Winter Garden

Happy Sunday to you. On Thursday I saw my sales rep Kathryn and ordered the new Debbie Bliss for fall.

One of the new yarns coming (probably in August or the beginning of September) is Winter Garden

There is a whole book dedicated to the yarn and it has the same name. This is going to get tricky. Customers are going to call and ask 'Do you have Debbie Bliss Winter Garden?' We are going to have to make sure we ask if they mean book or yarn.

The yarn is knit on a 10mm needle and reminds me a bit of Paloma in the fact that it is knit on a big needle but doesn't make a heavy garment.

I really like the purple sweater-turtleneck, stocking stitch body and ribbed sleeves. I totally see this with a pair of jeans. I even see it in my closet in purple.

-8 colours
-30% merino, 30% baby llama, 20% linen and 20% silk
-10 stitches = 4"


I have a sweater that I always put on when it is really cold out. I call it my cuddly sweater. Winter Garden might replace that sweater. I have already said I want one in purple but the brown really interests me. So does the light blue. The possibilities. :)

Noro

I am in Myrtle Beach now. I didn't know if the condo I was staying in had WiFi so I wrote a few posts before I left. There was also the time factor. I could be golfing or shopping or sitting outside in the sun knitting.

Earlier in the week I talked about the new Noro magazine coming out. June 5 is the date they say but I'm hoping for it sooner. PLEASE. My rep had some information in the email with the pictures and I forgot to put it in the post.

The Rainbow Effect - features accessories

The Drama of Texture - painterly Noro yarns and sculptural cables

Vintage Modern - feminine fashion in colorful dresses and skirts

Urban Organics - men's section (sweater and a few hats)

Outrageous Colour - Turn Up the Volume - bold colors, blousier silhouette, casual knits

A Fine Line - stripes

At Home - home interiors

I wanted to find more about the magazine. Maybe more pictures? Some comments.

While searching on line I found another Noro book coming this summer. I don't have a date yet but hope to in the next few days.

Vintage from Jane Ellison

Clara knit in Silk Garden

This is the long version-there is also a short version

Eleanor in Ayatori

Mabel in Silk Garden

I know that I need this. You might call it want but it really is need.

Mildred in Silk Garden Lite

This is just a sample of the great designs in the book.

Hope you are having a great day. I hope I am having one as well. :)

I'm Here

It is Saturday evening and I am writing while watching the Nascar Race. It was a long day.

Last night people were setting off fireworks in our neighbourhood. Melo hates fireworks. He shakes and gets really upset. I tried to go to bed at 9 (because the alarm was set to go off at 2:30) but Melo wanted to be with me. It was about midnight when he finally settled down. No problems on the drive or at the border. We boarded the plane and then sat for 45 minutes with mechanical problems. I had about 1 hour in Charlotte but that was now 15 minutes. I got off the plane at B1 and had to catch the next plane at E32. The opposite end of the airport. Almost as far as possible. I just made it as we were boarding.

Henry met me at the airport and we stopped at mom and dad's house. The smoke smell is pretty much gone. Now it just smells a bit like chemicals. I am going there tomorrow and will open all windows and doors. Mom and dad were relieved with the news.

Then I went to my house to pick up some clothes that I leave here. Makes it easy for travel-totally carry on.

I checked into my condo and had a nap. I could barely keep my eyes open.

Then off to the mall. I bought two pairs of pants and a pair of shoes-all on sale. I did good. Then the grocery store for laundry detergent (Tide pods of course and then mom and dad will get the leftovers to try), dryer sheets, pop, water and chips. What else does one need?

Now it's time to sit and knit.

It's Sunday morning and I have been up since 6. At 6:30 I got out of bed and watched Law and Order while knitting. I'm showered and heading off to breakfast. French Toast at Cracker Barrel. Yummy!!

The weather is beautiful. I will be sitting out later today and reading.

I didn't think I could post this until later today from mom and dad's but my condo is next to the real estate office. They have wifi-thank you Mike.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Ready to Go

This morning I woke up at 7 because Melo was standing over me begging to go out. He is doing okay. They cut the incision and put in more stitches. He isn't happy but he runs really fast if you offer him a cookie.

I thought about going back to sleep but there was too much to do. I had parcels to get packed and to the post office. Then a trip to the bank. I also had my nails done-I can't go away with bad looking nails.

A few emails came in this morning with pretty pictures.

We have the Hermosa in brown, red and eggplant with the new gray micro suede lining. We have a black bag with the old lining and still have one peacock-it has been discontinued.

Kathryn, my Noro rep, sent me a link to the new Noro magazine. I picked a few pictures that I really like

Knit in Silk Garden

Knit in Silk Garden Sock.

