newsobserver.com blogs -- notions

Knitters & crocheters: Mark your calendar

marcysmith — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:21:12 -0400

Meet Tom Oglesby:

Tom Oglesby joined the National Guard in 1935 at age 18 and was
mobilized with the 30th ID (Infantry Division, aka “Old Hickory”) in
1940. He was a Sergeant in WWII, landed on Omaha Beach on D+2 (June 8,
1944) and served for the duration of the war. He remained in the
National Guard until 1967 and in the Reserves until 1977, retiring as a
Chief Warrant Officer. He is still active in 30th Division Reunion
events both nationally and in North Carolina and by all accounts was an
outstanding soldier.

Tom is the neighbor of Jennie Malcolm of Raleigh, who knitted the scarf that he is wearing. Jennie has started a local arm of Knit Your Bit, which makes scarves for veterans of World War II. The brainchild of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, the venture is now in its third year. The local group will meet Oct 5, 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Cameron Village Library in Raleigh. The scarves will be collected by Oct. 31, then distributed to local veterans on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.For information, send email to Jennie.
If you want to get a head start, the scarf pattern -- in both knit and crochet -- click here.

National Alpaca Farm Days

marcysmith — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:38:30 -0400

Yes, I know your calendars are already marked for National Alpaca Farm Days this weekend! Last April we introduced you to this lovely lady:

This is Prissy Girl, just after her coif in the spring. She lives at Kipling Pines Alpacas in Kipling, in Harnett County. On Saturday, the farm will be open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cathy Knight, owner of the farm, writes: "You are invited to come sit on the porch or under the shade trees and spin or knit if you would like. "

"Children are definitely welcome! Bring your camera and friends. We are about 8 miles south of Fuquay, just off Hwy 401South."

Painting on the streets

marcysmith — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:05:04 -0400

Included in this weekend's SPARKcon activities is groundSPARK, a Street Painting Festival, this weekend (September 19-21) at City Market in the Moore Square Art District. Remember all those times as a kid you had a great urge to draw on the walls and (probably) squelched it? Well, more than 400 artists will be doing the paint work, in 27 hours, to turn the Raleigh streets into a work of art. And on Parham Street in City Market, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, kids can create their own street art with chalk. And The Scrap Exchange will be there with loads of goodies to make art to take home.

Etsy Crafter

marcysmith — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:50:57 -0400

Here's the scoop from John & Emily McCoy, owners of The Real McCoy Toy Shop and members of the Amazing Carolina Etsians Team (ACE Team):

> These hand-crafted toys, games & puzzles of both old & new design, are made exclusively by John & Emily, from US products, wood, paint, etc..
> We are passionate about what we do, and take great pride in our work.
> Our etsy shop features a sampling of our products & we continue to add new items.
> Children (of all ages) are amazed and fascinated by the simplicity and yet pleasure that comes from playing with these toys of yesterday-year.
> We take pride in saying: "No Batteries Required - Just Imagination"

Etsy Crafter

marcysmith — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:48:19 -0400

We told you about Jill of Orange Cat Art this week. This is one of the products that she sells at her Etsy shop: It's a nifty desk top calendar with photos of North Carolina. You can see a closer view here. We love this size calendar -- just right for a quick glance at the date without taking up much room. And with pictures of North Carolina -- all taken by Jill or her sister Sheri -- you can take a little vacation everytime you look. It's also great as a gift for someone who moved away from the Tar Heel State to seek their fortune elsewhere.

Where's Wimi?

marcysmith — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:21:37 -0400

Wimi is powdering her knees in the bathroom at SECCA in Winston-Salem. Look at that art deco wallpaper! Gorgeous! It's original to the James G. Hanes house, now home to the Southeaster Center for Contemporary Art.

Outside the bathroom, we espied and Art-O-Matic. These machines, conceived in Winston-Salem in 1997, are converted cigarette machines that now dispense wee art for $5. Very cool. There are now 82 Art-O-Mats around the country, but this is the birthplace (btw, the Art-O-Mat folks accept submissions. Check out the Web site for details.)

