Yellowbird Yarn Room

My crafty little entrepreneurs

The Yellowbird and I are just a few months shy of our three-year anniversary, and one thing that has remained a constant wish has come true at last:  my boys finally found something they can make to sell for themselves!

From the moment Judy showed me my original space at River City (a room, in fact), those two have racked their little brains trying to come up with something they can do to earn themselves a little extra pocket money - you know, for all those things mom and dad say "no" to (how many Lego sets do two boys need, anyway???). 

Many ideas have been thrown out over the years.  Now, I love my oldest son's origami figures and boxes out of notebook paper, and my youngest son's drawings and mixed media collages, but I was not overly confident there was a market for such things. 

Even at the suggested retail price of a quarter.

The few ideas I came up with were, of course, a bit too involved to hold their interest for any great length of time. 

I just don't do simple.  Simple is too complicated for me.

But as we sat waiting in the doctor's office last Monday morning to have the 9 yo's ears and throat checked (good times) we came up with the perfect plan! 

A couple of days to kick the cold and a few quick errands to acquire the necessary supplies, and those boys were ready to work!

Finally!  You can't see the smiles on their faces, but trust me - these boys are sooo excited!

I'll be bringing their tiny terrariums in with me to Open Knit first thing in the morning.  They only have five done so far, but I guarantee there will be more to come!

Mama needs a new crochet hook

Who knew a metal table could be so rough on a metal crochet hook?  So glad I wasn't using my beloved Laurel Hill!

And after sewing in ends on a table, the thought of sewing in ends on a nice little project that sits comfortably on your lap seems significantly less daunting.

I was quite sad to have to miss Open Knit this week, but it was definitely a day to wear the Mom hat and I did so with gusto!  In fact, during our not-so-pleasant visit to the doctor (really, who doesn't dread the throat swab?) my little man and I came up with a crafty plan. 

And, ooooooh, it's a good one!  

But, alas, I cannot tell you now.  If all goes well, I should be able to tell you all about it within the week.  Suffice it to say that the nearly three year quest for something the boys can make themselves to earn a little extra pocket money may finally have come to an end!

In the meantime, I have my new metal crochet hook and I can't wait to get back at that table come Monday morning - hope to see you then!

Inspiration: found.

My creative side has hungered for a spontaneous outlet for months now, with little time or inspiration to feed it.   But a couple of things occurred last week, seeds were planted, and I am so ready to tackle a new and fun and interesting "just-cuz-I-feel-like-it-and-I-can" kind of project!!!

Ahhhhh, yarn-y experiments.....I've missed you so...

Is your curiosity piqued?

Excellent.

I'll be there in the morning, bright and early, yarn and crochet hook in hand, ready to sit at (or stand over?) the small round table with the mesh top...

Oops.  I may have said too much.

Anyway.  I'll be there, and I hope to see you, too!

The end of (Thurs)days

It may be good weather today for staying inside, curled up on the couch, knitting in hand and movie on TV...but the signs are there for warmer days to come.  The birds are back and (if you're sitting in Judy's Ice Cream) flying aggressively at the windows.  The tulips are withered and gone.  The new leaves are light on the trees.

This may have been a ridiculously mild winter here in NE Ohio, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a long one!  And I may be a fan of the Fall, but for some reason I feel particularly anxious for the dog days of summer to arrive this year.  Bring on the days of sleeping in, of lounging by the pool, of going shopping just to relish that blast of cold as you walk in the door.

And I don't think I'm the only one.

Last Thursday was a shiny, happy day, filled with old friends and new, visiting and talking (not so much with the knitting) during Open Knit.  It was so nice, it had me questioning a decision I had made. 

But made the decision was, and to it I will stick.

As the weather has warmed, and outdoor activities have increased, the Open Knit crowd has thinned a bit.  Along with that fact, I find myself in need of more time for more things. 

That's why I've decided to take a break from the Thursday Open Knits for a time. 

I'll still be there every Monday, from 10:00 until noon, and will be working diligently on this year's blankets until they're ready for raffle...hope to see you soon!

Mama's got a new toy...

...and tomorrow she plays...!