I don't think I have enough magazines order. These designs are great!!

 Silk Garden Lite

Kureyon

Taiyo Sock

Kureyon

I could continue adding pictures but then this would be a really long post.
You can see all the designs from the magazine at noromagazine.com

After work I'm going to quickly throw what I need in my suitcase and head to bed. 2:30 is going to come very early. I booked my flight for 6:40. It sounds good that I get into Myrtle Beach at 10:30 but I wasn't thinking of the drive to the airport and getting through the border. I will probably be at the airport very early but my knitting will be with me.

I did cry during Grey's Anatomy last night. I won't say anymore in case you have it taped and haven't watched it yet. Beth wouldn't watch. She had nightmares after seeing the coming attractions of a plane crash so she listened from the other room. Now we have to wait until September or October to know the outcome. I'm not the most patient person in the world-I want to know now!!

I'm going to hit Publish and work on my Breezy cardigan. The June 19th deadline sounds like a long time away but it will be here before we know it.

Breezy

I took some quick photos of my knitting this morning. My sales rep Kathryn is coming in to show me fall yarns and books from Debbie Bliss, Noro, Sirdar.... and I probably won't have time to get some good pictures outside.

This mannequin is great for taking pictures of my knitting because she is a plus size model. When I put my garments on a regular mannequin they look really funny.

I got one row past dividing the body and sleeves while watching Criminal Minds last night.

I found the rest of my yarn this morning. Thank goodness. Now just lots of stocking stitch while I am away. Perfect for in the airport.

I went online last night to look at my bank account and visa statement and there was a charge from madelinetosh. Yarn should be shipping to us tomorrow or Monday. I don't know yet what will be in the box but I think some vintage, sock and merino light

Mr. Melo had to go back to the vet today for more work on his ear. They think they might need to cut open the incision, drain out the ear flap and then put in more stitches. Hopefully they can do it with a local and don't have to put him out.

It is going to be a busy evening so I'm going to finish my post now. Chiropractor. Appliance shopping. Pick up the dry cleaning. Laundry and pack. Wind balls of yarn. Knit and watch Grey's Anatomy-I have a feeling there could be some tears tonight.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday. She is having a great week. Mother's Day and a birthday-talk about lots of presents. We bought her towels and cutlery for the house.

I said that today's post was going to be about more Noro. I'm saving that for tomorrow. Or possibly for the weekend.

This morning was spent opening the mountain of boxes from the post office.

Box 1:
Solemate from Lorna's Laces in the new colour Bigger on the inside. This is to make the shawl that Kate Atherley designed.

I sent out a newsletter about this last week and all the yarn in this shipment is gone (bad news) but another shipment left Chicago yesterday (good news) and I should have it early next week.

The pattern is free on knitty.com.

From Kate

When I was a teenager, I insisted my mother knit me a Doctor Who scarf. Although the colors weren’t precisely right, it was exactly what I wanted: an absurdly long, multicolored scarf with a generous fringe. I wore it for years. And years. I was still wearing it when I finished university and started my first proper job.
One cold winter day, a coworker made a comment in passing. I am certain he meant it to be helpful advice, but it stung more than he could know. He said that the scarf was childish, and if I wanted to be taken seriously in my career I needed to dress the part. The scarf got put away, and I spent more than 10 years dressing conservatively for a career that I never quite fit into. 
Fast forward to 2005, when Doctor Who was relaunched to much acclaim, and I was busy reinventing myself and finding a career I could fit comfortably into. I never forgot my beloved Doctor Who scarf – I’d kept it all along – and I harbored a fantasy of reinventing it for my new life.
And so: Bigger on the inside. A sophisticated, grown-up take on the Doctor Who scarf. No matter how conservative your office, you won’t be out of place with this draped tastefully around your shoulders.

The yarn is a bit more navy in colour than is showing in the picture. I took some skeins outside to get a picture (in the rain) and they looked darker but then when I emailed the picture to myself they are looking brighter blue. Very strange.

Box 2:
Spud and Chloe Fine and Sweater in colours we were running short on

Box 3 and 4:
The Espresso Hermosa bag as well as some Boardwalk Bags (the back pack) in Espresso

Box 5:
The Mystery Box. It had ball winders, swifts, Brittany knitting needles and more copies of Knit Swirl.

How is Jane doing on her jacket? There was a small set back and she had to take out a few rows. Right now she and her husband are traveling in their motor home. I think she has it with her and maybe she will send some pictures.

We had a family meeting at the townhouse between me closing the store and knitting class. The towels look great with the bathroom counters that were put in this morning. The kitchen cabinets were installed today as well.

No, the floors aren't sloped in the townhouse. I'm bad at taking pictures.

