Arrrgggh!
1. 26. 2012First of all - where in the heck is winter?
Second of all - you know how I was looking forward to getting back to the grindstone this week. Well this is the view from my office today -
Cute boy, very sweet, but not in school AGAIN. More on that in a minute.
Here are the more exciting things that have happened since I was last able to communicate with the outside world. The Thrum Slipper kits arrived and they are fabulous.
Each kit has a little bell tied to the side with a piece of the yarn to show the color. I don’t know why, but something about getting a cute little bell makes me happy.
The Felted Bracelet kits came too.
The yarns in both kits are fabulous - surprisingly soft!
We also received these gorgeous project bags, made with hand dyed silk fabric. Truly decadent, and only $19.95.
My photography skills must have been as fried as my nerves today, so they’re even more gorgeous in person.
And Ann had some super cool stuff show up as well. I rocked this outfit at Mason’s birthday party last weekend, along with a pair of Ann’s awesome jeans. I could bend, sit and everything else comfortably and look chic too.
Speaking of birthday, our party was one heck of an affair. Last year we invited the entire class and had 5 kids showed up. This year it was TWENTY SIX! What a crowd. Extreme Animals came with 6 exotic animals including a huge python and baby kangaroo.
If you were wondering why this affair had me so busy last week, well first of all Mason & I hand painted decorations-
Then prepared 32 goody bags-
Then I baked 72 decorated animal cookies-
and 48 animal cakes-
Needless to say, I was very tired. Mason woke up Friday (his birthday) with a cough. We managed to keep it together until the party was over Saturday afternoon, but it was downhill from there. He missed school Monday & Tuesday, recovered enough to go Wednesday only to wake up with an ear infection in the middle of the night. So off to the doctor we went this morning. I am hoping he can make it back to school tomorrow. Between the two of us we have doctor appointments Monday & Tuesday, so by Wednesday it had better be business as usual or I might go berserk!
Oh wait a minute, it is Catholic schools week next week and I have to go to mass on Wednesday, then volunteer at the basketball games on Friday & Saturday night….and mom is still gimpy (has a severely damaged disk in her back that will require surgery)….when it rains it pours.
Whiplash
1. 18. 2012
I have been eager to get back to the grindstone since the holiday season ended. I just get Mason back in school and what do they do? Have school for week, then take another “break” for MLK and teacher conferences. Since we spent most of the Christmas break having to work, I took some time off last week to do fun things with my little fella.
Now that he’s back in school, I spent yesterday frantically trying to catch up here at the shop because we’re having a huge birthday party on Saturday. My little guy is turning 5 on Friday. Can you believe it? I’ll be spending the rest of the week doing party things and have a zillion cookies and cakes to decorate.
Hopefully after I get this party behind me, I can get 100% back go work. It is hard to focus when with this hectic schedule!
Speaking of back to work, mom has been laid up with some sort of hip/back problem. She’s been to two ERs and they just send her home with pain killers. She has been unable to walk for weeks. She is scheduled for an MRI next Tuesday. Unfortunately I have to take Mason next Tuesday for his 5 year check up (as in getting SHOTS).
So next Tuesday will be Knit with Lori & Ann - so we might as well just call it Knit with Lori. Ann is here for moral support and fashion advice. I will HAD BETTER BE here next Thursday so please come for help then too.
We are bracing ourselves for a blizzard of spring yarns that should be arriving very soon. In the interim, we received this new yarn from Berroco called Lacey.
It is SO EASY to make this scarf. The instructions are written for both knitting and crochet, and you barely have to know how to do either to make this scarf. One skein makes a super long scarf - it is so long you could get 2 shorter scarves out of one skein. It is only $17.95 a skein and is the simplest ruffled scarf I’ve seen yet!
While I’m off partying on Saturday Laura will be teaching the class for the Bonnie Jean Scarf. It is knit with recycled denim yarn and is really pretty! Come join us - class starts at 10.
Spring Yarn Tasting
1. 6. 2012Our spring yarn tasting from Classic Elite Yarns is scheduled for Friday, March 2 from 4 to 8. Don’t miss out!
