Thursday, November 20, 2008

Our Spinning group


A little over a year ago a bunch of women on Quadra were all interested in learning spinning including me. We have a few very talented spinners on the island so with their help we started to learn. Now we have lots of spinners on Quadra. If you come into the store any Tuesday morning this is what you will see. We meet every Tuesday from 10 - Noon and spin, show our finished skeins of yarn and projects knit or wove with the yarn. It is a fun group and we all enjoy spinning a lot. I am usually busy with the store but sometimes I get to sit and spin with the group. Last Tuesday I did and it was nice.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Back from BC Creative Expo






We are back from the show and had a nice time down in Vancouver. It was nice to see all our kids. Time in the hectic city really makes me appreciate the nice quiet place I live. When we arrived in Campbell River last night there was no traffic and it was peaceful and wonderful. Then we got on the ferry to Quadra and it was even more peaceful on Quadra. I am not a city person at all. We stayed at a hotel near BC place Stadium and there were 3 hockey games in town so it was very busy and noisy.
The BC Creative Expo was disappointing. I didn't like it at Canada Place as much as in Abbotsford. Last year when they announced that the show would be at Canada Place I imagined it would be posh and nice not like a cold warehouse but it was a big noisy cold warehouse.
In spite of that we had fun and sold lots of yarn. This was my least busy show and the show where I had the most help.
Vyvyan from Quadra Island was there the first day and she spun all day at the booth and helped sell yarn, Kathy from Campbell River came and did the Make and take table with people. They made little end to end bookmarks like her end to end scarves she sells. This was quite popular. She actually taught several people to knit also. Megan came fro most of the time and helped out. She sold lots of her Toe Kozies and shopped lots also. She loves making cards so there was a lot of fun make and takes fr her to do. We had a lot of fun and it was nice to have company at the booth when it was quiet. Here are some pictures from the show.
This scarf was knit in freeform and it is fabulous. I am sorry I don't have the persons name but I know she is from Salt Spring Island. What a beautiful scarf. She wore other amazing knitting all weekend. Some people are so talented. I met lots of great people and had fun over all.
Here are a few pictures of my booth and the last pictures are to show you how amazing my husband is at organizing a load.
Here is our van already 1/2 full of stuff and then a picture of what needed to go in next. It all fit plus we had room for our luggage, the Ashford joy wheel and us.
Now I have to get busy and get the store loaded again.

Monday, November 03, 2008

Koigu yarn - BC Creative Expo




When I first opened my shop in 2005 I applied to Koigu to order yarn. The reply was that they had too many customers and I couldn't order from them. I was disappointed but managed without getting their yarn. This year I got an email and now they could provide Koigu yarn to the store.
Well it was worth the wait. What beautiful yarn. I am so inspired by this yarn I actually have 3 projects underway 2 scarves and 1 hat, haven't even started socks yet. I guess they will be next. I got in many colours of KPPPM, KPM and KFM. The KPPPM is the hand dyed multi colours merino yarn, KP is the hand dyed semi solid merino and KFM is the hand dyed multi coloured heavier weight felting merino. It is amazing yarn so soft and cushy. Wonderful to knit with.
I will be taking this yarn to BC creative Expo this week as well as - Noro Silk Garden and Kureyon sock yarn, new sock yarn from Diamond yarn - Foot Loose ( 90% merino superwash wool 10% nylon) and Fancy Free
(10% Nylon, 20% Alpaca, 70% Merino Superwash Wool), Arucania Ranco, Lorna's Laces, Cherry Tree Hill, a new sock yarn from Ancient Thread Farms that is dyed with natural products and many more sock yarns. Lots of undyed yarn and of course Kauni in multi colours and solids. I will also have a great selection of fibre. I will be doing a spinning demo on the stage Friday at 6pm. There was rumour that Breakfast Television will be at the show and they want me to do knitting and or spinning demo on TV. That isn't a sure thing yet but who knows I may get my 5 minutes of fame.

Kathy from Mad Katerpillar Scarves will also be at the booth with me. She is going to be working on the make and take table helping people make end - to end bookmarks using novelty yarns. She sells the wonderful Mad Katerpillar scarf kits that are so popular.
I have a few new free hat and scarf patterns.
So if you are in the Vancouver area Nov 7-8 drop by and say hi.
I also have Ravelry buttons to give out to Ravelry members (while quantities last) and that best for the last
I will have a huge bucket of sale sock yarn - $10 - 100 gr ball. Come early for the best selection as this won't last long.
See you there!!