Changing with the Seasons

 How do I know that it's time to start your winter/Christmas projects? The last two weeks have been pretty slow in the pop up store. Either parents are spending all their (extra) money on back to school supplies or gardeners are spending all their time putting up their fruits and veggies by canning or freezing them. Others are getting in their last games of golf or prepping their yards for winter. And all this is happening because there is a chill in the air: the leaves are turning: the grass has slowed its growth to almost nothing. I haven't seen a bunny turning white yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if I did. Take a look at what Mom has done to her garden in the last couple of weeks! All that emptiness has our three freezers and cold room shelves bursting at the seams!

While she's been busy storing up food for the winter, I've been keeping myself busy in the pop up store with my antique sock machine. Almost daily I amaze myself with how perfectly this RV is suited to the mobile store life. When not in use (or while travelling) the sock knitter resides in the washroom. It fits PERFECTLY!

Even the angle of the door appears to be custom made for housing this heavy beast on wheels. And when the RV is stationary, I can bring it out and crank out another tube to which I will later add afterthought toes and heels for custom knit socks. Or maybe I'll sell some of them for people who want a plain vanilla sock blank so they can brag that they finished a pair of socks in just a couple of days. They wouldn't be lying...

Anyway, this is the weekend for changing up the offerings in the RV. I can guarantee there will be wool and wool blends in a number of weights because we need to be making those socks, hats, mitts and scarves to keep warm for what's ahead in the next few weeks/months. You will find sweater amounts in a number of  colours and weights. I will even have the pompom makers, knitting looms and other yarn tools for those who want to try something a little different.

written by Lori, happy TCL owner, who's actually looking forward to the S word because I know people will be looking to work with yarn again.

Where's Waldo - I mean - The Crafty Lady?

Typical phone call lately - "Hi. I've come from (insert location) to shop at your store but you've moved. Where are you now?" To which I usually reply "I'm now in a pop up store in the parking lot at The Lacombe Performing Arts Centre. Do you know where that is?" The response is either "Yeah, I know where that is" or "No, could you give me the address?" Sounds straightforward enough, doesn't it?

Let me give you some background on why the results from that conversation can vary greatly.

A number of years ago, the Lacombe Memorial Centre went through an overhaul that included taking the main room, which resembled a school gym complete with the stage that swallowed your every sound if you stood 6 feet back from the edge of the stage, and used all the modern technology available to create a sound system that would prevent that in a big, blank, divisible room. I'm not sure but I believe it is still the largest room of its type in Lacombe that allows for performances to take place.

LMC

The expansive lawn that you see in front of the building has been used by LPAC for their Music in the Park summer series for a number of years already. (Sadly COVID cancelled it this year.) Whenever threatened by inclement weather, the performance would move indoors, not into the LMC but into the sanctuary of St. Andrew's United Church across the parking lot north of the LMC.

St. Andrew's United Church

Why? Those who worship, and truly pay attention to the sounds in a service, know that a traditionally built church is accoustically built. Built before electronic sound systems. Built to maximize the human voice and non-electric instruments. While it serves for a static performance such as a live band or choir, it does not allow for active performances (dance).

Much more recently, St Stephen’s Catholic Church underwent more than just an overhaul. It was completely demolished and rebuilt so that its sanctuary could also be used as a performance hall, complete with a sound system that either rivals, or is better than, the one at the LMC.

St Stephen’s Catholic Church

I have been a member of the board of directors of LPAC since the acronym stood for Lacombe Performing Arts Committee - a group of citizens who wanted a permanent home for performing arts in Lacombe. We needed a space for both static and active performances - one that would have the acoustic qualities of a traditional church and the space for a dance performance and still have room for spectators. A building that is easily accessible and with ample parking for performances. Enter the building at 5227 C & E Trail, now known as the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre.

LPAC

So why did I take you on a 'recent history' tour of these buildings? These are some of the responses that I have experienced in the five weeks that I have called the LPAC parking lot my home away from home.

From those who said they knew where they were going -

on the phone "But I'm at the LMC parking lot and you're not here."

"But you're in the wrong parking lot." as they walk over from the St. Stephen's parking lot.

From those who took down the address and almost made it -

on the phone "Yes, I can see the big bold lettering ... oh, in the parking lot to the east."

Our town has some wonderful places for performances of all types and sizes and they are all so close together I guess I can't really fault anyone for the confusion. This blog post is just here to help sort out the confusion.

And here you see my pop up store in the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre parking lot where you'll find me every weekday 10am until 4pm except this Wednesday, August 26. Every once in a while even the most dedicated of us needs to take a personal day. This is mine.

written by Lori, amused TCL owner, who has been told on numerous occasions that I need to write a book of anecdotes related to the store. I think that's what I'm doing here. 😏

New pattern!

 Yes! I have a new pattern!

No! It's not the one I've been working on for weeks!

While the sweater pattern is in time out - it knows what it did - I got curious about one of the One Shot yarns I brought in from Gathering Yarn. It is 250m (100g) of 100% 16.5 micron merino and it is aptly named Soft. Even though it is technically a dk weight yarn (#3 for those of you who follow the American numbering system), it's lofty spin works up beautifully on a 6mm needle to create an Aran weight (#4) fabric (17s x 26r = 4"/10cm). Its rich watermelon stripes told me they wanted to be a cowl or a hat so I obliged and worked a garter cowl first, then a 7" tall beanie, which was closely followed by a 9" tall toque - all from ONE CAKE of this limited edition yarn!

