Monthly Archives: September 2009

I’m still working…..

Posted on by

Diligently working- even during Penny’s open house! I am slowly plowing my way through the boxes in the office. Problem is that boxes are being added faster than I can get through them. I have, however, uncovered a few gems for you.

Don’t you love it when you get first shot at something very new? You know you do, so just admit it. I have just (as in maybe a week ago) gotten the new Rhythm Superwash in the system and available for purchase. This yarn is so new it’s not even on Jojoland’s website yet. It is a worsted weight version of the Melody Superwash, same long repeats and gentle color transitions but I have to tell you that it has such a soft, almost slippery feel to it. It’s been in the shop for a week (thank you to Kathy for helping put the labels on) but I just got it unbagged and on the shelf this morning.  I’ve tucked two skeins back for myself to knit a quick scarf.

This morning I am working on getting the new Baby Cashmerino up and running.  Technically, this is not a new yarn but to feel it you would think it’s got a new fiber composition.  I have always thought that this was a “nice enough” yarn, but these new colors are positively lucious!  I don’t know what they have done but I am in love with this yarn now…. it is softer, much more touchable, more squishable.  There were a few lucky people here yesterday that got a sneak peek and I think they will agree with me.  The colors are lovely, also.  This is the yarn that may finally get me knitting baby somethings.  Check back for the new colors to show up; I promise I’ll hurry.

On a personal note, I have made the very difficult decision to not start my Cassidy sweater yet.  I hesitate put if off because I’m afraid that if I don’t do it while the KAL is going on, I will never get it done.  But, I really want to focus on my daughter’s cross stitch stocking and that is so time consuming that I don’t feel that I want a big project hanging over my shoulder.  (didn’t I post something similar earlier this year??  That tells you something right there. )  I have a few quick, no heavy thinking required projects sitting around and when I just cannot stand another moment without a (knitting) needle in my hand I will pick one of these up and knit a bit.  The Rhythm Superwash scarf is one of them but I still have projects looming from some time ago.  They’ve been patiently sitting there waiting so now I’ll have a reason to do the smaller things.  I have finished the Noro sweater and just need to seam it.  YAY!  I’ll post a pic so you all can see it when I’ve truly finished it.  I have a few days of not enough home time and then after this weekend I should have a chance to get it finished.  I am so excited!

Cooler weather…. more inside time…. more crafty time :) – Susan

You’re Invited . . .

Posted on by

to an open house to celebrate Penny’s retirement. 

Penny wearing red hat   Hmmm, as my mind travels back through the years that Penny has worked for me, I realize there are many “jobs” she has performed, from making sure the packages are out the door complete and on time to decorating for the holidays and making sure I’ve shut the coffee pot off at the end of the day.  Oh, and retreat — oh my!  Who will take her place at retreat?  And, what will we do without new baby sweaters to display every time her friends kids are expecting?  I don’t think we’ll be able to let her retire, but if we must, join us . . . .  

When:  Tuesday,  September 29, 10-4

Where:  Knitting Today

Refreshments will be provided throughout the day.  If you are able, please stop in. 

P.S.  We’re hoping Penny will come back in the new year to teach some classes for us . . . . but in the meantime, I think after working for me for an unmentionable number of  years, she’s ready for a break!  No comments from the peanut gallery, please.  If you can’t make it to the party and would like to send Penny a message, she’s still available at penny@knittingtoday.com.   

P.P.S.  Notice on the picture that Penny is wearing a Casting for Recovery shirt.  One of the first things she is going to tackle is setting up a retreat for them in Northeast Indiana.  The retreats she has been on are therapeutic, relaxing, and educational.  Check the organization out at:   http://www.castingforrecovery.org/

BTS at Stitches Midwest

Posted on by

BTS = Behind The Scenes, an acronym we use at Emmaus Walks for the go-fers

And, here are some shots from BTS at Stitches Midwest and, yes, Tom was definitely the “go-fer” and we couldn’t have done it without him.  My thanks to the whole team that helped man the Knitting Today booth, Claudia from Yarn Sisters for Zealana, Karen and Patti from Knit Happy, Chuck and Deb from Stonehedge Fiber Mills.  My hope is they had a great time meeting all the knitters that came through and have had a chance to rest their feet and legs by now. 

Tom setting up

Setup

And where is Lea-Ann?

Behind the Boxes

 From the back aisle you see the Noni Designs as well as the Heritage Spinning and Weaving and other Shepherd’s Wool samples:

From the Back Aisle

the view coming around the corner was Shepherd’s Wool:

Shepherd’s Front View

Walking around to the inside is another view of Shepherd’s Wool and on the back wall is the spinner rack full of Shepherd’s Wool Fingering.  Next to the fingering is a better view of Y2Knit’s Seven-Eighths and Winter Ball Scoop Cami (check Ravelry for their knitalong)

Shepherd’s from the InsideShepherd’s Fingering

Back to a view from the aisle, on the left is Y2Knit’s Seven-Eighths and Winter Ball Scoop Cami followed by the Zealana Kia Ora Kiwi and Kauri and in the middle is the Knit Happy bags and tumblers with the Gathered Totes on top of the yarn

From the Aisle

On the back right of the booth is the Zealana Eco 2020 on the top and Zealana Kia Ora rimu on the bottom with the Windy Hills Alpaca from a farm in Ohio to the right.  The models shown are on the left: Eyelet Cardi by Chic Knits knit in Kauri fingering; Laguna knit in Rimu DK,  on top is the Grommet bag and the Watermelon Tote, and on the far right with the long row of buttons is Noni’s new cardigan pattern.