But the real reason Wimi was there was to check out the quilts for the exhibit going on there. The works of seven quilters will be on dispaly there until Jan. 4 And they are stunning! In photographs, the quilts are pretty amazing, but in person they are staggering. Here's the man who pulled them together:

This is Mark Leach, director of SECCA. He came into the arts business in part through a love of pottery. Leach came to SECCA in January after working as curator at Charlotte's Mint Museum of Art, then director and chief curator of the Mint Museum
of Craft + Design. He had a swell time choosing the quilts. His favorite is the one he is looking at. You'll feel the same way. Just when you think Nancy Crow has outdone everyone with her brilliant juxtaposition of color, you'll look at the intense laying of material, thread and -- is that paint! -- of Sue Benner's work and think, "That is the most stunning!" Until you see the photo-image transfers of Michael James and the way the pixelated pieces create a dramatic landscape. And so on, through the works of Eleanor McCain, Ellen Oppenheimer, Dorothy Caldwell and Ana Lisa Hedstrom. It's an abundance, to be sure, and you're not likely to see such a gathering of the work of big-name quilters in one place -- well, ever.

And, if it makes you swoony, you can go powder your knees.

But, wait, that's not all! There is also an exhibit of the photographs of Dutch artist Erwin Olaf, put together by this fellow:

This is Steven Matijcio, SECCA's new curator. He's fresh from Canada and thrilled to be in Winston-Salem. Olaf's works are intriguing and painterly. Wimi thinks you'll like them.

And, if that's not enough, there is also a series of '60s-inspired videos in a show called Psychedelic.

You can read all about it in this Sunday's Arts & Living section, on the Arts pages, where we teamed up with co-writer (and spouse) Joe Miller to write about the show. (Joe's a little shy about his artsy side.)

If you're heading there with a reluctant spouse, give Joe a shout and he'll tip you off to good hiking & biking trails in Winston-Salem to keep the Other Half happy.

Happy (art) trails!

Etsy Crafter

marcysmith — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:04:06 -0400

Jill of Orange Cat Art is busy getting ready for this weekend's Designers Downtown Market this weekend, but she took some time to share a bit about herself:

1. I've been interested in photography since high school, but it took some training from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-CH and a foray through the world of commercial photography before I decided to see if I could make a living shooting what I love. What I love to photograph is what I see in the natural world -- the colors, the shapes and patterns all around us. I'm lucky to live in North Carolina, where we have such a variety of landscapes to explore.

2. Orange Cat Art was created in 2004 when I began to print notecards of my images to sell in gift shops and galleries. My sister Sheri West Symanski also has a great eye, so her photos quickly became indispensable to our library. She lived in the mountains at the time, so if it's a great mountain or waterfall shot - it's probably one of hers!

3. I print all of our cards and prints myself. It's a lot of work, but there's nothing like personal quality control! Our notecards and calendars are printed on lightly textured watercolor paper that really gives them a hand-crafted feel. Our prints are made with the highest-quality archival inks and papers available.

4. Although we offer photography from all over the country, we think our North Carolina work sets us apart. Our notecard collections feature four different images in each set, based on a themes like geographical location (ie, the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC Coastal, or and Ocracoke Collections) or subject (ie, the NC Lighthouse, Springtime and Waterfall Collections). Also, our North Carolina Seasons desktop calendar is one of our most popular gift items.

5. There is an orange cat, and his name is Barclay. I'd have photos of him, but he is a better muse than model! I

Etsy Crafter

marcysmith — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:04:06 -0400

Jill of Orange Cat Art is busy getting ready for this weekend's Designers Downtown Market this weekend, but she took some time to share a bit about herself:

5. There is an orange cat, and his name is Barclay. I'd have photos of him, but he is a better muse than model! I

Etsy crafter

marcysmith — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:33:58 -0400

What's that? a quilt? a coaster? no! It's a magnet board, by April of Moore Magnets. Here are a few words from April:

1st - My name is April, I am a Cary, NC native and when I grew up in Cary it was an itty bitty town of probably no more than 15,000 people. My parents Anna Moore and Gene Moore always encouraged me to do whatever I wanted to do. I am sure making Magnet Boards was not something they thought about. However, their encouragement provided me with the insight that using power tools was something that a girl could do. I am married to a wonderful and supportive husband, Ken. He was a bit surprised to learn that I had as many if not more power tools than most of the men he knew, but is very happy to have a wife that isn't afraid to pick up a hammer and a circular saw.

