The Fantasy

I suppose, like most knitters, I sometimes fantasize about owning a yarn store.

I fantasize, actually, about being wealthy enough to own a yarn store, and not worry about it being profitable or not. Oh, and still buy myself health insurance, because of the diabetes and all.

I have been thinking about this stuff a lot recently. I found the perfect space on North Mississippi Avenue.

I found the perfect name: Ya Ya Yarn.

Then, while I was reading The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg, I heard this sentence: "The sky was a redemptive blue."

"What a great name for a yarn color, " I thought.

So now I have a whole new fantasy about having my own line of yarns. Like the world needs another new line of yarns. Especially with Tina making the perfect yarns right down the road at Scappoose.

But I could name them. Redemptive blue. Joyful yellow. Ocean of forgiveness blue. Acceptance brown. Flattering green. Integrity black. Openness white. Loving red. It's a warm, cayenne red. Essential gray. I could make lots and lots of color names, especially in the blues.

But what to call the line as a whole? Any ideas? Or shall I think on it some more.

Must Find Camera

I find that it is impossible to blog without my digital camera.

At first, when I began blogging, that was inconceivable. Not now.

And I have a fabulous little digital camera, a Sony, in a beautiful felted sleeve, which is recycled from a striped thrift-store sweater. But I cannot find it.

[bad words deleted]

So I cannot show of my projects here or at Ravelry. I cannot show off my stash at Ravelry. While it is small, I believe my stash to be of exquisite quality, and astounding for the amount of Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn.

And I cannot show off my delightful little baby pants projects for Charlotte, who should be born within the next four weeks or so. Nor reassure her mother that not all of these will be the color of snot. They're not. They're very pretty colors, and I've even started a set of so-called longies, in a turquoise blue to burgundy, turning out very nicely. And I created a great waistband, so it's a new technical skill for me.

BTW, anyone going to the Blue Moon Barn Sale on Saturday? I'm planning on it.

Florida Knitting

Okay, I have missed you guys. Work's been crazy and knitting's been off and on.

We took a week's vacation to Florida. Yes. Orlando. DisneyWorld. Very much fun. Very much spending.

But in the middle of our vacation, week took a day to just 'ding around' as we like to say. We Googled. We found two knitting stores within driving distance.

This is a sparse knitting environment, in my humble opinion. Considering that, at home, I have about TEN knitting stores within driving distance. Okay, so Florida is hot and perhaps there is less knitting than there would be in a cooler environment. It's also more densely populated. If anyone needs relaxation and knitting, it would be these dear folks.

So, anyhow. We drove up, blindly, trying to find the little community of Longwood. After a panicked call to the proprietor, we found the delightful store Knit! That first picture is me, seated, in front of their selection. You can tell that I'm on vaction. I look so relaxed!

And this is a photo of Marney Gibson, the delightful proprietor:

She's holding the book I bought and ringing up the one skein of sock yarn that called to me. She was very hospitable and gave us lots of good tips for what to do and how to get there. If I get to go back to Florida, I'm calling Marney first and running my plans past her.

She is a good soul. And she runs a knit shop. In Florida. Lucky woman!

My knitting project for the trip was Dave's mythical socks, the ones done on size ZERO needles, with Lorna's Laces in Black Watch.

I did okay, knitting an inch or so on the flights to Florida. Got the marker in for the afterthought heels. And about an inch or so after that. But, on return flight, disaster! I pulled out my project only to discover that one of the tiny bamboo needles had been broken. Woe.

And we arrived home late on Sunday, with no opportunity to replace the size zero circular needles. I visited three of my local yarn stores, and found one replacement needle (Addi Turbos, this time), came home, slipped all the stitches onto the replacement needle, set the project down and leaned over to move something on the couch, and BROKE THE OTHER BAMBOO NEEDLE.

Curses!

And on Tuesday, I had to work, and thus, less freedom to pursue another size zero Addi Turbo needle. Work. So annoying.

My Fantasies

I found out today that local yarn store Lint is for sale.

I'm now having Owning-A-Yarn-Store fantasies.

I'm really much too matronly for Lint, though. Too Eddie Bauer and L L Bean, not nearly hip enough. Too fat, not nearly thin enough for Lint. Also, I despise their little knitted toys and the knitted food items. I'm sure I wouldn't be a great match for much of Lint's existing clientele.

I'd also work really hard on the customer service skills of their existing employees. Or just fire them. Too much chatting behind the desk, and often with a negative or gossipy tone. Not always a pleasant store to visit.

But they have great yarn, which I have enjoyed a lot, and I can visit them on my lunch hour, and there is SO MUCH new home & condo construction being nearby, I can see some great potential there. I like their emphasis on natural fibers and organic yarns. And I've had the best class experiences there of any local yarn store that I've ever been to. Their website is excellent, and their on-line class listing is perfection. I LOVE that I can quickly tell which classes are full or over (done), and focus on the ones that are in the future or still have available seats.

I wish Melissa the best of luck with her sale, and in her future life.