Sign up today for your yarn tasting kit. Kits are limited and we usually sell out. Purchase of a kit is not required to attend this fun event.
Spring yarns should start arriving any day now…including the entire color range of Sprout. We can’t wait!
Where is winter?
1. 6. 2012
When we put the bathtub out on the sidewalk this summer, my husband’s objection was what it would look like in the dead of winter. Christmas was easy in that we had lots of garb to decorate it with, but now that Christmas is over and the plants are looking pretty sad we needed a new plan.
So off to WalMart I went in search of styrofoam balls to make this yarn snowman. I about fell over when they rang up at $10 EACH. So after gathering the supplies, using 6 balls of yarn, knitting a hat, scarf, etc. we are now calling this the $100 snowman.
Given our experience with our neighbors (who think it is ok to vandalize “public” property), we decided that he would not survive out in the bathtub so we are keeping him indoors.
Now if it would just snow so I could make a REAL snowman…
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Winter classes! I laid out the class schedule through March a week or so before Christmas. Ordinarily it doesn’t take me this long to put it all together but with holidays, a bored wiggly boy out of school, and mom down in the hip I have not had much free time.
Here is just a sampling of the classes we have on the schedule:
Download the schedule today!
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Speaking of classes, please note that classes and Knit with Sherry ends at 3pm (with the exception of our technique and learn to knit classes that end at noon). The level of teaching we provide is physically demanding so we request that you save your questions and other projects for another time rather than keep our instructors after class.
We are scaling back Knit with Sherry a bit and and are only scheduling it for Tuesdays. This does not mean that we’re not here knitting and having fun on Thursdays too. We will be here, please come knit and if you do run into minor issues with your projects we are here to help. We are utilizing the time for more intense help on Thursdays. Those appointments will be pre-arranged on a case-by-case basis.
Happy New Year!
12. 30. 2011If you didn’t have a chance to make it to our Spring Preview today, you missed out on a really good time.
I have good news - the Mountain Colors throw kits will be held over until next week. I have throw kits, scarf kits, and samples of the entire Mountain Colors line for you to see. It will be here until the middle of next week.
The throw kits offer three versions - easy knit, lacy knit, and a crochet version. Throws kits are $185 and scarf kits are $36.
We will be closing at 3 on New Years Eve, and will be open our regular hours on Monday, January 2.
And I leave you with some obligatory Christmas pics of my little sweetie. Happy New Year everyone!
December 25: Merry Christmas
12. 25. 2011Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! We have a winner.
Congratulations Stephenia! You are our grand prize winner. You can pick it up at the shop next time you’re in.
Thank you to everyone for the fabulous comments. We love you guys too!
I think you could say I’m having a fabulous Christmas. Santa has been very good to me so far!
December 24: The Grand Finale
12. 24. 2011I’ve been pondering what to do for the final day of this holiday fun. If you checked your email a few days ago, you discovered we had this tidbit of excitement in store for you after Christmas…
Yes, I got the wild hair to have an after Christmas sale. This is the first time we’ve ever had a post-holiday sale so you won’t want to miss out. You do have to come and see us in person though (my apologies to those who live afar).
So today I decided to give away one fantastic prize to one lucky winner.
Valued at over $100 this prize includes:
Chocolate mode bag
Matching accessory pouch & pencil case.
Eucalan gift set, with one of each scent
Bee Bar
1lb of delicious Salt Water Taffy
$20 Gift Card (to be used after 1/1/12)
To get in the drawing to win this prize, all you have to do is comment to this post. Tell us what you love about SWAK (and Carol Ann’s too!)
Merry Christmas to all. Thanks for reading and we love you guys!
December 23: Rainbow Brite
12. 23. 2011Crayon colors aren’t my style. I think you can tell by the things I knit and design that I prefer a more sophisticated color range. And I can’t remember the last time I knit with acrylic. I own a yarn shop, therefore have no reason to be practical.