2nd - I love making functional art. I started making magnet boards when my husband and I were living in a 2 bedroom house with our 3 boys. I was looking for functional decorations that would suit all of our boys who ranged in age from 2 to 10 at that time. I found lots of cork boards, but couldn't imagine putting push pins in a 2-year old's room. Magnet Boards seemed like a perfect option, but the only ones I could find were at the office supply store and they were all so drab and sterile. So I pulled out my tools and started trying to make something that would look a lot nicer.

3rd - I make all of my magnet boards starting from 4-foot by 8-foot sheets of material, so I can make custom sizes depending on customers' needs. The largest magnet board that I have made so far was 38 inches by 46 inches.

4th - I make magnet boards for the young and the old; the entire look can be changed depending on the fabric that is chosen.

5th - At TheHandmadeNetwork.com, which I developed, buyers and artists can see sales and specials currently going on at all of my member's Etsy stores.

Etsy crafter

marcysmith — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:59:21 -0400

Meet Carrie Rippa-Feldbusch:

1.I'm just a happy girl who loves to create happy, colorful stuff. Most
of the time that's jewelry, but you never know when other fun stuff
will pop up in my shop.

2. I started making jewelry in 2001 as a hobby and August 2002 I opened my online store www.RippasCustomSilver.com.
Most of the jewelry I made was for breast cancer and still today. I
love to make all types of jewelry and use all types of beads and metals.

3.
I love sterling silver and all types of beads. I'm in awe of glass
beads, they are just stunning to me! I have bought so many beads in the
past years that I could open my own little bead shop.

4.How I
came up with business name? Rippa is my maiden name and at the time I
opened my online store Kelly Ripa was popular and I wanted people to
remember my business name. Still today people will ask me if I'm
related to Kelly and I wish I could say yes but i'm not, plus Kelly
spells her name with one less "p".

5. Orginally from Chicago
area (Go Cubs!), I have been in NC for 19 years now. I have been married for 3 years
and live in Garner with my husband.

Etsy Crafter

marcysmith — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:49:16 -0400

Katy Nash's shop is Sweetgrass Prints. Here are five things about Katy:

1. I live with my husband and two young kids in Apex. I am currently a stay-at-home mom, but prior to moving here two years ago from Boston, I called corporate America home 5 days a week. I am now fortunate enough to able to spend more time with my kids and work on my art.

2. I started Sweetgrass Prints in March 2008, after listening to my husband constantly tell me to get out there and sell my cards. All I needed was the first sale to give me the confidence that this was worth pursuing. Now, I use what ever free moments I have to create, organize, and research. It has been a way to fulfill my entrepreneurial spirit.

3. I get my inspiration from everything around me. It is the day to day things I encounter that give me ideas for my cards. I am constantly tearing out pages from fashion and decorating magazines and jotting down notes on random receipts from my purse. These ideas eventually turn into my next project.

4. My style is a bit preppy. I think I break the stereotype because I love bright colors and bold designs. My taste in music, art and design is very eclectic and I think shows in my shop.

5. I am very excited about the fall and holiday season. I am adding new designs everyday and I think my shop has something for everyone. I am also going to venture into the world of craft fairs and hope to be out and about in the Triangle art scene this year.

Etsy Crafter

marcysmith — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:49:16 -0400

Katy Nash's shop is Sweetgrass Prints. Here are five things about Katy:

4. My style is a bit preppy. I think I break the stereotype because I love bright colors and bold designs. My taste in music, art and design is very eclectic and I think shows in my shop.

