You Know You're Doing Something Right...

...when your customers send YOU flowers! This was on the front counter this morning when I arrived at the shop, as a thank you from Maria and Dee for the Knot Just A Weekend (a.k.a. "Knitmas") at Rosario Resort. Thank YOU, Maria and Dee!! What a nice thing to do - we appreciate it!

I haven't gotten the Malabrigo Worsted entered in the online store yet, but it has arrived. It came in last week, and it is wonderful! This photo doesn't show all the colors in stock, but it's a way to tempt you into coming in to see the rest. There is a purple/green colorway that I swear whispers my name every time I walk by the display. You might be able to spot it in the lower right hand corner. Can you hear it? "Becky. Psst. Becky. Knit. Knit some more."

Candace stopped by this afternoon with her new baby, Heisey. Isn't she a doll? And such a fashionable collar, too. Winky now wants a kitten to take home. She is mostly white, with black spots (including one on her hind leg that looks exactly like a ghost). And no, please don't drop any cats off at the shop. Winky can't have one. I mean it.

Becky

Snow Day & Size 10.5 Arrows

Sunday morning comin' down. Literally. When we woke up on Sunday morning, the sky was grey and the snow was falling. Hmm. Guess we might have switched on the television for a weather report. Oh, well. None of us could think of a BETTER place to get snowed in!! After all, we had great company, plenty to eat and drink, lots of yarn, a fireplace and soft places to sit. Heavenly!

I called the resort office, and was told that they weren't able to drive the shuttle up to our building. They advised that we not try and drive any vehicles down the hill...so carrot cake and cappucinos for breakfast. It could have been worse. Here's a shot of Rosario's Moran Mansion from our deck. Pretty!!

We did have some time on our hands, so I fiddled about with the digital camera and got this with the delayed shutter control to get everyone in the photo:

Here's another shot of Saturday night after dinner, port and truffles. Pure contentment. I almost forgot to tell you all about the arrows. Yes, the arrows. When bedtime rolled around we discovered not one, but two plastic containers filled with arrows tucked neatly inside the sofabed. What is a knitter to do, but attempt to use said arrows as knitting needles?! Of course, we had to put them on a needle gauge to check the size. They were 10.5 U.S. Out came a skein of the flourescent pink GGH Esprit, and a scarf was born! Everyone got a chance to knit a few rows - we're deciding on whether to finish the scarf, or mount the arrows and scarf on the wall of the shop ala "crossed saber" style. Check it out, you most certainly CAN knit with arrows:

And in case anyone is wondering about the pink hats, here's the story. Kirsten Muench very generously donated a whole bunch of BRIGHT pink GGH Esprit, which is an ultra soft and light bulky weight yarn. Kirsten asked that we use at least some of the yarn in the Knot Just Yarn totes for chemo hats to give to patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer (a cause near and dear to both Kirsten and myself). Laura whipped up a quick and easy pattern, and the plan is to knit up some hats and mail them back to Kirsten. Anyone else interested in participating? We'd be glad to give you a skein of Esprit and a pattern, and just ask that you make up a hat and bring it back to the shop. Let's see how many we can make! (The pattern calls for a U.S. 10.5, in case you have any extra arrows in the sofa).

Around mid-morning, the snow slowed and finally stopped, so we made up a caravan of slow moving vehicles and headed for the ferry. We did arrive in time for the noon boat, but it had already filled. We turned this into an opportunity for more stitching and lunch at a little grill right next to the ferry landing. When we all descended at once into the little lunch spot, a few of us brushed up on our restaurant skills and pitched in to help refill coffees and serve lunch - it was actually kind of fun, and the food was quite tasty! Love those curly fries, Mamie! And that sun room was a lovely place to do even more stitching!! We'll be back... same time, next year?

Becky

p.s. There's a photo of Filbert looking quite hung over on Sunday morning that I will post when it's located. Poor squirrel. No worries, though. He seems to be fully recovered, and feeling his chipper self.

Any Old PORT in a Storm

Saturday morning came bright and late, after a night of visiting and needlework. And yes, for the crocheters among us, there was Knot Just Knitting! I had packed along the Saeco espresso machine, so cappucinos were the order of the morning (and the middle of the day, and the afternoon, and we had decaf for the evening....yummy!) Laura had made carrot cake(s) to bring along, and Melanie had whipped up a superb tiramisu. Do you notice a theme developing? What could be better than beverages (both alcoholic, and non; caffienated and non)with baked goods and munchines, I ask??? Just wait for the Saturday night report, and I'll tell you (though you might have caught a hint off the title of this blog entry)! There was a bit of mystery involved in the purpose of the little shotglasses that were wrapped in tissue and part of the Knot Just Yarn tote bag schwag. That mystery would be solved on Saturday night.
On Friday evening, we had started drawing names and awarding Door Prizes. There were just enough for every participant (funny, isn't it...how things work out). Many many thanks to the companies and individuals who helped to make this weekend a success: Skacel Knitting, Bryson Distributing, Dale of Norway, Joanne Ellis, Louet, Harrisville Yarns, Cascade Yarns, Muench Yarns, Pagewood Farms, and Brown Sheep Co. Our own Laura Kelley had generously wrapped up a skein of her new Knot Just Sock Yarn. We thought that Knot Just A Weekend would be the perfect place for its debut. Stay tuned.

