Noro NOW!!!

We made it home safely but I am very tired today. Our plane landed in Toronto at 11 last night but we couldn't move to the gate until 11:30. There wasn't anyone there to meet the plane. Thankfully the customs line was small and we were in the car on the way home by 12. Someone, not me, forgot to bring house keys so we had to stop at my parents to get them. By the time we got home, suitcases in the house, checked the days emails, had a tea and bagel (dinner) from Tims, it was close to 2 before I got in bed. The alarm went off at 4:30. Dad left for Honduras this morning. We met him at the church before the vans left to take everyone to the airport. He was surprised to see us-he didn't believe we could get up. Home again and another 2 hours of sleep before coming to work. I wonder why I am tired. :)

One of my sales reps just left and she left me a present. There is a new book from Jenny Watson for Noro. We should have copies in the store for sale next week.

Great designs in three new yarns for fall.

• Nadeshiko
• Odori
• Hitsuji

From Jenny Watson

A collection of 16 designs from jackets and cardigans to sweaters and accessories - created in the latest new yarns from Noro. This collection has been photographed with some of the latest trends showing how this Noro collection can complement your high street wardrobe.

Hitsuji

Nadeshiko

Hitsuji

Odori

Hitsuji

Odori

Nadeshiko 

Odori

Hitsuji

Nadeshiko 

Nadeshiko

Nadeshiko

Ann and Lynda are going to need knitting soon. What to send them is going to be a problem. I love them all!!

A bit more from the trip -

In the Forum Shoppes at Caesar's there is an Ugg store. I love Ugg slippers. When I walk in from work I put them on and they are on my feet until I go to bed. When I get out of bed they are on my feet again until I go to work. My pair is wearing out and the store had a great colour that I haven't seen before. I got to the mall before the store opened so I took a few pictures.

At the entrance from Las Vegas Blvd. 

The ceiling

The columns and statues are amazing!

It is hard to believe the money that was spent building this. It is a shopping mall. We sure don't have malls that look like this in Canada.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. The TV in the store will be on tomorrow so that I can watch football. Too bad no one will be making us turkey dinner.

Take two

I had a blog post written and now it is gone.

This morning Beth and I went to the Venetian. While I was shopping Beth took this picture for me. I'm not sure what to call him. Beth is suggesting a human statue. He doesn't move. Doesn't smile.


Beth laid down a dollar in front of him before taking the picture. He very briefly looked at her and then back to being a statue.

I have a new charm for my Pandora bracelet. I had to buy it. It is the Chinese Zodiac Sheep.


I was meant to have it. A sheep and from the year I was born. Had to buy it. The more I write it the better I feel about buying it.

It is our last night. We shouldn't be in our room at 8:45 so off we go!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lots of Pictures

Beth and I took lots of pictures last night and today. Here are a few. I will post more when we get home.


The tree in front of the Venetian.


On the walk between the Venetian and the Palazzo there are amazing Thanksgiving displays.


The Conservatory at The Bellagio is always amazing. This is the first time we have seen it for Thanksgiving. There are many, many more pictures.


A picture made of flowers.


From the front of the Mirage.

We had another great day visiting the Bellagio, Aria and Venetian. It's time to get some sleep. Last night was late or early-depending on how you look at it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hello from Vegas

With the new update on my iPad, BlogPress isn't happy. I'm doing a quick post because I keep losing what I have written.

Vegas is fun. The Mirage is as beautiful as always. These great displays are in the check in area.



We did some shopping yesterday afternoon at Caesars. Shoes and boots for me.

Today we visited The Cosmopolitan. Lunch at Holsteins. What great burgers, fries and milk shakes.

This is at the front door when you walk in from Las Vegas Boulevard.






And the chandelier.






We are in the room for a bit of a rest and then off to the Venetian. Vegas is fun!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thinking ahead

It is Thursday afternoon and I am doing a post for tomorrow.

