Yellowbird Yarn Room

Looking for Grafton?

The name may have changed, but the amazing colors remain the same.

Beautifully hued clouds from DyakCraft, formerly Grafton Fibers, have filled the bins and are quietly calling the name of every spinner and felter. 

I never imagined myself spinning my own yarn, really, until the first time I saw what Linda Diak can do with a bit of wool.  Her work already got me to try my hand at needle felting, to which I am now quite addicted.  To be honest, I am not sure my life can maintain yet another hobby.

But then the box arrived.  I had simply asked for an assortment of a certain quantity, trusting their knowledge of their blends better than the interpretation on my computer screen. 

The opening of the box was a quiet ceremony.  I lifted each flap of the box slowly, savoring the moment.  When the layer of tissue at the top was removed, my breath was taken away by the luxury of what lay inside.  Just as I knew it would be.

I may not be ready to learn how to spin just yet, but I cannot help but to pet the mini batts lovingly each time I see them in the shop. 

I know I am not alone in this.  They are always in need of straightening when I go in!  And I have personally witnessed both men and women with no interest in working with fiber themselves who were drawn into the room just to see what those beautiful clouds could be.

We'll just see how long I can resist.  After all, Tom Diak makes the most artful spindles I have ever seen... 

Book exchange at River City!

I am very excited about a new little feature at River City!  Right by Judy's Ice Cream is a book exchange book shelf.  You leave a book, you take a book.  How great is that!  Now I have to remember to bring a book with me on Saturday for Open Knit because there were a couple there I hadn't read yet!

Inspiration abounds

You know how you can sit and talk with a like-minded someone and walk away feeling positively effervescent with the grand new ideas that keep popping in your head?  The endless possibilities leaving you to wonder where to begin?

I have had a few of those this past week.  Plus the latest Jasper Fforde to read at night.  And Stephenie Meyer on cd for driving and cleaning during the day.  Tell me that's not the perfect recipe for a fancy metaphor.

First, there was the knitting lesson with Judy, the owner of River City, and her mother.  They.  Are.  Funny.  They both used to knit and had a vague memory of how it worked, so I walked them through the knitted cast-on and the knit stitch.  By the time they had a couple of rows on the needles I was the one in stitches!  I just sat there thinking about how that very moment was the epitome of why I love knitting and wanted to open the Yarn Room.  I'm still giggling about that one story...

Anywho...

I met with Laura of the Happy Valances on Friday, and oh!  So much to knit, so little time!  We're in early stages of collaberation, but with her mad sewing skills and my eagerness for experimental fiber goodness you may be free to expect fun things from upstairs!  There's talk of decorative knit trims and accents, knit pillow fronts, embroidery, and needle felting.  This is a lady with big ideas, let me tell you, and they are all wonderful.

And then Saturday marked the beginning of Open Knit, a time to come in and sit with your project of choice with myself and whoever else makes their way in from the cold.  It was late notice, but there were a couple of friendly faces there and I could not have enjoyed myself more.  I only wish it could have lasted longer!  But plans were made, with some to be announced soon, and I am so looking forward to it all!

Open Knit will continue every Saturday from 10 until noon until further notice.  I would like to add more "official" times during the week, so if you have any thoughts on a good time for that just let me know.  Or better yet, grab some needles and a friend and come on in!  It is a friendly and cozy atmosphere, perfect for creating a little effervescence of your own. 

I know Judy would enjoy a little effervescence with her ice cream.

Amazing video

via elsita.typepad.com

 

Open Knit and River City Sale

This Saturday marks the beginning of Open Knit at River City.  From 10:00 until noon, I will be hanging out at Judy's Ice Cream with my knitting and I hereby invite one and all to join me.  There's New England coffee and Main Street Muffins, not to mention biscotti and ice cream (we are looking at a 40 degree heat wave, after all). 

