Today I finally got in the Malabrigo Chunky, in 7 fabulous colors! This Malabrigo is plied and very user friendly.
Another new yarn: Jam by K1C2. Jam is a novelty yarn, fuzzy and bumpy (my camera is still broken). It would make great trim or accents on a knitted article, and would also be good for making jewelry out of yarn.
I have made up some kits, for those of you who just want everything you need in one spot. New kits include the Watermelon Cardigan by Never Not Knitting - a little girl's cardi, comes with everything but the button; "Beach Party" aka a felted flamingo kit; and the Scalloped Beaded Scarf kit, with enough Panda Silk DK and color coordinated beads to make the Deanna's Vintage Knits scarf of the same name.
Remember to sign up for the Stitches Midwest bus trip before 01 July. Sounds like a long time off, but this is on a "first paid, first served" basis, so don't miss out.
Purls of wisdom: pennies do not come from heaven. They are earned here on earth.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Ever have one of those days?
Most days are pretty tranquil. The cats get me up an hour before I need to be up, I feed them, I drink coffee in the hot tub then go inside and knit. I shower, get dressed, and go to the shop. Tranquil. Peaceful.
Some days...not so much.
A couple of Thursdays ago I went through the same basic routine described above. Except for the fact that Midget, my designated alarm cat, decided 4:30 was a good time to have breakfast. In case you were wondering, there is no snooze button on a hungry cat. So I got up and began my day, taking advantage of the extra time before I had to leave the house to spend some bonus time in the hot tub. And for this the gods of daily routine decided to punish me.
Everything went fine until it was time to leave. I opened the garage door, started the car, and tried to back out of the garage. The Envoy did not want to move; then I noticed the left front corner sitting a bit low. A lot low, actually. I got out to look, and lo and behold, I have a flat tire. Not just a soft tire - a "flatter than a duck's instep" tire. So I went upstairs, told my husband and asked if I could take his PT Cruiser and would he please put the spare on my truck? I took the Envoy key off my key chain to leave it with him, got in his car and left.
I was only running a couple minutes late, but that isn't a big deal. As I was driving up Cleveland - heading into the sun - I had to stop at a traffic light and decided to use the windshield washers (my husband isn't a big fan of clean windows). It was cold out - about 21 degrees - but that is why washer fluid is designed not to readily freeze. I squirt the bug juice onto the windshield, the wipers start moving....and only the very tips of each wiper are making contact with the glass, leaving several ounces of foamy bug juice on the windshield. Did I mention I was heading into the sun?
Isn't that special?
I continued on to work, periodically turning on the wipers in the hope that the defroster would have warmed them up enough that they would actually make contact with the windshield, but no, that did not happen. The bug juice eventually dried, leaving a lovely film on the glass, but by then I was no longer headed east. Oh well, I say to myself - I'll stop at a gas station on the way home and wash the windshield there.
The day went on without incident (and without much business) and I headed home. By then the sun had warmed up enough that the wipers were working properly, and I could actually see out the windshield. I decided that I would be a nice wife and take my husband's car to get an oil change and a wash. When they checked the tire pressure at the oil change place they discovered there were 80 pounds of air in each tire. Which explains the buckboard-like ride I had been enduring. (Never mind how that happened.)
Our garage door opener had been acting up for a few weeks - it worked just fine if one used a remote, but the button on the garage wall to operate it had not been working at all. This was normally not a problem for me - I simply hit the remote in my Envoy. Bob's car, however, does not get parked in the garage. While the remote in his car will open the garage door, closing it became problematic due to the faulty wall switch. So I pulled into my driveway and decided to let myself in through the front door. I locked Bob's car, the horn gave that annoying beep, and headed for the front door.
The front door frame had been replaced just before Christmas resulting in a very tight fit. I couldn't get the blighter opened. Everything now fits so snugly and we use the front door so seldom, that my arthritic hands couldn't turn the key in the deadbolt lock. So back to Bob's car I go; I unlocked it, hit the remote for the garage door, locked the car again (out of habit), it beeped again, and I went inside. But now I can't close the garage door.
I went to the front door and unlocked it, let myself outside and unlocked Bob's car. I hit the remote to close the garage door, locked his car again, it beeped again, and I went back inside through the front door. The chronic beeping of the horn had called my neighbors' attention to the bizarre Chinese fire drill going in in my driveway. I really ought to charge these people for the entertainment, but they were decent enough not to laugh while I could hear them.
The next day I took my tire to Avenue Automotive and got it fixed in a matter of minutes - a large machine screw had been the culprit. All was once again right with the world - Bob is driving his car, I am driving my car, and now the wall switch for the remote is fixed. My dignity is only slightly damaged.
