The Impressive Sow's Ear!

Hi Knitters,

Get ready for a long one today! I can't help myself.

I have to start by saying that The Sow's Ear event was one of the most successful yarn shop events I have ever had. I even stayed an extra hour because there were still so many people at the table enjoying the toys and the books. I couldn't just pack up and leave. It was awesome! Any author couldn't have dreamed of a better reception than this. Thank you to everyone who stopped by yesterday. What fun. What struck me most was that people didn't want to leave the shop and the event, they stayed and stayed for hours. The shop makes everyone want to move in, I guess. That's very telling, it's like you can't get enough.

You know you can't go wrong when you start off an event with a visitor like this one (photo above)! I was at The Sow's Ear for the afternoon yesterday and look who wandered in. Meet Katrina. She is 16 months old and is wearing the Pink Paper Bag Hat from Itty-Bitty Hats (it's the cover hat). Instead of pulling the ducks on their wheels Katrina liked picking the whole thing up and carrying it around. I love that.
Katrina's mom, Jasmine, knitted the hat for her daughter and I was happy to meet both of them. Jasmine's husband is in Iraq and has been there for 2 years now. He has only seen Katrina five times but he is expected home in January. Katrina and Jasmine stayed with me for a long time at The Sow's Ear in Verona, Wisconsin but that seemed to be the theme of the day for this wonderful book signing event yesterday.

Katrina must have walked all the way around the table a good twenty times. One time on her route behind my chair I actually got her to stop for a second so I could hold her for a bit. She sat on my lap for a good long time. It was great.

I thought this series of photos was so funny. I love to hold a baby but Katrina wasn't too sure about me...
... after a little work her mom got a little smile out of her.... I tried to win her over...
... I went in for the squeeze but Katrina wasn't feeling it.... look at her expression and the lean back ... so funny...

Katrina was clearly over me .... I still managed to get a tiny dose of baby love for the day. Thanks for the hug, well, sort of, Katrina! You made my day. She was awfully sweet and entertaining. Jasmine was an enthusiastic knitter to say the least. Thanks for coming and for waking up from your nap to see me, Katrina.

The steady flow of knitters began right at the starting time and it did not stop the entire time. It was so much fun and well-attended. I was impressed by the entire event. Heather, one of the shop managers, was incredibly friendly and accommodating. The shop features a wonderful coffee cafe. I had a fantastic lemonade and a pumpkin spice coffee on the house. I loved it. Thank you for taking care of the tired and thirsty author, Heather. You are wonderful and welcoming and warm. Heather took the photos for me, too.

I signed and signed and signed. It was awesome. We went through stacks of books that knitters bought at the event and loads of people brought their copies with them to be signed. It was a very successful signing and I highly recommend this shop to other authors/designers/ publishers for a fun spot to visit for events. You could not find a happier, warmer crowd of knitters anywhere.

I sincerely feel like I have rediscovered this shop. I used come out and knit and shop here but I hadn't been for a long while just due to being too busy. I am definitely scheduling some hanging out time here in the near future. It is too fun to not take advantage of when a shop like this is right in your hometown. If you see me hanging out and knitting at The Sow's Ear be sure to say hello! They have knit nights until 11pm every first and third Thursday of the month. That's too late for me but I hear it is an absolute zoo of enthusiastic knitters on these nights. It sounds really fun!
Sara, who I have met through my blog, made her way up from Platteville, WI, to come to the event. She was so sweet and even sat next to me for awhile in that empty chair at the table. She has been such a positive source of support for a long time. Sara is a retired kindergarten teacher and I bet she was an excellent teacher, I can tell. She has a kind way about her. Thank you, Sara, it was great to meet you.

I don't have a photo but there was another sweet woman who had just moved to Madison recently. She came and sat next to me for a little while so I could help her learn the twisted loop stitch for the baby doll's hair. She couldn't believe how simple it was and once she tried a couple of stitches, she had it made in the shade! She was thrilled.

Another woman brought her finished baby doll with her and it turned out so great. She was very proud of her doll and told me she had been looking for a knitted baby doll pattern for years. She was so excited about the doll pattern. That was fun to hear.
These two were celebrating the birth of their first grandchild. They stopped by to have a book signed on their way to Milwaukee to meet their new baby boy! The husband wanted to buy one of the reversible toys... I thought that was funny. He was serious. He understood when I explained the toys weren't for sale. His wife will just have to get knitting for that new grand baby right away!

