2013/07/23
Is it Christmas?
2013/07/16
Things, they are a'changin...
Next week husband Rick and I will sign the lease for Bell, Hook & Spindle's new home. Meanwhile I am finishing up an ending inventory, which becomes our starting inventory. I have begun our wholesale purchasing. Rick has found a couple more antique spinning wheels for us, but is all about store fixture building at this time. There are business accounts to set up or shift, fixtures to buy, books on retailing to read, moments of terror, days of excitement...
Meanwhile, life as we know it continues. Last Saturday was our spinning group meeting up in Tonasket. One of the spinners took this picture of me and Slippers. I had to place a finger behind her ears to get them 'up', as they were firmly planted 'down' in disgust for being held on her backside. Have I told you she is a princess? But such a pretty princess!
Meanwhile, life as we know it continues. Last Saturday was our spinning group meeting up in Tonasket. One of the spinners took this picture of me and Slippers. I had to place a finger behind her ears to get them 'up', as they were firmly planted 'down' in disgust for being held on her backside. Have I told you she is a princess? But such a pretty princess!
2013/07/01
Coming soon!
My 'boss', husband Rick, is a stickler for keeping records and doing things right, so yesterday and today are ending inventory days. When I finish, we will have a fresh start for Bell, Hook & Spindle. The way things are working out, we will sign the rental agreement for August 1st occupation. I will go in and start the eggshell white painting of all the walls. Rick is beginning to construct the display cases I have asked for. We will be closed the entire month of August getting the store ready for its Grand Re-opening. Yay!!!
I had a customer in the other day that sat on a stool eye-ing the wool batt selection as I told her of our plans to expand into the entire store. She nodded and said, "Good! Because it is a bit claustrophobic back here!" And she is right! You have to be in the actual space to grasp how much I have crammed into that small backroom! When we spread out, and fill in, the store will still be pretty full! I have purchased a mid-arm quilting machine for public rental. I will have my personal sewing machine set up in a corner for teaching classes and demos. Of course there will be a sitting area with a couch, 2 big chairs and 2 rockers on a carpeted area for spinning, knitting, crocheting, and Tea @ 3. There is space for class tables, 1 or 2 as needed. One half of the store will be quilting related, the other half, fiber arts. Can you tell I am so very excited about working on our dream?
Meanwhile, back at home, I have our Angora producing stock, Slippers is in her mansion, being waited on hand and foot. I am looking forward to the day she is ready to let go of her coat! The breeder showed me how to sheer her if I choose to 'harvest' that way, but meanwhile I have been combing her coat to make sure she stays clean and fluffy. She has lovely gray fur, white belly, white tail (if you can find it!), clean face from the Rex side of her breeding. Her 3 colored fur is called agouti. If I sheer her, and carefully lay out the clips to spin from, I am supposed to be able to get a little variegation going in the yarn. How neat is that?
So, if you ever pass through Tonasket, WA, be sure to stop in and say, "Hi!".
I had a customer in the other day that sat on a stool eye-ing the wool batt selection as I told her of our plans to expand into the entire store. She nodded and said, "Good! Because it is a bit claustrophobic back here!" And she is right! You have to be in the actual space to grasp how much I have crammed into that small backroom! When we spread out, and fill in, the store will still be pretty full! I have purchased a mid-arm quilting machine for public rental. I will have my personal sewing machine set up in a corner for teaching classes and demos. Of course there will be a sitting area with a couch, 2 big chairs and 2 rockers on a carpeted area for spinning, knitting, crocheting, and Tea @ 3. There is space for class tables, 1 or 2 as needed. One half of the store will be quilting related, the other half, fiber arts. Can you tell I am so very excited about working on our dream?
Meanwhile, back at home, I have our Angora producing stock, Slippers is in her mansion, being waited on hand and foot. I am looking forward to the day she is ready to let go of her coat! The breeder showed me how to sheer her if I choose to 'harvest' that way, but meanwhile I have been combing her coat to make sure she stays clean and fluffy. She has lovely gray fur, white belly, white tail (if you can find it!), clean face from the Rex side of her breeding. Her 3 colored fur is called agouti. If I sheer her, and carefully lay out the clips to spin from, I am supposed to be able to get a little variegation going in the yarn. How neat is that?
