Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl Day 3

It's all over. We visited 8 yarn shops in 3 days. Over 500 miles on the odometer. But I now have turned in my completed passport for the 2013 Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl.

Today's first shop was The Ball of Yarn in Ormond Beach. It's owned by Pauline and Sandi and has been in business just over a year. Besides all the lovely yarn they normally sell, they were also featuring a trunk show from Southwest Trading Company, specifically Terra yarn and Coming Up Flowers yarn. I got to meet the two owners as well as Nancy, who teaches crochet classes, Chris, who was kind enough to wind my yarn, and Mary Anne, a volunteer who was taking care of all the crawlers.

L to R: Mary Anne, Chris, Sandi, Pauline, Nancy

Next on the list was Knit and Stitch in Cocoa. This was a bit difficult to get to because Cocoa was having a downtown Arts and Crafts festival. Once we found a parking spot a few blocks away, we wound through the streets until we found the shop. Knit and Stitch is stuffed to the rafters with all types and colors of amazing yarn. It's been in business for 35 years and is currently owned by Anne; she's had the store for 8 years. They have 13 instructors and teach classes 6 days a week.

The last shop on the Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl was Knitty Gritty in Vero Beach. We squeaked into this one 45 minutes before close (5:00) but ended up staying until almost 6. We met the owner, Anne, and her husband, Terry; they and their daughter, Amanda, have owned the Knitty Gritty for 1 year and a half. It's in its second location, almost double the size of the original. Terry is a yarn rep for 8 different yarn brands in 6 different states. Anna believes the store was ordained by God for her to own, and her staff are all divine appointments. Isn't that wonderful? We also met Vicky, one of the class instructors. She gave me some great knitting pointers (very helpful if I ever learn to knit!). One of the coolest things was the bathroom; the walls are signed by different knitters and crocheters with scripture, sayings, and comments. Everyone's encouraged to add their mark :-)

Tomorrow I'll show you all the wonderful new yarn I've added to my stash. I fully intended to buy other things besides yarn, but there were too many wonderful skeins to choose from. All of my purchases ended up being yarn :-)

So, who's coming to Florida next year to join me on the crawl?

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl Day 2

I am having so much fun doing this, it shouldn't be allowed! I've met so many nice people and discovered so much beautiful yarn. I need to sell more jewelry so I can start buying all this high quality yarn more often!

Tim and Hope came with me today which was nice; someone to talk to and someone else to drive. I hate driving on I-4.

Today's first stop was Knit! in Longwood. It's owned by Marney and her sister, Ruth and has been in business for 8 years. The store has a lovely selection of yarn as well as other supplies. They are happy to order in anything you like but don't see in their shop.

Next stop was Sip and Knit in Maitland. It's owned by Doni and has been in business for 14 years, 8 in the current location. Doni was busy with customers so I took a picture of Barbara; she teaches classes and has worked at Sip and Knit for 12 years. I also took a picture of their sweet dog, Tucker. He was very well behaved while lots of people shopped around him. I loved the layout of this shop: multiple rooms, each with a different purpose. I didn't get the big yarn room because it was very crowded and I didn't want to take anyone's picture without permission.

The last stop of the day was The Black Sheep in Orlando. This is the oldest shop so far, having been open 40 years! It's owned by Anne and has been for the 7 years it has been in it's current location. They sell a lot of beautiful needlepoint supplies as well as yarn, needles, hooks and other crochet and knit supplies. They also have the multiple room setup I like.

I'm amending the schedule; Tim has offered to drive me to the last three shops on my list if we go tomorrow. These are the farthest away, all on the coast; I'll be happy to have his company :-)

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Daily Inspiration

Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl Day 1

Today, I went two places on the Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl.

Needlecraft World in Kissimmee has been in business since 1978. The third owner, Kathy, has had it for 7 years. 

They sell a variety of cross stitch, crochet and knitting supplies as well as have classes for all three crafts on Mondays from 2-6.

Four Purls in Winter Haven has been in business for 3 years. It's owned by Laura  and staffed by her daughter, Aspen, as well as Donna and Jessica.  

They have a large variety of beautiful yarns and provide a setting for classes or if you just want to hang out and knit.

I did buy a goodie at each store but will wait until the end to show you.

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Daily Inspiration

Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl

I had the thought the other day "Are there any local yarn stores near me?". We have the big box stores in Orlando, but I've never seen any little yarn shops. So I went to good ol' Google and discovered something that looked very intriguing:

On their website, http://www.orangeblossomyarncrawl.com/, they list 8 yarn stores in Florida that are participating. You print out a "passport" and take it to each store anytime from March 1 to March 10 (they are promoting it for mostly this weekend and next, but you can stop by anytime they're open). You get a stamp from that store on your passport. When you have all 8, you turn the passport into the last store you visit for a chance to win an awesome prize basket! Pretty cool, huh?

With the exception of the one in Kissimmee (about 45 minutes away from me), each store is an hour to an hour and a half. That's a lot of driving! Luckily, several are very close to each other, so I've managed to break it down into three trips on three days. I think that way I'll use the least amount of gas.

Tomorrow's trip:

Four Purls Yarn Shop in Winter Haven

Needlecraft World in Kissimmee (this one surprised me because I thought it was just a cross stitch store, but they've recently added yarn and hooks to their inventory)

Saturday's trip:
Knit! in Longwood

Sip & Knit in Maitland

The Black Sheep in Orlando (the sad part is I've driven by Mills Avenue lots of times and never been on it!)