The woman in red coat works with my husband. She was so sweet to come and stay for awhile at the signing. My husband just loves working with her. She doesn't even knit but bought a book anyway. Isn't that nice? I loved seeing her and she just loved the toys. She came to a signing a couple of years ago and visited with my mom for a long time at that event. I'll always remember that. She is a kind supportive soul.

What I love in the photo above and the next few photos is the little girl in the striped hat. She started at one end and...
... systematically worked her way down the table...
... quietly touching and trying out every toy...
... until she got to the very end! That's the way to do it! Love the hat, too:) She was very cute.
These two knitting friends were so excited. The woman on the left brought her finished puppy from Itty-Bitty Toys to share. It turned out great. She used a little heavier yarn, which is just fine, so her puppy turned out a little bigger. That's the good thing about toy knitting, you don't have to worry so much about the gauge if you don't mind having a toy that turns out a little bigger or smaller than the one in the book.

It was great fun to meet these ladies!
Sara got some good lovin' from the friendly giraffe. I love how the arms are draped around her neck like a baby.
It was awesome, there was a kids knitting class going on at the same time as the signing. The teacher, Liz, let the girls take a break to come and see the toys. Grace (in blue) was wearing the hat they were making in class and she actually finished her own hat by the end of the day. I think the two middle girls were in the hat knitting class and that's just my little toy buddy on the end.

Grace basically wouldn't leave the shop after her class until her mom bought her a copy of Itty-Bitty Toys. Her mom finally gave in, being the kind soul that she is, and Grace is now planning on making the New Sock Monkey as her first toy! It was a funny exchange, the whole thing. I enjoyed it.
This was another little girl who spent a ton of time at the table. She would come and play with the toys and then she would leave. Then a little while later she would reappear again to play for awhile. This happened three or four times. She was very quiet but entranced by the knitted toys. I love seeing older kids, teens and adults get as much joy out the the toys as the little ones do. My dear friend, Chris, showed up and also stayed a long time. Her daughter works at the shop, too. I have to tell you something special about Chris. She was my obstetrician when The Collector was born. She came to the hospital when she wasn't even on call in the middle of the night for her delivery. She was born at about 3am. That's a true friend alright. Our sons grew up best friends and we all spent countless hours at each others' homes together and traveled together on family vacations for many years. We have many connections in different ways and I will always consider Chris a very dear and special friend. I am a lucky girl to have her. Isn't she cute? She gives the best hugs ever.
I was intrigued by these large flat cakes of wool. It is unspun wool by School House Press (Elizabeth and Meg Zimmerman's Pittsville, WI company). You can double the strand and knit on a size 8 at about 4 stitches per inch or on a single strand on a size 3 for 7 stitches per inch or so. I would like to have all of those yarn cakes for my house, please:) They are really cool. The Sow's Ear had all sorts of unique yarns that I hadn't seen before. The inventory is fantastic and full and organized. It's simply a great shop!
The shelves are packed to the brim with loads of fantastic yarn.
This is my friend Chris's daughter, Kate. Kate loves working at the shop and is their best barista I have heard from a reliable source. I have known Kate since she was 10-years-old and she is in her early twenties now. She is adorable and fun! It was great to see her post-college and looking so young and happy with her life.
The shop houses many rooms including this spacious area for eating and knitting and sipping coffee and tea. It is a wonderful setting.
I have sat many times and knitted, with Chris in fact, in the little window nook to the left right there. You can't see it that well because it is always occupied and I didn't want to disturb the knitters in there. There are some cozy chairs tucked in that spot.
The shop is a little old house with a big front porch. It is on the main street in downtown Verona, which is about 15 minutes from my house. Verona is really considered a part of Madison in many ways. It is very quaint.
The sign is even endearing with the sow sporting a pilgrim hat for the season.
A little cement pig greets you at the steps.
I love the mosaic table on the front porch. It was such an unseasonably warm day that there were people sitting out on the porch when I arrived.
Inside there are buttons, bags, patterns, books, tons of yarn and needles, etc. You can't go wrong here.
Thank you, Sow's Ear!!!! What a day to remember. I hope to be back real soon.

Heather and I talked about setting up a workshop sometime soon so keep your eyes out for that if you are interested.

Also, Madison Knitters Pay Attention: The Sow's Ear is getting an account with Spud & Chloë! Your waiting is over in the Madison area for a shop to carry Spud & Chloë. This is very exciting news. Thank you! I will be sending everyone your way to get their Spud & Chloë yarns and patterns. The shop will be getting the line very soon so also keep your eyes and ears out for this development. You would not believe how many emails I get from Madison knitters wanting Spud & Chloë in a local shop and now I will send them right over!

