Book Review/swedish museum

I just received a copy of "Men Who Knit and the dogs Who Love Them" authored by our very own (now she lives in St. Paul) Annie Modesitt and a non Minnesota Native, Drew Emborsky.
I loved this book. I love the cover photo. Great patterns for men and their little companions. There are so few patterns out there for men that I'm thrilled to have this new book. It is written so well, good information about the patterns and yarns used, excellent detail. I hope she'll do a book signing soon. I know she will be at Yarn Over.

I also finished reading "Knitting under the Influence". It has turned out to be a love story. Enjoyable reading.

Well, I must apologize a little, because we did get dumped on last week. Oh, well. It wasn't too bad and it kept me in the house all day Sunday finishing up projects that needed to get done. I love having a whole sunday to organize myself.

I'm late posting this so it is now March 1 and MARCH has roared in , so maybe it will leave like a lamb?
I closed the shop at noon today and came home to catch up on some work here. The driving is so awful!

I finally got to the American Swedish Museum with friend Jeanne last night. This is the best kept secret in town. I told Jeanne last evening that I feel I must have lived in this house before (in another life time). It is so beautiful with all the wood and porcelain fireplaces.

Wednesday nights they serve a lovely homemade soup and open faced sandwhich and dessert is vanilla ice cream with lingonberries. Who Knew??? They have acute little cafe in the lower level. The Smorgaasboard is the best - it is served on one sunday each month, I believe.

We saw Yvonne's felting exhibit which was quite something unbelievable. They also had a Greta Garbo exhibit which will stay through March. It is beautiful and very interesting. They are also showing a couple of her films this month. I hope to get back to see them.

There is an exquisite glass blowing exhibit also. I have never seen anything like these vases. The website is: www.blum-olson.com

To top this all off there is a miniature doll house exhibit up stairs, taking up about three rooms. We stayed long enough to listen to a Professor from the U of M speak about Garbo's career. When she died she had accumulated quite a significant amount of wealth and had never married or had children. She quite acting at 36 years old and lived in a New York apt. as a recluse for her entire life. I think she died in her 80's.

Then, we went out to the wintery weather and it was icy and slippery but I managed to deliver Jeanne to her door and then crawled home on Hwy. 100 and #62 - what a mess.

Glad to be home - had a wine and knit to relax before bed.

IT'S A BLUSTERY DAY

Straight from the "Pooh" stories. It's a blustery day. This friday and Saturday it's been blowing so hard from the East that my door (at the shop) keeps ringing the bells and I keep jumping up thinking someone has come in. It's getting very tiring! Plus the cold air keeps blowing in and heater keeps going. It certainly is as windy as March. Maybe we'll have an early spring.???

I just finished a cute Spring sweater using Plymouth yarns "Heaven", 100% Nylon, 2.5 st/in on size 11 needles, 55 yds. It's very similar to "blossom" we had a couple years ago. It's very soft and everyone is making baby blankets out of it. I made a City Sheep pattern with this yarn.
I'm just finishing it with trim called "Roses".

Working on a new pair of socks using Mountain Colors and tree pattern I found. It think they are going to be very nice. I love this Mountain Colors sock yarn. It's a dream to knit with.

DYE WORK

I also did some Spring dye work. Look at these colors!

WET FELTING
What do you think this is going to be? Wait till you see what Nancy and I are cooking up. Next week it should be done.

KNITTING PROJECTS

YES, I FINISHED DAN'S SWEATER. There are a few little mistakes from knitting in the movie theater but I don't think they will show much once it is blocked. The Aurora 8 yarn is so lovely to wear that I think Dan will not notice either.


I started a new sweater for Ellie to go with her Easter dress. I'm using Roma from Jaeger, 63% viscose, 22% nylon and 15% Angora - it knits 22 sts on a Size 6. Well, I was so anxious to get this going I knit the wrong size. I won't even tell you what I did it was so stupid. I got the back done last night and looked at and decided it would be for the new baby (August) or Georgia (she's 6 mos).
I'm using the pattern from "Special Knits" by Debbie Bliss, "The Ribbon Edged cardigan". Today I am starting over with the correct size. The pattern calls for 25 sts on a size 3 and I'm using a Size 5/6 on 22 sts which should make it a little larger. It's a size 24 months and she will be 2 in August. Cross my fingers.

