A really good burrito. Oh and some friends and some yarn!

Last weekend I went out to Massachusetts to shop and eat dinner with my girlfriends from Connecticut (to celebrate my birthday and my friend Jean's birthday - we both turned 40 recently!). On my way to the Lee Outlets I stopped at Colorful Stitches yarn shop in Lenox.

What a pretty shop with lots of wonderful yarns! Imaginative displays too. I, of course, found some goodies:

Malabrigo sock yarn:

Dream in Color Classy worsted weight and Mountain Colors River Twist:

After this, I was hungry so I stopped at a place in Lee that I spied on the way to the store...

Mmmmmm, burritos! I had the best burrito and it came with yummy warm tortilla chips.

Then it was on the the Lee Outlets... I met up with my friend Chrissy first:

Then met up with the other girls soon after that and shopped, shopped shopped!

After we were shopped-out, we went to the Red Lion Inn where the girls were staying overnight. For those who don't remember, this is where Paul and I got married so it always brings back fond memories! I only got one picture of one of the rooms -- it's very charming and each room has it's own unique set-up and decorations:

We had some snacks while we waited to go to dinner. I couldn't wait to start working with the Malabrigo sock yarn so I wound it into a ball while we were chatting:

I don't think anyone really understood why I HAD to start kitting right then. My friend Chrissy said "Boy, you really can't just sit still can you?". Chrissy knows how to knit but doesn't anymore since a really bad experience with boucle yarn and a poncho pattern. Ellen and Debbie both like to knit and were wishing they lived close enough to come take classes.

I got a few rows knit but then when I showed Joan and Nancy the ball at the shop the next day, they both said I had wound it way too tightly, so I took it out and re-wound it on the shop ball winder!

And here are all of us at dinner:

And Ellen with the crazy-huge pumpkins they had out in front of the inn:

And here is what I missed:

Karaoke!

All around great time - so fun spending time with my friends that I don't get too see too often!

Today, Karin from the Periwinkle Sheep stopped by to bring some new yarn colors!

Caramel Apple is on the left - this is the yarn that Jana won the contest for naming! In the middle is Chinese Lantern and on the right is an unnamed limited edition which is also very pretty.

She also brought me a variety of other colors:

If you don't see what you like on the shelf, just ask to see the bin!

Show and Tell:

Nancy's socks made with the Happy Choices sock blank that she dyed herself:

Joan's very pretty Waterfall Beaded Scarf made with Pima Tencel:

Christine's entrelac scarf made with Taos:

And Joan's socks made with Mini Mochi:

Betty

I'm sending you over to Karen Maag-Tanchak's blog "Knitting&" to see the wonderful pictures she took at the memorial celebration of Betty Smith. Betty was a customer of Karen's at The Periwinkle Sheep yarn shop. As many of you know, Betty often came to the knit-ins here and was just as Karen descibes her....


Ok, I tried to put a link here, but it isn't working, so please look on the right hand side of this page, scroll down to see the blogs I read and look for Knitting&.....

Shop visitors!

My aunt Christine and my cousin's wife, Emma, came to visit from Boston last week! They had never seen the shop and they loved it. Christine is a sometimes knitter and Emma is an avid crocheter and also a knitter. Here they are, Emma holding some Ella Rae Lace Merino trying to decide which color to get!:

Emma is from Sweden and her family still lives there. Her mom is going to open a yarn shop there at the end of November! Christine was taking lots of pictures to give her some ideas.
They wandered around the shop for a while and then we went next door to The Homefront Cafe for lunch. It was nice afternoon - Thanks to Christine and Emma for making the trip out here!

Last weekend was the end of the Drop Spindle Spinning class and here are the results:

2-ply yarn made on a drop spindle! The class loved the results. Very cool to make your own yarn. Another class will be scheduled in the spring if you are interested.


Show and Tell:
Sue's socks made Swedish Yarns' Fame sock yarn:

Pretty color changes!

Doris' adorable baby blankets that she made with Dreambaby DK for twin girls recently born:


Nancy's been on a finishing spree:
Her socks made with a yarn I can't remember!


