New Year!

This week ends my second full fiscal year! What a great adventure this has been.

Two years ago when I opened the shop I had to choose an accounting software program to 'do the books'; problem was the only one I really liked was no longer available in Canada. I settled for something, it never pays to settle. This year the software became available and I was happy. I downloaded the program and began using it again for 'The Farmer's" accounts. I had been using version 9 and the new one is version 19! It upgraded to the new version with just one click!

The shop accounts are a completely different program and the accountant suggested that it would be easier to transfer the information for the shop at the end of the year. Today we started, the task is a huge one in that everything has to be transferred manually, the two competing programs won't talk to each other.

We are taking stock, adding it to the inventory and then trying to figure out how to get the customer names and information to transfer over without re-typing all the information.

My New Years wish is to be able to spend more time knitting and less on accounting, but that won't happen soon.

The shop is open 12 - 4 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Friday 10 am - 3pm.

See You Soon

1

1 Knitted Christmas Tree!





Thank-you for helping me create such a beautiful shop. Your support and kindness during the past 2 years has been such an inspiration; from knitting helmet liners for our Soldiers and making mittens as part of the 'Mitten Club' you have created a friendly creative place in Bowmanville.



We sent 173 helmet liners to our Soldiers and raised $235 for charity through the sale of mittens from the Mitten Club. We also will send about a dozen pairs of mitts to our local Women's Shelter.



Thank-you so much, Merry Christmas and wishing only good things for 2011!

2

2 kids home!

The Girl arrives home today, The Boy was home last week! Mama's happy!

They will be 'around' for about a week, next week I am open Tuesday - Thursday 12 - 4 and Friday (New Years Eve) 10- 3ish.

That means I have to get to work, there's a bunch of stuff to do!

3

3 Canadian Soldiers home for Christmas. Three of 'my' knitters had children serving in Afghanistan for the past many months. They all came home!

Take a moment and remember the Soldiers that are away from 'home' this Christmas.

Thank-you to the knitters that knit Helmet liners for Operation Santa Claus. A bit of warmth and comfort from home.

4

4 Harness Loom, maybe my next favorite thing!

I was bored and checked out kijiji and found this, turns out the seller was one of my customers. Just big enough to do something and of course my family is completely weirded out by this.

The Christmas list includes instructions on how these things work!

My list is getting shorter, hows yours?

5

5 fabulous fibers

1.Alpaca: The shop's favorite this year is Misty Alpaca. I skein, 9mm circular needles and an evening you can create a great easy cowl.

2. Cashmere/Bison: Louet Mooi, I have a couple of sample skeins in the lace weight and some stock of the sport weight, come and see the Sand Dollar shawl in the shop.

3. Silk/Merino: Diamond Luxury Mulberry and Merino. Merino and Silk lovely soft.

4. Cotton: Egyptian Cotton. smooth soft, great for babies and next to the skin projects

5. Bamboo: Sirdar's Baby Bamboo a great DK weight yarn designed for babies, but great for grown ups tool

There's 5 days.....This countdown thing seemed like a good idea at the time...the next few are a bit on the creative side.

Hope you are getting things done!

See You Soon.

6

6 Sensasional Shawls: Pimpelliese

Baktus

Gwen's Very Big Lace thing.

Sand Dollar Shawl

Citron

Alice's Angel Wing.

Shawls my new favorite thing?....maybe.

6 Sensational Shawls

7

7 shops for shopping!

Bowmanville has some wonderful Shops. These are 7 of my favorites, all owned by Women and are all unique businesses!

In no particular order:

1. Roses, right next door a cafe/floral shop. Light lunches and lovely floral designs.

2 Cathy's Gold, next door but the other side. A Bowmanville landmark, been around since forever (25 years).

3. Leisure Lady near the centre of town. A true ladies dress shop. Special occasion wear and a few surprises.

4. City Cottage; unique pieces, painted vintage furniture.

5. Gather, Ladies, girls and Infant Clothing. Great gifts, games, puzzles and unique handcrafted gifts.

6. The Glass Slipper Fabulous Ladies shoes and Accessories.

7. Scrub'n, uniforms for medical staff.

and there are many more!

Come and See!!

8

8 Great Gifts!

1. Baba Tree Basket, handmade in Ghana beautiful.

2. Yarn Swift, handy...literally takes place of someone holding the skein.

3. Ball Winder, goes perfectly with the swift, but on its own will keep your leftovers tidy!

4. Offhand knitting bag...you just have to see them!

5. Addi Turbo inter-changeable needle set. Perfect for the knitting enthusiast.

6. Beautiful Books, the Mitten book by Vogue is fabulous.

7. Yarn, one skein of Manos Maxima. One will make a hat or mitts! Soft and smooshy!

8. Gift Certificates, for those that can't choose!

(Wow! nice list if I do say so my self, put them all together and it would be the most Awesome gift.)

