Well, it definitely happened and I am not sure why I didn’t blog about the opening. It’s over now, but through the magic of the internet, you can totally pretend like you went!

I get a lot of anxiety about PHOTOS and STRANGERS together at last so you’ll have to forgive me. The show was at the Silk Purse in West Vancouver, which is this tiny by delightful gallery right on the water.

There was lots of good stuff including this shawl, made by my friend Rebecca.

She was one of the few (I think 2) people who sold something, so uh, next year? Definitely doing wearables.

PROOF. It happened.

Good news! I finally went to the hardware store yesterday to buy washers for my spinning wheel. I went to Home Depot to do this about a year ago and was overwhelmed by the sheer number of things and that place is kinda awful for getting help with stuff. They have a ton of people who appear to work there (why else are they wearing those awful orange aprons) but none of them ever seem to work in the department aisle they are wandering through.

Plus the old guy at the Home Hardware on Commercial Drive didn’t even bat an eye when I was like “I need it for my spinning wheel” and pulled one of the maiden upright thingies from my bag.

The sad part is I can’t find my bobbins anywhere so I have ordered a lazy kate with three bobbins from the internet and have plans to spin the universe when they get here.

Speaking of Home Hardware…

The plants I bought haven’t died yet! It’s a miracle! I should probably put them in better pots but mostly I just feed them to the monster rabbit anyway. He has to go to a third vet today for his leaky eye. Fingers crossed they’ll have better advice than the last one, who said “Oh, he might have scar tissue, he’ll probably just be like that forever.”

Um, what? This is not acceptable to me. This bunny is 3 years old, I don’t want him to have a lifetime of ooze eye.

(This is his eye in less oozey times)

Here are the ones I did manage to do before I got distracted.

Skyline

We went to Granville Island this day so I could buy INDIGO (this is an exciting time). I bought the most gigantic mug of all time as well. Also on the way there we stopped at Wallflower and I had a vegan Benny.

#2 – Something I wore today

When I come home I often change my outfit and in this case I threw whatever I was wearing on the bed, and of course Bert had to make a nest in it. Clothes make the best cat nests.

#3 – Fun

Well, my dog’s idea of fun anyway. She’s really good at destroying things. I thought Kongs were supposed to be indestructible?

#4 – Bird

This is an Ookpik. It is a creepy owl made out of seal fur (I think). I found this guy at a thrift store in Comox last summer and was super excited, and Raine was like “Umm, what?”

#6 – You

This is me after a long day of Got Craftin’ and dog parkin’. I bought a Cuppow at Got Craft and so far it’s been a pretty rad time.

#7 – Someone that inspires you

I think this is where I lost my way, because I read it is “something” not “someone”. And really to be fair if it’s “someone” then shouldn’t the prompt be “someone who inspires you” not “someone that”? Anyway I guess if I named my loom then we could argue that she is a who, not a that. I am inclined to name her Martha.

This was a GOOD DAY because I went to the studio to frog a sweater and finish the loom battle and discovered a studio mate had just gotten a PUPPY.

Like a for reals tiny 9 week old puppy. His name is Frank and he is seriously the cutest thing.

So I suppose I could just pick up where I left off, and keep a copy of the list with me. I guess that means today would be “What you’re reading”. Umm I just read an eBook style of Harry Potter. Sorry friends I don’t get it. I think it might be the Princess Bride of books where you have to love it early or else you are like “Really?”

I’m probably going to start another book later today so uhh we’ll wait for that. In the meantime, here are some jungle dogs:

This year we had a smaller group than usual, so I was a bit worried at first that we wouldn’t be able to get it done in time. We had two spinners (well, two and a half I guess because Lisa was able to help us out for about an hour or so), but it ended up being ok because we were all pretty decent at spinning. In past years our shawls have been more… rug-like, let’s say.

Steph learned how to ply on the spot, and Maggie wove like a champ. Wove? Weaved? I have no idea.

The warp was a beautiful ombre that went from pink to purple to blue. Steph also got scouted by the Richmond guild, who are on the lookout for fresh meat.

However, as usual, we came in dead last but the judge said it was our best one yet, and I am inclined to agree. Next year I think we need to focus more on fibre preparation and spinning since the weaving thing we’re already good at.

Our group, with the finished product. Obviously I am not pictured because, uh, I took the picture. It was a long, fun but exhausting day. I pretty much went to bed at 9 pm.

Anyhoo I’m gonna try to do this Photo a Day thing for May, because I need some joy in my life.

It’ll be a good time!

Here’s mine for today. It’s peaceful yeah? I’d like to take a nap there. Yes yes.

Sometimes my dog makes this face at me and then I call her Snaggle Face because it is not even her teeth but her WHOLE ENTIRE FACE. She’s cute.

She makes other faces, including but not limited to:

Crazy Face

Running From A Bigger Dog Face

We went to the dog park on Saturday and these beasts got to be crazy.

They are good friends now.

Here’s a confession for you: my best and most favourite kind of procrastination is “planning”. The great thing about it is it looks like you’re doing a thing but you’re actually really not.

