A Yarn Crawl on the North Shore

This is my haul from yesterday’s yarn crawl.  I was so excited to go on my first “official” yarn crawl.  If you’ve read my blog for awhile, you know that I have organized several “mini-crawls” that I have done alone, or with a friend (like Lori). 

There were 12 stores signed up for the yarn crawl north of Boston.  I could only go on Saturday, so I kinda planned on making a loop. 

I started at Seed Stitch in Salem.  They were the organizers of the crawl and I was able to pick up my “yarn crawl” button there. 

I will blog about each shop separately.

Next, I went to Beverly and hit up two shops.  The first, Creative Yarns, is a new shop that just opened.  Then I went to Yarns in the Farms.  Whoa was it packed!

Then, I headed out to Gloucester.  I have always wanted to visit Gloucester since seeing the movie “The Perfect Storm.”  I can’t remember if I read the book, too or have just seen the movie a bunch of times.  But I have read several books by Linda Greenlaw. 

Anyway, I went to Coveted Yarns.  Very busy and lots of yarn and lots of discounts!  I was going to stop to eat, but decided not to waste my yarn shopping time.  Besides, I want to go back with the Hubs and really visit Gloucester.  But I did get to meet Heather of Sereknity fame.  I am a fan and have several of her yarns.

I headed back west and hit up Cranberry Fiber Arts, which reminded me a lot of a store here in Connecticut.

Then I stopped at Butterfly Yarns in Wakefield, which also reminded me of the old Sit and Knit store in West Hartford. 

I ended my day at Sit ‘n Knit in Melrose.  It was funny to end it at a familiar sounding store.  As the Sit ‘n Knit here in Connecticut was the first LYS I visited and have gone back many times.

All in all, a great day!  I did restrain myself and only purchased a little at each store.  Except Coveted Yarn, as they had great discounts and local yarn.  I also purchased a bit at Sit ‘n Knit because she had a discount on her Manos Cotton Stria, which I love and I believe they have discontinued…

I will blog later in the week about each store and will be adding a page of LYS’ outside of Connecticut.  I have been to some in NY, CA, RI, PA, and MA.  I have tried to visit some in TX and FL, but without success….

Another Package

But this one I purchased and did not win….My second Club Loopy package from The Loopy Ewe.

What is fast becoming my favorite yarn

Lorna’s Laces Honor in The Loopy Ewe Shuffle, an exclusive colorway.  Honor is Baby Alpaca and silk, nothing more luscious….and the color is great! 

I’ve lately become a big fan of Lorna’s Laces after using the Shepard Wool in Zombie BBQ.  I’ll be getting some more tomorrow….

What else was in the package you ask?

Another cool Bugga bag (another brand I’m loving, this is my third bag) and two nice patterns

Needed to share before the crawl tomorrow, as I will be blogging about my day…so excited!!!  The Hubs keeps asking if I’m going to stay home and go to the movies….I counter with, we can go to Gloucester and get seafood…maybe he’ll actually surprise me and come with me…but either way it’s going to be a beautiful day!

I Win Again!

Told you I’ve been lucky lately, maybe I should hit up one of the casinos in the state!

Although the weather is not great today, I wanted to share with you my wonderful mail…

First up from Gracie in Mexico

This cute little frog purse.  I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep it, or gift it to someone.  She also sent along the most adorable crocheted kitty!  I may use it as a bookmark, or sew it to a bag and a fantastic bird keychain.  I LURVES that keychain!  And look at that great envelope…I need to bring it in to share tomorrow….Plus she volunteered to host a Flat Stanley!  Too cool!

Next up was this piece of art work…I didn’t actually comment for too many pieces of artwork, as I have no place to hang or display them.  But this piece spoke to me…Isn’t that what art is suppose to do?

It says,”How much rice is in your bowl?”  I love this.  It came from the wonderful Judith at Quilt or Dye.  I just love this! 

Now I am eagerly anticipating this Saturday.  I will be joining in my first “official” yarn crawl.  There is also a Rav group for the North Shore Yarn Crawl.  