Purls of wisdom: some days it doesn't pay to chew through the leather restraints.
Some days...not so much.
A couple of Thursdays ago I went through the same basic routine described above. Except for the fact that Midget, my designated alarm cat, decided 4:30 was a good time to have breakfast. In case you were wondering, there is no snooze button on a hungry cat. So I got up and began my day, taking advantage of the extra time before I had to leave the house to spend some bonus time in the hot tub. And for this the gods of daily routine decided to punish me.
Everything went fine until it was time to leave. I opened the garage door, started the car, and tried to back out of the garage. The Envoy did not want to move; then I noticed the left front corner sitting a bit low. A lot low, actually. I got out to look, and lo and behold, I have a flat tire. Not just a soft tire - a "flatter than a duck's instep" tire. So I went upstairs, told my husband and asked if I could take his PT Cruiser and would he please put the spare on my truck? I took the Envoy key off my key chain to leave it with him, got in his car and left.
I was only running a couple minutes late, but that isn't a big deal. As I was driving up Cleveland - heading into the sun - I had to stop at a traffic light and decided to use the windshield washers (my husband isn't a big fan of clean windows). It was cold out - about 21 degrees - but that is why washer fluid is designed not to readily freeze. I squirt the bug juice onto the windshield, the wipers start moving....and only the very tips of each wiper are making contact with the glass, leaving several ounces of foamy bug juice on the windshield. Did I mention I was heading into the sun?
Isn't that special?
I continued on to work, periodically turning on the wipers in the hope that the defroster would have warmed them up enough that they would actually make contact with the windshield, but no, that did not happen. The bug juice eventually dried, leaving a lovely film on the glass, but by then I was no longer headed east. Oh well, I say to myself - I'll stop at a gas station on the way home and wash the windshield there.
The day went on without incident (and without much business) and I headed home. By then the sun had warmed up enough that the wipers were working properly, and I could actually see out the windshield. I decided that I would be a nice wife and take my husband's car to get an oil change and a wash. When they checked the tire pressure at the oil change place they discovered there were 80 pounds of air in each tire. Which explains the buckboard-like ride I had been enduring. (Never mind how that happened.)
Our garage door opener had been acting up for a few weeks - it worked just fine if one used a remote, but the button on the garage wall to operate it had not been working at all. This was normally not a problem for me - I simply hit the remote in my Envoy. Bob's car, however, does not get parked in the garage. While the remote in his car will open the garage door, closing it became problematic due to the faulty wall switch. So I pulled into my driveway and decided to let myself in through the front door. I locked Bob's car, the horn gave that annoying beep, and headed for the front door.
The front door frame had been replaced just before Christmas resulting in a very tight fit. I couldn't get the blighter opened. Everything now fits so snugly and we use the front door so seldom, that my arthritic hands couldn't turn the key in the deadbolt lock. So back to Bob's car I go; I unlocked it, hit the remote for the garage door, locked the car again (out of habit), it beeped again, and I went inside. But now I can't close the garage door.
I went to the front door and unlocked it, let myself outside and unlocked Bob's car. I hit the remote to close the garage door, locked his car again, it beeped again, and I went back inside through the front door. The chronic beeping of the horn had called my neighbors' attention to the bizarre Chinese fire drill going in in my driveway. I really ought to charge these people for the entertainment, but they were decent enough not to laugh while I could hear them.
The next day I took my tire to Avenue Automotive and got it fixed in a matter of minutes - a large machine screw had been the culprit. All was once again right with the world - Bob is driving his car, I am driving my car, and now the wall switch for the remote is fixed. My dignity is only slightly damaged.
Purls of wisdom: some days it doesn't pay to chew through the leather restraints.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
More good news about Stitches Midwest
I am pleased to tell everyone that the admission price at Stitches is only $8! This gets even better as I am trying to get everyone discounted admission tickets at $6 each! The folks who organize this event are bending over backwards to be helpful - they are really great.
More new yarns at the shop - Himalaya Yarns Duke Silk, 225 yards of hand-dyed 100% silk decadence. And Wisdom Yarns Limerick, a self-striping DK weight superwash. Only three colors right now - lots of backorders.
Purls of wisdom: fall seven times, get up eight.
More new yarns at the shop - Himalaya Yarns Duke Silk, 225 yards of hand-dyed 100% silk decadence. And Wisdom Yarns Limerick, a self-striping DK weight superwash. Only three colors right now - lots of backorders.
Purls of wisdom: fall seven times, get up eight.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Stitches bus?
