Carlybird Weaves

Hand Held

2012-01-31T08:35:00.004-05:00

(borrowed this photo from the Sun)

Run to the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Do it now and see Hand Held: Personal Arts from Africa. This is an awesome exhibition curated by my friend (and former weaving student), Dr. Nichole Bridges. She has pulled gorgeous examples of artwork from the BMA's collection and put together a warm, inspiring, kick-ass show. It includes beautiful strip-woven textiles, tools of the trade (heddle pulleys!), combs, hairpins, vessels, chairs and more. It's arranged in such a way that you can MOVE and see all of the beautiful works up close and personal, which important because the show is all about stunning objects for personal use. You should imagine what it's like to hold this vessel in your hands, to rest your body on this head rest, to wrap your hair in this scarf...

The show closes on February 5th!! Go now!

Brooke's Christmas Scarf

2012-01-05T17:29:00.002-05:00

Modeled by the lovely, Judy.
Who is a friend of the lovely intern, Susie.

Some photos from a project I'm working on

2011-12-31T18:34:00.004-05:00

in which I document/explain the process of weaving through images. A more refined version may or may not show up on my new website. I guess that depends on whether I actually get said website together or not! In the meantime, whet your appetite with these:

Choose the colors.

Do the math.

Wind the warp.

Do a bunch of other stuff.
Weave.
Do a bunch of other stuff.
Wash.
Do a bunch of other stuff.
Attempt to make a living as a craftsperson.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Reflections/Resolutions 2011/2012

2011-12-30T09:52:00.018-05:00

I started this post around the New Year, and of course never got around to finishing it. But, hey, my doctors appointment this morning was canceled, so I thought I'd check this post off the list before sitting down at the loom (one drawback to having moved my studio back into the house is that I can't clang and stomp and make tons of noise when my boyfriend is still sleeping, so I have to do quiet morning tasks... alas.

Here are some reflections on 2011 and some plans for 2012.

Joyful Things | 2011

Caring for three rock star children. I already had Sylvia under my watchful eye in 2010. I was nervous about adding Carmen in February, and then Andrew at the end of the summer, but it turned out to be just plain brilliant. I love these kids so much it's hard to imagine what my heart might do when I have my own children. Grow three times its size? Probably.

Witnessing my best friend as he came out of one the most trying times of his life and into one of the most joyful (and being the best man at his wedding).

(Photo borrowed from Neal Golden)

Seeing my childhood best friend, Erin, get married on Cape Cod.

Welcoming several babies into my extended family--my beautiful cousin's twins, Grace & Christopher, my dear friend Rachel's boy, Calvin. There have been so many babies and pregnancies this year, I can't keep up.

Adding Erica, my brother's new wife, to the Goss clan. I've known her since I was a little girl. We used to play basketball together and I used to attend sleepovers at her house in elementary school and now she's my brother's wife.

Exciting Things

Many of my friends became engaged (or pregnant. Or both) in 2011. I am so looking forward to 2012 so that I may welcome several Craft Mafia (and Mafia alum) babies to the world. Can't wait to witness my dear friends' Nora and Joel's wedding (as a bridesmaid, no less!) next year, and I'm so excited for Zara and Stefan and looking forward to hearing what their wedding plans will be.

(Photo from mobtownblues)

Excited/inspired by the success of my business this year. Carlybird Weaves is still very much in the fledgling stage, but I feel that I made leaps and bounds this year, both in productivity and in homing in on what it is I'm trying to do in the first place! In 2012 I hope to put into practice some of those ideas that were swimming around my brain in 2011.

Inspiring Things

Arthur Cadre. Sheesh. I just saw this video yesterday (12/29/2011) and I'm totally blown away. It may be the most inspiring thing I saw all year. For the purposes of relative brevity, I'll cut the long rant about how awesome this is and save it for another day. Just watch the dang video.

Bad Things

I've been sick this year. A LOT. Again, I'll cut my original rant short, but suffice to say I blame the aforementioned beautiful angels, Sylvia, Carmen and Andrew because we all know that children are foul little germ factories, but still...I've been really sick. And I'm....sick of it?

I lost two former bosses this year, one in October and one in November. I'm not going to lie. Both of them drove me crazy (perhaps literally). But man. Losing Florence to pancreatic cancer (she was 39 years old) was one of the harder things this year. It was a shock. She put on a very happy face even when she was facing death. I didn't know it was that close to the end. I worked with Florence at the Media Resources Collection at MICA for about five years (I had worked there under a different director for a couple of years before Florence arrived). She was funny and weird. She was obsessed with bark cloth, bake lite and her little house in Hampden. She got so mad at me on her 30th birthday when I blurted out, "You're only 30?!!" I meant it as a compliment. 'You're only 30 and you are the director of this really incredible library collection and you have all this responsibility and you just bought this adorable house by yourself without anyone here to help you? You're only 30 and you put yourself through not only college (the first in your family to graduate) but also graduate school and then picked up and moved to one of the more intense cities in the country by yourself?' Someone with ten years on her would not have had the guts to do those things. Take it as a compliment, Florence. I was proud of you.

Frank Evans died. I can't say that's all bad. He was very old. He had lived a great life, sang a lot of songs, read a lot of books. But, man I'll miss him. What a heart breaker.

Bad/Weird Things (all of them earth/weather related)

Tornado in Monson, MA (my hometown). WTF? And not just some leaves swirling around, either. This was the most devastating thing I've ever seen. My little town is torn to shreds. The most beautiful buildings are destroyed. Large swaths of forest were decimated. You can see places that you could never see before because all the trees are gone. It looks like someone else's town, not mine.
Earthquake. Okay, so it wasn't that bad, but it was my first real earthquake. And it was in Maryland, for crying out loud! And I had Carmen and Sylvia with me and it was really scary (earth shattering?) and it is really freaking bizarre to feel the earth move under your feet.
Hurricane Irene. We lost power for a few days. I slept through the hurricane and when I woke up I remember being like, "Pshft. Some hurricane," but then I saw that our power was out (and not coming back on, on some people lost it for a LOT longer than us) and then I went for a walk in the park and it just looked so crazy. Giant trees down everywhere. And then walking around Johns Hopkins campus there were trees down everywhere, too. Crazy.
Freaking October 29th Snowstorm. This was in New England of course, not Maryland. But I flew up for my sister-in-law's bridal shower and it turned out I basically flew to Massachusetts just to shovel my dad's driveway and melt snow on the gas grill to flush the toilet with. The shower was canceled. Everyone lost power for days and days and days. My flight home was fine though, so it kind of felt like a dream to me.

Is this the longest blog post ever? Maybe I'll just keep trucking along and then moving forward in 2012 I'll make shorter blog posts. Maybe.

Things I will try to do better in 2012

Follow through. I have great plans for Carlybird Weaves and I get very excited about various projects. New line! New website! Exciting craft shows! But sometimes it's hard for me to just sit down and weave. Even though I love it! Maybe it's fear of success. I know a lot of people who fear success and behave in destructive ways as a result. I may be one of them. So, I resolve to weave more.

My website. If you have a virtually useless website, it's hard to tout your wares, no? My website is many years old. It was great at the time it was made and I really appreciate the work my friend who made it for me put into it, but it's basically just one big Flash object so Google doesn't give a crap about it and you can't use it on your fancy new iPhone. So it's time for an upgrade. Expect newness in that department by my 30th birthday.

30th birthday??!!! Yup, you got it. I'm turning 30 this year. And I'm not freaking out. I'm not. Srsly, you think I'm freaking out? Cuz I'm not.

Web Development for Weavers...

2011-12-28T15:49:00.003-05:00

Hoo boy!
This is what you get when someone more accustomed to untangling knots and weaving scarves is introduced to HTML.

There WILL be a new website.
I won't say when, and I won't say how, but I will say that it's coolness factor will be equal to or greater than this:

...which is the first website I've ever created.
Welcome to 1990, my friends. Will my talents ever cease to amaze?
Ha!

2 Commissions done...

2011-12-18T11:56:00.005-05:00

...and now it's onto finishing Christmas presents!
I just shipped out The Tiniest Cuff in the World...

as well as an Orange Gothic Windows Scarf very similar to this one.

Now it's back to the loom to crank out a couple of Christmas gifties (now that the potato salad is made and the fingers are nimble).

Amethyst Quaker Ladies Scarf

2011-12-17T09:26:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to share this scarf with you all because it's so zingy and I can't stand how awesome it is.

Red and White alternating Tencel warp.
Amethyst Tencel weft.
Buy it here.
Zing!

Free Shipping!

2011-12-14T07:55:00.003-05:00

Use the coupon code FREESHIPPING at my Etsy shop between now and the end of the year for free shipping (only in the US) on any of my handwoven scarves (or the lone, hand-dyed silk scarf that's still hanging out in the shop)!

It's getting down to the wire, so guaranteeing delivery by Christmas is just not an option, but I can try!

Carlybird Weaves Shop

ACC Baltimore needs you!

2011-12-12T18:18:00.002-05:00

I saw this ad on craigslist today, and while it's not something I can fit into my life in February, I bet one of my blog followers can. Just wanted to pass this temporary, contract position on. Apply quick! Seems like a great experience...

Production Manager Wanted

The American Craft Council needs a production manager assist with the annual American Craft Show in Baltimore, MD, February 21- Feb 26, 2012.

Background: The American Craft Council is a national, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. The Council is the leading voice for crafts in America, celebrating the remarkable achievements of the many gifted artists working in the media of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and other materials. Baltimore is the American Craft Council's largest show featuring more than 700 exhibitors and 25,000 attendees.

The Production Manager is responsible for the realization and recording of educational programming at the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore, Maryland February 21-26, 2012. All work will take place in the Baltimore Convention Center. This is a temporary contract position reporting to the Director of Education and working closely with the Education Coordinator, Technical Staff and Talent. The applicant must be available for the following dates: Tuesday February, 21 and Friday, February 24- Sunday February, 26 2012

The successful candidate will:
• Ensure strict adherence to schedules and deadlines of live programming.
• Liaise with and support the Director, Talent and Audio/Visual staff engaged by the American Craft Council.
• Manage and oversee the audio/visual technical production and to take a hands-on role in its execution.
• Film and Record the lectures and programming as directed.
• Demonstrate superb management and communication skills.
• Demonstrate knowledge of current video recording and audio soundboard equipment.
• Must have flexible working hours.
• To be available throughout the run of the production to deal with any matters arising.

Application: applicants should email in PDF format:
• A brief statement describing your qualifications and interests
• Contact information for 2 references
• A resume detailing prior academic and work experience

There are additional opportunities to apply for similar show internships at upcoming Council Shows. For additional information, please contact Tana Hargest, Director of Education directly.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/med/2742641688.html

Last show of the season...onto planning next season!

2011-12-11T11:25:00.005-05:00

Well, Art Market was a bit of a wash, but I'm always so inspired after a show (whether it was a financially successful show or not). Once the fatigue wears off, it's on to analyzing what I learned from the experience. What are customers looking for that they did not find in my work? Am I interested in making that? Can I fit their desires into my line? Of course I can!

What would be a better show? Should I try this one again next year? What would be a better context for my work? How can I improve my display?

So many questions following a show....

Art Market this week!

2011-12-08T18:15:00.005-05:00

Holiday Heap kicked so much butt. Really, it was just fabulous. Thank you so much, all of you who came out and supported your local shakers and makers. We all appreciate it so much. I had a blast. And, I made enough money that I felt justified in making a totally lustful purchase (and really, women should treat themselves to beautiful jewelry more often, don't you think? I never do that!). Here's my gorgeous, new ring from Leah Staley.

Mine is the one to the right with the three copper tubes. At the show it actually got stuck on my finger, which I took as a sign. I whipped out my credit card and couldn't stop smiling. Once I got the ring off, I decided I'd wear it on my ring finger instead of my middle finger, moving forward... :)

My work is up at MICA's Art Market now through Saturday (and you can see my smiling face there tomorrow morning and again Saturday afternoon, if you prefer to look into the eyes of your Scarf Creator), but feel free to pop by any time and purchase some work by fabulous artists including Jodi Hoover, Sera Matteo, and Rachel Beckman (and me!).

In closing... just a cute little photo of the loom I'm currently working on, with a half dozen eggs and a beer keeping it company.

November is too crazy.

2011-11-28T19:25:00.004-05:00

Too. Crazy.
So much news among my friends, family, and colleagues (none of which I am going to share here--sorry!) that it's hard to focus on the inevitable...

...which is that Holiday Heap is THIS SATURDAY!!!

HOLY CRAP IT'S THIS SATURDAY!!!!

THE BEST INDIE CRAFT SHOW IN BALTIMORE IS THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Saturday, December 3rd, from 10am til 5pm at
2640 Saint Paul Street in Baltimore, Maryland.

The. Best. Indie. Craft. Show.

I'm excited. I think you should be, too.
Here are a coupla new vendors that I'm excited to see (although, I'd also be excited if my table at HH was so slammed that I don't get the opportunity to see them). :)

Cephalopod Ceramics.

This stuff is so funky and fun. And versatile in the gift-giving world, too! Men, women, children, pets... everyone in your whole circle wants something this gal has to offer, I guarantee.

Wooly Baby.

So. Cozy.
I just received a very lovely gift of cozy-pozy slippers from my aunt-in-law (or I guess it was my cousin-in-law, technically, and since we're getting technical...ain't no law governing my personal and familial relationships, anyway, so..... I digress). I've got cozy slippers. I'm all about cozy and you should be too and so you should stick your feet in some of these beautiful wooly slippers, created for both adults and children from upcycled sweaters.
So great.

Hey! Maybe I'll have time between now and Saturday to tell you about some other awesome Holiday Heap vendors! But if I don't, you can always check out the Holiday Heap 2011 page here!

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Here comes Thanksgiving!!

2011-11-20T15:49:00.009-05:00

And do you know what comes after Thanksgiving?

A whole lot of opportunities for holiday shopping that do not involve big businesses or banks or malls or anything crappy like that!

You can catch Carlybird Weaves scarves at the following three indie craft events in Baltimore:

Number 1!
November's Final Friday - 11.25.11 - Black Friday Art Market at Station North
North Avenue Market, 16 W North Avenue

For November's Final Friday, Station North will become your Black Friday holiday shopping destination! The North Avenue Market will serve as the shopping hub, featuring prints, paintings, photographs, and more by members of Charm City Craft Mafia, Baltimore Etsy Street Team, and Station North artists; each of the North Avenue Market’s storefronts will also host Black Friday markets: books will be sold at Cyclops, photographs at Windup, and prints at Baltimore Print Studios. The North Avenue Market will feature a performance by Her Fantastic Cats, named Baltimore's best Folk musician 2011 by the City Paper.

