Wow, London is hectic and exhausting. I am always amazed that anyone manages to live here but I know loads of people who absolutely thrive on it. Just traveling around tires me out but I expect if you live here, you get used to it. And I suspect that I always try to pack far too much in when I'm here: since Wednesday I've installed a show, meet up with several different friends, visited four art exhibitions and gone to a book launch party!
I arrived safely on Wednesday lunchtime and managed, with some difficulty, to drag my suitcase and a long and unwieldy art tube across London on the tube. I had planned to send the exhibition by courier but in the end, I decided that didn't feel safe to me and so I packed it all up and carried it. It wasn't too bad but I was very thankful to arrive at the space and be fed a sandwich and a much-needed cup of tea.
After I'd revived, I hung the show. I finished it all on the Wednesday afternoon just before my friend, Alice arrived to take me out for a cup of tea and a chat.
The show is installed in the window and the adjacent corner of the shop and I'm very pleased with how it looks. Quiver looks lovely in the window, really intriguing and mysterious from outside and all glittery and enticing once you get inside and can touch it.
I went back today to do my first session of pinning. I enjoyed sitting next to the window, partly concealed by Quiver and pinning away while the world went by. We had a few visitors but it was fairly quiet. It felt like a respite after several busy days. The shop is a delightful place to sit and pin - the walls are a riot of colour and texture with mostly British yarns from small producers and wonderful art yarns jostling with books, equipment and crazy kits for things like pink knitted beards! And Rachael, Louise and Rosemary who run the space couldn't be lovelier; the three of them have a genuine passion for art and textiles that I'm really enjoying.
Right, I'm off for a cup of herbal tea and an early night because tomorrow is probably going to be hectic.
Just a reminder: if you're in the London area, I shall be pinning at Prick Your Finger from 2 - 6pm tomorrow and I'd love to see you.
Kate
wish I could be there!
Kate
wish I could be there!
Johanna
I'm glad I came along for a bit (although I almost gave up after getting lost on the way!), that shop is incredible!
Johanna
I'm glad I came along for a bit (although I almost gave up after getting lost on the way!), that shop is incredible!
mary louise
i have been trying to limit my blog intake but am miffed now as i missed your performance, will still check out the exhibition and shop, sounds great!
mary louise
i have been trying to limit my blog intake but am miffed now as i missed your performance, will still check out the exhibition and shop, sounds great!
Kirsty Hall
Hi Mary Louise, I'll be performing again between 1-3pm on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th of February, so perhaps you can come along then.
Kirsty
Post authorHi Mary Louise, I'll be performing again between 1-3pm on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th of February, so perhaps you can come along then.
Kirsty Hall
Isn't it great, Johanna. I can't believe that I was there for four days without buying anything. That surely has to count as a minor miracle. I think I'll be taking some spare pennies when I go back at the end of February.
Kirsty
Post authorIsn't it great, Johanna. I can't believe that I was there for four days without buying anything. That surely has to count as a minor miracle. I think I'll be taking some spare pennies when I go back at the end of February.
Kirsty Hall
I wish you could have seen it too, Kate. You'd love the shop.
In fact, I told them about your blog while I was there because there seemed to be a lot of crossover with what they're doing and your concerns, particularly in the area of supporting British yarns - the vast majority of yarn they stock is British yarn from small-scale producers and indie dyers.
Kirsty
Post authorI wish you could have seen it too, Kate. You'd love the shop.
In fact, I told them about your blog while I was there because there seemed to be a lot of crossover with what they're doing and your concerns, particularly in the area of supporting British yarns - the vast majority of yarn they stock is British yarn from small-scale producers and indie dyers.