A Week in Review

One short week and a week closer to my leaving the Pacific Northwest....
We have labeled our 1000 and as it happens it is for a special order! We are well into the first 1100 skein as I've been working hard to decrease all the singles that I've had ready to go into yarn. So much yarn that it is taking Courtney and Heidi all day to keep up with me (and thanks to Becky as well for about 25 skeins)
Here are all the photo's downloaded off the phone, which has been a little buggy but is working today so I'm happy

Terry, my long time friend holding the most dreamy Pygora/Silk blend in Cooper Canyon. I bought this from her as I couldn't resist the color and plan to pair it with some Columbia Gorge-ous yarn in some project. Terry did an awesome talk about Pygora goats and fiber

Audrey and Marlyn at Aurora Guild meeting while I was "Chatting" with my "Peeps" in Tulsa via Raverly

Cleo must have found this fellow before I had! He isn't very big and got a trip outside

Here's my sheep "Trish" in a pen waiting for the show ring at Oregon Flock and Fiber. She got third place and in my estimation was robbed! LOL

Becky helped me make sandwiches for the gang including the sheep judge!

The Rabbit I didn't buy but wanted to.......

This sheep dog is watching the ducks in the crates

Bobbin lace makers

Terry (one of our spinners) and her friend at the ATM

And this is what tempted Terry and us all, colorful fiber of every type

Bar Maids, they make wonderful hand cream. We first met these ladies at Sock Summit

They make scrub which came in handy for the Festival goers


This sign just caught my attention, isn't it lovely


I'm sorry to say that Beth's FIL passed away on Tuesday so I'll be going to Walla Walla this weekend to be with the family and celebrate Larry's life on Saturday. I'll be flying down to Los Angeles a week from Today! It's been awhile since I've seen Mike and we are both looking forward to the reunion. I'm franticly making yarn for Stitches East and a trunk show at Sticks and Strings on Oct. 28th. Then flying to Portland for SOAR then a few days at the office then back down to California for three great Trunk Shows.
Cleo is staying with Becky for the time being, which is nice as Becky has been on the fence about having a cat, so now she gets to have one! I'll miss her but she'll be in good hands with Becky. It's late and I've got to get back to plying yarn!

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival

I rolled out the camper this morning to take Jan her tea and came back for breakfast. The sheep all look great, and the good friends look better. I wasn't cold last night but tucked up into bed in Jan's camper. It is warm during the day but at night it's a bit chilly. The trees are all starting to turn and that Autumn feeling has hit the Pacific Northwest. Jan's tomatoes are petering out but on the counter are the last cheerful hurrah.
I started digging through the sock drawer last night and found I'm down to two pairs without holes, sad and disappointed that it is a job I haven't gotten to. I leave for California in just a few weeks and am thinking I'll take a pair or two to start the massive repair work. I'm finishing up breakfast now to start the day right. I'll take lots of pictures and post asap. Make it a great day!

Taking Care of Business

I've not got any pictures as my phone seems to have died. I am at Safeway early so as to be back at the factory to make more yarn this afternoon when Courtney and Heidi come to work.

We have made our 1000th skein this week. This is an amazing number. We started counting in March, and I'm so proud that we have been that productive.

I've been glued to my plying seat and when not plying I've been spinning. My hands hurt last night so last night I went out into the world, it was interesting.

Cleo is my shadow and loves the new skeiners, a little too much, and sometimes is banished from the production room if her "help" is a little too active.

Yesterday Steve from Stan's Appliances came and finally got our cook top working with Propane. This will be a real treat as the stove top has an adjustable heat source and self lighter. I can hardly wait to do some dyeing.

This weekend is Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. I'll be there collecting spinners and giving out fiber, so if you are a spinner come see me at the booth in the barn right next to Jan McMahon's sheep pens. I'll have applications if you want to spin for TFC there as well.

I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends especially Sarah, Bonnie and Alexandra. I hope to camp out on Saturday night but only if there is no chance of frost and since my phone is broken it's a little hard to tell.

Yesterday it was 95 here so hot I thought about turning on the air conditioner. Today seems a little cooler and my garden is liking the weather and the fact it is getting regular watering. David fixed the automatic watering system. The Brussels Sprouts are looking better after the organic pesticide was applied for the total aphid explosion that was bumming the Brussels Sprouts out. I have three plants that have a chance for harvest and three that I'm not sure if ever going to get going.