The Final Friday Art & Craft Market will run from 3:00PM – 8:00PM, followed by performances at Windup Space.

Number 2!
Saturday, 12.03.11 - Charm City Craft Mafia's Holiday Heap!
St. John's Church, 2640 Saint Paul Street
The Charm City Craft Mafia is thrilled to announce our newest juried Craft Fair!

The 5th annual Holiday Heap - a FREE indie craft fair featuring a wide array of the country's best crafters- will take place on December 3rd from 10 AM to 5 PM at 2640 St. Paul St in ...Baltimore. The event is free and open to the public. 65 Vendors juried from applicants nationwide!! Including CCCM members: Bowerbox Press, Carlybird Weaves, Cotton Monster, Meep!Craft, illegible ink, Phampersand Press, Pink Kiss Pottery, Pistol Designs, Red Prairie Press, Spaghetti Kiss, Sugar Paperie, Found Studios, City Sparrow and SO MANY MORE AMAZING CRAFTERS!

This year's fair will feature GrrChe Food Truck, Anneka photobooth, A spinning demo by Three Ravens, coffee from Red Emma's Cafe, Shopping, background music + Holiday cheer all day long.

Also, don't miss out on this year's crafty RAFFLE BASKET!!! Proceeds benefit Arts Everyday

For more info www.charmcitycraftmafia.com

Number 3!
Wednesday, 12.7.11 thru Saturday, 12.10.11 - MICA's Art Market

MICA - Brown Center's Leidy Atrium and Falvey Hall lobby, 1301 W. Mt. Royal Avenue

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) presents its 5th annual MICA Art Market Wednesday, Dec. 7th-Saturday, Dec. 10th from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in Brown Center's Leidy Atrium and Falvey Hall lobby, 1301 W Mount Royal Ave. This festive, four-day sale features illustrations, paintings, prints, posters, sculptures, mosaics, stationery, T-shirts, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, book arts, toys, and wrapping paper designed and created by more than 300 MICA students, faculty, alumni and staff.

Vendors will accept the following forms of payment: Visa, MasterCard, cash, and check. Admission to the market is free.

If that's not enough indie holiday shopping for you, I just don't know what to to tell ya.

Shop Update? Shop Update!!

2011-11-06T18:06:00.002-05:00

Hey! Did you know that there are several new scarves posted in my Etsy shop?
Holy Mackerel!!

I suggest you go and check them out before they all get snatched up!

Hurry!

Florence Jill Thorp

2011-10-07T12:19:00.003-04:00

The world lost one hell of a woman this week. My friend, my former boss, and my mentor for a long time passed away Monday morning after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was a doll face, a firecracker, a sweetheart and a bitch, and I loved her for all of it.

Rest in peace, Flossie (she hated it when I called her that). Love you.

Tomorrow!

2011-09-29T07:26:00.000-04:00

Sing the Shapes!

|||Sacred Harp Singing Demonstration|||

Please join the Baltimore Sacred Harp Singers (and friends!) as we present a

demonstration singing for the College Park Arts Exchange at the

Old Parish House in College Park, Maryland.

Participation encouraged!

Friday, September 30, 2011

7:30 - 9:30pm

Old Parish House

4711 Knox Road

College Park, Maryland

We will offer a brief introduction to the Sacred Harp tradition, explain the basics of shapenote singing and we'll sing our hearts out! Try Sacred Harp singing on for size! This promises to be a fun evening, geared toward beginners.

The Old Parish House is a short walk from the College Park Metro and is compliant with ADA standards for accessibility. __._,_.___

For more info, contact Carly L. Goss

carlygoss@yahoo.com

The College Park Arts Exchange

301.927.3013 -|- info@cpae.org

Two years today

2011-09-23T08:32:00.005-04:00

Two years since my lovely Momma passed away. Please consider donating your time, energy, and money to breast cancer research. A cure needs to be found.

Here's a link to my Rays of Hope page.
Rays of Hope is a great organization in Western Massachusetts, where I grew up, that:

-Offers community education and outreach about breast cancer.

-Provides coordinated, accessible, and medically advanced breast cancer care at the initial stage of diagnosis and continuing through treatment and recovery.

-Supports patients through the continuum of care that acknowledges the needs of the whole person.

-Funds local breast cancer research.

Please support my family and honor my Mom by contributing to this cause. My hope is that my sisters, cousins, nieces, friends, and my children will not have to suffer from the disease that took my mother away two years ago today.

Today I'm thinking about...

2011-09-20T08:21:00.002-04:00

my website redesign (which will be my first foray into web design at all)
the American Folk Art Museum
the 2nd anniversary of my mother's death (coming up on Friday. Impossible.)
babies. my cousin's twins are due any minute. I have the great privilege of caring for some sweetie faces four days a week and I feel grateful that I'll continue to do so through the summer. Hey! Maybe by the time summer comes my cousin will need a nanny....
....job security, apparently
studio reconfiguring
rain
tea
pumpkin ale

Well, here we go

2011-09-18T18:50:00.002-04:00

Shifting gears. It's fall, I decided. I'll take it if it gets warm again, but what if it doesn't? If it doesn't and I pretend that it will, then I'll miss out on those first few fall days when everything is fresh and crisp and exciting. The urge to hunker down, to bake, to clean house and studio is, well... urgent.
It's been a summer both worrisome and carefree. Love and triumph and despair have been in the air. Also, confusion and boredom.
And indecision.
The most important things are eating good food and drinking good beer. Making art. Communing with friends. Caring for my introvert (thanks, Alexis).
Writing.
New journal started yesterday.
Checking up on a man I loved today. Satisfying to know he's still great.
Satisfying to know I am too.
Rearranging, organizing, cleaning...throwing shit out.
Weaving things that are horrendously ugly.
Hoping some distance will make them pretty, or functional at minimum.
Skipped NYC. Skipped Woody & Cisco.
Maybe next week.
This weekend instead... studio. An actual breakfast out (a date, even!) with my dear.
Looking forward. Back, also. Forward and back.
Hopeful and nostalgic.
Silly. Saintly.
Well, here we go.

Live Free or Die (Trying)

2011-09-02T18:35:00.007-04:00

A quick re-cap of my vacation, which is already receding further and further into the foggy, cobwebby recesses of my mind.

July 30. Goat and I at Centerville Beach on Cape Cod. Daddy-o took the photo. This was in the morning. Later that night we would be partying it up at my childhood friend's wedding reception. Beautiful. Fun. Lots of crying (too much). This was my mother's best friend's daughter's wedding (never mind). Mom was missed a lot that night.

...but at least Goat and I are rockstars in our mean shades...

July 31. Birthday party at my sister's house for this goofball. Nicholas is 1 year old and he loves cake almost as much as his Auntie Carly.

August 1. Took a leisurely hike (more of a woodsy walk) through some paths near Goat's parents' house in the northern White Mountains of New Hampshire.

...had a 102 fever the night before, perhaps a result of drinking a lot at the wedding, or maybe I just get sick a lot these days...

August 2. Hiked to Arethusa Falls. More than I signed up for. Didn't realize what kind of hike it would be, nor did I realize it would downpour and I would get stuck in the mud.

Still, satisfying and gorgeous.

August 3. Long, lovely, meandering drive ultimately arriving in Hanover. Farmer's market. Blueberries, blackberries. Coffee nearby. Long, lovely, meandering drive back. Scenic overlook. Everywhere is a scenic overlook here.

August 4. Goat mowed the lawn. I picked wild flowers. Drove to North Conway and visited an old friend and her son.

August 5. Drove Goat to Mt. Garfield which he climbed solo. I went shopping and exploring around Bethlehem and Littleton like a good little housewife. Worried about him a little and everything.

August 6. Nothing? Can't remember. Oh, right. This was the day of the 6 hour phone conversation. Don't ask. Popcorn and pizza for dinner.

August 7. Drive to East Calais, Vermont to visit an old friend. Hung out with Ava, a very sweet toddler.

August 8. Homeward bound.

Awesome:Shitty:Meh:Awesome

2011-07-23T16:30:00.004-04:00

Awesome Things:

Going to the library this morning and finding this list tucked in this book (That's MY list, likely from 2004 when I last checked out this book. Moe Moe has lived in Indiana since about 2006, I think? Hope I don't still owe her the ten bucks).

Being a witness at my first ever courthouse wedding. Yay, Kev & Jess!

The loon tattoo I designed this morning.

Um, yeah. I'm KIDDING! I'm FUNNY!

Shitty Things:

So hot. So. Freaking. Hot
Caving in and trying to get the AC started only to partially lose power or maybe just fry the power strip? Still haven't figured out exactly what happened but when I plugged the computer, DVD player, speakers, fan, etc into a new power strip, it all worked. I'm not exactly an electrician, but I guess I learned that the R2D2 AC unit is far too powerful for our little house's electric system.
Norway. Much shittier than any of my complaints about the weather. Awful.

Things That Make Me Go "Meh."

Having house guests tomorrow and Monday. Generally? Don't mind company. Enjoy it. When I'm hot and stressed? Go back whence you came, friends!
Arguments with people I love about things I'm not willing to back down on.
Missing the Central PA singing. Really wanted to go. A lot. But when it's this hot I can't think, much less sing to Jesus all day. Maybe next year.
Giving sweet Annabelle the Studio Cat to Joe. Right thing to do for SO MANY REASONS, but still so sad. I'll miss having that little turd in my studio!

More Awesome Things (for to end on a cheerfuller note):

VACATION!!!! NEW ENGLAND!! REALLY SOON!!

Yay! Productivity!

2011-07-08T17:55:00.003-04:00

Here's a wackadoo collection of handwoven stuff including some things I created, a couple of gifts, and the giant Cousin It-esque piless of rags Nora the Fabulous Intern ripped for me the other day. I'm loving this wall right now.

What a great day in the studio. So good. I had Nora the Fabulous Intern with me all day, and Beth the Fabulous Weaving Student came bearing gifts--gorgeous vegetables from her bountiful garden (a garden that I am so jealous of, it kinda hurts a little bit), as well as some homemade eggplant curry which the Goat and I will have for dinner this evening over quinoa.

Here's Nora hard at work on the Norwood

While Beth wove her heart out and Nora dressed the eight-shaft loom and began a new scarf, I was able to do a lot of tidying up, organizing and a little bit of weaving. The most exciting thing I did, though, was to finally figure out what I want to do with the peg boards ye olde boyfriend bought for me several weeks (okay, maybe months) ago. So I did a trial run, hanging up all the funky old hooks that we lifted from Goat's grandpa's basement and figured out what supplies and tools I could hang on them in order to create a more tidy space for myself. Then I used Beth's uber-powerful drill to hang the (other) peg board on the wall.

And then I painted it aqua. Photos of that forthcoming.

And tomorrow when the aqua peg board is dry I'll transfer the tools and such to that board and then I'll figure out what to do with the first one. Wee! I'm feeling a little design spongey today and I totally love it.

The order! The tidiness! The joy!

Gifts!

2011-07-04T19:58:00.002-04:00

I've been so much in production mode in the studio lately that it was a breath of fresh air for me today to leaf through patterns and choose new threads for a couple of gifts I'm going to weave this summer.
My good friend from childhood gets married at the end of the month on Cape Cod and I'm using her wedding as an excuse to weave some dish towels (because, let's face it, when else is it practical to hand weave dish towels other than for a wedding gift?). And my beautiful cousin is having twins in the fall (her first children) and so I'm planning a pair of baby blankets for her. I'm pretty sure that neither of those lovely ladies reads my blog, but if they do, surprise! Handwoven gifties on the way! I think I'm going to use the same brown, olive and blue-gray threads (in different combinations) for all three projects. We'll see when the thread arrives.
You may say, Those aren't very baby-ish colors, and to that I say, Hell no!!
My cousin is going to get awfully sick of pink and blue, I can guarantee.
These babies will be so sophisticated.

Mind racing...

2011-06-30T08:41:00.002-04:00

This morning I woke up with my mind racing thinking about all the things that OTHER people have to do. Welcome to the warped (get it?) mind of Carlybird. So, a brief post to note how thankful I am that I DON'T have to:

Fly to Canada and get married and then drive back to Baltimore with my lovely new bride.

Drive to Connecticut to celebrate my grandpa's birthday

Turn 90

Go to camp and wear a neon t-shirt with shapes on it for 10 days

Move from Turkey to Baltimore

Start my life over in New Orleans

Grateful to be just dogsitting, babysitting and weaving this week and coming 4th of July weekend. But hey, congratulations and good luck to all my friends and family!
Woo!

You know I'm a New Englander because...

2011-06-27T07:34:00.003-04:00

New Englanders, generally speaking, are a hardy folk and we don't usually give up on things very easily, and we actually do things like walk barefoot to school uphill in the snow both ways and whatnot. I'm not quite as hardcore as Phineas Gage, a 19th century railroad worker from New Hampshire, who had a steel tamping iron (like, an 8 foot, pointy steel rod) shoot up through his chin, behind his left eye and out the top of his head, landing 80 feet away after an explosive accident, and walked the mile or so to get help afterward and didn't die until years later after continuing to work and travel to Chile and San Francisco. Check him out on Wikipedia. Pretty amazing guy. This is what Chris and I discussed over dinner last night.

What I did do this weekend that was pretty hardcore, however, was to have a fever hovering between 102 and 103 all day Friday and which didn't break until about 4am Saturday, at which point I got out of bed and headed off to Pile of Craft to vend my wares. And then the fever came back, along with the chills and aches, and I decided I'd just keep on vending like a big, stubborn freak. Thankfully I had really amazing helpers -- my intern, Nora Truskey, my friend & hired helper, Liz Ensz, and the entire Charm City Craft Mafia and their significant others. All excellent folks who helped me immensely while I was at the show, and even allowed me to go home and take a nap in the middle of the day.
Go, team.
And thanks to all of you who came out, endured my groggy state, and enjoyed the show (and the grilled cheese).
Next time I won't be sick.

The BIGGEST Pile of CRAFT you've ever SEEN!!!

2011-06-22T08:51:00.003-04:00

It's this Saturday, friends! This Saturday from 10am until 5pm you can shop your face off at beautiful St. John's Church.

Some Pile of Craft vendors that I am particularly excited about this year?
The Charm City Craft Mafia's newest members, for starters!

Monica Stroter of Sugar Paperie!

Kacey Buchanan Stafford of Found Studio!

Kristen Rigney of City Sparrow!

