On Newsday, Debbie Bliss and Barack Obama

On November 11, Newsday mentioned Three Black Sheep (THANK YOU!!) I happened to be off that day and actually hadn’t gotten around to reading the paper when the shrill ringing of the telephone matched by the shrill tone in Rebecca’s voice made me aware of this happy news.

“Have you seen today’s paper? Hold on the other line is ringing.”

While on hold I started to read about Barack Obama and President Bush meeting today. A little confused on why this was important for Rebecca and I to discuss, I continued to hold.

“I’m back. The phone won’t stop ringing since the shop is in Newsday. Oh crap. Hold on.”

Yeah!! I found the appropriate section and read excitedly. I saw the picture of Edie and myself. This was wonderful. Why didn’t Rebecca sound excited?

“Okay. We’re up to 48 should we limit the Debbie Bliss thing?”

What? It was only 10:20 in the morning and we were up to 48? So many people are enthralled and excited by her.  This truly was blowing me away. No, I decided that minute. How can I turn anyone away. She has such a following and she is making this trip from the UK.  We will make room. A heated tent in the yard out back. Cool Beanz will make tea, coffee and scones. It will be great! Since I was silently pondering the logistics as I turned back to tell Rebecca my decision I found that she was already gone and chatting on the other line.

“Alright, what were you saying?”

“I was saying, we are not putting a limit on the Debbie Bliss event.”

Silence.

Then, “Are you sure?”

Now Debbie Bliss will not be solving our country’s current woes as we aspire for President elect Obama.  Although I suspect she has opinions on our econic crisis, healthcare discord and national security.  However, while we are showing signs of stress regarding the above what could be better than to pull out one of her pattern, perhaps some luxury tweed, a cup of tea and experience some meditative relaxing time thanks to her genius.

So I understand the journey people are willing to take.  So come one, come all.  We will get a bigger tent!And of course Mr. Obama is welcome as well – just please RSVP so I can have a chair ready for you. Perhaps knitting is just the thing to take up before the pressures of the Whire House ensue!

On Scones and Newsday

On Wednesday a photagrapher from Newsday came to the shoppe to take photos for an article.  A very no nonsense, professional woman who appraoched me with her mission upon entering the shoppe.  I explained the reported from Newsday had  asked that photos be taken during my knit-in but not during one that was too crowded.  That left the Friday night knit-ins out.  I thought the Wednesday morning coffee gathering was perfect.

“How many people do you expect” the photograher queried.   She had yet to peer around the center store display and see the six seated women who had arrived early.  “Well,” I laughed nervously, “it’s hard to predict.”  As the door jingled and two more people arrived.  Her eyes widened in dismay.  “How do you fit so many people in here?”  Jingle, jingle goes the door.  “Well, we always seem to manage somehow.”  Jingle, jingle.  Jingle, jingle.  “Hm,” she huffed walking around with her camera trying to position herself.  “Please have some coffee and I brought in fresh scones,” I was trying to improve the situation with baked goods.    

“Oh no. No.”

“How about a chair?”

“No.”

“Well then let me know if you need anything.”  I would stop interferring with the clearly focused photographer.  I could just see the article now – Lovely Shoppe, Crazy Hovering Owner.  Jingle, jingle, I cringed.

Everyone settled to their knitting. The photographer settled to her picture taking. Soon we were immersed in our normal routine that we forgot she was even there.  The most amazing thing began to happen. She began to smile. She put her camera down. She became a part of the conversation taking place around the table.  At one point I had gotten up to help someone with an errant stitch and she slid into my chair and began nibbling on a scone.  And I swear I saw her gazing longingly at my pile of yarn and needles.

At the end she thanked me and everyone at the table.  She said this was a wonderful place and this was a wonderful thing I was doing for the community.  Truthfully, I’m puzzled.  Hey I love and bask in compliments like everyone else.  But all I’m doing is providing space, coffee and high calorie snacks.  These women are creating the magic by coming together.  They are providing a forum for intelligent discussion, a space in which to relax and an avenue in which to express themselves.  I’m honored to be part of it.