Went to dinner with the grandchildren last night at "Big Bowl" where my second daughter, Jenna, works. Nicole, Peter, Ellie and Josh were all there. Ellie loves pot stickers, she had at least 3. Josh was too busy watching everyone, especially his aunt Jenna, to eat much of anything. I took the two of them down to "Creative Kids Stuff" and played with all the toys. The staff were blowing up long skinny balloons and letting them shoot all over the store. Of course, the children thought this was great! I bought them each a whistle thing! We found out it echos in the hallways of the Galleria! YEA NANNA!

As we were leaving a little blonde girl ran up to Josh and caressed him on the cheek and ran back to her mom. I turned around and there was Christine and Sara and Dad. What a surprise. Sara was one of our first models in the store. Her mom had knit her this sweater out of the yarn called "Blossom" which was very popular 2 years ago. Sara wasn't even one yet! Christine knits lovely sweaters out of "Cotton Fleece" and S.R. Kertzer, Butterly 10. Each one is cuter than the last.

No scary storm last night and I had a great Salmon dinner at Big Bowl with my family except for Dan (had to bring him take out).

Television

Did you notice last week on the show, "Men In Trees" , that the blonde (cannot remember her name) went to visit her parents and was carrying a FELTED hand bag. I love it! We've made it to the television sitcoms. I really enjoy this show! It reminds me of the sitcom awhile ago in alaska called "Northern Exposure".

Felted bags are so fun because you can be very creative with your design and embellishing is the best. Needle felting is very fun and easy to do on these felted bags.

We have some great needlefelting classes coming up in March, April and May. A hat, bag, necklace and flower. I also use it on my felted sweaters and oh, don't forget Mary Mahew's felted easter eggs and chicks. I've sold out the first order and need to reorder. Sooooo cute! I'll try to get a photo up soon of my easter ideas.


Due to the horrible, awful storm coming our way the shop has been very busy with people stocking up for the weekend. I wondered what a week long storm would do??? I am open today, Saturday, and it has still been busy this morning. If the storm truly comes our way, I'll leave early.

I really don't have any confidence in these weather men but am amazed at the power they have. People were hurrying everywhere yesterday buying groceries, getting all their errands done before the big storm. Hey people, we live in MINNESOTA! Yes, we've had a couple mild winters but really this is normal. It's almost March. We can drive in it, walk in it and do anything else you do on a normal sat. or sun. You are okay! Bonny

Spinning

We had a great group for spinning and knitting on Sunday. Zoe brought in a shawl that she had spun (2 ply) using 85/15 Merino/silk Gaywool dyed roving from Louet.

It is so gorgeous! It is on display at the shop. What an incredible spinner.

I'm spinning this new merino roving I just dyed (Zoe took 8 oz. also) Cannot wait to see what Zoe does with hers!

I was looking at Mystical Yarns today and hope I can open an order with them. Looks like great colors of sock weight yarn (merino superwash)

I've also placed a new order for kits from Fleece Artist. I saw them and bought some yarn when I was in Van Couver a couple summer's ago. It is gorgeous. Cannot wait until it arrives.

More news soon! Happy spinning and knitting!

I have had a busy week. My daughter, Jenna, had her 25th birthday on Sat. but had her dinner on sunday night. Her dad was stuck in Florida due to weather so we went on without him. The grandchildren were very excited and we had a great dinner. Beef Roast, Cheesy potatoes, Crescent rolls, green beans and asparagus with garlic stir fry. For Cake, we had Dairy Queen. Josh and Elllie were so excited. (Everything is a celebration when you are 1 and 2. ). Boy, if we could just hold onto that. Huh?

Joshua stayed overnight with me. About 7 pm we went to get his Pj's on and they were not in his bag. Oh, Mom forgot them. Dad was off to target to buy a new pair. Got new Pj's on and we were reading stories and Josh thought he would go get his pacifier (for bed only). Nanna! there is no nuk! PANIC! Dan, can you go to Walgreens and get a new nuk? (he had already been to the store for me once that evening) No, I'll stay with Josh, you go. It's cold and dark and almost bedtime. I drive up to Walgreens, grab new nuks, drive home, wash them off, insert in mouth and head upstairs with a happy baby. He goes to sleep immediately. I guess the stress wore him out!