Our flight is at 8 in the morning so we will be up at 4 and on the road before 5. We arrive in Vegas around 10am. By the time we get our luggage we should be at the hotel around 11. Just in time for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. After lunch there is a few options. Going to the Fashion Show Mall. Nordstroms. Dillards. Macys. Or we could go to Caesars and shop. Donald Pliner. Coach. Tommy Bahama. It is going to be a tough decision but one thing I can tell you-there won't be a lot of time spent in our hotel room. I'm pretty confident there won't be a blog post tomorrow so I am preparing ahead of time. :)

Here is a little gift from me. I showed you this cowl a few weeks ago and here is the pattern.

You need:

3 balls of Naturally Gabbiano

12mm 60cm circular needle

cable needle

Finished cowl approximately 9” high and 26” around

Tension:

8 stitches = 4” on12mm needles in stocking stitch

You are making a cowl so don’t get too worried if your tension is off a bit.

C3F-Worked over 6 stitches

Slip the next 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, Knit 3 then Knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle

C3B-Worked over 6 stitches

Slip the next 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the back of the work, Knit 3 then Knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle

Cast on 70 stitches

Join into a ring. Place a marker. Be careful not to twist stitches. Check again after the first row to make sure that the stitches aren’t twisted.

Row 1: Purl 1, *Knit 12, Purl 2* 4 times, Knit 12, Purl 1

Row 2: Repeat row 1

Row 3: Purl 1, *C3F, C3B, Purl 2* 4 times, C3F, C3B, Purl 1

Row 4: Repeat row 1

Row 5: Repeat row 1

Row 6: Repeat row 1

Row 7: Repeat row 1

Row 8: Repeat row 1

After you have worked rows 1-8 once, you will be repeating rows 3-8, 3 times, for a total of 4 cable repeats.(you can adjust here if you want the cowl longer or shorter). Work Rows 3-5.

Cast off row

*Knit together through the back loop, place the stitch that is on the right needle back onto the left needle* repeat until all the stitches are cast off.

Sew in ends.
Enjoy!!

One More Sleep

I think I am ready to go. The store is in order. My laundry is done. I just have to throw my things in a suitcase. I keep telling myself that this trip will be different. I will not overpack. HA!!

Mr. Canpar brought us a new yarn today called Eco Cloud.

70% undyed merino wool
30% undyed baby alpaca

150m on a 100gram skein
18 stitches = 4"

We have the following colours in the store right now
1801
1806
1808
1809
1810

The yarn is really soft. Really, really soft.

And there are lots of free patterns..

This morning I ordered Rowan yarns and books for spring. It's a secret but I will tell you that there is a neat wool/cotton blend, multi colours, in double knitting weight coming. The colours are great-there are 12 and I ordered them all. There is a pattern book dedicated to this yarn. Another pattern book coming is from Martin Storey. Great designs for women and men. Lots of cables.

It's much later in the day and I am doing my last bit of paperwork. 4am is going to come quickly - I had better hurry so I can get some sleep.

Mischief

Mr. Canpar came in today with two huge boxes from Estelle. Four colours of Frill Seeker and a new yarn called Mischief.

Two balls will make a scarf. Four stitches on 20mm needles. Knit every row until you are almost out of yarn. Easy as pie.

$9 a ball and we have all colours in stock.

The yarn is very soft!!

All of a sudden I looked out the window and saw that the sun was going down. Hurry. I wanted a picture of my scarf.

55 repeats are done-the pattern calls for 84 or maybe 86. I have the repeat memorized so I don't carry the pattern around with me. Hopefully I will get some done in knitting class tonight. At last weeks class the ladies brought their knitting out right away so they wanted me to print a retraction on my statement that they don't always knit in class.

Dinner last night was great. Mom and dad enjoyed themselves. Mom loved her gift-I bought her a gift card to Pier 1. She is excited about shopping for the new house.

I'm home from class. The ladies worked hard on their knitting!! Survivor has been taped. Who is going tonight?

