Buttons, Toggles, Shawl Pins and more!

Last week I picked up a few buttons! Buttons are one of those things we need...but they aren't that glamourous, usually! I picked up a few abalone shell buttons, some reproduction Czech glass, and some black wooden toggles! I'm pretty excited about the toggles, I often have a hard time finding them when I need one for a bag or a coat that I've made. Now I've got them! They are US Made, machine washable, drycleanable, about 2" long and cost $2.99.

Stop in and check out the selection of shawl pins, sticks and buttons. You might just find something to make a project around!

Latest finished project.

I finally finished the wrap pattern "Aethercopter" from O-Wool, using O-Wool's Balance yarn. I'm pretty proud of this one! I had to frog (wrip it apart) 3 times! It was my first attempt at something lace-like. And yes, now that I've "got" it, I'd make another, I like it that much!

The Balance yarn is amazing! It's a 50-50 blend of organic wool and organic cotton, and US made! Being a 50-50 blend makes it a great yarn for our climate - you know the cold, wet & damp Spring & Fall. It's a DK/light worsted weight, super soft, available in gorgeous colors and machine washable. Each skein is 130 yards and retails for about $10. I'm looking forward to ordering in more of the colors of this amazing yarn. So if you don't see it a color that you just can't do with out, ask to see the color card, I can special order a different color for you.

I will admit, one of the biggest perks of owning a LYS is making all the samples and using all the great yarns available. It also forces me to try new things, like this pattern. I don't know if I would have attempted it if I hadn't needed and great sample piece! This finished product is not for sale! However, if you want to make your own, I do carry the pattern, it's $5.99 or free with the purchase of the recomended Balance Yarn.

Odds & Ends.

This week's been busy, or maybe it's just me. I've been a bit under the weather - allergies, infections, reactions to medicines. That always seems to speed things up and slow them down all at the same time.

Anyway, I wanted to take some photos for this week's post, but keep forgetting to take the camera to the shop! So anyway, as an update, the light in the back room (animal fibers) is on the fritz. Haven't had a chance to get up there and see if it's the bulb or the connection. Either one is easy enough to fix... I just don't yet know which it is. So in the mean time, if there's something in there you really can't see well, feel free to bring it into the other rooms!

The house painters have made thier way around to my part of the Markethouse. So don't be startled when you see someone outside of the 2nd story window! I know it's taken me a few days to get used to it.

The first knitting class went well, at least that's what I hope! The class was small, but that's ok - since it's my first time trying to teach anyone. I'm learning just as much as they are! And it's always a good reminder to me that everyone has different talents and abilities. I'm not saying these ladies can't knit...or that I'm an amazing knitter. What I am saying is that sometimes it's difficult for people who are able to pick something up quickly to teach it to others because we forget how hard it can be. Maybe that's why my dad was such a horible math tutor when my sis & I were in high school.