Rhinebeck

Rhinebeck

October 30, 2008 by 3blacksheep

I’ve just taken my first ever trip  to the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival.  I prepared emotionally for this trip for weeks.  This was no less than a religous excursion into a mecca of fiber.  This was my 4oth birthday gift to myself.  My loved ones understood the importance of this date as it approached.  Who wouldn’t? A religous mecca? A woman turning 40! So they decided to accompany me. We armed the car with DVDs, snacks, a lace project, 2 socks, and a sweater on the needles and two hours later than planned took to the roads.  We stopped for breakfast. We made a bathroom stop. We stopped to search the car for an errant sock needle (no one understood that stop.) Then we made the very slow progress into the fairgrounds. After about four hours in the car my tiny loved ones had about enough.  We parked and my excitement was infectious – we were here! I could smell the fibers! They could smell the cotton candy. We briskly entered and came to a dead stop at a children’s section at the entrance. After an hour of begging and pleading to move on (you see I thought I was so close this was simply torture) my husband in a moment of brillance said “Why don’t you go ahead and we’ll meet you?” I did’t need to be told twice I was off and running.  If you were there and you saw a crazed appearing woman carrying giant pixie sticks, stuffed sheep and alpacas, running through the displays I am ashamed to admit that was me. Something odd happened to me, I found that instead of looking at the wares on display I began admiring the handknits that people were wearing. Everywhere someone was sporting something handmade.  It was astounding! The workmanship was breathtaking.  Sometimes in an array of color, but often in a beautiful aran white with incredible attention to detail.  I had an epiphany! I needed to make an incredible aran sweater from wool from a small farm.  A true mission. Drat! My cell phone was buzzing, my time was up.  I made my way back to my loved ones.  My husband was holding his head, they had ridden the carousel four times and he was nauseated.  everyone was cold and wanted to go home. Okay, maybe next year I thought.  My husband looked expectantly at  me to see what I had purchased. I shook my head dejectedly. “Oh no, I’m not driving back with you until you buy something.” The love of my life announced.  “Come on kids, Mommy has to buy something.”  Back to the trenches with my loved ones in tow, now all of us with a mission. Two hours later standing at a small stand I find the most exquisite merino from a farm in Massachusetts. I, now exhausted, blurt out that I must have 1900 yards of this exquisite fiber.  Bless her soul, she doen’t question this odd request, she simply does the math and bags my purchase.  Settled in the car holding my merino I am happy. My children holding their stuffed sheep and alpacas are happy.  My husband behind the wheel says would I mind if he skips next years trip?

First Aran Afghan Knit-a-Long and Injuries Galore

The night was a huge success!  Many cast on, ripped back, cast on again – but left with a great start. It’s always such fun to see all the different colors that are picked and to see them worked up.  Everyone who came to knit together came knitting at a different skill level but all left learning something new.  I have to say we are very lucky to have another wonderful group for this knit-a-long.  There were moments of intense concentration but these were always broken up by everyone laughing and having a fabulous time.  I was a little bit frazzled because I had spent the morning in the ER with my 6 year old who had broken her arm.  So thank you all for your patience with me.  We spent the weekend making a bed for her Hawaiian doll so I am glad I made it!!

I’m almost done with the Ella Rae sweater for my 9 year old and I will post a picture of her wearing it.  I’m actually getting a lot of knitting done this weekend.  If you can imagine, we are housebound from Leah’s injury, I was cleaning the pantry and I dropped oil on the floor. I turned, slipped and twisted my knee under me.  I’m resting the tangle battered mess now. Leah and I are playing invalids with Jamie and my husband waiting on us. My time limit for special treatment is only one day – so back to knitting!