If these lovely ladies don't charm the pants off of you I don't who will (ooh, wow, I don't mean to make them sound like seductresses...well, Seductresses of Craft, maybe!)

Additional exciting news? Not only will Carlybird Weaves perform a weaving demonstration all day long (i.e., I'll bring one of my looms and sit and weave whenever I'm not raking in the big bucks from you all buying my handwoven scarves, cuffs, etc), but also (!!) I finally accept credit cards as payment at craft shows! So those of you who have walked away with a sad face and the best intentions of heading over to my Etsy shop after I tell you "Cash or check only," can now hand me your plastic, too! No more sad faces! No more lost sales due to my living in the Stone Age! Victory is mine! And yours!

Oh, by the way I just took a blue scarf off the loom that would look simply lovely with your gorgeous eyes....

Home, part deux

2011-06-17T14:58:00.005-04:00

The chipper my dad used to deal with the fallen trees.
Also, a much clearer view of our back neighbor's house
through the space where more trees used to be.

The damage in Massachusetts is pretty heartbreaking. As I was driving around with my dad there would be beautiful flower pots on manicured lawns, no sign of even a mild storm, then gradually things would start to look a little wilted and I'd think, Oh, good. Not as bad as I thought, and then all of a sudden BAM! Complete destruction. House after house in total ruin (or completely swept away). Acres upon acres of trees bent over backwards or completely uprooted. Completely insane. And then back to the slightly wilted look and back to looking completely untouched. Never have I seen anything like it. Google Monson tornado to see those images.

My family was so lucky to have sustained very little damage. Dad's backyard lost a few trees (including most of my beloved crab apple tree from my childhood) and there is now a very different view where the trees are thinned out. Having not seen it before, my faithful readers probably wouldn't know the difference, but it's definitely bare back there. The swing set took a beating, too, as you can see.

My poor dilapidated swing set between what's left of the trees in our side yard.
The wisp of a tree on the left is what used to be a very full and beautiful old crab apple tree.

But guess what? My family is safe and sound and we all had a great weekend playing with the kids, throwing back some beer and enjoying life. So there, tornado. So. There.

Water balloon toss at my Aunt Barb's house.

My sister, Jaime, and her littlest, Nicholas.

Nicholas enjoying a beer with his Auntie Carlybird.

Home

2011-06-03T08:41:00.004-04:00

Sheesh. Perhaps some of my readers have heard on the news about the tornadoes that ravaged parts of Western Massachusetts on Wednesday night. This is the First Church of Monson in the center of my hometown, after one of those tornadoes blew through Main Street. There used to be a very tall, very beautiful steeple, as you can see, demolished in the foreground.
Here's a picture of it's former glory.

It's a building. It can be repaired. Just like the homes that were damaged can be repaired or rebuilt. And thankfully my family and friends were not injured or killed. I'm still waiting to hear about my brother Mike's house in Springfield (thankfully not the one he lives in--he rents it out and I hope his tenants are safe and uninjured). When I spoke with him on Wednesday night he hadn't been able to get over there. The roads are littered with giant trees and the wreckage of other houses. A friend tried to walk over to check on Mike's house for him. Several in his neighborhood are gone completely--nothing but basements--and he wasn't able to get to Mike's house due to all the debris. He couldn't see if it was still there.

Western Mass. I just can't imagine living in a place like the Midwest where this is a regular occurrence. But I also can't imagine going back to Monson (which I will do next weekend for a visit) and seeing this devastation. I just keep reminding myself that they are just buildings, just trees... But I think building and trees are awfully important to my sense of space, my sense of self, my personal history...where I tell myself I'm from... It won't be easy to see that church or to see the tops ripped off my favorite maples and pines. To see large, old, glorious trees completely uprooted.

People use the term "uprooted" when a person leaves what is familiar to them (whether intentionally, accidentally, by necessity). I was just talking with a friend who used to live here in Baltimore and she was lamenting the fact that I seem stable, grounded--and she doesn't. She feels like she doesn't hunker down and give a place a chance. She's uprooted herself three times in ten years. New York to Baltimore to Indiana (and actually, she failed to mention two stints in Italy and some time in Vermont)...

I've lived in Baltimore for eleven years. I threw in a semester in Ireland when I was in school and a summer in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Besides that, I've lived in Monson, just two and a half miles up the road from the First Church for 18 years, and in Baltimore (in various neighborhoods, but always in the city proper). You wouldn't guess it on the surface, but I actually see a lot of similarities between Monson and Baltimore. Monson is a sleepy little New England town with a pretty good school system, beautiful old buildings (some of them now in ruin) and a vibrant small town appreciation for the arts as well as a strong work ethic and a desire to support local business and agriculture. Baltimore gets a bad rap for being a dangerous city plagued by drugs and violent crime, but ultimately, it's a beautiful old city with gorgeous architecture (some of it in ruin), a dynamic arts scene and a do-it-yourself work ethic. Both places feel like home to me. And watching both places change through urban development or through natural disaster, feels a bit like a punch in the face, or a call to action, or maybe just a little like life, as it happens.

Looking forward to...

2011-05-27T10:56:00.002-04:00

1. Cup of tea #2
2. Birthday drinks with friends tonight
3. Baltimore Herb Festival
4. Sauce Guy and G-bug's wedding!
5. Two day work week next week? Score!
6. NSV All Day Sing next weekend
7. Family picnic the weekend following
(hoping to introduce lemonsticks to my New Englander nieces and nephews)
8. Pile of Craft, June 25th
9. Natural dye workshop July 10
10. Trip to New Hampshire/MA at the end of July/beginning of August?

2011-05-20T12:29:00.003-04:00

is coming up quick!!
Saturday, June 25th
10am - 5pm
at our regular haunt, 2640 Saint Paul Street
in our fair city of Baltimore!

There will be a WEAVING DEMO provided by Yours Truly!!
Can you believe it?

Three New Scarves

2011-05-16T18:57:00.003-04:00

Check 'em out at the shop right now!

www.carlygoss.etsy.com

Shapenote Sisters, Orfeia, Starry Mountain Singers

2011-05-12T08:04:00.000-04:00

Here is a video of the Starry Mountain Singers performing a Svan (Georgian) circle dance that will blow your mind. Wait for it. It gets really good in the second half. :)

Join Starry Mountain Singers, Orfeia, and Baltimore's own Shapenote Sisters for an evening of traditional music at Creative Alliance tomorrow, Friday the 13th.

And on Saturday! Singing workshop (also at CA) led by the Starry Mountain Singers! You'll learn a variety of vocal techniques and songs from the various regions of this group's repertoire (to include music spanning four continents)!

Go to Creative Alliance here to purchase your tickets for the concert and to register for the workshop!

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!

2011-05-08T09:34:00.002-04:00

I'm off to see the sheep!
I love the Sheep & Wool Festival. As a vegetarian, it's a little disturbing to smell all the lamb cooking all over the place, but aside from that, it's a great way to spend a beautiful Sunday. I'll tell you what I learn when I get back.
Wee!

And the winner is....

2011-04-30T08:31:00.006-04:00

Rachel Beckman! Rachel and a few of her friends are the lucky folks who won the "drawing" for the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival tickets. I quote drawing because she was the only one who commented on the blogpost! No need to draw names for a winner! I guess I've got to up my game or I'll be severely lacking in the readership department. :)

Rachel Beckman is about to graduate from MICA with a degree in fibers (just like yours truly did several years ago) and she creates visually mesmerizing, contemplative handwoven art that you should fall in love with. The image above is one of her more recent weavings which I stole from her website.

Today I'll be headed to the other Sugarloaf (the actual mountain, for a walk) but tomorrow I'll be off to Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Timonium to soak up some craft! I anticipate spending some time looking at shawls by Kali Basi,

and I may need to pick up a couple of these shawl pins from Edwards Smith Fine Woodworking.

And I'll be picking up another loom at my godfather's house sometime in between! It'll need a little bit of work. Wee! Project for the new intern!!

What's that? New intern?
Not yet. But I'm interviewing and have my beady little eyes set on one in particular.

It's here! It's here!

2011-04-24T10:13:00.005-04:00

The day when I don't have to do anything! The day with the big X through it on my calendar indicating that this day is for ME and y'all leave me alone so I can do whatever I want in my pjs all day!
It's here!

And it's Easter. So, Happy Easter to all and I hope you enjoy the holiday with your families, but as for me...I'll be home. Mostly relaxing. Maybe I'll catch up on a few emails and a little house and yard work, but the pace will not be frenetic. The pace will be slow and steady and there will be many breaks for simply soaking up the sun or snuggling with a book, depending how the weather pans out (from the looks of it, I'll be soaking up the sun).

I had a pretty amazing weekend sharing songs and silliness with some kindred spirits and allowing myself to have fun and be inspired without looking too far in the future. The future. It's the bane of my existence these days.

Okay, I'll look to the future just a little bit, but only to share with you that the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is coming up next weekend in Timonium and I have tickets to give away! I'm excited for this festival because there are so many artisans to see that I'm personally not familiar with. Of particular interest to me is some of the jewelry and forged iron work.

Ring by Uncommon Threads Jewelry

I have two tickets to offer. I think to win the tickets you'll have to leave me a comment on this post telling me how you go about keeping from overextending yourself. Do you mark a big X on your calendar making room for at least one day in the month to yourself? Do you just say no all day long to invitations? What do you do to keep yourself sane when everyone and everything demands your attention? I'm looking for real advice here, but for the purpose of winning the tickets, it's okay to be silly, too. Entertain me, if you will. :)

Forged Iron Architectural Work by Wayfarer Forge

If you leave a comment you'll be entered to win and I'll pick your name out of a hat (or use some kinda online random number generator or what have you).

Here's info Sugarloaf!

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
250 Acclaimed Artisans to Showcase Contemporary Crafts and Fine Art

Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1, 2011

Maryland State Fairgrounds

2200 York Road

Timonium, MD

More than 250 of the nation’s most accomplished craftspeople will display and sell their handmade works at the 33^rd annual Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Timonium, Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1, 2011. The jury-selected artists will present thousands of unique, one-of-a-kind crafts and keepsakes, including functional and decorative pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, furniture, home accessories, and photography.

The spring 2011 Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Timonium will feature:

- “Bridal pARTy,” the show’s theme, highlighting crafts for brides and grooms.

- Gourmet foods and seasonal favorites including old fashioned candies and chocolates, hearty soups, artisan breads, jams and dip, and syrups and olive oil from dozens of specialty foods purveyors will be available to sample and purchase.

- Live demonstrations of iron forging, papermaking, wheel-thrown pottery, and copper spinning by Sugarloaf’s master craftspeople will give craft lovers a look at how they create their work.

A wide range of family entertainment is part of the eclectic festival experience, including interactive dress-up theater with Middle Earth Studios, and live contemporary and classic music.

Show Details:

Hours:

Friday, April 29 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 30 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 1 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission (valid all three days):

Adults $7 online; $9 at the door

Children under 12 free

To preview the work of the more than 250 artists participating in the show, and explore the full range of entertainment, visit www.sugarloafcrafts.com.

Same River Twice

2011-04-22T18:05:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow I'll be performing at the G-Spot for the Same River Twice show.
Pretty much all my friends are either performing music, reading words, or have artwork in the show, which celebrates our dear Jones Falls and our dear Falls Road and our dear Baltimore.
Okay, maybe no pretty much all my friends, but a lot!
Here's the deets:

Plus! Freaking Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth Laprelle!
Freaking Anna & Elizabeth!

They're performing crankies in a few minutes at Metro, but they'll be singing tomorrow.
.:Sigh:.

Oh, Annabelle.

2011-03-26T18:40:00.003-04:00

Studio Cat is not so much modest.

Exciting Things I've Recently Done

2011-03-20T19:23:00.003-04:00

(Me and Nora lead, as captured by Kevin)

(My favorite lead of the whole weekend - Our buddy Jonathon Smith, as captured by Nora)

Traveled to Western Mass to attend the Western Mass Sacred Harp Convention (and to celebrate my niece's first birthday, and to catch up with high school friends, and to see the best band in the entire universe (which includes high school friends), The Sweetback Sisters.
Sowed itty bitty wittle seeds for my itty bitty wittle seedlings for my itty bitty wittle garden.
Followed up on important correspondence
Did three loads of laundry
Filled the lovely shoes of our departed Mafia members with three new, totally awesome crafters: Sugar Paperie, City Sparrow, & Found Studio
Dealt with the MVA and lowered my car insurance bill by a bunch of percents!

Woo!

Hey, speaking of Sacred Harp conventions... I'm chairing the Potomac River Convention on April 2nd & 3rd in the DC area, so you betta bring it!

Fiber, fiber, fiber

2011-02-26T19:55:00.000-05:00

I was just finishing up a recommendation letter for my friend and colleague, Christalena Hughmanick, and as I was reflecting on her career thus far (and our relationship) I decided I couldn't help but give her a little shout-out on the blog. You've read about her here before, as she (and Kathryn Greenwood Swanson) were the two lovely ladies who organized Threadbare, the 3-woman show I was in last summer at the APE Gallery in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Christalena is currently working in the graduate program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I haven't actually spoken with her about her current work (other than that she's hard at it), but I stumbled across these videos she's posted on YouTube where she is utilizing rope (really heavy rope) in much the way that she does lace weight yarn.

My first thoughts go directly toward gender issues and the power that emanates from typically delicate, airy, female-created work (such as lace) versus the power behind the generally stronger muscles of men, used to raise sails or pound nails.

Also, today one of my weaving students, Robin, who used to work at the Guggenheim, brought up the artist, Janine Antoni during class. It was so refreshing to hear her name after having sort of put her work on the back burner for a long time. She just hasn't come up. But she is truly one of the most exciting artists I was exposed to during college and I continue to be inspired by her (when I think of her!)...

She is the creator of a performance piece called Slumber, in which the artist sleeps in a gallery with an EEG hooked up to her head, and in the morning she weaves strips from her nightgown into a blanket using a pattern based on the graph created by her own brain waves during her REM sleep. Very interesting, and very beautiful. And she had to learn how to weave to create the piece, of course, so you've gotta dig that. There's a pretty interesting interview with her here, if you'd like to learn more. That's also where I borrowed this image from.

Spring  Classes  with  Carlybird  Weaves!

2011-02-20T10:37:00.003-05:00

Next  session:  Eight  Tuesday  evenings  beginning  on March 8th!
 