Weavers in Siler City

marcysmith — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:38:57 -0400

North Carolina Arts Incubator in Siler City will be host to brother and sister textile artists Eric and Janet Chavez Santiago from Oaxaca, Mexico, for three weeks starting Sept 29. The duo will hold lectures, demonstrations and lectures in weaving and natural dyeing. Most events are free and open to the public. The team will focus on the weaving traditions of their village, Teotitlan del Valle, known in particular for its rugs. The grant that brought the program here also provides for free in-service and training credit for Chatham County teachers. A rug -- hand-woven and dyed naturally with cochineal, indigo and moss -- will be raffled to offset costs not covered by the grant. And while you're there, you can visit the many artists studios in the NCAI.

For a full schedule, click here. For information, call (919) 663-35 or send email to Sue Szary.

Etsy Crafter

marcysmith — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:01 -0400

We are sharing mini profiles of local crafters who have Etsy shops.

Karen LeRose of North Raleigh made this cunning knitter soap -- cute! She sells it at her shop.

Here are five things to know about Karen:

1. I grew up in upstate New York. From the time I was in elementary school, I wanted to live in North Carolina. I can’t remember how that came about, but it stayed with me. When I graduated from college, I just packed up my car and moved. I currently live in Raleigh with my husband and our cat.

2. I made my first bar of soap about 6 years ago. I began by making soap for friends and family, and I also sold at local craft fairs during the holidays.

3. My soaps are made from vegetable-based oils, such as olive, coconut, and palm. All of my soaps contain glycerin. Glycerin is a key factor in keeping skin soft and healthy. Glycerin soap is especially good for sensitive and delicate skin, and for children.

4. A co-worker told me about Etsy and a whole new world was opened up to me. I am so impressed with the site. Etsy is my main creative outlet. There are so many amazing people selling great handmade items on Etsy. Not only do I sell my soaps on the site, but I buy lots of great handmade items as well. I love to buy jewelry and artwork, as well as artisan teas and pottery.

5. I am so passionate about my little soap business. It brings so much to my life. The connections I have made with people through my soap is by far my favorite part. I have made so many new friends locally, and all over the world. I plan on keeping the fun going for many years to come!

Etsy crafter

marcysmith — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:38:41 -0400

We are sharing mini profiles of local crafters who have Etsy shops.

Gavin and Erin Thompson of Clinton make these things -- what is it? I'll let Erin explain that, along with four other things she'd like you to know about her and her shop. DinnerTimeChimes.

1. This isCurrently our most popular item: the easel made from a fork.
People use them to hold business cards,
recipes, notes, wedding place cards or ACEOs. We recently
shipped one of these to Australia — it was exciting to be sending one of
our creations so far!
2- Erin has been making the silverware windchimes for over 10 years, Gavin started helping shortly after they got married a little over two years ago.
3- You can listen to the shop's windchimes — silverware really does make a lovely tune as a windchime.
4- The bird houses made from old boots and cooking pans turn the most heads at craft shows. And yes, birds really will live in them! Kids are quick to take notice of the bird houses and instantly love them, and there's a lot they can learn from having their own bird house to watch daily.
5- We enjoy seeing how eco-friendly we can make our business. The materials for the windchimes, bird houses, etc. are all either collected from items headed for the landfill or purchased from estate sales, thrift stores, etc. We also use recycled packaging when mailing items to our customers.

School's in!

marcysmith — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:00:12 -0400

Manic Monday, Wacky Wednesday, Freaky Friday -- what EVER. This may be some kind of morale-booster for the kids, but lawsy, what about the parents? How are you supposed to come up with a costume by tomorrow morning? And, well, sleep, too.

A colleague came up with this solution for her child's costume: he's a dish of ice cream, with a cherry on top. The sprinkles are bits of fun foam with a sticky backing, cut into lozenge shapes and stuck to a vanilla-colored T-shirt. The cherry is felt. The effect is charming.

What we really love about this costume:

> Our friend did not stay up all night making it.

> The costume does not get in Gavin's way at all.

>Gavin looks happy! Not like Ralphie in the pink bunny suit.

Have you crafted a great costume lately? Send a picture! And tell us a little bit about how you made it.