The drawings continued on Saturday morning, with much ooh-ing and aah-ing. Kimberly decided it was "Knitmas" and the name may stick! I mean, after all. Picture it. Good friends, sitting by the fire in their jammies, beverages at hand and gooey goodies lining the countertops. Top that off with packages to open and what, I ask, do you have? Why, you have "Knitmas," of course!! (Check out that view from the glass doors). This is Bev on Saturday morning, opening her door prize of 10 skeins of Cotton Fleece while Pat, Maria, Dee and Claudia watch.

After opening a few of the gifts, we headed off for Eastsound and a late breakfast and early afternoon of shopping and gallery hopping. We came back to the resort to freshen up, and then in the evening went back to Eastsound for a great pizza and pasta dinner at Portofino's.

SATURDAY NIGHT & THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED...

Back to the resort for a fun evening of working on projects topped off with a tasting of three different kinds of Port and a sampler of two dozen truffles from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Pat was the first to sneak off to bed at a fairly early midnight...I managed to slip away a little after 1, and I heard there was still stitching and conversation until well past 3 a.m.!! Here's Filbert, with a glass of the tawny port. He would have given it a thumbs up, if he only had thumbs.

Had we ever turned on a television or radio, we would have heard that a snow storm was headed for the San Juan Islands. The Sunday report will have the photos of what we saw when morning dawned and we looked outside.

'til then,

Becky

Orcas or Bust!!

On Friday, we all set off on our journey to the Anacortes ferry terminal to begin the Knot Just A Weekend. It was soon to be dubbed "Knitmas" - but that's another story that shall come later in the weekend update. Here's a shot of Filbert all buckled in and ready to go (You really didn't think we'd leave him BEHIND, did you???)

We caught the ferry without incident, though we were worried a bit about Dee and Maria. Dee had flown out from her home in Michigan to spend the fiber weekend with her daughter, Maria. I called Maria on the cell phone and she was still a couple of miles away as we were settling in on the ferry, but they made it!! Here's another shot of Filbert, with his friend Melanie on board the ferry. Mel is sporting a Muench hat to be donated to charity, and her fabulous new Knot Just Yarn tote bag...that Just Happened to be filled with all sorts of wonderfulness! The bright pink bags gave us a great point of reference over the weekend - during our shopping excursion the islanders gave us updates on where the "pink bag ladies" had been spotted. When we arrived on Orcas we drove over to the resort and checked in, got settled and headed to the Rosario lounge for a quick bite to eat. Filbert was a hit with our server, who at first seemed overwhelmed when our group settled in at several tables and asked for dinner menus. He managed to keep the orders sorted out (well, kinda) but was a good sport. Then it was back to the suite for a bit o' needlework and a Very Berry Martini (or two!)

There are lots more photos and much more to report, but I'm going to close for now. There will be another report on the weekend coming soon...and wait until you see the pics of the snow that we woke up to on Sunday.

'til then,

Becky

Knitter's Retreat at Rosario Resort

The Knot Just Yarn Knitter's Retreat is coming up very soon! We still have space available - price is $175 per person (double occupancy) and the dates are January 25, 26 and 27, 2008. The deadline for registration is a week from today, so if you're interested hurry and call the shop! Phone is 360-755-7086 or toll free 1-888-477-KNIT(5648). We have some cool door prizes and surprises for attendees, so this is a weekend you won't want to miss! I'm so looking forward to a weekend of knitting and relaxing with friends in the San Juans!

Rosario has a world class spa with facials, massages, and treatments galore. There is also a huge indoor pool and sauna available...here's a photo of the pool area which is downstairs in the mansion. If you are interested, please give us a call during shop hours, or send an email to orders@knotjustyarn.com for more details or to reserve your spot. Don't forget the deadline of January 17, and mark your calendars for a relaxing weekend on Orcas Island!

I have fallen way behind on blogging, but promise to get back up to speed with lots of new knitting projects soon. We've had lots on the needles, and have many new samples and projects finished so there's no lack of stuff to blog about. New yarns are coming in, including a new order of Jade Sapphire Cashmere, new Dream in Color Classy and Smooshy, and expected to arrive mid January is a huge order of brand new Malabrigo! I'm currently working on a 2008 "Block of the Month" (or maybe two a month for the speedier among us!) using the Great American Afghan book. This project is suitable for any smooth yarn, but I'm using the new Cascade Dolce (alpaca, silk and wool). We have several colors, and will be adding more each Cascade order. I'm absolutely LOVING this yarn, and have three blocks blocked and finished in the shop. I'll try and get some photos uploaded to share, and really need to get this yarn in the online store. It's a good one!!!

'til then,

Becky