Unpacking Boxes

Rowan magazine 43 is here along with the new colours for spring in Cotton DK, Cotton Glace and 4ply Cotton. The magazine is great!! I will enjoy looking it over tonight.

Berroco has arrived. There are great pattern books and four new yarns (Berroco Sox, Lumina, Seduce and Linen Jeans).
The sweater is called Johnny Boy and is a baby and child's sweater knit out of the new sock yarn.



I have started a new store project. I have been carrying knitting back and forth so I decided to keep one at home (LOL!!) and one in the store. This is a baby sweater from Blue Sky Alpacas knit out of their Dyed Cotton in colour 618 Orchid. The pattern is super easy to knit and the stitch definition in the yarn is great. It will take two balls to make the sweater in an 18 month size.

I'm off to unpack more boxes. Hopefully we have snow in the morning so we can all stay home and knit. :)

Thanks for the kind words

I just want to thank everyone for their kind words about Digger. Mom, dad and Tui are all doing well. Tui is enjoying being an only dog.

I spent a couple of minutes in the store today and the box of Namaste bags arrived. I showed a picture of the Malibu bag a few posts back and this is the Laguna bag. Check out the Namaste site to see all the colours.

I haven't picked up knitting needles in a couple of weeks and I think tonight is the night to start again. I have spent every waking minute in front of the computer writing newsletters and updating the website. I am turning the laptop off now and sitting in front of the tv!!

More arrivals

My Offhand Design bags just arrived. The Punch Bloom bag (brown with flowers) is for me!! That colour is now sold out but rumour has it will come back into stock. The green bag is Martini. This colour is sold out so don't delay if you like it.

There is a new display of Soak Sweater wash on the front counter.

The latest news on spring Rowan and Berroco is that it will be arriving next week.

Korey and I have been working on the website today. There are some new yarns and books added. The updated shade cards look great-as new shades are added to a yarn, we are updating the look of the shade cards. The pictures are larger giving you a better look at the colours.

I was hoping to write more but it is closing time. I am running home for some quick dinner and then back for class.

Rocketry

Rocketry is officially done!! Personally, I like the Tulip cardigan better but just my opinion. Both are very easy to knit-done from the top down.


I just sent out a newsletter and talked about the felted Easter Egg kits we were getting in. Here is a better picture. This is the bright kit and there is a kit with pastel colours as well. The kits just arrived and look great!!

I need a bigger store :)

I was at one of my suppliers in Toronto yesterday and I saw the pictures for Jane Ellison's Noro book for spring. You can see them online.

While I was gone yesterday, Jane did lots of unpacking.
-Jordana Paige bags
-Fleece Artist soft sock/mitt kits (wow-the colours are amazing)
-Sirdar Snuggly DK (a great baby yarn with lots of new colours)

Now I have done lots of unpacking
-Skinny Cotton from Blue Sky Alpacas
-Dyed Cotton from Blue Sky Alpacas
-Cashmere Island from Noro

Mom and dad had to have Digger put to sleep yesterday morning. He started having seizures on Saturday night and his kidneys and liver were failing rapidly. We all shed a few tears yesterday but it was for the best.

Spring Yarn Update

I just unpacked three large boxes of new yarn from Sirdar. The first is Eco Wool DK. There is a great pattern book that goes with the yarn for women, men and girls aged 2-13. Also in the box was Just Bamboo. 100% bamboo in worsted weight with great pattern support.

We just received another shipment of Cascade 22o. This yarn is amazing for felting and the price is great. The complete range of colours isn't available in Canada yet but new colours are continually being added.

Shipping updates
-Berroco should be shipped today and I should have it next week
-Rowan magazines just arrived in the US-shipping should start next week
-Noro Kureyon sock yarn-February 19


While in Long Beach, Bev and I did do some shopping. You can't go to California and not visit Nordstroms. We each came home with two new pairs of shoes (mine are from Paul Green who makes the most comfortable shoes known to man). Thank goodness the customs agents didn't open my suitcase. On the way down it was overweight (luckily I was flying business class and they didn't charge me). Beth came the next day and brought an extra suitcase. When she flew home on Monday we filled the suitcase with everything I didn't need which was mostly clothes. My suitcase had shoes (the four pairs I brought and the two new pairs), underwear, pajamas, two shirts and a pair of jeans. How do you explain that?