There  is  one  space  left  in my upcoming  weaving  class!   This  is  a  very  small,  mixed level  class,  focusing  on  the  basics  of  4‐shaft  floor  loom  weaving.   You  will  receive  plenty  of  one‐on‐one  attention  in  a  relaxed  studio  atmosphere.   Complete  beginners  are  encouraged  to  sign  up  and  if  you’ve  done  a  little  weaving  and  just  need  a refresher,  you  are  also  welcome.   Don’t  be  allergic  to  cats,  though,  or  you’ll  make  Annabelle  cry! 

Photo credit: Kevin Griffin Moreno

Class runs for 8 Tuesday evenings, beginning in March.
6pm - 8:30pm
$225 for the session

Threads, use of studio looms and other weaving equipment necessary for your project included.
Contact carlygoss@yahoo.com to sign up or for more info!
Also,  keep  your  eyes  peeled  for  updates  on  the  next  session,  beginning  around  mid‐ May! 

Keeping busy as usual

2011-02-12T16:00:00.002-05:00

I've been busy as usual. Lots of new things going on in these past two weeks or so.

I've started giving private lessons to a new student, which has been relaxing and rewarding. I get paid to enjoy the company of a lovely woman, pet Studio Cat, and offer the occasional word of weaver's wisdom. Can't beat that.

I've started taking care of a second baby at my nannying gig. Two girls, 15 months old. I'm calling it Motherhood Boot Camp. Thursday was a little hellish, but I think it'll work out fine overall. My hope is that when I have my own children (one at at time, please-- no twins for me!), it'll feel like pie compared to this. The upside to this chaos of course, is that I get paid a little more and have two cute babies to fall in love with.

I've welcomed another fibers student into the fold, with my newest intern, Alison. She joined my other intern, Natalie (who I share with the Craft Mafia), in the studio today while my students wove, and between the two of them quite a lot was accomplished. I have a new warp ready to go, additional heddles on my Dorset, and a lot of my fabric stash is ironed and organized. Natalie might need a couple Advil and a heating pad this afternoon for her aching back, though. Sorry, dear.

Speaking of the Mafia... a portion of us had a very productive (and yummy) meeting last night, where we discussed all sorts of Mafia-related tasks and events and changes that I think are very promising.

And now, I've just realized that we have no butter and are nearly out of toilet paper and so I better take a trip to the grocery store instead of blogging anymore.

Oh, but before I go, just for the hell of it, I should mention .... Katie is a giant freak who sends me cassette tapes and drawings from 1998 and makes me smile. Thanks, freak!

Snow Day!

2011-01-26T09:12:00.002-05:00

Hi there!
Well, I'm not convinced that I love the new look of my blog yet, but I'm going to go with it for a minute and see what happens. The other template (remember the pretty green?) was pretty cute, but I needed a change. So, I made some changes and now I'll stick with them until I come up with something better.

Today I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to snow, and then even more pleasantly surprised to get a call from my boss--SNOW DAY! So, even though there are a LOT of important things that I can (and hopefully will) accomplish today, I wanted to at least take a moment to do my version of goofing off on a snow day and blog about what's going on in Carlybird Land for a minute without much of a plan.

My last post was a reminder to get your bums to the Starry Mountain Trio show at Metro. It was wonderful. They are wonderful. And if you missed it, just check out these videos that Tom from Radaredux put together.

You have one more chance to see the Trio and that is TONIGHT if you are in Montpelier, Vermont.
I've been planning lots of music adventures of my own these past couple weeks, which include two performances in April and May, respectively (keep your ears peeled for more info on that--details are still being worked out), and chairing one Sacred Harp Convention--the Potomac River Convention on April 2nd and 3rd.
There has been some confusion as to what the date of the Potomac River Convention is. Rest assured, we're following the formula which is that it takes place on the First Sunday and the Saturday before in April unless it conflicts with Easter. That makes it April 2nd and 3rd this year. Come sing! We still need help with some committees, too, so if you want to be involved, all ye singers, let me know!

Okay. Back to figuring out what I can actually accomplish on my snow day.

Starry Mountain Trio

2011-01-17T12:29:00.002-05:00

Just look at their faces!
Seriously, would you want to learn traditional Corsican and Georgian polyphony from anyone else? Come on! Also, British Isle ballads and shapenote tunes?
Come to the Metro Gallery on Wednesday night and give Suzannah, Avery, and Gideon a big ol' Baltimore hug.

The Starry Mountain Trio Comes to Baltimore
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Metro Gallery
1700 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Workshop: 5:30 pm
Potluck: 6:30 pm
Concert: 7:30 pm

Concert: $8
Workshop: $10
Workshop + Concert: $16

The Starry Mountain Trio (Avery Book, Gideon Crevoshay and Suzannah Park) was born from the nine voice ensemble, The Starry Mountain Singers. The trio specializes in four genres: traditional polyphonic singing from Corsica and from the Republic of Georgia, ballads from the British Isles and Appalachia, and shape-note music. The three met in the late '90s as teenagers while singing and touring with the Vermont-based Village Harmony, and in subsequent tours with the groups professional touring ensemble, Northern Harmony. They are each now lifelong musicians with a deep love of studying, teaching, and performing traditional vocal styles. Each member of the trio has contributed songs from her or his particular area of musical knowledge and expertise, resulting in a dynamic and eclectic program that will delight traditional music fans.

About the Starry Mountain Singers, folk musician Pete Sutherland raved, "Everyone needs to make time to get the hell outta the house and hear this rockin' bunch - your molecules WILL be rearranged."

Oh, Conan...

2011-01-12T18:25:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I'm actually going to assist American Express in their ad campaign (as if they need it), however, I just can't help but share this totally awesome commercial starring Conan O'Brien (who is very tall).

I don't watch TV, so maybe I've been missing out on some kind of revolution.
Maybe all TV commercials these days are this awesome?

Just a coupla studio photos

2011-01-12T12:03:00.002-05:00

Here are some studio photos from this summer that my friend, Kevin Griffin Moreno, took.
There are two of the blanket that was commissioned for my friend's wedding present.
And one is a bad-ass portrait of Studio Cat (Annabelle) with the awesome alphabet painting series by Rachel Bone in the background.
And, yeah... I'm wearing a cupcake tank top that DJ Barkinglips thrifted for me. Woo!

Two posts in one day?

2011-01-07T17:51:00.003-05:00

Sure. Why not?
I just wanted to share with you all that my fellow Mafioso, ceramic artist, Shawna Pincus, is having a big-assed studio sale...clearing out some of her pots to make room for a big 2011 studio re-organization project.

So... if you're wondering what to get me for my birthday (May 26th--I'm giving you LOTS of time to plan ahead here, people) I would recommend this:

...or any of her mugs for that matter.
Go to Pink Kiss Pottery right now and fall in love.
Love,
Carly

I miss my camera...

2011-01-07T16:53:00.004-05:00

Whine....

I miss my camera a lot, but I also miss my ability to photograph things in a way that is at all useful and/or eye-pleasing. I blame most of the problem on the lack of decent equipment right now, but I also just don't have the knack I used to have for taking good pictures.

I also sometimes weave things that are kind of impossible to photograph (even if one were good at it, generally speaking). Such is the case with this series of three weavings I did for Threadbare, the fiber arts exhibition I participated in last summer in Northampton, MA. I just never got a decent photo of them, partly due to lack of resources, but partly due to the fact that they are fairly monochromatic. They're subtle. It's hard to photograph these things. I may just need to shell out some dinero and have a professional take care of them for me....
Alas.
So much for DIY...

A Coupla 2010 Highlights

2011-01-03T19:08:00.004-05:00

2010 wasn't a great year. There were a lot of low moments. But there were some definite highlights, too, and I just decided it would be a good idea to share them.

1. In February I had a desperately-needed visit with Moe Moe in her adopted home, Bloomington, Indiana. During said visit I got to see my old friend Mia briefly, and watch a really bizarre performance that ended with a random 11-year-old stranger and I racing ahead of a crowd of paraders toward a promised slice of pie (and then eating said pie with a bunch of other strangers on the streets of Bloomington).

Oh, and Moe Moe and I sat in our jammies watching ballet videos, too.

2. In May I heard a kick-ass performance by Tim & Riley.

3. In July I quit a job that was haunting my dreams and ruining my waking life, too.

4. Starting in July and lasting through December, I experienced the generosity of my dear friends and community after quitting said job (it's amazing the odd tasks people will pay you to do when you're stuck).

5. In July, October, and December, respectively, I enjoyed three lovely trips to New Hampshire.

6. From August to the present I've had the pleasure of nannying for sweet little Sylvia Dylvia Doo and occasionally, her big sister, Inker Blinker Blue.

7. In September Goaty and I went canoing with a great group of friends in Virginia.

8. In October I walked with my family in honor of my mom for Rays of Hope and I also enjoyed
singing with Patty and Nora for Hard Hittin' Songs, the benefit for Hearts Place homeless shelter.

9. This one is the highlight of the entire year for me. In November I burst into tears three measures into The Honey Dewdrops' version of "Oh Have You Seen That Turtle Dove?" at Round the Mountain. An unforgettable performance.

Photo by Neal J. Golden

10. In December, singing with Kathy at her house show was a pleasure. Also, in December I loved snowshoeing with Goaty in New Hampshire (and enjoying the fireplace afterward--pictures of that once I find them).

Photo by Neal J. Golden

There were other pleasures, for sure, but I'm looking forward to the mother load this year.
Alright, 2011. What joys do you have in store for me?

What did I tell you?

2011-01-02T18:56:00.003-05:00

I promised I would share those pocket scarves, didn't I? Well here they are! The red tencel one was a commission and the black/gray alpaca and bamboo one, a gift.
And below that, the scarflette that never sells! I don't know what the deal is with this little bugger because it is honestly probably my favorite scarflette I've woven, and yet it just won't sell! I wonder if maybe it's meant for me? Maybe it is. Maybe I'll stop whining about it and just start wearing it...

Unless, of course, you buy it first...

If it's the last thing I do...

2010-12-31T20:51:00.003-05:00

If it's the last thing I do this year, this pesky 2010, I will post a few photos of scarves I've cranked out this fall and winter. Unfortunately for you all, these have all sold...but I've got high hopes for the next month or two in my studio. Lots of scarves should be available by Valentine's Day. I promise to tell you about them when they're made.

Most of these ones ended up wrapped around the necks of some Canadians that are beloved by my bff (okay, I love one of the Canadians, too...I just haven't met her family...)

Keep your eyes peeled for a couple of pocket scarves I wove (and wrapped around the necks of their rightful owners) this winter. I'll post once I find the folder that contains them.

.:New Year's Resolution<<<<<<_*_*_*_*_*_>>>>>> Get my image files organized?? Maybe:.

This is your first warning...

2010-12-10T18:25:00.003-05:00

The Starry Mountain Trio will barge down the door at Metro Gallery on Wednesday evening, January 19th 2011. I hope you'll consider joining us for a singing workshop, a concert, and a beer.

Avery Book, Gideon Crevoshay and Suzannah Park met while singing with Village Harmony - a Vermont based touring world music group - when they were teenagers in the late ‘90’s. Through singing with Village Harmony (VH) and performing with VH’s professional touring group, Northern Harmony, these three singers gained a wide and in-depth musical education that they continue through their own musical pursuits and travels. Avery, Gideon, and Suzannah are all lifelong musicians who share a deep love of traditional vocal styles and a dedication to studying and performing them.

In 2010 the Starry Mountain Singers were formed by a group of nine singers who had been singing together in various forms for years, and it is from this group that the Starry Mountain Trio was born. They specialize in four genres of traditional singing from Corsica, the Republic of Georgia, country ballads from the British Isles and Appalachia, and shape-note music. Each member of the trio has contributed songs from her or his particular area of musical knowledge and expertise, resulting in a dynamic and eclectic program that will delight traditional music fans.

This Saturday, my friends!!

2010-12-01T17:28:00.005-05:00

Hello Friends!
I've been weaving my little fingers to the bone in preparation for this Saturday's

Holiday Heap!

As a proud member of the Charm City Craft Mafia, I look forward to putting on this indie-rific holiday craft show every year and this is the most exciting one yet. We have selected loads of top-notch vendors, some of whom are familiar and beloved, as well as some brand new crafters that I know you will all adore.

As for me, at my table I'll have long scarves, short scarves, pocket scarves, scarflettes and cuffs a-plenty, all carefully handwoven, one line at a time, just for you and your chilly little necks and wrists.

I have a big crush on just about every vendor you'll see this Saturday, but just to give you a taste...a few of my favorites are the beautiful birdy creations of JennyJen42, one of the best "man gift" makers at our show, Maneating Flower, and of course, who doesn't love Biggs & Featherbelle's natural body care products? They are so good, I dare you to not eat them.

Today has been a pretty dreary, chilly start to December, but I bet a good dose of holiday cheer at Holiday Heap this Saturday at St. John's Church (2640 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD) will lift your spirits!

See you then!

For your viewing pleasure...

2010-11-07T17:30:00.003-05:00

Now, I am not generally one to post crappy pictures if I can help it, but this whole "having a broken camera" thing is getting a little old. Thankfully, Goat's parents lent us (gave us?) their old camera, so I now present to you something (which is better than nothing). Proof that I actually have been weaving, oh, these long pictureless months...

First we have a pocket scarf that was commissioned by a friend. It's a mix of purple and blue Tencel for the warp and a lovely purpley-wine merino/Tencel weft. Burgundy-ish Tencel tabby, too. Cozy and shimmery and awesome, if I do say so myself.

After that we have an image of the much blogged- and emailed-about Pink Scarf! I am happy to say that Jack from Baltimore won the Pink Scarf (though I still have it in my possession since our schedules have yet to line up). I raised about $100 for Rays of Hope with this raffle. Through various methods (raffles, sales, sponsorships) my family raised nearly $3,000 for the cause. Thanks to everyone who contributed, and congratulations to Jack!

Next up, a small scarf that I had for sale at Crafty Bastards which inspired the commission of the larger scarf directly below. A new customer loved the colors, but not the proportions, so she asked me to make this larger one for her. It was a lot of fun!

Well, the pictures aren't the best, but hey, they're pictures, right?
Better than nothing.

Stay tuned for Holiday Heap info and hopefully a decent sized Etsy update, soon!

Okay, fine. Older is not inherently better.

2010-10-31T10:17:00.002-04:00

We have one room in our house that used to serve as a functional office and movie viewing room. And when I say ‘we,' I should say ‘he.’ It functioned that way until I moved in. Now the room serves as a burdensome reminder—of nostalgia, guilt and unnecessary backlog. Sometimes we still use this computer, but it’s generally just easier to use the laptop at the dining table rather than move the piles or be distracted by the junk that for some reason still pulls at my heartstrings.

