One of those two day posts

Sarah and I are in the store right now but I am leaving for my hair appointment.  It was a very late night last night.  For my mom's birthday we decided to give her an iPad.  I ordered it online earlier this week and it was going to be delivered around the middle of June.  Last night I was on my way home from Limeridge Mall and made a short stop at Best Buy.  Guess what-they had iPads in stock.

Half an hour later I was leaving the store with two iPads.  Of course I couldn't go to bed because I needed to see how this worked.

I called Apple to cancel the online order and the man on the phone laughed-I am sure many people ordered one and then found it in a store.

It is now Sunday afternoon.  I started the blog post yesterday and then went to have my hair done.  Went back to the store, helped customers, closed the store and went across the border to the Seneca Casino for dinner and some play.  I lost $10.

Boheme has been blocked.  It is sitting on the edge of my bathtub on a towel right now.  When I get home on Thursday it will be ready for buttons.

I love almost everything about the iPad.  The only thing I don't like really isn't an iPad issue but an Apple issue.  It takes forever to download a TV show.  Beth downloaded the first season of Grey's Anatomy for my mom and it took over an hour per episode.  I am now downloading an episode of Law & Order but decided to do it on my computer and then Sync it over.  Still extremely slow.  This will be something that needs to be done before bed and when I wake up in the morning it will be ready.

The washing machine has been busy today as I try and get packed for NY.  Dad is picking me up at 7:30 tomorrow morning so I had better get things done this afternoon.

I am not sure if there will be any posts from NY.  The laptop is staying home (of course the iPad is coming) but I need to be at the Apple Store to write.  I will try but can't make a promise.

Have a great week and I will be back on Thursday night.

Will I reach five?

My day has been more preparing for going away.  I was at the Spa at 9am to have the polish changed on my toes.  They do a much better job than I ever could.  Beth has been busy at work so I did a blog post for her.  Then I wrote two newsletters.  Sock News is going out right now and on Tuesday a newsletter is going out to Camp attendees.  More yarns have been rearranged in the store.  My original notes for Cathy and Jane took two pages but now I am up to four pages.  Something tells me that it will be five pages when I print it tomorrow.

Boheme #3 is done and I am about to cast on #4.  It is a great pattern to knit a quick store sample.  I could knit a swatch to show off the yarn but this is much cuter!!

The vest will be blocked tonight-hello Phil.  Sorry that the picture is terrible but the battery on my camera just died so I can't take any more.  Once it is blocked and the buttons are sewn on a much better picture will be taken.

After work I need to run to Limeridge Mall to pick up a few things for the trip-namely makeup.  Showing up not wearing makeup to help on a photo shoot isn't an option.

No knitting at knitting class

I was a little bit tired this morning.  Last night we had the last knitting class before summer at my house. These ladies have been with me for years so we always make the last class a fun one. Everyone looks very serious here but most of the night was spent laughing.

Monday morning I am flying to New York City with Bev. She is looking after a photo shoot for Filatura di Crosa so I am going along to help. Jane and Cathy will be working in the store for me. I like to leave them notes (just in case) so I have been working on that this afternoon. I tried to think of every question they could possibly have.  My other chore has been making sure that every yarn has a price tag on the shelf.  Hopefully everything is in order.

Of course there are other things that need to be done before I can leave.  Nails-tonight.  Feet-tomorrow morning before the store opens.  Hair-Saturday afternoon.  At some point I should start thinking about what clothes I am going to take.

Just spoke to my dad and he had a long hot day working outside.  They poured concrete in this heat and he is in desperate need of a beer so we are having family dinner at Jack Astor's.  A beer at home just won't cut it!!

Boheme Part Three

Meet Zara Print Melange.

We have six colours in stock.  The yarn is double knitting weight, 100% extra fine merino superwash wool made in Italy.  What more can you ask for in a yarn?

Beth freaked out when this yarn came in.  She had to have a sweater in the blue.  Lynda has the yarn and is working away on a very simple ribbed sweater that will look amazing.

