My Cat Wakes me up too!

My cat Bob wakes me up very early. So I reach for my ibook and check my email. Yesterday Marla sent me a link to this cartoon since I have complained to her about Bob. I am still learning how to blog and post. I figured it was time for me to learn how to get a You Tube video posted to this blog. It is Sunday morning 5:30 I have been up awhile.

Last week seemed to be a very long week. I seemed to be experiencing some sort of time distortion. It just seemed to drag on and on. My cotton sale continued and we saw several new knitters and some others that were making their yearly visit. Next week I need to start preparing for the wool sale. Nov. 10 & 11 will be coming up faster than I realize. I will make a info sheet to hand out and signs for each yarn on sale. Some of our popular wool yarns like Noro yarns have been selling every day. There may not be much left by the sale week end. We have a good supply of 220 Cascade, Ultra Alpaca, Toas and others. I am sure with our huge inventory folks will find plenty of great yarns to choose from even if the Noro is gone.
I am still working on my UFO projects. I am on the second sock of two different pairs. The one pictured in the previous post is coming along nicely. I am knitting magic loop and I switched to the new Addi Turbo #5 lace needles that came in on Tuesday. I just needed to sample them so I could let you all know that they work really smoothly. One of the perks of owning the shop is getting to try out the new tools right?? My knitting seem to be moving along faster. I really have to force myself to stay away from the new basket of Step Sock Yarn. I keep wanting to start another pair. I really enjoy wearing the Step/green ones I made last winter. They feel so soft on my feet. I wonder how do they embed the Aleo and Jobo into the yarn?? It is 6:03 and Bob is sound asleep in the corner of my bed. I am getting a little sleepy so maybe I will shut down and turn out the lights and see if Bob will let me go back to sleep for a little while.

Remembering Mary Lou and unpacking boxes.

The UPS man brought me two big boxes yesterday. I love unpacking boxes!!! Getting new stuff is the best part of having a shop like mine. One of the boxes was from Skacel with Addi lace needles and Trekking sock yarn, the Red White blue, Stars and Stripes sock yarn and Step sock yarn in a wonderful new fall 07 assortment. Step is the yarn with the aleo vera and jobo oil. Why am I still ordering yarn with the store closing?? I have had so many requests for this yarn. I may continue to sell it on my website.

The other big box had our new books, Ball Winders and other goodies. The new Fall 2007 Books from Interweave Press are really good ones. The Kimino book is wonderful. I want to try a vest but know now is not the time with all the store closing tasks that face me. I would love to help someone else plan and knit one. The Interweave Collection is a keeper and Folk Style and Bag Style are inspiring. Needless to say I did not get much work done yesterday. I kept escaping into the new books whenever I had a spare moment.

New Laurel Burch socks and bags came in with the books. We sold out of our Laurel socks over the week end. If you missed them and still want to reserve some for Christmas presents you can call me and I will send them to you, These socks sell out fast. I was sorry to learn that Laurel Burch died on Sept, 13 after a long illness. You can read about her on her website. Check my link list for a link to her site.

My dear friend Mary Lou passed away on Monday. My heart goes out to all her family and friends as we remember her. She was a very talented actress and singer. She had a wonderful sence of humor and was a joy to be around. She loved to direct plays. She was active in theater in Meadville for most of her life. She directed the Lion King at Grove City High School last year. Her son Ethan is a senior. She was one of the kindest most caring people I have known. She worked as a social worker for Childrens Aid here in Mercer. A truly beautiful person. I will miss her.

It will be raining for the rest of the week here in Mercer. The leaves are still beautiful, not as beautiful as they are when the sun is shining on them but still bright and cherry through the rain. Please come by and knit with me if you can. It is warm and cozy at Otter Creek Store. We can share a cup of tea and look at the new books together.

Nancy

Yarn Sale October

I am getting ready for my first big clearance sale. I will sale off the yarn in several sales this is the first starting with the summer weight yarns. Whatever is left I will list on ebay or box up to tale to knitters fantasy in the spring. Pictured is one of my favorite yarns from Dale of Norway. It is an all season cotton silk rayon blend. Machine washable and beautiful to work with. I havw lots of this yarn as you can see in the picture. This yarn is selling for over $7.00 a skein in shops in the city. I have tried to keep this affordable at 5.95 a skein. It will go on sale this week end for $4.00 a skein. At that price folks may even make a baby blanket out of it or a childs sweater. It is wonderful for tank tops and all season sweaters.

I am a bit nervous about the sale I sent out hundreds of emails and post cards but WILL ANYONE COME?????
I am planning hot cider and some light munchies. I have rearranged the yarn to get the sale yarn organizen into one area of the shop. I need to make some colorful signs for each one so they are easy to see the sale prices. Yesterday I had only 3 customers but the day seemed to fly by anyways. Does anyone read this blog??? If you read this please leave me a message I need encouragement.
Nancy

Working on my UFOs

Hello!
Its a beautiful sunday morning. I have been working on an email message to my knitting friends all morning. I need to send it today sometime. Later today I will work on more UFOs like the socks pictured above.

Last week I finished several UFOs. The Violet Feather and Fan Afghan that I started last March to show off the Merino Stripes Yarn is finished. This was knit from a Ann Norling free pattern from Crystal Palace. It is really beautiful and can be seen at the store on display with the yarn. I know many of you had given up on seeing me ever finish it. Knitting it was effortless, I knitted a 6 row pattern repete a couple times a week when the store was empty and I can hardly beleive it myself, I finished it with only 6 balls of yarn instead of 8. I finished a Noro Tam and an earflap style hat last week also.

Please vote for your favorite yarn. Help me decide which yarns to put in my on line store. I want to pick 5 or 6 of our best sellers to offer online. Email me at ottercreek@mac.com with your suggestions. I really appreciate your feedback.
Nancy

Beautiful cards plus two spinning raks for sale

Hi,
Here is a picture of the card raks I mentioned in my previous post. I am accepting bids on these raks. They are a great addition to any shop. They are filled with cards to make money for you. Email me for info or to make a bid or call me at 724-662-2830 during store hours: 11-6 Tuesday thru Friday. These are top selling cards and the spinners are in great condition.

SALE, Sale Sale Summer Yarn Clearance

Friday October 19 and Saturday the 20th Summer Yarn Clearance, I am working on publishing a list and getting post cards sent to customers. Most cottons yarns will be 20% off we have lots of odd lots of novelty yarns that are 50% off also.



Dear Fiber Friends,
It has been a stressful couple weeks with the future of our store uncertain. I will feel much better once I can get everything settled and know if I need to move and redesign my business again. I am hoping to find someone to sell my business and inventory to before Thanksgiving. If I do I will sell off my fixtures and move my favorite yarns to storage at home and sell through the internet and at special events. I have about a year and 3 months to go before my SSI benefits begin. I will keep you updated on sale dates and special events we are planning to have to clear the bulk of my yarn and gift inventory. If you have a shop and may be interrested in fixtures or inventory please come by and make an offer. I have two nice spinning card racks and a great spinner I use for needles and accessories. I post to my blog weekly you can keep track of me and the latest news. Click on the summer Yarn Sale Link to see some of the yarns that will be featured in our sale. You may also call me with offers or email me a bid on any inventory that may wish to purchase. I would be happy to mail yarn to anyone not able to attend my sale. Please forward this information to your knitting friends. We beautiful yarn from Dale of Norway, Cascade and Crystal Palace, and Classic Elite yarns to sell. All our designer single sheet patterns are buy one get one free. We have sweater kits with free patterns and odd balls at unbeatable prices.