Can't stop obsessing

When Linda, my Classic Elite yarn representative, showed me this

this past spring, I fell in lust. Then other parts of life took over and I forgot about the yarn.

This weekend I was back on Ravelry (as always) and found this scarf, again.



75% rayon, 25% linen.


There are more patterns for this yarn, but this was the clincher. I ordered several different colors today.

Renate Hiller - "On Handwork"

What a wonderful way to explain why we should create.

Art Walk

We had an Art Walk Friday night and it was fantastic!



Lots of people, good food and music, and amazing artists. If you did not attend, you missed a fun party.Our featured artist was Vanessa Fox-Gruenwald of Laughing Fox Studio. I know Vanessa as she works at the MSU Extension Office. I kinda knew she was an artist, but I really found out when she brought her art to the shoppe. Here is what Vanessa has to say:

Multi-media artist and educator for more than 25 years, Vanessa Fox-Gruenwald of Laughing Fox Studio in Suttons Bay, Michigan is also a published, award-winning photographer and writer who incorporates architectural glass and clay with found objects from nature, junkyards, and recycle centers to create on-of-a-kind jewelry and art works that grace people, homes, and gardens across the country.

For the 2010 kick-off Art Walk in Suttons Bay on Friday, June 25th, she will show her current work with a highlight on her collections of custom buttons designed to compliment the full range of artisan yarns available specifically at the Thistledown Shoppe. These miniature artworks are in high demand by fiber artists and are of limited availability.

We were busy and I just wasn't able to take out the camera. So, what you are seeing are the buttons Vanessa left with us for the next week and what I purchased from her.

Fairy portal

Pins and sun catcher

Stop by the shoppe and to see her buttons and then visit her at the Leland Art Fair on July 10, 2010.

Knitting on

Every week folks bring in what they have made. Here are photos of some recent projects


Autumn Shawl


Misti Alpaca socks



Socks knitted with Alpaca Sox




Hooded cardigan knitted with Marble and Northern Worsted.

Light, Luscious, and Lacey

Nancy came in today and brought her summer sweater
that she knit with Cotton Fleece. Here is the picture of the pattern.

It is Aconitum Lace from the Knitter's Spring 2010 magazine.

Here is what she knit.





What do you think?
Nancy says it is easy.

The lovely button is from the downtown yarn shop in Traverse City (shhh, it is Lost Art).

I told her she could knit one for me next time, only I want mine longer.

Namaste

We have a new product line - Namaste.



Ask Ruth, Diane, and I how much we love it.

Namaste carries knitting bags, needle cases, clutches, wallets, pouches, binders, and cases.

I snatched up the eggplant colored Laguna and receive compliments whenever I am out and about.

Stop by and if we do not have what you want in stock, we will order it.

Picture this

Four years of college



The shoppe puppy

Gracie is getting bigger with every breath she takes.



Barb's socks made out of Opal Handpainted.

A Baby Surprise Jacket knitted by Susan, using two different colors of Lava Handpainted.



A lovely sweater and cap using Cascade Eco wool and a Mission Falls pattern.



Mary has a new grandson arriving in August.


Socks from ShiBui sock yarn for the new grandson.

And bread that I made using the Artisan Bread in 5 minutes.

Continental Purling

I am a Continental knitter. I started out as a thrower, but as I watched the pickers, I decided that I preferred that way of knitting. But I admit that I was stumped on the purling. I tried, but failed miserably. I have since learned Norwegian Purling, but find that it is a lot of movement and I am always on the lookout for an easier way.

Ravelry's Ask a Knitter column showed a great video on a different way to purl, that actually looks easier. For those of you who can't or don't want to go over to Ravelry, here it is:



What do you think?

Classic Elite Trunk Show

We love samples. They are touchy, feely, and you can try them on. We also have folks who, while knitting the garments, come in and check out the seams, the buttons, the design features - it helps to keep them on track.

Classic Elite sent us a trunk show. We have a hat, cardigan sweater, vest, top, and lacy shell.



This is the Sprout Tee with Lace.


Dressy Cabled Cardigan in One Fifty





Portland Tweed Vest
Lacy Shell in One Fifty




All of these garments, and the yarn, are lovely.

You will have to come in and see the hat knitted out of Portland Tweed.

And thanks to my wonderful daughter, Kristina, for being a willing model.

Shoppe Puppy

Jill has a new puppy and Gracie comes and visits us about twice a week. It was originally thought that Gracie was Lab and Beagle, but her vet says that he thinks she is more like Lab and Rottweiler.

Whatever she is, she grows every time she sleeps. (first picture is 2 weeks ago) I think we should start a pencil line on the wall, chronicling her growth cycle.

My first day of my vacation

I am taking a vacation. I am not going anyplace special. Just taking time off of the fun job and the paying job. This is my first vacation in at least three years. I can't remember when I last took time off to just have time off.

Here I am at the Leland harbor.

I am wearing a new ruana that I purchased from Molly's. My husband calls it a tablecloth.



I am having milk and my daughter's freshly made chocolate chip cookies for lunch.

They are pretty good, but she refuses to put walnuts in them, which would make them close to perfect.

Later on, I have a choice of Coca Cola or wine. They are waiting for me in my winter refrigerator.

And at night, we watched Anne of Green Gables, the Sequel.

Pretty good start for a vacation.