I am someone who values old ways of doing things. One could infer this by taking a look at the most commonly referenced books on my shelf—The Sacred Harp, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Real Food for Mother and Baby (this is actually a new one on loan from a good friend), In Defense of Food, A Midwife’s Tale, The Handweaver’s Pattern Book. I “get” old. I sing old songs. I weave old patterns. I plan to give birth the traditional way. I try (and sometimes only aspire) to eat foods that were eaten long before high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils became so ubiquitous. These are good things.

But my partiality toward old things can sometimes lead to an inability to let things go, a tendency toward saving unnecessary objects, objects that make me sad—even harmful objects (venomous letters from ex-friends?)... I have a lack of clarity in the present.

If you are someone who has followed my blog from the start you know that getting organized is a challenge for me that is sometimes daunting, sometimes exhilarating. I’ve made excellent progress over the past couple of years.

This room and I are at an impasse.

Someone’s gotta give and I’m pretty sure it’s the one currently typing this little creed. The objects that clutter this room are not a reflection of my truest self. They are a backlog that I hang onto for fear that my full story cannot be understood without these bits from my past. This is a recurring theme in my life. How can you possibly know me fully if you don’t know everything about me? Writing a bio or an artist’s statement is next to impossible for me for this reason.

But, I’m working on it. I’m working on sweeping away the chaff so that I have a clearer sense of who I am as an artist, a friend, a sister and a daughter right now—in the present. Old is good where old holds value. Old is bad when it harbors fear, lack of intention, or stodginess.

Time to clean out some chaff.
Sometimes I have to use this blog to kick my own butt.

The decisions are made!

2010-10-17T19:12:00.003-04:00

The Mafia had our jury meeting last week for Holiday Heap. It was so great. So difficult. So inspiring. It's always an interesting experience jurying a craft show. It's fun to go through all the submitted images and business descriptions, but it's sometimes a little horrifying, too. I should probably record myself as I'm going through them and share the audio with you all... that would be a riot.

"Oh yes!"
"Oh, nooo...."
"Seriously? Are you out of your mind?"
"Why can't I be as awesome as you?"
"Where have you been all my life?"
"Will you marry me?"
"Um...better luck next time, homeboy."

These are some of the things I recall saying aloud in the general direction of my computer screen as I worked through the first part of the jury process. Silly, right?

It is honestly so satisfying, gratifying, inspiring to see all the incredible art and craft coming out of Baltimore. We received so many applications (from Baltimore and beyond) and SO many of them were so good. So good that we may need to move to a bigger space next year so we can accommodate more vendors. We had to turn away some seriously amazing work.

So, thanks to everyone who applied. Congratulations to everyone who was accepted.
And bless your crafty little hearts.
Hop to it! Times a-tickin'!

I love weaving

2010-10-13T18:34:00.000-04:00

Last night as I was teaching my weaving class, I was suddenly caught off guard by just how much I love weaving. That's all there is to it. I just looked around at my students and at my newest warp (which I won't be able to put on the loom until next week), and all my tools, and just generally around my studio and said, "I just love weaving so much!" and it was really cheesy, but so true and I wanted to tell you all.
I love weaving! I'm glad I'm a weaver!
Weaving rules!

Old Line Harmony at 2640!

2010-10-09T15:36:00.005-04:00

Hard Hittin' Songs for Hard Hit People is TONIGHT at Saint John's Church!
2640 St. Paul Street
Baltimore
6:30pm
$10 suggested donation to benefit A Heart's Place, the homeless shelter on premises.

Featuring the musical talents of Nora Dunn, Patty Berry and myself, performing as Old Line Harmony, a trio of lady shape note singers.

Also of course, Caleb Stine, Michael Patrick Flanagan Smith, Channing & Quinn, and The Mumbles!

This will be fun and beautiful and, if this is Baltimore's own Caleb Stine hosting this event (and it is) you can bet you're bum there'll be a singalong at the end.

Come out!

10/2/10 - 10 til 5

2010-10-02T00:23:00.003-04:00

See you at Crafty Bastards!
18th and Wyoming.
Adams Morgan.
Washington, DC

America.

Today, Saturday, October 2nd.
10am - 5pm

I'm Crafty. I'm a bastard. So vote for me.

2010-09-21T19:41:00.002-04:00

Craftiest Bastard 2010 - Largegreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Gah! Crafty Bastards is coming up SO quickly! And between working in the studio, working out of the studio, visits from family and friends, weather changing and whatnot.... well, let's just say I need an employee. Or a second intern.

Here's what you can do to lift my spirits when I can't believe how much I need to get done in the next week and a half....
Vote for Carlybird Weaves for Craftiest Bastard! It's a compliment, I swear. Plus, if I win I get cool things, like an Etsy shopping spree. Christmas is coming, my friends, and if you want cool, handmade presents, this might be the only way to get them (at least from me)!

Pink Scarf Raffle!

2010-09-16T18:21:00.003-04:00

Well, as you all know from my last post, and from following my goings-on in general, this fall is a tough time for my family and me. And while I am allowing myself to be sad, and to think often about the 1st anniversary of my mother's death, I am trying also to put a positive spin on our loss and to affect some change.

At this year's Crafty Bastards Craft Fair I will raffle off one of my handwoven scarves and all proceeds will benefit Rays of Hope, an organization that raises awareness and money toward breast cancer research and breast care. The scarf is on the loom now. It's beautiful and it's pink and I'm excited for one of you to own it! If you are unable to make it to Crafty Bastards, but would still like to enter the raffle, tickets are $1.00 each. I'm not going to offer any 2-for-1 specials or anything like that, mostly because I just don't feel like doing the math! So... you can send me a check or Pay Pal me the money or just show up at Crafty Bastards on October 2nd in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. Send me an email at carlygoss -at- yahoo -dot- com if you need my mailing address or Pay Pal address.
Thanks so much! Let's squash breast cancer, shall we?

I bet you wish I would post pictures of the scarf. Well, the camera is still broken and the scarf is not done yet anyway! So, here's a pretty picture of a coreopsis plant instead. I've got a bunch of these planted in the front yard and I've been collecting the plant heads for dye bath. Wee!

Rays of Hope

2010-09-10T16:36:00.003-04:00

October 24th would have been my mother's 59th birthday. She passed away last September of breast cancer. This year I will celebrate her life by participating in Rays of Hope - A Walk Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer. It's painfully ironic that the first year I participate in this event it is held on mom's birthday. I'm determined to celebrate (with cake, even!) because my momma was a woman worth celebrating! So, I'll join my sisters, cousins, aunt and close friends in raising awareness and money to work toward a cure, so that maybe breast cancer will affect even one less family in the future. Please visit my Rays of Hope page and consider making a donation. I've set a modest goal of $100 and I think that I will probably raise that goal as the days go by.
Thanks.
xo

2 Mafia Related Updates!

2010-08-30T19:58:00.004-04:00

Firstly, applications are OPEN for Charm City Craft Mafia's HOLIDAY HEAP, our annual winter craft fair. Head over to application website and wow us with your wares!

And speaking of wowing us... are you currently enrolled as a college student and looking for a completely fabulous way to earn 3 credits this semester? Apply to be the Mafia's Fall/Winter Intern! We LOVED our most recent intern, Allie, who has now moved on to bigger and brighter things, so we are looking forward to filling her gigantic clown shoes. If you are interested, or know someone who would be... please send me a cover letter and resume at carlygoss -at- yahoo -dot- com.

Job description follows:

The Charm City Craft Mafia seeks an ambitious student to join us as Mafia Intern! The two main responsibilities of this internship are to assist our members with studio work, and, most importantly to help us prepare for our winter 2010 craft show, Holiday Heap! The intern will work along side the Mafia communicating with vendor applicants, performing organizational tasks and marketing, contacting sponsors, as well as carrying out day-of-show tasks including setting up tables, decorating, assisting vendors, making food runs, etc. This internship is a wonderful opportunity for an artist who is interested in community building, hosting events, and the indie craft community. You must be motivated, flexible and fun. You will see the inner workings of the Mafia and what it takes to put on the best indie craft show in Baltimore. You will have the chance to work with a group of 14 zany and talented artists whose work includes painting, drawing, sculpture, weaving, bookbinding, ceramics and much more. This opportunity begins as soon as possible and can last through the semester and even beyond, if we find the right candidate. Other tasks may include assistance with other art and craft shows, studio maintenance, etc.
The intern MUST be available to work the evening of December 3rd and ALL DAY December 4th, 2010. Please do not apply if you cannot make yourself available on both of those days.
Looking forward to getting crafty with you!

One half Crafty Bastard, coming right up!

2010-08-29T16:38:00.002-04:00

So... I was waitlisted for this year's Crafty Bastards Art and Craft Fair in DC. But, then I was offered a half booth and went ahead and accepted. I am very much looking forward to the show, but for some reason, instead of busting my tail to get some work done, I've been agonizing over my inability to change my own oil in my car. It is so frustrating. So, I'll need to be taught to do that, apparently, even though I understand fundamentally how to do it. Lame.

In the meantime... to the studio to weave many scarves!

2010-08-15T08:45:00.003-04:00

I'm just going to start yoinking completely random and incongruous images from the interwebs to accompany my posts until I get my camera fixed. This is not so uncommon for me even when my camera works, so I don't know what's been holding me back.

I took Rachel and Dean's blanket off the loom yesterday and it looks and feels great. It's a nice, light summery blanket. Should be perfect for snuggling on the couch with bare legs. Don't you wish you could see a picture? Too bad! Check this out instead:

One of the first images that comes up when I do a Google images search for "Rachel and Dean's Blanket"

In other news, my buddy Rachel Bone has moved into my studio with me and I absolutely love it. We spent a good few hours working together on Friday. Yesterday I didn't get into the studio until the evening, but when I finally got there I saw new paintings and a fun little floral motif painted directly on the wall which certainly brightened my day.

Tomorrow I start a couple month-long nannying job pretty much full time, so any weaving or blog updating will be relegated to the evening hours. I'm trying to be better about getting to the studio earlier in the evening so I don't fall asleep before I even get anything done. It's hard between all the dog walking and whatnot.
Tiger. You dog. :)

2010-08-09T07:51:00.002-04:00

Hi folks,
I still have a broken camera....so unfortunately I have no photos to show you, but I wanted to give you an update on the blanket I'm currently weaving for Rachel and Dean's wedding (which was on Saturday, and was beautiful, sweet, and inspiring). The weaving is coming along fantastically. It's fairly small as blankets go (just a small throw) but pretty large as my weaving goes. Approximately 40" wide by who knows how long...might end up at about 60"?? We'll see. It's primarily a white and gray cotton warp with four stripes of red cotton. It is a combination of a geometric and an undulating twill pattern using a red merino/tencel weft with a banana yellow 60/2 silk tabby. I'm weaving it on my 8-shaft Norwood cherry loom, which has a wonderful sonic quality in the form of a low moan. So fun. All of my looms have a personality of their own and the Norwood is certainly the Grandpa of the bunch. Creaky and a little stubborn but mostly a sweetheart. :)

In other news...I've been spending a lot of time housesitting, dogsitting, catsitting, working on a couple of commissions, dyeing black pants even blacker for a friend, cleaning out basements, attempting to clean out our refrigerator, preparing warps for a new line of scarves (that's right, I said, "line of scarves" because I'm going to try to have more than just one of a particular style so that you, my faithful fans, will have some more choices this fall and winter in terms of color and pattern.

Folks are up to all sorts of zaniness among my friends these days. I'm dogsitting for one friend who is on an archaeological dig in Israel as we speak. Another is on her way to Turkey for a year starting today to study shadow puppetry on a Fulbright. A lot of moving and shaking going on.

I am also grieving the loss of George Seiler, a great friend and role model, a sweetheart of the Sacred Harp singing community and a bass that I wish every new Sacred Harp singer I have recruited to this tradition could have had the opportunity to sing with.

The loss of such a vibrant, yet calm and tender soul is completely heart wrenching.

I have good news, too, though... and that is that my sister, Jaime, gave birth to her third child on July 27th. Welcome to the world, Nicholas. Farewell, George.

Baltimore's got Art

2010-07-24T10:04:00.004-04:00

And it's good.

I just read an article by Blake Gopnik in the Washington Post, which I had heard from a few folks to be condescending at best and appalling at worst. I was not exactly outraged until toward the end when I read this:

So far, no art stars have emerged from the Baltimore scene.

If anything, a good number of the city's artists seem in it for the bohemian cred, rather than for the chance to make serious, challenging art. They're about living in a garret, wearing a (metaphorical) beret and producing objects that are best described as "fun," "wacky" and "weird."

Yeah. Baltimore's got freaks. We know.
But among those freaks are some of the most hardworking, driven, inspired and talented artists you will ever meet.

I think I agree with the statement that Baltimore's greatest work of art is the community. If you've been here a while you know. Having such a strong network of truly dedicated artists, musicians, and writers here in this city who are interested in and supportive of your work, is a gift. And yes, we take the good with the bad. But we would not be interested or supportive if the work sucked. We just wouldn't. We support promise, but we do not support crap. Dig a little deeper, friends. That "fun," "wacky" and "weird" art is also timely, relevant and intelligent.

This is a prime weekend for experiencing what Baltimore has to offer artistically. Of course, what I want you to do the most is come to A Common Thread at The Star Factory tonight at 7:30. This is important to me, personally.

But, I also want you to experience Whartscape. And Fluid Movement. And to see Caleb Stine play a show with The Defibulators tomorrow night. I want to you to see Minas' newest collection of work on the Avenue. I want you to check out the Sondheim finalist exhibition. I want you to reflect on the absolute gloriousness of what Shodekeh did on stage at the Meyerhoff with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra last night.

I want you to personally high five the plethora of art stars who have emerged from the Baltimore art scene. Start now.

Hazel Starling, too.

2010-07-15T11:28:00.002-04:00

Next weekend when you all are knocking the door down to the Star Factory screaming, "Let me in! I need beautiful handwoven cloth! I need beautiful women to sing to me!" you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that Hazel Starling will also join Brooke Brown Saracino and Katie Feild, presenting the music portion of the evening. Hazel Starling is a fella, by the by, and I'm looking forward to hearing his music. Check him out.

Saturday, July 24th

2010-07-07T13:36:00.005-04:00

It's always wise to actually look at a calendar before posting about upcoming events. You know. So as not to annoy your friends and offend your neighbors.

So....the weaving/music show that was nameless for some time has now been christened!

Please join fiber artists Rachel Beckman and Carly Goss at The Star Factory for....

A Common Thread

An exhibition of hand woven artwork with musical performances by
Brooke Brown Saracino and Katie Feild.

