Saturday, September 29, 2012

Bitten by the Bug and Update

I woke up in the night with my hands hurting. Still half asleep and thinking I hadn't knit that much last evening, I realized my feet were hurting! And my eyes! My head too! Oh no, I don't want to be sick! I hurt all over!

Thankfully, I slept all day Monday. The few times I was awake, I was shocked that I felt so bad.

Today, after sleeping until 11Am, I think I feel better. I have listened to a book on my iPhone this afternoon, Still enjoying not having to move! Joe came in declaring my color is coming back to my face. He said I have been white as a sheet.

I am one of those people that can't take a flu shot. I am allergic to eggs. That hasn't made much of a difference in my life until now. The flu bugs that hit us every year seem to get tougher and tougher.

I have finished the Opal Sock Bunny. SHE is so cute! I have started my Color Affection Shawl so I can participate in the KAL at times. (mine will be a shop display) I am finishing the Wonderful Wallaby in Ultra Pima. I will be starting another Wallaby in Sierra for the upcoming KAL.

I stayed home Wednesday to rest and hoping to get past any extended contagious time. I worked the rest of the week fighting a lingering fatigue. I sincerely hope that everyone can avoid this particular nasty flu!

 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Color Affection KAL

A few of us have decided to start a Color Affection Shawl KAL on Friday afternoons and Saturdays. The pattern can be viewed and purchased on Ravelry. It is a a very, very popular pattern and pretty simple since you knit every row. It should be a good pattern for new knitters and there will be lots of help if you get stuck! It is also a good opportunity to make new knitting friends. Anyone can join in at any time. It takes 3 skeins/hanks of sock weight yarn. We have several different sock weight yarns to choose from or you can knit it from yarn in your stash! Many of us stash sock yarn like there is no tomorrow.

I must warn you, it is also called Color Addiction and Color Affliction! Seems it is addicting to the point of becoming a sickness! That's what we are looking for - a fun knit that everyone will enjoy - beginner and experienced knitters alike. Some of us may wind up knitting more than one!

 

A few pictures of Color Affection to entice you to join us



 

 

Monday, September 17, 2012

Trick or Treat Doily

If I had to make a choice, I would choose knitting over crochet - just barely though! I love crocheting with cotton thread to make doilies, table runners, table cloths - little bits of lace. I could not resist this doily when I saw it on Ravelry. I have stashed away Senso as it has been discontinued! I did stash orange, black and a pale orange thinking of Halloween. It crochets up quickly and looks great for the season. Just a few photos of it in our Halloween display in the shop -
Trick or Treat Doily
 

A bit closer -

 

Monday, September 10, 2012

Monday Monday

I am up early this morning to tend to shop business, paperwork and filing. It has become impossible to do this type of work at the shop so I try to get it all done on my day off. Joe is home sick with the current bug that is going around! I'm glad to have his company and help. We discuss every aspect of iPurl business.

Called a Supplier early to make sure a recent large order is ready to ship, supplied credit card information and checked to see if everything was in stock and nothing had gone onto back order. We should be receiving UPS shipping confirmations this afternoon. That is good news!

There is a small delivery arriving today - UPS usually leaves it next door with Chocolate Punch! That shop smells absolutely wonderful! The frozen hot chocolate is delicious!


Called another Supplier to check on two separate large orders from APRIL to see what has not shipped, when I might expect those orders to be shipped and any balances needing to be paid. Supplier is emailing lists to me so I can decide if there is anything I want to cancel at this point. I have found I do not like to order yarn and wait nearly 6 months for it to be delivered. As a new shop, trying to fill shelves, this really hit us hard, delaying our opening. Lesson learned.

Checking on business credit cards to make sure payments were posted, checking business banking account, transferring funds as needed to different places.

Checking shop email to see replies to two emails that went out regarding upcoming classes in the shop. Class registrations are processed in the order they come in. Email posts delivery arrival times making that process easy for us.

Time spent working on shop business - 3.5 hrs.

I have been working on a new e-commerce site that is linked to our current software system we use in the shop making inventory management easier. (the reason for the new computer - leaving the MacBook Pro for website use). I am hoping to be able to switch to the new site soon. If you see Cindy and I taking photos of yarn, that is what we are doing!

Our classes are finally getting underway starting with the basic Beginner Classes. Now, we are adding some fun Project Classes. Class info emails are going out one at a time. We hope to see you in a class or two soon!

The little red Wallaby I have been working on amid knitting shop displays, is coming along well. I have worked on it this weekend getting the sleeves knit late last night while watching a replay of the MTV music/video awards show.

As some of you may know, Joe and I have decided to sell our house and move into The Woodlands. It is where we are most of the time SO we decided to JUST DO IT NOW. This afternoon, I am going to clean out a couple of closets along with some housework.

The FUN stuff - We will be going into full Halloween decoration in the shop this week! Everyone seems to be enjoying our Fall/Halloween window display! The week of Halloween, we are planning hot apple cider and a few munches!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

ONline Sock Yarn and Socks

ONline sock yarns has always been one of my favorite yarns! It is a fav because not only is it bright and colorful; it stripes in the most wonderful ways. This is not "quiet" sock yarn! You want people to see these socks because they are beautiful! AND...... If you are a knitter, you know it's not just for socks!

Back around the first week of April, Joe and I met with Cody and saw the new ONline sock yarns! They are beautiful! This year, for the first time ever, ONline has socks KNITTED in each of the new colorways! They look handknit and they are beautiful! These socks will make fabulous gifts - Birthday, Christmas or Just Because!

iPurl has all 16 of the new ONline sock colorways AND the handknit socks in each of the colorways! We have 1 pair of small socks, 2 pair of medium socks, 2 pair of large socks and 1 pair of Xlarge socks in each colorway. Now, for the photos -

16 all new colorways

Rack of knitted socks

Knit socks

There is only ONE knitter I know that loves sock yarn as much as I do - Gina Lee in Lake Charles! Good Morning, Gina!

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Welcome September

It's hard to believe it is already September! There is no hint of Fall in our weather, of course. Hot is the only word needed for our forecast! Even though it is very hot, we know that cooler temps are coming and it's time to start our knitting if we want to have some nice cozy items ready.

We have been very busy as I am sure you have guessed! I don't know where the days have gone. I am knitting pumpkin hats this weekend, writing up the pattern while I am at it. It's a very simple little hat with a stem on top in 3 sizes. It will be on display at the shop soon with the pattern provided to those who want to knit one or several! It knits up very quickly! We are anxious to start decorating for Halloween at iPurl!

I am specifically knitting a pumpkin hat for grandson Jack. Jack loves pumpkins, always has, and Joe and I think of Jack a lot every year at this time. Every couple of years, Jack needs a new knitted pumpkin hat as he wears them out!

I am still knitting the Wallaby in between other items. We have decided to order another cotton yarn for the shop. I was not impressed with Sierra (5 sts = 1 inch) in the hank but I swatched with it and it is truly lovely having great stitch definition and a very nice "feel" to it! Fiber content is 80% Pima cotton and 20% wool, with the wool keeping it light. It is available in a great selection of colors so it's darn near perfect. A nice selection of colors will be available soon! Sierra will make fabulous Wallabies!!

Joe and I wish everyone a safe and wonderful holiday weekend. I look forward to seeing everyone next week!

P.S. there are some GREAT yarns arriving in the shop next mid-week. We will try and have them all on the shelves by Friday!