Spring Shows Without the Spring

The calendar says that Spring is here, and the daffodils are optimistic (as are the snow peas, spinach, and rhubarb) but it keeps freaking snowing.  It was 85 degrees on Friday as I left town and 43 as I got back last night, and sure enough, it's snowing again right now.

My return home last night actually marked the end of Spring show season for me.  It only had a few shows in it- I applied for many but didn't make it in (seriously, if you have to pay a jury fee to apply, they can have the decency to let you know for sure if you didn't make it). The last two weekends I've been to Pittsburgh and Ann Arbor, and both were good shows for me.  I was able to make my Roth IRA deposit for 2017 after Pittsburgh, and I can pay my property taxes after Ann Arbor, neither of which is very fun, but hey- I had a goal and I met it. Future Paige had better be damned happy about how hard I've worked this month for her.

Here's my April highlight: 

Last year I attended Pittsburgh and had my favorite sweater worked into the booth, since I was way too pregnant to wear it. This woman (Chris) saw it, and had to have it in green.  This sweater gets a lot of attention, but this was the first time I've seen someone follow through with it.  She and I both wore our sweaters on Saturday, and she totally made my show.  She also brought some of her friends to buy my yarn, which also is nice. 

The shows are hard work for me, but also a really nice break.  Tia stays home with hubby and I get to go be an adult and have adult conversations about things other than "did the baby poop today?".  I went out to dinner with new friends, went to a bar with some on Saturday night, and then went to the shows and made my share of our family income for a while.  They're exhausting, and I miss my baby, but they're such a great feeling.  Especially when someone shows up in a matching sweater.  

Here's Tia working on the boat with her dad while I was gone.

I've been feeling better (more on that later) and crafting a bit more, so here's my project update.

Le Socks: zero progress. Maybe a row or 2 but I don't think I've worked on them for a while.

Breathing Space (on Ravelry called Wheezing Space): is slow going, but going well.  I've made it past all the waist shaping and finished the striping on the body.  A few inches of plain blue stockinette stitch and then 1x1 twisted ribbing to go.  It's on size 4's and it's just not the most exciting knit ever, and I only ever seem to work on it in the booth.  I'll try to keep it going now that I'm home for a while. 

Commission Quilt:  is going well.  Had to stop working on it for a while since my sewing machine was doing funny things, but I'm back at it and hoping to finish it this week so I can have it off my plate and get paid for it.  It's not much money, but it will be nice to have it finished.  I also have 3 other baby quilts to crank out and this one is in the way.

Oh! I actually did a little shopping at my yarn festivals! Over 2 shows I bought 3 things.

1. Black currant jam from a lady in Ann Arbor.  It was $4. I have been redoing all of our landscaping and am seriously considering putting in black currants on the side of the house where we ripped out some holly bushes.  I talked to the currant lady for a good long time about her fruit, and I think it was a sign from the gardening gods that she was there.  I bought some jam and if Gavin likes it, I will definitely plant some currant bushes.  If he doesn't like it, I'll probably plant them anyway and buy grape jelly for him at Trader Joe's. No picture, it's a jar of jam.

2. A Kromski Harp (rigid heddle loom) Stand.  Not a completely random purchase. I've had a Harp loom for several years and have barely used it because it's not comfortable to use it on the floor, and when it's on the table it slides awkwardly.  So it sits unused in the basement.  I decided a couple months ago to just buy a stand next time I saw a Kromski dealer at a festival, and lo and behold I was next to one all weekend in Ann Arbor, and they were really nice ladies.  I paid for my stand, it will be here Friday (probably).  I will weave some lace weight scarves.  Everyone might be getting merino scarves for Christmas. Eventually, I will work my way up to a tartan, and I have had the yarn for it (also sitting in the basement) for about 5 years now, but my skills need to be a little more built up before I attempt it. I am most excited about this purchase. 

3.  I bought some yarn. That's 2 projects' worth this year! I did go about 3 years without buying yarn though, so no guilt here.  It's by Destination Yarns, the dyer is now one of my new trade show dinner and bourbon buddies. 

I didn't tell Jeanne (the dyer) this, but I feel like this yarn has been my mood for the past year.  Gray, with bursts of extreme color and emotion.  I'm also just really into gray right now. Anyhow, I like it, and I might make socks out of this next if I ever finish Le Socks.  

Speaking of mood, I have been doing really well.  I started taking CBD oil, which is hemp but without the THC so there's no high.  Perfectly legal, just hard to buy because I live in a super conservative state.  I've also been busy with yarn shows, and now that that's over for a bit (I am teaching a class in 2 weeks but that's minimal busyness) I really need to find something meaningful for the summer months- and hopefully generate a bit of income from that. Gotta stay busy.  But things have been so much better on the CBD oil, and unlike anything else I've ever tried, there's no side effects.  Better mood, more energy, and I'm a believer.

Baby is up, gotta run.