april fools day 2014

not only are buds sprouting, but our flock continues to sprout as well.  our newest kid was born march 29th on zachary's 30th birthday, so in his honor, her name is zinnia.   daffodil (aka daffy) is the mom, a goofy little tricolor, who's name suits her to a tee. dougie is her dad, a full blooded alpine with very long hair so black its almost purple!  she is our first nanny and her hair is black like daddy's.


 the other three kids born this year were all billies; both lambs were girls.  we think we only have one more nanny to go then we're done for this year. 

the little billy here tom named sluggo because he's so big!  boer goats are meat goats and are therefore much stockier.  he most likely weighed about ten pounds when born and has grown quickly.  although he's only two weeks older than the twins (below), he towers over them!

                                                                                               

the two billies to the right are portulaca's twin boys.  average birth weight is 7 pounds but they pale in comparison to sluggo.  haven't named these two as of yet.  portulaca is carmel colored, dad is dougie again but somehow she had a white one and a tricolor.




so i really do believe spring has actually sprung!  babies are born, crocuses are blooming, daffodil leaves are pushing up through the soil, maple syrup is all done, birds are singing, stink bugs are out (ugh).  i cooked up only 33 gallons of sap this year due to the erratic weather we had.  it has to be above freezing in the daytime and below freezing during the night for the sap to flow.  well it would flow for a few days then get bitter cold.  flow a few more days and get bitter cold.  i collected ten gallons early on but then nothing for a couple of weeks and sap goes bad after two weeks and it had to be dumped.  oh well at least i got just under a half gallon.  not bad for 9.5 hrs cooking time and weeks of trudging out to check the buckets and put empties out.  monte calculated it only cost about $50 a quart.  

WHAT'S NEW?

feza

feza yarns for starters.  i received some new colors in the alp premiere and alp dazzle, as well as candy deluxe, silk, ribbons, tokyo to name a few.  

i have also added frabjous fibers (roving and recycled sari ribbons) to the shop.

just arrived are some kauni yarns in everybody's favorite rainbow color way.  












before i forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES GO OUT TO:    lisa s 4/3;  susan b 4/4;  erin c 4/5; and our own purlin girls guru monte p. on 4/5!!!  have a sweet day ladies!  come to the shop to get your $5 off any purchase!

the 'real' monte

CLASS UPDATE

wow classes have been going great here at RaggZ.  connie and her friends had a private birthday party here making the felted lights.  the ladies did a great job and what a fun way to celebrate a friend's birthday - a private class, then lunch at a favorite restaurant!

nancy's finishing class went very well, as did part one of the felted cuff class.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

wednesday  4/2 nancy's finishing class (room for one more student)*
wednesday 4/2 close knit girls meet in murrysville 4-6
tuesday 4/8 shop open 1-6
thursday  4/10 embellishment sweater class (room for one more in a.m. and p.m. class)*
thursday 4/10 purlin girls meet at the bean at noon
tuesday 4/15 and 4/29 EZ peezie pin cushions (only 2 have signed up -- this class may be cancelled)*
shop open fridays 10-6
*see website for details:  raggzfiberart.com

NEW CLASSES:

i've been busy trying to figure out what comes next.  plans are in the works for the following classes beginning end of april.
changing colors
felt sheep
bird pod
tunisian crochet
confident color two
fixing simple mistakes
boot socks
felted clock

however, due to my parking area finally getting enlarged, i will wait til the next newsletter to work out the details.  our contractor is going to work around fridays so the shop will not have to close so i will keep everyone updated on that situation.  but if in doubt, please call!


found an interesting article i think you would like:  http://www.treehugger.com/culture/dont-stop-knitting-its-keeping-you-healthy.html

MARCH DOOR PRIZE WINNER:  (DRUMROLL)……… MARLENE SMITH!!!

i've been busy finishing up my felt boot class and am getting ready to begin a nuno felted top.  i'm still getting my upstairs reorganized before i allow myself to have fun felting.  but i did finish my wonky felted clock.  

last friday we had a good time at the shop and our friend, donna stopped by sporting a new 'do and a puppy!

time to close now and i'll post just a few more pix below.  see you soon!