Happy Anniversary

Today is my parent's 48th anniversary. Holy Cow. It's hard to believe that they put up with each for that long. :) Beth and I are taking them to the Keg for dinner tonight. I can't wait for prime rib!!

A box of magazines and books arrived yesterday while Jane was working.

From the publisher's website

All too often, the root cause of a sock's triumph or failure is the yarn itself. In The Knitter’s Book of Socks, Clara Parkes shows you how to knit socks from yarn up, following the sock yarn life cycle from its foundations to its final moments on a proud foot. By understanding a sock's basic needs—elasticity, strength, and moisture management—you’ll learn how to play with these tools like building blocks, confidently combining fiber, twist, ply, pattern, and clever stitch tricks to construct your perfect pair of socks.

To help put these principles into practice, The Knitter’s Book of Socks also offers 20 fresh, original patterns from today’s sock-design luminaries, including Cookie A, Cat Bordhi, Ann Budd, Nancy Bush, Anne Hanson, and Melissa Morgan-Oakes. The socks presented here run the gamut from simple knit-and-purl combinations suitable for beginners to innovative designs with lush colorwork, swirling cables, and delicate lace.

Read more about the book and see pictures...

Also in the shipment were two new knitting magazines from Interweave

From Interweave's website

Check out our brand-new knitting issue: knit.wear, simple handknits for the thoughtful knitter. We're focusing on conceptual, wearable knits with a clean, modern aesthetic—built in unusual ways and with interesting techniques. Interesting to knit, easy to wear.

 Jane Austen Knits is a special issue from the editors of Spin-Off magazine, it explores the Regency era through patterns inspired by one of the greatest writers to come out of this time—Jane Austen.

Take a peek at some of the garments.. 

As I was writing this an invoice came in from madelinetosh. On it's way to us

tosh merino dk
tart
stovepipe
steam age
flashdance
well water
cousteau
calligraphy
byzantine

tosh sock
nebula
steam age
calligraphy
norway spruce
alizarin
cove
jade
cousteau
smokey orchid

tosh dk
norway spruce
tart

As I was writing away another email came through. A shipment is on its way from Estelle Designs. Hopefully it is the emergency order I put in this morning for Frill Seeker. We are really short on colours. Thanks to Estelle for hurrying this to us.

The Weather Network

It has been a busy day that started way too early. I had a dentist appointment followed by a visit to my chiropractor. Then trips to the bank to get US money and to the post office to drop off parcels. I just finished writing cheques and getting my bank balanced. After my post I am moving onto a newsletter.

It is pouring rain outside right now so here is a picture of Spectra on my floor. The floor is nice and clean-I washed it yesterday afternoon. Not by choice-I spilled a glass of ginger ale so I had to clean up part of the floor and continued on to clean the whole thing.

Half way done. I don't think it will be finished before I go but close.

Have you been watching the Amazing Race? Beth screamed every time the bunnies were on. They were extremely cute. Marcus giving his rabbit a pep talk before going through the course was hilarious. I had to state very firmly that we could not have rabbits in our house. Another team gets knocked out because they got lost driving. Stop and ask directions!!

The Weather Network is killing me. What is the weather in Vegas going to be? Who knows. They don't. Here are screen shots from my iPad.

Taken Saturday evening

 Taken Sunday morning

Taken Sunday evening

I'm so undecided on what to pack. We'll see what they say tomorrow.

My chiropractor questioned how much knitting I did last week but I can't stop. I picked out some colours of Noro Kureyon Sock this morning for another Spectra. Okay, two more Spectras.

Feature of the Week

Noro Kureyon Sock and Noro Silk Garden Sock

$12 a ball
Regular $18.95-$21.95 a ball

 Westknits Spectra-one ball of Silk Garden Sock
one ball of tosh merino light

Kureyon Sock Shade Card

Please note that the number of balls in stock could be less than shown here

Silk Garden Sock Shade Card

Please note that the number of balls in stock could be less than shown here

Other pattern suggestions
Hitchhiker
Multnomah

Westknits Daybreak

Swallowtail Shawl in Kureyon Sock

________________________
Monday November 14, 2011-Saturday November 19, 2011
In stock only
No layaways

We can ship the yarn to you if you can't make it into the store.

