Wednesday, March 21, 2007

The First Day of Spring!

Yay!  I, for one, am happy that winter is behind us.  We'll probably see more snow (hopefully), but these last few weeks of warmer days have really lifted my spirits.  I have been hiding here behind a locked gate since Friday night, mixing dyes and getting ready for a new season of beautifully dyed fibers and yarns.  It's like being a kid with a new box of crayons and finger paints.



Terri Ranck's Handspun Heaven classes were last weekend...and we're about to set dates for two more classes in July.  If you're interested, and you're not already on our waiting list, please send us an e-mail with your phone number included, or call the shop.  We'll keep in touch as the details form.  Terri has now made her very own longer version of this amazing shawl...and she tells me she's done a bag in that style...which goes to prove that if you leave her alone with a selection of handspun yarns, the sky's the limit on what will come off her needles next.



Camp Pluckyfluff #2 is almost full...only two more spaces available...but we're keeping waiting lists on both classes.  Don't wait to register!



A few nights ago, I unearthed my well worn copy of Melanie Falick's "Knitting in America".  If you haven't ever read it, I encourage you.  The stories about the knitters are interesting and the project patterns offered aren't dated, a testament to their design prowess, I say.  I love reading stories about creative people...how they get inspired, what they do to sustain it, and I admit to being a voyeur here...I love to see their studios of creative environments when possible.  This book has been out of print for years but has been recently republished under the title "America Knits".  Check it out if you want a good bedtime read for a few nights...I pretty much can promise you'll be super inspired.  --Martie



Thursday, March 15, 2007

Possessed

A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks.  Sunflower Bennie has moved back to southern Maryland and has taken her beautiful handspun yarns with her...but for fans of Bennie's, don't despair, because in the next few months I'm pretty sure she's going to be opening her own yarn & fiber business in her home town.  I'll keep you posted as I learn more.



Last week the new Malabrigo yarns arrived...Gruesa and Aquarella...both thick and thin, bulky (65 yds/100g) and new colorways that blew us away.  Joan and I were here with a class on Monday, and during some quiet time, she picked out a blue/green color of Aquarella.  The next thing we knew, we were out of control, piling yarns on top of the counter that looked good with it.  Joan decided this would be her project to do our our spring retreat, and bagged it all up.  I wondered how she'd be able to wait so long...



Yesterday I found out she has done little since Monday but work on her shawl.  She is a woman possessed.  She popped into the shop today, to purchase more handspun yarns for it, and I was able to get my hands on it...it is fabulous, to say the least.  I took some pics of it out on the porch, some better than others, and want to share them with you.  It is a work in progress, but you'll get a little idea of where it's going.  As always, my photos don't do this piece justice!  ---Martie



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Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Taos Camp Pluckyfluff #2!

YAY!  Lexi has agreed to a second class next October.  It will be held Monday (Oct. 8) and Tuesday (Oct. 9) just after Wool Festival weekend.  This news just came to me today and we will be calling those of you on the waiting list tomorrow or Thursday to see if that works for you...and for those of you who haven't called us yet, now is the time to do so!  Please please please don't wait...I don't want anyone to be disappointed, and there simply won't be a chance of holding Lexi in Taos long enough to do a third camp (although maybe if she loves it here, we can talk her into coming back again).



Friday, March 2, 2007

Camp Plucky Fluff Registration: Update

Greetings:



Registration for Camp opened yesterday morning at 9:30 and the Oct. 3 & 4 class filled immediately.  TAKE HEART:  we are keeping a waiting list (and have three people on it already) and I am trying to see if Lexi can find two more days to teach a second class, so no one misses out.  SO...if you or anyone you know is interested in taking this class, please call us to get on this waiting list before it fills up (we are only taking 10 students per class).  I'm afraid a third class in that time period will probably be out of the question, so don't take too long to decide!



Photo album:  sorry there were no updates this week; there won't be any more until later in March.  We are stashing yarns for the next Handspun Heaven classes and have no more to advertise until the classes are behind us and we've had more time to make some more.  Thanks for your understanding.



Martie



PS  For those of you who access this blog directly from www.taossunflower.typepad.com, you may now read our blog directly from our website, www.taossunflower.com, and have access to our other pages and news at that time.  Thanks!