YIKES!! Yarn stolen!

Well, here we are in Philadelphia ready to resume our trip to Baltimore for Stitches East and then back home again. We were trusting that our van and trailer were still safely parked where we left them. Sure enough, they were. So we happily drove to a nearby hotel to spend the night, had a good rest and when we came out the next morning, there was just a pile of glass where our vehicles had stood.

So now we're hanging on to our cellphones, hoping that when the phone rings it will be the police, telling us the vehicles were found. Please pray with us that this may be the case.

We had a little bit of merchandise shipped in for Stitches East, so Cherie and Elaine, Jan and Jenny will be there. If you are going to Stitches, please stop by the booth. We are having booksignings with Kaffe Fasset and Brandon Mabley as scheduled. Dutch and I will hang out in Philadelphia hoping that they will find our stuff in time to still bring it to the show.

A few years back, I lost my diamond engagement ring. After the initial shock and looking everywhere, I thought: we lost two children. Loosing a diamond is nothing. So here we go again. As upset as we are about the theft of our vehicles and merchandise, compared to loosing two children, it's nothing.

Stay tuned. As I have access to a computer, I'll keep you posted. First we have to go clothes shopping. All we have with us is our little carry-on bag with underwear. All our other clothes were in the van. My face also looks pretty scarry, since my make-up was taken from me at the airport........ Other than that, we're just great!

Gaby

Muench Yarntasting

YOU are cordially invited to our next Yarn Tasting!

This time Kirstin Muench herself will be flying in just for the day to bring to you her newest yarns and patterns and model garments.
So you wonder just what IS a yarn tasting?

Some years ago it occured to me that folks might want to be able to try out some yarns before they buy them. Yarns are expensive and we don't always know how they will knit up. Should you go with the suggested needle size? What gauge will you get?

When I first thought of this, I also wanted folks to experiment and kind of break out of their mold. I dumped a bunch of yarn on the table and said: Here! Have fun!! Use different needle sizes, use two or more strands together and see what happens, try different patterns and by all means try colors alone or in combinations that you would normally not use.

So the idea caught on- first with Barry Klein of Trendsetter Yarns who changed the concept a bit. He had us set the table with paper plates and placed a different ball of yarn on each plate. Knitters and crocheters are now encouraged to cast on about 20 stitches and "play" with the yarn. Then change seats or pass the plate along to someone else. You see a yarn you like on someone else's plate, ask for it and play with that. Barry also brings a big trunkshow of sweaters and projects made from these yarns and everyone gathers around to see and try them on.

Now most of our suppliers do this and this has become a very popular event at our store and this week we are so pleased to welcome Kirstin Muench to our store for her very own version of this exciting event. She is a funny lady who knows her yarns and her business well. For many years I have been one of her "Ersatz- Moms" which to me is such an honor! (Ersatz means replacement in German)
Kirstin Muench is the US representative of GGH and the owner of Muench Yarns.

To learn more about Kirstin and her wonderful yarns, as well as her company, please go to http://www.muenchyarns.com/pages/happypeople.html

This Yarn Tasting happens on Saturday, October 21st, 2006 from 11AM to 2PM. Call our store to sign up.
949 770 7809 There is only a $5.00 charge for this wonderful event!

See you there!
Gaby

Four knitting worshops with Judy Pascale

We were so blessed to have Judy Pascale come and teach 4 knitting workshops at our store! Hope you didn't miss it!! At Yarn Lady we bring you many of the best, nationally known teachers to show us up close and personal what they specialize in and would love to teach you.

Judy was here for two days and showed us her special techniques for Beaded Belts, and her Shapely Shawlettes. These two were special project classes. If you ever have a chance to take one of Judy's classes, you just have to sign up for them. She was very informative as well as witty and had so many great samples and hand-outs.

During her Measure, Modify, Knit and Armhole Success classes we learned so much about proper fit and better ways to knit your garments to even make finishing easier and more professional. We often hear that knitters are intimidated by "professional" teachers and knitting classes in general because they think that they have to "know more" before they can take a class. Perhaps they might even stick out in class or not be able to keep up. It was so much fun to have one such person in one of these workshops and I can tell you that she WAS able to keep up and she DIDN'T stick out and she came away feeling that classes are fun and very do-able!

Seldom do we have such positive feedbacks from everyone who attended the classes. If you weren't there for these classes, you must clear your calendar for any upcoming ones. Check our website at www.yarnlady.com and tell your friends!

Tomorrow is the big day!

The day is almost here when Judy Pascale is coming to teach at our store. She is teaching not one, not two, not three, but FOUR workshops! If you haven't signed up yet, you need to do it quickly. You can call our store in the morning or go online at http://yarnlady.com/classschedule/workshops/06pascale.htm and do it here.

You've probably been wondering why we haven't posted. We have just been so busy re-arranging the store and planning new events, getting ready for Stitches and just plain recouperating from our trip.

So slowly but surely I'll get around to telling you about all of the things that are happening. Of course I have no way of knowing if you are actually reading this, so if you are, please drop us a note, or click on "blog this" and sign up and send us your comment.

Judy will be staying at our house with us. Now I'm not the perfect hostess.... My motto is: here is the fridge, here is the cupboard, help yourself. Actually I've been doing a bit of getting ready. I will do my best to let her rest and not pick her brain too much. When Sally Melville stayed with us we had such a good time together, sitting around and knitting.

In a couple of weeks, we have another surprise for you! As you know there will be a workshop with Barry Klein of Trendsetter Yarns. What you don't know (and we didn't either until just recently) is that he is coming on another day with a filmcrew in tow. Yes!!! They are filming for a show in OUR store! Don't know what all will happen, but if you just happen to drop by on Wednesday, the 25th of October we'll all find out.

Now they tell me that I'm to keep these posts short and sweet. But I have always been too longwinded and I guess I'm not going to change here.....

Last week several of us had the pleasure of teaching (?) about 65 gals from the MOPS group at our church to knit in about a half hour. Whew!! That was me with the microphone: "Now everyone make a slipknot....... A slipnot is just like tying your shoelaces..." So this Friday we get to do another session and see what they remember. The goal is to make a decorative flower. Then we'll have one more chance the following Friday. How great it would be though if at least some of these young mothers would actually learn and ultimately pass this wonderful talent on to their kids?

So enough for today. If you want in on Judy's classes, better hurry!

God bless you!

Gaby