Saturday, July 24th
at 7:30pm at
The Star Factory

The Star Factory is located in Woodberry, a fine neighborhood in Baltimore City. If you need directions, please email me at carlygoss - at - yahoo - dot - com.
Hope to see you there!

The kick in the butt I needed

2010-07-04T13:06:00.003-04:00

I just Googled "weaver Baltimore" and "handweaver Baltimore" and guess what? Carlybird Weaves does not appear on the first 15 pages given either search. I didn't want to torture myself further by seeing just how long it takes before my business shows up on the computer screens of weaving enthusiasts in the area, so I quit there and vowed to rectify the situation instead.

I try not to beat myself up too much in regard to my business not being where I want it to be, or my art not being where I want it to be. I was dealt a tough hand these past couple of years and I constantly remind myself that it's OKAY that I'm not exactly thriving.

That said, it is important to me to put at least a little bit of effort into weaving, even in the tough times, and in fact, I think the more effort I put into it, the less tough times will be. It's a creative outlet, it's therapeutic, and, when done correctly, it does make me money.

Today I made two decisions. One is that I am not going to apply for American Craft Council shows this year. My original plan had been to apply for Baltimore and St. Paul and bust my butt all summer and fall to make it happen. Last year I applied and was accepted into the Sarasota and Charlotte shows. Such an honor. Sadly, both of those shows were canceled due to the economic climate. Given the fact that I just quit the job that was in large part responsible for me neglecting my weaving studio, and the fact that it will likely take me a while to get back into the swing of weaving (particularly considering the fact that I will have to get another day job which will take up more time than I want it to) I think it is wisest for me to set more reasonable (and affordable) show goals this year. I've applied for Crafty Bastards, a fall show in DC, which I did last year very shortly (a week) after my mother passed away. Despite being in a very rough spot emotionally, and having not nearly as much work together as I had planned, that was a really good show for me. Probably the best I've ever had. The crowd was great. I had a lot of help from the Craft Mafia intern, Allie. The weather was good. That could be a really excellent show for me if I'm better prepared this year. So...instead of spending the money on application fees for ACC shows, I'm going to hope that I get accepted to Crafty Bastards again and start putting a lot of energy into a more fleshed out display. More scarves. More cuffs. More striking merchandising. I plan to do the same for this year's Holiday Heap. If I work hard now on having a bountiful inventory, then when the fall/winter craft show season arrives (always quicker than I expect) I'll be able to better focus on advertising, display, and...what? Enjoying the holidays. Then maybe I'll apply for ACC 2012. We'll see.

The other goal, is getting my name out there a bit more. I was riding a wave for a little while where I was getting a lot of excellent press. Thanks to everyone who helped me out in that regard! But, I forgot I guess, that it takes good work to get good press and I need to up my game a little. So, here we go!

To the studio!

Weaving Show at The Star Factory

2010-06-27T17:09:00.005-04:00

For those of you who are not Ellyn Stokes, Leyla Diker or Carly Goss I feel I should explain that The Star Factory is the name of ye olde studio that I so rarely get a chance to work in these days. Even with a name like The Star Factory, it's hard to get over there lately....

BUT... since I'll be hosting my first ever in-studio, weaving show/open house at said Star Factory, I better get it together!

That's right....on Saturday, July 24th Rachel Beckman and I will present a collection of our handwoven textile art and Brooke Brown Saracino and (hopefully) Katie Feild will provide beautiful music to round out the evening.

Rachel Beckman is a seriously dedicated weaver, currently a student at the Maryland Institute College of Art, a fine writer and storyteller, and one hell of an intern to boot.

Brooke Brown Saracino is a good old friend with a guitar and a ukelele who will make you smile and cry with her warm, earnest music and stunningly sweet voice.

Katie Feild is student of weaving herself, and also a most talented musician who will light up the room against all odds.
And you know me. I'm the girl with the blog and the weaving studio.

More details forthcoming!

Photos were yoinked from the likes of Brooke, Kevin Griffin Moreno, Rachel Beckman and Gillian Daley. Thanks!

Pile of Craft

2010-06-20T18:01:00.003-04:00

I know many of you will be disappointed [toot! toot! (that's me tooting my own horn)], but I'm afraid I will not be selling my wares at the Charm City Craft Mafia's Pile of Craft this coming weekend. :(
Boo.

BUT, you should still go because I am only one member of an entire Mafia's worth of completely awesome crafters who really deserve to have your money thrown at them in exchange for beautiful, handcrafted works of art. And if you're like, "But, Carly, the only reason I go to Pile of Craft is to buy your weavings...." then you should still go, and check out the weavings of Ms. Pidge Pidge, who is coming down from New York and who is a good friend of Rachel Bone's and who deserves a big Baltimore, handwoven-loving hello!

Just consider it a way to whet your appetite for this coming fall and winter when, I promise, I'll be back on the ball and weaving my wee little soul out.
I love you, Baltimore.
I just need a little down time.

By hook or by crook...

2010-06-09T11:57:00.002-04:00

Hi blog-readers.
Long time, no see. {Please insert inane but obligatory comment about how infrequently I post these days here.}

So....if I had a car that wasn't broken down in Pennsylvania right now I'd probably be packing it. And if I had a camera that wasn't broken next to me on the table I'd probably be uploading pictures from it to share with all you faithful blog readers. Alas!

I'm hoping that my fabulous father and my also quite fabulous godfather between them will have fixed my car [the car whose radiator busted on Route 29 1/2-way between DC and Baltimore last Wednesday after a typically painful and long manager's meeting in Silver Spring (yes, that Wednesday when it was a billion degrees and I had my dear friend Katie coming into town the next day and was in the middle of making travel plans, and had a singing coming up, and everyone needed me to deal with their crap, etc) and which is now in my godfather's driveway in Greencastle, PA, the place to which I'm hoping I can convince some friend or another to drive me to this evening, assuming that the car is fixed]. Otherwise, I'll be taking a bus to Massachusetts bright and early tomorrow morning so that I can be in Northampton on Friday for....

Da da da DAAAAA!!!!

The opening reception for

Threadbare: A Fiber Art Exhibition at the A.P.E. Gallery!

Please come and please keep your fingers crossed that the next few days go more smoothly than last week did. Hopefully I'll have pictures to share once my camera fixes itself.
Love,
Carly "Really- Kinda- Sick- of- all- the- Hassle" Goss

Threadbare

2010-05-15T09:30:00.004-04:00

I can't believe that it is May and I haven't even begun to plug this show yet!
My first gallery show (outside of the college context) will be coming up in no time flat and I've been so busy between work and music collaborations and actually getting the weavings done, that I've neglected to tell you all about it!

Tatting by Christalena Hughmanick. Photo by Brendan Murtaugh.

THREADBARE: A Fiber Arts Exhibition

Northampton, Massachusetts - Three local fiber artists and a photographer present a show about the history and process of fiber art at the APE Gallery from June 8 to 26 with an opening reception on Friday, June 11 from 5 to 8pm. The artists host a discussion Saturday, June 19 from 11am to 1pm to inform and engage the public in a conversation about this emerging sector of the art world. Artists include Carly Goss, Kathryn Greenwood Swanson, Christalena Hughmanick and Brendan Murtaugh.

Carly Goss, a Western Mass native now living in Baltimore, presents a series of handwoven textiles that explore the liminality of celebration and mourning. Kathryn Greenwood Swanson, a Hampshire College graduate and Northampton resident exhibits a large, site-specific fiber-arts installation which seeks to ask questions about women and their relationship to textile arts. Work featured by Christalena Hughmanick includes knitted, tatted and embroidered pieces from her remake of a Victorian Bridal Trousseau, and Brendan Murtaugh's elegant photographs depict the labor intensive process of tatting.

APE Gallery is located at 126 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday & Sunday 12 to 5pm and Friday & Saturday 12 to 8pm. To contact APE please call 413.586.5553 and for more information about the show please contact Christalena at 717.490.2003 or christalena.hughmanick@gmail.com. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Doin' Collabos

2010-05-05T18:20:00.004-04:00

Photo by Frank Hamilton of City Paper

In case you haven't found your way there yet, I wanted to let you all know that I have a second blog now. The Lily and the Thorn is the official blog of The Shapenote Sisters, the little musical trio that is Carlybird, Patty Berry, and Kathy Fahey. I don't want to be terribly redundant if I can help it, by double posting, but since it's a new blog, I wanted to at least mention it, link it, and let you know that you should go over there for more detailed goings-on of The Shapenote Sisters, including our upcoming collaboration with Shodekeh at the Creative Alliance. If you want to see girls singing to Jesus with human beatbox accompaniment, cloggers dancing with b-boys, and even more exciting craziness, come to this show which benefits WombWork (a most excellent Baltimore organization that is all about empowering our communities) this Saturday, May 8th at 9pm at the Creative Alliance.
Come earlier and check out Ain't Goin' Home, an art installation by Chris Stain and Leon Reid IV in the main gallery.
3134 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD
Be there, sillies!

And! Furthermore! Check out this article by Lee Gardner about the show, and about me, and about Sho-sho-shodekeh.

Miscellany & Lemonsticks

2010-04-25T18:10:00.008-04:00

When one slacks in the land of blogging but finally gets the urge, or gumption, or what-have-you to post something again it can be tricky to choose just what one posts. Do I bombard you with WAY too much information? Do I sprinkle a few little vignettes into one post? Do I actually commit to blogging more frequently and save all I have pent up for individual posts? Um...for the record, it's not like what I'm about to share with you is all that worthy of pent-up-ness.
Anyway, I guess what I've decided is that I'm just going to throw a bunch of random crap that I've been doing and thinking about (or am about to do) at your face and let you sort it out.

First though (I guess this counts as something I've been thinking about), can I just tell you how hilarious my friend Katie is? Please? I joined Goodreads a few years ago and I have a special email filter set up so that I only have to actually read my friends' updates when I'm in the mood and so the updates really pile up (worse than my bills). But when I finally get around to reading some of the reviews I am always absolutely giddy with Katie's. Katie, my friend, are you out there? Are you listening? You should quit your job and become a professional book reviewer because you are so. freaking. funny.
Do it now.

So... in February I flew to Indiana and visited Moe Moe. I love Moe Moe. And I love Bloomington, so there.

The day I came home, my dad came to visit. I love my dad. He rules.

Recently I started another blog, to promote/keep y'all in the loop of the goings-on of The Shapenote Sisters. Admittedly, I kind of hate our little band name. Okay, I think it's really lame and we've got to come up with something cooler, asap.
I reconnected with some great old friends that I used to sing with by attending their workshop and concert in DC (remember how I spammed the crap out of your Facebook page, Inbox, phone and mailbox about the Starry Mountain Singers?) It really was that good.

I dyed silk scarves with onion skins I've been saving for three years. I wore this one to the Starry Mountain Singers event to make sure the oniony-ness didn't rub off on my neck. It didn't. I'll update my Etsy shop with some of these silk scarves when I finish them.

I've been trying hard to bust my butt for a most excellent show that I will be a part of in my home state of Massachusetts in June.

The Shapenote Sisters (*wince*cringe*) and I will be collaborating with Shodekeh, my beatboxing buddy on May 8th at the Creative Alliance.

And other stuff.

Starry Mountain Singers this Saturday!

2010-04-14T18:43:00.005-04:00

This will not be the last you hear of this. Yes, I've plastered Facebook. Yeah, you probably have already, or will soon receive email reminders. And phone calls. And texts.
But this is a REALLY GREAT opportunity to see some beautiful people, listen to some gorgeous singing, and learn a thing or two about traditional songs your own dang self.

Please come support some good old friends of mine, The Starry Mountain Singers, in DC this weekend. This is one of the finest collections of singers you will ever have the pleasure to hear.

If you've been following my blog for awhile then you've probably experienced the excessive haranguing when The Sweetback Sisters have come to town a couple of times. Zara, Stefan, and Emmy are part of The Starry Mountain Singers, too! If you missed the Sweetback Sisters before, now's your chance to see something equally awesome, including three members of the band!

And if you've been following me longer than this blog has existed, then you've heard mention of Nathan Morrison, Gideon Crevoshay and Avery Book, for sure. I sang with all these goofballs during my Village Harmony days. Suzannah Park and Cora Kelly and I have certainly sung together before as well, though I don't think we ever had the opportunity to do so formally (VH is funny like that. A common question is, "Did I ever actually tour with you or were you just tagging along on that one tour...?"

Anyway, please come. You will love these guys. Go to their website now and get a taste of the loveliness. Make sure the volume is up on your computer.

Call for Crafty Interns!

2010-04-12T20:13:00.003-04:00

The Mafia is looking for another intern! Please send me an email with your resume and cover letter at carlygoss -at- yahoo -dot- com if you'd like to spend the summer semester working with the craftiest kids in Baltimore and get real, live college credit for it!

The Charm City Craft Mafia seeks an ambitious student to join us as Mafia Intern! The two main responsibilities of this internship are to assist our members with studio work and, most importantly, to help us prepare for our spring 2010 craft show, Pile of Craft! The intern will work along side the Mafia communicating with vendor applicants, performing organizational tasks and marketing, contacting sponsors, as well as carrying out day-of-show tasks including setting up tables, decorating, assisting vendors, making food runs, etc. This internship is a wonderful opportunity for an artist who is interested in community building, hosting events, and the indie craft community. You must be motivated, flexible and fun. You will see the inner workings of the Mafia and what it takes to put on the best indie craft show in Baltimore. You will have the chance to work with a group of 14 zany and talented artists whose work includes painting, drawing, sculpture, weaving, bookbinding, ceramics and much more. This opportunity begins as soon as possible and can last through the summer and even beyond, if we find the right candidate. Other tasks may include assistance with other art and craft shows, studio maintenance, etc.

The intern MUST be available to work the evening of June 25th and all day on June 26^th 2010. Please do not apply if you cannot make yourself available on both of those days.

Looking forward to getting crafty with you!

Hit the Books

2010-04-08T07:52:00.002-04:00

There's a pretty special lady snoozing on my couch right now. Baltimore's favorite sweetheart, Christine Sajecki, is in town this week for the opening of her show with Joe Young at Minas' Gallery in Hampden. Christine is an encaustic painter. She lives in Savannah, Georgia now and we miss her. Joe is a microfiction writer. He lives up the street, but we miss him, too. They're the dynamic duo of the decade.
For the record, house guests who have lived in your house before are wicked easy house guests to have.
:)

Come to the opening reception on Saturday evening and fall in love!

