a smaller life

on the color pink

Cosyknits recently wrote a post about her changing views on color that is so appropriate to how I've been thinking, lately. I am coming to view colors differently- I've been watching myself shift from murky deep dusk colors into the bright and clear tones. There is still depth there, but I've been feeling a lot more playful with my color choices lately.

 

(This amazing, thigh- high sample sock was knit out of Skinny Bugga summer colorways by the lovely and talented Katydid Knits.)

This summer is full of surprises for me- some positive, some negative, some just… well, surprising. Looking at all my new colors on the lines, I can't help but wonder exactly what is happening with me, lately; my colors are bright and rich and jewel- toned. There are even a few strong pastels in there- strong enough to almost not qualify as pastels, but so light… well, maybe I need a new word for whatever those are.

They are gorgeous, though. That word fits. They are lovely and they just flash out at  me. They are influenced by the time of year, I'm sure, but even more by the people in my life; a lemon- chartreuse for Pamela, a darkish blue for my sister Megan (like her eyes), a purple- magenta for my aunt Karen. But there is nothing in there to explain the pale pink, or the orange with hot pink flashes; they are just there, lovely and colorful, and I've no idea where they have come from, of why I want to make them. 

It is the pinks that startle me. I've always hated pink; I've seen it as insipid, or obvious, or silly. But I don't, any more: certainly there are pinks that fit that description- Barbie pink, how I hate you- but there's something sweet and sensual in the pinks I've been making lately, delicate and generous.

 

 

Somehow, I am turning into a girl who loves pinks. Peachy pinks, nude negligee pinks, soft buttery yellows with pink tones, it's in everything. I've dyed a champagne color that I am so in love with, and I have thoughts of dusky grey- pinks, too. 

I have no idea what that means, but while I'm figuring it out, I'll be dyeing silk scarves for myself in every pink I can dream.

I leave them alone for one afternoon...

And this is what I come home to.

(I love my job.)

currently making me happy

 

A goblin of my very own, from Goblin Road. (Shortcut to their shop here.) He needs a name, of course. Currently considering: Gilbert, Thornfield, Hareton, Jude, and Farfrae. (My Vic lit obsession, it is eating up my year.) I'm open to other ideas, of course. Suggestions/ votes? He'll be in Atlanta at Stitches South with us, in case you need to see him in person to make up your mind. 

in which there is a puppy and there will be gutters

Today was rough- a killer headache, incipient flu, a sick kid, a sicker business partner, tech issues, slow downloads and a far- too- full plate, but it all worked out in the end. The kid was sweet, the business partner was sweeter, I managed to get most everything I needed to do done and the gutter estimate is reasonable.

Also, my work- day always ends with a lap full of Hugo.

  

 

And I get to spend my evening working with a skein of lovely color from a dear friend.

 

 

It's a hard life, right? I don't know how I stand it, either.

 

 

on Homespun Yarn Party 2010, dyeing and a dash of gratuitious puppy

  

 

Homespun Yarn Party was this past Sunday, and it was intense- it sure packs lot into a small show. It's a great show, short as it is, and I loved meeting some of the other vendors- I got to meet the lovely Cosy, of cosySpins, and I brought home a skein of her supersoft orange handspun, Buy Nothing Month be damned. Our neighbor Jenny runs 8th Street Soap Kitchen, and she smelled amazing. Okay, I didn't sniff her, exactly, but I her booth smelled pretty damned good. Remember when I said I'd come back to the espresso- Guinness- dark chocolate soap? That's her, and in case you were wondering- yes, it really is every bit as good as it sounds.

 

 

In other news, all of my summer test- dyes are coming out in these strangely bright, clear colors- even the dark ones. I tried for something a little more moody yesterday, and I'm not in love with it. I fails to move me at all.  Who the hell am I, again?

I'm at a complete loss. It's like I've replaced myself with someone else, a stranger who wants to wear sunny sweet rich jewel- toned things. I'm not a jewel- toned girl, people. I like murk, and subtlety, and grey- lots and lots of grey; if you saw my clothing you'd never guess I'd made a career in color. Grey makes me happy in ways I can only barely begin to describe.

And what am I dyeing? Berries, sunshine, afternoon skies, baseball fields and sari silks. I can't even let my browns just be brown any more; I tried for a sweet midtoned brown for the Spring colorways and before I knew what I was doing I added all these rosy tones. It's definitely brown, but a ruddy brown, full of caprice, although as though my hands were laughing at me. They are, I know it, especially that right one, but it was never good for much, anyways.