Digger update-he isn't doing well. Mom and dad brought him home from Charleston but the vets are giving him a couple of days to a couple of weeks to live. Thanks for all your comments.

I will get a picture of my Central Park Hoodie for you next week as well as Rocketry.

Home Again

I arrived home last night from my trip to California to see the spring yarns. The show is always lots of fun. You meet new people (Cornelia Tuttle-Hamilton and Casey from Ravelry) and meet up with old friends (Norah Gaughan, Mags Kandis, Lorna Misener, Brandon Mably just to name a few). I always come home from the trip very energized and excited about the upcoming season. Unfortunately everything I bought can't be delivered today!! I am not a patient person and the new yarns and accessories are great.

There are some great new bags and yarns on the way. I am going to write a newsletter this afternoon (hopefully) showing some of the new that is coming. Here is a sneak peek.

This is a taste of the new bags from Namaste. These should be here within the next two weeks.

I have a preview of the spring Rowan. The yarns and books should be here by the end of next week.

Berroco is also on its way. The new Norah Gaughan pattern book is great.

I placed an order for Shepherd Sock yarn from Lorna's Laces. Unfortunately this won't be here for about 12 weeks.

We landed in Toronto at 9pm and when we got to customs there were at least 500 people in line. It took almost an hour to get through. When I got to the counter the customs officer asked 'Do you have any alcohol?' I didn't have any and said 'No'. No more questions asked. The only positive about the wait was that our luggage was already there when we got through. You would think they could do a better job of scheduling customs agents when lots of flights are arriving. There were 9 flights that arrived at the same time and 10 agents working.

Monday morning we called home to talk with my dad and he had bad news for us. One of my parents dogs (Digger who is a Sharpei) was very ill. Dad was flying back to Myrtle Beach a day early so that they could get him to a vet in Charleston. He landed in Myrtle at 11:30pm and they got in the van right away for the one hour drive. Sharpeis get an awful disease that stops their kidneys and liver from working properly. It comes on suddenly and there is nothing that can be done. Digger is still in Charleston and they are doing blood work to see if his kidneys are getting any worse. If they can get the levels back to normal then he can come home tomorrow-until then it is a waiting game. Tui (the other Sharpei) isn't doing well without her brother to keep her company.

While I was away a box arrived from Prism with more of their Saki sock yarn. These are the three new colours.




Three new yarns arrived from Noro as well. Taiyo (40% cotton, 30% silk, 15% wool and 15% nylon) should knit to the same tension as Silk Garden and Kureyon. Silk Garden Lite (Silk Garden in a double knitting weight) is a blend of Silk, kid mohair and lamb's wool. Matsuri is 87% cotton and 13% wool. Kureyon sock yarn will be arriving sometime in February.

Beth taped Celebrity Apprentice for me. I am watching it on my computer while writing this. Gotta love Slingbox!!

My knitter finished my Central Park Hoodie last week. I am wearing it today-very comfortable and warm. Wannietta is knitting one for Beth right now.

My batteries are dead!!

I finally finished Rocketry (even sewed on the buttons) and was ready to take a picture but the batteries on my phone are dead. The sweater is cute but is in need of blocking. Rhonda brought the Tulip Cardigan to knitting guild last night. If I was to make another jacket, I would definitely pick Tulip over Rocketry.

We had fun at guild last night. No program, just knitting and talking. I got some rows done on the Leaf Poncho Jacket. The February meeting will be on Tuesday February 5th, 2008. Jocelyn and Mandi will be teaching crochet and crochet edges to the group! If you have a crochet hook that is size G through J (4mm to 6mm) and some spare worsted weight yarn, please bring it along!

Still not done

The Rocketry cardigan still isn't done. I have the first sleeve finished and am about to start the second sleeve. It is very easy knitting-the yarn is great to work with. I think my problem is the sleeves on double pointed needles. My stitches aren't nearly as neat as when I knit and purl. Every time I pull the cardigan out of the bag I put it back. If I was to knit this again I think I would knit the sleeves flat and seam them.