CHRISTINE SAJECKI: Covers

New Paintings with Narrative by Joseph Young

April 10 – May 16 / Reception: Saturday April 10, 6 – 9 pm

Christine Sajecki, currently living in Savannah , returns to Baltimore to exhibit new paintings influenced by books and geography. Sajecki’s work will be displayed alongside brief, corresponding narratives by Baltimore writer Joseph Young.

Black Holocaust Memorial

Encaustic and photcopy transfer on Birch, 2010

Easter Weekend Shenanigans

2010-04-03T12:34:00.008-04:00

I've decided to spend this Easter weekend doing Carly things. This morning I got up and went to the grocery store, the bank, the post office. I made a phone call that I needed to. I'm doing laundry. I'm going to clean the bejeezus out of the kitchen. I came home from running my errands, and while I ate my breakfast I decided to check out some of the work of some old friends on You Tube for a little inspiration.

You should probably check out Alsarah, HuDost, and Jesse, but I'll let you do that on your own time. What I really want to be sure gets shared with the universe this morning is this video, created by an artist named Sigga Sunna Reynisdóttir using the music of Sam Amidon. Sam is one of those folks who I feel like I know even though I don't at all. I know him through his brother who I only really know through other friends. You know how it goes. It's nice to feel like your actually connected with genius somehow, even if it's through six degrees of separation.

Anyway...sometimes you'll see artists use other people's work as a crutch to make their own work more evocative or dramatic. This happens a lot with visual art and music. But sometimes the two creations support each other in such a way as to make the end result so beautiful it's painful. Truly. This video and this song stand on their own just fine. But the combination of the two is heartbreaking.
Enjoy.
And then go make some art.

IMPROVISATORY OPERA, THROAT SINGING, & THE HUMAN BEATBOX...

2010-03-28T17:33:00.003-04:00

Last night we went to see a wonderful show at the Creative Alliance, organized by our favorite neighborhood beatboxer, Shodekeh. I guess I met Sho a couple of years ago when he was a resident at the Creative Alliance and he has not ceased to amaze me since. It's awesome sometimes to be reminded of the incredible talent that comes not only out of this town, but out of my very own circle of friends. I am surrounded by such gifted, extraordinarily hard-working and dedicated artists. I take my artist friends for granted sometimes. We hang out and tell stories and jokes at parties, and yes they are funnier or more intriguing than the stories and jokes told at lame parties with lame people, but still, you forget sometimes that this person who's telling this pretty funny joke while shoving veggie chili in his face is a powerhouse with incredibly refined vocal technique, a deep knowledge of the capacity of his own body and the balls to push the envelope of what a beatboxer is "supposed to do." All this, and he still is humble enough to greet every audience member waiting in line for a ticket to his show with a warm, welcoming hug.

Joining Sho for this performance was Bonnie Lander, a classically and operatically trained vocalist who works in a very experimental vein. She is young and beautiful and incredibly talented, powerful and freaking hilarious. Coming into the CA theater last night, I did not expect that the opera singer was going to be the one to make me crack up in my seat with her antics. The sounds she made, the expressions she made.... she was incredible. And I was so glad to have seen her right when I did. I've mentioned on this blog a few times, I think, the frustration around my own singing experience over the past couple of years. I've hurt my voice. I've had a hard time remembering what I love about singing. It's been more work than fun. It's been tough. But between watching Bonnie last night (yes, watching, more so than listening) and keeping in mind the lessons I am learning and being reminded of in the yoga class I'm taking on Thursday mornings, I have a renewed interest in the intelligence of my body. I am inspired to capitalize once again on the whole of my body to create the sounds and sensations that I know how to create. Watching how Bonnie used her entire body to create the sounds she made last night was so inspiring. When you sing, you don't just sing from your throat. You don't even just sing from the diaphragm. You sing from the ground up. Just as you need to work from the four corners of your feet straight through the crown of your head when practicing yoga, you also must make singing a full bodied experience. It's big like that. But there are also subtleties that must be paid attention to. The size of the oral cavity. Making space for the sound to come out. The tiniest curl of the lip changes the sound that is released from your body. These are things I want to be mindful of as I continue to make music in the world.

Oh, there was also a throat singer, Ian Hesford, last night, who was quite talented, a little goofy, and a lot of fun. I was definitely most inspired by Bonnie Lander and my favorite, Mr. Shodekeh though. I've got a lot of work to do. I'll start by massaging my face.
Then I'll hum.

Apply for Pile of Craft Right Away!

2010-03-22T13:00:00.003-04:00

Hi Friends!
March means spring. Which means you need to get on those craft show applications ASAP!
This year the Charm City Craft Mafia's Pile of Craft (the best dang indie craft show in the land) will be held on June 26th at St. John's Church (not your daddy's church, yo).

Applications are up now and we are looking forward to voting you in!

So head over to our beautifully redesigned website, and then apply as a vendor for Pile of Craft! Do it now!
Love,
Carly

My Horoscope Today:

2010-03-17T20:34:00.002-04:00

Although you aren't quite finished dealing with a serious set of circumstances that prevent you from reaching your goals, you should get significant relief now as talkative Mercury harmonizes with fiery Mars. You can further your career objectives today by letting go of any fear you have around your professional aspirations. Don't worry about whether or not you'll succeed. There isn't time to hold anything back; just give it all you have and watch what happens.

Sometimes I really need to read junk like that.
Just the kick in the butt I need.
Here I go, giving it my all!

Slippery slope

2010-02-17T18:23:00.003-05:00

This is what I had

Alright, friends. Before this blog seriously turns into a bloated version of my Facebook status updates, I have to rein myself in and remember that this is the blog of a WEAVER and a CRAFTSPERSON and that is why I have you, the hordes of blog followers, flocking to my little corner of the interwebs. Not for snarky comments about the weather.

Sorry about that.

So... admittedly (and quite obviously) I've been having a hard time keeping up with my work lately because of my other work. This has been difficult for me because I'm the kind of gal who really wants to put her all into things. And something I've discovered about myself in many of my endeavors is that I am ALL over it, gung-ho, until the end when I get so sick of whatever it is I'm working on that I just freak out and do whatever it takes to get it done. Right. Now. Which often means weaving off the end of an otherwise beautiful weaving with the thickest, fuggliest yarn I have lying around the studio. This is something I'm trying to train myself to not do. Often when I meet people at shows or at my day job I hear, "Holy wowsers, you must be the most patient person in the world to do that..." To weave. Usually I say something like, "Yeah, it requires a certain level of patience." And I have it. Up until the end. So I need to learn to take a deep breath, remember what I originally set out to do with a piece, and finish it with grace instead of frustration.
And I need to spend more time in my new studio. Here are a couple of progress photos of the little bit of painting I've done in there to start cleaning it up and making it feel like home. I wish I had photos of what the place looked like when I first moved in, but I'd probably lose readership if I did ("Ooh, Carly...you're really letting yourself go...").

This is a little more what I have in mind.
A little less....hectic. It's a work in progress.

I just ordered a new phone

2010-02-13T11:02:00.002-05:00

Don't be alarmed my friends...
It's still an incredible simple, pretty-much-purely-functional phone. But this time it's got a camera inside it! This morning when my phone alarm went off I turned to look at it (that's right, just *look* at it) and the thing turned off. All the way off. This happens more often than my little fraught heart can handle, so I decided I can either shell out thirty bucks for a new battery for the phone that Alexander Graham Bell gave me for my birthday about five and a half years ago, or I could shell out a little extra cash and go for the upgrade.
I'm looking forward to having buttons that work and being able to wake up in the morning without worrying that I slept through another turned off-alarm that my own little fingers never touched.

It's a new day.

Okay. Fine. You win.

2010-02-10T09:01:00.007-05:00

Remember my last post where I got all high and mighty on your non-Yankee ass? The one where I bit my thumb at your whiny, winter-hating, inability to deal? Sorry about that. I admit defeat. This is actually a real-life, honest-to-goodness, New England-style snowstorm. Times two. For those of you who don't live in the area of the country that is currently getting hammered for the second time in the same week by many feet of snow, I offer you these pictures. And to all of those who read my blog regularly, I offer my sincerest apologies because I really am a cocky bastard sometimes. This is real snow! And there's a lot of it! And no, I haven't fallen on my ass yet, but I've watched a lot of people do so, and I'm sure I will too before it's all done! It's cold. It's slippery. It's beautiful. And it's Baltimore.

On my first two snow days (Saturday and Sunday), I spent a lot of time lying in bed, reading, petting my cat, cleaning. I'd go out and shovel for a while and then I'd rest for a while. Then I'd go out and shovel some more. Toward the end of it all I started to really want to weave pretty badly. But not badly enough to actually trek over to my studio and see if I could even get in there. This is one of the drawbacks of having a studio in what I call Backwoods Baltimore, WV. It's normally a five minute walk from my house. But when there's over two feet of snow on the ground? For one thing, I don't know if I can even get there. For another, if I do get there, I have to basically climb on the roof in order to get into my space and I just don't know if I'm up for that. By the time I'd get inside, I'd probably be so cold and miserable that I wouldn't want to weave anymore. I do not yet have the space set up to accommodate frozen tootsies. So...today I'm kinda wishing I had kept one of my looms here at the house. I had been feeling so accomplished the other day when my helpers and I finally got all my looms moved into my studio. But today, I'm wishing I had a loom to weave on right here in the comfort of my home. Alas and alack. Instead I'll start planning the dye garden that I will mess around with this spring. And I'll tromp to Beth's house for Belgian waffles. Oh, hell yes.

Enjoy the snow!

2010-02-05T19:21:00.003-05:00

You all know that I will eventually move out of Baltimore, right?
I mean, don't get me wrong...I freaking love Baltimore. Why else would I still be here ten years after I swore I'd be hitting the pavement as soon as I got my diploma? And no, it's not that I haven't gotten my diploma yet that I'm still here. I've got it and I've got the phone calls from Sallie Mae to prove it. The reason I'm still here is that beautiful people end up in Baltimore. The reason I'm here is that it's weird, and so am I, and so we actually get along quite well. The reason I'm here is that I found the best nook in the whole city that marries my love of the country with my desire for neighborly human contact. The reason I'm here is also that I haven't gotten up the gumption to leave. While I'm here though, can I just let you know that, as a born and bred New Englander, the level to which Baltimoreans get worked up over snow storms will never cease to amaze me? I mean, I'm not saying this isn't a big storm working its magic on us, but, um...just go spend a winter in Western Massachusetts sometime. You'd probably be outside without a jacket on right now, changing the oil in your car. Or you'd at least be doing donuts in the gravel pit.
I'm just saying.
Still, I get swept up in all the hoo-hah too, now that I've been here so long. I'm excited that my staff might get the morning off tomorrow, or even the whole day. I'm looking forward to being marooned in my house so that I might actually clean the bedroom and office. I'm digging the snow (and by digging, I mean "enjoying"). I'm just not gonna go out and buy a case of toilet paper, that's all. We've got plenty of toilet paper. In fact, maybe I'll pretend it's Halloween and go toilet paper the neighborhood tonight just to show you all how very unnecessary extra toilet paper is. How about that?

Enjoy your weekend, friends. However you spend it.

The Studio Move

2010-01-29T10:36:00.002-05:00

Alrighty. I don't want to jinx this. Anything could happen. But I think...FINALLY...today is the day that I get to move into my studio for real. I've made the decision as to which studio I want. I've made arrangements with the Goat to borrow his van even though he won't be able to help me actually move. Allie the Most Fabulous Intern is coming over once she finishes assistant teaching for the day. I just have to touch base with my favorite natural body care crafters to ensure that I won't be too terribly in their way if we move my looms out of their space this afternoon. And then it's party time. I've got an industrial-style mop. I've got paint of the "oops" variety and otherwise. I've got a very smiley and capable intern. One thing I don't have though, is music in the space. Hmmm... I guess I can bring the laptop over for today but for the future, me thinks I'm in the market for some kinda stereo or cd player or...dare I say it...iPod and speakers? Oh no.
Methinks not.

I can't WAIT to get this show on the road! Here I go!

Good Morning!

2010-01-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

I have been enough of a rut lately that I generally have a really hard time getting out of bed in the morning. Which means that I rush around in an attempt to get to work close to on time and then I scarf down cafe food that I spend too much money on (when it's not given to me for free because I'm there so often that I fit in with the decor) and then I kinda feel like crap all day.

But not today! I got up nice and early. I did yoga. I drank my tea and ate my breakfast while sitting at my table. I wrote in my journal and read a New York Times article about Howard Zinn (who just died, sadly) and now I even have time to get dressed and brush my teeth and go to work.

That's all! Have a great day, you all!

One Verdict is in.

2010-01-20T20:59:00.002-05:00

The other is still to be decided. Thanks so much to everyone who offered their input regarding my giant studio debacle. I really do appreciate your feedback and it helped me very much in my struggle to make a decision. I'm still not 100% sure, but I'm leaning heavily toward the space with the pretty view, my own toilet and the gauntlet of cannibals. I just won't teach classes in the winter. I'll keep you all posted when I make my final decision, but in the meantime...

Hear ye, hear ye!! The winner of The Great Studio Debacle Cuff Giveaway is....

Jessie Eagles Kelly!!

I wrote down the names of everyone who commented both on the blog post itself and on my Facebook post and picked them out of an actual hat because I'm old school like that, and Jessie is the winner of the Mrs. Claus Cuffs. Wee!

I'll need your mailing address, Jessie so I can send them down south to you. I'll just ask Erin for it if I don't hear from you. Congrats, and thank you!

Pros and Cons

2010-01-06T18:12:00.005-05:00

See this super-festive (if slightly out of season) handwoven Carlybird cuff with the cutest fringe ever? A pair of these (the only pair I'll ever make, probably) could be yours if you are willing to cast your vote in the comments section of this post.
For the record, I will not actually make my decision based solely on the yeas and nays that appear on this blog post, but I will take your feedback into consideration as I am weighing all my options concerning....

The Great Studio Debacle of 2009 - 2010

This is very much off the top of my head, so I'm certainly missing pertinent information, but, based on these lists, dear readers, please offer me your thoughts on which studio space you think makes the most sense for your fearless Carlybird. I'll either pick a name out of a hat, or use one of those newfangled 'randomizers' in order to choose a winner of the cutie-patootie Mrs. Claus cuffs featured above.

