Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

Mike and Bernice Koelzer in the only dry barn in the festival

Yamo kissing Bernice while I hold Pepper as Lulu eats my shirt through the fence

Yamo the llama and Pepper the cashmere goat down on the farm.

Yamo looks interested, but he loves all the ladies

What does a yarn lady do when she travels?  She looks for yarn, of course.

My sister lives on a cashmere goat farm in Virginia.  It's very different from my life in Seattle.  I come and learn about biocontainment and current offerings on television and what to do with an amorous llama. 

  She also took me to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.  It's billed as the biggest in the nation.  I can also tell you that it was the wettest this year.  The rain fell, the red water flowed down the paths between the tents and it was too wet to take pictures outside.  There were signs all over the parking lot warning that children and dogs would be removed from cars which I would have photographed.  I got soaked looking for the Mongolian yurt with the Felting Turk in it.  The demonstration was great, but he said the felting was going slowly because it was so cold. There was also a small tent full of wet singing Jewish boys stuffed into it but I was too wet and the camera would have drowned.  You really should have been there.

Crafts Build Community

The response for the free classes has been great. Unfortunately we put the notice out too late for some of you to participate so we’re doing it again.
Plus we’ve added a craft night which will be lead by Marguerite. Knowing that Marguerite raises bees, a friend made this just for her. She's given Marguerite all the instructions and there will be extra pendants you can purchase on craft night. I think this would be a great place to put a little needlework, or beading, etc. So bring your beads, scrapbook things, even knitting or crochet and enjoy a nice evening of diversion while you share your knowledge with your friends. Thursday, May 21 from 6-8.
Check out the newsletter for all the dates.

Buiding Community with Scrabble and Classes

The economy is sitting on my mind. Every day we have more people coming in who tell us they are unemployed. So far they are a positive group, but I worry since this time of uncertainty cannot be easy on anyone.
So what's to be done? We're committed to building community so we've added three stash busting classes with a no fee structure. Our teachers are in store anyway, so we want you to come and enjoy our knowledge, make some new friends and cheer each other up when you complete your great projects.

Our first offering is Ruth's wonderful stash busting sweater. Bring about three bags full of yarn and your size 10 or 11 needles and she'll lead you in making this beauty that will fit you and keep you amused too.
Next comes the famous button bracelet. I've been working on perfecting such a bracelet for ten years and it has finally arrived. It's a simple knitted or crocheted cuff to which you attach buttons in my unique way. Bring your buttons, a needle, some soft yarn and come have a few hours of fun. This is also wonderful for kids because they are infamous button collectors.

Our final offering is the crocheted basket. Make it as big or as small as you want or need. It's great for a hostess gift filled with fruit. Bring a bag of yarn and a size J hook. This is a very basic crochet pattern so very few skills are needed.
If you are crochet adverse, we can also do this in knitting, but I do prefer the crochet version. The knitted version is better for purses and shopping bags. Your bag of yarn and circular or straight needles in size 15 are needed.
The final offering is our Sunday Scrabble. Come about noon and let's play. If we have more than one board full we can play teams or do the competitive thing and play for the ultimate victory. Bring your handwork or some great yarn (as in story) to share.
Hopefully our coming together will cheer us and help us through this tough season.

Andy Enters Our Life

At the beginning of the month we adopted a lovely nine year old Bichon/Poodle lady. Andrea Josephine (Andy) is delicate but very opinionated. She prefers interesting food, keeping warm next to us and walking when she feels like it. She does not like to be alone and trembles when she has to go too far from home. She also can pull you home at great speed when she's ready for a return trip.
In the photo she is wearing a warm sweater with buttons next to newspapers she and her daddy LeRoy just finished reading on their favorite couch.

Open Letter to $6.8 Million Winner

Dear Winner:
With great wealth come great problems.
I just heard that someone in West Seattle bought the winning lottery ticket for $6.8 million. In your time of great emotion and transition, please be assured that Seattle Yarn is here for you. If you knit or crochet or needlepoint, think of us as your store. If you don't, we think this would be a great time to learn. Needlearts are the perfect way to bring down your blood pressure, make something lovely and help you adjust to this new found fortune.
Needlearts are not just for those looking for low cost presents, we can out fit your feet with $72 socks, make a $300 baby sweater or help you create a $2,000 afghan. Come in and let us help you.
Please feel free to think of us as your store.
Yours in yarn,
The Yarn Lady

P.S. This is a picture of Marguerite--our Wednesday and Saturday teacher--who can help you make a bag for your booty.

A Bit of Fun Viewing for the Weekend

We are a crochet-friendly shop, and we're a knit-friendly shop, too.

These are two great videos that gave me a good laugh. Enjoy!

(Click on the pictures to watch.)

Snowbound in Seattle

This is my dear husband shoveling the snow in a Yarn Lady approved hat. He is wearing it backwards, but it does help to keep his face warm. We started this snow season with a hat I thought was too small--didn't cover his ears. Then I made him one that was too big and now this one is just right.
We are loving this since the windstorm didn't hit Seattle.
The store is open and I'm stuck at home--it's so good to have really wonderful employees.