Days 4-7 – September 4-7, 2009

The weekend started early since I had to drive members of my family into Boston so they could start their weeklong cruise to Bermuda. At that point, I had already emailed in most of my orders from the previous week. A number of stores were holding sales, taking the day off, etc. in prep for the fall yarn season.

I spent much of the weekend spinning more of the Kidspun yarn for Great Adirondack Yarn Co. Images of yarns, etc. will be coming soon as I plan to spend some quality photo time next weekend. Over the weekend I spent about 20 hours at the spinning wheel working on yarns for GA and for myself. Of course, there was some great tennis to watch along the way as well as the Torchwood marathon.

Next week: one more trip to central Vermont and a big phone/email yarn selling push

Day 3 – September 3, 2009

Miles driven – 221 Time on road – 11am to 7:30pm with one store stop

Start/Stop points – Best Western Waterbury, VT/Home

Number of coffee shop stops – 1

Music listened to – “I’m Not Dead” Pink and various NPR channels

Worst part of drive – length of drive

Best part of drive – gorgeous weather and seeing part of Vermont that I have never seen before

My only appointment was in the afternoon. When I scheduled the trip I left Thursday morning open since I was hoping to meet with one or two stores. Neither needed or wanted to meet, so the late start. However, the time was put to good use as I finished a sample hat for one of my companies and I was able to rest up for the long drive home at the end of the day.

Today I visited with Miriam at Wool Away Fiber Arts in St. Johnsbury, VT. The visit went long as many customers came to the store while I was there. However, I always have a sock at the ready, and I continued work on the Waikiwi sock #2. Amongst the things that Miriam ordered is some Raggi yarn in camo and other colorways from Swedish Yarns. Hunting season is approaching and some of her customers are looking to knit some items for the hunters in their lives.

Note: I started writing this on Friday, the 4^th, but didn’t get very far as some of my family showed up for me to drive them into Boston for their cruise.

Day 2 – September 2, 2009

Miles driven – 46.7 Time on road – 9am to 3:30pm with two store stops

Start/Stop points – Best Western Waterbury, VT

Number of coffee shop stops – 0

Music listened to – various NPR channels

Worst part of drive – detour for 100N in Morrisville, VT

Best part of drive – small signs on the road – One small farm had a sign – Haircuts $15. A lot of farms/homes had items out on the front long with a For Sale sign on them – everything from a makeshift veggie stand to an old Caddie all shined up

The day began around 6am with some knitting time between shower/breakfast and heading out. I worked on a sock using Waikiwi from Naturally New Zealand Yarns/Fiber Trends and then started a pair of glovelets with my own hand spun yarn. I always have a small project like this with me so I can work on them during shop visits when the store owner has to help a customer. Most of the store owners are happy to see that I am a knitter and that I do not mind the interruption. The last thing I would want to do is make a store owner or their customers feel awkward about carrying on their business when I am in a store.

Today my travels centered around Stowe, VT. Fifteen years ago, I would come to Stowe twice a year to take part in craft shows that were held here in the summer and fall. Stowe has always been a favorite place with its natural beauty, plenty of walking trails and people who are very knowledgeable regarding the weather. Snow is very important up here and everybody has an opinion as to how much we will get this winter.

Carla, one of the co-owners of Stowe Fabric & Yarn, 82 Park St. in Stowe, pointed out that the great number of forest fires in the world this summer could cause a greater amount of snow. Evidently, the ash from those fires would serve as fodder for the white fluffy stuff and what goes up has to come down. Fortunately for their customers, Carla and Kristy ordered some yarns with kid mohair in them from Great Adirondack Yarn.

My second visit of the day consisted of a drive by to The Bailey House in Morrisville, VT. However, that store’s offering of yarn has greatly diminished since my last visit. This store is primarily a garden center with a small corner devoted to yarn. The owner is also an eye doctor with offices on the property. One really great thing about the people in Vermont is that they put their buildings and properties to as many good uses as possible, and then some.

The rest of the work day consisted of calling/emailing stores to make future appointments and follow up on shipping problems, etc. I try to use email as much as possible since the stores are getting busier now and I don’t want to pull a store owner away from a customer. That is the tricky part, trying to figure out the best time to reach a store owner. I applaud the reps who went before me and performed this work without the benefit of fact filled store blogs, gps devices, cell phones and what we now consider the most basic of technological tools.

Dinner was again at the Cider House BBQ & Pub. However, the Seitan Picata was not ready yet. Evidently, that will be the Seitan special for the upcoming long weekend.  But, the black bean burger was just as great and I highly recommend it. I knit a little bit more while watching Federer sail through to the third round at the Open. Serena was halfway through when it was lights out.

Tomorrow – St. Johnsbury, VT and then home.

This may not be the most exciting of blogs. But, it will serve to get me back into writing and possibly look at my work a little differently.

