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Yesterday, I had the pleasure of receiving a HUGE shipment of patterns from Knitspot. They are now all listed in the shop. Anything that we were out of previously is back in stock. I got in 14 new patterns, including sock patterns, scarf patterns and a couple Anne’s latest amazing shawls. Perfect for fall knitting!
Check out them all out here in the Etsy shop.
I’m not usually one to play the lottery, but the Powerball jackpot is huge at the moment – something like $200 million. I decided it was worth a shot – so I dropped a couple of bucks (literally – I bought 2 tickets – can’t really see spending more than that).
Ev and I got to talking last night about what we would do if we won that kind of money. Its hard to wrap your brain around that idea of being that rich. There’s the obvious stuff – living debt free (oh, to be mortgage and student loan free!), supporting the causes that are important to us (I could start my own foundation – how cool would that be?), new cars – probably a hybrid but nothing fancy – I just don’t think I’m a luxury car kind of girl, moving to a big huge house – that’s where the conversation got fun. My first thought was oohhh – shoe closet (I’m drooling over some clogs at the moment)! Filled, of course, with all manner of Birkenstocks, Keen’s, Danskos, etc. (seriously – I can’t see money changing my love of being comfy – all the money in the world and you won’t catch me in those ridiculous Manolo stilleto things). Next on the list – big, huge kitchen. Very open, with a wonderful, cozy eating area. And perfectly functional – counter heights that work for both of us, big huge gas stove, tons of storage – the ultimate cook’s kitchen.
And then there’s the fiber wing. Of course, if I’m insanely rich, there’d be a whole wing of the big huge house devoted to my fiber pursuits. I’d have a yarn closet with cedar lined shelves and a big window (filtered of course – we don’t want the light to fade the pretty colors). My whole stash would be organized by project. Each project type would have its own section – sweaters, scarves, lace projects, hats, mittens, stuff for Ev, stuff for me, gifts for others, etc, etc, etc. There would be an area for randomly collected yarn too. And there would be a sock yarn wall – one whole wall just for sock yarns, organized by color and weight. No more rubbermaid tubs for me! And there would be a big, comfy armchair because sometimes, I’d just want to sit and knit in my yarn room. Next door, there would a fiber room. Same as the yarn room – cedar shelves, big window, comfy chair. Fibers organized by type and then colors. The yarn and fiber rooms would be adjacent to my studio. And my studio would have two rooms – one for my dyeing and one (huge) room for all the rest. Lots of light – tons of windows and skylights. My dye studio would be designed exactly to my liking – a long counter for dyeing on one wall, a big huge sink, tons of storage for my dyes and base yarns and fibers, a giant stove, built in drying racks and some sort of wonderful, washable, slip-proof flooring. The other studio would have hard wood floors and handwoven throw rugs. Lots of color too – in the furniture, the rugs, the walls – everywhere. I’d have my collection of spinning wheels – the first I’d add would be the Schatch Matchless, the a Journey Wheel, then a walking wheel and then whatever catches my fancy. I’d have an area specifically for knitting. Shelves for my books, something for my needles and storage for all of my WIPs – well organized of course, so that I could pull one out at any time to work on it (since I’m fantasizing, I’d also know exactly where I was in each WIP and would never have to frog to figure it out). The furniture would be oversized and super comfortable, with lots of options for where to sit and play. And there would be a loom or three, since I’d immediately take up weaving. I’d never want to leave. It would be my little bit of heaven.
Maybe I’ll splurge and buy just one more ticket…
What would you do if you won?
The last thing I needed was a new project. So packed was my week that I had to rack my brain to figure out what knitting I’ve done since last Wednesday (new project being the exception). I made next to no progress on the Charade Socks or sleeve for Lilla’s Christmas sweater. And yet, I was compelled to start something new, in the name of having a sample for the shop, before the Fiber Twist on Sunday. Look what I’ve done: 
I made a new distraction! Its Knitspot’s Boing! pattern, the yarn is my Shimmer in the Tulips colorway. I’m falling in love with it, to the point of wanting to put down all else and play. I suppose the good thing is that I know that I can’t work on it when I’m tired so I’m forced to put it down – sometimes.
The goal for the week – crochet my class project (a simple pot holder that we’ll start tonight) and knit a little. Nothing else. I’ll be happy to fit in whatever I can. Its the week between events here at The Painted Sheep. Its getting crazy. There’s a workshop to plan out, dyeing supplies for Sunday’s hands-on workshop to prepare and a shop to restock. The “restocking” idea is a bit nutty on my part. I placed a huge order for more Knitspot patterns (I can’t wait until it arrives – ooh, there’s fun stuff coming!!!). That’s easy. Yesterday, I placed an order for more base yarns and fibers – some for the workshop and a whole lot to dye. I have this crazy notion that I *might* take a day off next week to dye more for my booth on Saturday. However, that depends on my supplier shipping by today (if-y as they take a couple of days), UPS cooperating this time and being able to re-arrange a work day so that I can take it off. We’ll see – I’ll make a decision in a day or two. In the meantime, I’ll sneak in whatever play time I can.
And now I’m completely distracted by the phone call I just got from Ev, telling me that he got a promotion!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Ev!!! You deserve this!
Hope your day is as wonderful as Ev’s now is!!!