PHOTO GALLERY

fun times at the show!

dulcimer derek and my beautiful instrument!

spring!

i survived my first pgh knit and crochet show!  i may have brought more yarn home with me than i left with, but i'm sure that is not surprising to anyone.  i also brought home a nice head cold but as of today it's on the mend.

what fun the show was!  cathy rosensteel, betsy orr, sylvia elliott, ali and ardis mock were my helpers and i have to say it was a very positive and fun experience.  i could not have done it without their help.  we had two meetings prior to the show to put our heads together and it made a huge difference.  thanks so much ladies!

its hard to believe it took up a good three weeks of my time tho - two weeks getting ready and a week trying to get everything back together here at the shop.

i was pretty nervous about it at first, not knowing what to take or how to set it up but having emptied out the dining room and set  everything up in there made a huge difference.  my mind was racing all week making lists and running up and down the stairs.  it finally all clicked and i realized all of it was NOT going to fit in tom's truck so we both had to drive.  after that it was all downhill.  unfortunately i broke out in hives and was itchy all weekend - went through an entire tube of cortisone cream.  its not polite to be scratching when you're trying to talk to people about knitting, is it? 

while we were gone, portulaca gave birth to twin boys and buttercup had a boy the week before.  comcast has not been working properly for me the past week and i can't bring up any of the photos unfortunately but i'll make up for it next time.

i've been working diligently to get the shop back in order to re-open this friday.  i have really missed seeing everyone on my usual friday chubby knitters club.  so i figured since i had everything in total disarray, i may as well rearrange it all.  the shop will look very different next time you stop by, especially the porch and living and dining room.  the kitchen is pretty much the same except cleaner.

WHAT'S NEW YOU ASK??

while at the show, i opened two new yarn accounts.  i now have an account with blue heron yarns and also with a small studio called unexpected peacock (there's a story there somewhere).  both are beautiful yarns.  blue heron has been around a while and is well known; unexpected peacock is new and i am the first shop in pennsylvania so far to carry natasha's hand dyed yummy yarns.

i decided it was time to do spring cleaning in the yarn department and i now have a section where the yarns have a red line through the price and are all half off.  still adding to this but there's quite a variety - wool, linen, cotton, etc.  check it out next time you come over. 

UPCOMING CLASSES:

monday 3/24 jump ring bracelets (last call for this class) 1:00

wednesday 3/26 finishing class at 1:00

monday 3/31 felt cuff class 1 of 2 at the shop at 1:00

also don't forget the upcoming embellished sweater class (april 10 and may 15).  there's a morning and afternoon class and space for one or two in each.  

details for these classes can be found on my website

raggzfiberart.com

coming soon another boot sock class taught by sock nut laura mcguire.  these classes will be held on saturdays at laura's house.  details next month.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS:

friday, march 28th jennifer le will be hosting a "Thirty-One" party here at the shop.  it will be extremely informal, with jen's products being displayed for the day.  no pressure - just check out the nice things they offer.  there are several knitting type bags with loads of pockets which can also be personalized.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

wednesday 3/19 close knit girls at panera murrysville

thursday 3/20 purlin girls at the bean and also the first day of spring!!!!

tuesday 3/25 knitters anonymous 1-6

fridays 3/21 and 3/28 shop open 10-6

last but not least, happy birthday wishes go out to:

diane p. on 3/21 (which happens to be my mom's birthday also) and kathy a. on 3/25.  have a wonderful day ladies!

sorry this is short and sweet with no wonderful pictures to share but hopefully comcast will have fixed my problem for my next newsletter.  i have missed you all and hope to see you soon!

march 1, 2014

IMPORTANT:  THE SHOP IS CLOSED UNTIL FRIDAY, MARCH 21st.  as most of you already know, i will be a vendor for the first time as a yarn shop at the pittsburgh knit & crochet festival at the 4 points sheraton north march 14-16.  check out their website:  pittsburgh knit and crochet.com
if you have a chance to come out, i am booth number 41.  i am really excited and anxious about my first show as a yarn shop.  yes, i'm used to setting up as a knitter and felter but its so different this time, taking my yarns and figuring out the best way to maximize a 10 x 10 space.  

if you need a yarn fix or are in dire need, you certainly can call me and stop over to get what you need but other than that, the place will be more disorganized than usual packing for the show.

ANOTHER GOOD ANNOUNCEMENT:  WELCOME LUCY!!!

 
lucy was born friday february 21 to mathilda.  mathilda is a very good mom and i know she is well taken care of!  more to be born soon!  she is named after my mom's next door neighbor who is now in her 90's!