Space #1 Pros:

1. Cheaper
2. Has it's own bathroom
3. I already have keys and access (it's available to me now)
4. Pretty view
5. Interesting layout
6. Fewer neighbors
7. If I paint it and stay put I can knock a month's rent off
8. Heat and electric included in rent

Space #1 Cons

1. The trip there from, say, the Light Rail, is reminiscent of a landscape you might find in Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
2. Rickety ramped entryway (slippery in winter)
3. Interior wall does not go all the way to the ceiling
4. Needs painting and clean up before moving in
5. Toilet is currently pretty gross

Space #2 Pros

1. Down the hall from my old space (an aside...this would have been a bigger pro, had it not been necessary to move out of my old space and into a new building first--luckily, my buddies down the hall were willing to store the biggest and most cumbersome of my belongings for me.)
2. Large (10 foot ?) windows
3. Fairly approachable venue
4. Should be clean
5. Layout that I am familiar with (same as my old space)
6. Good neighbors that I like

Space #2 Cons

1. Currently occupied by temporary tenants--cannot guarantee when they'll be gone, nor what the shape of the space will be like
2. One of the beautiful large windows is boarded up and will not be fixed soon
3. The beauty of the windows is in the light, not the view (they are frosty).
4. Electric is metered and billed separately (additional charge).
5. More expensive
6. Share bathroom with entire floor, way down the hall and around the corner

Alrighty! That's what I can muster for now! You're turn. Tag, yer it.
Let me have it. Tell me what you think.
Thanks, readers!
Carlybird

Musical Studios, Musical End Caps, Musical Everything

2010-01-03T09:11:00.003-05:00

The funny thing about how people use the musical chairs simile when things are crazy and chaotic is that isn't music generally supposed to be awesome and not stressful? Isn't Musical Chairs supposed to be goofy and fun? Oh, except for the part when someone gets left out...
Musical end caps occur more often than they should at the Peoples' Liberation Army Zamboni Association. It's the Back to School Sale! New end caps! I can't figure out what to do with this new product! New end cap! It's the winter sale! New end caps! Hey now it's Winter Back to School! Even more new end caps!!

Oh, right, but the reasons I initially brought up Musical Everything is that this past week as many were bringing in the New Year with cheer, or relief, or optimism, I was playing Musical Studios on my lunch breaks and after work. I don't need to get into the entire debacle with you all, but the shortest version of the story that I can muster is that my former studio mate and I failed to communicate as clearly as we should have (I blame him. I'm a good communicator.) So, when it became clear that he could no longer keep the studio, I started looking for a new studio mate to share the space with me, and he basically put the thing on the market, assuming I would not be able to hack it on my own. Argh. Well...that part is behind us now. Some other people should be in the process of moving into our space as I write this. So, it was a mad dash to find a new space and a new studio mate if necessary in the span of just a couple of weeks. This during a fairly stressful time of year on the Peoples' Lib Zamboni front, at the holidays, during craft show season...you know. The works.
Well, I looked at a couple of new spaces at my current mill and deemed them unfit for my purposes. I looked at another space in a rival mill and decided it was too small. I tossed around the idea of applying for a studio at School 33. Had to pass on that due to the timing. Finally, after running around and wasting a lot of lunch breaks, a space that is pretty much exactly the same as my original space, two doors down the hall opened up. The drawback: One of the big beautiful old windows is boarded up and will not be repaired for at least a year because there are more pressing things going on at the mill. Okay. Cool. I can deal with that. I decide to move down the hall. Kinda bittersweet, since I could have just STAYED in my original FREAKING space!! Which has two windows, neither of which are boarded up. :)
So...I get a new studio mate lined up, start to get excited about my new space, call the landlord last Monday to find out when I can get the keys and start shoving, pushing and dragging my plethora of looms and other equipment down the hall. Guess what she says? "Oh, Carly...I'm sorry... (actually, I think first when I said, "Hey, this is Carly," she said, "Oh, shit.")... something happened in a space upstairs from yours and I had to move some other people temporarily into your new space, and I had three of my employees quit on me with no notice the day after Christmas and everything's a mess." So, she said that I could temporarily move to one of the other spaces that I had looked at and decided I didn't want. Both of which are in different buildings. So...I'm supposed to haul 6 looms (luckily I sold one of them recently to Rachel), a bunch of furniture, ten tons of other threads and equipment and books to a space that I didn't even want, in a different building, for two weeks? And then move it all back? Down the hall from my current space? Are you freaking kidding me? Oh and by the way, the main reason--in fact, almost the only reason--I decided not to take one of said spaces is that the entry way is so ghetto that I wasn't even sure the ramp into the building would hold me and one of my looms at the same time. So...I started scrambling sending Facebook messages and making phone calls and...bless their big, beautiful hearts...my buddies at Biggs & Featherbelle who have a great big awesome space halfway between my old studio and what was supposed to be my new studio agreed to let me store my looms and larger furniture in their space for two weeks. One of those weeks they would be on vacation anyway, and most of the stuff fit into their cold room, which, they don't exactly have to use right now because every room is a cold room. It's 18 degrees in Baltimore right now! Feels like 2 with the windchill! Eeee!!
So, I call my buddy Joe, who rules the earth, and on a moment's notice he was willing to come down to the studio and move most of my stuff over to the Biggs and Featherbelle space. The rest of the stuff I started moving back home, to the temporary space, to the trunk of my car... wherever. So, the plan had been, as soon as the two weeks are up and the people who are in my new space can move out and into their new space upstairs then I can move my stuff out of Biggs and Featherbelle's space and out of the temporary space and into my new space. That was the plan. But doesn't that all sound like a giant pain in the butt? And wouldn't it maybe be easier to just stay in the temporary space, which by the way, is not as hard to get into as I thought it would be (granted, I haven't been moving looms...I've been moving lamps and much more manageable things of the sort)? Wouldn't it be easier to just move twice rather than three times? I'm kinda thinking about just staying put, but I'm just not sure. Which is why I am going to employ the help and talent of you, faithful readers. But not until next time. Because my short version of the Musical Studio Situation has become quite long, and I am needed at the Peoples' Liberation Army Zamboni Association headquarters. Stay tuned though, for a list of pros and cons of both spaces, and an opportunity to win cool prizes if you help me to make my decision.

Not a creature was stirring...

2009-12-24T18:32:00.003-05:00

Not even the mouse who usually has the gall to climb right out on the stove top and snicker at me when it's this quiet in my house. Even he, fine soul, has left me alone with my Wolaver's IPA and my terrycloth bathrobe this evening.
Well, it's Christmas Eve and I think this is the first time that I'll have spent this particular evening without family. Goat will come home from the shop at some point, but for the time being, I'm enjoying the stillness of the house. I closed up shop early (was reprimanded slightly by my boss for not consulting him first, but so it goes). Headed home, took a bath, read a bit. Nice, quiet evening thus far.

You probably know something about the snow storm we got in Baltimore last Friday night into Saturday. It was lovely. The only drawback was that it delayed my trip to Western Massachusetts (where they only got three inches of snow) and so I was only able to spend a wee little bit of time with my family there. I took about 600 photos though.
I'm serious.
I'll post a few once I get them off the camera.

I met the most recent addition to my family, Mr. Alejandro, Beautiful Baby Bundle. I gave my dad two boxes--rather than an entire pallet--of Cheez-Its. I drank Dunkin Donuts coffee and Budweiser. I squeezed the guts out of my nieces and nephews. I have 8 you know. Eight nieces and nephews, ranging from 24 years to 2 1/2 months old. And there are more on the way.
Wee!
All you crafters who make baby stuff, beware.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

You know what's funny?

2009-12-16T08:25:00.003-05:00

My family is celebrating solstice this year!
We'll be drinking Bud and eating pizza, but it'll be on Winter Solstice. That, my friends, rules.
Due mostly to my work schedule, we kinda had to rearrange Christmas in order to spend it as a family this year, and it turns out that we'll be celebrating on my favorite day of the year...Winter Solstice! Okay, maybe winter solstice isn't my favorite day of the year, but I dare say I'm usually the only one in my family who stops for a moment to be still on winter solstice.

Those Gosses....
Buncha pagan hippy noodle-dancing freaks...

:)

I'm a reflector.

2009-12-11T08:19:00.002-05:00

That is part of the reason why I feel overwhelmed when things get hectic in good ways. It's okay to get overwhelmed when things are hectic in bad ways, sure, but I'd like to get a better grip on those feelings when they are brought on by joy, fun, artistic inspiration and love. A way to do this, I know, is to be more present. To enjoy a moment and let it go. My instinct and desire is to dwell on moments both joyful and painful. I want to write about them in my journal, update my blog, make artwork reflecting those feelings, talk about it with my family and friends. I'm a reflector. I want to experience a feeling fully, to come at it from every angle. Instead, I need to be a rock in a river bed. I need to let all these feelings and experiences wash over me, allow myself to be shaped slowly by these experiences, but to continue being a rock in a river bed rather than a bee buzzing from blossom to blossom.

A list of joys and trials:

Charm City Craft Mafia's Holiday Heap: Snowy, festive, packed, delightful, inspiring
Easter Rabbit: Joe's new book, release including performance tomorrow at Hexagon
Studio: searching, stressing, leaping and then looking
Looms: a couple of them to a couple of good homes
Singing: I tried. Cried. No one noticed. Try again next week. Words too big to sing.
Schedule/Staff: Compassion for others vs. my sanity vs. getting a job done
A Pallet of Cheez-Its: A Pallet of Cheez-Its
Warren Seelig show at MICA: Beautiful, inspiring, grounding
Barry Nemett show at MICA: Excellent work, too crowded in the space
Threadbare: White on White, Rock in a River Bed

Holiday Heap: A Few More Favorites

2009-12-02T19:55:00.003-05:00

I wasn't lying when I said Holiday Heap is coming up.
This Saturday, December 5th from 10am until 5pm at 2640 Saint Paul Street.
Wee!
Check out these superstars who will be there in full holiday cheer:

Elisa Shere Jewelry:

Maneating Flower Flasks:

Charm City Craft Mafia's own, HVM Designs:

Come, shop, say hi to your friends.

Holiday Heap: Saturday December 5th

2009-11-28T18:48:00.005-05:00

A list of favorites to whet your appetite for the best holiday craft show of the season:

2 Hawks 2 Fishes

Bowerbox Press

Biggs and Featherbelle

List(less)

2009-11-24T23:02:00.003-05:00

I just read a friend's recent blog post--he hasn't been blogging much lately and neither have I--so it was nice to see at least one of us is writing a little something. His blog generally consists of lists. Interesting lists, simple lists, lists that I love to read.
His most recent is a list of what he's been up to and I thought, "that's a good idea to steal." I haven't felt up to writing in full paragraphs concerning what I've been up to lately, but it seems like a list version might be manageable. Let's try this.

Photo courtesy of Kathy Fahey

What I've been up to recently (as in, 'the past couple months'):

Grieving the loss of my mother
Learning the ropes of a new job and then becoming the boss at said job (by the way, my predecessor at said job left me quite the legacy...)
Appreciating, enjoying and resenting being a 'social mentor' to a fairly new friend
Rehearsing a lot
Singing at two Creative Alliance shows and hardly singing on Thursday nights at all
Reconciling the knowledge that my voice is ruined but I'm not done singing
Rearranging schedules to accommodate everyone but myself
Wrestling with the fact that I no longer make art
Having my studio kinda snatched from under my nose
Reading Touching the Void, a true story about a pair of mountaineers in Peru to keep my trials in perspective
Going to bed early as often as possible
Saying no as often as possible
Feeling guilty
Wishing I had more time to myself
Over-committing left and right
Applying for a million jobs and then realizing the one I fell into might be just right
Feeling incredibly overwhelmed by the complexity of certain relationships
Feeling joyful regarding all the brand new babies showing up in my life (birth makes me feel more positive about death, I guess)
Feeling frustrated that I cannot afford to purchase a pair of new socks, much less pay my outstanding bills, especially knowing that in two weeks I will be able to. A little love now, how 'bout?
Missing Patty's wedding to sing at my mom's funeral
Crying when no one's looking
Working a lot on Craft Mafia sponsorship, but not on my own work
Missing my friends, but being unable to connect with them
Missing my mom. A lot.
Trying hard to be good to my friends and family but feeling completely disconnected
Acknowledging that I do not feel present and need to change
Allowing myself the space I need, but now knowing that I need to try harder

Did you get your tickets yet?

2009-11-11T20:28:00.004-05:00

Do it. Get your tickets. You'll be so sad if you miss this show.

For the record, and because I'm kinda less than skilled at dealing with Blogger's quirks... the blue one on the left is last year's poster, the yellow one is 2007's poster and this lovely longer one below is THIS YEAR's poster! Wee!

Round the Mountain

2009-11-08T08:09:00.004-05:00

Round the Mountain is here again! Last year this show sold out before the doors even opened, so if you want to hear some pretty killer acoustic roots music, you better head over to the Creative Alliance website now and order your tickets today for Saturday's show.

Caleb Stine hosts Round the Mountain, an Evening of Acoustic Roots Music in Baltimore

Saturday, November 14, 2009
Doors open at 7pm
Show starts at 8pm
The Creative Alliance - 3134 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland

This year the lineup includes Arty Hill, Ken Kolodner, Jim Eagan, Danny Noveck, Dan Isaacson, Kevin Griffin Moreno, our favorite host, Mr. Caleb Stine and of course, the lovely ladies whose stage name changes with every year that passes... The Shape Note Sisters!

Photo of Kathy, Patty and Carly by Michael Patrick O'Leary.

In the past, our beloved Katherine Fahey has designed the incredible posters (like the beautiful blue one up above), t-shirts, and other merchandise for the show and (wo)manned the merch table like there's no tomorrow. On Saturday night, Ms. Fahey will join Patty and I on stage as our unwavering alto. Kathy also organized a recording project, enlisting the help of talented friends, Timothy Bracken, Katie Feild and Michael Patrick O'Leary. So, that CD you've all asked about every year? Thanks to Kathy and all our friends, it will be available for sale this Saturday, November 14 at the Creative Alliance. We'll sign autographs and take pictures if you're into that sort of thing. :)

This 60 minutes belongs to me

2009-10-31T08:57:00.003-04:00

I have been a busy little bee lately, but for the most part, not in ways that I'm happy about. Alas. Changes at Ye Olde Day Job are making me have to be there *even more* than I already was, which of course means that I'm neglecting things like weaving, sleeping, eating correctly, doing laundry...

It's incredible when you are forced into a crazy, hectic spell how good it feels when you can take even just a half an hour to be in your own space. What's this? I've actually been doing what I want, in my house, for an entire hour??! I woke up at a nice time (about 7:45), did a little yoga, made myself a cup of tea, sat at my dining room table with said tea and wrote in my journal. Now I've been browsing around the interwebs a little bit, refusing to look at the pile of unanswered emails. Life is good. For this hour, life rules.