See you Soon

9

9 nifty notions:





For the Knitter on your Shopping list:



1. Folding Scissors

2. Stitch Markers

3. Row Counters

4. Knitters note book and pen.

5. Knitting Needle case

6. Cute labels that Say: 'Handmade by ......'

7. Sheep China Mug

8. Namaste Buddy Case. (Magnets hold sewing needles and notions in place!)

9. Measuring Tapes!





See You Soon!

10

10 things I know:

1. If you get a tree and no one comes with you, it's easier to choose.

2. Getting the tree before the 22nd of December gives you more than 2 choices.

3. If I use the toaster and the microwave together it trips the breaker.

4. Mice are sneaky!

5. Mousetraps hurt when you pick up the wrong end.

6. The most popular yarn in the shop is never in the shop very long.

7. Yarn companies like to make promises and then don't live up to them!

8. When you start to move things in the shop, it gets busy and you can't find stuff.

9. I have too much stuff.

10. It's 10 days till Christmas, but who's counting....?

A non knitting post:

4 guys, 2 pails, 1 shovel and a big pile of spilled grain. The Boy is in this video, he doesn't read the blog so I am safe to post it. This was his big adventure last year. The crew owner is the guy in the striped shirt, he doesn't look to pleased with whoever was responsible for making the pile, but they cleaned it up and things were up and running again pretty quick. (They are putting the grain back into the combine to be reprocessed.)

Stuff happens with every job!

I went into the shop today a few surprised customers came in, ordered some new patterns and the 'square circulars' could be in by the end of the week!

See you soon.

And now with Pictures!

My camera is still at the camera hospital but Gwen kindly loaned me hers.
A little while ago I received these lovely buttons from a new supplier, unusual shapes and colours, so I got a few to start. The mittens have been well received and we have raised over $100 to go to a couple of charities.

This is my Travelling Women shawl, I love the pattern and I may have had enough on one skein to do an extra repeat of the lace pattern but I couldn't face ripping back if I didn't. (I was too cheap to purchase another skein to finish, yet I am prepared to purchase enough to make another one slightly bigger with the leftovers and another skein! Sounds like knitter logic to me!)

I am not sure why I took this picture, I think I was just happy to be able to get some shots of the shop. Notice the Namaste knitting bag and the new Vintage Chunky, lovely chunky yarn wool/blend and machine wash!

We just unpacked a huge shipment of Marble Chunky and new patterns from Lopi, there is a great mitten pattern! Going to go choose the 9 colours it requires.

See You Soon.

Getting Ready!

Preparations began last week when the Mitten Knitters began making Pom Pom snowflakes.
Wednesday I started hanging them in the window, just as we were having a lovely 'snow globe' looking snowfall. The actual snowflakes were almost as soft and fluffy as our 'fake' ones.

It took 3 days to get them all made, strung with invisible thread and then attached to the ceiling.
Thanks to Gwen for helping me out with this, and for the use of the camera!

Needless to say the rest of the shop suffered!

Are we Ready?

Sort of!

Tonight is Moonlight Magic, the beginning of the Christmas Shopping season for the Downtown.

The street is closed to parking, but it makes a lovely community event. Hope you can come.

See you soon.

What's New!

After a lovely weekend, one day I managed to stay in my jammies until way past lunch! I am ready for a big week ahead.

Just arrived: Offhand Designs beautiful bags, designed for knitting, but really just wonderfully handmade vintage bags that are just beyond words. Each is truly a work of art, and be warned the price reflects the workmanship.

A small box of Misty Alpaca Chunky hand paint has been priced and put out ready to make more of those lovely 'cowls' that make the perfect 'I don't know what to get her gifts!'

This Friday is Moonlight Magic, my favourite BIA event, downtown shops will be ready for Christmas shopping. There's a Christmas Tree lighting and all sorts of activities.

(I think I may have a few colours of Frill Seeker coming too!)

edit: Thursday: Frill Seeker arrived, but it's all been claimed! I contacted the supplier, it's all gone! Next shipment arrives...sometime...anytime..no one knows!

See you Soon.

Christmas Knitting

Because the camera is giving me trouble with pictures, I found this!

Drat!

The Boy came home!
He brought his camera, and his laundry.
I charged the battery, took many pictures to show you.
The cable from my camera won't fit his!

I think I need to start another shawl!


See you Soon

Going going...

Wow, its the last week of November. Time is going so fast. It has been busy! Thanks to Gwen for chipping in yesterday!

There are windows to change and a lot of empty spots to fill.

Friday night is Mitten night. Come and knit, doesn't need to be mittens, we have a good number and have raised about $125 for charity. I have a secret project I need your help with and as they say many hands make light work, we could work on that too!

I finished the Travelling Women shawl, took a week! There is a shop sample sweater to finish but again I am having 'shawl' withdrawal and its only been 4 days 6 hours....must resist!

Those of you who have been waiting for Frill Seeker will have to wait a little longer, still nothing and a national TV show is featuring it on their program this week! It's a fun knit and I will keep you posted about it's availability!

See you Soon.

Gone Home..

to knit?