Some anal part of my body has been making me do administrative work. I get in the registrations for the Gone Stitchin' weekend and wait until closer to the date to get everything ready. I am so ahead this year that I am actually scared. Confirmation letters are about ready to be emailed. Paperwork that I will need at the retreat is finished as well. The next three newsletters are written. HELP!!

The next few days are going to be busy-it always is just before I go away. Tonight I need to have my nails done. Tomorrow night is guild meeting. Wednesday night is knitting class and Thursday morning I am on the plane.

I didn't get the sweater done!

My plan of having the baby sweater done on January 1 didn't happen. It didn't get done on the 2nd either. Cathy and I worked in the store yesterday and it was a good thing we were both here. The store was jammed-I guess everyone needed knitting after the holidays. We did more re-arranging to get ready for the arrival of spring yarns. I also did administrative work for the Gone Stitchin' Weekend. The classes have been chosen. If you wish to receive emails about the weekend let me know.

We are starting a section for 'Green' yarns-the big item for this spring. Organic cottons and Bamboos are being shown by many companies. There is a 100% organic cotton from Tahki called Jeans (3 colours-2 denim and one ecru). The patterns are amazing-we are having one knit up now so it should be here when the book arrives. We will be adding more colours of Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton and Dyed Cotton as well. Stella, Naturally's Bamboo yarn, has new colours which are now in stock. This is a 4ply yarn that works well for adults and babies.

A week from now I will be on my way to Long Beach, California to see the new yarns for spring. The weather will be in the mid 50s-I was planning on warmer so I have to do a wardrobe adjustment. The show is always fun because we get to see friends from around the world.

I'm signing off now so that I can finish the sweater.

Don't forget that the new season of The Apprentice starts tonight!!

Happy New Year

I wrote this post on Monday but didn't post it.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I haven't touched my needles in a week. It has been busy visiting people and then relaxing. Sometimes I need a break from my knitting and then I will go crazy with non-stop knitting.

I am sitting in the store writing this wearing my new Patrick. Wannietta worked like crazy and got it done. I am so happy-more old one is not doing well. There are holes in the sleeve seams but I am not parting with it!!! Since she was driving down, Amanda asked if they could work. The two of them spent all morning winding skeins of Dream in Color Classy for the Tulip cardigan.

Have a happy new year !!
It is now Tuesday evening
Last night I started a new project-Rocketry from Dream in Color. I don't have pictures yet but mine is pinks and greens. I have the body done, neck border done and I am working down the first sleeve.

Beth gave me a Slingbox for Christmas. This is the coolest thing that you hook up to your tv. I can now watch our home tv on my computer at work. I also have it on Beth's computer so she can watch at work as well. Since I was downloading I also put it on my mac. Now I can being doing work and watch tv at the same time. Life is great!!! A word of caution-it wasn't as easy to set up as they say. If you don't have someone who is technically inclined then pay someone to set it up for you. We had a friend do it-I would have thrown it across the room.

Merry Christmas

Here is an updated picture of my Leaf Poncho Jacket. I am into the second skein of yarn. The knitting is going faster than I thought it would. I am really enjoying knitting with the Tahki Donegal Tweed-it is much softer when knit.

Mom and dad are safely in Myrtle Beach. We just talked to them and it is 75 and they came home from church with the top down on the car (a PT Cruiser that stays in Myrtle Beach). We did family Christmas on Wednesday night and although it was stated no presents it took over an hour to open everything.

I want to say Thank You to Nori for the beautiful box of chocolates. Cathy and Sarah-thank you for the beautiful gifts.

There is a box of Dream in Color Classy on the way to us. I thought it would be delivered on Friday-maybe on Monday. I will be making more kits of the Tulip Cardigan in different colourways over the next few weeks. There will definitely be some done for little boys with no pink. I am also going to have my knitter make a sample for the store in a larger size to see how much yarn it takes. (Rhonda are you free?)

I don't think I will be doing a post again before Christmas. Work tomorrow morning, drinks at Rousseau House and then dinner at our friends.