What a way to end the summer! Yesterday’s Fiber Twist was a great success! Crowds of fiber loving people, packed booths, great demonstrations and the most glorious late summer day we could have hoped for! It really was an amazing day. I think Winter, of Sleepy Moon Soaps and organizer of this great event, said it best when I stopped by her booth – “everyone’s just so happy!”. They really were – there was a great energy about the Market yesterday. So many people commented that it was a really fun event and a perfect kick off to the fall fiber festival season. I agree! It was great to see so many friends, old and new – too many to link up here. I have to say that among the highlights were seeing the little ones – seeing babies M and J made my day. And of course, seeing the crew from southeast CT was wonderful!!! They got a sneak preview of the workshop I’ll be doing for the RI Spinner’s Guild in June. What a great group – I can’t wait for June! Thanks to everyone who stopped by my booth!
Now that event #1 is done (even the Etsy shop is stocked again), my thoughts turn immediately to fall. Its here, officially! Horray! I love fall and winter – my favorite seasons. I have to admit that my usual enthusiasm has been tempered by the reality that heating my house is going to be ridiculously expensive this year. Pretty sad – every thought of cooler weather brings a little groan about the oil bill this year. Now that its really here – the reality is setting in that one, the heat goes on whether I want to pay for it or not and two, all I can really do is keep saving $$$ and put on another sweater – I certainly can’t make oil cheaper. So I’ve decided to embrace fall – like I always do. I love this season and everything that it brings. My calendar for October weekends has shaped up like this: Nutmeg Spinner’s Guild, Wool Arts Tour, Rhinebeck and Fiber Twist (the one in Mass). Four weekends and four fiber events, all taking place in the beautiful northeast amist the fall colors. This is why I’m embracing fall. I love it, no matter what! Its going to be a great season.
We’re packed up and ready for tomorrow’s fiber twist. Everything got done in time too. There’s even a few new knitted samples for the booth, including the start of a Boing! scarf – another pattern from the incomparable Knitspot knit up in Shimmer.
Our Etsy shop is nearly empty – I took most everything off for tomorrow’s festival. What’s left after the festival will get relisted tomorrow night.
Believe me when I say our booth will be packed with wonderful things. We haven’t had this much variety (and quite possibly this many skeins of sock yarn!) at a show yet. I am very, very excited for tomorrow! If you are in the area, please come out and join us. We’ll be at the historic Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, CT. There will be fiber and yarn, fiber animals and fiber people, amazing local produce and the most delicious baked goods.
See you tomorrow! Just promise you won’t eat all the chocolate croissants until I get one, OK? 
I’m a bit remiss in posting about something that’s been in the works and is coming up quickly: I’m going to the be the Mentor at the next Nutmeg Spinner’s Guild meeting! The next meeting is the weekend of October 4 (eek – 2 1/2 weeks!). On Saturday, during the regular meeting (details here), I’ll be giving a talk about my dyeing process, inspiration, getting started with The Painted Sheep (etc!). There’ll be a demo, samples, etc. On Sunday, I’m doing a hands on workshop on handpainting fiber and yarn – kind of a “put into practice” what I talk about on Saturday. Sunday’s workshop is for a smaller group, up to 12 people – again details will be posted on the Guild’s website. Location for the Sunday workshop is TBA, but will hopefully be at the Winsted Fire Department in Winsted, CT. And I will have my usual booth of yarn-y and fiber-y goodness at the Saturday meeting – Everett will be manning the booth while I teach. I’m so, so excited to do this! And so thankful to the Guild for inviting me to be a Mentor!!!
And don’t forget, our other big event of the fall season is this Sunday. We’ll have a booth at the Coventry Regional Farmer’s Market’s Fiber Twist. The market is open from 11-2. I have a TON of fiber, yarn and patterns to stock the booth (so much I need to go shopping for additional display pieces today). The weather looks to be ideal – 78 and sunny is what I’m hearing. Its going to be a great day!
ETA: I now have the time for my dyeing demo. It’ll be at 1:30. I will also be offering a 10% discount for Friends of the Market. Info about joining the Friends program is at the main Market table. If you’re already a Friend, don’t forget your pin – you’ll need to get the discount.
On a completely unrelated note, my first crochet class was at Webs last night. It was fabulous. Have to admit that I’m utterly exhausted this morning (from the driving) but feeling like its well worth it. I’m glad that I conquered my “issues” with crocheting in the class I took last winter – the fact that I remember the basic stitches is making it easier to focus on all the rest. Next week, we start a series of small projects. I think I’ll get exactly what I needed and wanted from this class. And I get to go Webs – every week! Note to self: leave debit card at home.
I will likely be a whirling dervish between now and Sunday. In addition to preparing for Sunday’s festival, I have a ton of work on my plate (at the job). Today’s another late night, for a United Way event. We’re in the midst of grant applications, I’m having manager issues and my to do list seems to grow by 2 things for every 1 check off. I know I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I still love my job. Not just compared to what I had before but I just love this place and this job for what it is. Even during the rough spots. The good thing is that I’ve managed to carve out some “me” time and to do some special stuff in the next few days. I’m taking advantage of the need to go to New Haven today to slip in a lunchtime visit to the “In Sheep’s Clothing” exhibit at the Kehler Liddell Gallery. I have plans to see a dear friend tonight. And on Saturday, I have my 15th high school reunion – all festival prep must be finished in time to go have pre-reunion dinner and drinks with girlfriends I’ve had since I was 12. Does it get better than that? Chaos, but definitely good chaos.
I’ll post as I’m able. Have a great day!
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