Make It Big Time!

Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast  BC

(image by Richard)

I took a blogging break...

You know when you're juggling so many balls and you lose site of everything else?

I'm sorry that I've neglected my blog but life got so crazy with work I've turned my attention to my sewing machine instead. 

In August, Richard and I decided to spend holiday time in the Sunshine Coast (Gibsons). But, work forced me to bring along my sewing machine to actually... work. Call it a work holiday. At least I did enjoy my evenings with the beautiful scenery and a glass of wine. Richard was able to squeeze in a few rides exploring unknown territory of the Sunshine Coast. To say that we both fell in love with the Sunshine Coast would be an understatement!

Galstudio is in growing mode. We just finished a huge wholesale order that left us completely exhausted but happy. It was a grueling tens days of production. 

Circle Craft Christmas show

The Christmas craft shows have started. Richard and I went to investigate one of the top three shows in Vancouver, called Circle Craft. They've been around for over 20 years. Our friend Graham was there and he's a mainstay doing this show for the past 15 years. I was excited to help him design his newest children's music CD cover. 

Circle Craft is top notch with quality merchants but the admission fee of $12.00 is too high and I didn't feel that this show is a good match for our products.

On the other hand, we are back at the Make It Show for our second year. We're very excited that they added another day totaling four days. We have a larger booth sharing with our friend Helene... I'm definitely feeling this show and we will have lots of fun.

So, I'm back to my sewing machine and need to produce a few more items for the Make It Show. I also started teaching a crochet workshop... I'll keep that for my next post!

Initiation à l'entrelac & Introductory Crochet.

As far as I can remember, I've embraced knitting. Most of my aunts including my mother were passionate knitters. So, knitting came naturally to me. Already by 15 years of age, I've knitted throws and sweaters.

I'm from a generation where knitting was not the hip thing to do. At that time, young women hid behind close doors to knit... we were closet knitters. By age 20, my knitting needles were collecting dust bunnies.

I took back my needles in the late eighties when one dear friend was looking for a special knitted above the knee socks. I answered that call and from then on never put down my needles... again.

Arbol from Malabrigo

I was so excited when Karen from Bird on a Wire Creations, first asked me to teach a knitting class. I suggested to teach a knitting class in French. So I can combine my two passions of speaking French and knitting!

I realize that this would present a challenge; to re-learn knitting in French. It's quite complex really. I know why I embrace the English pattern due to it's ease of understanding. 

I'm extremely happy to present the Entrelac pattern, I have adapted and translated, for the upcoming classes. 

Turner from Malabrigio.

I'm also teaching an introduction to Crochet in English using this wonderful green wool. I will use a pattern I have modified to make a beautiful Bruges lace scarf.

Please check this link  for details on all the classes and ...sign up.

Let's knit together!

MAMILS at the Whistler Farmer's Market

Check out Richard's old Mavic wheel!

I haven't been back to Whistler in over fifteen years and it has sure changed!

With the Winter Olympics, this resort town has grown up. I was there often working in the special events industry and it was small and quaint. The trade and convention centre was beautiful and quite new back then. Also, I was decorating in the Le Chateau Hotel when it first opened in Blackcomb.

Now I don't recognized the town anymore. Sunday, Richard and I was selling our Galstudio products at the Whistler Farmer's Market. It was beautiful and sunny... everything a market should be. Plus full of people and samples for all.

I had a chance to try sea asparagus. It doesn't look like asparagus it's actually a type of seaweed. It's green, crunchy and salty collected at low tide. Definitely good for salads and pasta.

Sea asparagus.

This vibrant market is on my list as must have markets to be in. So, next year we plan to be back.

Often in these shows, there is a tendency to have too much of one type of vendor. Not so here. There was a full array of different products to discover. The organizers did a very good job of curating the show. Our unique cycling accessories were appreciated by everyone. There were many outdoor types especially cyclists and their spouses that bought our products. Richard was doing so well selling cycling caps to middle age cyclist guys. These cyclists are the MAMILS; middle age men in lycra. Richard's part of this fast growing tribe. I still laugh when he mentions it.

The foam core display didn't survived our last market, it was destroyed. So I came up with a clever fix. Richard's Mavic wheel held up to nine of his cyclingart cards and he was so pleased to use it again. It works so much better.

Special thanks go to our partner, Helene for allowing us to share the tent with. It was a wonderful day with her!

