Hop on the Bus and Come Knit with Us!

by : Jenny


Jimmy's Biggest Little Bus Tour!

8/4/17 Update: The August 5th Bus Tour is SOLD OUT! Click here for our September and October tour dates.

 It has been Jimmy's undying dream to bring California's fiber enthusiasts to the Biggest Little City for a fun-filled day of knitting, games, prizes, how-to workshops, and of course, shopping! At long last, that dream has finally become a reality with our first ever "Jimmy's Biggest Little Bus Tour!"

Knittin' Better to Do on a Saturday? 
Hop on the Bus and Come Knit with Us!



Are you a Bay Area/Sacramento resident in need of a yarn fix? Or, maybe you’re looking for a way to spend a fun, yarn-filled day away from your kids and hubby? If the thought of planning something like that is too much to take on, consider hopping on “Jimmy’s Biggest Little Tour Bus!”

Don’t wanna drive? Let us drive you!

We've scheduled our maiden voyage to depart from Emeryville with a stop in West Sacramento on Saturday, August 5th. If you're in either neighborhood that day, we invite you to hop on the bus and come knit with us!

Imagine boarding the bus and finding a swag bag of goodies on your seat. Imagine a day of entertainment free from your kids and husband (although he can of course tag along if he wants to 😉)! Mix in social knitting time, games to win prizes, a MASSIVE YARN SWAP, and plenty of fun surprises along the way, and a YARNTASTIC time is sure to follow! And fans of the podcast 2 Knit Lit Chicks can rejoice as well - both Barb and Tracie will be along for the ride!  

The fun doesn't stop with the bus ride! Upon arrival, you can expect to enjoy the following: 
  • Tour 22,000 sq. feet of Yarn-topia with an all-access tour of our retail store and warehouse. 
  • Meet & Greet with owner Jimmy (a.k.a Laura) and local designer Romi Hill!
  • Enjoy a delicious catered lunch on site, and a hearty snack for the ride home. We'll even do the dishes!!
  • Learn the art of hand-dying yarn during a class taught by our in-house designer, Rachel Roden!
  • Meet the Beans who work behind the scenes to make sure you have the most yarntastic experience when you place your orders or have a question!
  • Hop back on the bus, sit back, relax and enjoy the yarn-buzz.
  • Such a sweet deal for $150! (and cheaper than a flight!)

Travel Itinerary:
  • Pick up at 7:00 AM on August 5th in Emeryville, CA (1555 40th St. Emeryville, CA 94608, next to Target)
  • Pick up at 8:30 in West Sacramento (755 Riverpoint Ct, next to Walmart)
  • Arrive at JBW in Reno, NV around 11:30 AM.
  • Shop, learn and have lunch – approximately 4.5 hours.
  • Leave JBW around 4:00 PM with a hearty snack in hand.
  • Drop-off in Sacramento around 6:30 PM.
  • Drop-off in Emeryville around 8:30 PM.

 Ready to sign up? Click here to register! 


XOXO,

 Jimmy & the Beans
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Get to Know Romi Hill and Join the Harmonize Shawl KAL!

by : Jenny

Romi Hill's Harmonize Shawl Knit-Along

Lorna’s Laces is back with their Color Commentary Series! – this time with a new String Quintet, shawl design, AND Knit-Along from designer Romi Hill! Join the fun and knit Romi Hill's Harmonize Shawl featuring her lovely addition to the Color Commentary series - French Horn. The shawl is knit using a String Quintet accompanied by a coordinating skein of Shepherd Sock (kits available here!), and the pattern can be purchased from Romi's Ravelry store. The online Knit-Along will be hosted by the Knitmore Girls in their Ravelry group starting August 1st! 



Let's get down to the [k]nitty gritty: 
  • Who: Designer Romi Hill, Lorna's Laces, the Knitmore Girls, and of course, YOU!
  • What: A Knit-Along celebrating the newest addition to Lorna's Laces' Color Commentary Series: String Quintets in the colorway French Horn (designed by Romi herself!)
  • Where to buy the yarn: Kits available here!
  • Where to buy the pattern: Romi's pattern available here!
  • Where to interact online: The Knitmore Girls' Ravelry Group
  • When: Begins August 1st
Get to Know the Designer: An Interview with Romi Hill!

 As soon as we heard about this KAL we knew we wanted to help promote it! A collaboration between Romi Hill, one of our favorite designers, and our friends at Lorna’s Laces? It was music to our ears!

Intrigued by Romi’s personal connection to the French horn, we reached out to her to learn a little bit more. Here’s what she had to say:


We just love the color palette you chose for the String Quintet! What is it about the French horn that made you think of these colors?

The horn is one of the most versatile instruments; it's sort of a bridge between brass and woodwinds. In fact, there is a horn in both traditional brass and woodwind quintet instrumentation. It can sound heroic, mellow, strident, melancholy, sweet, happy - you name it - and composers use it in so many different ways! I wanted colors to evoke the different facets of the horn, but also that would blend beautifully together. The sixth color, Timbre (which I just found out today is the stage name of Kerfuffle!), makes the quintet colors pop and pull together in beautiful harmony. The combination sings to me!

We heard you received your undergrad in French horn - where did you study?

I went to Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA for two years to study with a very special horn teacher: Forrest Standley. I learned SO much from him, but he became ill and I transferred to Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. I fell in love with jazz and studio/film scoring work there, and I had some amazing opportunities. I got to tour Germany as part of the orchestra, and then the eastern seaboard with Wynton Marsalis as part of the wind ensemble. I became interested in recording engineering my senior year and went on to stay an extra year to do a paid internship in the recording studio. After that, I was missing home (San Francisco Bay Area), and went back (SF State) to get a masters in radio and television with an emphasis in sound. But my curiosity attacked again, and I got really interested in the journalism aspects of my degree. I ended up doing my thesis on how the media molds policy through influencing public opinion.

Do you still play the French horn? What other instruments do you play?

I hadn't played for a LONG time, and then I picked it up again recently so I could play duets with my younger son. Much to my amazement, I can still play, though my range isn't what it used to be!
I also play some piano and I'm teaching myself classical guitar. When I first started music (we're talking kindergarten age), my mother taught me to read music and play her clarinet. I can still get a pretty good tone.

Does anyone else in your family play music?

My younger son is an amazing trumpet player! He's also my model for the pictures on the Harmonize pattern cover and on Ravelry. He's only been playing for 3-1/2 years, but he is so awesome. He'll be entering high school next year and he's going to be playing first in the top Reno youth orchestra, plus first in the top band at his high school. This is a small area though, so I keep telling him not to let it go to his head. There are a TON of other great musicians out there in the wide world, and he still needs to work at it. :)
Also, my mother and grandmother were musicians. I only wish they could have heard my son play!

Lastly, what did you have for dinner last night?!

We went out to our favorite restaurant in Carson City: Sassafras. Everything I've ever had there is fantastic. This last time, I had the Asian Chicken Tacos. I might also have succumbed to the Poke. The “tacos” are served on thin slices of jicama instead of tortillas and they are so so good! If you haven't gone there, you absolutely should. They also have live music. It's a fantastic place!

Thanks so much, Romi!! We loved learning more about you and the inspiration behind this beautiful colorway!


You can spread the word on social media using the hashtags #3PartHarmony #RomiDesigns #Knitmorealong and #LornasLaces

 We hope you’ll join in on the fun, and stay tuned!! - even more exciting news is coming your way!!


XOXO,

Jimmy and the Beans
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