I am making another Boheme in the smallest size.  Two more inches and I can cast off.

I know that I should look for another easy/quick to knit pattern but I really like this one.

There won't be any knitting tonight because of knitting class.  Now I can already hear your questions.  Shouldn't there be knitting at knitting class?  Normally the answer would be 'yes' but tonight is our end of year party.  We are meeting at my house for treats which reminds me that I had better put some white treats in the fridge!!

Fingers crossed that Crystal wins Idol tonight.

Springtime Bandit-Done!!

Melo was feeling much better by the time he went to bed last night and was running around like a happy dog this morning.  I hope the kids of the neighbourhood don't have any more fireworks to set off tonight.

Springtime Bandit is finished-even the ends are sewn in.

Pattern:  Springtime Bandit
Yarn:  2 skeins Lion and Lamb from Lorna's Laces
Needles:  5.5mm (Addi Turbo Clicks)

I have mentioned this before but am going to say it again-if you are thinking about lace then check out this pattern.  You are knitting with thicker yarn on larger needles which makes it easier to see the pattern.  The repeat of the pattern is easy to follow and is not intricate like many of the fine lace shawls.

I worked away on Dryad last night and have 5 chart repeats done-15 to go.  Got through 3 episodes of the Y&R, mostly fast forwarding through things that didn't interest me.  What is with the new Abby?  Seriously.  I love it that Victoria and Billy are married.

The postman just walked in with a box from Churchmouse yarns which means that I will be making kits this afternoon.

Scary Noises part 2

The fireworks are going off and Melo is upset again.  I have the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer going hoping that it would drown out the sound but no go.  Beth took the dogs downstairs to the spare bedroom hoping that would help.  All three are cuddled in the bed reading-yes the dogs like to read.  It hasn't made them any smarter though.

My day was very restful.  I sat outside for most of it reading the newest book from Penny Vincenzi.  I bought the book about a month before I got my book reader-this is definitely a book you don't want to carry around-over seven hundred pages.

The hockey game is done and I am going to move upstairs and try and catch up on some TV.  I have said that for a few days but it hasn't happened.

Scary Noises

The dogs are sitting underneath my feet shaking.  Both of them.  Melo is upset because fireworks are going off.  Roko is upset because he heard the camera.  The fireworks I can kind of understand but not the camera.

I snuck into the bathroom to try and take pictures of the shawl lying out without Roko hearing me.  Not enough light (light bulbs need to be changed and now that dad is home it can be done).  Unfortunately he heard me.

Now that the stitches are lying nice and flat I am very happy with the results.

It is just about time to start watching the finale of Celebrity Apprentice.  Not sure what they are going to do about Bret.  When they announced he was on the show I was sure that he would be a screw up but he ended up being great.  Rooting for him to win.

Tomorrow is a holiday in Canada-Victoria Day.  Beth is golfing (ladies tournament at her course), mom and dad are going to the garden centre and I am going to spend the day knitting, writing newsletters and catching up on TV shows that are taped.

Phil in action

I finally remembered to bring Phil into the house.  Unfortunately I forgot to bring home the new scent Unleashed so I used Flora.

Phil works great on the kitchen counter.  No more leaning over the bathtub for me!!  There is a nice scent in the kitchen right now.

Here is the shawl having a bath.  Lots of bubbles-just how I like my bath.

I worked a bit more on Dryad today-the fourth repeat of the chart is almost done.

Tomorrow will be spent relaxing and knitting.  There are quite a few Y&R episodes to watch.  Maybe golf on Monday!!

Have a great Saturday night-on our way out the door for dinner.

Sunglasses

Yesterday was a bit of a write off for me.  When I got to work a migraine hit and my migraine pills were at home.  I changed my purse for the Frolic-it was raining and I didn't want my leather purse getting wet.  My migraine pills were packed for the Frolic and when I came home I forgot to put them into my everyday purse.  My mom said I wasn't too bright and my dad called me something I can't write here-a Dutch swear word.  For most of the day I sat in the store with my sunglasses on.  Miss Vickie's didn't even help.