I am at a huge point in the Breezy Cardigan. There are 594 stitches on my needle. At the beginning of the next two rows I will cast on 54 stitches-this is for the front pieces that hang-I'm not sure how to describe them so I added a picture. 702 stitches. I'm going to start the next row with a longer needle-it is getting very tight on mine.

Once I do the two cast on rows the sleeve stitches are put on stitch holders. Then I will be back to 522 stitches.

It's our last knitting class tonight and I hope to get the stitches cast on.

Beth taped America's Got Talent and we watched a bit last night. Most of the show is terrible acts but there have been some amazing ones so far-William and his Earth Harp is by far the best. Take a minute to watch the YouTube video if you didn't see it live. If I was a judge I would have declared him the winner right there. Beth said the winner gets an act in Vegas. Should he win I will definitely pay to see him.

I'm home from class now. I got one set of 54 stitches cast on and the row completed. Now it's time to cast on another 54 and purl across 702 stitches. I need to wind two more balls of yarn to take with me to Myrtle Beach. I have no clue where they are. If you have any ideas please let me know.

Holiday

Just a reminder that the store will be closed on Tuesday May 22, 2012.

We will be open Saturday May 19 and then again on Wednesday May 23.

What is in the boxes??

When I came in this morning the mail box was full of notices from the post office that I have boxes to pick up tonight. Five. I'm trying to think of what they could be.

My guess is
Lorna's Laces-Solemate and the new Sportmate
Namaste-I know two boxes are coming from them including the Hermosa in Espresso

I am at a loss what the other two boxes are.

It is later in the day and I figured out one of the boxes-it is from Blue Sky Alpacas. Just one to think about.

This afternoon I finished the Spectra scarf.

I like the little pom poms on the edge.

These 'frilly' scarves are great for vacation knitting. Are you going to be sitting in the car for a long drive? You can start on your Christmas presents. Think about it. You could have all your presents made by the end of the summer.

We have 6 colours in stock. I couldn't find a picture of colour 1-it is black and white.

The colours below are 3-7. I tried putting the number with the colour but the formatting was getting messed up. Being a bit anal (I hope Jane wasn't drinking coffee as she is reading this because she would have spit it out-I'm more than a bit anal) I don't like it when the post doesn't look good.

Mr. Canpar brought in a box today that has a Noro book that is new to us. Jenny Watson Mini Knits Three by Noro.

The collection consists of 30 designs to knit covering accessories, babies and ladies garments. All patterns use the unique qualities of Noro yarns including Aya, Taiyo, Silk Garden Sock, Silk Garden Lite, Kureyon Sock and Sekku. Some designs can be made from as little as one ball of yarn!

Hooded jacket knit in 1-3 balls of Noro Taiyo.

Sleeping bag and hooded sleeping bag in Silk Garden Lite.

My Noro theme will continue tomorrow-there is another book to tell you about.

Noro Premiere Issue

I had no idea what I was going to post about today. Then an email came in with a preview of the Noro magazine. Thank you Kathryn.

I went appliance shopping for mom and dad today. I think I have everything picked out. Beth and I will go and buy them on Thursday night. Then I went for a pedicure. As I was leaving the spa I called Beth to see if we needed anything at home. She was at mom and dad's townhouse-all the cabinets were delivered today. We met at home and then headed back so I could see them.

This is from the loft-all the kitchen cabinets.

We didn't get much information from Myrtle Beach. I was going to stay in their house this weekend but now I am renting a condo in the complex. The smoke smell in the house is still really bad. Tina has fans running throughout the house.

I wasn't shocked when Kim won Survivor last night. We did lots of fast forwarding through the Survivor Reunion. Colton sure didn't come off very apologetic for his comments. On the other hand I think that Alicia seemed genuine in her apology.

Hockey, baseball, basketball, Big Break and Top Chef Canada. It's TV time.

Happy Mother's Day

Beth and I just got back from my parents. We took a cake over for my mom. It was hard work making it. :)

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the moms reading this.

The dogs are enjoying the beautiful weather. Melo has his bandage off and the stitches come out tomorrow.

I need to give you a bit of background information for my post.

My dad's cousin Henry, his wife Daniella and kids (who are in their late teens, early twenties) Stephen (with his girlfriend), Jeremy and Bethany are in Myrtle Beach staying in my house this week. They arrived yesterday afternoon around 2pm.

My parents have a car that stays in Myrtle Beach. Beth has a truck that stays there at our house but it has been parked at my parent's for the past month because people have been in our house.

Nancy lives in Myrtle Beach at the Legends and is a family friend as well as our landscaper.

I'm going to start my story saying that no one was hurt.