Birth of a Street Team

marcysmith — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:56:32 -0400

In today's Home and Garden section, we write about local Etsians, crafters who sell their wares on Etsy. To strengthen bonds, about 135 Etsians formed NCTriangle Street Team. It all started here, with a thread by HelloCrafty, aka Bonnie King of Durham. She writes: "I got the idea for the NC Triangle Street Team because I wanted to meet other artists & crafters in the area for socializing and networking. It's grown beyond my expectations and has been such a success! I'm grateful to Megan, Katie, Erin and others for all their hard work in keeping the team going."

"I think the Team is important because everyone likes to feel that they're a part of something, that they belong to something. Artists are very passionate about the work they create and to be among like-minded people reinforces that feeling and we all help to inspire and encourage each other. It's been such fun to meet everyone and to help to promote the Handmade Movement."

The current leader of the street team is Katie Bourke, who says, "the team is an excellent way to meet
others with similar interests. We share a lot about craft shows (which
ones are good to sell at, which are not good, ect.) We also have the
craft nights which are a great way to socialize and learn a new skill."

"My
role on the team is to handle membership. My name is posted in several
key areas where interested members can find me. They send me a convo
requesting info or asking to join. I respond with a convo that includes
a synopsis of the team, including the teams background, blog address,
forum information and info on how often we meet. From there I maintain
the membership log.

MegRNc (Megan Risley of Durham)- she puts together the teams monthly craft nights
AEKeith
(Amy Keith)- Amy is the brains behind the blog. Several of us are
authors for the blog but Amy is the head. She handles keeping it
pretty. She also maintains our team forum. Whenever a new team member
joins they sign up for a forum account. The request goes to Amy and she
grants them access."

So there you have it. Over the next few weeks, we'll be posting mini profiles of local Etisians, so you can get to know them a little better.

Tour de Fleece

marcysmith — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:49:02 -0400

Here are some close-up images of the crazy Tour de Fleece yarn. It's a riot of color and pretty much unknitable. But I have plans for it.

Did you meet your spinning goals? Let me know.

Tour de Fleece

marcysmith — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:40:32 -0400

OK, I told you I'd be coming in late on the Tour de Fleece. We're in the swing of the Olympics, and the Tour de France bikers have long gone home -- but I have six skeins of the funkiest yarn I've ever spun. There you see four skeins piled up, a skein on the niddy-noddy, and a bobbin full.

At the rop there is what's left over -- bits of fluff and locks that will find a new life in some other craft.

Look to the next blog for close-ups of the spun stuff.

Secret agent crafters

marcysmith — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:26:01 -0400

Just about every crafter wih a computer also hangs with an online gang. Knitters hook up on Ravelry. Crafters sell wares on etsy. On both of thsoe sites, you'll find us lurking as knitwrit. You'll also find us blogging here.

So what's your secret identity? Click on the comments to let us know -- and lif you'd like us to do a miniprofile of you, send us email directly. Look for miniprofiles of local crafters in upcoming blogs.

(And sorry to those who were looking for us yesterday -- puny, you know.)

Stock up on yarn!

marcysmith — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:32:02 -0400

While you're out and about this tax-free weekend, be sure to stop by your LYS for supplies. Great Yarns in Raleigh has yarn and supplies on sale Saturday through Tuesday. With knitting in hand, you'll be all set for those long shopping lines!

Later next week, over in Chapel Hill, yarns, etc. -- newly moved from Carrboro -- is opening its new purple shop on Thursday, August 7. Get a sneak peek at the shop's blog.

Still Spinning

marcysmith — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:52:42 -0400

Well, got that puppy attached and we're spinning right along. I'm getting a nice mix of color and texture. I'm spinning singles, so what you see there will be the final yarn -- not much good for knitting, most likely, but it's a good candidate for weaving.

A few things I've learned: This chunky monkey yarn tends to get caught up in the guide hooks, so I have to stop occasionally to help it along. And sometimes, a particularly juicy bit of fluff gets hung up in the orifice, usually on the inside hole that leads to the bobbin. A little hudge will usally get it through. Also, attention to ergonomics is a good thing. And finally, nose fluff is a problem -- little bits of fibers get caught in my nose and make me sneeze. I know --TMI already! But it's good to be informed; just keep a box of tissues nearby.