Santa came he didn't seem to mind that the Christmas windows didn't get done.

Maybe next week!

Enjoy what's left of your weekend.

See you Tuesday.

The Day after the Night before....

If you missed 'What a Girl Wants' you missed a fun evening. I had one knitter come and visit! Charlene came and treated some 'Girls' to a hand massage. A few Baba Tree Baskets made there way to new homes!

I got home just past my bedtime, and therefore I slept in just a little.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Santa comes to Bowmanville. It's a lovely parade and this is its 49th! The Parade starts at 10:30 ish and runs usually about an hour. The shop will be open from 9:30 am, mostly because if I come any later I can't get into my parking spot!

This is also to remind you that parking is limited on these events, come early or later if you need to park close to the shop!

Not only is this the Morning after, it's also the Night Before!

See you Soon!

I think I will open Mondays!

Not really.

Just that Mondays are truly catch up days. Yesterday I:

1. Travelled to Brooklin to get supplies for our water system at the house

2. Took the car into Oshawa for an oil change,

3. Picked up some wooden hangers and wandered the organising store.

4. Purchased a new virus software for the computers and debated about more music CD's.

5. Groceries. (The Farmer says upon opening fridge: "Look! A magic box, one day there is nothing the next it is full!)

6. To Osso Lighting to get light bulbs for the windows, actually would like new fixtures too!

7. To the Shop to put out the recycling

8. The dishwasher is looking to retire, we need a replacement soon, suggestions?
(Eating out is on the top of the list of my favorites, but not practical!)

Then home....to knit?


I did knit during the visit to the car dealership. I think I am going to finish this shawl in record time. You may need to sign up for Ravelry to see the pattern, you should anyway, but be warned time flies when you are on this site!

I have come to the shop today to recover but it's chaos here too!

Don't forget about Thursday night...What a Girl Wants!

See You soon.

What a week!

What can I say, it's been busy!

I love it when it's busy!

On the knitting front I have made some progress on the Log Cabin Blanket and the results are in the window.

and as Yarn Harlot said: "I fell down and came up knitting a shawl"...I was having shawl withdrawal there just was no choice. A lovely skein of Malabrigo sock yarn was tormenting me and so its been wound!

See You Tuesday!

What a Girl Wants!

A few of us in the Downtown are inviting all the Girls out for a night of fun shopping! Each of the participating shops are featuring a different event or discount.

That night, Thursday, a massage therapist will in teaching us how to take care of our hands. (We need to keep our hands healthy to keep up with our craft!) Also there will be a discount of 15% off all in stock Baba Tree Baskets. (Great Gift for you or a friend!)

But all of that happens next week.

This week, tomorrow is Mitten Night! Join us for an evening of knitt'n mittens from 7:00 pm - 8:30pm!

Poppies

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. I will be at the Cenotaph from 10:20am until the service ends about 11:30 am. Please Join me there.

Friday!

Not much to write about, an no pictures either.

There is a shawl in the sink waiting to be blocked, not mine. There are windows to change, yarn to move but after a busy day/week I am glad that this is not a Knitting night!

We have collected just over $40 for Unicef, thank-you. October's gift goes to Betty! Another round for another lovely sock kit has begun. Make a donation to Unicef and enter the draw the next time you are in.

I have been looking at some yummy new things for the shop, pricey, one of a kind and 'the voice in my head' says go for it! (Bank will say: "you are buying what!")

It's about 7 weeks until Christmas..just sayin!

See You Soon!

Speechless?

I read Seth's Blog, I have sent you to his website a few times. Today he made me speechless, this is me:

"The people who successfully start independent businesses (franchises, I think are a different thing) do it because we have no real choice in the matter. The voice in our heads won't shut up until we discover if we're right, if we can do it, if we can make something happen. This is an art, our art, and to leave it bottled up is a crime."
Seth's Blog

I'm not sure about the 'successfully' part, but I am working on it. I especially like the phrase "the voice in our heads won't SHUT-UP!"

Two years ago we (I have had loads of help) were madly trying to open the shop in just a few weeks, the ride has been interesting to say the least, but I can't imagine doing anything else.

Thank-you to those who have supported me this far!

Now I gotta vacuum the shop...

See you Soon!

Mondays!

Mondays are for running around trying madly to catch up.



First stop to the Health food shop to pick up supplies, then drop off the camera to send it off to be repaired, (thank goodness I bought the extended warranty!). Took a quick tour of the 'mall', then remembered why I don't like the 'mall'. I am trying to find a new winter coat but I have something in mind and they just don't have it. Came back into town to the bank, the paint store, the grocery store, talked to my friends at Gather, then home!



The camera won't be back for a couple of weeks!



The Farmer finished the new stand and it is now filled with Wool Clasica from Manos. I am waiting for some Briggs and Little to arrive. So that means there will be more yarn to move.



Knitting: Still trying to finish a few works in progress. The Log Cabin Blanket has grown considerably in the last week. (Picture is from when I started this back in January 2009!)