And on Saturday and Sunday all crafter merchandise at River City is 10% off!  So, if you're in the market for a new crochet hook or a bit of yarn, this weekend is the time to go for it.  There is just so much to see between the two buildings and if you haven't been in before, it's high time you check it out!

Open Knit will continue on that day and time until further notice.  Hope to see you there!

Mixed Media fun and other good things

Several pictures have been added to the albums in the sidebar, ready for your viewing pleasure.

At the top, in the YB Pictures, you will see the fantastic tie-top of the panel Laura made to coordinate with the happy valances.  I was in desperate need of hiding the less-than-attractive storage closet, and it was Laura to the rescue once again!

And she didn't stop there - oh, no!  I do believe Laura is in the mood for some springtime color!  In the Artist Spotlight album is a detail picture of one of the table runners she whipped up.  She also made a cute little project bag with loads of pockets inside.  I tried, but I just couldn't get a decent shot of it.  Stop by and check it out, let me know what you think through e-mail or comment here.  Laura loves to sew and she loves to organize, so I believe with a little feedback she can be convinced to make more!

Finally, we have my own Project Pictures. 

Remember the figerless mitts?  Well, looks like blocking really did make quite a difference!  And just like the glass slippers, they fit Judy's hand much better than my own.  She relinquished them, however, and they are tagged and ready for their next fitting. 

Also in that album are a few non-yarn-related projects I made just for fun.  The two tins I made a while back, covered in the same method I use for making paper beads.  I envision the larger being used to hold small dpn's or crochet hooks, and how cute would the little one be filled with handmade stitch markers?

As for the gift bag, all I can say is that in a house where even the dog is a boy, sometimes I just need to let my girlie side show.  Take one perfectly good Christmas themed gift bag, add one sticker gift tag that will not come off, multiply the sum by the upcoming Valentine's Day...and the answer is inspiration.  The boys were having a crafty day, and I just couldn't help myself!

I do love me a good ol' crafty upcycle.

Unresolved

It cannot be avoided this time of year.  Everyone talks about it.  It's even all over the news.

The New Year's Resolution.

Have you broken yours yet?

I can site two particular people in my life who have helped to form my noncomformity when it comes this annual custom.

The first is my father (hi, dad!).  If there is one thing I learned from my father, it's the importance of self-improvement.  Now, taken at face value this may sound like an idea that fits perfectly with that of the New Year's Resolution. 

But it doesn't.  

You see, self-improvement is not just an annual event.  It is an ongoing awareness that we all have our faults and that we would be remiss if we did not at least attempt to correct those faults we're able to recognize.  The decisions you make on June 24th are no less important than those made on January 1st, so make the right ones every chance you get. 

The second influence is my husband (who is much less likely to read this, but just in case...hey, babe!).  The man just likes to be a rebel in the silliest situations.  Keep people on their toes.  Challange them to expect the unexpected.

This is one trait we have in common.

So, why make a New Year's Resolution when something like 99% of them get broken by the week's end?  (No official research was done for the writing of this post, so please don't quote me on the percentage.)  Just do what you do and if it's not right, do something different.  All the time.  This has not been an easy lesson for me to learn, being a right thorough perfectionist and procrastinator at heart, but my husband has been a good teacher.

Having kids helps, too.  And a dog.  And an old house that was a serious diy project for the previous owners.

And, of course, knitting.

That is why I am not too upset about my first pair of fingerless mitts that I decided to make without a pattern because I was ready for a new project right then.  For the most part, they turned out okay.  They're just a little wider than I would like.  And I meant for them to hit higher up on the fingers.  I'm sure blocking will help.  And hands come in all shapes and sizes, so I'll put them in the shop and they will find the right hand for them glass-slipper-style. 

Maybe next time I'll check a pattern or two before I start.  And make a swatch.  Do some math.  Skip the chocolate.  Exercise before the kids get up.  Be more organized.  Keep up with the laundry and the dishes and the cleaning.

But I'm not making any promises.