correction

change of plans.  i will no longer be at the mill house cafe in johnstown this friday, october 25th; therefore the shop will indeed be open regular hours (10-6).

happy mid october to you all - enjoy those beautiful bursts of color coming from the sugar maples!  this photo was taken in portland oregon:

its hard to believe that ligonier country market is over but it does give me time to relax and not have that deadline looming over me.  unfortunately, though, i am a deadline-oriented person, as i love to work under pressure (yes a procrastinator).  i am happy that i have several classes running at the shop between now and mid november and am looking forward to trying some new wet felting techniques.  i am working towards an open house in murrysville on november 7 and 8 as well as the ligonier market christmas show on november 30th.  more details on both in the next newsletter.


i am lucky enough to be included in a trip out to stramba farm this thursday to do a felting play date with barb grossman (pittsburgh knit and crochet founder) and a group of girls who belong to the greater pittsburgh fiber art guild to play with the huge felting machine.  we will be making centerpieces for the upcoming pgh knit and crochet show in march.  i've always wanted to see how these huge needle felting machines work so i am very much looking forward to learning and creating.  (pictures next time)


my last program at seton hill was fun - 
rhonda pegg showed me how to marbelize with shaving 
cream and fabric paint, so away i went.  the ladies did 
some gorgeous prints.  we then marbelized a mat to 
frame their favorite print in.  it was so much fun.  
i am thinking of trying it with fabric!

this is evelyn with her creation.  she's always so
colorful!

UPCOMING CLASSES*

wet felted bowl class:

tomorrow (wednesday october 16) will be the first of two wet felted bowl classes.  i have eight signed up so far but only four paid, so there may be room for one or two more if you're interested. 

dottie's beaded pendant class with branch fringe:

re-scheduled for thursday october 31st at 11:00 a.m.  still room for one or two more here.

sock class:

laura mcguire's sock class begins thursday october 31st at 7 p.m. and continues for three consecutive weeks.  sorry for the upside down photo!

snowman purse class:

this class begins on wednesdays november 6 at 1 p.m. and runs for three consecutive wednesdays.

*see the website for photos and details on each of the classes.

what's new?

JUL - some beautiful new shawl pins
JESSE JAMES BEADS - i have ordered an array of some beautiful beads to be worked in with knitting, crocheting, and felting
BROWN SHEEP - more seconds yarn in many colors and weights from worsted to bulky in orange, cream, sun yellow, turquoise, oregano, dark mahogany, and feather gold.  also some new variegated lambs pride worsted (the yarn i use for the sunburst placemats) in eucalyptus leaf, grassy knoll, forest shadows, tormented teal, elderberry wine, blue skyways, wine splash, dreamy night, and silver streaks.*

*the mill has increased their prices somewhat, so that increase is reflected at the shop as well (but you still wont get them for this good a price)

i have made three more of the sunburst placemats using the cranberry swirl (the color beth used) and another periwinkle.  i plan on using several of the new variegated colors to make several more for my upcoming christmas shows. they are very enjoyable to make and i've done enough of them now, i rarely have to look at the pattern.

where's raggz?  

friday october 25 i will be at the mill house coffee shop in johnstown so please note that i will be closing at 2 p.m. that friday.  this coffee shop is relatively new to the area and features local artists each friday evening.

schedule of upcoming events:

wednesday october 16 close knit girls at panera 6-8
friday october 18 there will be a lunar eclipse
friday october 18 shop open 10-6
tuesday october 22 knitters anonymous at the shop 1-7
thursday october 24 purlin girls at noon at the bean
friday october 25 shop open 10-2* NOTE EARLY CLOSING TIME
october 31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!



ever wonder how to use that lovely pagewood farm garden party yarn (or any other artsy fartsy yarn that is usually a little more costly)?  check out this shawl that eugenia knitted.  she added a row of garden party here and there and was able to stretch that yarn out to make three shawls.  the body of the yarn can be knitted in anything else really but these flowers make a lovely statement.  this cuts down on the individual cost for each shawl as well.










