Jet setting

I'm such a jet setter now.

Look at me with my espresso sitting in coach.

I do look quite pleased for a woman who has paid an exorbitant sum to rent a subhuman sliver of space in a hollow metal tube, don't I?

It's the espresso.

And the promise of non-chicken nugget dining that awaits me.

Goodbye, earth.

Hello, yarnophiles.

Goodbye, puppy slobber.

Hello, Bloomingdales.

Goodbye, stepping on toys in the middle of the night.

Hello, house-made pasta with leeks and pancetta in a parmesan broth.

I would write more now, but it's time for this jet setter to get home and wrangle the sweet babies and a puppy and a kitty and a hubby who went camping in my absence and left every piece of gear we own on the deck in the rain.

Clarification: the cat did not go camping. No one here is foolish enough to attempt that.

Update on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 5:41PM by Yarnista

Hubby just called saying he'd read the blog, and that I sadly, SADLY underestimated the amount of camping gear we own if I think he left everything out on the deck.

He did not want any of you to be misled into believing we only own 28 pieces of camping equipment, he is an experienced camper, and that would be woefully insufficient.

I have magical powers.

I have the ability to delay planes, and the power to set in motion massive domino-effect weather systems!

I make every plane I'm on run behind just with my very presence. The Muggles don't suspect a thing.

Especially since I just look like your average, ordinary Yarnista with her Illy espresso beverage and her knitting project.

I'm here!!!!!!

I'm here, I'm here!

Come say hello today at Bobbin's Nest Studio in Santa Clara! I'll be here until 6:00 pm and would love love love to see you!

1171 Homestead Rd Ste 130
Santa Clara, CA 95050
408.246.1121

P.S. I brought yarn.

Keep it together

I AM GOING TO CALIFORNIA IN LESS THAN TWO DAYS!!!!

But I'm keeping it together.  See? All is well.

I get to eat in restaurants that do not serve chicken nuggets!

I'm just answering emails, returning phone calls, dyeing yarn. Normal stuff.

Yarn must be shipped. The world doesn't stop because

I'll be in California in less than 48 hours!!!!

But you know what I will not have with me?

Chicken nuggets.

Hey, I have a question.

Is this the look they're sporting in the Bay Area these days?

Police officer chic?

Or is this more like it?

Help a girl out, wouldya?

I'm keeping it together. I'm going to get back to being deeply immersed in my work to distract myself.

There are only a couple of spots left in my super fun multi-media class at Bobbin's Nest Studio in Santa Clara. I would hate for you to wait too long and miss it -- there will be lots of samples and examples and concrete ways to improve your relationship with hand dyed yarn.

Something you've been dying to know about me, yarn, or the meaning of life? Now will be your chance to ask. We'll talk about how yarn is dyed, how to tell what kind of yarn you've got in your stash, and how to make best use of it.

New knitter, old knitter, doesn't matter.  I'm here to hook you up.

See? Friendly. Helpful. Calm because I'm carrying yarn.

But not chicken nuggets.

You can sign up by emailing Bobbin's Nest Studio at bobbinsnest@gmail.com, or by giving them a jingle. Their number is 408-246-1121.

well, darn knit anyway

It's best said with a Minnesota accent. Well, gosh darn it anyway, I better get home to put that hotdish in the oven.

Darn Knit Anyway is a great name for a store, and it also happens to be a lovely yarn shop.

It's in the charming town of Stillwater, MN flanked on one side by rocky bluffs and on the other by the St. Croix river.

I especially happen to like this store because of what they had in the front window.

What -- could it be? Spring Rainbow miniskeins on Wexford Merino Silk? In the front window of Darn Knit Anyway in the charming town of Stillwater, MN flanked by rocky bluffs and the St. Croix river?

Why yes. Yes, it is.

Am I dreaming? Because if I am, don't wake me up.

On Saturday, I drove to Stillwater from my home in Duluth. It took me a little over two hours, and it was well worth the trip. I was there to conduct a workshop on knitting with hand dyed yarn.

This is Aimee. She owns Darn Knit Anyway, and she is as fun and helpful as can be. I did not get a picture of her other employees, who nicely put up with my shenanigans and ran out to buy me a coffee and helped me wind yarn for the better part of the morning.

In Minnesota parlance, these are some real, real nice gals.

The shop is in a historic building, and it has a lot of light and charm. It's a wonderful size, with two levels, a classroom area, a knitting corner, and an awesome children's space. (Thank you, yarn shop owners who put out some toys for the kids!)

Darn Knit Anyway also sells fabric and has a great selection of books, tools for felting, and charming accessories.

I could work here. Aimee, if I ever need a job, I'm calling you.

OK, here's the crazy part. Ready?

People actually paid money to come to this workshop. Paid good money to listen to me talk about yarn. This is astounding.

And here's the super crazy part. Some of these people traveled a long, long way to hear me talk about yarn. This wasn't one of those, "Hey, I can't think of anything else to do this Saturday morning," this was, "I shall drive a long way and pay money to attend the event in which Sharon shall talk about yarn for three hours."

People came from as far away as Iowa and Ohio, and from many parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In my book, that is a long, long way.

I love you guys.

This was the nicest groups of knitters. They were friendly, inquisitive, and laughed appropriately at my attempts at humor. They also knit with ugly yarn when I told them to. How's that for nice?

(Seriously, the yarn was UH-GLY. I made it ugly on purpose to illustrate a point.)

We ate lunch together. They promised they would tell me if I got food on my face. No one said anything, so I either had no food on my face or they lied when they said they would tell me. I think it's the former.

Afterwards I let them look at some of the non-ugly yarn. Deep down, I'm a very nice person.

I brought a bunch of new fall colorways, and also a bunch of Carpe Yarnem colorways -- colorways that can never be duplicated.

Darn Knit Anyway still has some skeins left. I suggest a visit or a call or an email.

I had an amazing time. Thank you so much to the attendees and to Darn Knit Anyway!

This weekend I'm off to Bobbin's Nest Studio in Santa Clara, CA, for another workshop and trunk show! Who's in?