I love the new colors I'm making, which seems significant to me. Unexpected as they sometimes are. I wonder what changed? It must have been me, but why? I'm still waiting to see how our customers react to this movement towards bright and clear that started with the Spring 2010 colors. The true test will be once they have them in their hands. And I'm learning to have faith that they can follow the direction I'm moving in these days- something I talked with Steph about this weekend, and something on my mind in general these days. 

In other, other news- because really, this blog post was already disjointed, why not?-have some puppy.

 

It's ridiculous, right? Huuuuuuuugoooooooooo.

 

details

 

In the rinse bins.

 

catching up

 

I know, I know. I don't write, I don't call. The truth is, I've been so absolutely wiped out lately- there is so much going on (so much to write about!) and I've been struggling with my health- a bad mix if there ever was one. I take my pills and my shots like a good girl, but only recently have I begun to feel what seems like the beginnings of improvement- and I say that with great reservations, as it's only the last two days or so that really seemed better.

We opened the new studio, Sam and I are playing with the idea of (finally!) demolishing the kitchen, dyeing has stepped up at least two- fold (if not three- fold), my daughter is a full- blown teenager with a boyfriend, I'm still not driving which leaves me feeling a little claustrophobic, and I'm suddenly feeling just how responsible Gryphon and I are to at least nine other people, not to mention our customers and oh, yes, of course- our own families. There doesn't seem like there is too much room in there for me to be sick, which is the way I traditionally approach any sort of physical infirmity- placing it firmly on the back burner with a stern I'm sorry, I just don't have time for this right now.

It turns out, I don't get that option. MS turns out to be a prima donna of sicknesses; if I'm not paying attention to my body's cues, she'll step right up center stage and remind me exactly who is in charge here. We're learning how to live together, and I'm quietly plotting my revenge with my nightly shots and what seems like fistfulls of pills, because no matter what this disease thinks, damnit, I'm the one in charge here. I'm determined to subjugate this in some way, to regain control over my body and my time.

Learning to take a proactive stance on my health- on realigning how I live, focusing on the right fuel and rest and exercise and staying informed and not just blowing this whole thing off as another thing that will go away- that's new, and it eats up more of my resources, too, but I'm learning, and trying. 

In the meantime, I knit- nothing that I can show, all holiday knitting, but it's happening- mittens and shawls and socks, as well as the world's most boring project of all time- a six- foot tube scarf in stockinette for Kiddo with her own handdyed yarn. It's a labor of love, to be sure; God knows I'm not knitting this because it is interesting in any way- but I know she'll adore it. 

So I'm here, intact, although some days it really does feel like "intact" is all I can manage. I have some designs cooking in all that holiday knitting, including a lovely pair of colorwork mittens in both Skinny Bugga and Djinni Sock as part of a collaboration with the ever- lovely Kate of Dragonfly Fibers. I'm focusing on getting well, and working hard, and all the sweet bits in the details of life, the stuff that really matters- the kindnesses of friends, my daughter's smile, my husband's hands, good food, crisp mornings, flannel sheets, cats, reading Sherlock Holmes stories in bed, strong morning runs, apple cider and milkmen and hot coffee.

In the end, that's all that really counts, right? The small moments, they're all we have.

on the spindle this week... month... quarter... oh, I need to finish this already.

 

Gorgeous Chasing Rainbows roving in a colorway that I've forgotten, merino- tencel blend, just heavenly. I love their colors and fiber prep; so meticulous, simple and beautiful.

 

on the lines, this afternoon

 

  

Also this gorgeous soaker skein of Kypria; completely unrepeatable, this was a blank skein that caught extra dye from all of last week's work, and it's very, very unlikely to ever leave my house. Look at those fall, maple-ish colours! Love love love love LOVE.

  

 

 

in which there is only so much time

The incredible Spinster Yarns and Fibers, of Lauraville, Baltimore, is closing its doors. The owner, Andrea, has been a friend of mine for years, and she really made this shop wonderful and unique- with a focus on natural, organic, and indie yarns, this was a fantastic store. Actually- as of right now, it still IS a fantastic store- it should be open for a few more weeks, yet. Andrea is selling everything at 50% off- yarn, fiber, books, Addi and Lantern Moon needles (I totally stocked up on LM needles last week), yarn bowls, you name it. If you're in the area, you really, really should stop by- the prices can't be beat and there is still a ton of haul to be had. The address is 4337 Harford Road, in Baltimore, MD, and if you go during the day, you should check out The Red Canoe, upstairs. They have good, strong coffee and the best muffins in the city.

 

 

 

There's a pretty awesome knit night, too- Saturdays, starting at 6ish. I'm there every week, barring major emergencies and shows. You should stop by. Really, before it's over. We're a great bunch.