Posting Comments and Knit-in noise

I had a request to tell people how to make a comment on the blog, so here it is:


First of all, I realized that I had a setting on my blog that only blogspot users could leave a comment. Main problem solved. I re-set the setting to allow anyone to make a comment. So, all you have to do is click on the comments link at the end of the post. This will take you to another page and you will type your comment on the right hand side of the page. Then, you "Choose an Identity". Your choices will be "google/blogger" if you have a Google account or a blog; OpenID, which I'm not sure what that is but it's one of those things that you know if you have it and can use it; "name/url" if you'd like to leave your name (it will bring up a box to type your name as well as a web page if you have one - but you don't have to type a web page); or "anonymous" (self-explanatory I hope). Then click on "publish your comment". There may be a word verification box that comes up, which is supposed to help reduce spam comments. That's it. Comment away!





For those of you who were at the knit-in last night, I apologize for the obnoxiously loud noises coming from my fire alarm box. My landlord came and "fixed it" the first time, but then it started going off again at the end of the knit in. I promise it was not just to get you cleared out of here! Well, I called my landlord again and his cell phone was turned off so I ended up calling the police who ended up "finding his home number" and calling him at home. The police told me he'd be here in 5 minutes, which turned into about 25 minutes (all with the really loud noise!) because he got another call as he was leaving his house. I just sat here and knitted and tried to ignore the noise. So, the problem seems to be fixed now. There was no fire or anything, just something weird going on with the system which may have been caused by the power outage the night before. Fingers crossed.

A list of upcoming classes is now posted in the store near the register! Now you don't have to go outside and look at the chalk board.


That wall is still looking a little boring. Stay tuned for more color.

Enough complaining...

I've recovered from my last post -- on to the knitting progress I've made:

I finished the next afghan sqare (Barbara Selesnick's square):

Whew! I'm done with knitting the samples for classes and the shop! (Ha! For now, that is...) Now, I'm working on my top down sweater,

my Logan River Wrap, and starting a cowl with Noro Silk Garden, which should be coming in November.

Lately I've had several people come in to the store who have never been here - some have seen my ad in the Our Towne magazine and some have come because they've heard about the store from others. So, thanks to those of you who have recommended the store -- It's nice to know my ads are working, but also that people like the store enough to tell someone else about it!

I'm off to put the October classes on the chalk board in the window... also to post them on the wall in the store, per a customer suggestion!

You know you are a new yarn store owner when...

There I was, cashing out the register on Sunday afternoon, writing up my deposit slip with the date (9/28/08) when I realized.... the next day (today, 9/29/08) was my mom's birthday. That's when I realized it. A mere 10 hours before. What could be worse than remembering your mom's birthday only 10 hours before? I'll tell you... having spent the entire weekend leading up to it with her and not doing anything to celebrate because you DIDN'T REMEMBER!

My mom was lucky enough to be there when I sharply inhaled (the minute I realized) and then burst into tears because I felt selfishly self-absorbed with my new business. She was very gracious and said she hadn't even realized her birthday was coming up and that she had had a great time with me this weekend and we didn't need to do anything special. We even went dutch for dinner. AND she bought some yarn and a book at the store. All of which I could have treated her to because of her birthday. I had even thought of a great gift for her a long time ago and was so excited about it. AND I would have made her a cake.

Having your own business takes over your life. I knew this going in, thought I was fairly prepared for it, tried to roll with the punches when I forgot minor things, tried to readjust and get more organized so I wouldn't forget things in the future. But this really takes the (birthday) cake. No matter how organized I thought I was getting, and getting the hang of it, this made me realize I've got some more work to do. Thanks, Mom, for being so great about it.

Meanwhile, we really did have a nice weekend. My mom came and knitted at the store and chatted with everyone who came in. We went to the great Indian restaurant, Tandoor Palace, which we love. (We left Paul at home since he was cramming to finish putting his car together for a race in Maryland this weekend.) And we knit and watched tv at home.

The cabled hat class finished up on Sunday and here are the results:

The hats came out great!

Look at this GREAT new flag I bought for the store!:


Thanks to Diane Stoddard for showing me this gem - I had to have it!

