Add some fiber to the table this thanksgiving

My needle felted pumpkin workshop at The Sheared Sheep Yarn Shop was a huge success. 12 people showed up and each pumpkin was adorable and unique!

Fibery Pumpkins in all sizes are so sweet. I think they'll be perfect for our Thanksgiving Table!  You can get them too at Patchwork in Long Beach on the Sunday the 21st!

A Heavenly Tuesday

2 weeks ago JD had a recording gig in Milwaukee so I was lucky enough to spend the day exploring 3 of my favorite things... coffee, yarn, and vintage clothing... I couldn't believe these three things all existed in one little strip mall a few blocks from his recording studio...

While at Altera Coffee I enjoyed a beautiful 16 oz triple skim 1 pump mocha (my current drink of choice) and a breakfast burrito (my eternal breakfast of choice). Altera also has amazing Espresso Milkshakes if you ever get a chance. I then made my way to Loop. I had an order to fill and needed some lux green yarn. I found exactly what I needed...

Blue Sky Alpaca

Which became...

and Tahki Baby (LOVE!!!) mixed with a mohair baby kid

which became...

YUMMY!!

I then headed to ReThreads for part two of my fantastic day. More on that tomorrow : )

******** A bit about Loop - I've been there before and it is a truly lovely shop. Very Knit AND Crochet friendly, and also needle felting materials (which I love). It reminds me of a bigger Purl Soho in NYC or oddly enough Loop in Philly. All three shops are crisp and white and neatly organized. My only complaint is that they don't have a swift or a yarn winder. I had such a lovely time in the shop (I was there for about an hour comparing green yarns) and I really wanted to start working with the blue sky right away. I was totally bummed when they said they didn't wind yarn. Yes, I can do it by hand, and yes I have my own swift at home... but having at least one skein wound on the spot is such a simple basic finishing touch to a LYS experience.

Tour De Yarn Continues!

I've now been back in Wisconsin for exactly a month. I've already hit some amazing yarn shops. I'll fill you in over the next few days. Here's the first shop we went to in Delavan, called Needles and Pins.

Lindsey (another yarn head) took us to this spot, and Katie (a non yarn head) was great and came along for the ride.

I love this barn! This is the Parking lot for the shop... what? So great.

They had some great finds, but mostly I was excited about the GIANT barn out in front, and the fact that they keep their yarn in baby beds. What a beautiful useful idea! I love it!

More yarn shop updates to come!

The Ideal Local Yarn Shop

Opening a Local Yarn Shop(LYS) of my own has been on my mind and in my heart. I've dreamt about it for quite some time. Lately, I feel the dream tugging, tugging. tugging... OPEN OPEN OPEN. When something pulls that hard, I think it should be paid some attention. Several signs have been put in my path telling me this is something I should seriously look into and soon!

I've made steps towards making this dream a reality. I attended a great conference through the Crochet Guild of America. I've sold several pat

tern designs to two different nation wide yarn companies. I finally signed up to sell my own hand made items at a craft fair. I've made wonderful con

nections with professionals through blogs and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. And, I have visited about 20 different yarn shops around the US and Canada and even Spain.

Perhaps the most helpful tool I have used to find information has simply been speaking to yarn shop owners and friends who knit and crochet. When ever I meet someone who has the slightest idea of how to own, shop in, or appreciate a yarn shop, I tell them I'm looking to open one of my own. I ask millions of questions, and have gotten some great advice. The advice that

seems most prevalent is "IT'S VERY DIFFICULT!"

So, I figure, GREAT! I'm am never afraid of a challenge! Nothing about pursuing a career in musical theatre is easy. However, with the help of some very supportive people, I have had a career in musical theatre. After getting my Equity card, I worked as a singing waiter for a little over a year, and then I started booking work... consistently. I have worked successfully as an actor for four years now. I am very proud of this accomplishment and I've loved (almost) every second of the journey. But, I can't help but notice my passions are pulling me in a different direction. I know I will never want to stop performing completely, I just might want to change my focus. I find when I'm on the road, nothing makes me happier or helps me to feel more at home than when I step into a Local Yarn Shop.

Now, what am I accomplishing with this post?

I've been to LYSs of over the country and I've started to get a feel for what I want in a shop of my own. As of now, it's all a bunch of mumbo jumbo floating around in my head and heart. Today I'm going to begin a list of everything I hope my shop will embody. I'd LOVE feed back and comments on what type of a shop you most enjoy. What turns you on about your favorite LYS? What turns you off? You've never been in a yarn shop?? Tell me what makes you happiest about your favorite independently owned clothing shop, paint store, shoe store, coffee shop. Anything that makes you happy (or unhappy) about a small retail shop will help.

Here's my list and I'll continue updating as I discover or rediscover ideas that will help describe my ideal LYS.

MY IDEAL YARN SHOP WOULD HAVE...

Clean organized shelves

Organize yarn by weight and then color then fiber

Enough, but not too much yarn - lots to choose from but not so

much that it is overwhelming

Clearly labeled prices (this is a big one for me)

Encourage cross crafting (knitting, crocheting, felting, using yarn with glue or playdough if it works)

Greet each customer as they come in the door in a jovial relaxed encouraging manner

Offer project and technique classes

Offer one on one and group classes

Offer some classes that span over a few weeks and some that are completed in just one day so that people who travel for work still have an opportunity to take class

Craft and coffee nights

Afternoon crafting tea

Men's night

Family crafting groups

Handmade items for sale

Cute Reusable Bags (this is from Persones Llanes in Barcelona, Spain)

Projects (or knit AND crocheted swatches) made out of most types of yarn

Happy felted items around shop, but not too many so that it's cluttered

Coffee and snacks

Kids play area

Comfy Chairs and tables for hanging in the shop

Easily accessible swift and winder

Offer to wind more than one type of yarn together for multi yarn projects like at this shop

Interesting notions, buttons, and beads

Skacel and Lantern Moon needles/hooks

Tunisian hooks maybe by ChaioGoo

Machines for felting (this might not happen right away)

Some sort of mascot that greets shoppers at the door (this guy is at Knitch in Atlanta)

What are your thoughts?

YARN STORE KETCHUP, Philly and Atlanta

I've been crazy busy seeing loads of amazing places all over the country. Here's a few of the fiber highlights.

   3 GREAT YARN SHOPS PHILLY.

      ROSIE'S YARN CELLER

          This is the first shop I visited. I walked by it twice without seeing it, which I couldn't believe. It is... like the title says... a cellar.  Nice shop packed with loads of skeins to please all. The staff was helpful, and obviously very passionate about their craft.  I'm sure I would frequent this shop.  It's a little cramped... but great for treasure hunting. I spent quite some time digging through their sale basket.  

      LOOP

            I'm so sad I wasn't able to spend more time in this shop.  It was very clean, bright and spacious.  I literally had 10 minutes tops to run through their shop, so my

 memory of what they have is fuzzy, but I did end up with a great little project bag by Blue Sky Alpacas, and some wonderful roving for felting.   This flower is one of the many flowers I've made from the roving bag I bought at loop. I loved the

 natural rustic color combo.

     NANGELLINI

             Two of the gals in my cast found this shop and recommend it, so I ran down between shows on our last day in town.  I am so glad I did.  It was crazy full of fiber and color.  The owner, Nancy, clearly had a zest for life and a passion for fiber. She excitedly took me up to the sale section of her shop, and then showed me how everything was organized. I don't know if I have ever encountered a more helpful yarn shop owner/employee.  Like I said, this shop was FILLED with color, some things that were a bit too bright for me, but I so appreciated the time and passion that went into the display.  My favorite part was a collection of yarns Nancy had paired and wound and was selling together.  I often mix 2 or more skeins, but I've never thought of having them wound together at a shop.  She sells pairings that she suggests, or will wind combos of your own.  Why have I never seen this at a shop?  Great idea!  I bought two of her combos and made one of my own.  I love them so

 much, I might not ever bring myself to knit or crochet them. I'm sure someday they'll tell me what they want to be. 