Phew! What a day! I am home for the holiday week so it won't be restful but it will be loads of family time together. Plus, my son is turning 18 years old next weekend. It is a big week around here.

If you are still with me, thanks for sticking it out to the end!

Have a good Sunday knitters.

best, susie

The Wool Cabin in Salt Lake City

Hi Knitters,

I am sitting in my most favorite place on earth, O'Hare airport in windy Chicago, waiting for my flight home to Madison. Actually it isn't too bad here right now so there must be some luck on my side. I want to share with you my fantastic day yesterday at The Wool Cabin.

What strikes me the most when I walk in the doors of this shop is how bright, sunny and fresh it feels. It is clean and organized with a huge variety of yarns, bags, patterns, samples, needles and helpful staff. It is a refreshing treat. The explanation for this welcoming atmosphere becomes quickly apparent when you hear the story of how this shop came to be. The shop is currently owned by two sisters, Alison (left below) and Suzette (right below). However, the shop was originated by their mother, Renee. She opened the shop with high hopes and with the intention of having a friendly shop and resource for knitters. Sadly, she passed away about five years ago and the sisters decided to carry on their mother's dream in The Wool Cabin.

The photo of Alison's and Suzette's mom hangs proudly in the shop and to look at it brings a tear or two to my eyes. In the photo Renee happily works on a customer's sweater and Alison said it is the perfect picture of her. Renee would be so incredibly proud of her daughters as they honor her memory through the shop but mainly the way the live their lives. Her legacy lives on through them. I love coming to The Wool Cabin, I have had the opportunity to be there two times now and I would come back anytime.
Aren't they wonderful? Both owners are fantastic and inspiring knitters. I started the day at the shop with a workshop. There was a good group of knowledgeable knitters ready at the go. I designed a mini-reversible toy that I am only making available to my workshop students at this time. I have a few more workshops to teach over the next months and then I'll see what I want to do with the pattern. Suzette and Alison smartly made a small kit with all necessary yarns and the pattern for the class. It was really slick and fun. Since the toy is only about 3 inches tall, you really don't need too much of anything to complete the toy.
There was a great display of the Itty-Bitty books and lots of Spud & Chloë everywhere you looked. I loved it. Suzette knitted up the Wrap Me Up Puppy and the Cupcake Pincushions. Alison knitted up the Baby Bartlett set and Ribbit. The Cupcake Hat from Itty-Bitty Nursery is up there, too. As for all shops, the samples are what sells the yarn and patterns. It is so fun to see things in finished form.
It was a glorious sunny day in SLC with warm temperatures and bright light streaming into the shop. They even kept the door open during the class and that fresh Utah air felt so good to me. What a pleasant setting for a class. The classroom is roomy and comfortable. The Wool Cabin offers classes all of the time and if you are in the area you should pop in or call to sign up.
The cute knitter on the right, Jessica, drove 3 hours just to take the class. Her husband had to rearrange his work schedule to watch their child and to let her come and take the class. She was adorable and such a treat to meet. Jessica is a fairly new knitter and she was awesome and remarkably accomplished. I wasn't close to that good when I was new and I mean that.

The ladies worked and worked. They were all excellent and skilled knitters so I didn't have to work too hard. I loved it. It was more like a big knitting circle and we all chatted and told stories during the class. I gave out my Big 5 toy knitting tips during the class. I had the trunk show on a table near by for playing time if someone needed a break.
The two hour class literally flew by. I couldn't believe how fast it went. I had a lot of good laughs during the class mostly due to Alison, the owner. She is a hoot and she really is silly and fun. I love being around her because I love to laugh. Alison gave me the most touching introduction. Her son has recently joined the military and she emails me with updates every once in awhile. She referred to this and she started tearing and that made me tear up. We quickly laughed to stop the tearing before it went too far. As I looked at Alison and her sister and her mom on the wall, it wasn't hard to get emotional.

Alison Barlow also has a knitting book of her own. This book was started by her mom and after she passed Alison finished it. Look here to see this wonderful book for beginners. It is a good one for anyone wanting quick and simple projects.