Her second Picovoli tank top, which she made for her sister in law, out of the Bebe Cotsoy:


And her very pretty Textured Circle Shrug, made with Suri Merino for her neice:

(Yes, I know her eyes are closed. I told her and she did not want me to re-take the picture!)

Deirdre's double knit hat made with Cascade 220:

This will be an upcoming class in the winter session. I'm working on one right now!


Erin's woven pillow cover:

So pretty ! Made with Noro Kureyon.

Ethel's very pretty hat and bobble scarf set that she made with Cascade 220:

Mignonne's felted clogs made with Cascade 220:

I just finished a class in these, and have been seeing many more around lately.... great for gifts and fun to make!

Trudi and Karen's needle felted flowers:

Aren't these great????? They have pins on the back so you can accessorize your hats, bags, sweaters etc. They will be planning a class on this for the winter session.

Trudi's Knit One Below Scarf, which she embellished by weaving in another yarn that also becomes the fringe:

very pretty!

Jana in her March Basic sweater (a free Berocco pattern) made with Berocco Ultra Alpaca:

Beautiful! I have some of this yarn at home to test drive!

Sue's miniature sweater, sock and mitten made with Silk Garden Sock Yarn:

So cute - but I forgot to put a ruler next to them so you could see how small they are. (They're pretty small!)

And Sue's Thorpe hats made with Lamb's Pride Bulky:

So many great things you all have been doing.... Keep them coming!

Some knitting progress

I don't know if you've noticed but I haven't posted anything about what I've been knitting for a while. It's been so busy at the shop that I just haven't had time. But these past days off I was able to make some progress on my hoodie! I finally finished the back and two sides, which are at home blocking. Then I can seam and work on the hood. It's getting there. I've also started a double knit hat for a class in the winter session. And I'm still working on my mini mochi socks. No pics yet, but hopefully soon.

In the meantime, here are pics of show and tell:
Bonny's macrame needle case, which we've seen before but wanted to show you that she got a 3rd place ribbon at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival!

Congratulations Bonny!

Lisa's wonderful hat and mitten set, with a pattern by Green Moutain Spinnery that just came into the store:


Barbara's Bella's Mittens made with Peru by Katia:

Mary Kate's Noro Striped scarves:

Instead of using 2 different colors she just pulled from either end of the skein - they came out great!

And Mary Kate's Done by Monday afghan made with Encore:

Store Security

It was a beautiful day at the shop on Saturday. I had the doors and windows open because it was so nice outside. It's hard to believe that now it's November! Lots of fun to be had by those who came to knit for the day. Joan was leaving the store when Laura jokingly said to her, "You paid for your yarn, didn't you?" and Joan started making a loud "beeping" noise as she got to the door, pretending to set off the "store alarm". Oh my gosh. So funny. Never a dull moment when knitters hang out at the shop.

Thanks to Joan who watched the shop on Sunday so I could help Paul with the shed doors. I know, you are dying for a picture -- but I don't have one! While they are virtually finished, we "mocked" them up but then had to take them back down so Paul can paint them. I dare say the shed is basically done. Just a matter of hanging the doors, then putting all the shed-ly stuff in there.

Show and tell:
Laura's adorable Baby Belle sweater made with Encore:

Isn't the ruffle so cute?

Blanca's wonderful woven scarf, also made with Encore:

She made this after taking the Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom class!

Lois' Blooming Cotton Scarf, with an added crochet border to help prevent curling:

Looks beautiful!

I'm hoping this week to get in a bunch of yarn! Ecological wool, Tupa, Mini Mochi (new colors!), Rustic and more.....

Spinning Room gear

In the hulabaloo of Rhinebeck, I completely forgot to take pictures of Joan, Yvette, Jane, Paul and myself wearing our Spinning Room t-shirts!!!! Here is mine:

We wore these at the booth and it was very helpful for people to see that we were the ones that could help them if they had questions. We didn't see any other booths that had such cool apparel. Just saying. (Maybe we'll be trendsetters.) I'm hoping to have these for sale in the shop soon, along with some tote bags.....

(By the way, I'm wearing a pin that Karen gave me that says "will trade husband's tools for yarn or fiber or whatever". I wore that pin home last night and Paul got a leary look on his face. ) The t-shirt logo was developed by David at www.twilightprinting.com who has helped me with my sign and business cards too. He does a great job. Also just saying.