That's been my week so far.



See you Soon!

Happy Halloween!

Just catching up on some blogs I follow and Kristin Nichols Blog sent me here. Amazing isn't it.

The Farmer was off today so we drove around visiting and doing a bit of shopping. He is now in the workshop making another wooden stand for yarn that is still packed in a box because the bins are all filled.

I even managed to get him to carve the pumkin!

I am supposed to be making supper and cleaning up.......

(We did buy a huge box of chocolates for our "Trick or Treaters", just in case any one is brave enough to come out our way!)

See you Tuesday!

Facebook?

Have you noticed how much I use and exclamation mark?



Did you know that I am now on Facebook?



I have joined the flock, sort of.



Busy week this past week, I really am looking forward to a couple of days off?



See you Soon.

Friday!

Already?

Tonight is Mitten club night, I am here till late. Instead of doing errands I am staying in and attempting to create order out of chaos. I would show you pictures, but we are having camera issues. (Perhaps that's a good thing, because it really is chaotic in here.)

Boxes of yarn arrived:

Northern Worsted, 100 grams, 100% acrylic loads of colours.

Marble Chunky, there always is an order of Marble Chunky!

Mille colori from Lang yarns a few new colours, remember the multi directional scarf?

New sock yarn from Cascade, very nice!


and new Buttons, I love buttons and these are very nice. You can buy them one at a time! (I just haven't figured out how to display them yet.)

There's work to do!

See you soon.

Monday is for Voting!

Did you Vote!

The results here were very interesting. Not only did I vote, I worked at a Voting Location. It was a long day. Started at 9 am and I was home again just past my bedtime!

I took knitting, good thing the gymnasium was cold.

I would show you what I was working on, but the battery in the camera refuses to co-operate.

Tuesday is for..tired!

Funny!

It's 5:08, winding down for the day getting ready to leave. Music blaring and I realize it's Alannah Myles singing:

You ain’t goin’ anywhere baby, You ain’t goin’ anywhere but home
You ain’t goin’ anywhere baby, You ain’t goin’ anywhere but home


See you Tuesday!

ALT (BLT, VBLT and ULT)

Alice's Lace Thing

Alice is one of my favourite customers. She has been a pretty regular knitter and her visits are always welcome.

Every once in awhile she wants to try a new thing. Her sister was visiting and asked if she would knit a shawl for her, we checked out the patterns and came up with Angel Lace Shawl from Fiber Trends. It took a little while for the pattern to gel but once she got going there was no stopping her! Alice's sister wanted a big shawl. Big shawls require a big space to block them. I volunteered the table in the shop. Wednesday she arrived with a damp shawl ready for pinning.

It's in the mail today. (Someone said 'She must really love her sister to do a shawl in black wool!)

A couple of orders, a few things put into the sale bin.

Time to think about changing the windows,

See you Soon.

New, Old, and on Sale!

Look what is growing in the field south of the house!

Although the oats and the clover have been harvested, this nice weather has brought on a second crop.

Saturday was a beautiful day and the Downtown was a busy place! We had a good day!

Busy days are exhausting! This morning I placed a couple of filler up orders. I am glad you are liking the things that I choose for the shop. A few new yarns are making there way into the shop, and finding a home for them has become a bit of a challenge. That means a few things are going into the clearance section:

Mango Moon yarns are now 40% off, there's not much left.

Shepherd Classic Yarn, the remaining stock is now priced at $4.95 for 100 grams, it was $6.95. Felts well and nice pretty colours remain. Again the stock is limited.

New this week:

Great Chunky scarf yarns from Katia and Filatura Di Crosa. A box from Manos del Urauguay delivered some solid colours in their Wool Classica.

Yup, finished another shawl! Sand Dollar shawl from Knitting Lace Triangles by Evelyn Clark. Everything was going along really well until I didn't 'do what it said' and had to 'tink' back 4 rows of pattern at the end of the shawl.

It's made from some of the Mooi sport weight. Bison, Cashmere....."Echt Mooi!"

See you Soon

Random thoughts, or I don't want to tidy the shop...

When it’s slowish in the shop I read blogs! One that I follow quite regularly is Seth’s blog. He has great insight and I have sent you in his direction before. He wrote a section about people you interact with.

Basically you have to treat everyone according their position on the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition.

According to Dreyfus there are five stages that people go through:

(I think that this is the same with knitters!)

“1. Novice--wants to be given a manual, told what to do, with no decisions possible
(Needs a pattern, exact yarn and needles and perhaps a garment already knit as an example!)

2. Advanced beginner--needs a bit of freedom, but is unable to quickly describe a hierarchy of which parts are more important than others
(Chooses a pattern, but willing to change colours and perhaps make small changes)


3. Competent--wants the ability to make plans, create routines and choose among activities(

Can take a basic pattern, incorporate a design element)


4. Proficient--the more freedom you offer, the more you expect, the more you'll get

(Purchases a yarn, and a pattern that don’t correspond but will make it work anyway.)