I promised Josh pancakes in the morning. I made them and then discovered I was out of syrup. Luckily, he likes to dip them in yogurt. Well, the first batch he was too busy to eat so they got cold. Second batch we added raisins and he ate those. 9 am, (only) mom picks him up to go to the Mega Mall with Gradma. I'm off to the shower and work. I'm exhausted by 3 PM. Time to open the shop for the Sale!

Monday started "the sale week" at the shop. It's been very busy and we're moving out that designer yarn, finally. Lots of new things will be arriving this spring. (shhh, it's a secret or a surprise, depending on how you look at it).

I have started a couple new projects. I'm using Roma (light blue color) to knit a cute new sweater on the front of Knit 1. I'm going to make it shorter but I think it will be a cute throw on sweater come spring. I love this Roma yarn, second to Karabella Aurora 8. I'm also making Ellie a cute little sweater using Roma in white.

Have you seen the cute spa sock in Knit 1 using Blue Sky Organic cotton? It is so cute. I want to make a bunch for gifts. Will get photos soon but my camera is driving me crazy, the batteries keep dying.

Making progress on WIP:
I'm on the last sleeve of Dan's sweater. It fits! I'm on the second sock of Joshua's sock (finishing Dan's sweater has slowed down other projects)

Have you read "Knitting under the influence"? yet? It is very entertaining and has more of a plot than I first thought. I'm hoping to get a bookclub started, where we can read some great books and we can knit during the discussion. I do knit at other bookclubs that I attend but I always feel a little odd. I think they think that I cannot follow the discussion if I knit. Hey, if I can knit in the movie theater in the dark, I can do anything. Now, if I could just bring my spinning wheel to the movies.
Keep it up - we still have several months before we hit 60 degrees (probably not till June) Bonny

Banks

I have to vent a little here. My bank is causing me such anguish lately.

A couple weeks ago I went thru the drive thru for Business Customers. Pulled up and waited for someone to come to the window. No one came so I buzzed. I could see two people in the window working on some machine, they did not look my way after I buzzed. I waited a few more minutes (I was in a hurry) and buzzed again. No one looked my way or acknowledged me in any way shape or form. I pulled off very angry. As a business I need to make deposits ever day to keep records straight. I went on my way home instead and had intended to talk to the "Manager" (which are invisible people).

Last week I went into the bank to get some change because the people at the window think it's incovenient for them to get me change (coins or dollar bills). They let me know it's a huge effort and I was once given a card to call in a coin order. ( I usually just want a roll of quarters and 10 dollar bills). I refused to do this because I think they should have that much on hand at any given time.

At any rate, last week, I went inside because I needed a roll of quarters. I gave her the deposit and asked for a roll of quarters. She said, "We're out". I said, " But, you're the bank!" She said, "I know but we are out." I said, "I've been told this before, can you explain to me why you are out of quarters?" Another bank a couple years ago had no one dollar bills! She said, "we had alot of coin orders today and ran out." UNBELIEVABLE! People, how does this happen.

Today, I drove thru the bank and a sign on the window said, "If you'd like rolled coin there will be an additional charge". NOW WAIT JUST A MINUTE, IS THIS LEGAL????
I'll be getting back to you on this one.

A new Pattern

40 Below in Embarras, MN. Minneapolis was only 11 or 12 below. 40 Below actual, not windchill. International Falls was like 38 degrees below. Boy, we know how to do winter up here! Yea!!



I was given a new pattern this week by a customer who made this scarf. Coincidentally, another customer came in last week with the same scarf she had knit out her handspun. I'm planning on making mine out of some handdyed I have from last summer.

It's called "My So Called Scarf" by Sheep In the City blog. Very simple pattern but looks woven. The original was made out of Manos Del Uruguay in Color 113 but I have seen it knit in a couple other yarns and it works really well. It's difficult to see from this picture what the stitch pattern is but it's very cool.





I'll get a photo up when I get it going. I'm going to volunteer to teach knitting at the "Knit Out" at the Mall of America on Sunday 12-3 PM. It should be great fun! Hopefully lots of people.
I'm pretty sure Annie Modesitt will be there. She's moving to town, you know!

Stash

Lately I've heard this word alot. 'STASH". As in, "I'm going through my stash of yarn today" , "I really don't need any more yarn, I have a stash at home". "I don't know what to do with my "stash", etc. You get the picture.

Lucky for me I own the yarn shop so I don't have much of a stash at home. I do clean it out and rethink my projects every few months but mostly I just try to use what is currently in the shop for shop samples.