In knitting news, I started a top down cardigan with Kathmandu Aran. Love, love, love this yarn. I also started working on the third Great American Aran Afghan block, which I hope to have done and in the store by Wednesday. And I realized I have to start thinking about what I can realistically make for Christmas presents! Am I crazy to think I can actually do that?

I finished the Eco Wook DK Beret and it came out great. This picture doesn't do it justice - you can't really see the color differences -- it's made with natural, brown and gray (this picture makes it look like three shades of gray). When it's flat, it just doesn't look as nice. I tried taking a picture of myself with it on, but that was a disaster. If I'm ambitious, I'll put it on a styrofoam head in the store. Or wait until I've done my hair and put a little makeup on. It's really cute, though.

Also, thought I'd post a picture of my dahlia bush. Many of you have commented on the flowers in the store and I've told you about the monstrous bush that grew even though we planted the bulb late. There are a ton of flowers on it now, and many, many more buds. I hope the frost doesn't come too soon so we can continue to enjoy them..

Weekends

Last night, after the store closed, I went to Connecticut to go to dinner with a group of girlfriends. One of my challenges, having moved to New York, but also having purchased a yarn shop where I have to work on Saturday and Sunday, is trying to stay in touch with my friends. So, I left here at 4:20, got to the restaurant at 6:30 (right on time), had dinner, caught up, left there at 9:20 and got back home to NY at 11:30 so that I could be here to open this morning. I was a little tired but not too bad. I realized while it is something that may be a little challenging, it was definitely worth it to see them! I passed out my business cards and told them to check out the blog -- Hi girls!!!

They all asked how things were going with the shop and I told them it was going well, despite my every-now-and-then fear that people will just stop coming in (if you were a yarn shop owner, you'd do the same!). But, I told them that September seemed to be picking up so I haven't been as worried. And what happens today???? NO ONE CAME IN!!!! I must have drawn bad karma toward myself.

On the positive side, and trying to bring back good karma, look what I was able to finish while no one was coming in...


It's the second afghan block for the November Great American Aran Afghan block class (Julie Levy p 4-5).

And I cast on to do a beret with the new Eco Wook DK!

More goings on...

So, here's what's been going on since my last post (this morning)

Here is a picture of the first slate being put on the roof of the train-station-soon-to-be-library...

They had a nice ceremony, which I tried to hear from the porch, but the traffic was loud and I couldn't hear much. But they had a class from the elementary school there, and they sang a song about reading. Very cute. The mayor and the town supervisor also spoke. There were others there but I couldn't hear who they were!

Other exciting stuff... the fire alarm went off today. Skeerd the bejeesuz out of me. I heard someone in the building was trying to cook a steak...

Also, started the Great American Aran afghan block (Judith Levy; p 4-5). I'm using Cascade 220 this time, which I really like. And I'm trying it in a color other than off white, which I also really like:

See those cute stitch markers? They spell out my name!(in case you can't see) Joan True (that's T-r-u-e) made them for me! I love them!

More goings on...

The knit-in last night was, again, fabulous! We had 22 people here and had to go next door to the Home Front for chairs. More folding chairs are now on my To Get list since it seems higher attendance at the knit-ins might not just be a fad (whew!). By the way, also on my To Get list are lightbulbs (did anyone notice it was a little dimmer in here last night? There are two bulbs out!), and name badges (the poor hat class had to wrestle with jumbo post-its that kept falling off -- sorry!). Oh, and more knitting friendly treats -- the Tootsie Pops, while yummy, are not exactly conducive to eating while knitting.

Just got in some Eco Wool DK by Sirdar. 100% undyed virgin wool. Five natural, eathy colors Very nice and GREAT pattern books. Now on my To Knit list is a sample of this yarn. I'm hoping tomorrow will bring me the Step Duett sock yarn - very cool colors and patterns!

Today will be the ribbon cutting ceremony for the train-station-soon-to-be-Altamont-library. If I can see anything from the porch, I'll take some pictures and post them.

Ok, off to knit the next Great American Aran Afghan square for the November class...