I did do a bit of knitting though.  Not sure why I can knit cables with a migraine but can't do anything else.  Here is Dryad one ball in.  My love for the pattern and the yarn increases the more I knit.

I just finished ordering some yarn for fall.  Noro, Debbie Bliss and Sirdar.  There are some great yarns coming!!

Kathryn left me a ball of the new Noro Kirameki to play with.
60% Rayon.
25% Nylon.
10% Wool.
5% Cashmere.
Lace weight.
450m on a ball.
Very nice shades of purples and browns with a shot of turquoise and green.  Totally my colour.  I'm thinking about Citron.  Has anyone made this?

Cables and more cables

I pulled out Dryad last night and did a pattern repeat. If you are thinking about a cabled project then I strongly suggest this amazing scarf. The pattern is well written and easy to follow. I have printed out many copies of the chart so I can mark off the rows as I finish them. Now when I put it away (as you all know I will end up doing) I will know where I am in the pattern.

Here is the link to Dryad on my Ravelry page.



Mom watched American Idol for the first time last night (Dad was working-there is no way he would sit through Idol).  She picked Lee to be the winner which isn't a bad pick.  He has improved greatly over the season.  I am still going with Crystal.  Picked her the first time I saw her and can't change now.

Two different deliveries came today
-Phil and Carrie along with the Soak Wash arrived.
-More Saki from Prism.  We used this amazing sock yarn for the Ruffles scarf and sold out of all the bright colours.  They are here now!!

Tonight I have knitting class and then to bed.  These late night hockey games are killing me.  Or it could be the sun streaming into my bedroom very early in the morning.  I haven't slept past 7 for over a week now.  Way too early.

One Percent

When I am knitting I almost always (like 99% of the time) do a make one when I need to increase stitches.  I teach this in my knitting classes as well.  I like the look of a make one much better than knitting into the front and back of a stitch.

Today I got a phone call from a student who is making the Ruffle Scarf from Churchmouse Yarns.  The pattern starts with lots of stitches and a few rows of decreases.  Then there are some rows of stocking stitch and then increases.  The pattern says *K1, inc 1* across the row.  The student did K1, make 1 across the row.  The stitches were very tight and there was a ridge on the wrong side.  She had double the number of stitches than the pattern called for.  This is the one percent of the time to do an increase, not a make one.  Not her fault.  My fault.  I learned an important lesson today.  There can't be a hard and fast rule for everything.

Gail-I hope your scarf is coming along okay now.  You are that one percent-I am very sorry.

Springtime Bandit

The finale of Survivor did not go how I wanted it to but I did get my Springtime Bandit done.  When I get back to work tomorrow the shipment from Soak should be there and I will be using the new scent Unleashed to block my shawl.  I think that Phil will be helping me with that chore.

No golfing today.  Beth is expecting a shipment of 220 boxes at her warehouse any minute.  I am off to help with the unpacking.  Not sure where we are going to put everything.

Carrie and Phil are coming

The rows keep getting longer!!  I have seven rows to go - maybe tonight.  When done it will definitely need to be blocked.  Can't wait for Phil to get here.

Who are Carrie and Phil?  New from Soak, these great wash basins can also be used for storage.  I saw people walking around the Frolic with these fun looking basins and called Soak to get some for the store.  The shipment should be arriving this week.

Phil will come in handy when I want to wash/block my knit garments.  No more using my bathtub.

Carrie can be used to wash my winter sweaters or a fun basket for holding yarn.  There is a bit of that in my house.

From the Soak website

Carrie and Phil are available in a range of bright colours. Invite them over and you’ll never want them to leave.

• Non-toxic
• Beveled edges for easy pouring.
• Tall/short wash basin
• Frost and UV resistant
• Flexible

Also in the shipment from Soak will be the new fragrance Unleash.

