i think it really is spring - i'm sitting outside in the beautiful sunshine under blue skies writing this blog!  now that we are milking goats again, the girls have been keeping me busy trying to utilize all this fresh milk, so i've been making yoghurt, ricotta, and mozzarella.  just what i needed - something ELSE to do.  i was busy planting flowers the other day as well.  you will notice that while he was home last weekend, zach removed those huge bushes that were crowding the planter out front and it looks so different.  now my flowers will finally get some much-needed sunlight.  i got the front of the house washed down and i'm ready to do some painting out front and get my new storm door installed.  tom also got the new light put in the dining room so its nice and bright in there as well as the living room!  phew...

i've been feeling an organizing bug lately and have finally gotten my office space and studio tidied up.  at least now i have half an idea where things are and dont have to step over anything to get in!  i have made myself a new 'to do' list, which is way longer than i had hoped and this time i'll try not to lose it.  today i was able to cross two things off that list. (happy happy joy joy!) 

so along that line, i have decided to do some spring cleaning and for the entire month of may, ALL yarn will be 10% off, including yarn in the bargain bin (which has been added to) and seconds yarn (i am expecting a big shipment from brown sheep within a day or two).  also all needles, patterns, books, buttons, roving and accessories will be 10% off during may.  so this includes just about everything except items sold on consignment.

what's new?

ICE yarns, that's what!  direct from turkey and none of which i have seen before.   

also new - extra cords for the hiya hiya sharp sets, which come in handy when your wips are getting out of hand.

check out new beautiful colors of roving for your wet and needle felting needs, new artworx handcrafted buttons from north carolina, and new books by elizabeth zimmerman.

UPCOMING CLASS REMINDER

wednesday, may 8 crochet edgings at a new time 2:00

wednesday, may 22 freeform crochet also at 2:00

saturday, may 26 pagewood garden path silk scarf 1:00

saturday, june 1, beaded cabochon 1:00

in june, i will be holding a free class on broomstick lace - check the website for details on this and all the other classes.

happy birthday greetings to melissa marasia and sylvia elliott!

amazing stitches class at the bean went well considering there were 15 students.  as i have said to many of you, i have a newfound appreciation for real teachers with large classrooms.  it was a little overwhelming for me, but i hope most of the ladies went away with an understanding of bumps, beads, and bobbles.  i know several of you are working on the pattern i supplied for the class utilizing all three stitches. 

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

thursday, may 2 purlin girls meet at the bean at noon

saturday-sunday, may 4-5 maryland sheep and wool

thursday, may 9 naughty knotty knitters meet at raggz 1:00

sunday, may 12 is mothers day*

monday, may 13 fiber art meet up group at panera gbg 2:00

tuesday, may 14 KA 1-7

shop hours friday 10-6 

*every day is mother's day, isnt it?

please remember to submit your email address on my blog page - this will allow you to receive bi-monthly updates.  there is a box on the right side just above old pictures and postings.  just put your email address in there.  after the next couple of months, i will not be sending out the updates via email, as my list is growing too large for me to send.  when i see you have signed up for the updates on the blog, i will remove your name from the list i send out so you dont get them twice.  thanks for your support!  also beginning in may, i will be having contests and prizes given to those who sign up and/or post a comment!  may's blog prize will be a copy of elizabeth zimmerman's book 'the opinionated knitter'.  

i'm very excited to be heading to maryland this saturday.  i have two seats left in the car if anyone would care to join us.  departure time is 5:00 a.m. from here at the shop and we will return home around 9-9:30 totally exhausted, deliriously happy, and probably a little sunburned. 

see you soon!

t

raggzfiberart.com 

tax day 2013

hi everyone!

are we getting things off the needles, as we planned?  i, myself, have finished and felted my sun satchel by stephen west, which allowed me to start the brady scarf made with the kauni yarn.  so, one off and one on..... not too bad.

 

paula was the first to try the kauni yarn and the brady scarf but in a different colorway and i cant wait to see how it looks.

WHAT'S NEW AT THE SHOP?

new colors and weights of nightfall have arrived!  sport weight shawl balls arrived in cherry, deep turquois, midnight blue, and ivy; sport weight sock ball sets arrived in bengal orange and bottle green; and nightfall worsted shawl balls in olive and deep purple.  very pretty!

also new are more leather and pewter closures from JUL.

lets talk about linen for a moment:  who doesnt love the qualities of linen? it starts as a spindly, delicate flower that is stronger than it looks, is stronger when it is wet, gets softer as it ages, has hydroscopic qualities (meaning that it absorbs water quickly—keeping you cool in the summer), and is also hygienic (it resists bacteria—that's why it was used for medical bandages until disposable bandages became the norm). i have only begun to knit with linen myself, but seasoned knitters swear by it.  new to the shop is claudia's handpainted linen yarn in beautiful colors.  again, check out ravelry's pages to see how others are using this wonderful fabric.

WHAT'S ON SPECIAL THIS MONTH? 

ALL accessories 10% off

ALL cotton yarns 10% off

ALL patterns and books 10% off

belated april birthday greetings to lisa stewart, susan blose, erin crust, and monte peters and happy upcoming birthday to laura tepke!

in my last blog i told you of the bowl of cherries class i was holding at the shop as a private birthday gathering of four friends?  well check out the picture below of their finished bowls and vessels. left to right:  connie with her vessel, laurel and linda with their bowl of cherries, and alice with her vessel and needle

felted flower --

each one as beautiful and as individual as their creators!

