I have not had near enough time to knit recently.  I planned on getting more done last week, but when the sweet corn is ready, it’s ready.  I like to put up lots of sweet corn, so I took two days off of everything else and did nothing but [...]]]>

"Tee for Two" in Blueberry Fields

I have not had near enough time to knit recently.  I planned on getting more done last week, but when the sweet corn is ready, it’s ready.  I like to put up lots of sweet corn, so I took two days off of everything else and did nothing but corn.  The second round should be ready late this week so I have to knit like crazy the next few nights.  Doesn’t it drive you mad when you are so close to finishing a project only to be too busy to knit.  It’s almost enough to make me cuss.  Anyway, I have maybe three inches to go before beginning the second sleeve and then it’s a pretty quick round and round and ready for the trim.

I have tweaked just a bit and did a three needle bind-off on the first side and knit the sleeve in the round.  So much easier than seaming when finished.  I am not a big fan of seaming and I like the idea of being done when I’m done.  I am going to take out the last few rows of the sleeve and do it over on a smaller needle.  I think my gauge loosened when I went to purl and I don’t like how loose/big the sleeve ends. 

Anybody notice the coffee mug in the background?  That’s the newest from Knit Happy, the Bright Sips Mug, in yellow.  Click the link to see all five bright colors.

I had to come back and edit this to add that the Diva Bundles are in stock!  These are so pretty.  I’d like to buy a bunch just to hang up and look at.

I have a little bit of time on my hands waiting to go to my mom’s pre-op this morning and I am sitting outside drinking my coffee. It is 74F and not too humid at the moment. What i am noticing, besides the little lizards (My mom said they are chameoleons) scurrying around, is the [...]]]>

I have a little bit of time on my hands waiting to go to my mom’s pre-op this morning and I am sitting outside drinking my coffee. It is 74F and not too humid at the moment. What i am noticing, besides the little lizards
(My mom said they are chameoleons) scurrying around, is the difference in color intensity from Indiana to Florida. I order yarn for Spring in January and those of you who live up north know how gray the sky is in January. So, now that it is brightening up, what do you think? What is your favorite color for the season? Link to the color you love …. give me something to look at while I’m sitting through the 5-6 hour operation tomorrow.
P.s. Thank you to Susan, Tom, Tara and Nancy for keeping the store running without me. I have to go water my moms bean plants now. You can move the Michigan farmer to Florida but the farmer moves along.

calm, i would call it. i wonder what the day will bring. guess i had better get all of the above going…stay tuned.

p.s. forgive the “no caps”, using the droid and swype keyboard to post this and still on the learning curve.

1. Lock all customers out, so we can plan a [...]]]> Saturday the 19th, it was snowing so much that it appeared we would be snowed in by noon with no customers. Mom and I thought it would be fun to make a top 10 list to do at Knitting Today if buried in unstoppable snow! Here is my version:

1. Lock all customers out, so we can plan a trip to Barbados using the number I accidently called.

 2. Pile all Shepherd’s Wool on the floor to take a nap.

 3.Let ONE customer in to referee  a race between mom and I on seeing how many balls of yarn you can wind off in an hour.

 4. Raid Susan’s food stash.

 5. ACTUALLY WORK! (plan sale for JAN. 2? and classes for FEB. and my hard homework)

 6.Dress me as a ball of yarn with needles and make me stand outside with a sign saying, ‘WE ARE OPEN!’

 7. Knit with no shoes. my personal favorite.

8. Clean the Black Hole (A.K.A. the office) and the Milkyway (A.K.A. the back room).

9. Crank up the heat for a Hawaiian Luau! Aloha!

 10. Have me make a stupid Top 10 list! =P

-Tara Lea     (p.s. what is yours???)

But, these are so pretty!  And they’re just the right size for a smaller project (never mind that I’m not working on any small projects… I’ll start one).  And they have a nice wide bottom so they stand [...]]]> I do not need another bag, I do not need another bag, I do NOT need another bag!

But, these are so pretty!  And they’re just the right size for a smaller project (never mind that I’m not working on any small projects… I’ll start one).  And they have a nice wide bottom so they stand up.  And it is so cool how the handle is attached to the zipper.  They are lovely and I want one.  What am I talking about? 

The new HiyaHiya Project Bag, of course! Available in red, or blue.

Also never mind that I just bought a very cool, one of a kind bag from a local crafter (Melissa Hess, of Green Chick Designs).  It holds my bigger projects, has a pocket big enough for a pattern/book on one side (with a small pocket on the outside of the big pocket) and a smaller pocket on the other.  Also has a nice sized pocket on the inside and a strap long enough that I can carry it messenger style and knit while I’m doing whatever.  I really like that it is made almost entirely of recycled clothing and upholstery fabric.  Very cool.  Check it out…..

.front of bag..back of bag..inside bag.

I just love it when I have something different; when I know that there will most definitely not ever be another “one” just like “it”. You know, something a little “funky”.  I just adore the fabrics on this bag.  As I said before, I don’t need another bag but I couldn’t resist the fabrics.  I find myself running my hand over the circular patterned fabric and the fringe around the top.  If you like the idea of having a one-of-a-kind bag there will be some in the shop closer to the holidays.  She has several different sizes available, each one different.  Can’t wait to see what she comes up with! – Susan

P.S.  Also, never mind that I just commissioned a purse from her.  Not the one pictured above, but one to carry as an actual purse.

P.P.S.  Again, also never mind that she had an adorable smaller purse for a little girl that I just had to get.

P.P.P.S.  I still want the HiyaHiya bag.  What can I say?  I’m a bag whore….

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 [...]]]> 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

And where is Lea-Ann?

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

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

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)

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

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.

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

 

After all this set-up, here’s Tom:

 

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

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

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

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!!