Show and tell: (There is a lot of it because I'm way behind. If you have been waiting to see your projects here, I apologize!)

First is Jana because I have to tell you about this yarn:

This is the Starcrossed Slouchy Beret on Ravelry that Jana made with the DiVe Autunno yarn (mmmmm, merino). It is a new yarn I got in recently but hadn't had a chance to knit up a sample. So, my new, wonderful employee, Jana, knit one up! Yay Jana! You would not believe how nice and soft this yarn is - Jana said she loved working with it and will make another one for herself with the same yarn. The pattern is easy too!

Blanca's scarf that she made with Encore in the beginner weaving class:

We have another weaving class scheduled to start at the end of November - call me if you are interested!

Dorothy's hat made from handspun angora/nylon/wool blend:

It felt sooooo soft!

Nancy's wrap made with her own handspun laceweight yarn. We watched her knit this in the store for a long time and the result is BEAUTIFUL! Very small needles, very small yarn.


Sheila's short sleeved cardigan made with a Plymouth pattern, using Lamb's Pride bulky:

It came out wonderfully and now she is making a second one for her daughter!

Susan's gorgeous kimono, made with Encore worsted (a new colorway that has beautiful fall colors in it):

And her Mini Mochi socks:

This sock yarn has been flying off the shelves! I am currently sold out of every color but am expecting 8 colors in next week....

Three Constant Companion bags!

Carolyn's Constant Companion bag - her second knitting project ever! - which she made in a class here at the shop. It came out great with the button closure:

Amy was also in the class. She is also a newer knitter and here is HER Constant Companion bag:

Great colors!

And finally Dorah's bag which she made on her own:

She made this for an ice skater to carry her skates in!

Dorah also made this beautiful scarf with Mirasol Tupa:

This is her second scarf with this yarn because it is so wonderful to work with.

Here is Ruth in her felted hat made with Pastaza:

Very cute - she was in the shop to show me the hat and buy yarn to make another.

Kathy was away for a while and knitted all these wonderful things!:

Top left: Mini Mochi socks; Top right: Bird in Hand Mittens with Ella Rae Classic; Bottom left: Thorpe Hat with Katia Peru; Bottom right: socks with Crofter DK (self-fair-isle-ing yarn)

Her Pinkie Blanket made with Cascade 220 Superwash:

And her friendship shawl made with Silky Wool and started this summer during the Lace-a-Long:

Andrea's Valerie's Miracle Scarf made in a knit-a-long with the Princess Bride group on Ravelry:

Ravelry has a group for EVERYONE! How cool is that?

Stevie's fingerless mitts:

Her first cable project!

Sheilas first beaded scarf:

Very pretty! I actually already showed you her second one - she just hadn't gotten this one to me to photograph yet.....

Don't forget you can feel free to leave comments on the blog!

Rhinebeck 2009

Well it was my first time being a vendor at Rhinebeck and what an experience it was! First of all, what was I thinking when I said "I'll try to blog from Rhinebeck"?????? Oh my gosh, it was non-stop from the minute I got there, setting up, until packing up on Sunday. When I got back to the hotel I night I was so tired! No blogging.

Paul and I packed up the "house for the car"(aka, the car trailer) with all the yarn, shelves, kits etc. on Friday morning bright and early:

I know. Doesn't look like much. But it was!

Once everything was set up it looked like this:

Joan and Jane were there to help me on Saturday. And what a day that was! It was sooooooo busy - but so much fun. This picture does not do the crowds justice - there were A LOT of people there....

On Sunday, Yvette, Joan and Jane were there to help and it was a little slower. Paul arrived and Joan finally let me out of the booth so we could go have lunch and look around.

We found some sheep:

This one was smiling at us:

We ate a lot as usual..... kielbasy, peirogi, apple crisp, fried dough, cookies..... yum.

I bought one thing. A soft merino roving in Paul's color choice, a nice burgundy. I forgot to take a picture.

All in all, exhausting as it was, it was a great time. I think I'll go back next year.

(Thanks again and again to Joan, Yvette, Jane and Paul for all their help!!!!)