I have several projects that are in progress and a few yet to start if that counts.
Josh's one sock completed. Just starting the second. I also have two pairs of socks at the shop that I'm working on.








Dan's sweater - working on the sleeve - it is not blocked yet. He tried it on the other night and said it's a little tight. I said, well I will block it so it will fit. You are wearing this sweater 24/7 no matter how it fits!!!! He's been lifting weights and working out so he thinks he's bigger. We'll see.








I think we all need to have a stash of something. It's healthy. When I'm at home for a day and can just create it's nice to have a stash of yarn, fabric, beads, fleece, etc. to grab from and not have to run out to get what I need. That's what a stash is for. It makes me more creative if I have to use what is in the house. I have to figure out how to use something in a different way.







These two purses were from wool sweaters. I felted them, cut them, sewed them and embellished them. I will put some buttons and a cute handle on the pear purse. I needle felted the pears. This was fun!!!

A new knitter

This is granddaughter, Ellie, playing with a ball of Aurora 8. She thinks she's pretty cute! Her favorite spot to sit is on the fireplace ledge - she has an advantage up there to see everyone--she definitely takes it all in!

I'm working on a couple hats for the grandchildren - this one is pink and green and is featured in the book "Hats & Booties"

- It will be like the one on the cover! I'm planning on making a scarf and mittens to match.

Went to Trader Joes last night for a restock on wine. They have some very good prices! 12 bottles for $50.00 - not too bad. We also like their salsa and ice cream. They have great cookies and snack mixes. I'm trying one of their high fiber cereals - it makes a good snack. Sorry I cannot remember the name right now. I love their fresh salsa and baked chicken and orange chiken.

Came home and watched History Channel - had a two hour special on war weapons which included airplanes. The boys loved it. It also remind that I can get a Korean War medal for my dad. I was on the Korean War website last week and even though he died during the war he's eligible for the medal. I will get it and put it in a display case along with his flag. In the family I'm the keeper of the photos and memorabilia for the family. I'm just hoping to get it organized one day.

For Christmas my children got me the display case to put his flag and medals in for safe keeping.

I have not put it all together yet - I'm not sure if the medals are supposed to be in some order. A little more research.

It's a Sunday

This is the kind of sunday I've been waiting for since Oct. 30th! I finally got a sunday to wake up late, make coffee, knit and watch "Sunday Morning" on television. I love these Sundays when I don't have to be anywhere and the whole day spreads out before me. However, I start getting a little anxious around 3 PM. I feel like I'm not getting enough accomplished, as much as I'd hoped anyway, and the day is running out. I had planned on not leaving the house today. It's so far below zero I've forgotten the number. I will stay home and catch up around the house.

I did curl up in my Pink Plaid chair and read "Knitting Under the Influence" by Claire LaZebnik. It is very funny and is developing a fun plot. I have a couple in the shop for sale. I didn't order the new Hot book because B & N has a huge display is their store. The new Hot book right now if "The Friday Night Knitter's Club". Has had great reviews and supposedly a movie is in the making with Julia Roberts (next Fall, I think).

Yesterday it was as cold as today but Minnesotans were out and about. The shop was busy all day. It took them until noonish to get going but they got out! Nothing stops these hardy people. My friend is ice fishing with his boys on the lake in some kind of wind breaker tent. Unbelievable!

This is the kind of cold that hurts. You step outside and you hold your arms down close to your body after covering every piece of exposed skin, and walk fast so you can keep the warmth inside as long as possible until you get to your below zero car. Well, if the car starts, you are in great spirits! Driving this frozen car across the ice it growns as it starts to move and slowly the engine warms up. Meanwhile you are sitting in your seat with shoulders scrunched up hoping to keep the heat inside your coat for a minute longer. My hand acutally hurt from being cold on the way home and I had to sit them (one at a time, I was driving afterall) to keep it warm. This is not fun folks!

Therefore, today I have not gone outside, just the garage for paint supplied. I'm working on repairs around the house. I puttied up the holes where I removed a curtain rod last fall. I will paint over it tomorrow and hang the new curtains. I finally found some drapes I liked and they were on sale.

I have been needle felting bags and sewing felted bags all day. I think I'm finally making progress. Photos later.

These purses were made by felting sweaters and then cutting them and sewing them together as a purse. The pears were needle felted and I've added a bamboo handle.

Keep knitting and oh, yea, watch the superbowl.