Whether you come to offer helpful hints, to pick up pointers, or simply to laugh at my novice attempts at creating yarn, I welcome you to join me for Open Knit tomorrow morning (10:00 to noon at Judy's) for my kind of spinning!

Official Open Knit changes and bonus events

Alright, it's official.  Time for an Open Knit shake-up, and here's how the lint is settling:

• Tomorrow, Tuesday the 6th, I will be in as usual from 10:00 until noon
• I will not be in Thursday the 8th due to PTA duties
• Next week starts my new schedule of Monday/Thursday from 10:00 until noon

But wait, there's more!

This Friday and Saturday, September 9th and 10th, you can visit the River City booth at the Copley Community Center for the "Craft Fair and Picker Days" presented by the Copley Veterans Post.

(Did you catch all that?)

I will be there the better part of both days, and the hours are Friday from 10-6 and Friday from 10-5.  I'm hearing talk of crafts and candles, flea market finds and fair food.

Mmmm...funnel cake....

And what's more, the following weekend is the Fall Craft Show at River City!  I'm sad to say that I may not be able to be there myself, but I'm working on it because this has been my favorite River City event since my Grand Opening there two years ago. 

It's a sentimental thing, you know?

So the actual Craft Show will be Saturday the 17th from 10-5, but the Kiwanis will be there the 16th-18th from 8am until 8pm selling mums and cider.  It's the perfect kind of event for putting you in that Fall kind of mood, inciting visions of leaf piles and cozy sweaters and wool socks...

Ahh, my beloved Fall...I have missed you so. 

Enjoy a Spring Fling this weekend!

I heard a rumor...I don't know if it's true...maybe you heard it, too...

I heard it's supposed to not rain on Friday and Saturday!  Woo-hoo!!!  (knock, knock...is this desk even real wood?)

And do you know what's even better?  Those two days just happen to be the two days of River City Gift Shoppe's Spring Fling Flea Market!

Can you tell I'm excited?  I mean, come on...how lucky is that? 

Judy has quite a few people coming in for those two days, including people from Pampered Chef and Scentsy, but there are a couple of people in particular I'd like to point out.

My friend, Heidi, is renting space just on Friday.  Her booth is called Tea to Go and sounds like it's going to be chock-full of yummy yums!!!  Her bear breads (note:  not beer...bear) are just adorable, and if she has even half the goodies baked that she says she's going to have that day it will be a delicious booth to visit!

Also there, but both days, will be Michelle of Sugar House Creations.  Michelle is going to be joining the ranks of the River City crafters in June, so I'm looking forward to a little preview of her work this weekend.  I'm also looking forward to thanking her for the mention of my cup cozy on her blog! 

I wish I had links for everyone that will be there, but I did get a few more names from Judy as I left yesterday:  BeautiControl, Kids' Personalized Music, Polish Pottery, Flea Market Finds, and that guy (you know, that guy?) who makes the really nice cornhole boards.

And, hey, guess what?  As if all those goodies aren't enough, Judy's also offering a 10% store wide sale!  Sweeeeet... 

Oh, and the Flea Market will be from 10 until 5 on Friday and Saturday (the 20th and 21st), but the store will be open until the customary 6:00.  

I'm planning on spending a little time there Friday morning, myself, checking out the booths and maybe sitting in Judy's Ice Cream to work on my blankets for a while.  So if you see a lady surrounded by bags, covered in multi-colored wooly-ness and crumbs from Heidi's goodies, and with a crazed look in her eye as she shakes out the hand cramps...be sure and say "hi"!   

My PC may be pitiful, but River City's rockin'!

So much time, so little to say!

Wait.  Scratch that.  Reverse it.

Let's start off, then, with one very important word:  SALE!!!  This Friday and Saturday (the 11th and 12th) River City is offering up a storewide 10% off!  

Niiiiiice.  And just in time to pick up a little something for your Valentine!  The kiddos in your life might could like an Usborne book or some handmade doll clothes.  If it's a man you're shopping for, I do believe you can find some nice microwavable rice pillows to warm up his feet and a cup cozy for his coffee.  But if it's a woman you're shopping for...well, let's see...there's jewelry, Miche bags, neckwarmers, hats, furniture, decorative household items.....  Need I go on? 

