Yowzer! Stitches East in five days...what a journey! Sandy, Jeanne, Rachel and I arrived back in Reno on Monday, completely exhausted (mostly from the air travel) but full of memories of new friends made and new yarns to covet.

Not only did we have tons of fun meeting some of our lovely east coast customers, but we met lots of lovely new companies that we'll be adding to the wish list, better known as the "Spreadsheet of Dreams". This is our list of products that we'd love to add to our lineup someday when we have room in the budget. Here were our top favorites from Stitches East:

1) Harrisville Yarns

Not only are their yarns beautiful, but they are family owned for several generations and they create the most lovely colors! They also make Jared Flood's Brooklyn Tweed yarns Loft and Shelter so of course we drooled a little bit (ok, a lot) in their booth. All four of us bought skeins of Loft to make Jared's mittens from the Knit Red book. We even cast on while at the show!

Their color display was AMAZING!

Loft.

2) The Nantucket Diddy Bagg Co.

These little multi-use bags are SO cool! All four of us also bought bags from their booth. We each bought the "Iddy" size which can be zipped up with the pockets on the inside or outside and carries notions, needles and your knitting project. It has a long strap that can be worn across your body like a sling making it easy to walk and knit at the same time. Also, you can unzip the entire thing and wear it as a tool belt. So cool!

These bags are seriously so handy!

3) String Theory

Rachel and I both went a little nuts in this booth. Not only are the yarns totally amazing but their depth of color is simply to die for! We each bought a skein of Caper Sock and Rachel also bought a skein of Alpaca Silk (which isn't on their website, but is definitely gorgeous). I restrained myself a bit as I am technically supposed to be in destash mode right now although I did make a few exceptions for yarns I can't get out west. I am totally head over heels for my skein Caper Sock though, so much so in fact that one night at the show as we were in bed about to turn out the lights, I was holding the skein and gazing at it trying to decide what I would make with it. I actually fell asleep clutching my yarn! I woke up the next morning and the poor skein was tangled in the sheets, still intact, thankfully. Unfortunately, no pictures were captured of this moment of knitter to yarn twitterpation, but we did have a good laugh over it.

Drool.

4) The Mother Bear Project

Sandy and Jeanne came back to our booth excited about the Mother Bear Project! The Mother Bear Project makes and sends hand knit stuffed teddy bears to children in Africa affected by HIV/AIDS. The project is so lovely and heart warming that we just had to support it! We'll probably be getting more involved in this campaign in the near future, but in the meantime, feel free to see how you can get involved on their website! (Sorry I missed getting a picture of their booth. Jeanne and Sandy assure me that it was darling!)

I was also fascinated by this booth with beautiful hand-crafted boxes. The company is owned by a super nice couple from Tennessee. Their display was stunning and dramatic to say the least, with this gorgeous tower of boxes. I failed to grab their card so I don't remember their name at the moment, however, they will be at Stitches West in February, so I fully intend to post about them then! In the meantime, here are some of their lovely boxes:

Love the stacks in this booth- such a neat display!

 Lastly, I had to show off my recent knitted item. I made this cowl from Malabrigo Book 3 in the Malabrigo Rasta yarn (color "Stitch Red") just in time to wear at Stitches East. It kept me cozy in the chilly convention hall all weekend, plus it was a super fast knit perfect for holiday gifts. In truth, I made three of these last Christmas to give to my sisters-in-law and never bothered to make one for myself. As you can tell, I am so happy I finally did! We sell this as a kit on our site so here is the link if you'd like to check it out.

Roasty toasty and oh so soft!

I hope you all have had a lovely week! I am headed home for a relaxing weekend before traveling to Chicago next week for VK Live! Hope to see you there!

Happy knitting,
Kristen

Leanne's "Habitat" in Sweet Grass Wools Mountain Silk 2ply

Wolf Creek Wools  Luscious in "Lichen"

Patti's Mountain Silk DK Sweater

Sweet Grass Wools Mountain Silk DK in "Nassau"

Wolf Creek Wools Bliss in "Sapphire"

Sweet Grass Wools Mountain Silk 2Ply in "Raspberry"

Kristen

PS. Did you know that Heart Disease is the #1 killer of Women in America?  Want to do something about it?  Find out how at www.StichRed.com.

Tea Leaves Cardigan

1. Finish at least 5 of the WIP’s on my Ravelry Page: I’ll be happy with 5, but more would be nice. Priorities are the 2 blankets on the needles (Umaro and Hemlock Ring) that were meant to be wedding gifts. These will get done first!
2. Knit a sweater for my husband. I've started and stopped this process once or twice already with various reasons befouling my progress: not quite having enough yarn, making too small a size, and getting bored with the pattern to name a few. I have now decided on a pattern (Jared Flood’s Cobblestone Pullover) and acquired new yarn (Tosh Vintage in Stovepipe) and will be making it happen this year!
3. Knit myself a Tea Leaves Cardigan. I’ve longed for one since I first saw it a couple of years back. I have some Tosh Vintage in Tart that is ready to be knit into my pretty red cardi!
4. Write up and publish the patterns for the 6 or so designs that I’ve made over the last year for Marinade Designs. This sounds pretty easy, but I am a total slacker! Although I love the creative process and knitting of the garments, I often procrastinate at the drudgery of the number crunching and writing part, especially when I don't have a deadline.

Cobblestone Pullover

5. Put some of my design ideas out there and submit them for publication in knitting magazines and periodicals! I’ve been meaning to start this process for a long time but frankly have been a bit scared to try. This is the year I make an effort!

