Northern Needles

Well happy day. The local quilt store Bear Paw Quilts decided to take over the knitting store’s inventory and are running the knit shop out of their space (well…space they took over right beside their space) and are keeping it running as Folknits.

I’m so happy. I get to keep my wool. I love my wool.

I’m so excited. I’ve started my alpaca scarf. This knitting 2 together and yarn overs and stuff are a little hard for me to grasp my head around so every time I put it down I have to re-figure out what I’m doing. I know, simply never put it down! LOL.

A few weeks ago, I got to visit one of my daugther’s friend’s home. They have an alpaca farm and two of the alpacas had had babies (one each). What darlings!

Then I noticed that all their alpaca were shorn. Being curious I asked what they did with the hair/fur/whatever they call it. Well, blow me away, turns out Carolyn has started spinning the wool and is creating patterns/kits using the alpaca wool and is getting organized to take them to our local knit shop (oh forgot to update you about that…I’ll do that shortly) to see if they are interested in selling. Well being me I whipped out my worn wallet and bought a scarf kit on site. And I got to meet the specific alpaca it came from! Carolyn does amazing work, she’s got a felted tea cozy, scarves, sweaters, socks, hats. And all from her animals. I must go back.

I have to say my favourite one of the bunch though was this little guy. He was born last summer so he’s still in the “child” stage. Very inquisitive and chatty.

Here’s a few of my models that have been stitched up. Hopefully these will soon be available….somehow, somewhere LOL. For now our local quilt shop has expressed an interest in taking a look for the purposes of selling at their shop. Cross your fingers!

Here’s one called Naughty Pussycat stitched by my friend Cheryl McDowell.
Copyright 2005 Vivian Bales

And here’s another stitched by my friend Suzanne Baker (her link can be found on the left if you want to see her other stitchings!). And a wonderful job done by her husband Steve of the framing and photography (DLP Graphics).
Copyright 2005 Vivian Bales

And a particular favourite of mine. We live in the land of the moose (and have freaked out doggies every once in a while to prove it LOL). I stitched this one myself. It was quick and easy.
Copyright 2005 Vivian Bales

Those are just a few and I have many more in the works. But is it ever hard publishing your own stuff. I got spoiled just sending stuff to Dyan at Kustom Krafts to publish. I only got to do the fun stuff. Now however I see the headaches of making things match up between here and my local copy store. How can things go horribly wrong over the space of 20 kms? Eventually I’ll get all the bugs worked out I’m sure. Until then, pour me another glass of wine.