*n.b. the toque fits my 23" noggin. The beanie fits almost every other woman I know. After this picture was taken, I reworked it because one of the hats has to be 'Without Seeds'.

After posting the pictures of the finished pieces on Facebook, I immediately got asked for the pattern. Within 12 hours, the pattern was written and less than 8 hours after that, I sold the first pattern on Ravelry. The pattern is named With or Without Seeds and it only costs $5.00 for all three pieces. I would link the yarn to Ravelry but since I am the only store with stock, the supplier chose not to add it to the database. I can, however, link you to Soft on my website so that you can get some before I run out of stock myself.

Now, on to the pop up store.

The next two weeks are going to be a little different. I'm showcasing novelty yarns on one side of the  RV. These include furry yarns from a number of different suppliers as well as some lacey/fabric 'yarns', all of which are great for trims or as stand-alone pieces. The opposite side of the RV is catering to my chainmaille customers! I brought kits and tools that are great for beginners or for someone who left all their supplies at home and needs a new project while camping. I have also brought along more knitting tools and accessories as well as my exclusive Crafty Lady patterns.

Remember - I can't bring everything in the pop up store every week, so if you want something and it is not in the list here, order it online or request I bring it so you can buy it in person. Just don't expect same day delivery for those items at least until after 4pm.

written by Lori, happy TCL owner, who can't wait to get back to that elusive sweater pattern. It will not beat me!

Designing

 Sometimes in the pop up store, between customers, I get lost in designing. Sometimes it's a knitting or crochet pattern I'm working on. Other times, it's a newer, better way to display or store the product in the RV. Whichever it is, there are times I almost miss the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside. Almost.

One day last week, during the torrential downpour, I figured I probably wouldn't have any customers but, to paraphrase Field of Dreams - "If I park it, they will come." There is no point having a permanent parking place for people to find the store and then just randomly not show up one day. Nevertheless, I hunkered down in my spot at LPAC, set up my little table and chair in the 'showroom' and proceeded to write out the newest incarnation of the pattern I'm working on. (I am on version number three 'cos I keep tweaking it. Still haven't completed a single sweater even though I have been more than halfway through at least five times. To be honest, I've lost count.) I hadn't noticed that the rain had all but subsided, but I did hear the sound of tires on wet gravel. Did I tell you that I can tear down my workspace in 30 seconds flat? Even store it away in the shower before a customer makes it to the door!

My only customer of the day made her purchase and, before leaving, commented on the amount of storage potential I had over the cab. Now I am blessed with a mind that can visually manipulate spaces prior to actually measuring, etc. and had envisioned a number of different storage scenarios above the cab utilizing things I already had from the brick and mortar store. But she mentioned Ikea. I've also thought of Ikea products but I've also seen the prices of some of their designer storage containers. She left and I whipped out my handy dandy phone and pulled up my Ikea app. Don't judge me, I know you have it on your phone too. 😉

I immediately abandoned my pattern, grabbed the measuring tape and started searching storage solutions. I don't think I will do it any time soon, but I think I found a really inexpensive solution from Ikea to put almost ALL my product in the RV. I'm not sure the motorhome could handle that much weight but it would fit!

Thankfully my Fitbit encourages me at 10 minutes to every hour to go for however many steps it would take to make 250 steps that hour otherwise I would have been sitting designing long into the evening (or until Mom called to find out why I'm not home for supper). So I packed up and headed home.

written by Lori, TCL owner who is thankful the yarn offerings don't change until next week, so I have a little more time for designing this week.

The 'Blogmaster' Took a Day Off

I would suggest you don't believe everything you read except that I actually did take off Saturday after the Rimbey Market to take Mom to Camrose to visit her sister. Normally, that time would be used to strip the RV bare in order to fill it back up on Sunday. So, even though I worked hard Sunday in order to clear out the old and bring in the new stock, I still had plenty to do on Monday - which became my Sunday because I took Saturday off. That means I was too preoccupied to realize that I hadn't 'blessed' you with my weekly ramblings. Lucky you ;)

The theme for this week's yarn offerings is Canadian sourced yarn.

Gathering Yarns is a company out of BC and they supply me with both Canadian and Italian sourced natural fibres.

Estelle Designs calls Ontario home and they have their own brand of yarn as well as supplying other brands such as King Cole - both of which will be in the store this week.

Katia is a well-known brand that is supplied by both of these companies. Again, lucky you!

A trio of smaller, independent Canadian companies that will have a few offerings in the pop up store are Zen Yarn Gardens, Sweet Paprika and Ancient Arts. If I had more room in the RV, I would have also brought Dewedlebug Merino roving again. This particular company is as local as they can get. The owners walk to the pop up store when they need something. :)

written by Lori, happy TCL owner, who appreciates a day off more if I remember what day comes after it.

Heritage Day Monday

Just a quick reminder that this Monday is

a holiday here in Alberta and

the pop up store

will not be making an appearance at

the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre.