Yarnivorous

(after all a shop hop is all about SEX isn't it?) G'day all! I tried to be very good whilst on the shop hop. We are saving for various things: a) me to go to RHINEBECK!!! b) a car c) a trip home :-) All of those things add up - thank heavens the car should be cheap and if I have an ounce of control, Rhinebeck should be cheaper than the car.... Anyway, here's the goodies I picked up: From Creative Hands, some Rowan and some Noro: (on special, of course! Except the Kureyon which came with a free pattern.) From Purlescence, a cute little gruesome amigurumi book and a totally to die for Grafton batt. I love my rainbow colours even though I am not gay. (and if you are gay, well that is not my concern - you may continue as you see fit.) From the Yarn Place - two skeins of Koigu Kirsti and one of a wool/cashmere to dye up, both on special. From the Knitting Room, the one skein hat pattern and yarn, and a number of old patterns in mostly basic shapes - I like basic shape ones c...

G'day all! Shop Hop, Day Three The day dawned grey and icky looking. No rain - it shouldn't rain here for another while yet, or so I am told. It's been six months since it rained properly. Anyway, my ride showed up and we went to do a tour of the southern yarn shops. Can I just say after two days of shop hopping, the spirit and the body were definitely flagging? The Continental Stitch in not Gilroy, umm, Morgan Hill was an interesting place. They have definitely set themselves up as a boutique shop. They had some cute stuff there - a mix of high end and Berocco synthetic yarns. I once again managed to get away without doing any damage to the visa card.... Then we whizzed down to Carmel by the Sea. I wish I had taken more pics of the place. It was full of cars all over the quaint little streets, galleries, exclusive shops, the sort of place I think my other aunt in law would love. There were people *everywhere*. The yarn shop there, Knitting by the Sea, was cute b...

G'day all! After the first frenetic day, we backed up for a second day of shop hopping, this time to the stores around San Jose (or Santa Clara County). Believe it or not, I've ridden to all bar one of the stores we visited on this day. It is sorta hard to evaluate places that you see quite often or have been to before. B and I agreed to meet at 10:00 at the Appointed Meeting Place. Both of us were a little late but not as late as C who never showed up, well not within 45 minutes of the agreed time (for the second day in a row!). First we hit Green Planet Yarn , my LYS. It is nice to go to a place where people know your name and ask how things are going. But do NOT bring your dog. Oops, no pic! Sun was behind it. (Not doing so well on the pics today) Next up was Commuknity . Commuknity has a bead shop out the back now and I think we spent a lot more time there than we did in the yarn shop itself. I picked up an Addi crochet hook for putting beads on my knitting (and y...

G'day all! The day dawned sunny for the first day of the Peninsula to Pier Shop Hop 2008 . 19 shops along the west Bay area down to Carmel by the Sea/Monterey are taking part in the annual shop hop. Check out Victorian, On the Move for pics of the areas that we visited. We hit 7 shops on the first day. I am very very glad I don't live near most of the shops we saw. The first one was fabulous. Light and bright and happy, new and clean. Mmm. Yarn, Paper Scissors in Burlingame - check it out! They have a range of higher end yarns (IMO). (My lovely companions) The ladies at Nine Rubies were very welcoming. They have a local dyer doing a range of yarns for them. So totally would've bought some sock yarn there except I have enough sock yarn for about 100 socks still (even after knitting some - I spun some sock yarn and bought some for Nathan's socks, finding orange sock yarn is hard (mental note to self - must dye some) and some arrives in the mail every two month...

G'day all! Once a year here in South Bay and associated areas, there is a shop hop. The idea is to visit as many shops as possible in the days alotted and get a "passport" stamped to enter a draw for a grand prize ($500 yarn from your fave shop). This year 19 shops are opening their doors to rabid knitters (and crochet artists and fibre artistes of all types). The fun part is that the shops are pretty spread out over South Bay, west Bay and places south like Santa cruz and Monterey. SDunno if this google link will work but it is worth a shop. Or shot as the case may be... (doncha love freudian slips?) I don't have a car. Some of those shops are nearly 100km away! Well guess what I discovered? There is a BUS that runs from San Jose to Monterey! And it only costs $9 for a day pass that will get me all around Monterey and to the two yarn shops in the shop hop! I couldn't drive there and back for $9 even if I did have a car - not too many cars get 3.8L per 10...