Heads and Tails: Taking in the Bay Area & a Birthday Contest
I have my warm cup of tea. My emotions feel a bit more in control. And, I am ready for a bit of storytelling. What a week! What a month! What lies in the year ahead? This month at the Verb house, things have been exciting, hectic, tense, and productive.
I have been going through a period of intense love for the Bay Area. Which is a large shift from where I was for the past 2 years. I was very uncomfortable living here. Everything seemed overpriced and crowded. I was yearning to stretch my legs, live in a house where I would have a view, of even a tree would do, maybe a washer and dryer, oh, and the real kicker, a dishwasher. I searched for a home in New Mexico, Oregon, various regions of Northern California. I miss my Midwestern family and even entertained the idea of moving back to Minnesota before the memory of ice cold air hitting my face snapped me back into reality. If it wasn't for that damn cold...
My love affair with the Bay Area has been re-ignited due to spinning and knitting. Over the past year, I have met so many awesome people. Those who are talented, always pushing the envelope, searching for new ways to express themselves. I had a lot of tension over "wanting' to carry forth my dreams and creativity. Now, that I find myself more in this position, I have become a generally, happier person - and am able to see the beauty of the Bay Area again. It really is amazing to follow your dream, even though it is risky, and there is still stress, but seeing your dream lift from your mind into reality. To begin to mold it with your actual hands, I highly recommend it. Can you imagine if we all said, "Enough!" and we went on to create our dreams, what that would look like?
Earlier in the month, A, Cleo and I hiked at Point Reyes.
Getting back to work, we went over to Alameda to shop for some furniture and design ideas for the new store. On the first Sunday of the month, on the old Naval base, there's Antiques by the Bay. Love! So, let's set the scene, Alameda is an island, right off the coast of Oakland. The Naval base, is like a large parking lot on the water, strange but interesting. And, then there is this huge antiques market with 400 vendors. It is sunny. You have a view of SF. And look what's there:
The cranes in the distance marks the landscape of Oakland.
We came home from the Market with a new, drop leaf, oak table and a rocking chair for the store. Oh, the store, we are so close to being - I hesitate to say done - because this is certainly a work in progress - but close to being able to really move into the space, and put away all of the power tools. I have decided to limit my photos of the actual store because I want it to be a bit of a surprise for the Grand Opening (December 6th, mark your calendars). But here is a taste:
The Y Knit boys and K painting.
Alongside working on the store, I have been dyeing. We have 2 new lace weight yarns.
Shimmer. 100% Silk.
Holding. 100% Superfine Alpaca
New products are pouring into the store, getting ready for the opening. Like our new Spindlewood Spindles. Yikes, these are so beautiful. They spin like a little rocket and the folks in Oregon that make them are the sweetest people. I love supporting great people.
In September, I started teaching beginning wheel classes at Article Pract. Previous to September, I really had not been spinning on my wheel. Most of my time was spent using my drop spindles. Teaching has been great, it has gotten me back on my wheel. Last week, I gave myself the day to just sit home and spin. Here are some of the results.
My birthday is on Sunday. I think this year's birthday theme is going to be in celebration of living out one's dreams. I would like to start the celebration by offering a contest. The winner will receive a package full of surprises. What would your world look like if you lived out your dreams? If you would like to share what one of your dreams are, or perhaps a dream you had, that you have already experienced, you will be entered into the birthday drawing. Please leave your comment by Sunday, November 9th at 8pm pst. I will let everyone know who the winner is on Monday, November 10th. Cheers!
I have been going through a period of intense love for the Bay Area. Which is a large shift from where I was for the past 2 years. I was very uncomfortable living here. Everything seemed overpriced and crowded. I was yearning to stretch my legs, live in a house where I would have a view, of even a tree would do, maybe a washer and dryer, oh, and the real kicker, a dishwasher. I searched for a home in New Mexico, Oregon, various regions of Northern California. I miss my Midwestern family and even entertained the idea of moving back to Minnesota before the memory of ice cold air hitting my face snapped me back into reality. If it wasn't for that damn cold...
My love affair with the Bay Area has been re-ignited due to spinning and knitting. Over the past year, I have met so many awesome people. Those who are talented, always pushing the envelope, searching for new ways to express themselves. I had a lot of tension over "wanting' to carry forth my dreams and creativity. Now, that I find myself more in this position, I have become a generally, happier person - and am able to see the beauty of the Bay Area again. It really is amazing to follow your dream, even though it is risky, and there is still stress, but seeing your dream lift from your mind into reality. To begin to mold it with your actual hands, I highly recommend it. Can you imagine if we all said, "Enough!" and we went on to create our dreams, what that would look like?
Earlier in the month, A, Cleo and I hiked at Point Reyes.
Getting back to work, we went over to Alameda to shop for some furniture and design ideas for the new store. On the first Sunday of the month, on the old Naval base, there's Antiques by the Bay. Love! So, let's set the scene, Alameda is an island, right off the coast of Oakland. The Naval base, is like a large parking lot on the water, strange but interesting. And, then there is this huge antiques market with 400 vendors. It is sunny. You have a view of SF. And look what's there:
The cranes in the distance marks the landscape of Oakland. We came home from the Market with a new, drop leaf, oak table and a rocking chair for the store. Oh, the store, we are so close to being - I hesitate to say done - because this is certainly a work in progress - but close to being able to really move into the space, and put away all of the power tools. I have decided to limit my photos of the actual store because I want it to be a bit of a surprise for the Grand Opening (December 6th, mark your calendars). But here is a taste:
The Y Knit boys and K painting. Alongside working on the store, I have been dyeing. We have 2 new lace weight yarns.
Shimmer. 100% Silk.
Holding. 100% Superfine Alpaca
New products are pouring into the store, getting ready for the opening. Like our new Spindlewood Spindles. Yikes, these are so beautiful. They spin like a little rocket and the folks in Oregon that make them are the sweetest people. I love supporting great people.
In September, I started teaching beginning wheel classes at Article Pract. Previous to September, I really had not been spinning on my wheel. Most of my time was spent using my drop spindles. Teaching has been great, it has gotten me back on my wheel. Last week, I gave myself the day to just sit home and spin. Here are some of the results.
My birthday is on Sunday. I think this year's birthday theme is going to be in celebration of living out one's dreams. I would like to start the celebration by offering a contest. The winner will receive a package full of surprises. What would your world look like if you lived out your dreams? If you would like to share what one of your dreams are, or perhaps a dream you had, that you have already experienced, you will be entered into the birthday drawing. Please leave your comment by Sunday, November 9th at 8pm pst. I will let everyone know who the winner is on Monday, November 10th. Cheers!
Labels: celebrating, hiking, spinning
posted by Kristine at
7:22 AM
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