So, if you ever pass through Tonasket, WA, be sure to stop in and say, "Hi!".
2013/06/27
Speed of Light!
I am sure I am not alone in thinking time passes so quickly-even more quickly when the days are packed with activities and tasks! While the ANWG Conference (Weavers) was a 1 1/2 day set up, 3 day show, 1 1/2 day take down and long drive home, it went so quickly-in hindsight!
What an exciting parade of people in their woven creations; scarves, shawls, bags, coats, vests, belts, sashes...so beautiful, creative, some absolutely stunning. Had 3 adventurous persons buy the Bison fluff. One plan was to spin lace weight and make a shawl! Would love to see that one!
I had a doctor appointment upon my return and I was amazed I had not gained weight...not only since last year, but since this last week's cafeteria offerings! It must have been the walking from dorm to cafeteria to vendor mall to cafeteria to dorm each day. I didn't move my truck from its space at the dorm once I had received a ticket for parking any place else. :?{ I met lots of fun people and let them know where to find Bell, Hook & Spindle!
And, I have installed my first fuzz machine in my office. Her name is Slippers, an Angora/Rex cross, that will provide fluff for me to spin. She is super calm, gorgeous colors and will make an excellent shop mascot. Once she is settled into our new shop and comfortable with me and everyone else, I may have to find a friend for her, who will be named Fu Fu, of course. And then...a date with an English Angora buck, perhaps? A few of Slipper's tales will be posted on the Living With Loki page on this blog.
What an exciting parade of people in their woven creations; scarves, shawls, bags, coats, vests, belts, sashes...so beautiful, creative, some absolutely stunning. Had 3 adventurous persons buy the Bison fluff. One plan was to spin lace weight and make a shawl! Would love to see that one!
I had a doctor appointment upon my return and I was amazed I had not gained weight...not only since last year, but since this last week's cafeteria offerings! It must have been the walking from dorm to cafeteria to vendor mall to cafeteria to dorm each day. I didn't move my truck from its space at the dorm once I had received a ticket for parking any place else. :?{ I met lots of fun people and let them know where to find Bell, Hook & Spindle!
And, I have installed my first fuzz machine in my office. Her name is Slippers, an Angora/Rex cross, that will provide fluff for me to spin. She is super calm, gorgeous colors and will make an excellent shop mascot. Once she is settled into our new shop and comfortable with me and everyone else, I may have to find a friend for her, who will be named Fu Fu, of course. And then...a date with an English Angora buck, perhaps? A few of Slipper's tales will be posted on the Living With Loki page on this blog.
2013/06/17
10, 9, 8, 7...
I am into the countdown mode regarding the Weaver's Conference in Bellingham this week. Tomorrow I pack, I mean PACK, my truck with all my earthly wooliness, all day, until I drop. Wednesday morning I rise and shine and head for the North Cascades route over to the West Side of Washington State. I am more than slightly pumped for this trip and experience. I have never vended a Weaver's Conference before and reading what the other vendors are offering I can tell it might be 'dangerous' for me to leave my booth...it seems there will be many unique treasures available. Oh, dear...
So, wish me luck if you live far away. And come come say, "Hi", if you live close enough to do so!
Have a good evening!
Lindy
So, wish me luck if you live far away. And come come say, "Hi", if you live close enough to do so!
Have a good evening!
Lindy
2013/05/22
Which way is up?
Is there anything more exciting and simultaneously terrifying than deciding to open a brick and mortar to house your dream? We are looking at buildings, doing the math, continuing to research, buying stock and equipment (so far, a rigid heddle loom, and a mid-arm quilting machine).
