

Gotta go now and find those #3dpn's that I know are in a box around here somewhere.

Studio moving

I have spent the last three days moving the studio.



I took a photo of a few of the boxes. In total there were 32 of the large plastic crates.
Mostly yarns. 4, or so, boxes of books and some filled with equipment ( one was knitting needles). So that meant there were 20 boxes of yarns and then the small boxes, 12 of those - all cottons. Bonnie said it, and it might be true .... I'm a yarn ho.

The only mishap occurred when I lifted a file cabinet and the top drawer whacked me in the temple. I still have a lump, but I have avoided a black eye.
Right now all of those boxes are in the new studio at the house and I'm trying to get everything put into some kind of order. Once the stuff is shelved I'll move in the table and the loom and set up the machines. I'm thinking of not setting the bulky machine up until I need it. They take up much more space set up then when they're packed up in the cases.

Next week I'll be in Toronto finishing up the collaboration and installing the piece. Oh. I also had a request for slides from someone who is doing a book on "art knitting". hmmm..... I'm thinking about that one.

Now it's back to the shop and moving this stuff in the sale. (fingers crossed)

The studio is going to be packed up today and I'll move everything except the loom and the large work table.

That means packing a ton (well half ton) of yarns and equipment into boxes. I'm expecting it to be a little slow around the shop so I should have the time.

My life is that mundane right now. Busy work but no photos. I just wanted to post and let everyone know that I am still around.

3 days and 400 miles.

This has been a week with a lot of driving.

I have been missing the studio. I get antsy about the work when I don't have the time for any. It is all packed up and some is in the shop and some is at it's new home. I don't see the machines being set up this month. So I have been working on smaller hand knit projects. (swatches and more swatches) as I try to figure out fun quick easy things to make.

And I have been shopping.


I think this yarn that I got from Scarecrow Farm might become hats.

I also bought a few skeins of sock yarn, oh yea, and a bag full of mercerized cotton, a new journal/pattern book, a few circular needles and some new dp bamboos. It seems that all of the creative energy is going to stash and equipment enhancement. I decided to stay away from the knitting machine listings on ebay, it just feels a little to dangerous when I'm wanting a Passap e6000. Haven't even looked (I might today).

The market at Brimfield was ok, we managed to sell a few large things and that means less to bring into the house. I think it also is the reason that my back hurts. Moving furniture in and out of the van at 5 am yeah, that is fun.

BTW - Is there a simple men's cardigan pattern out there? I need novice level, first sweater kind of thing. If any one knows of one please send me the info. I'm getting into that nesting mood.

Surviving Labor Day Weekend

The opening felt like a very good party. Thanks to everyone who came, hope you had fun.

The shop continues with lots of problems with water. I would say that at this point it's harassment. Coming into the shop to a floor covered in stickiness and damage really isn't the way I wanted this weekend to end.

I am still chanting one month left.

I'll be away until Thursday .....

Tonight's the night

The gallery space is almost complete. Some minor little things are left to do, but we installed the show and moved in some objects last night. I love the bamboo flooring. It's hard to believe that this was once a garage.

The rest of the house is also under control. Now we will see how many people show up and how badly the rain from the hurricane remnants effects things. The plans for an outdoor party have been shelved and everyone will be inside.

I'm feeling really good about this, and a little guilty since I am going to be at the shop all day and Fran has been left with the final cleaning and the food prep.

Last night I managed to make an heirloom tomato gazpacho and some toppings for bruschetta. I won't be home in time to do anything else, but I know that everyone is going to make this great.