Now some of these wonderful knitters came to my class last time I was at The Wool Cabin and I remembered them. I loved meeting the new knitters, too. There were so many sweet women here I can't begin to describe how warm and friendly the class was. I had one woman tell me the class was better than Christmas. How sweet is that? I tell you, times and experiences like these make all of the travel worthwhile. You can't understand what the knitting means to people until you experience it firsthand. I am so grateful I get to travel and meet Itty-Bitty knitters all over. It is life-changing for me.
Most of the knitters got close to finishing one side of the reversible and a couple got a good start on the second side. If you can master the techniques in this class project you can knit every toy in the book with ease. I included all of the necessary skills for all of the Itty-Bitty Toys in this one tiny toy project. I loved seeing the concentration and efforts of the ladies. There was one woman doing the magic loop method and everyone else used double-pointed needles. Everyone did great!

The signing was fun, too. I had several people who couldn't get into the class stop by to see the trunk show and get their books signed. I was glad I got to meet them and sorry there wasn't more room in the class. I have to say it was a really nice size class, just perfect. There was a husband who came to get his wife's book signed (I always love that!). There were lots of kids and a couple of babies, and they loved the toys! It was all good!!
That's just my friends and me hanging out in the hotel.... we have a lot of fun bonding while out on the road:)

Thank you to Alison and Suzette for a wonderful experience. You have the sweetest knitters at your shop, it's really remarkable. It is a reflection of both of you and your mom, no question. The sisters then took me out for a yummy dinner at the Dodo Bird (?) restaurant. I had a fantastic turkey and swiss sandwich on a garlic roll that you dipped in a tangy barbeque sauce. I loved it. Plus they had my favorite soup in the world, butternut squash. It was smooth as silk. It was good company and good food. I appreciate the rides, too, Alison!

The Wool Cabin has a website and they take phone orders and ship directly to customers all over the world. They have tons of yarn, Blue Sky, Spud & Chloë, Noro, Debbie Bliss, sock yarn, Encore, Cascade... if you ask I bet they have it! Hop on over to The Wool Cabin for more information. This is a wonderful shop to support. They have the Knitted Chickens pattern I did for Blue Sky (see my sidebar for details) in the shop! I have so many requests for how to get this pattern so here you go. Suzette told me she has sent out so many chicken patterns around the world, she has lost count. I love that.

I signed lots of books for stock at the Wool Cabin, so if you didn't make it to the signing or class you can still pick up a signed copy.

I have to pass on some exciting news. Itty-Bitty Toys is already heading in for a second printing! Thank you for the support out there!

More news, Trent, my editor, keeps me posted on Itty-Bitty Hats and its availability. It is in the warehouse and should be shipped and available any day now. All backorders will be filled and IBH should be ready to roll once again.

My flight is boarding and I can't wait to get home! Oh, I can't wait.

Take care knitters.

best, susie

Two More Minnesota Moments

Hi Knitters,

I think the photo above is so funny. I only wish there was better lighting. That is Colonel Mustard in the background with his teeth sticking out. Aren't they a curious pair? My daughter saw this photo and burst out laughing and then said, "Awwwwww."
At the Blue Sky Alpacas offices I loved seeing my designs (and everyone else's designs) sprinkled about the space. Rachel had knit up some autumnal Cupcake Pincushions I did for the Spud & Chloe blog. I love the chocolatey pumpkin spice cupcakes. These cupcakes would make great little holiday gifts this season. It is fun to mix up the colors and try new things.

I have a new hat pattern called, Modern Rib Hat, that I previewed on Spud says! if you are interested in checking it out. I will have it up and available for free download next week sometime.

That's it for today! I am sitting in my hotel in sunny Salt Lake City, Utah. I will be at the Wool Cabin with one of my favorite set of sisters and shop owners, Suzette and Alison, this afternoon for a workshop (I designed a new toy just for the workshop students!) and a book signing from 4-6pm following. Should be fun. I'll share the details afterward.

best, susie

Going Home

Hi Knitters,

I ended the day last Saturday visiting the homes of both sets of my grandparents in Anoka, Minnesota. My parents both grew up in Anoka. I spent a lot of time here in my younger years. I hadn't seen these homes for 20 years. I was nervous. It was a bittersweet moment for me. The memories of my younger parents and grandparents are still running through my mind days later. I knew it would make me sad to see these homes but I felt a strong need to go.

I used to walk through that very door straight into my grandma's kitchen. I can see the inside of that house so clearly. My favorite thing was when my mom and grandma and maybe an aunt or two would gather with a cup of hot coffee around the tiny kitchen table. The table was round and tucked into a corner. There were four bucket chairs that would swivel. The ladies would sit and tell stories. I would crowd in. Usually, being the youngest, I would get to sit in my mom's warm lap. I was mesmerized. The laughter and love was rich.

As kids, we spent so much time outside just playing and exploring, in all seasons, at times only coming inside to eat. I remember the yard and my grandma's enormous garden (which is now grass) as vividly as the inside of the house.