ONE GLORIOUS SHOP IN ATLANTA

          KNITCH

               Hands down.... THIS IS THE GREATEST YARN SHOP I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED! Just the building was enough to make me squeal. Exposed brick, rustic wood, and a spiral staircase leading from the first floor to the second floor. As you enter the gate, this lovely creature greats you. Then, a large pot of their own coffee brew welcomes you as you step into the shop.  The first floor was PACKED with all kinds of wool yarns. And, a nice little felting section with unspun fiber. (including lots died by local artists)  The second floor has cotton, acrylic, and a WALL OF WASHER/DRYERS for rent so you can satisfy all of your felting needs. What?  I don't have a washer/dryer in my apartment, and obviously don't have one on the road

. I've tried this whole felting in the bathtub thing and it's a messy pain the butt! A shop like this would be so amazing!    I ended up leaving with some super soft Blue Sky Cotton, and a shirt that makes me so happy.  I wanted to buy another for a friend, but it was the last of it's kind. I found it online at CafePress. I've already been approached by friends who think it's some sort of dietary yoga message.  I know those who really get what I get, will get it too. 

    Visiting these yarn shops around the country has made me so happy. It is so inspiring to see so many places around the country that are thriving and bringing wooly goodness to their community's.   I really hope that some day, I can do the same. 

****One Non-Yarn bit of joy*****   

    I also went to the shop at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design).  I found this ridiculously soft skirt by Vanessa Boulton.

don't be surprised if I wear it every day!

Wholly Craft! - Columbus, OH

Yesterday was a seriously happy day. I mean.. most of my days are pretty happy lately... aside from the obvious stress of being on the road (long drives, too much stuff with too little space, missing my apartment, missing my family, missing my friends and not having a KITCHEN). But.. really I feel very lucky to be making a living doing what I love, with the one I love. That aside, as I was was saying, yesterday was a very happy day. It was set into motion by a fantastic shop we found in Columbus called "WHOLLY CRAFT!" I mean, seriously, just

the title is enough to make a craftaholic like me smile.

I first stumbled upon this lovely little shop while I was looking for LYS in Columbus. I found a great new shop, WonderKnit, and while exploring their website I found a link to their neighbor... Wholly Craft. The shop was filled with so many things that made me smile. The first joyful item we stumbled upon was Shanon Gerard's Plushtash. When JD held it up under his nose I screamed.. "Why didn't I think of that!" The woman behind the counter said "we hear that often." JD is obsessed with the idea of a sweet moustache. I can't believe I never thought of crocheting him one.

Next.... I found a perfect little tree purse by In Hope. I know I have way too many bags/purses with me on the road. But I couldn't pass this up. Trees always made me happy... and it was the perfect size! I love big bags, but I always fill them with too much junk. (the girls in the dressing room started calling me CVS) This new clutch will help me simplify.

I slowly made my way through the bits of whimsy to a small craft supply section in the back. I bought, a set of vintage circular needles (mostly because I loved the packaging), a big vintage belt buckle making kit, two used books on crewel designs, and a blue plastic hoop . I've recently

been drooling over the trees at Wool and Hoop. Unfortunately they didn't have any tree kits left. We'll see if I can actually find the time play with the techniques in these books.

While I was going through the crafty goodness... JD came up with tears in his eyes. He had found something that sent him over the edge of enjoyment. This squirrel print by Berkley Illustration had him on the floor laughing. He especially loved the tie. I had been worried he would be bored at this shop, so seeing him so happy made me even more happy. We bought the 5X7 print for his niece Olyvia. She loves his rendition of the Aladdin song "A Whole New World" called "A Whole New Squirrel" so we figured this was the perfect gift.

I had to stop myself from buying any more. Sometimes I wonder wether selling my own hand made crafts makes me as happy as buying goodies others have made. I guess I think supporting other artists is great cause it keeps the whole hand made movement in motion.

