Swap Reduction and a New Friend from Norway

I admit it- I have Swap-in-mouth disease! I love being in these things and was keeping up well. But I was building a house of cards. When I got ill, it all came tumbling down and now my poor swap partners are paying the price. I feel like I will never catch up! I promise, I am working hard to get back on track and am now on a swap "diet". Too much of a good thing is still- too much!

But the benefits are so awesome. Here is my Yarn Junkies 6-Yellow package from Else; all the way from Norway! What a beautiful , buttery shade of yellow, co-ordinating different weights in a yarn that I have never heard of. And the multicolored she sent me out of her own stash that she had purchased in Japan! There are also some scrumptious sounding teas (which I'm going to try as soon as I get this posted).

You are so awesome Articgirl 64! And I envy you your weather- I'm dying to have some cool weather to inspire working on winter projects.

We had a great time at the yarn tasting last weekend. I'm sorry to those of you that couldn't make it due to the re-scheduled date but we will have another one at the beginning of November. Should have lots of great new fibers to try.

And here is one of the fibers, Martha, by Schaefer, in color "Rosa Parks" being worked up in the Ballet Neck Twinset Cardigan by Annie Modesitt from IK Spring 2004. It is lambswool, cashmere and dehaired Angora (who woulda thunk?) and is incredibly soft with no shedding. Of course, that means that Joey has to be sure that there is some hair on it.

Yarn Tasting & Scrappy Business

I apologize for being absent for a few weeks. It is taking a while to climb back from an illness 2 weeks ago but we are almost up to speed. The Fall Yarn Tasting is scheduled for this Sunday, September 9th and the weather should be very conducive to planning that fall sweater, wrap or afghan, so we hope you will join us. The fibers are luscious and I think you will like the fall palette we have chosen.

And this is how a cat performs a yarn tasting-literally!
Thanx to Sasha and Tobie for the great photo!

For the next few months at the shop we are concentrating on "scrappy" projects that hopefully will inspire you on how to combine some of that stash into creative, beautiful and useful projects that you will enjoy or that would make great gifts. Many of them use the Magic Ball technique. I have to note here that I use this technique very differently, but this article gives you some place to start.
The first one is a Magic Ball afghan for the Project Linus Blanket Out that Bonnie and I will be attending on Saturday September 8.

It is using Encore (donated by Plymouth Yarn Company) and the pattern will be free at the Blanket Out. Here is the info:

COVERED IN LOVE - MAKE A BLANKET DAY
September 8, 2007 10A.M. – 3P.M.
Co-Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
5500 Fruitvale Ave

For more information contact: Michele Willis, Project Linus Chapter Coordinator 398-0254 or quilts4kidz@sbcglobal.net or www.orgsites.com/ca/bakersfieldkerncounty
We would love to have everyone join us to work on items for this marvelous local charity.

This is EZ's Adult Surprise Jacket using Indulgence.

It is not actually scrap yarn but you could certainly use scraps of the same weight as I am changing colors every 2-4 rows. Cool, huh?

And this is Chris Bylsma's Ladder Shawl using supplemented scraps, also with the Magic Ball technique.

I'll be dropping the stitches to make the "ladders" tomorrow afternoon at the shop so come on by and check it out.

I'm so blessed to have thoughtful customers, whom I also consider friends. One of these recently brought me a Kitty Catnip Quilt that she picked up on vacation in Hawaii. Precious broke it in and wouldn't let anyone else use it for 2 days!
Even the dogs took a turn on it. Thank you, Mary, and all the kids thank you also. It gives me an idea for creating one out of scrap yarn. Hmmm...............

Yarn Tasting & Peace Making

Here is a sneak preview of some of the yarns we will be "sampling" at our third tasting on Sunday, August 26. I have to note that there seems to be a lot of silk and silk blends this year which is wonderful because they take the color so well and add a lovely sheen.
As I say, we have had shipments this week from Cascade, EuroYarns and Needful so there will be a surprise or 2 thrown in. I'm really looking forward to it and hope you are also.