Unleash your creative juices with this sweet and spicy scent you’d follow anywhere. Unleash is the core of this new collaboration between Soak and Ravelry.

Spud & Chloe-new for fall

I was just on the phone ordering some Spud & Chloe and we got talking about the new colours and patterns for fall.  They will be previewed at TNNA and I should have them in the store by the end of June.

Sweater
Cider
Grape Jelly

Outer
Hedge (green)
Rocket (red)
Sandbox

In Sock there are two new colours but Karen was talking so fast I didn't get them written down.  I think one was Mushroom and another was a red.

I asked about adding purple in Outer and Fine and she said that if they get enough requests they will consider it for spring.

I am working away on Springtime Bandit.  I thought I would have it done yesterday but didn't take into consideration that every row has more stitches than the last so the rows are taking much longer to knit.  Maybe tonight.

My plans are to have a newsletter finished over the weekend as well.  I have just about everything from the Frolic back in its proper place in the store (or its new home if I moved it) so I can move onto another task.

How about Survivor?  Will Russell make it to the end?  Everyone talks about getting rid of him and then somehow he convinces them that he should stay and someone else should go.  Unbelievable.  He has to go down as the best Survivor player ever!!

Springtime Bandit

Well I came to work this morning and the mess I left yesterday is still here.  Not sure why the night staff didn't do anything.  :)

While shopping on Monday I bought a pair of grey cropped pants.  I don't have much to go with them but have an outfit figured out for TNNA-this requires a new scarf.

Last night I cast on Springtime Bandit.  Super easy shawlette knit on 5.5mm needles.  I am using Lion and Lamb (50% wool and 50% silk) from Lorna's Laces.

Here is a close up of the lace.  All you need to know is

• knit
• purl
• knit two together
• slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over 
• knit, yarn over and knit all into one stitch

I would highly recommend this if you would like to try lace but are afraid.  You are working with big needles which makes it easy to see your stitches and it grows fast.

Moving Day

It is 9am and I have been at work for over an hour.  Beth is flying to Montreal this morning and was up at 5.  I set my alarm as well because she was very paranoid that she would sleep through her alarm.  She left at 6 and I had two choices-go back to sleep for two hours or get my day going.  Sometimes if I go back to sleep in the morning I wake up feeling yucky so I decided to get moving.

Most of the yarn is unpacked but not yet put away.  I am shifting yarns for a new look.  This is actually creating even more of a mess.  There is yarn piled everywhere!!!

I totally forgot in yesterdays blog post that we have a new book in the store from Cabin Fever.

From Cabin Fever's website:

This booklet has sweaters and accessories for teens & tweens aged 8 to 18! For boys and girls. Ethusiastic Beginner to Advanced. Stripes, cables and lace. You can knit some from the bottom up and some are knit from the top down and one is knit in multiple directions. Four sweaters: a unisex, Top Down pullover, a Top Down cardigan with 3 sleeve lengths, a pretty lace tunic knit from the bottom up and a wonderful cabled hoodie for boys and girls, knit in multiple directions.

Accessories include scarves, a tam, beanie, mittlets, boot caps, neck warmers and leggings!

Knit from the bottom up AND top down.

It is now 1pm and I am sitting for a minute to eat lunch.  Here are some pictures of my rearranging.

Fresco from Classic Elite has a new home in the front window.

Lion and Lamb from Lorna's Laces lives above the Fresco.  You will be hearing more about Lion and Lamb in the coming weeks.  I have two skeins set aside to knit a shawl for TNNA (the trade show that I will be going to in June).

Dyed and Multi Cotton from Blue Sky Alpacas sits inside the front door.

There are still some boxes hanging around so I had better get back to work.  Orders need to be placed for patterns (Churchmouse) and yarn (Prism Saki-sock yarn that we used for the Ruffles scarf).  I ordered Shepherd Sock from Lorna's Laces on Sunday-Linen Stitch scarf.