I remember looking at my grandma's hands while at the kitchen table. They were riddled with arthritis but I thought they were beautiful and hardworking. My mom, sister and I would always stay at this house when we visited. My two brothers and dad would stay on the other side of town (only a few minutes away) at the following house. We couldn't all fit in one house.

My parents and grandparents came from very humble beginnings but there was always plenty of love and support. They all traveled down many wonderful and difficult roads in life as we all do.

The journey that came before me was apparent and crystal clear last Saturday. The missing and longing over loss never fades. I remember every square inch of these homes like I was there yesterday.

...swirling memories. It was a touching day in Anoka, worlds away but so close.

best, susie

p.s. For my brother's 50th birthday gift I printed out about 20 photos of our grandparents' homes and put them in a little photo album to give to him. He is a sweet, nostalgic brother and he loved and studied the photos. I wanted to go to these homes mostly for him so I could show and tell him all about it.

Shepherd's Choice-Anoka Part 2

Hi Knitters,

Get ready for a long one today with lots of photos! Tomorrow I will post part 3!

First off, I have found something out. Little kids LOVE the tiniest doll inside the Matryoshka, Russian Nesting Dolls. I mean just look at that little girl in the photo above. What a sincere reaction! Little ones want to keep the tiny doll and tuck it in their hand or pocket. It is so fun watching this.

The reaction I've been seeing reminded me that I always liked the tiniest doll, too. I remember unstacking the dolls and anxiously trying to get to the tiniest one, the tinier the doll the more exciting the whole thing was. Do you remember doing that? In fact, I don't think I even owned a set of Russian Nesting Dolls growing up but I remember lucky friends sharing their sets with me. Now I have a few sets of nesting dolls and it never gets old. When the adult knitters see this set in person they immediately dig in and stack and pull apart the dolls. I love it.

Anyway, to step back a moment, I arrived at Shepherd's Choice, a brand new yarn shop in the quaint downtown of Anoka, Minnesota. The store was already packed full of people. I got the honor of attending the shop's grand opening and it was the most amazing event. The shop is extraordinary, beautiful, well-stocked, organized, warm and most importantly, welcoming. The excitement was running so high inside those doors. I was pulled inside and surrounded by the most fun, funny, happy group of knitters ever. They enveloped the shop and me with love and joy. The owner, Kathy, is something really special. She has the sweetest face and way about her. Kathy has her own yarn line and soap and lotion products all under the name Shepherd's Choice. I bought some of her beautiful wool and will share that later with you.

The one thing I want to point out about Shepherd's Choice is that it is an online shop, too. The shop hosts the entire line from Blue Sky Alpacas AND Spud & Chloë!! You can order it all right here. You can also order Kathy's incredible soaps and lush lotions and moisturizers and believe me, they smell so good. I was gifted a cake of the cinnamon soap (thank you, Ali!) and I felt like taking a bite. mmmmm....

In the photo directly above I want to point out that by the front door (left in the photo) is Kate from Knits in Class (with the short dark hair) and her cute mom (in front of the door). They came from St. Paul and it was fantastic to meet her in person.
Here's the mom to this cute blonde pair. These kids enjoyed the toy table so much. They circled about and tried and touched everything.
I signed and chatted and hugged the knitters. What a warm, friendly crowd. I literally felt like I was home. Be sure to look at the background of these photos. The store has a warm golden tin high ceiling and the walls are painted in creams and peaches and honey and pumpkin shades. The displays are gorgeous and the walls of yarn incredible.
Right behind me is the wall of soaps and other sundries. What a great addition to a yarn shop. Knitters love stuff like this. My sweet friend Rachel Russ took all of the photos for me during the event. She is a staff member at Blue Sky Alpacas and this is her local yarn shop. She designs lots of patterns for Blue Sky and Spud & Chloë. Those leg warmers from the last post are her design. She is a talented soul with four children and she home schools all of them (I just pack lunches, the home schoolers put me to shame:). Rachel also has knitted about four Tiny Turkeys and a couple of Ribbits for the shop. That was fun to see. Thanks for being the photographer, Rachel. Now I have photos to cherish.
Here is Awilda and her beautiful daughter. This is her Ravelry link! Awilda just finished the tote bag from Itty-Bitty Nursery! Love it! See how that side pocket fits her water bottle perfectly? Oh yeah. Her daughter is wearing the Upside Down Daisy Hat from Itty-Bitty Hats and she is adorable. Awilda hung out and looked like she was having the best time. I loved meeting her and I want to thank her for coming and spending time with me and for sharing her knitting with me. Awilda is cute and so proud of her sweet daughter.I am reaching in for a hug from Merri. I finally got to meet Merri who is a newer staff member at Blue Sky. I have just started working with her on a few new projects for the Spud & Chloë pattern line. She is wonderful and she just sent me a big box of Outer yarn. You gotta like that. That's her daughter and her husband's head. She was great to meet and I am glad I got the chance to meet her family, too.