5. Expert--writes the manual, doesn't follow it.

(willing to write down a pattern, but never make it again…why do it twice.!)

Although I have a lot to learn, I think I could be classed as an expert, I can give advice, but I don’t always take it!

The Boss is telling me to get back to work.

Don't forget about Mitten Club tomorrow night..email me if you are coming!

If you are looking for something to do on Saturday come downtown and visit Applefest, if it's sunny it will be a busy place!

Applefest 2010

Thanksgiving is done, we stayed home visited with The Boy, ate with The Husband's clan and I had a lazy day yesterday. The Boy brought laundry! I knit on about 3 things and finished another Shawl. It's currently drying on the floor in our Family room, with chairs around it to keep 'The Dog' off of it.

I am hoping to get a sweater knit out of 'Purity', a new yarn from Twilley's, before Saturday.

Saturday is Applefest! Applefest is a big event for Downtown Bowmanville. Vendors from across the Province come and display their crafts and products in tents placed along the Main Street. I am giving you a heads up, parking is limited to side streets and the few parking lots along Church street. Come early in the day and stay and wander the Downtown. There are Apple treats of all kinds. Activities for kids and grown ups. If you come after 3 you may find a few parking spaces have opened up. If you don't like the chaos, come early this week or wait until next week to visit.

Apparently the Bowmanville Swim club will have their dunk tank just outside the Shop!

Friday is Mitten club and Saturday the first lot of Mittens are available for Sale!

See You Soon.

Grateful

It's Thanksgiving weekend. It's early and yet we haven't quite figured out what we are doing. It's time for Family to get together and although The Boy is home, The Girl is away. Last year it was the opposite. The dilemma is that we could travel to see The Girl, but that means we would miss a visit with The Boy! (So which one will be more upset if we choose the other?)

Thanksgiving, traditionally a time to reflect and give Thanks for a good growing season as crops are being harvested and tucked away for the long winter.

In a world where over 1/3 of the population lives on less than $2.50 a day, Canadians should be truly grateful. We have great opportunities and although many have struggles everyday we are very 'blessed'.

I have a lot to be grateful for but I won't bore you with the list.

It's time to give back a little.

When The Boy was off to school I decided it was time to do a little Charity work. I became involved with UNICEF during October and November as a support person for the school fundraising programs. (I counted a lot of pennies!) During the past 2 years I have only done a very little amount. This year we will be doing a little fundraising through the Mitten club and a little draw for a prize donated by a lovely customer.

When you come into the Shop during the rest of this month, drop in some change, enter the draw, donate a pair of mitts for our fundraising and support UNICEF.

Thank you...

Today's My Mom's Birthday, Happy Birthday!

Citron

I finished this a little while ago. Citron from Knitty.

A little light knitting, one 50 gram skein of Super Alpaca Lace. I actually followed the pattern exactly, I may have used a slightly smaller needle.

Sometimes you need to do something, fresh!

I think that's my 4th shawl since April!

No Mitten club this week, as it's Thanksgiving weekend.

We may do some travelling..see The Girl!

Be safe,

See you soon.

Monday's are for..,,Shopping!

I know I won't have time to post tomorrow.

Today I made the trek into the big city and picked up:

1. Quick lunch
2. Boxes of bags
3. Cute tubs to merchandise stock
and
4. big bags of yarn!

See You Soon!.

This Week!

We accomplished a lot this week.

Sunday we managed to finish putting one coat of stain over the whole house. I was sitting on the lower roof trying stain a section at the back of the house. (Not bad for an old girl!)

Then I decided to finish sewing a gift that was now a month overdue. After looking at the state of the workroom downstairs it was clear to me that it was time to be rid of the fabric in the basement, mostly because it was not mine!

We loaded the car and I took it away on Monday.
A few new things that I haven't posted about, Maxima yarn from Manos, lovely soft, fair trade, 100% wool! Fabulous!

Then there is the Louet Mooi (which is Dutch for 'pretty') a Bamboo, Bison and Cashmere blend! (Okay it's expensive, but lovely and sometimes its worth spending a 'small fortune' for a special gift, for yourself or someone else.)

Of course I had to do a sample! May as well be lace!

A new shipment of notions arrived last week. Labels, cute buttons, tiny sweater key fobs, needle cases.....I just need to find room.


Friday!

Mitten Club meets from 7 - 8:30, the dates have changed since the original schedule. (Next Friday is Thanksgiving weekend.)

There were 6 of us last time. If you can't make the Mitten Club meetings you can still make mittens for our Charity Project. Mittens sold during October will raise funds for UNICEF.

Come see the selection we have already accumulated.

See You Soon!

Quick part 2

This cool weather has brought out all the knitters! Good thing I have a good supply of Yarn.

A few new things this week, a few pictures on the camera and one finished hat!

But after a busy week I am looking forward to a couple of days....I just wish they didn't include Laundry, housework and accounting!

The Boy is home for a couple of days...he brought laundry!