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I am happy to report that my daughter (Shelly) and her spectacular beau, Rory are now officially engaged!!! Woohooo! Of course that means what to knit and will there be a wedding shawl? Shelly and Rory DON'T read this on penalty of beating with a US 50 plastic knitting needle :)


I just bought a bunch of Cascade Eco Wool in color 9004 to knit Brooklyn Tweed's (aka Jared Flood)  Umaro...lovely don't you think? I am considering knitting it in a single strand (if I follow the pattern I would double it up) and adding some repeats (# to be determined) to get the right size blanket. I will be swatching that ASAP!! I chose this beautiful yarn due to the ecological nature and of course the value doesn't hurt either, hee hee! The kids will appreciate that it is natural from the sheep and therefore environmentally sound. I chose the color due to my furry 'grand kids' (meow) and the thought that they may enjoy snuggling up to this beauty once it is done.


The date hasn't been set yet, but there is talk about October, so if there is to be a shawl I need to get this show on the road. Once the bride decides if she would like such a thing I will let you know what pattern, yarn and what not, so you can stress along with me on the actual completion of said shawl, ha ha!


At any rate we are all thrilled and can't be more excited for this fantastic family event. I want to thank all of you for your wonderful support on last weeks post and it's so nice to follow that one up with this wonderful news!!


As always happy knitting and crocheting!


Jeanne


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Happy Friday!


The last few weeks have felt like a whirlwind with all of us traveling far and wide, going on mini adventures (or quite grand ones, for that matter) and spending time with our loved ones. Terry just back from Washington for her son's wedding, Bethany went on an outing with her boyfriend to Alaska for a friend's wedding, and Ailene is gearing up to go study in China! Although not as far as the far East, I got to go on my own weekend trip a few weeks ago to bustling, wonderful Seattle, Washington.

Victory!

Summertime in the Pacific Northwest always seems like a blessing to us desert folks - it's sunny (most of the time, at least) but not blistering hot. Plus, it rains! Yippee! Anywho, my boyfriend and I flew up to the Home of the Space Needle for the weekend to visit his sister and brother-in-law. Although, we only stayed a few days, we got to see and do a lot. And, of course, what's a trip without yarn thrown into the mix? Not one worth taking, I'd say. So, after a few days of 'subtly' dropping hints about a certain coveted visit to a certain yarn shop, I found myself on the ferry to Bainbridge Island!! At this point, you might be thinking, "Wait, didn't I hear this already?" Which is true - don't worry, you're not going crazy. This is also the same reaction that the nice ladies at Churchmouse had...bless their patience with us silly gals at Jimmy Beans. We sure do love their patterns. Jeanne did take the trip a few months ago for a fair-isle workshop but -don't worry - I have a few more things up my knitted sleeve.

Eat your heart out....

Flood love!

Jeanne said it before and I'll sure say it again - Churchmouse has the most beautiful shop! I was truely amazed by their displays and, of course, getting to see all of their patterns knit up in person! The Linen Stitch Scarf - a work-of-art. Seriously, that thing should be in the Louvre. Or in my closet. Both would be equally acceptable.
Of course, Churchmouse has a
fantastic selection of Jared Flood goodies from all of his patterns, plus his new yarn, Shetland!

A stripe for all seasons.

Anyways, after our excursion to Churchmouse, we stumbled across some yarn bombing in one the 'park squares' of downtown. Trees upon trees all gussied up in yarn splendor! Suffice to say, it was a wonderful surprise. Lately, it seems that the fiber arts have been getting more attention - whether it's due to the fact that there's more intrepid yarn bombers out there or maybe that everyone's catching on. Who knows? It's really great to see more and more people showing off their craft and placing fiber arts in a more public forum.

Here in Reno, the entire month of July is called 'Artown" where hundreds of local events featuring art, music, dance, etc. are showcased. This particular weekend will be an 'art bombing' event, put on by a local arts organization, The Holland Project. We are so excited to see what they're going to put on. One of my friends has been crocheting for hours upon hours, trying to finish - she says her finger tips are dyed!

Watch out for the "bridge troll"!

Well, that's enough of my fabulous weekend in Seattle. More pictures to come of the upcoming 'art bomb' event in the biggest little city in the world. How do you incorporate knitting and crocheting into your vacations? Detours to yarn shops, fiber craft museums? What have been your favorites? What about stumbling across yarn bombing or even meeting fellow fiber nuts along the way? :)

Well, whatever fun trips you've been on this summer, we all hope you're having fun, staying safe, and wearing lots of sunscreen!!


Happy knitting and crocheting (and yarn bombing!)
Shevawn


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Well I finished my first Grove mitten from Jared Flood's new book Made in Brooklyn. I used the Debbie Bliss Fez yarn and am totally in love with both the yarn and the pattern. The yarn just seems to get softer and fuller as I work each beautiful stitch and while I loved doing this mitten will I do the second one? That is the question, well I have cast it on and am on about the 5th round and yes I think I will finish it. Most of you know how obsessed I am with working two of anything at once. Socks, mittens, hats, sleeves, and on and on....you get the idea. If it needs a mate then I am working them together, but this pattern needed to be cherished and not just stitched mindlessly through. It calls for the knitter to take their time and enjoy the intricacies of the design; it is truly beautiful!

So with that said I am going to get my needles clicking on the second mitten and say happy knitting for now....

Jeanne :)