Meanwhile, back at the back room version of Bell, Hook & Spindle, some classes are being taken from me, some wool is going out the door and a spinning group has been born. Just to make sure I am totally exhausted at all times, I booked myself for four shows to be a vendor at-two down and two more to go. This weekend I babysit Sally's shop (and mine)
while she gets a much needed break. The weekend after this I am at Whitworth College in Spokane, WA at a spinner's conference. Two weeks after that I am in Bellingham, WA vending a weaver's conference. By then we should have a building to come home to and begin filling it up and getting ready to open! Which brings me right back to my opening line regarding excitement and terror... :?}
Meanwhile, back at the back room version of Bell, Hook & Spindle, some classes are being taken from me, some wool is going out the door and a spinning group has been born. Just to make sure I am totally exhausted at all times, I booked myself for four shows to be a vendor at-two down and two more to go. This weekend I babysit Sally's shop (and mine)
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| Meet Bahb! |
2013/04/21
Gifts and Grammas
This evening I miss my Gramma Keagle...I was a fairly 'good girl' today and accomplished the dishes/dusting/vacuuming mantra which in turn 'entitled' me to spin. I have been working with 50/50 Blue Face Leicester and Tussah Silk. It spun fairly thin and I got to thinking that a two-ply would make lovely socks-if I only knew how to make socks! That made me think wistfully and lovingly about my Gramma K.
That woman made bread by touch, propagated African violets like nobodies' business, and could/would knit or crochet anything a grand child asked for. Yes, my sister and I really took advantage of that fact as teenagers. Our favorite remembrance is when my sis stopped by Gramma's on the way to High School and asked her to whip up a little 'bun holder' in a color to match her outfit. (The in-thing back then was to put your hair in a pony tail, then place the crocheted little net-like piece over the wadded up hair to make a bun). Fifteen minutes later, my freshly bunned sister was off to school.
My request was much later, and much larger. I was working on appliqueing old crocheted doilies onto quilt blocks and decided this quilt would HAVE to have crocheted lace edging on the entire outer edge... I found a delicate, gorgeous pineapple pattern that seemed perfect and went to see Gramma. She looked over the pattern and said, "I swore I would never work a number 7 hook again in my life!". But she did, for me. There was a slight catch though. She insisted she wouldn't do this lace for me unless I learned to do it as well, in case she died mid-construction. She was in her late 80's then and lived to be 95. We agreed she would do three sides and I would do one side.
What a gift that lace was! Not just the fact she made it for me, but the fact she insisted I learn to do it. I would take my ever growing length of pineapple lace out to a coffee shop or restaurant, order a cup of tea and brazenly lay the work out for one and all passers-by to admire as I crocheted. Honestly, I milked the praise and admiration for all it was worth. I was SO proud of me and my lace! That fall I entered my length of lace in the county fair and won a Best of Section rosette. A real 'chest puffer upper'!
Gramma Keagle is gone now, and I will have to find someone else to teach me how to make my own socks. Miss you, Gramma.
That woman made bread by touch, propagated African violets like nobodies' business, and could/would knit or crochet anything a grand child asked for. Yes, my sister and I really took advantage of that fact as teenagers. Our favorite remembrance is when my sis stopped by Gramma's on the way to High School and asked her to whip up a little 'bun holder' in a color to match her outfit. (The in-thing back then was to put your hair in a pony tail, then place the crocheted little net-like piece over the wadded up hair to make a bun). Fifteen minutes later, my freshly bunned sister was off to school.
My request was much later, and much larger. I was working on appliqueing old crocheted doilies onto quilt blocks and decided this quilt would HAVE to have crocheted lace edging on the entire outer edge... I found a delicate, gorgeous pineapple pattern that seemed perfect and went to see Gramma. She looked over the pattern and said, "I swore I would never work a number 7 hook again in my life!". But she did, for me. There was a slight catch though. She insisted she wouldn't do this lace for me unless I learned to do it as well, in case she died mid-construction. She was in her late 80's then and lived to be 95. We agreed she would do three sides and I would do one side.
What a gift that lace was! Not just the fact she made it for me, but the fact she insisted I learn to do it. I would take my ever growing length of pineapple lace out to a coffee shop or restaurant, order a cup of tea and brazenly lay the work out for one and all passers-by to admire as I crocheted. Honestly, I milked the praise and admiration for all it was worth. I was SO proud of me and my lace! That fall I entered my length of lace in the county fair and won a Best of Section rosette. A real 'chest puffer upper'!