A short distraction

 

My children, who are the love of my of my life and the greatest source of guilt, have asked for a few things. Firstly, Jamie, my 9 year old needed , no NEEDED a sweater immediately to wear to school. Leah, my 6 year old NEEDED a Hawaiian doll for her school project. Now if Leah gets a knitted doll Jamie must have one also. So several sleepless nights later I have two completed dolls and a nearly completed sweater for Jamie.  I have two very happy children who think I am the greatest mom ever so it is worth it all!

The sweater is made out of Ella Rae’s Amity a worsted Acrylic/wool blend in heathered colors, so inexpensive that it was surprisingly springy and pleasant to work with.  The pattern support is amazing.  The children’s book features patterns ages 4 through 12 ( a tough age range to find patterns for.) My girls are already planning more projects out of this book!

Take a look and let me know what you think. Back to the aran afghan and the Kamelsoft jacket pronto!!!

                 Leah’s doll Step 1                                                       Leah’s doll DONE!!!!                                             Jamie’s Doll (without arms)

 

Ella Rae Book 12                                                           Back and Left Front

 

 

 

Oh my goodness, I forgot another impulse project!! Woodstock knits alpaca lace shawl kit.  So quick, size 15 needles, love this yarn, love this company. Small personal service. Check out the variety of kits I’ve ordered for the shop…Let me know how you like the lace.

                                                                               

Kamelsoft

For those of you who know me, you know I love exotic fibers. The more exotic the more enticing. Except perhaps dog, I have no desire to knit with dog hair.  I have 3 dogs at home, I knit with enough dog hair mixed with ALL of my projects. So when I started a jacket out of Ella Rae’s Kamelsoft (75% merino, 25% camel) I was excited but wary. My experience with camel was riding one at the Bronx zoo with my girls.  I remember the camel as being smelly and the hair being coarse and prickly. How wrong I was!! Kamelsoft is SOFT and lanolin-rich (I feel my hands are softer while working with it), my stitches are well defined and the garment is draping beautifully. I love it.  Take a look at the start of the project. I found the pattern in the Fall 2008 issue of Knit Simple.

Kamelsoft jacket backBack detail

Whoops

The second afghan square did not appear – the moss diamond

Moss Diamond

Our New Aran Afghan

This years afghan is coming along wonderfully.  Those of you who have signed up for our knit-a-long are very excited to start on October 6th.  I have loved learning all about the history of aran knitting and can’t wait to share!!  Each block has a deeper symbolic meaning and I am already planning to make two similar one for each of my daughters.  I took many pictures of the squares but sadly only two translated well enough to show you the details.  The tree of life is my favorite (the one pictured is tree of life number 1 because there is a second way to knit the aran tree of life, so there will be tree of life number 2.)  I’m thrilled everyone has selected a wide variety of colors, because true aran knitting was not only relegated to natural. We picked a rust color because it symbolized fall-our favorite time of the year!

Tree of Life (1)Moss Diamond

Becoming Liberated

This is a great day for me.  Not only was I able to retrieve my password (by myself) but I also learned how to put pictures into the blog.  If you haven’t been in the shop since we reopened take a look at the new Three Black Sheep!!

The new and improved shop

Yarn Tasting

Hello everyone – this is Diana posting on Rebecca’s username. So you will see a distinct change in style of writing and I can’t let Rebecca take the blame.  I am hopelessly disorganized and bordering on being computer illiterate.  I spent 45 minutes trying to remember my username to get onto this blog (I always use the same password and username because I constantly forget) somehow I must have messed this up anyhow!!

I have to say I am overwhelmed with how well our first yarn tasting went!! A big thanks to Newsday for printing a mini-bit the day before.  Our phones were ringing off the hook.  So sorry to those we had to turn away because we were full.  If I could double my shop space I would!!  However, if you missed out, we’ve decided to continue the yarn tasting (indefinitely).  With purchase, you’ll get a sample of one of our fall yarns to try at home. 

My new goal for this week is to take pictures of my current projects and post them (and figure out my username and password-HA, HA)  Wish me luck.