Social Media overload?

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I threatened that there may not be a blog this week. There almost wasn't. Let me explain why.

My Crafty Lady Facebook page was suggesting that I should take the time to link to my Instagram page, so I did. Then I remembered that I had proactively set up three separate Instagam pages and three separate Twitter pages that I knew would probably never get used because social media is a rabbit hole that keeps me from knitting, crocheting, weaving, etc.

I didn't think about using different emails and phone number when setting each of them up because - doesn't matter - I just didn't. Turns out I should have paid a little more attention to which email went with which account because I was up until 1:40am just trying to get all three personal accounts coordinated, all three Crafty Lady accounts in sync and all three Isagenix accounts playing together nicely. At least now when I'm spammed with men wanting to chat up the 'hottie' with the cute profile pic (their word, not mine) I'll know they're not trying to scam some free yarn! 😆

So, yes, The Crafty Lady now has a proper Instagram page and a proper Twitter account that you can follow if you like. I can't promise anything more interesting than what is already on the Facebook page or here but who knows what I might do with my free time once the pop up store is on the road come this spring. I'm even toying with the idea of a YouTube channel ...

written by Lori, somewhat tired TCL owner, who wished to point out that when you click the Twitter link you will see why I was up so late trying to get the right pages together.

Christmas Happens This Week. Are You Ready?!

 Christmas is different this year. Most of us won't be getting together in person. Thank goodness for Zoom, Facetime and all the other online meeting platforms!

Mom is still planning on a full turkey dinner. Some will go home with one brother for Christmas Day and another good sized portion will be shared with my other brother and his wife on Boxing Day. It's a good thing we are all fans of leftovers as well as turkey soup!

On the gift giving front, up until one hour ago, I had all my 'planned' presents completed. I had made two of my aunts socks for their birthdays and when Mom was talking to a third aunt about said socks, that aunt asked where hers were. Not sure if I can have them done for Christmas but I'll aim for the next time I see her.

Mom got her Christmas present early this year. While we were making carrot pudding last week for our upcoming Christmas feast, I broke her food processor. Stripped the gears. Don't bother asking. I'll show you.

The new one has already been put through its paces and is now Mom's new favourite appliance so I guess I'm forgiven?

Anyway, even though we've been hunkering down for a number of months already, I am actually looking forward to the traditions we will be taking part in, with an albeit smaller cast and crew. I will be playing for the 7pm Christmas Eve service at church (at 15% capacity) and for Christmas Day, we're still not sure if the Zoom dinner will take place with the extended family in Camrose but fingers crossed. Even if its just the two of us, there will be the traditional game of Hand and Foot Canasta and there will be desserts aplenty.

Here's hoping that all of you have your festive ducks in a row and that you are able to celebrate with those you love, even if it is virtually. I'm not going to promise a pre-New Year's blog next week. I may still be in a turkey-induced coma.

written by Lori, TCL owner, who can't wait to wake up to the amazing smell of roasting turkey this Friday!

The Next Big Project

 Just in time for the cold weather, my winter projects turn to the computer. If you ask anybody, I do not mind repetitive work. To a point. The next few projects I have lined up may break me of that habit.

Do you know how many individual colours of DMC floss there are? Especially when you add in Coloris and Effects? And Gutermann thread? And DMC tapestry yarn? And Mill Hill beads? I may no longer have full stock of the latter two but that doesn't mean they should be hard to navigate on my website. I really wish I had been properly informed how to input my information the first time around because the next few weeks (months) are going to result in people thinking I have gone out of a few products because I have to remove them completely in order to re-install them into the website properly. And - there is no way I have figured out to tell them except here and on Facebook.

So be forewarned - and tell everyone you know - that I still carry floss but it will not be on the website (in it's entirety, anyway) for a while. Same with the other aforementioned items - in sequence.

In the meantime, here are some of the socks (complete with a cameo of Myles the cat) I have been working on for Christmas/birthday presents these past few months. All but one of them has been machine cranked with afterthought heels, toes and ribbing. (Bet you can't tell which one was hand knit. Haha.)  I'm taking a break from these and creating some mitts and small sweaters just to work with some of the new yarns that have come in (when I'm not re-entering data).

written by Lori, happy TCL owner, who obviously needs to keep her fingers busy!

When You Get SO Busy ...

 You are probably getting weary of listening to me ramble on about the progress of the pop up store renovations. Well, the good news (I guess) is that the renos are almost done. After this blog, all that is left to do is the insulation, which does nothing for the aesthetics of the retail space, but it should allow me to run the shop earlier in the spring and later into the fall, which I know you will all appreciate.

So - except for when the store is all geared up for the spring, these should be the last pictures for a while. This is everything we (meaning myself and Mom) got done this weekend, and the reason the proper blog is late this week.

Picture #1 (point of view from the cab area) shows the original layout in all its glorious RV walnut brown. Don't get me wrong. I love brown but it can be pretty dark even in the daytime. Not the best for a showroom. Also, notice the L-shaped kitchen that creates a bottleneck.