You know it is always kind of strange to work with people and not get to see them in person or even just to see what they look like. I am a visual person so I love seeing people in person. I am always making my editor at Artisan, Trent, describe what people look like or tell me how old they are. I need an image in my head for some reason. Poor Trent:)
Okay, here are some more fantastic designers and knitters. Ali Williams is better known as Skeins Her Way. Ali is next to me. She is so supportive and fun. She has seven kids and home schools and knits and designs on top of all of that. What fun to meet her in person. She has done a lot of design work for Blue Sky Alpacas. Check out her site, along with her free hat pattern on the sidebar. It is really cute. Ali gifted me the cinnamon soap and be sure to look at the background of the photo above. It is so beautiful inside this shop. There is a kitchen area where Kathy makes all of these products out of the purest ingredients. Her yarns, Shepherd's Choice, are all dyed with natural dyes only and they are gorgeous.

The other lovely knitter (standing behind) is none other than The Blonde Knitter. She does a ton of test knitting for Blue Sky Alpacas. What a fun knitter she is, she never stopped smiling the entire event and she stayed until the end. I loved it. Her 16 year old daughter is really cute and you can see her modeling on her blog. Her ravelry page is here. You should check out her knitting, you will be impressed. She home schools her daughter, too.
This is Colleen checking out Sylvia's Cat and Mouse Toy. Colleen is the CFO for Blue Sky and I get to see her lovely signature on my paychecks. Love you, Colleen!! She is fun and nice and down to earth. One of her kids is getting married next summer and she is so excited. She was off after the event to make dinner for her family after their deer hunting day. She's the salt of the earth and fun to talk to. Colleen has done some sock and glove designs for Spud & Chloë. I got a sneak peek at her upcoming sock design and you are going to love it. She is smart and talented and fun! Thanks for coming, Colleen.

Colleen is trying to figure out that reversible toy. Sylvia Hager knit that sample toy for me and I usually stitck the two characters together at the top so they don't pull out but it is kind of fun to see it pulled apart like that.
Yes, there were more babies at the event. This is Sylvia (Ali's sister), another Blue Sky employee but now she is a stay at home mommy with her adorable, sweet daughter, Lizzie. Sylvia has done tons of designing for Blue Sky through the years and she has recently done the Playground Hoodie and the Lovey Dovey top for Spud & Chloë. Sylvia has started a new blog and you should really take the time to check it out. It is called, Fresh Maked and it is a good one. Check out her reversibles, too.
I knitted the Upside Down Daisy Hat as a baby gift for Lizzie when she was born. That is fun to see her wearing it so cutely.
Okay, look at the loft area in this photo. Kathy hired musicians to play and sing. It was lovely and added so much to the festive atmosphere. There was wine and food, too. It was an energy of happiness and excitement for this new shop! It is difficult to describe. On the left side of the loft, which also houses lots and lots of yarn, there were two people spinning on wheels the entire time. I would love to spin someday....if only I had time. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this space.
This was an exciting visitor to meet! It's Susan from the Rainey Sisters blog!! She brought her two Elefantes (my free pattern-see the sidebar!) for me to enjoy. Boy, was this a treat. If you don't read this blog you just have to pop over and indulge yourself for a bit. These two sisters are knitters like no one's business. I have loved their blog for a long time now.

Oh, I just popped over to get her link and Susan has already posted on meeting me! That's a weird blog coincidence, right? Her photo is way better than mine, too. (I have to laugh, I just read that I look better in person than in the photo. That's too good and it makes me laugh.) Thank you, Susan, for the support and coming to see me and the blog post! You are incredible and what an honor. Here is the Rainey Sisters blog. Go check it out! The photo for their header is Susan and her sister in the 1970's and it is one of the best headers out there. I love looking at that photo.