Wednesday's trip (March 6)

Knit and Stitch in Cocoa

The Knitty Gritty in Vero Beach

The Ball of Yarn in Ormond Beach (no website)

Each store will be having special sales during the yarn crawl along with their own prize basket drawings. I think this is going to be a lot of fun! Because I'm going alone (my two local friends who crochet aren't available), I'm going to take lots of pictures so it's like all of you came with me :-)

On our marks...

Get set...

Let's do the Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl!

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Thursday Tickle

WIP Wednesday

OK, maybe WIP Thursday is a better title; it'll be Thursday in two minutes.

I finally finished the squares for the polka dot blanket. 

And I finished the roses; I think I made 8 this week.

I finished the light blue round on the Wool Eater.

And made more squares for the Placemats. I'm trying not to let all the long loose ends drive me crazy; I know I'll be grateful for them when I start sewing the squares together.

I made more granny squares (16 more and I'm done!) and more yo yo's (98 more to the end!), but I didn't take pictures of those. 

And that's it! A lot of basic crochet this week :-)

Tomorrow (or later today, if you prefer), I'll let you know about an adventure I'll be going on during the next week: The Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl. Without Googling it, any guesses as to what it is?

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Daily Inspiration

Giveaway Winner Announced!

What time is it?

It's time to announce the winner of my 50 followers giveaway!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered; if you didn't win, I'm sorry, but we'll do another giveaway soon.

I do my giveaways very scientifically and professionally: I put your names on slips of paper and put them in a bowl.

Then I draw out a name (very scientific and professional, remember?)

Our winner is......

Thank you, Blogger, for once again flipping my picture.

TAMMY65 from LTB!!!!

Congratulations, Tammy!! Please email your address to bookworm187@earthlink.net. You have one week to claim your prize, and I want to get it mailed to you as soon as possible.

I'll be back later tonight with my WIP post. 

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Two Tuesday, Stashbuster #9 and Granny Squares

Don't forget! If you haven't already entered my giveaway, there's still time! Just leave a comment on this post telling me you want the prize. You have until I post tomorrow.

Two things I'm grateful for:

1. My job. I really like what I do. It's fun to get dressed up, play in jewelry and eat snacks. And when it's all over, someone has new bling for free. Of course, it has it's problems, too (what job doesn't), but it enables me to be a stay at home mom and homeschool Hope, two things I will always be grateful for.

2. Shopping with Hope. This one's because of number 1; before we met with one of my hostesses today, Hope and I went to Kohl's for a quick shopping trip. She picked up a new shirt and pair of pants. I didn't find anything I liked, but it was still a lot of fun.

Two patterns I think are neat:

1.Crochet Shamrock Garland from Skip to My Lou.
2. Four Leaf Clover Throw from Red Heart.

Stashbuster #9

I finished the Subway Scarf last night ( pattern here). I have to admit it came out pretty good; I had my reservations about how it would look. I didn't do the last repeat because I thought it was wide enough, and I made the fringe in color B instead of A. I just hope my friend likes it; his birthday is tomorrow, so we'll see :-) I used one skein of Loops and Threads Impeccable in Amethyst and a little over 1 skein in True Grey.

Granny Square a Week

I'm almost caught up on these. I've decided to give them numbers instead of dates; the closer I get to 52, the closer I get to finishing.

Granny Square #4

Sunburst Granny Square

This pattern from Priscilla's Crochet was fun to make, and I got to practice making the puff stitch. It kind of looks like a chrysanthemum. More flowers!

Granny Square #5

Rippling Loops Square

This pattern from DragonFlyMomof2Designs was interesting. She gives very detailed directions, so it was pretty easy. I like the lacy look it has. The neat thing is, I think you could easily continue working the square until it becomes a blanket.

Granny Square #6

Wiggles Square

This pattern comes from one of my favorite blogs, Dly's Hooks and Yarns. It's been on my to make pile forever, and I'm really glad I finally got to it. It was very quick and easy to make, and a lot of fun, too.

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Daily Inspiration

Unfinished Friday and an Award

That's right; I haven't finished anything this week. Oh, well; there's always next week :-)

Lydia over at Crochet Addict CFS has given me the Super Sweet Blogging Award! How sweet! (Corny pun definitely intended :-)

I have to answer 5 questions:

1. Cookies or cake?

Cookies.

2. Vanilla or Chocolate?

Chocolate. Can never have too much!

3. What is your favorite sweet treat?

Hershey's Little Miniatures, especially the dark chocolate ones

4. When do you crave sweet things the most?

All the time!

5. If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be?

Cookie; that's what I like to bake the most.

Now, I have to send this award to 12 "Bakers" who I think are sweet. I hate this part! I follow so many wonderful blogs, it's hard to choose. I truly believe you ALL deserve this award :-)

OK, I've narrowed it down to 12 (not an easy task!). Some of these are old favorites, some are new favorites. Some are new blogs, some have been around a while. Try to visit them all, especially if they are new to you, and say hi.

Dly's Hooks and Yarns 

The Good Life 

One Dog Woof 

The Stitchin Mommy 

Aurora Blythe 

Andamento 

Sue Webb 

Signed With an Owl 

Diaper Mum 

Not Your Average Crochet 

Fresh Off My Hook 

From the Hearth Room 

If you don't accept awards, that's OK; just know I enjoy reading your blog and think you're really sweet :-)

Thanks for reading!

Blessings :-)

Daily Inspiration