I snapped this picture last night while totally in shock. The white cat is Precious, our deaf kitty who is usually on the low end of the pecking-order-totem-pole. And the little black & white is our newest, Joey, who is about 4 months old and as ornery as they come (you better believe there is a vet visit in the very near future for him!). To find them curled up together basking in the last of the day's sunshine was very amazing. Just goes to show, you never know what someone can be capable of if given the chance.

Course, it lasted about 30 minutes and then they were at it again. But I guess there is always hope.

Fall Felted Bag Exchange Swap Questionnaire

Yep, another swap. I can't help it, I'm addicted. Actually, my keeper seems to be having some sway over me as I have limited it to one new one per month. Isn't that reserved of me? Since I love to felt, this should be a fun one!

Fall Felted Bag Exchange Swap Questionnaire
How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn? or from whom? For 45 years. For 3 months, a lady next door got me started and otherwise, I am self-taught.
What was your first felted object, and why did you decide to try felting?
It was a Kitty Pi Bed. It seemed sort of magical the way that felting your knitting changed it.
What are your favorite colors? Any you hate? Green and purple are my favs. I really like all colors but dislike neutrals & blacks.
What are your favorite styles\types of bags? (Long straps? Short handles? Handbags? Totes? Embellished? Plain? Include links to patterns or photos if you’d like – give your pal an idea of what you enjoy!) I like med-large shoulder bags with embellishments. Noni (large market bag) or Nicky Epstein (fuchsia bag) are good examples. I also recently acquired a laptop (Like I know how to use it!) so could use a bag for that.
What handbag or bag are you carrying today? Do you use a separate bag to carry your knitting? I currently have an old, rather shabby huge project bag that everything is dumped into. I need to get organized!!
What other things do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? I really like to wear my knitting so, since I am of a certain size, and because it doesn’t get horribly cold here in Bakersfield, I really like to make wraps, shawls and shrugs.
What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum) Wood and bamboo straights are my favorites (luv Lantern Moons) but I really like my Denise kit and have found I enjoy Lace Addis when I do need to use circulars.
What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? I haven’t done any shadow knitting yet and hope to try that this winter.
What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? Malabrigo is one I haven’t tried yet. Chasing Rainbows and Alchemy are a couple of hand painted companies I want to try.
What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? I’ve tried spinning-takes away too much time from knitting. I do like to dye, I bead and I work with polymer clay. I used to sew and quilt.
Besides yarn, do you collect anything? Craft books & magazines of all sorts. I have quilting, cross stitch, needlepoint and the above mentioned crafts. Oddly, I find I don’t have any of EZ’s books which I would like to have.
What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? No allergies. I prefer white chocolate to milk but love peanut butter cups. I also like dark chocolate with fruity tastes (raspberry, etc...) I guess I’m currently in a sweet mode.
Do you have any kiddos? (Furry kind count!) No 2 legged ones. I have 1 horse, 3 real dogs, and 6 cats, 2 of which think they are dogs. Actually, the horse thinks she is a dog also, but that is another story!
What kind of project best personifies you and why? I love combined colors and textures so Prism patterns & yarns are one of my favorites. I have made a number of Chris Bylsma’s Crayon Box/Dancing Crayon patterns with numerous textures. Straight st st on smooth yarn is just not my thing. Anyone remember Fantacia yarns (Barry Klein’s mother’s company, I believe, before they started Trendsetter)? That was my absolute all time most exciting knitting- it really got me motivated.
What is your favorite part of Autumn? You can also share a special Autumn memory if you'd prefer! I wish we had more of the seasons here but I just love the cooling off that Autumn brings. That tang in the air in the mornings that promises the holiday season is coming.
Tell us 3 things you would do if you won 10 million dollars in the lottery.
I would support/start an animal rescue program. It would include free neutering/spaying/vet services for anyone who needed it.
In conjunction with the above, I would start a pet therapy project. I believe that the unconditional love offered by animals can cure a number of traumas and reach people when other methods fail. It seems like a win/win situation.
I would start an artists co-op. I like to try to support individual artists and would like to be able to do it on a large scale, in a number of mediums.

Let's get swapping!