I hope all of you have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Finally some knitting to report

Here is the start of my Leaf Poncho Jacket. Now that the border is done and I don't have to keep track of rows the knitting is going much faster.

I love the colour of purple and the flecks are great. This picture is close to the actual colour of yarn-that doesn't happen very often.
Roko and Melo are playing together at the warehouse. They love to fight and roll around in the snow. Melo doesn't need to be on a leash because he will come when called but the same can't be said for Roko. We aren't sure that Roko knows his name yet-or he thinks it is NoRoko.
This is Roko digging in the snow.

Last night my best friend from university came for dinner with her husband and two boys (aged 9 and 7). The dogs were so tired when the boys left and just wanted to sleep. They were up the stairs, down the stairs and running around the basement.

Tonight mom and dad are coming over to do Christmas. For a family that says no Christmas gifts there are a lot under the tree. They are off to Myrtle Beach on Friday morning-much better weather there than here!!

I had to stop writing for a bit because customers came in. Maria brought me a tin of homemade cookies-thank you very much. My idea of baking cookies is cutting up the store bought cookie dough and placing it on a baking sheet so homemade ones are always a treat!!

Central Park Hoodie

This is the Central Park Hoodie from Knitscene Fall 2006. You can purchase the pattern online (which I did today). My knitter Lynda will be making for me-I just started a sweater and need to stop myself from starting something else. I will decide tomorrow what colour to have it knit in. I know it will be done in Tahki Donegal Tweed.

I just got a letter in the mail from Dream in Color. There will be eight new colours coming in the new year (brights). There will also be a new yarn called Baby which is a lace weight yarn (700 yards on a 4oz skein). Included were pictures of some new patterns-a great lace shawl as well as an adults version of the Tulip jacket. I will be going through our stock tomorrow and doing an order-it usually takes about eight weeks to receive the yarn.

A shipment of shawl pins from Moving Mud arrived while I was away. There are some great new colours!!

People have been asking what the store hours will be over the holidays. December 24th 10-1. Closed the 25th and 26th. Back to normal on the 27th. December 31st 10-3. Closed January 1st. Reopen on January 2nd.

Gotta run. There are Christmas presents to be wrapped.

Canada is Cold!!

We just returned home from Vegas. The plane landed at 7:30 and I am at work. It could be an interesting day working with no sleep. Sarah was supposed to come in but the roads weren't good on the way home from Toronto with lots of snow falling. Of course, there is nothing yet in Ancaster.

The weather in Vegas was around 50F during the day and 38F at night. Everyone there was complaining but it was balmy for us.

The trip was great. We accomplished nothing but were busy for the whole time.
-We rented a car for two days and did some touring around

-We went to see Love again on Thursday night. The first time we saw the show we were in the second row (section 104). This time we were the fourth row from the back (section 304). Click to see the theatre set up.

-I did some damage at Nordstroms buying 3 pairs of shoes and a pair of boots. I love the shoes that Paul Green makes. I haven't found them in Canada but Nordstroms carries a great selection!!

-We both came home with roughly the same amount of cash that we took. The craps table was very good to both of us.

-I didn't take any knitting with me. I never have time while there to knit so it would have just taken room in the suitcase and we needed all the room coming home. Beth's suitcase weighed 56 lbs and we were going to be charged $50 because it was over weight. She pulled out some stuff (2 pairs of jeans, pair of boots and some books) and got it down to exactly 50lbs. Her knapsack weighed almost that much when it was filled.

It is now Sunday night. I started the post at work yesterday but the store was really busy so I never got to finish it. After work Beth and I went to Jane's for dinner. For those who don't know Jane, she works in the store on Mondays and when I am away. She is also known as Mom #3. We celebrate holidays with her family (husband Bob and two sons Gavin and Peter.) It is always an evening of laughs at the Lowe house. Thankfully the snow didn't start until after we got home. Beth had to drive because I couldn't keep my eyes open.

We woke up this morning to lots of snow. I need to think about bringing some winter clothes to the new house. I don't have boots or a coat or gloves or a scarf. Maybe tomorrow.

How about the Survivor finale? Amanda thought she was all good for winning!!

Off to bed now. I napped twice today but am still far behind in the sleep category!!