So you won’t believe what I just finished making -
There’s a story here. Mason decided he wanted to shop for yarn one day. He filled his basket with the rainbow color Canadiana, along with a skein of red, orange and purple. Then he wanted several strands of size 11 seed beads and asked me to teach him how to knit. Here’s how you “teach” a 4 year old to knit -
So far we have a 2″ square piece of garter stitch that he wants to make into a hat. I finally convinced him to make it a hat for his toy puppy and let ME make him a hat. The Rainbow Brite hat was a big hit! Fortunately he didn’t notice the lack of beads. I don’t know how I’d get tiny beads on this thing, much less get them to stay on.
My gift to you today is this colorful hat designed by Mason & his Mommy.
Rainbow Brite Hat
Yarn: Patons Canadiana
1 skein each of Rainbow, Red, Orange, and Grape Jelly.
Needles: Size 9, 16″ circular and double point
Gauge: 18sts = 4″ in stockinette stitch
With circular needle and Rainbow, cast on 72 sts and join in the round.
Knit 4 rounds with Rainbow.
Purl 5 rounds with Rainbow.
Knit 4 rounds with Red.
Purl 5 rounds with Rainbow.
Knit 4 rounds with Orange.
Purl 5 rounds with Rainbow.
Knit 4 rounds with Grape Jelly.
Purl 5 rounds with Rainbow.
Knit 3 rounds with Red.
With Red, *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to beg of round. (54 sts)
change to dpns when necessary
Purl 5 rounds with Rainbow.
Knit 3 rounds with Orange.
With Orange, *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to beg of round.
(36 sts)
Purl 4 rounds with Rainbow.
With Rainbow, *P1, P2tog, repeat from* to beg of round.
(24 sts)
Knit 1 round with Grape Jelly.
With Grape Jelly, *K2tog, repeat from * to beg of round.
(12 sts)
Repeat last round 2 more times (3 sts)
Place 3 remaining stitches onto one double point needle. Knit a 2″ iCord. Draw yarn through sts and tie into a knot.
Now back to my regularly scheduled (and less colorful) knitting!
December 22: Make it Snappy!
12. 22. 2011I’m happy to report that I am finally getting back to my ol’ self! Are you running out of time and need a quick gift? Here’s a pattern you can whip out while sitting on the couch watching TV. You don’t even need to make a trip out of the house for yarn - it is also a great way to used up leftover yarn.
Today’s gift is our Sachet pattern, with 12 different sachet designs - 6 to knit and 6 to crochet. Available today only so download it now.
My cookie baking paid off today. I sent a batch to school for Mason’s party. On his plate of treats he had one of my cookies and another decorated cookie. He took a bite of the other cookie, leaned over and said “these are store bought”. That’s my boy!
On another note, I have decided to declare everyone that posted yesterday as a winner! You can pick up your taffy next time you’re in the shop. Enjoy!
December 21: Something New
12. 21. 2011Each year I try to do something new for Christmas. One year it was the yule log -
Last year Mason & I made a gingerbread house -
But I was having a hard time coming up with something cool to do this year, which is just as well. I am still trying to recover from my illness last week. In fact I feel and may look a bit like this -
No, I’m not going with a zombie theme this Christmas. Instead I decided we’d throw a British twist into our festivities and ordered us a set of these -
We will be popping open Christmas crackers with our meal this year. I thought about being crafty and making my own, but considering you can’t exactly run down to WalMart and buy a “make your own Christmas cracker” kit I decided against it.
Yes, I’m crafty enough to use empty toilet paper rolls and wrapping paper, but the crackers “pop” when you open them. They make special things you insert when making your own, but I’d have to order them online and they wouldn’t get here in time.
I thought the Nutcracker themed crackers were super cute, and most appropriate considering our fun outing to the ballet a few weekends ago.
So my inquiring mind wants to know - are you trying anything new for the holidays or just doing the same ol’ thing? I’ll randomly select a few lucky winners to try something new - a sample bag of our delicious taffy! The more responses we get, the more winners I’ll pick.
Happy Hanukkah by the way to all of our Jewish friends! Check out what I found while shopping for crackers. You too can put a British twist on your festivities.
Just finished making 100 iced and decorated cookies for Mason’s school party. Thought I should put up a sign - “Beware! Zombie baking”.
This zombie needs sleep!
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