My Workspace In 2010

My Passap Duomatic 80, double bed, standard guage knitting machine. This machine is not yet functional, but pretty soon I am going to undertake a deep cleaning of this machine. I found an excellent resource to assist me with this online.

My Brother Sewing and Embroidery Machine. I purchased this baby from Craigslist. It was in very new condition and once I figured it out it was a dream to use. I actually got the hang of threading the machine so that the thread went through the needle on its own...cooool.

What's on my walls. "Mother" poster by Nikki McClure. Amy Butler fabric wall pocket for my shipping envelopes, made from pattern out of One Yard Wonders. Bird Illustration by my friend and fellow Etsian, Kristina Baker of Greasy Chicken Face, and "Tiny Dancer Print" by Orange Willow.

Just the beginning of my yarn collection. Tons of mission falls cotton, Patons SWS, Phildar Cotton 10, handpainted cotton, and a pair of wooden legs from a knitting factory in Hamilton, Ontario. These drawers contain the buttons in my shop, business cards, stenciling supplies, ziplock bags for buttons and necklaces, my 'zines, more yarn and fabric.

Knitting needles I use in my classes and some embroidery yarn I purchased at Value Village.

Show and Tell

I am taking a break from crocheting madness and nursing my crochet-wrist injury to finally write in the old bloggeroo.

I find the crafting and art community so supportive...thank goodness. What a great bunch of peeps. Just a little effort seems to return so many rewards when it comes to putting yourself out there as a crafting artist.
A couple of weeks ago I took advantage of the free advertising on Craigslist to direct folks to my etsy site...okay so it didn't garner any sales yet, but a few people contacted me. Some with advice, others with interesting offers. This has lead to my first showing at a real life studio! How cool is that. I am a little nervous-okay a lot nervous and pretty excited...also I have had to do battle with my "depression thoughts". Wanna know what they were? Stuff like "this stuff is not as good as the other people's, my stuff will never sell, do I really have a talent for this?" and on and on and on. I know, what a downer. Mostly though I can manage to be excited and proud.
So I have been busting my hump because the lovely woman who is opening her studio and gallery loves my crochet hats and necklaces...did I have any in stock??? Sure! (a little fib). So consequently I have this wrist injury, but six lovely hats that I want to keep for myself!!!
Studio Nine Gallery is in Leslieville (1400 Queen East, Toronto). This husband and wife team have a shop, teaching space, studio space, and a kitchen in a beautiful old home. It is a wonderful concept and she is so transparently passionate about what she is doing. I am honoured to be a part of it-even in some small way. So tell your friends and tell your friends friends and your friends friends friends to get there tushies on down to Studio Nine to have a gander at the selection of fine arts and crafts and maybe even take a class.

http://www.studioninegallery.com/