See You Tuesday!

Doh!

I went to this Yarn Trade show and picked up a couple of Kits. I looked at the back and saw 2 sets of eyes, thought, 'this must make 2 pairs of slippers'. Then someone pointed out that you need 2 pairs of eyes to make a pair of slippers. Doh!

Then Kathy came in and wanted to make a hat out of sock yarn, looked inside the new Jazz Colours pattern book from Regia. Patterns are all written in German!

That was my day.

Quick!

It's been a bit crazy, life and shop.

Sunday, The Farmer* and I went to a Knitting Trade show. (His day off) Despite getting lost again, we found the place, I bought some really interesting yarns. Some cute stocking stuffer stuff, yup said those words, sorry. It was also nice to come face to face with people that I have only spoke with on the phone or through email.

I am madly trying to finish my current project so that I can work with some new yummy yarn.

I was supposed to finish staining the house yesterday but spent the day doing laundry and I actually got the vacuum out.

More tomorrow, maybe.

See you soon.

*Farmer, Many of you have commented on The Girl and The Boy references; I 'borrowed' them from Three Bags Full in Vancouver. I tried to find another term for Husband, Partner, Spouse and finally gave up and 'borrowed' again from Getting Stitched on the Farm as it best describes him**!

**Farmer: Vet, mechanic, accountant, plumber, carpenter, welder, mechanical engineer, truck driver, machinist, janitor, cat wrangler..... :)

Imagine

A post about knitting:



Noro Silk Garden Lite 2 balls to make this 'cowl' called Sev(en)Circle

The leftovers from Clapotis made a scarf, my favorite knit 3 purl 1 plus 2 pattern. Used 2 balls and alternated them every second row to create a striped pattern. Easy 'car' knitting, while someone else drives. New from Sirdar, Indie, big needles a few stitches and soft. I finished this last night, so pleased that I was able to cast off the last row leaving only a 2" tail to sew in, only to realise that the scarf requires 4 balls not 3. It's a shop sample, the mannequins won't care.

New fun yarn, Frill Seeker. Makes a flouncy girly scarf, quick 'knit' and at $14.95 a ball it will make great gift.


Don't forget about the Mitten Club tomorrow, Friday 7 - 8:30, learn how to make Thrummed Mitts.

Monday's are for...

Interviews!

Yesterday I did something new!

A few weeks ago I was approached by Judy from Rogers Cable to be interviewed by the hosts of the daytime show. I took a little while to decide and then thought 'what the heck'. (Then my second thought was how to loose 30 pounds in three weeks!)

Yesterday at 9:30 I arrived at the 'studio', set up the display of things to talk about and by 10:30 the whole process was done!

It felt like having some sort of medical procedure, they get you to sign a waiver, get you 'miked' up and then tell you everything will be fine. After we were done they told me I did really well, I bet they say that to everyone.

Since we don't have cable, I called my friend Elaine and we watched it at her house. The person they interviewed didn't sound or look anything like I imagined, but she did okay. I even attempted to get one of them to knit!

Elaine and I had a great visit. Another thing checked off on the list of 'things I have done'.

Someday I will tell you the list, it's kind of interesting.

Back to knitting...

Pardon?

Phone Rings:

I answer:"Soper Creek Yarn"

Voice on phone says:
"Hello, you are close to the Bowmanville Creek aren't you?"

"Yess....'

"This may sound wierd, but do you know if the salmon are running today?"

I give him the number to my friend Jim at the mill.

That was my day!

See you Tuesday!

Back to School!

Time to learn something new.

We are attempting a few lessons:

Fall 2010 Knitting:
Mitten Club:
(Friday night Knitt’n Mittens!)

Fridays: 7 pm – 8:30 pm
September 17th, October 8 & 29. (Fee: Make mittens for sale with proceeds to a charity and Women's Shelter)

Lessons:
February Lady/Baby Sweater
Knit-a-long
Tuesdays-September 21 & 28,
October 12 & 19
7 pm – 8:30 pm (Minimum 3 students)
Download Pattern, Yarn must be purchased at Shop
$50.00 plus taxes,

Beginners Knitting:
Knitting Lessons: Tuesday Evenings
Beginners #1 – September 21 and 28: $30.00 plus taxes (4.5mm needles required)
Beginners #2 – October 12 and 19: $30.00 plus taxes (4.5mm needles required)

Knitting Lessons: Wednesday Afternoons
Beginners #1 – September 22 and 29: $30.00 plus taxes (4.5mm needles required)
Beginners #2- October 13 and 20: $30.00 plus taxes (4.5 mm Needles Required)

Socks with Susan on Thursday Afternoons. (On going sock sessions, reserve a spot in advance $10 per session)

Contact the Shop to reserve your spot. Lessons must be paid in advance, 1 week before first lesson. Refunds will be given for lessons cancelled if student numbers aren't met. Minimum 3 students per class, maximum 6.

How I spent my summer vacation!