Edited to add: Check out Susan of the Rainey Sisters Santa from Itty-Bitty Toys! It is fantastic and she is going to put it on her Christmas mantle this holiday season.
I even got to hold sweet baby, Lizzie, in her Itty-Bitty Hat!
That's right, I put lots of photos of this baby in! Isn't she cute? I loved her sweet little body. I got to hold her for awhile and that always makes my day. I love the babies. Never hesitate to bring your babies or kids to any event of mine. They make my day!
I want to be sure to include my sweet Anoka girl, Annie or Lesli (on the left), she goes by both. Her blog is on my sidebar and she does a wonderful job. She hasn't posted lately but it is worth the time to look back through her entries. She is busy working full-time as a school librarian in Anoka along with taking care of her two kids. She has made the effort to come and see me three times now at events. I appreciate the effort and support and I was crossing my fingers you would come. That is Lesli's fun, nice sister who also knits. I was happy to meet her, too.
Really, the store is so artistically and beautifully displayed. The space is huge and airy and warm. You can really move around and play with the yarns and products. There is no clutter at all but yet the shop is stocked to the brim, overflowing with oodles of luscious yarns. I didn't want to leave here, ever.

There is a knit night on Thursday nights and if I was in the area I would be there. There were my Knit Chickens in the window along with the Tiny Turkeys, all dressed for the fall season.
Like Susan from the Rainey Sisters said, this was an EVENT!

Thank you for everything and the loving response. What a great group of knitters. You don't know how lucky you are, really. I hope to come back soon when my next book comes out or even sooner.

My day continued on from here, it wasn't over yet. It took a personal turn at this point. Tomorrow I am going to share a tiny bit of what happened next.... plus I have a couple more photos from earlier in the day to include so look for those, too.

Have a good day, Knitters.

best, susie

My Minnesota Morning

Hi Knitters,

I am having a hard time even thinking about how to write down my experiences from yesterday. I get kind of overwhelmed just thinking about it and then I can't figure out a good and appropriate way to tell you about it. I decided to break down the day into sections. Hopefully this will help me sort it out.

By the way, can you get over that great expression in the photo above? I can't. It makes me laugh.

On Saturday morning, the owner of Blue Sky Alpacas/Spud & Chloë, along with her kind husband (who does all of their fantastic pattern photography), picked me up at the hotel. I was checked out and ready to go. They took me out to their house, which was wonderful. They are in the midst of a renovation which was all familiar to me. I loved seeing the work in progress and all of her tile and color and floor samples. I eat that stuff up. The best part besides spending time with my beloved boss lady? I got to meet her three alpacas that live with her on the farm. I have never even been near an alpaca before and it was a treat.

I didn't realize that these animals have enormously endearing personalities. That's why they are so sought after and popular, I guess. I can't remember the names except the golden one is named, Colonel Mustard. Isn't that great? He was a funny one, too. She kept telling him to put his teeth in! That made me laugh.

My boss lady was extremely excited about her manure spreader that you can see in the distance there. It has opened a whole new world for her. Too good, right?
We had some carrots with us which they thoroughly enjoyed. I love the hair on top of their heads so much. Funny.
This experience was so fun for me. I know people think Wisconsin is all farms and everyone lives on a farm (and a lot do) but I am just a city girl with horrible allergies. I have very little experience with animals of any sort due to my life long battle with allergies and asthma. For me this close up experience was a treat.
The alpacas are incredible animals. They have a sweetness about them that would be tough to match in any other animal. They are kind of nervous or flightly but I could tell they really love and trust their owner.
I have an extreme cat allergy so I didn't linger about these adorable kittens but I did appreciate their cuteness. They were full of sweet kitten noises, too. When my mom was a little girl she had a kitten she named Lil' Sweetheart. Every time I see a cute kitten I always think of my mom and her Lil' Sweetheart that she loved so dearly. These two are definitely lil' sweetheart caliber.After the house visit I got to visit the Blue Sky Alpacas/Spud & Chloë office and warehouse. I took a ton of pictures but when I looked through I noticed that in most every shot there were projects and new colorways and things that haven't been released yet. I couldn't post those so I will just tell you that I didn't want to leave the premises when it was time. I could stay there for a week and still not want to leave. The creative energy is palpable. The yarn is the most beautiful and unique in the industry and the people who work there are top-notch. The beauty of the studio space is something I have never seen or experienced anywhere. You should know that when you buy Spud & Chloë or Blue Sky Alpacas yarn and patterns and needles and bags that it all comes from an exquisite little Minnesota hideaway that is truly like a fiber/design dreamland. It is a magical spot tucked away in the wilderness.