Eco and Rimu

On the right of the booth, we featured Willow by Zealana, a cashmere/merino blend yarn that feels luscious and we have Knit Happy mugs lined up next to the checkout

Zealana Willow 

After all this set-up, here’s Tom:

 Tom worn out

And a big thank you to the three more helpers:  Deb and Chuck from Stonehedge Fiber Mills and Claudia from YarnSisters representating Zealana yarns:

Deb and Chuck from StonehedgeClaudia and Callie

Here’s the gang, Karen, Patti, Tom, Lea-Ann and Claudia:

The workers

 And, we did catch Tom smiling once or twice — he’s holding the Kiwi bird covered in Possum Fur:

Tom and the Kiwi Bird

Hope you enjoyed the virtual tour of our booth at Stitches Midwest 2009!  Thank you for stopping by, please leave a comment, you never know when I’ll do a drawing for some goodies!!

Busy, busy, busy!

Posted on by

Wow, have we been busy!  What with getting ready for Stitches (which was just a tad hectic) and trying to get all the new products checked in, it has been the next best thing to crazy.  Now that Lea-Ann (and crew) is safely in her booth in Chicago I finally have time to update you on the latest.

First, I’ll say upfront that I forgot my camera and Lea-Ann took the store camera with her so I have no pics for you, which is too bad because the new primary colors of Dreambaby DK came in and they look great!  We have a total of 22 colors – soon to be 23 when the green arrives.  Want to see it all?  Click here.  I’ll try to remember my camera so I can add an image for you…

Now for what I am really excited about.  The Knit Happy is all here!  We have some of everything in stock.  I know I told you earlier that it wouldn’t be here until after Stitches but surprise!  It’s hard for me to decide on a favorite.  One day I like the travel tumbler the best but then I’ll fold a denim shirt and decide that maybe I like that the best.  I have had so much fun spreading everything around the store.  I love the way the bright colors of the mugs, notebooks, and travel tumblers just pop off the shelves.  They look so… well, happy. 

I am still diligently working my way through the boxes.  Though they are not towering quite as high as before, they are still lurking over my shoulder.  Slow and steady wins the race, right?  Keep checking back because I am making progress.

Susan

those UPS men, they never stop working . . .

Posted on by

I feel bad, sort of, that on Tom’s vacation he has to load a truck, drive, unload a truck, move boxes, unload inventory, fill shelves, and at the end of a long weekend refill boxes, move boxes, reload a truck and drive again, unload, etc.  I think he’ll then leave the reshelving to the rest of the staff.  This is on his VACATION!  Now, he is telling me I plan these things to happen on his vacation, seriously, I don’t even have his vacations on my calendar to call the organizers of these events and tell them this is when they have to have Stitches Midwest, because Tom is on vacation, you know <LOL>.  

Our first shipment to load is Zealana Yarns, over 300 pounds of yarn!!  The second shipment that came in that is now at our house is ten boxes of display fixtures, each weighing 60 pounds — you do the math — he said not to stack it all in one place on our living room floor, wonder why.   Today we’re making the trek to Karen’s to load the Knit Happy boxes, I don’t even want to count how many we’re talking about, but I think it filled half of her garage when I saw them the other day and it took her weeks to price/tag everything.   On Tuesday we’re going to haul the trailer — oh, thank you to my neighbor Steve F who is a bread man who just upgraded to a box truck and has loaned us his 20 foot trailer so we can load in increments instead of saving it all until Tuesday night <wooh, what a sentence!>– over to UPS and wait in their parking lot for the unload to finish and snag my boxes.  Now I know why I married a UPS man, a direct line to the center and my son who works unload there (he would help but he’s on vacation too).  Nine boxes are arriving from Stonehedge in every color of their yarn as well as more patterns for felted hats, clogs, and, hmmmm, I know there is 15 boxes we have to pick up at last count.  Then back to the store to finish loading the display pieces.  Tara has made a list of what she needs to add,  complementary shirts, necklaces, and I don’t know what else, to fancy the mannequins up and make their sweaters stand out.  I have samples from Noni patterns, Heritage Spinning and Weaving, Zealana, and our in house samples of Shepherd’s Wool and Zealana yarns.   I’ll have to take a picture of everything before it is boxed up so we know how to put it back together. 

Well, on this Labor Day, since we’re working; I hope you get in some knitting time.  Tom is taking a few minutes to cast his line into the water.  A couple of blue gill yesterday and he’s on a morning stroll down to the lake this a.m. to see what is happening down there.  I should have thought ahead and outfitted the cottage (across the street from our house on Pretty Lake) so we could stay in it last night, at least he would have felt like he was on vacation one day — oh well, next time!  I have to get moving and get stuff done . . . have a great day everyone!!  Comment and tell me what you did today, and we’ll pick a winner for a Knit Happy notebook in your color choice after we get back from Stitches. 

Knit Happy Notebook

If you want to see all the Knit Happy products we’re taking, click here. And, don’t forget to stop by Booth 329/331 at Stitches Midwest and tell us Hi!!