I recently warped up to do a tapestry, and the real truth of it is I should just go for it using the materials I have, but I’m always like “oh I need a cartoon, I need better yarn, I need more bobbins”. I really don’t. And I would probably benefit from a bit of playing around, really. I made my first sampler over 2 years ago. It’s kind of awful, and pulls in a lot on the sides, and I don’t think I really “got it”.

The great thing about the Textile Arts program at Capilano is you really don’t get a whole lot of time to think about what you’re doing. So many techniques and projects are smashed in there, you just kinda have to go for it. Now that I’ve been set loose on the world it’s a lot easier to procrastinate.

Life gets in the way, too, though. I recently did a thing that is good for my wallet but bad for my soul: I accepted a full time position. It means paid sick days, paid vacation days, 40 hours a week, stock if I stay married to them forever and probably other things I didn’t read in my rush to sign my life away for a few more dollars. It also means my schedule was changed and I’ve somehow managed to get 2 days off in 14 days. It also means I have to work extra hard to stay positive and to not let rude people get me down. I’m tired of customer service life but can’t seem to find a way out.

On the bright side, spring is here and everything smells fantastic. The Skytrain runs near our apartment (I can hear it but just barely), and there is a section that is like a tube of trees that makes me long for the forest.

I’d like to take this crazy beast for a good walk out in the wilderness. Thinking about cancelling the days I booked off in December to trade them for September. I could go visit my mom and bring this ridiculous monster with me. I can imagine the looks I’d get (I am pretty sure Grande Cache mostly has rugged dogs meant for climbing mountains).

This is the face of someone who is full of ALL THE ENERGY. Last night she was making me crazy, so we walked to Main street and back (about 5km). This morning we repeated the same trek but in reverse.

When we got her, we were hoping the Frenchie side would win but I am pretty sure I have a Boston Terrier on my hands.

It’s sunny but windy out today. I guess that’s the best kind of sunny because it doesn’t get too hot but at least you are not so depressed about it being grey forever.

We like to complain a lot in Vancouver, but it’s not so bad.

I’ve decided on making a garden happen in our kitchen window, so I’m waiting for Tremaine to get home so I can drag him to buy some stuff. I’ll let you know how it turns out. A few weeks ago we had to take the bunny to the vet because he wasn’t eating, and we got lectured about salad, so I thought it would be nice to grow him some cilantro. He eats a lot, though, so I’ll still have to supplement with store cilantro. I’ll try to get a video sometime of him begging for salad… it’s too cute.

My little cherry tree was accepted! Best day! It feels weird to make a thing and have it be in a show that is not a) put on by the school or b) put on by friends of friends in dodgy places. Ahem.

In honour of this most momentous of occasions, I updated my serious business Tams website. Details of the show are there.

Other cool things:

I recently won a giveaway on Andrea’s blog and my goodies arrived today! The post man even BROUGHT THEM TO ME instead of leaving the delivery card. THIS NEVER HAPPENS. I was like “OMG THANKS!!!”

I had a tough time picking out something from her shop, but eventually decided on this super cute sloth print (Sloths are the new owls, I think… maybe it’s because I love this video)

Aaaand I also picked out this cute pouch. I just ordered a bunch of DPNs from eBay so I think they will find a good home in here when they arrive.

So yeah, good times right?

Ok so one other thing I have to tell you is, I bought this weirdo veggie tray like a long time ago and I honestly have no idea what people do with these things… I mean I guess they must be for people who entertain, or who hang out with people who entertain, or people who go on picnics. Clearly I am not really any of these things?

However, I discovered a good use for it is to chop your veggies before you make soup, because ok you know veggies cook at different rates so you don’t throw your zuchini in at the same time as the carrots, right? And ok fine you could put them on a plate or just chop as you go but I was waiting for my beans to happen so I thought I’d make the most of it.

I ended up making a super healthy bean and veggie soup with this weirdo 7 grain delicious blend and Tremaine actually really liked it! So much that he asked me to make it again tonight. Delicious! Sometimes I think I don’t like soup but mostly I think I don’t like pre-made from a can soup and also I don’t like all the work of chopping veggies. But my bunny recently went to the vet due to a tummy blockage and they lectured us about salad so now he has to eat a lot of veggies, so I have to cut them up anyway.

I think this is the part of the blog post where I try to engage you by asking if you like soup and what your favourite kind of soup is. I like to just throw everything in a pot and hope for the best. You?

I spent a lot of dollars but it was all on good stuff. I got some really majestic alpaca fibre from some ladies from 100 Mile House, some old hand carders and fringe twisty things, and also a large set of Hiya Hiya interchangeables.

I finished this last night (because it makes sense to make a big wooly capelet right as spring is arriving). Except you wouldn’t know it based on the weather – it is pretty disgusting right now. I just need to get some ribbons to make it more beautiful.

It is the Grimm’s Cottage one by Tiny Owl Knits. She is precious.

I made a thing for the upcoming Cherry Blossom Festival. We’ll see if it gets in. It was nice to have something to work towards though.

It’s a tree made out of wire and yarn using a basketry technique, with hand spun crocheted merino/silk blossoms and felted leaves. The more I look at it the more I like it. It has marbles inside so it stands up ok.