Picture #2 (Excuse this photo please. It is really hard to get a panorama shot inside an RV without it looking a little askew.) This point of view is from the house entrance (far right of photo) and let's you see how little space there was between the fridge and the sink. For those of you who have visited the pop up store already, you will recognize the sink as being the previous location for my till.

Pictures #3 (left) and #4 (right) show how just a little bit of white pegboard brightens up the place!

Picture #3 shows that by removing the L from the kitchen counter, many more customers can be in the store at one time (once restrictions are lifted). And, yes, that is a TV where the microwave used to be. It got the TV off the counter where it was in the way and who needs a microwave oven when a real oven is available?

Picture #4 shows the newly built needle/hook wall. To its right is the fridge which now has whiteboard inserts. Who knows what you might see written there when you pop in? And the yarn bins are all ready to house the squishy stuff in the spring.

        

Written by Lori, pleased TCL owner, who apologizes for the late blog this week but who likes to think that the end results of this weekend made it worth the wait.

TBA

 TBA - to be announced - as in, I got so busy yesterday doing Saturday things that I was on the wrong day when I went to bed. The announcement will be full of pictures later today.

Countdown to Christmas (Projects)

It's that time of year.

Last day of November and you've realized that Christmas is around the corner and, once again, you did not work on Christmas presents every month of the year so you are in the midst of a mad dash for yarn and ideas. Complicated further by the pandemic that has so many people hoarding even when the stores (and their wholesalers) are having trouble stocking their shelves in the first place. (Ask me how I know.)

Lucky for you, even though I may not have everything you think you want in stock, I may have exactly what you need. I have a number of new sock yarns (3 ply and 4 ply) that have recently arrived, with more to come, that can be used to make socks (obviously), gloves or mitts, hats, scarves, shawls and even baby sweaters. (You can further support local by purchasing my very own patterns, many of which are single ball patterns, for the above mentioned projects!)

I have also recently brought in wood sock blockers. I personally don't use them for anything other than 'production photos' but many people swear by them for their handknit creations. I have two adult sizes as well as a small child size which I'm considering using for Christmas decorations.

For those very last minute gifts, my stock of cotton for dishcloths has been replenished.

And for a little levity while you're frantically finishing your projects, I 'borrowed' the Christmas Knitting Bingo card from Yarnspirations. I may no longer deal with them because they want to sell to you directly, but they still have some fun ideas occasionally.

written by Lori, rushed TCL owner, whose reason for the blog being late today is because I was working on some Christmas socks into the wee hours of the morning and forgot to write the blog. 😉

The Big Blanket That Won't Go Away

I'm not sure how many years ago the arm knitting craze started but it was an enjoyable task to teach non-knitters how to knit without having to purchase tools, only yarn. In the beginning, all that was expected of a person was to hold multiple strands of yarn together, regardless of weight or texture, (in fact the more weights, textures and colours, the better) and with a little 'in out over' magic, one could create a scarf in under an hour.

Then someone decided that a blanket arm knit with merino roving would be a great idea.

Since closing the brick and mortar store I have misplaced our handy pattern plus price tag for the 'special order only' yarn that we had at our disposal but I still have the story that went with it which goes a little something like this.

Customer: I'd like to arm knit a blanket.

Me (or Margaret or Anne) holding up pattern: Like this one?

Customer: Exactly!

Me: No. You don't.

Customer (perplexed): Why not?

Me with my finger indicating the price highlighted in neon yellow marker: Because it will cost you this much ($$$) to make it and then after you've used it a little while, you're just going to throw it away because you can't wash it.

Customer (eyes bugged out and gasping): |How ... Wha-... Why?

Me: Because the roving will pill or pull apart while you are working with it. Then it will pill even more and get dirty when you use it and if you try to wash it in the washing machine, it will either fall apart or felt to the size of a very expensive dog bed.

Determined Customer: So I can wash it if I'm really careful and hand wash it?

Me: Oh. You CAN hand wash it. In the bathtub. And when you try to take it out of the tub, it will be like wrestling a drunk St. Bernard. And then you'll have to lay it out on a rug or bed somewhere for 6 weeks just to dry it out. And even then there's no guarantee it will ever look remotely close to the beautiful picture you saw and wanted to re-create.

Customer: Maybe show me some yarn for socks ...

Can you tell I've been getting more requests for the supplies to make these blankets? While I prefer to use my humorous approach to deter the eager person who believes they're up for the challenge, some require a more down to earth approach. So, for the more serious explanation, here is a video I found recently on YouTube from The Woolery.

It's amazing what happens to that squishy blanket when a beloved pet gets ahold of it.

Oh. I almost forgot! Make sure you pee before you get started 'cause you can't take it with you to the bathroom halfway through!

So the moral of the story is - If you want to make a quick gift out of yarn, arm knit a scarf.

written by Lori, bewildered TCL owner, who can't believe there are still so many people who haven't figured out how impractical these blankets are.