Vegas here we come

I finished sewing together my Hip to be Square yesterday afternoon. The picture is really bad but I wanted to brag about finishing another project. I will take better pictures at home where the lighting is brighter. The last time I took my picture like this I was criticized for not smiling-I have to concentrate on keeping my hand still so the picture doesn't come out fuzzy.


This is the Leaf Poncho jacket from Simply Shetland 4. It is designed by Nicky Epstein-the flower closures give her away. I am knitting it out of Tahki Donegal Tweed-colour 853 purple. I will be changing the sleeves-I think they are much too narrow. I also might do them in the pattern from the body with the scallops at the wrists. The side seams are not sewn up either but I will sew them and make it a jacket.

Beth and I are off to Vegas early Sunday morning. We are staying at the Mirage. It is one of our favourite hotels but we haven't stayed there in years. No shows are planned for this trip-it is for relaxing. HA! Who am I kidding-no one relaxes in Vegas!!

Long Post

The past week has been a bit crazy (I say that a lot). There are lots of pictures today.

Store
A limited number of colours of Cascade 220 have arrived. We will be adding more as the supplier receives them.

Knitting
I have a FO. Holly knit out of Noro Transitions. This was started over a year ago and I pulled it out last week. Super easy to knit. I think it took longer to put it together. Don't forget about the price of Transitions dropping by $5 a skein.
My Hip to be Square jacket could be done tomorrow. I just have one sleeve to sew in and the collar to finish.

House

This is our new pet. He is made out of leather and we got him at the One of a Kind Craft Show. A few years ago I bought my mom a bull dog and almost stole him when we moved into the house. Now we have our own footstool and he matches the furniture.
There were many more purchases but many are Christmas presents. It took two trips to the car!!

This is the glass bowl that was blown for us. The colours are phenomenal.


Dogs

This is Melo's favourite position-sleeping on my bed.


Sunday we had lots of snow and the dogs wanted to run and run all day.

Picking up old projects

Sorry for not writing-life has been busy.

I decided we needed a Christmas tree in the house. After looking and seeing that new trees aren't cheap, I dug out my old tree that has been in storage for 15 years. Of course I wanted new decorations-talk about not being cheap. After 2 trips to Pier 1 (and another one coming tonight) I should have the tree looking good. I will post pictures tomorrow.

A year ago I started Holly by Jane Ellison-knit in Noro Transitions. I picked it up again this week and am just finishing the last sleeve.


I have started to sew together my Hip to be Square jacket. I hate sewing but am forcing myself to do it. With two projects almost done I need to start thinking about the next one to start!!

Monkey

Yes, this is a sock-and I knit it. I used Prism's Saki (Thunderclap) and knit the Monkey pattern from Knitty. The pattern is easy to follow-I left out the purls and made them all knits. I knit the socks on 2.5mm needles and should have used 2.75mm-these are a little on the tight side.

Wannietta, before you ask, I used 5 double pointed needles.

Happy American Thanksgiving. I get to watch football all afternoon-all I need is for someone to cook me a turkey dinner!!

Dining Room Table

Mike (M & M Tables in Stoney Creek) brought our table tonight after work. It is freaking fabulous!! The table sits on pedestals that we had to attach in the house-it wasn't coming through the door with them on. We had a hard time deciding on the colour of the seats and we got it perfect. They are almost the same colour as our couch (a light duck egg blue colour). Eight chairs are made and there is fabric for four more. We are going to have two more chairs made and then have some fabric in case of an accident.
The center piece is from Mom-she brought it home from South Carolina. Tomorrow afternoon we are going to look at the glass bowl that is being made for the center of the table. Paull is behind and has two in the works-he wants us to choose which colour will work best for us.
Thursday night Beth and I are off to the One of a Kind Craft Show. That could be deadly!! If the show is good I will take Mom back on Monday.
My dad called us from Honduras earlier this evening. All is well. They are staying in a hotel this time-normally they stay with families. When Beth went with my dad, they also stayed in a hotel. She said it was about 1/2 a star-more like a jail than a hotel. I am no longer allowed to complain when we stay in a hotel.

I didn't get much knitting done today-maybe tomorrow.