The Harlot has spun some truly amazing stuff -- this matter of spinning colored top effectively is a problem and she seems to have licked it by not thinking too hard. Often that is the case. I have some fluff that is going to extend my spinning beyond the tour. That is a nice byproduct of indulging in a spree of craft -- it often begets energy & inspiration to do more.

It's a cycle. So to speak.

Bayless added to fodder team

lchavez — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:52:50 -0400

Playing for the U.S. twice before is paying off for soon-to-be NBA rookie Jerryd Bayless. Bayless, who led the NBA Summer League in scoring (29.8 ppg), was added to the U.S. Select Team that will train with the men's Olympic team that is headed to Beijing.

Portland took Bayless, who left Arizona after one season, with the 11th overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft. The select team began training Sunda and scrimmage with the Olympic team Monday through Thursday.

Mark your crafty calendar!

marcysmith — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:11:56 -0400

The Designers Downtown Market marks its third anniversary with a sale of handcrafted goods Saturday July 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ornamentea and Purple Armchair near downtown Raleigh.

"With an emphasis on handcrafted goods, this is one market where you won't find anything made in China, or from a larger commercial business. Everything at the Designers Downtown Market is lovingly handcrafted by vendors from North Carolina and neighboring areas. No commercial businesses here - this is all about supporting the little guys and spotlighting all the amazing talent we have right here in North Carolina," writes executive director, Mary Michele Little.

Goods include jewelry, bath & body products, wearable art, baby gifts, clothing, hand-blown glass, beads, felted items, pottery, handcrafted sandals and more.

And to sustain you while you shop: Larry's Beans fair-trade coffee, Twins Kitchen, Loco-pops, NY Style Hot Dogs and treats from Scratch Artisanal Baking.

In case of rainheck the Designers Downtown Market site for confirmation of event (rain date is July 26) and to see a list of vendors.

Tour de Fleece

marcysmith — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:54:01 -0400

Two things are slowing me down here: First, the fluff I'm working with is a lovely medley of colors and textures. Locks are mixed in with shiny stuff and blobs of color. Before I can spin the fluff, I must align it. Usually this is done with carding -- you take two brushes that look like dog brushes and brush the fibers from one brush to another, much like brushing hair. Problem is, when I do that the fibers get all muddled and lost their essential loveliness.

To help solve this problem, I turned to a radical new spinning book: Intertwined. In it I found a section called "Crazy Carding," which is a light carding technique that roughly aligns the fibers enough to be able to spin them. To do it, auhor Lexi Boeger aka pluckyfluff, runs a batch of stuff -- paper, fibers, what-have-you -- through a drum carder, a big machine that crushes the fibers together. Now, I don't have a drum carder, so I'm using hand cards to try to do the same thing. It's a little tricky.

The other problem is a long-standing problem: I have a heck of a time starting new fiber on the spinning wheel. I attach the fluff to the leader and it breaks -- again and again. So this time I turned to a new Interweave book: Start Spinning by Maggie Casey. The illustrations of getting started helped me get going.

I expect some more uphill before I get into a straightaway. I sure hope to finish by the end of the tour! But, even if I have to come in long after the other riders have packed up and gone home, i will get this fluff turned into fiber!

Le Tour de Fleece

marcysmith — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:14:23 -0400

Looking for a little diversion? Spinners have geared up for a little personal challenge to run concurrently with the Tour de France (that's bicycles, of course -- another kind of wheel spinning). Here's the deal: Sign up at the Tour de Fleece and pick a challenge. This year's challenge involves diving into your stash and spinning up some fleece that's been hanging around waiting for attention. The goal is to meet your challenge by the time of the last stage of Tour de France on July 27.

Here's what I like about this challenge: There is a goal and a deadline. That's just what newspaper work is all about. Exploring and explaining an idea by a given deadline.