That Darn Noro

I got a little carried away with my knitting last night. I couldn't stop. At 12:30 I said enough and went to bed. It's that darn Noro. You want to do a few more rows so you can see the next colour.

I couldn't figure out how to put the scarf on my friend so that you could see everything. By Monday I should have it long enough to wrap around and hang down.

Here are the bookshelves. Beth didn't do any last night so I told her that she has three to do today. Let's see how well she listens. :)

Before you go away do you start looking online to see what the weather is going to be? Every morning I look to see what it is going to be in Vegas next week. Sorry-I'm working in Fahrenheit here. It started out 60 and rain. Then 66 and sunny. Then 62. Today it was 50 and rain. Seriously. Please decide what it is going to be so I know what clothes to pack.

I'm home from work. No new bookshelves. Beth went to work today and she is on her way to do the grocery shopping. I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow.

My scarf is calling so I'm moving upstairs to relax and knit. That darn Noro. :)

Remembrance Day

Thank you to all the veterans who have served our country! When I go to work in the morning I will drive past the old town hall and see the amazing wreaths that were put out this morning. It is a sight that always brings tears to my eyes.

We saw our first snow this morning and a bit more this afternoon. Nothing that is staying on the ground but it was there. YUCK!

I don't have much any knitting to report. Bejewelled Twist got me last night. I started playing and before I knew it I had been playing for two hours. Oops.

I need your help with something. Berroco has a new scarf yarn out called Lacey. I like the yarn. I called Beth to the computer to look at it and she said that it looked good. I see it as something you could wear in the spring-lighter looking than Triana and Ondas.

Are you looking for the next scarf yarn? Does this interest you?

The colours are great and you can make the scarf without knowing how to knit.

See the shades...

The yarn can be knit or crocheted. See the videos...

This morning we were out of the house early for an appointment. My parents are moving from the house my dad built before they got married into a townhouse. It is a big move but the time has come. They don't use much of their house and something smaller would be much easier on my mom. The townhouse is supposed to be ready in June and this morning we picked out flooring (hardwood, tile and carpet), kitchen cupboards, hardware, bathroom cabinets and counter tops, paint..... We did it in an hour and a half. I think the decorator was shocked. I am so jealous. They got the hardwood and kitchen cabinets that I love. When Beth and I bought our townhouse it was a model so we didn't get those choices. Mom is so excited. I'm not sure she will make it until June. :)

Our book shelves are progressing. Beth put together the second shelf on Wednesday night and I filled it. Her goal was one a night but she got busy with her puzzle last night and it didn't happen. I'm hoping that when I get home from work tonight the next shelf will be ready. I just got home and no new shelf. I am going to have to start cracking the whip.

Lest We Forget

I sat down to write my blog post and something in the laundry room smashed. The dogs went running and we had to get there before them. The light fixture on the ceiling fell to the floor. Don't ask me why but what a mess. We have swept. We have vacuumed. We are going to wash the floor tomorrow. Not what I needed tonight.

Earlier this evening Beth and I took our change to Canada Trust at Fennel and Upper Ottawa. They have a coin counting machine. Just drop everything in and it counts it for you.

Much faster than counting and rolling. The machine spits out a piece of paper that you take to the teller. We took it in US dollars-food money for Vegas.

When we got there an older gentleman was using the machine. He had a lot of change. His receipt was more than 8 times ours. I called it correctly. He was a Poppy Volunteer. Beth and I looked sheepishly at each other because we forgot to wear our poppies when we went out. Don't forget that it is Remembrance Day tomorrow.

I started reading up on Remembrance Day. It is a statutory holiday for federal employees. Banks are closed for the day as well. It is a holiday in many provinces but not Ontario and Quebec. I don't think we need another holiday just to have a day off but we definitely need to be remembering!!