Nancy called me in the store around 3pm yesterday that there was a fire in the forest behind my parents house. The firemen wanted the cars out of their driveway right away. The fire was that close. She had driven by our house to get to my parents and knew that Henry had gone out. I had people in the store so I had Beth call Nancy back. Beth is better in situations like this than I am. Beth called our house and got Stephen on the phone. She told him not to ask questions but to get the keys to the car and truck and get them to my parents. He ran the mile to their house.

One of the neighbours took pictures and emailed them.

This is my parents back yard and the flames are really close.

Nancy wanted to know if there was anything in the house she needed to rescue just in case. I said my purple teddy bear collection but Beth vetoed that idea.

Henry and Daniella had gone out to the grocery store. When they tried to get back into the Legends the road in was closed. It is a 5 mile drive through the forest. They close the road because the fire can shift with the wind. You can get caught with fire in front of you and behind you. There were many, many phone calls going back and forth between everyone. The golf course had to be cleared for fear that the golfers would get caught in the line of the fire. It was moving quickly. Thankfully it decided a route away from my house.

Henry and Daniella didn't get back into the complex until 10 last night.

This picture was on the Myrtle Beach Sun News website. It is taken from the highway. My parents is near the smoke.

Tina and George also live at the Legends. George is a firefighter and was one of the men on the scene. I talked to George at 11 this morning and they were still at my parents spraying their house to make sure no embers hit the house, especially the roof. They are also watching the brush to make sure that the fire doesn't start again. Tina has a key to my parents house and went in this morning. She opened the door and closed it. The smoke smell was so bad she thought she was going to be sick. George and Tina called in a company to test for smoke damage. They have meters in the house and will go back in tomorrow to see how much damage there is.

We tried to make light of the situation for my parents. We joked about the house they would build if their house burned down. It would definitely be bigger. Granite counter tops. Reconfigured bathroom. The list goes on.

Thankfully no one was hurt. Possessions can always be replaced. Now it's just wait and see.

Handmaid

Soak has a new product and we will be ordering it on Monday. Hopefully the shipment will be in the store on Wednesday or Thursday.

Luxury hand creme from the experts at Soak Wash Inc. Enriched with Shea butter, olive oil and vitamins A & E, Handmaid rejuvenates skin and protects overworked hands. The directions are simple. Apply sparingly. Rub thoroughly. Get back to it. Designed for knitters, crafters and busy folks who work and play with their hands, Handmaid comes in all your favorite Soak scents.

Handmaid is available in new 3oz (flight friendly) bottles, made from 100% post-consumer resin. The bottle, the formula and the design are great for your skin and the environment.

Following the successful launch of Heel, the industry’s first foot cream, Handmaid will quickly become the go to solution for well loved, crafty, skilled hands. Handmaid is the perfectly priced mini-gift for fall/ holiday 2012. It’s a knitter’s stocking stuffer dream, sized to fit in your sewing/ needle bag, designed so you can enjoy the delicate Soak fragrances in a rich and luxurious hand creme in your craft room, at work and on the go.

There are four scents coming
Aquae
Scentless
Celebration
Lacey

It's knitting time! I recalculated today and I think I only have 16 rows until I divide the body and the sleeves on the Breezy cardigan. Unfortunately I am adding 8 stitches every second row. The rows are getting longer and longer.

Mother's Day Shopping

Mr. UPS brought us a box late yesterday afternoon from Berroco. We have more Captiva.

Captiva’s satiny feel and subtle shine give it an air of sophistication. Created by wrapping a shimmering filament around a smooth cotton blend, this machine washable yarn comes in a wide range of elegant shades.

This is Pern-a free pattern on Berroco's website.

A feminine and warm weather take on the traditional fisherman's gansey, Pern features easy slipped stitch rib, garter details, and a generous hem

When you are on Berroco's website make sure you sign up to receive their email newsletters. These come out every Friday morning with free pattens.

The newsletter that came out this morning had a section on the mattress stitch-if you are having problems sewing together you garments take a look-there are links to videos as well.

Cindy dropped by with a card for me to say thank you for coming to the Around the Bay Guild meeting last week.

She took some embroidery floss and made a swatch in Linen Stitch for the front of the card. Thank you Cindy-it's great!!



This morning Beth and I took mom to buy her mother's day gift. All her plates and serving dishes. Mom wanted white and I found these dishes at Benix.

After I first saw the plates I called mom to ask if she wanted round or square. She said square which shocked me. I thought it was a bit too 'cool' for my parents. Then my dad chimed in. He wanted square plates. 'Don't you know you can get more food on a square plate?' Good reasoning dad.

My knitting is progressing. I think I have 30 rows to go before dividing the body and the sleeves. I divided the last row onto two needles so that I could show the full back. I love the colour.

Golf is on my TV and I'm going to get some more rows in before going home.