  

DATES TO REMEMBER:

thursday, april 18:  purlin girls at the bean at noon             immediately followed by their amazing stitches private class

saturday, april 20:  machine felting class 10-5 at raggz

                     there's still time to sign up!

saturday, april 20:  storyworks radio hour to benefit the

                     murrysville community library

tuesday, april 23:  KA from 1-7 at the shop

fridays shop open 10 - 6

photos from the amazing stitches class at the shop attended by cathy and diane (pictured) as well as ardis and brigita (not pictured) - forgot to take pictures until they left!

will post pictures of their finished products soon.

                                                

the last of the babies were born on the farm.  welcome blackeyed suzy's triplets: (the two black/brown kids are female and he reddish/tan is a male and has been named angus after my friend jackie's grandson with beautiful red hair)

NOTE:

This year is the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival's fortieth anniversary. On May 4–5, spinners, knitters, weavers, and felters will not only have vast retail opportunities, but can also see a wide range of fiber animals and fiber arts competitions. 

very exciting news:  marlene greutter, an internationally-acclaimed felter has agreed to teach a 'pod' class on june 29 at raspberry hill alpaca farm.  as soon as marlene sends me a photo, i will post it, along with the cost of the class.  laura and i were in ohio taking a class at her studio two weekends ago learning her shambolic method of felting with silk and bits of wool.  

ps:  the bunnies are multiplying at the purlin girls meeting AGAIN!

remember:  i am now having unannounced specials from time to time at the shop but you must stop by to take advantage of them.  and please dont forget to check my website at raggzfiberart.com for complete information.

april fools 2013

thanks to a great suggestion from kim mcguire, april is now 'everything off the needles month'.  this is a great time to finish up your works in progress collecting dust and with a clear conscience begin to knit some much-anticipated warm weather tanks, skirts, or light wraps.  OR if you are really ambitious, time to start thinking about christmas gifts.  i cant even begin to tell you how many wip's i have because, frankly, i dont know!!  so many, in fact, that 75% of the time i need a certain needle, its missing from the case!  so kim, thanks for the inspiration - i'm going to give it my best shot.

with anxious anticipation for spring's arrival, i redressed all of my mannequins with their summer garb.  what a job that was -- it was like having to get dressed a dozen times and then decide which knitted sample coordinated with which outfit.  this is something i am definitely not good at, as you all know by the way i dress, but i did my best.  it was actually kind of fun, like when you get to dress your kids (before they decide for themselves what they will and will NOT wear).  lucky for me, cathy rosensteel gave my 'girls' a much needed boost by re-arranging some of their outfits.

check out this photo of the craftique fiber art group happily knitting and crocheting away every saturday morning.  many of them are working on hitch hikers in different yarns, including nightfall.

speaking of nightfall, the 

remainder of my order has been shipped and will be arriving next week.

Toni H. (lovingly called OT for 'other toni') crocheted the cutest granny square with sock yarn, folded over the top corner and added ties to it by picking up and knitting and made the cutest ever little neckerchief.  it is her own design and we are calling it 'the cutie' and that it is!

WHAT'S NEW AT THE SHOP?

kauni (pronounced like 'connie') from estonia, a small lowland country bordered by the baltic sea, latvia, and russia.  look it up on ravelry and see the beautiful patterns knit with this yarn.  i have patterns for sale as well but by checking on ravelry, you will see how the colorways change.  kauni retails for $29 per skein but you can get it here for $22!

homestead heirlooms handles and gate rings; zippers, stitch markers and every color of full 'o sheep.

noni kits and patterns have arrived by storm.  when i saw nora bellows and her beautiful purses, sweaters, kits, and accessories at the pgh knit and crochet festival, i knew i just had to add noni to my list of items to be offered. for example, i ordered lipstick and change purse kits (includes yarn, handle, purse frame, bag feet, stiffner, pattern, and beads...) which retails for $50 but you can get them here for $40.

unannounced in-store specials will be run from time to time but you obviously have to be at the shop to see what they are.  for example, on Good Friday, i hid easter eggs with a prize inside each one, such as owl stitch markers, buttons, a $5 gift certificate, and 10% off your total purchase.  

DATES TO REMEMBER

dolly llamas: thursday april 25  noon at panera bread   

purlin girls: thursdays april 4 at noon at the bean

close knit girls: wednesday april 3  6 pm at panera bread 

craftique fiber art group:  saturday apr 6 & 13 10-12
knitters anonymous:  tuesday april 9 from 1 to 7 (*note later hours!)
shop open every friday from 10 to 6

CLASS REMINDER

amazing stitches class saturday, april 13 1:00*/**

silver stitch marker tuesday, april 16 1:00*

machine needle felt class saturday april 20 10-5*

*pre-registration required in person or via email and payment must be made in advance
**about a week before the class, i will email everyone with what they need to bring with them, as there is some pre-knitting required

be sure to check out my website for additional information and more info on classes.

as a community service, i would like to announce that on saturday, april 20 there will be a fundraiser to benefit the murrysville community library.  performances will be held at the murrysville community center (724/307-8679).  there will be a children's matinee at 2:00 pm ($5 per child - accompanying adults free) and an evening performance ($10) at 7 for adults only.  one of my knitting students is one of the storytellers and tom and i are looking forward to attending!

i've lost track of one of my books:  knit 'n felt.  can those of you who occasionally borrow a book check and see if you have it lying around please?  thanks!

congrats to mary ann wolf for winning march's doorprize.

and last but not least, all the babies and mamas are doing great!

thank you for taking time to read my newsletter!