Saturday night: Back into the shop to move a few things, discover a drip in the washroom. Call the landlord, we agree it was probably a tenant overflowing the sink or something.

Sunday: We started the staining the house, the ladder and I became quite a team. (Those years picking apples helped with the ladder moving skills.) I stained most of the underside of the roof and soffit areas, which meant dripping stain running down my arms. We gave up after Monday's marathon because we were both too sore and The Boy went back to work. We will finish the rest when the weather co-operates, the stain is still slightly sticky even after a week.

Tuesday and Wednesday I worked on Jumpers for Gather! They are done. I checked the shop daily for drips. Thursday I dropped The Girl off at a friends in Whitby and I headed into Toronto to pick up yarn. (More colours in Cascade 220 and Splash and a new scarf yarn) Checked the Shop and the ceiling had a big drip. Up the street to talk to the Landlord and we agreed it needed a call to the Plumber!

Friday (8:00 am) the Plumber came and did this to the ceiling. (At least the drip actually went right into my toilet..very considerate don't you think!)

Saturday morning, just before we were leaving, the Shop's alarm went off! The front door sensor decided it was tired and died.

After re-setting the alarm we moved The Boy into University.

Sunday I finished this:

Op Art from Knitty. A fun knit, took me a week. The picture is before blocking.

Monday, The Girl went back to school and work.

Today...I am tired!

I am glad to get back to a more normal schedule, what ever that is, but I miss my kids!

Drip!

It's Friday morning, on my holidays and I came to the shop about 8 this morning. They are tracking down the leak. More drips yesterday after my trip into Toronto. I guess I am here for most of the day as they clean up. (Toilet upstairs has been leaking 'for quite awhile'. The Plumber pulled down the ceiling and is now literally covered in crap!) Fans are going and front door is open, so I am open for awhile today.

So that's my day so far.

Unpacking 2 orders of great yarn for Fall!

See You Tuesday.

Holidays?

I am still on Holidays, what ever that is! Saturday evening I went back into the shop to move some mechandise off the floor near the 'leaky' area of the shop. There was a drip! Fortunately it was in the washroom, after the landlord checked with everyone upstairs, they had no idea where the water came from, it stopped. I have been in everyday since just to check on things.

We have about 80% of the house stained. I did most of the soffits and facia boards which meant moving the step ladder every 3 feet or so and then staining as much as I could reach and then move again. Yesterday I pleaded to The Husband: "Please don't make me stain today, I am way to sore (I can feel every muscle in my back) and it's too hot!' He agreed and we will attempt the rest when the weather cools. I have completely destroyed my hydrangea shrubs in the process, but I didn't put the ladder through the front window, almost though!

The Husband went to work, if we are home he feels guilty about leaving the chores. Yesterday he decided it was the day to clean-up in the Milk House, they washed stuff down, got rid of the garbage and just plain tidied everything. Well, it was like he knew the Inspector was coming. Sure enough about 1 pm the Inspector arrives with his list of things to check. He couldn't find anything wrong. They received a Class A rating! My Husband came home with the Report Card and he just couldn't stop beaming about the results.

Tomorrow we are off to get The Boy ready for University and then we move him in on Saturday. The Girl is home helping with gardens and doing some clean-up around her Nana's house and then she is back to school again too!

I've been knitting a sample for the shop. A very interesting pattern. Last night I ran out of yarn, imagine!

See You Soon.

See You in Septmeber!

When the kids were in School and the summer months were really only July and August the summer went too fast. This year both of them started their summer jobs in April, the summer just seems to be endless, until this week, and now I think where has the time gone.

Many things were planned, nothing accomplished! I may be on Holidays from the Shop, but next week is catch up week with life. There are the shopping trips to get everyone back to school. The Gardens to attend to, the daytrips we planned to visit and yes the house that still needs staining.

The Shop is closed for the Week, but you are all too busy with perhaps the same kind of stuff.

Have a great week!

Classes!

Here's the list so far:

September: (Minimum to run the classes is 3, maximum per class is 6.)

Beginners Knitting:

2 lessons, Knit and Purl

Tuesday Evenings: 7 - 8:30 pm September 21 and 28

Wednesdays Afternoon: 1:00 pm - 2:30 September 22 and 29

($30 for 2 lessons, yarn included. Bring 4.5 needles)


February Lady/Baby Knit-a-long:

September 21, 28, October 12, 19. 7pm - 8:30 pm $50 for 4 Sessions.

(Pattern here, Yarn must be purchased at Soper Creek Yarn )

Mitten Club:

Friday Evenings, "Friday night knitting" with a purpose. September 17, October 8 and 29. (7 - 8:30 pm)

Learn a variety of techniques or teach us all something new you learned about knitting, while making mittens for yourself or for a gift or to add to our fundraising.

We hope to be able to sell the mittens created be the members of the 'Mitten Club' and customers and friends of Soper Creek Yarn. All the proceeds will go to charity. UNICEF during October, and others to be decided by the 'Club'. The Mittens will be on sale during Applefest, Santa Claus Parade and Moonlight Magic. Leftover mittens will be donated to our local Women's Shelter.