Yeah, yeah, I know….but it’s gonna be fun…..I’m kinda looking for other goodies than yarn, although I have a swap partner to buy for…and I’m gonna blog them…

So do you wanna see what came in yesterday’s mail?  Come on, I know you do!

These are from Gaia’s Colors.  Someone mentioned that she is closing shop and I’ve always wanted to try her yarn.  The color is so saturated and brilliant even on this grey and rainy day! 

The top is Turquoise Woman in a wool/bamboo/nylon blend and the second is luscious Eriu in wool/cashmere/silk blend….So squishy!

Tired, Just Tired

I've been working all week on correcting papers and working on report cards.  We are in the midst of state testing...you know the one that says whether we are a failing school or not (yeah there is sarcasm in that remark)

Next week we start parent conferences....we have 57 students...one day we are in conferences for almost 6 hours!

I haven't been doing too much teaching this week, as the tests are from 45 minutes to an hour...and our kids take 10 of them...2 solid weeks of testing....it sucks...and they need some down time, plus I've been wicked tired lately....

We have been working on some of these....They had to make plushies....They measured, cut out, sewed and stuffed...and today they started working on their Quatrain poems to go along with their plushy....

They also had a project due to create a social studies game to teach landforms...we've been playing those in the afternoon.....It's just one of those weeks....An FYI, most of these kids have never sewn before or seen anyone sew....

I Win!

I won a really cool looking clock from Heather at Implausible Yarn.  I wasn’t sure I was going to enter, but my classroom needs a clock.

My classroom clock “gave up the ghost” back in December.  Now (mini-rant coming) people really think that schools have all this money…yeah, there is no money to replace my clock.  So I have had a giant hole in my wall….and about 50 times a day, I have to answer, “What time is it, Miss?”

Today was bad, as it is instrumental day…so different kids leave at different times to go play instruments….

I also had to buy copy paper this weekend, because our building has been out for the past week.  They ordered some, but they have to shift money around to figure out what account to use and to cover the cost.  Copy paper costs a lot and because we don’t have consumable books, we use a lot. (Mini-rant over)

I’ve been lucky to win several things the past couple of weeks and I’ll share them with you when I receive them…

Now to go correct papers and work on report cards….

Sheepy Time

Yesterday the Hubs and I went to see The Adjustment Bureau.  It was good.  We both enjoy Matt Damon as an actor.  Although, I’ve really only seen his action and drama films, not too many of the comedies.
On the way home we stopped at the local weekend flea market.  I get a lot of his Christmas gifts here….
I took a few quick snaps..

Those drawers had a ton of crafting supplies in them.  I only purchased two things.  One for an upcoming swap and the second this:
A Sheepy Bank!  How cute is that!  I said, “I’ll put extra change in and when it’s full, I’ll buy yarn!”  The Hubs?  He said, “With the amount of yarn you buy, you need to put in $20 bills!”  Hahaha….Love him! 

Hello Peeps!

I kind of didn’t feel like blogging or had nothing to say this week:

But…I finished this:

for a baby shower on Wednesday.  I was going to make a sweater, but it just wasn’t working.  So I turned it into a Sherpa vest…The parents love it!  I have several adults who said they wanted one…

I am eating Jelly Belly jellybeans just because….I have had two Cadbury Easter eggs this week, one regular, one caramel…

State testing started yesterday…we test for two solid weeks…My kids have 9 more tests to go…

Don’t you long for the days of this:

Playing fun games with your friends…dominoes and Life…

I have to spend the weekend correcting papers and working on report cards..it’s suppose to rain on Sunday..perfect…

I started watching Spartacus:  Blood and Sand…oh my goodness!  The violence, the blood, the full frontal nudity and the s*x…holy Roman Empire!  I’m not sure if I like it or not, but it does have an intriguing story and I keep watching….

And tonight I get to watch Supernatural!  Those Winchester boys always make my smile and this just makes me happy every time..

They said Jared missed his cue on purpose to see what Jensen would do…You can tell Jenson doesn’t know the whole song, as he flubs a few lines.  But it makes me laugh every time….

And Judge Judy is berating people in the other room…..so glad it is Friday!