Gramma Keagle is gone now, and I will have to find someone else to teach me how to make my own socks. Miss you, Gramma.
2013/03/31
Late night surfing...
It is past my bedtime, but here I sit at the pc, surfing. Started at A, found it but that led to B, which trialed off to C and was worth the wander for this John Ruskin quote.
"The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it."
Good night.
"The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it."
Good night.
2013/03/30
'Baby' Bell, Hook and Spindle
I have a little more to do, but here are some pix of the fledgling BHandS 'brick and mortar'.
This door gets to be painted BRIGHTLY and made into a bulletin board entry to the store.
Hidden Talents owner, Sally Rose, took this great shot of my newest addition to STOCK, cute lambs. (lambs, stock, get it?)
The shelving for the pincushions is old dresser drawers sanded and stained.
Wall of wool and hand dyed fabric.
VERY tall ceilings offer lots of display space.
The spinning corner will have two wheels, two chairs, and be the space people can try out the wheels and spinning.
Wall of Wool Yarns...
Bins of bumps!
And yet to be homed, roving and braids.
Today is Woolly Day at the store, so I am off to demo all things woolly! Hope you have a good one.
This door gets to be painted BRIGHTLY and made into a bulletin board entry to the store.
The shelving for the pincushions is old dresser drawers sanded and stained.
Wall of wool and hand dyed fabric.
VERY tall ceilings offer lots of display space.
The spinning corner will have two wheels, two chairs, and be the space people can try out the wheels and spinning.
Wall of Wool Yarns...
Bins of bumps!
And yet to be homed, roving and braids.
Today is Woolly Day at the store, so I am off to demo all things woolly! Hope you have a good one.
Persian inspired poem, 1907
I awoke this morning, just predawn, and lay there quietly 'coming to'...when the final line of a poem flowed through my mind. I knew it was from 'Hyacinths For The Soul', (title I knew it by) but was curious as to its real title and correct wording for it has been years since I memorized this poem. I went onto the ever illuminating www. and found what I was looking for.
If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft
And of thy simple store two loaves of bread alone are left
Sell one, and with the dole,
Buy hyacinths to feed the soul.
James Terry White, In Saadi’s Rose Garden, 1907
(inspired by 1300's Persia writer, Saadi’s)
I think the 'message' applies to art and creativity today. And I am sure my memory shoved this poem to the forefront after a conversation I had with an artist just a couple of days ago.
She was sighing about the 'good ol' days' when she was painting large pieces, selling for $2500 a piece, and it was no unusual occurrence to sell $10,000-$15,000 worth at a large show. Now, she says, the economy has made it a tough sell for a small piece at $25. That got me started thinking on how the first classes cut from the curriculum in schools with ever shrinking budgets are art and music-the Hyacinths that feed the soul.
Yes, we all have to eat, clothe our bodies, pay the rent and endless bills...but sometime today, get out the tools of your art and create a garden of food for your soul.
If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft
And of thy simple store two loaves of bread alone are left
Sell one, and with the dole,
Buy hyacinths to feed the soul.
James Terry White, In Saadi’s Rose Garden, 1907
(inspired by 1300's Persia writer, Saadi’s)
I think the 'message' applies to art and creativity today. And I am sure my memory shoved this poem to the forefront after a conversation I had with an artist just a couple of days ago.
She was sighing about the 'good ol' days' when she was painting large pieces, selling for $2500 a piece, and it was no unusual occurrence to sell $10,000-$15,000 worth at a large show. Now, she says, the economy has made it a tough sell for a small piece at $25. That got me started thinking on how the first classes cut from the curriculum in schools with ever shrinking budgets are art and music-the Hyacinths that feed the soul.
Yes, we all have to eat, clothe our bodies, pay the rent and endless bills...but sometime today, get out the tools of your art and create a garden of food for your soul.
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