Back to finishing the Windows, tomorrow and Friday the Shop is open until 8 pm

Closed next week for Holidays!

23 on 23rd

Yesterday was The Girl's birthday, 23 on the 23rd. When your age and birth date match it's sometimes known at a 'Champagne Birthday'. Although she was home there wasn't much time to celebrate. She came home to get to a concert in the big city and today she is making her way back 'home' to finish work and then back to the Farm for a week of bonding with her family. (That's partially why I am on holidays too!) I was surprised how much I missed her when she was home.



She managed to give me a 'Birthday' present too! (I think Mom's should get a present too!)

Saturday night she was sitting on the couch and pulled up a pair of Addi Turbo needles and some chunky 'Malabrigo' and Knit! She made a lovely pocket sized swatch! Where did she learn.

She said she did it too prove to me that she could, but secretly I think she kind of liked it!

Kids, they just keep surprising me!

Done! Done!...

One Hundred and Seventy Three helmet liners, knit by 43 knitters! Done!Sales Rep picked them up today! Done! Clapotis, from knitty, started January 09 sat behind the cash desk waiting to be finished since last summer, took 3 days to finish! Why do we do that, leave stuff so close to being done? Go find something you have been working on and finish it, do it now!

Then you can come and see me and see all the new yarns and patterns!

I am now working on a few last details of an 'event' planned for next week! I am taking a few days off! (Yup Holidays for Tina!) Don't quite know what we will be doing. Perhaps staining the house, visiting with The Girl and moving The Boy to University!


The Shop will be closed for Holidays the week of August 30th - September 7th (Labour
Day).

More details later, and yes I threw out that skein of yarn!

Not worth it!

I was going through my stash at home, I have stash, some of the stash goes back to Rickaby days! (shhh don't tell those at home!) I came across a free sample of some yarn from a supplier. Pretty colours, hand dyed and lace. Merino/angora and something else. Maybe I should try something? I untwisted the skein onto my swift, which is permanently set up in front of the TV, I began to untie those nasty loops that keep the skein together. They broke in my hand. Then I tried to put it onto the ball winder, broke again. The yarn literally shreds itself!

What to do, the thought of throwing out yarn is completely wrong. (Must use every scrap of every yarn always!) This yarn is not worth using. Crap in Crap out, you get what you pay for, life is too short to use crappy yarn!

Tomorrow is garbage day at home, I have told myself and now I have told you, it's going into the bin. It will be painful to watch it go, but it's not worth any ones time and effort to use!

Maybe while I am feeling ruthless I will do the same for some other yarns in my stash!

How to stain a house:

Step #1. Wait almost 3 years after the house really needs staining.

Step #2. Take can of stain from last time to paint store, they don't make it anymore. Decide on a new colour.

Step # 3. Select the hottest summer on record, and choose most humid day possible.

Step # 4. While picking up cans of stain to take outside, drop one sending a significant amount of stain over the back room, including 2 pairs of wife's shoes.

Step #5. Curse.

Step #6. Clean-up back room, needed it anyway.

Step #7.* Stain for an hour and decide it's too hot, quit.*

Repeat from * to * until finished.

Be careful what you wish for..

It's hard to imagine that just 2 years ago at this time I was thinking and looking into opening my own Yarn shop! Some nights I lie in bed and think: "Holy cr#p I opened a Yarn Shop!" like it's some sort of dream.
With the dream also comes the reality. The reality that some days are better than others. That I don't have complete control over the Yarn Universe and shipments don't arrive when they are supposed to and yet the rent still needs to be paid.
This past week I have been on the phone with more than just one supplier questioning the timing of the shipments promised a week ago or more! (Truly not always their fault, I have to remind myself that I am not the only yarn shop in the World.)
So today this arrived: Inside: All the new colours of Marble Chunky! 5 new colours all just lovely. Good thing I made room!

Last night I worked on this, in my other life I sew Jumpers, sometimes, for my friend Karen's store 'Gather'. I haven't made any in a while but the regular sewer is at the cottage preparing for her son's wedding! This is the first of the set, there are only 7 to do. (I have made thousands of these over the past 10 years, it all came back very quickly!)

On the knitting front: I finished this shawl, Colonnade, made with Manos Wool Classica. Notice the pet restraint system. I thought I was done my shawl phase. Apparently not!

Yarn Harlot's Page a day calender suggests that this should be 'Love your LYS Day!'. (Personally I think everyday should be Love your LYS Day!) Go out there and buy something from your favorite shop, even if it's not mine.

Today is Moonlight Madness and the shop is open until 10 pm.

I am glad I wished for my own shop! The work is challenging but inspiring and I have met so many wonderful caring people, it is the best job!

Thanks!

Tina

P.S. We are counting the Helmet liners tonight, I wanted to send 100 and you have made at least 145. (They are being delivered late next week if you are working on one and want to drop it off, I have a mail slot in the door!)