maia's mother in law, roz, has been working on a little 
coverlet for her great granddaughter.  roz has been here visiting 
from florida and knitted this coverlet with crystal palace yarns - cuddles for the body and rave for the ribbony stripes and outside trim.  
it still needs to be blocked.  she was very proud of her 
accomplishment and anxious to see penelope bundled 
up in it.

happy october birthday shout out to  lougene w, diane m, deb s, mary l, and alicia!  dont forget to come to the shop to get your $5 off birthday certificate!!

hope to see you all soon!

happy october everyone!  fall is definitely in the air and i am in my glory watching the leaves change, munching fresh local apples, and wrapping myself up in a sweater.  now if those darn stinkbugs would just go away, things would be perfect!

october 5 is ligonier market's grand finale so try to come out and sample some of the wonderfulness there.  it has indeed been a very good year for me at market and i am sorry to see it all end.  but time to get busy with several christmas shows and even making a gift or two.

on sunday, september 29th, i was fortunate enough to go to the shenandoah valley fiber festival.  it was a smaller festival but full of good stuff.  i found some extremely artful handspun yarn and wonderful roving.  also met some great people along the way.  these are always a good time.  i even ran into an old fiber friend - melody weed from river ridge fiber works.  i met mel at the waynesburg fiber fest about 5 years ago and fell in love with her wonderful yarns and creative knitting.

i also came across quite a few curly mops there like me and i felt right at home.  all we had to do was look at each other and bust out laughing because only those of us who deal with hair like this understand it all!  they also had a little spinning contest there and there was a little girl no more than 8 or 9 spinning away on a spinning wheel made by a man who decided he could make one out of things he could find at a home improvement store and by golly he did!  the only part that was not from the home improvement store was the bobbin.  i should have taken a pictures.  i'll be certain to go again next year.

WHAT'S NEW?
some new sizes in hiya hiya needles PLUS 60" cords for those of you who are brave enough to learn the magic loop (i'm still waiting for beth to teach us).  speaking of beth, i appreciate her telling me that hiya hiya carried these accessories because i didnt even know.  i also purchased connectors for making your cords longer as well as adapters which allow you to use your small cords on the large needles.  i also stocked up on regular point protectors, panda point protectors, tape measures, safety pins, and cable stoppers.  thanks beth for the heads up.

i've been doing some rearranging at the shop.  the porch is no longer the sale bin.  had to make room for roving now that i am going to be getting into wet and needle felting more and teaching some classes in this.  so for now, the sale bin is in hibernation until i can find a space for it, which will most likely be upstairs.   below is a photo of just a smidge of the wonderful fibers migrating to the porch!

i am a member of the international fiber art guild, the greensburg fiber art meet up group, and the greater pittsburgh fiber art guild.  the latter has just formed a felting group and we have been meeting in pittsburgh once a month.  its been a great experience and several of the members are actually well known felters so i know i will learn a lot.  on october 17, we are heading up to stramba farm in wampum to play with her huge needle felting machine and we will be making centerpieces for the pittsburgh knit and crochet festival.  it should be a great experience and a lot of fun and i'll keep you posted.  if any of you have an interest in wet or needle felting, you need to become a member of the greater pitt fiber art guild to join.  let me know and i will steer you in the right direction.

october 11 is i love yarn day AND its a friday so come  celebrate with us as it is also a friday and the shop will be open.  there will be special treats for the occasion.  stop by and see!

DATES TO REMEMBER
saturday october 5 LAST ligonier country market 8-noon
tuesday october 8 KA 1-7 at the shop
thursday october 10 purlin girls meet at noon at the bean
NATIONAL KNITTING WEEK!  october 14-20
shop open fridays 10-6

UPCOMING CLASSES:
wet felted bowl class at raggz wednesdays october 16 and 30 (see website for details)
NOTE:  dottie's jewelry class on october 17 has been rescheduled - date to be announced soon

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO sheila mckeever (the 11th) and karen staab (the 12th)!  have a GREAT day ladies!

til next time!