WIPs

Works In Progress... I promised I'd take a couple of photos, and managed to get to it today.

Here's the Bamboo shell in Girlyflage. This is working up really nicely, when it's done there will be a matching shell for Emma, too!

And here's a pic of the Naturally Dawn in the light green. I'm knitting the new Angel Lace Shawl from Fiber Trends. It will be interesting to show you how this compares as it's knit and then when it's finished and blocked. You can see the angels in the shawl already (upside down in this shot). If you look closely you will see the yarn tails where I just now joined the second ball of Dawn. This is a 50% silk 50% wool, and is going to feel so luxurious when it's finished!! This will use four balls total, five if I decide to make it a little longer overall...I'll just wait and see after I get three knit up. There is a lovely scalloped edge on the finished shawl. I'll post more photos as this progresses.

This week has been flashing by (is there a theme to my life, or what? LOL) In between meeting with yarn reps and ordering new products to keep all you lovely fiberistas interested and intrigued, I've also been trying to finalize the plans for the upcoming all breed dog show that I am chairing again. Being the show chairman of a dog show is always interesting...it's sort of a juggling act to get everything coordinated and hopefully moving in the right direction, and then on the weekend of the shows it takes on a life of it's own and there's no stopping it! For those that are interested, the dates are June 30 and July 1, location is the Skagit Valley Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon. We have nearly 1400 entries each day, so it promises to be one of the largest in Bell Vernon Kennel Assocation's history. More info can be found at http://www.barayevents.com/ - just click on "Shows" and then on "Bell Vernon Kennel Association" for details.

I need to go and get a little knitting done, then it's time to trim puppy toenails. I just stopped to think about that. With all the puppies needing their nails done, I have to trim 160 toenails tonight! Yikes! And that's just the babies! Better get to it,

Becky

Summer 2007 Newsletter

Tiny pitched in today and helped get the latest issue of the newsletter finalized and to the printer. I published it to the website this afternoon, and should have the printed copies back tomorrow.

I also thought after 10 years that it was time to change the look of the newsletter, so it's now called "The Wool Street Journal" and has a brand new look. Since we redesigned the website, the newsletter ought to have a fresh look, too!

We have several new classes that should be a lot of fun, including a drop spindle spinning class, a dyeing workshop, some more advanced classes in lace knitting and felting, and a couple of classes featuring how to convert some basic patterns into much more personalized and detailed projects.

It's been a busy week, but I promise to have some images of the Bamboo Girlyflage shell and a brand new shawl up in the next few days...I'm working on the Fiber Trends "Angel Lace" in a new yarn - Dawn from Naturally Yarns. I just couldn't resist it when I opened the box and put it on the shelf. Hey, it spoke to me - what can I say? It's 50% silk and 50% wool, and I know you'll love the drape of this yarn! I ordered it in white, indigo blue, a gorgeous deep red and a pale green (I chose the green for this project). The shawl is being worked on a US #4 Turbo lace needle, and is knitting up very quickly. If you haven't tried the Addi Turbo lace needles, I highly recommend them - that extra pointy-point makes all the difference when working lace decreases!! I'd take a photo of the shawl tonight, but in rushing around to get the newsletter finished I walked out of the shop and left both projects on the table. It must be Monday! But there's always tomorrow...

'Til then,

Becky

Dream in Color

We just got a new order of Dream in Color yarn, and I love it! This is a hand dyed superwash merino yarn, which we're now carrying in two different weights. Smooshy (formerly Gaia Sock) is their sock weight:

and Classy is the worsted weight:

Yummy!! This is super soft and the colors are fabulous. I hope the photos do them justice! I was also going to share a new kit that came in, but they sold out already so I will have to keep you in suspense until the next order arrives...

Becky

I can do this!

Okay. Here's the deal. Most of you probably know that my computer skills are what I would consider Somewhat Lacking. But I gotta tell you, I'm feeling better and better about this stuff all the time. I just went in to set up links to all the products that are actually now in the online store, and by golly...it worked! So now when I refer to stuff in the blog you, my friend, will be able to just point and click to see what it is that I'm talkin' about!! It may be a small thing to you, but to me, it's huge. So humor me, okay?

And for those who are already thinking "but what about the stuff you are talking about that doesn't have a link?" Good question. That just means that I haven't added that item to the store yet...but never fear. It shall be done! I am now back at the shop, because Maddie is taking wonderful care of her babies and doesn't seem to need me hovering over her any more. So again, bear with me. I'm going as fast as I can!! (And of course, for those impatient souls among you...if you don't see what you want online, just send an email or give us a call and we'll let you know if we have it and it just isn't in the online store yet).

Becky

It worked!

The transfer of the blog from the website to Blogspot worked, so I will be working on getting those links tweaked so that everything is functional. To return to the Knot Just Yarn site from the Blog, just click on the link in the right column and you'll be right back!
Becky

After The Sale...

Yawn. Stretch. I just woke up after a short nap, because after two sale days in a row I was TIRED out!! I literally walked in the door at home, checked the puppies, and headed for the sofa and naptime.

I'm going to check with The Hand tomorrow on how to connect the Blog to our website, so you will see this all at once on Blogspot. I apologize in advance for putting the entire blog under the first May entry, but thought that someone new coming along would want (or should I have said may want?) to read what has been written so far, such as it is...my thought was that I should transfer everything over from the original. So fair warning, if you don't want to read it, don't. But the last blog entry on this page is Long. It covers what I've written so far for the entire month of May. You've been warned.

I notice that some of the links aren't working yet, so will work on "clean up, fix up" on that. I also haven't figured out how to make the links appear easier to read. Guess it's time for the Help screen.

I have no images of the sale to share with you, because I didn't think my customers would appreciate it if I or Laura were snapping photos rather than working (plus it would probably have been considered rude to walk away from the line up at the counter to take pictures!) I'm also still kicking myself for not taking the time to get a photo of Emma last time she came by the store. She had been sitting in her portable crib (which I sometimes refer to as an "ex-pen"...those dog people among the readers will know what I mean, for the non-dog people an ex-pen is a portable fence that we use at dog shows and at home as a place to corral puppies and dogs...and it drives my son nuts when I call her crib (or to be absolutely PC I think the baby stores call it a "play yard") an ex-pen...but here I go digressing again). Aaanyway, she was playing quietly while Grandma worked on the website and I looked over when she got all quiet only to find that she'd fallen asleep sitting up. Or sort of sitting up, wish I'd gotten a picture...she was in a sitting position from her bottom and legs down, but had gone face down with her head between her feet and was sound asleep! Don't worry!! I did straighten her out and put her on her side for a nap! Guess napping runs in the family.

Becky