Greetings Knitlings! I am trying to get a firmer head count for the bus - those of you who are sure you are going to Stitches with us, please email me with your name or post it here so I can put you on the sign-up sheet. The list is first come, first served, FYI, so I do not recommend waiting too late. Also, I am offering a $5 discount for payment before 01 July. Anyone who has not paid by that date may be subject to being "bumped" to the bottom of the list by someone with cash.
Purls of wisdom: No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
Purls of wisdom: No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Cool new stuff!
Greetings knitlings (it's like earthlings, but different)! New at the shop as of today:
Purls of wisdom: Once the game is over, the king and pawn go back to the same box.
- Fortissima Mexiko Cotton stretch, a self-striping / patterning cotton sock yarn in 8 luscious colors
- Aloo by Himalaya Yarns, made of Himalayan nettle, this yarn is used to make market bags, placemats and table runners. I have a free market bag pattern available. Available only in a natural color that varies slightly from batch to batch.
- Pagadi Silk - made of un-used warp threads from a silk fabric mill, this yarn is a great trim, such as on the edges of cuffs, collars and lapels. The colors are brilliant and unpredictable.
- Maharaja Silk - a lace weight silk, 800 yards of hand-painted decadence, and reasonably priced. I have 5 delectable colors on hand.
Purls of wisdom: Once the game is over, the king and pawn go back to the same box.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Stitches Midwest Bus update
It is official - we will have a bus to Stitches Midwest for Saturday, 27 August. I am looking into having it depart from the former Barnes & Noble parking lot. This will allow more space for parking cars, as there is not a great deal of that at the shop. Please sign up now so we can figure out if a second bus will be needed. And please spread the word; I am going to ask a few other places about putting up posters with the trip info.
The price of the tickets will be $50 per person. I know this is higher than the $35 I was hoping for, but with the rising cost of fuel it is still a bargain, and at the rate the price of gas is rising it will be an even better bargain by August. Everyone will also receive a free tote bag and a free Knit Kard listing yardage estimates for various projects, so when you are at Stitches you will have a better idea of how much yarn you need to purchase for the project you have in mind.
Purls of wisdom: a person who aims at nothing is sure to hit it.
The price of the tickets will be $50 per person. I know this is higher than the $35 I was hoping for, but with the rising cost of fuel it is still a bargain, and at the rate the price of gas is rising it will be an even better bargain by August. Everyone will also receive a free tote bag and a free Knit Kard listing yardage estimates for various projects, so when you are at Stitches you will have a better idea of how much yarn you need to purchase for the project you have in mind.
Purls of wisdom: a person who aims at nothing is sure to hit it.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Count 'em! 53!
As I was putting away a Cascade shipment this morning, I decided to do a count of how many shades of 220 I have at the shop. Not counting hand-paints, tweeds and superwash, I have 53 shades of Cascade 220 in stock. Which is about 27% of what is available.
My camera needs to go to the camera doctor, so no images of new things. Nonetheless, I am pleased to announce that there are, indeed, new things at the shop. First is the 60 Quick Baby Knits a book utilizing Cascade 220 Superwash. Some very cool patterns - I especially like the hat with the ram's horns on the sides.
Also new - Pagewood Farms Felted Silk Scarf Kit and Felted Flower Kit. The former allows you to make your own unique wearable work of art using their silk scarf as a foundation. The latter can be used to make anything your imagination can come up with, from felted flowers on a sweater to embellishing your own scarf.
And I got a bunch of glorious new colors in Malabrigo Worsted. It is the yarn of the month, so come check them out.
Ordered this morning: I found another source of magnetic chart holders (thankfully). These are harder to find than one might think.
Off to teach a student - later!
Purls of wisdom: alcohol and calculus don't mix; never drink and derive.
My camera needs to go to the camera doctor, so no images of new things. Nonetheless, I am pleased to announce that there are, indeed, new things at the shop. First is the 60 Quick Baby Knits a book utilizing Cascade 220 Superwash. Some very cool patterns - I especially like the hat with the ram's horns on the sides.
Also new - Pagewood Farms Felted Silk Scarf Kit and Felted Flower Kit. The former allows you to make your own unique wearable work of art using their silk scarf as a foundation. The latter can be used to make anything your imagination can come up with, from felted flowers on a sweater to embellishing your own scarf.
And I got a bunch of glorious new colors in Malabrigo Worsted. It is the yarn of the month, so come check them out.
Ordered this morning: I found another source of magnetic chart holders (thankfully). These are harder to find than one might think.
Off to teach a student - later!
Purls of wisdom: alcohol and calculus don't mix; never drink and derive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)