Speaking of the Linen Stitch Scarf, Jane whipped this up for the Frolic.  I gave her the yarn a week and a half ago and asked (nicely) if she could have it done for the show and in true Jane fashion she worked and worked and got it done.

Here is a close up.

I wore this scarf at the Frolic and love it!!  It is hanging in the store (for now).

Road Trip

I really couldn't face the store today so I took a road trip across the border to Walden Galleria.  There were two reasons for the trip.  Cheesecake Factory and the Apple store.  Beth and I decided to give my mom an iPad for Mothers Day and her birthday next week.  Unfortunately the Apple store was sold out today.  Lucky for mom they will be available in Canada at the end of the month.  I had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory and brought cheesecake home for Beth and I.  It wasn't very good.  :)

Here is Dryad in Portland Tweed from Classic Elite on 5mm needles.  I just finished row 17 of the chart.

I can't get much knitting done tonight because I am very busy flipping between two hockey games and two baseball games.  My bed is calling as well and I know my dreams will be of the store and where I am going to put things tomorrow.

Great day

Beth and I just got home from unloading the trucks.  I'm writing my post then moving upstairs to knit.  I have cast on for Jared Flood's Dryad and four rows are done.  After a day of knitting stimulation my fingers are itching to get going.

Here are some pictures from the booth.

Beth and I got most of the booth set up on Friday night.  Jane, Lynn and I put the finishing touches on everything Saturday morning.

On the left are the garments in Revive that Rowan sent me for the show.  Sarah spent the day in various Revive garments and kept commenting on how great the yarn felt on her body.

We will have these garments on display in the store for the next few weeks.

A little corner of Classic Elite-Firefly and Soft Linen.  I didn't get a picture of my cardigan but will try and get one tomorrow.

This was the corner of scarves.

It was great seeing everyone yesterday.  I am sorry if I didn't get time to speak with you.

After we packed up I visited Tanis' booth and picked up 35 skeins of sock yarn and 10 skeins of Mulberry Silk lace weight for the store.

My day tomorrow will be spent unpacking boxes.  While unpacking boxes I might be moving things around again.  :)

Thanks to Jane, Lynn and Sarah for their help at the show and to Cathy for working in the store.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers.

No rain tomorrow please

We are home from Toronto and just in the knick of time.  The weather here is awful.  Rain coming down sideways with thunder and lightning.  The dogs are both very upset.

I am going to keep this short because my bed is calling.  The alarm will be going off at 5am tomorrow morning.

This was my ride to Toronto today.  Beth and I loaded up the van last night (thank goodness) and were on the road at 1:30 today.  We were the first in line when the doors opened at 3 with the prime parking spot-under an overhang so we were dry.  At 6 we were back on the road home.

My chores are all done and I have packed the few things that I forgot.  My list this year was very short.

I would like to ask for nice weather tomorrow.  Cool is okay but not rain.  If you are coming to the Frolic please stop by and say HI.

There probably won't be a post tomorrow.  The show runs from 9-5 so we won't be home until after 7pm and I will be leaving the house by 6am.  I think my bed will look very comfortable when I get home.

Fiddlehead

Another parcel arrived from Linda yesterday-my Fiddlehead Mittens.  Love them!!  The yarn is so soft and squishy.  (Is that even a word?)

Here is my cardigan.  I put it in the window to take the picture and the green is off-sorry but I don't have time today to play with pictures.  The first sleeve is sewn in and the side seam is done.  I need to sew the sleeve seam and then put in the other sleeve.  Please don't look inside the cardigan on Saturday-I can't guarantee that all the ends will be sewn in.  :)

I am ready to go to the Frolic.  Wish we were going today.  The longer I sit here the more I am thinking that something is missing.  Or that I don't have enough packed and I need to add more.  Make it stop!!!

Will tonight be the night that Russell gets voted out of Survivor?