I was loaded up with gifts and love and new, fresh inspiration. My boss lady (she doesn't like public recognition which makes me love her even more) is incredible and generous. She gets me wishing I had a lot more hours in the day to work and knit and create. She inspires me. I got sneak peeks at all kinds of cool yarn, colors, projects, ideas, sketches, textiles, etc. It was priceless. After this stop I could have just packed up and gone on home.

We went to lunch and headed off to the Shepherd's Choice in Anoka.

Little did I know the day was only going to get better from here on out!

Here is a very short 30 second video I took of the alpacas. At one point I turned the camera as if I was taking a photo, which wasn't good, but I still thought you might enjoy seeing exactly what I got to see:)

I'll be back tomorrow with part 2 of Anoka, Minnesota.

best, susie

Minneapolis!

Hi Knitters,

I'm here in Minneapolis this morning and this afternoon I will be in Anoka at Shepherd's Choice (see my sidebar for details). It's their grand opening today at 1:00pm. Yesterday I got off the plane and was whisked to KARE 11, the Minneapolis NBC station to do a live segment for Showcase Minnesota. That was very fun. The host Corbin sincerely loves the knitting and the toys. She was really funny and cute and silly. You can watch the segment here if you missed it.
Here is the table I set up for the show. There was a chef preparing his segment right next to me. Cooking segments are so much work. I can't believe all of the prep for a quick few minutes. It smelled spicy and yummy. My set up is simple in comparison.
The toys looked so sweet and inviting. They did me proud.
Everyone loves seeing the reversibles in person. There is nothing like holding one of these in your hands.
The puppies wrapped up in their blankets is one of the most popular patterns so far. You never know what will take off. They are pretty sweet.

Anyway, it was fun and fast. In the green room before my segment I got to hang out with Bobcat Goldthwait. Love it! I thought it was him but he looks different than when I last saw him. He has short or no hair, he wore big dark rimmed glasses and a little plaid newsboy hat. I realized for certain it was him when the station staff kept filing in and telling him how much they loved him and what certain skit or movie or David Letterman appearance they loved. He was very gracious and kind. He was performing in Minneapolis. Bobcat was interested in my book tour and where I was going. I found him really nice and quiet and humble. It was good to see. He talked about his daughter who is currently in Massachusetts filming a documentary on the Kennedy family. Prior to that she was working on a reality show about Carnie Wilson called, Carnie Unstapled. Fantastic.

Seriously, I can't make this stuff up. Last tour I was in a green room with a child star singer who sang Jesus Take the Wheel for her segment and her stage mother behind the scenes was craaaazy. It was incredible. I just smile and soak it all in. These are the kinds of moments when you can't believe you are where you are. It's so removed from my everyday life.
That afternoon I went to Needlework Unlimited in Minneapolis. I love coming to this shop, it is my third visit. The beginning of the event was fast and furious. I signed so many books, the staff kept bringing out stacks and stacks. The shop owner had already sold several boxes of books before my event. That is so good to hear. We almost ran out of books by the end but there were a some left and I signed the remainders if anyone wants to pick up a signed book at the shop.

This grandma, daughter and granddaughter came with Itty-Bitty Hats all knit up. The grandma is working her way through the entire book. They were so fun and enthusiastic and proud. I enjoyed them thoroughly. Thanks for sharing!! What a beautiful baby. Itty-Bitty Hats continues to be one of this shop's best-sellers in books. They have sold hundreds and hundreds of copies since it came out. That is amazing for a yarn shop. I love to hear good news like that.
I had lots and lots of kids show up with parents. They enjoyed all of the toys but especially the reversibles and the felted super balls. This little guy reminded me so much of my nephew. I had to do a double-take when he walked in. The brother-sister pair were very fun and spent lots of time at the table with their mom.
Here she is! The gorgeous model from page 155 came to the signing along with her little sister and mom. Her name is Anya and it was a treat and a half to meet her. Her mom was so excited and proud.
Anya was kind enough to be in a picture in with me. Thanks for making the effort to stop by, it was great to meet you and thanks for being a part of the book. I think the mom bought four copies of Itty-Bitty Toys and had me sign all of them.
The shop had a couple Kristin Nicholas pillows on display.
Aren't they gorgeous? I will be reviewing Kristin's new book as soon as I get a chance.
Finally, Amy Jensen stopped by with her mom and daughter. I had to get a photo of her Spud & Chloë leg warmers. She looked so incredibly cute with her skirt, boots and leg warmers. I loved it. Her daughter and mom were really fun and stayed a long time. You can get the pattern for these right here. Pretty cool, right Rachel?

I'll be back with more about Minnesota, Anoka and Shepherd's Choice soon!

best, susie