Classes at Lacombe Performing Arts Centre (LPAC)

 They're finally happening!

Classes will be happening at LPAC starting January 25 so register now :)

The continuing deep freeze from over the Christmas / New Year break had me in a bit of a funk so I didn't get the blog out last week. I perked up a little bit when my classes were announced in the middle of last week and I perked up a lot more when I saw that I was going to have an entire week of temperatures hovering around zero(!) to work on the bus. 😃

For the classes, you will need to provide your vaccine status as well as wear a mask at all times. I choose to be extra cautious since I may be required to be within your (and everyone else's) 6 foot bubble in order to help with any issues that may arise when learning new techniques. I've missed teaching and I am looking forward to everyone enjoying the experience.

The first class (pictured above) is self explanatory - you're learning new basic skills.

The second class is an introduction into Entrelac without all the messy beginning, left-leaning and right-leaning triangles to get in the way.

The third and final class of the series teaches you to combine knitting and crochet in one project - bottom up or top down!

The best part about all these classes is that you can take what you learn and translate it into existing patterns. I can't tell you the last time I used the cast on technique I learned as a child nor can I tell you the last time I used a long tail cast on. What I can tell you is that MY long tail cast on was not "the stretchiest cast on you'll ever use". In fact, it was quite the opposite and since it was meant to cast on a sock, you can see why I chose to never use it again. You will learn what I use instead in classes one and three.

Now, go on, get registered!

Written by Lori, thankful TCL owner, who is looking forward to all the productivity in the next week thanks to the amazing weather!

Pluff Will Keep Us Together by The Captain and Chenille

Flutterby Animal Print, regular Flutterby and Dolphin

Bella Chenille and Pluff

 Please tell me you groaned at the title. That would mean you are old enough to understand it and I won't feel so bad about using it. Besides its not the worst earworm you will have ever had to deal with. 😉

It dawned on me last week that most of the markets end around Thanksgiving weekend. That means from now on, every yarn on display will be the last time you get to pet it before it goes back into the warehouse for the winter. Then its online ordering only for the next six months!

I am working on setting up classes at LPAC (Lacombe Performing Arts Centre) this fall/winter and will post details as soon as they are confirmed so there will be some yarn petting/purchasing available at the classes. In the meantime, have fun playing with the yarns of the week with some fun patterns from Ravelry.

Pluff is a great alternative to Bernat Blanket and will make these slippers or adorable Yipyips for storage.

Flutterby (regular) can make a squishy receiving blanket with just two balls. Bella and Dolphin would require three. This cute sweater will fit up to a size 10 child using the same amount of yarn. 😊

The Animal Print Flutterby is super chunky and one ball will make a super quick cowl if you need a last minute gift for someone.

One thing to note about all chenille yarns: put a knot in the yarn at the end of the tails (beginning and end). You can't feel the knots once they are woven in but without the knots, the yarn will unravel and there will be no saving your project.

written by Lori, TCL owner, who is looking forward to seeing how many more people take advantage of free shipping before the markets are over.

 The classes are finally ready to go!!!!!!

Please note that these classes are broken down into one hour sessions to allow for homework between sessions. (The webpage says differently at the time of this publication. We're fixing that.) Two of them are before Christmas so you'll have new ideas for gifts or, at the very least, new ways to create those gifts you already had in mind. The class in January will also require you to crochet but I will be teaching two ways to make the hat so learning crochet on the fly won't be intimidating.

I have taught many of these techniques in my classes at Creativ Festivals in Sherwood Park and Calgary, but my students there have never had the privilege of creating a complete project. Nor have they had the opportunity to pick and choose between materials and tools to purchase right there in the class! (Cash and debit/credit will be accepted.)

Due to physical distancing requirements, class size is limited so make sure to sign up early!

written by Lori, excited TCL owner, who can't wait to get back into the classroom.

Where Does the Time Go?

 Is it odd that I was only one day into my 'online only' winter schedule and I completely lost track of time? Even Mom and Myles were thrown off by the fact that I was around the house more. Myles usually gets his treats 4-4:30pm-ish when I get home from the pop up location at LPAC and he was begging for them when Mom and I got back into the house at 11:30am after reinforcing a wonky shelving unit in the warehouse on Thursday.

Friday morning was spent prepping for my winter series of classes at LPAC before presenting the classes at a meeting in the afternoon. The remainder of the day was spent knitting demos for those classes. Mom swore up and down that it felt like Saturday all day and she was right. It DID feel like Saturday, which made Saturday feel like Sunday except that we didn't go to church. And because I played for both church services on 'actual' Sunday, it felt like I had already put the RV into hibernation for over a week and it had only been four days!

So, other than constantly checking the date on my phone or my Fitbit, I've decided to keep track of my days in a different way. Mom and I are going to Bible study on Monday evenings and, until classes start, there is Virtual Knit Night on Thursday evenings. Even though I know I have directionally weak tendons in my wrist making it difficult to play three games in a row, I'm joining my mom and brother in the senior - yes I said senior - bowling league on Thursdays. If that isn't enough to keep my days straight, I will have to add more non-work activities to my list.

Speaking of classes and work, I will be posting the upcoming class schedule as soon as it is finalized with the LPAC administration. All classes will be designated experienced beginner - you only need to know how to knit and purl. One class will require basic crochet knowledge as well. I will be teaching you everything else you need to know. Because of physical distancing requirements, class sizes are limited so register early!

written by Lori, time-lagged TCL owner, who can't wait to get onto a 'real' schedule asap!

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. 😏