We did end up at the yarn shop next door. The woman behind the counter (who I think was the owner) was chatting with one of the customers about her new book... "Pints and Purls - Portable Projects for the Social Knitter" It's not out in stores yet... but the customer had pre-ordered her copy on Amazon. I loved hearing them talk about the process of publishing the book. I was able to flip through it, and it looks like something I'd love. I've done my best to convert the non-knitting members of my cast, but I still get crap from those who don't

understand my addiction. I find bringing a skein to the hotel bar to be very normal. I even brought my Innovations Knitting machine to the hotel bar in Toronto. (ok - that might have been a bit much, but I was excited to try it out) I feel like this book might actually validate my addiction. I ended up with a few skeins from Wonderknit. I bought 1 skein of Loop-d-loop Fern in white (I've already started a lovely drop stitch scarf), and two skeins of Frog Tree Chunky Alpaca.

To top off my lovely day... I started and finished a new shrug when I got home from work. We have a cast party tonight and I really wanted to wear a new dress... but I didn't have a sweater that matched. Problem solved! I used some left over Brown Sheep Burly Spun in Dark

Charcoal and some sparkly grey and white label-less yarn I bought downstairs at Romni Wools. I've never knit a shrug, and I completely improvised the design... but it totally worked! I finished it in under 2 hours, and I'm super happy with the way it turned out! (please excuse the awkward cell phone pic with the lovely hotel carpet background)

PHEW - Thats it! Yesterday was a long wonderful day!

At last... the begining

This is one of my first Dance Recitals.....

This is my first show at The Music Room. I played Peter Pan : )

     About a year ago my fiance and I started formulating a plan..... I call it our 10 year plan, but we really have no time limit set.  Our plan is to open our own Dance/Music/Theatre studio for children(and adults) with a yarn store/coffee shop/performance space attached. Now... I know this is a gigantic plan.  BUT, I really think we can make it happen!

      When I was a kid, I went to a musical theatre studio called The Music Room School of Performing Arts.  My Mom always called it "The Church of the Music Room", because it was such a great source of positivity and happiness as we were growing up. There were no religious affiliations, it just kept us happy and kept us out of trouble.  The studio had two large dance rooms, a few smaller piano rooms, and a lobby with a few chairs.  Many of the parents would sit in the lobby while we were in class, but there wasn't much there to keep them busy.  Other parents would hang in their cars, in the parking lot.  How great would it have been if the parents could have been sitting in a LYS, taking their own class next door! Crocheting, Knitting or Felting while your children hone their craft! 

      What's better than spreading more love of art, and craftiness?  Food and drink while you work on what you love (or while you do homework).  We want to have a cafe with sandwiches, salads, juice, smoothies, tea and fresh roasted coffee.  When I was a student at The Music Room, the studio shared a parking lot with a Carl's Junior.  Somehow, we ended up spending most of our homework time between classes at this fast food joint. They had a salad bar, and the employees were all very nice.  But, I can't help but thinking how nice it'd be to have had a little cafe next door that was run by the fantastic couple who owned The Music Room (Sharon and Lee Westenhoffer).  

      And... how about a more "grown-up" cafe/wine/cheese bar at night.  In our wildest dreams of this complex, we see a small performance space.  How great to have a venue for our friends (and students) to share their music. I'd love to teach our students how to put together their own songs,  sets, or even full evenings of music.  

      In addition to taking many classes at The Music Room, I started teaching there when I was 16.  I continued to teach there all the way through college.  I so clearly remember the day I finally confessed that I just couldn't manage to continue teaching while pursuing my own career as a performer.  Boy... was that convo filled with a lot of tears.  I loved teaching and, while I feel so lucky to be a WORKING ACTRESS, I know I want to teach again someday.  My fiance also has several years of teaching experience.  He worked with an AMAZING nonprofit called First Stage Children's Theatre,  and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra.  I could go on and on about those studios, but I'll save that for a later post. 

     I am so grateful for the millions of hours I spent at The Music Room. It provided a fantastic foundation for a fearless imagination and a place to work on my craft in a supportive, loving environment.  I'm even more excited about the idea of providing future generations with a similar playground.