On Friday I'm planning on going over to Emma and Don's to watch Mark while Emma does some canning. I'll then go to Becky's to spend the night and then onto OFFF on Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile it's time to get back to work and lunch.

I've booked all my flights for the next month. I'll be in Los Angeles on Oct. 7th then on Oct. 21 I'll fly to Hartford CT to attend Stitches East (come see the Knitting Central Booth) and then a very special Trunk Show at Sticks and Strings in Scarsdale NY on Oct. 28th. I'll be flying back to Oregon on Oct. 29th. After a night of doing laundry I'll be going to SOAR in Bend OR. working in Bonnie's booth and requiting spinners. Then a brief stay in Oregon and the back down to Los Angeles for three Trunk Shows
November 7th-8th Loop and Leaf (Santa Barbara CA)
November 14th-15th Knitters Studio (West Los Angeles)
November 21-22 Knitterly (Petaluma CA)
Dec.12-13 Loops (Tulsa OK)

It's starting to make my head spin so I better get back to work. Call me on the factory phone as the cell is going to get fixed hopefully soon

Catching up or I still love you more

I'm just feeling like myself and find that this afternoon I don't have to do anything. So I came into town to blog and am sitting at Safeway downloading pictures.
I'm still trying to catch up with myself after last weeks whirlwind trip to Knitting Central. The body still isn't sure what time zone I'm in.
I've also come into town to buy groceries, I'm finally out of fresh food and a little bit tired of lamb as that is what I've been having everyday since I've been back.

What a great bunch of knitters live in Westport CT. and beyond... I've forgotten all the names but treasure the faces! The amount of knitting these knitters, knit is wonderful
We got some new equipment here at TFC headquarters, it took the three of us to put it all together but now we have a new swift and skein winder with electric counter. This should make us way more accurite and take some of the frustrations out of skeining. We hope, Courtney is still not wild about the idea but Becky says that all Production Managers say the same thing about new equipment, we have tested it out and all is working now but putting it all together and making it work was exciting....


I forgot to take pictures of the new winders before I left so I'll take one this week...
These are skeins waiting to be packed for my trip to Knitting Central

Yarn waiting to be skeined

This is 5:51 am Friday morning in Portland, I'm early for my 6:00am shuttle to the airport. I arrived in NY at 11:30 PM EST and then got to Cynthia's house at 1:00am EST let me tell you the next morning was early.....

This is a new scarf pattern that Jennifer made in Calypso Cove beaded Merino/Silk

This is a Neck Candy scarf in Cashmere/Silk Northwest Winter, this is two skeins purchased during the Trunk Show last year.


Sophie's Mom showing the three Neck Candies she made from one skein of Yak/Silk beaded Butter

She is wearing a tank she knit using some yarn she purchased a very long time ago in the Alsorts color-way which has been discontinued, but it looks great!

Cynthia and Sophie's Mom together Cynthia is wearing the Tanglewood Cardigan designed by Melissa Leapman

Two more happy customers clutching their purchases



"Major Knitter" (that's the blog name go see what she posted!) bought yarn at Sock Summit and tried the Wild Woman Sock pattern out, but the colors worked were too close so she transformed them by selecting Lobster Pot solid color yarn and mixing the colors up GREAT idea don't you think!


Shawl done in Stone Cashmere/Silk along with a commercial yarn.. More great creative thinking


Rick is Cynthia's husband and brought us lunch, look he had the good taste to buy the right chips he didn't know about Becky working at Kettle!
Here are the socks just one day later and look at the transformation! Right on!

Saturday we went out to dinner and it was lovely Sunday after a mind bending day "at the office" Cynthia and Rick took me to the Sound near Westport. This is the public Country Club we went for drinks, and "snacks" of spring rolls, Oysters and Clams HEAVEN


These are the loungers where we ate and enjoyed a lovely evening next to the water


All too soon I was off again with a lot less yarn. I have left everything with Cynthia in preparation for Stitches East, we are having a very special booth there, you'll just have to stop by to see how special.
This is my newest project Shoulder Candy in Northwest Autumn Cashmere/Silk heaven to knit with and light as a feather to have in your hands.