Also, be sure and check in over the next several weeks or so because Judy has a number of exciting new crafters coming in - you just never know what you may find! 

Now, if you're interested at all in polymer clay, let me just tell you what I have up my sleeve!  Next Tuesday, the 15th, I will be bringing my craft oven to Open Knit, along with some Fimo and painting supplies, and I will be setting myself up to make the buttons for my latest ponytail hat!  I'm hoping to have the hat finished before I leave, but...  I can be a bit finicky about these things so I foresee having to finish painting them and sewing them on at home.  I will certainly try, though!

A side note for those of you who are not yet following me on Facebook:  I will most likely not be at Open Knit tomorrow due to outside obligations, though you are certainly welcome to come in regardless!

Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures of the finished Convertable Ponytail Hats very soon, but I'm afraid that depends upon how quickly I can get my computer up to scratch.  My poor PC, which is around seven years old and never properly upgraded, recently took on a heavier security burden which maxed out all possible memory capacity.   My picture-posting process was already fairly time-intensive, but as it now seems to take a good several minutes to load the more complex web pages I don't think even my vast patience can handle even the thought until I can get it in somewhere for a bit more memory!

In the meantime, come on in to River City to check it out in person and maybe find a few other treasures while you're at it! 

Did I show you my hat?

I worked on it for three days straight.  Sizes 7 and 8 dpn's.  My fingers hurt.

And this is what I ended up with.

 

I wish I had thought to get a picture of me wearing it, it would have been good for a laugh at least!  I was using this pattern(Ravelry link - must be logged into Ravelry to view it) but made a number of adjustments to account for the thinner yarn and smaller needles.  I make these kinds of adjustments all the time because I rarely, if ever, use the yarn called for in a pattern.  I'm usually pretty good at it.

But not always.

I was concerned as the hat progressed but was counting on the old adage that "blocking covers a multitude of sins." 

A multitude.  Not all.

The ribbing was waaaay too loose, and there was not enough slouch in back.  It sort of sat on my head like a hand knit bowl.  I'm sure it would have been lovely felted and sitting on my dining room table.  Perhaps filled will balls of yarn.  But not what I was going for.

But, you know?  Here's the plus side:  I really don't think that style of hat would look good on meanyway!  I think what I really need in a slouchy hat is not so much a beret, but a hat with a ribbed and folded cuff that is knit longer than necessary until desired slouchiness is achieved and then abruptly decreased and bound off.

Now, I don't often pay for patterns because there are so many wonderful free patterns out there and I'm not too shabby at winging, either.  But I discovered this pattern and think the Goldilocks in me finds it juuuust right!  I'm so torn! 

Ok, so backtracking a bit...  After Christmas I had some time and some yarn and a need for my own fingerless mitts.  I whipped up some Toastfor myself in the same yarn as above.  This also lead to the realization that I have more of said yarn and no neck warmer for myself and this patternhas been sitting in my Favorites on Ravelry for over two years.  No adjustments necessary for same said green yarn.

Beauteous.

And done!

Will get a picture up at some point, soon as I can get a good one.  Unless I decide to wait until I finish the hat, too.  Hmmm...

Oh!  And speaking of hats!  I started my ponytail-friendly hat design on Thursday and it is going very well so far.  In fact, I might be done if I had remembered to grab another ball of yarn last time I was at the shop!  Of course, then there's the buttons I'm making because the Goldilocks in me was not happy with what she was finding.

But that's another story for another day.

Meantime, I will be at Open Knit tomorrow but Thursday is given over to kids'-school-type duties so have fun and see you soon! 

Headed to River City!

It's Open House weekend at River City Gift Shoppe, and I've been working hard all morning long to get things done so I could be there for a little while today!  There was just one more thing I wanted to do before I left...

It is now officially December and I have yet to post a single picture of my November craft-along ornaments!  So, allow me to at least give you a couple of parting shots:

 
The raw goods:  some knit, some crochet, all pre-felting.

 
So far, so good!

While the four lovelies you see above are already gracing a fine little tree at River City, the two ball ornaments have proven to be much trickier and are still WIP's.

For now, though, I'm off to spend a little quality time at the Open House before my quality time with my kids...  I'll be in and out of the shop all weekend and I hope to see you there!