Day 1 – September 1, 2009

Miles driven – 266.7 Time on road – 8:30am to 3:30pm with two store stops

Start/Stop points – Great Adirondack Yarn Studio Amsterdam, NY/Best Western Waterbury, VT

Number of coffee shop stops – 2

Music listened to – Essential Heart, Stevie Nicks Soundstages recordings, various NPR channels

Worst part of drive – being stuck behind trucks on VT 103 & 7N

Best part of drive – being the only car along 17n between New Haven and Waitsfield VT. That road was a lot of fun driving with all the twisting turns and views. Although it must be horrible during the snowy winters.

One frustrating thing about driving so much in this job is that I get such great ideas for knitting projects, my etsy site, etc. while in the car. However, I can’t really stop and write them down and I surely can’t get started on them until I get home. For this trip, that won’t be until Thursday night.

I started the day (6:30 am) at the studio/home of Great Adirondack Yarn. The previous night Patti & I came up with some new designs to submit to Knit ‘n Style for spring while Patti did battle with a very messy cone of Holo Hoops yarn. I will knit a slouchy sweatshirt style sweater using ChaCha.

My day started with leaving Amsterdam, NY and heading first to Not Just Yarn in Brattleboro, VT to pick up the rest of my handspun yarn that I had left there on consignment months ago. The store has both knitting/crocheting supplies as well as those for needlepoint. Susan had sold 10 skeins of my yarn during that time. Now I have both some stock to sell from my car and a check!

Next stop was Knits & Bolts in New Haven, VT. Half of this store is devoted to quilting and fabrics. However, the yarn side does have taller displays filled with colorful yarns. I do know that the store will be getting some new colors in of Tofutsies from Southwest Trading Company soon.

From there I headed up to Waterbury and my hotel. This summer I decided to go as vegan as possible. That is a lot easier to do at home and definitely a challenge on the road. However, I did find a great restaurant in Waterbury where vegetarians are catered to and vegans warned about foods that may contain eggs, etc. – The Cider House BBQ & Pub on route 2. Their food was great and I am going back there again tonight. It turns out that the chef is a vegetarian and a knitter as well. She asked me about my sweater and area yarn stores and I complimented her on the great BBQ Seitan that I had for dinner.

After a long day driving I really didn’t have much energy for knitting. Instead I pulled out the needlepoint and stitched while I watched and made sure the Maria won her opening match at the US Open. I started to watch Andy Murray sail through round 1. But, my eyes were just too tired and begged for lights out.

Tomorrow – Stowe awaits.

Harley Two Socks & Rosie O'Grady

I am up here at Great Adirondack Yarn Co. getting my creative juices re-energized. As you can see, two of the company ‘owners’ are showing us all how to relax on an early spring day.

This hat was born from my watching too many shows on the finance channels. Many of the pundits were offering 5 ideas to get us through the current crisis. Well, this hat is my answer to them.
There is plenty of warmth and color to this hat. The hat starts with a thick rolled brim and is topped with a 5 point striped area and a couple of squiggles tied into a knot. Most of the yarn in this hat was dyed and spun by myself. The hat was hand knit and then fulled (slightly felted). Materials – wool, alpaca, mohair, some metallics and synthetic yarns may have made their way in.

Now, I am off to knit a couple of strips to finish off a throw for the living room. It is amazing how quickly the weather has cooled down!!

A kind and confused knitter just pointed out an errata in the Silk Lace Shawl pattern that folks purchased at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival last week. Row one of the pattern should read: Row 1: Knit and inc one stitch at each end of row.

I apologize for any confused knitting that my mistake may have caused you.

This week I will learn the ins and outs of flat box shipping, custom forms, and the like. The people at the post office will get to know me a little better after I ship out the 45+ boxes!! What yarns that were not claimed by individuals, will go to a non-profit organization in NH that is teaching people with disabilities how to weave. All those people will be happy and I can then use the tubs for storage of things that have been just lying around in the cellar.

As I went through the tubs, I came upon some yarns that I still saw as treasures. However, I realized that they didn’t have the same allure for me anymore and that it was time to let them go to homes where they would be used and appreciated.

I really had a blast doing and I know that I will have as much fun packing it all up and sending it off to different parts of the planet.

Safari Vest

I have been far too busy spinning and knitting to blog. The list of finished items doesn’t reflect the six batches of yarn that I have spun and have already sold to stores. However, it does reflect my current knitting situation. These are images of the Safari Vest that I am creating using Safari Yarn – 100% cotton from Great Adirondack Yarn – which will have some beads on the front. The other is a detail photo of my Secret of the Stole ii where I am definitely in the Tortoise club – midway through clue #3. I have added beads to it even though the pattern didn’t call for them. I have definitely gone bead crazy.