That skein had so much yardage that it took me almost an hour to wind it into a ball!
So after several days of sleeping I am back to spinning madly. I made these two skeins (actual there are five but three are all together and two are together) this one is Cashmere in Newport Rocks spun bulky weight

Cashmere/Silk in Columbia Gorgeous along with a 13 or 15 needle

In addition to these skeins I've also done two skeins of "Natural Sugar" in beaded Cashmere/Silk, two skeins of "Ice" beaded 75%Cashmere/25%Silk two skeins of "Hot Stone" beaded Cashmere/Silk and two skeins of super fine Super Wash Merino in Northwest Summer. On paper (or screen) it doesn't look like much for two days worth of work but beaded yarn takes a lot of time and effort. I also got the office almost completely cleaned up, you can see the entire floor and most of the desk's surface. Heidi cleaned up the production room, and the dye studio is doubling as a lavender packaging center.

We have enjoyed lovely weather today. Tuesday afternoon and part of Wednesday it rained. Yesterday it started very foggy and then cheered up to be breathtaking. Today it's hot and I'm off to knit by the water. Today it's the Columbia River, last week the Sound near Westport, next week it's Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival! This weekend I'm chilling at home making yarn.......

Delayed in San Francisco

I'm enjoying a restful moment at the airport waiting for my flight. I've done a fair amount of knitting and a little spinning. Thank to all that came to Knitting Central to visit with me, although it seems like a blur at the moment, a lovely dreamy blur of total yarn enjoyment.
I've some pictures but I left my power cord to my computer at home.
I'm knitting heavenly Silk and Cashmere in Northwest Autumn, fitting for the season. The yarn is spun pretty thin and is like knitting the softest gossamer I have a huge ball and knitting it on a size 15 needle, which goes fast and looks great. I have a fair amount of work to do when I get home and I look forward to seeing my Cleo and Becky tomorrow. Tonight I will sleep well and I'm not setting the alarm tomorrow.
Just wanted to check in with you and promise photos asap.

I'm Here!

This morning started early on this 9/11 day. I awoke just one minute before the alarm did at 5:26am. I was at the shuttle for ten minutes to 6:00am, showered. We had a scenic tour to the airport and then a small wait for the plane as I was two hours early. I did some computer work and had breakfast then flew to Seattle. The onto the train to catch the connecting flight to Los Angeles. Another wait more work and a lot of knitting got done. Another flight to Los Angeles then a short wait while knitting then two buses and we are now at the gate to go to JFK airport in New York.
Cynthia had a young man come meet me and we talked. It is now midnight and by the time we got to Cynthia's house it is 1:00am. Now it's even later than that but I just wanted to tell/ warn you that I'm here! Tomorrow should be exciting! I hope we get some good pictures so that I can give away some 10.00 gift cards out!
I'm going to bed now I was just trying to update you all. If you are in the area STOP BY..........., x

Labor

Saturday we went to Jan's house for a spinning/Knitting party
Here is Becky knitting, can you see the rain behind her?

Jan getting ready to make Pizza's in her outside Pizza oven on the new deck

Jan and Jerry putting the pizza's together ummmm

This is Neil trying to stop the rain from pelting us heavy angry rain

More and more rain, poor Audrey sitting in this under a flimsy tent at State Fair

Some how we got to talking about Barbie and Jan ran and got out her old Barbies! so we started to play with them as a child I wanted this dress.....lusted for it.....

I was dressing this Barbie in a tight outfit and suddenly her head came off and the vintage original necklace slipped from her shoulders and onto then under the deck, I was mortified.


Cynthia is a True Woman of the Pacific Northwest and goes for in the hunt for Barbie's Necklace


With a coat hanger and some light from the sky she fishes out Barbie's necklace and saves the day! Thanks Cynthia


While we were dressing Barbie Elizabeth was working......

The the big black clouds rolled in again

And just as suddenly they were gone which was a sign that everyone should pack up and leave, here is the bobbin of bunny I did, with the help of "Glen"

Outdoor kitchen all cleaned up

Sheep now out in the good weather


departing friends

After all this fun Becky and I went home and started drying more produce. Plums, Peaches, Grapes, Figs, Pears, and tomatos of all kinds. We made Salsa Verde from her Tomatio's and canned it. We went through Mom's recipe box, and wondered at the Anchovy Turnover recipe, I know Mom never served that!
Now it's time to go back to work and ply all that I spun which was a lot. Three bobbins of Chocolate Icing, Two bobbins of Newport Rocks Cash/Silk and one big bobbin of Sterling Silver (Angora Rabbit). We got all the 11 spinner boxes done and they will be mailed today. I'm leaving Cleo here as I will be going to Knitting Central at the end of the week, so Becky will be cat sitting. Right got to go back into Internet Silence!