MARCH BIRTHDAYS!  (this newsletter i am including all birthdays in the month of march, instead of just the first two weeks)  so birthday wishes go out to
alice c. on 3/3; kay f on 3/11; diane p on 3/21; and kathy a on 3/25. don't forget to come get your birthday certificates ladies!

door prize winner from february - dorothy gerhard!  dorothy was here last friday with her daughter and 3 beautiful granddaughters, all with different shades of blue eyes!

DATES TO REMEMBER:
thursday march 6:  purlin girls meet at the bean 
saturdays march 1, 8, and 15:  craftique fiber art group at craftique
wednesday, march 5:  baby sweater KAL meet at raggz (weather permitting)
shop CLOSED til march 21st

UPCOMING CLASS REMINDER:
monday, march 24 at 1:00 jump ring bracelet pair
wednesday, march 26 at 1:00 nancy's finishing class
monday, march 31 at 1:00 cuff class (second class april 7) 
see my website for details on the class:  raggzfiberart.com

RECENT CLASS UPDATE:

on again/off again class went very well and the students learned ten different ways to cast on and bind off, all with their own usefulness or look.

it's always nice to learn a variety of ways to do this and have the option of adding, for example, a picot edge (bind off OR cast on) to a scarf, hat, or baby item.









from wool to wonderful felt flowers class 
one of the fun things about teaching a class is that i ALWAYS learn some thing too!  the ladies made gorgeous multi colored flowers and added them to the string of hand dipped lights to make such a beautiful addition to a room.  i, myself, had been making my flowers one color other than the centers but my students, being much more colorful than i, went off and used colors i wouldn't have thought of putting together but they were gorgeous!  maia had to leave for an appointment early, so her lights are not featured below but check these out:

kathy working hard trying to get that roving to felt!















looks a little like elf hats sitting in a row, doesn't it?







SEE WHAT FUN YOU ARE MISSING?  I WILL BE TEACHING THIS CLASS AGAIN IN THE SPRING!

marlene's finished light string

kathy's lights already displayed on her mantel!

yesterday tom and i got a lot of work done up on the farm with the weather warming up at least temporarily.  my plan was to go up and help him feed and head back home to finish working on my display for the show; however, we decided to clean stalls, move the animals around, spread the manure in the fields, and do some general clean up.  

seems every time i work up on the farm i get hurt being the klutz that i am.  first off, i went up with tom on the tractor to spread the manure because you have to get down off of the tractor and set two heavy metal levers so that the chains move the manure to the back of the spreader to be shot out onto the fields (and i do mean SHOT  -- i even got hit in the back of the head with a chunk of wet manure while sitting on the tractor).  well it kept getting stuck so we had to get off the tractor and manually (with bare hands mind you) dig through manure to unstick it from the blades.  let me describe this to you:  the manure is almost a solid wet mass entwined with hay and urine so its a very thick dark muck and very strong.  now i luckily LIKE the smell of manure but i don't like it dug under my fingernails and all over my bare hands.  as soon as we got it unstuck, i went down to the barn to rinse my hands off but alas we had to do this several times.  i was thinking of the couple of scrapes and cuts i had on my hand and how this manure is now oozing into my bloodstream.

oh well nothing i could do about it now.  one of the last loads we did, i got off the tractor to re-set the metal levers back into the off position, which is up in the air over my head.  can you see where this is going?  i thought i was diligent about making sure the first one was locked before re-setting the second one.  as i reached under the first one to set the second one, the one which was obviously not locked in came loose and hit me directly in the face just under my right eye.  i literally saw stars and wanted to cry.  poor tom.  i just walked away because when i'm hurt you have to ignore me because i get mean.  he was asking me if i was ok and i was yelling YES JUST GO!!!  ha ha now its funny.  he was worried and i could see the swelling begin under my eye almost immediately.  i was hoping it didn't crack my orbital bone but after an hour or so it was no longer throbbing and i was fine.  i may end up with a little bruise but overall i got off easy i think.  lesson learned.

just before dark, we hobbled into the house, every muscle aching!  i went upstairs to scour my hands and realized i didn't have a nail brush so i grabbed an extra toothbrush and got my nails all cleaned out.  we fell asleep early last night needless to say.   note to self:  be more active in the winter…

that's all i've got for now.  gotta finish up some online felting classes and get ready for the show.  have a good couple of weeks everyone and i'm here if you need anything.  i'll miss my fridays at the table with the chubby knitters club but will see you all later in the month if i don't see you at the show!  wish me luck!