Wish I had a dog...

beside our tent was a fabulous organic dog treats!

Hackett Park Summer Arts & Crafts Fair

This past weekend's Hackett Park Art Festival in Sechelt BC was by far the friendliest show we've been in.

The music was fantastic. The weather beautiful the people that stopped by to chat were very friendly. And, all the vendors were especially nice, too. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the Francophone presence. I had the chance to speak French!

Richard and I had the wonderful opportunity, again, to share our booth with our friend Helene. And, it's going to be fun to come back next year and enjoy the Sunshine Coast rhythm!

Cycling Cap or Baseball Cap?

Benoni Beheyt 1964 Tour of Belgium

Le Tour de France is over.

Richard and I are in withdrawal. And, he is re-watching old Tour dvd's for some satisfaction. I have been thinking of new cycling caps both regular and winter. There's no doubt in my mind, this Tour de France was the most exciting one in years.

During the opening team presentation I question why they wear baseball caps instead of cycling caps? I don't understand why the iconographic cycling cap is seldom worn. Why is the baseball cap accepted as part of the teams kit? It's not that you can wear it during a cycling race.

Greg LeMond 1990 Tour de France.

I'm bias, personally the cycling cap should be brought back on the podium. Just like during 1990 Tour when the proud Greg LeMond and his team wore their cycling caps. I feel that the cycling cap is a proud fashion piece and the cycling world should re-embrace it.

In my utopia, baseball players wear baseball caps and cyclists wear cycling caps!

Just imagine if they all wore the classic cycling cap!

Emily's Quilt

At the beginning of Summer 2010, our friend Guy (the other half of the 3b's) announced that he was going to be a dad. With this wonderful news, this was my chance to make something for the new baby. By September, I realize that I had to make something special that Richard can partake in. That's how the idea of the babies quilt came to be. When Guy announced that it was a girl, I was so excited to make the quilt very girly-girly. I made the design in Illustrator and scanned Richard's Campagnolo chain ring to keep a cycling twist to the girly-girly quilt. I realized, even with Richard's help, and juggling the business that the quilt would not be finished until after the baby is born. We were so busy with the business, I even forgot to photograph the beginning stages of the quilt.

Ready to sandwich the bamboo batting

between the quilted sides.

This quilt was a journey, and self-taught. It really opened my mind to the vast world of quilting. I remember my Ma Tante Phonsine quilting away at night. Small pieces of fabric that she lovingly assembled by hand. Pure Magic!

Quilter's safety pin...

with a bend.

These days, quilters have a vast variety of tools to choose from. Safety pins, a simple material, is specially designed for the quilter. Who could ever imagine that! 

My first overstitch of hearts & flowers...

8 more to go!

I never did applique until now. So, I don't even know if this was the proper way of doing it ...but I love the result.

Making a pattern for the Scallop Edge...

sure helped!

When I first designed the quilt, I didn't know I was going to make a scallop edge. I was online for help on how to finish the edge and saw someone making a scallop edge. What a perfect way to compliment this quilt.

Front...

the girly side with the large E for Emily!

Back...

complete Campagnolo chain rings.

No quilt shall go into the world unsigned.

I'm extremely happy with my first quilt. Without Richard's help of cutting and prepping everything, Emily would probably not have her quilt until she starts to walk. It was fantastic to complete it and a joy to present it to Shelly & Guy and to see seven month old Emily happily rolling on it! What a happy family!

WetCouver Folk Festival!

The wet weekend is finally over and I'm glad to have the Vancouver Folk Festival behind me.

What an experience! There's nothing that can prepare me for the sheer size of this show. I can only imagine what it would be like if the the Sun was out. Sun = people.

We showed our two new caps: Le Chasseur and Classic Racer and Major Tom was back. The caps will soon be on our Galstudio site.

As an entrepreneur ...this weekend was a disaster. As a participant, although it was wet, I enjoyed the music and ambiance. We had interesting folks commenting on our caps. I especially enjoyed the comment from an older gentleman looking at Richard's cyclingart cards. He said, nonchalantly, he rode in a club ride with Sean Kelly. He confirmed Kelly's legs still look like steamer trunks.

We haven't decided whether we will return next year, but we sure would like to experience this festival with more people and Sun!

Saturday was wet... all day!

Friday nite stage set up.

Our shared booth with Helene.

Our new soggy banner drying under the tarp!