How about the Y&R?  Everyone thinks Patty is nuts but her new plan is amazing.  Switching back so that Jack thinks she is Emily-brilliant.  Can't say that I am sad to see Amber leaving.

Shrink Wrap

The store is even in more disarray today.  I have almost all the yarn packed and ready to go.  Books are done - or so I think.  Until the van pulls out of the driveway I will be adding more to the box.

Small problem though.  I am shrink wrap challenged.  After half an hour working on a box I put the shrink wrap away.  Beth is coming tomorrow night to help me.

Yesterday my Rowan sales rep brought me some garments knit in Rowan Revive.  Now I am trying to figure out where they are going to fit in the booth because they need to be there-they look great.

About once I week I take a few minutes and surf around on Ravelry.  Go to 'my notebook', then 'friends' and click on 'friend activity'.  You will see their recently finished projects along with projects that they have favourited or added to their queue.

I am not sure how I missed this before.  I love the leaves pattern and will have to knit this for myself.

Yarn:  2 skeins Spud and Chloe Outer
Pattern:  From Susan B Anderson (Spud and Chloe blog)
Needles:  10mm

My knitting news is big.  All knitting on the cardigan is done and the shoulders are sewn together.  Now I can start sewing in the sleeves.

Disaster area

My store is a complete disaster.  There are boxes everywhere filled with yarn to take to the Frolic.  Before the renovations I could hide some of them in the back room but now they must live in the front room.  We are trying something new this year.  Some yarns are being displayed in wood crates and I am packing them before we go.  They will be shrink wrapped Friday morning and hopefully this will save time when we get to Toronto.

I am also taking yarns from the baskets they live in so I can have the baskets for the show.  Now I need to find something else to put them in.  The store needs to be somewhat in order for Cathy when she works on Saturday.

After a few trips to Zellers my mannequins have new summer clothes.  Alfred Sung.  Very stylish.  When paying yesterday the lady taking my money (I'm not sure if I can call her a cashier or if there is a new name) commented that the shorts looked nice while looking at me a bit funny because they were a size 2.  I told her they were to dress my mannequins and she told me to dress them in rags-not these nice clothes.  I told her that it wasn't in my nature-it is important that they look nice.

Here is one that has been dressed.  As I mentioned before I am totally in love with this scarf so I am showing it again.  Jane is knitting a sample in bright pinks, purples and turquoises that could be ready for the Frolic.

I have ten more rows to knit on the front of my cardigan so I am going to watch hockey and baseball and knit.

Are you ready for Mother's Day?

All of a sudden that it hit me-Mothers Day is next week.  What do we get our mom?  Do we have to buy her a present if she isn't here to spend the day with us?

This weekend some of my suppliers were having open houses in Toronto to see the new yarns for fall.  My morning started at 7:30 so that I could be on the road by 9.  Normally I would take the 407 but since it was Sunday morning I figured the 401 would be okay.  If you live in Southern Ontario you know that at the Ford Plant in Oakville you must exit to the 403 to get to the 401.  I have done this drive many, many times in my life.  I wasn't paying any attention and when I rounded the curve after the Ford Plant realized that I was still on the QEW.  Stupid girl!!  Not a big deal, I jumped on the 427 but I hate not using my head.

I wasn't in Toronto for very long-Beth was golfing and we didn't want the dogs to be alone all day.  There are many notes in my little book and more in my head but I am only going to share a few right now.

Noro Silk Garden and Kureyon each have 8 new colours.
Noro Iro has 6 new colours.

Purple is very predominant in all the Noro lines this fall.  I am a happy girl.

There are 3 new yarns from Noro but I will save those for another day.

Joan knit this beautiful shawl and the original picture I put up was not great.  I took one outside which is much better.

Pattern:  Swallowtail Shawl
Yarn:  2 balls Noro Kureyon Sock
Needles:  4mm

I might be wearing this at the Frolic if I don't get my cardigan done.  The front is at row 120.  Just over 100 rows to go.  Luckily there is no front band to be picked up so the only finishing is sewing.