Don't know how to spin? Well, then, learning to spin can be your challenge. Of course, you won't have any stash to draw on, but that's OK. You can learn to spin at yarns, etc in Carrboro, Shuttles, Needles and Hooks in Cary and the Bull City Fiber Loft in Durham. The Tour de Fleece blog also has lots of resources for learning on your own (as well as some links to the Tour de France). You can also check out the spinning portion of Homespun here and here and here.

If you're joining in, drop me a line and let me know. I'll keep you up to date on this blog and also at this blog.

And here's my goal: See that pile of fluff in front of the spinning wheel? I picked it up at the aught-five Sheep and Wool Festival. I'm going to spin that fluff into fiber. This will involve, I think, rousting out my carders and brushing of my spinning skills. I can't wait to get started!

ISO my LYS

marcysmith — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:22:08 -0400

Yarns, etc is hitting the road -- heading out of its nook in Carrboro to a more heavily traveled shopping center in Chapel Hill. We caught up with the owner, Mary Stowe, to ask a few questions. Here's what we learned:

Wimi: Why are you moving?

Mary: The space where Knit a Bit [a longtime knit shop that recently closed] was at the Village Plaza Shopping center next to Whole Foods became available at the beginning of June. I jumped on the space for lots of reasons. I know that since Great Yarns [Stowe also owns Great Yarns] is next to Whole foods in Raleigh that that is a great locationfor a yarn store. Alice Kimball had run Knit- A -Bit
for over 20 years in that location. People are used to a yarn shop being there. It is closer to where I live in Chapel Hill(gas prices) and more people shop in that part of town- Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Southern Season, Univ Mall etc.
The store is a bit larger and has a dedicated classroom space , office and storage.

W: When are you moving?
M: We are able to get in on the 15th of July to start the renovations. We plan to be open around August7th or 8th

W: Will the Carrboro store remain open until the move?
M: We will close in Carrboro the 30th or 31st of July

W: How long were you at the Carrboro location?
M: We opened across the street in January 2002- moved in
April 2006 to present location.

W: Will you have a grand reopening when the Chapel Hill
store opens?
M: Yes, sometime in September. We will have a sale in the Carrboro store the last week we are open.

W: Will you have the same hours there?
M: We are going to be open 10-6 Tuesday through Friday, 10-5 on Saturday,1-4 on Sunday

W: Will there be different things in the new store?
M: Yes, I went to the TNNA market in June and bought several new lines of yarn. We are also adding a full range of Needlepoint

W: Will you have the spinning corner?
M: Yes- Mary Ann has said she is expanding that too-

W: Any changes at the Raleigh store?
M: Not right now

W: What kind of changes in Greensboro?
M: Yarns etc... will no longer operate in Greensboro. I am sad as I have had that store for nearly 14 years but I am looking forward to staying closer to home. Tina Feir has run Spinners Ridge out of that location for 4 years. She and a partner, Carl Beeson, are going to continue to run their own Yarn store- Gate City Yarns out of the same location. Tina sells lots of spinning fibers and equipment and teaches many spinning classes in the store. They will run a great store.

The Full Monti

marcysmith — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:34:26 -0400

Just back from the latest installment of The Monti, where we heard a fine tale by our favorite outdoor storyteller. We also heard an outrageously funny story by Melissa Delbridge, author of Family Bible. Turns out Delbridge has an alter ego, one that surfaced when I pulled out my knitting (as I am wont to do when I sit in a place for more than a minute). Melissa said, "You're a knitter? I almost brought my knitting, but then I didn't. I knit socks." She looked like she really wanted to get into the endless shawl.

btw, you haven't heard from us lately, because we like pictures and the new blog software doesn't. The techs are working on it. Meanwhile, we'll keep you posted on non-visual things as best we can.

Craft on, dude.

KIP Linger Report 2

marcysmith — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:29:52 -0400

At the Bull City Fiber Loft, -- where we were on a quest for KIPpers -- Wimi lingered long enough to meet a pal who knitted her a hammock! Actually, it's a feather and fan pattern scarf-in-progress by Ravelry's cocoaeyes.