Not much here. I am finally back from my journey. Yes a journey. I drove (alone) about 1951 miles (and a few feet) in less than a week. I visited Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Indiana. I thought I should have just hit Ohio, too, but it just seemed too desperate.
In Athens (well just outside of Athens) I shopped at
Main Street Yarns where I bought some Art Yarns superwash merino to make my... VERY FIRST
CLAPOTIS! Being that I am the only person left in the world who hasn't knitted this scarfy wrap deal I thought I should and the colorway will be perfect for the fall. I think.
I also picked up some merino/mohair blend fleece the color they call "Jamaica." Of course this is the souvenier fiber, so it is locally dyed (I think, yes). At any rate, it is so pretty and I should have remembered to take a picture. I want it to spin beautifully, and this is something I cannot accomplish with a drop spindle. Who wants to give me a wheel? I can't afford one. Or is there someone rich that wants to marry me instead, so that they can support my addiction? If you are reading this blog and you can keep me in yarn for the rest of my life and you are willing to front me a $500 spinning wheel go ahead and leave a comment and we can talk. I will tell you that I am impressed if you are a gentleman who got through all of that yarn babble... but I digress.
I made a snap decision to go to Blacksburg Virginia, where Jessie lives with her very own brewmaster, Jason. You remember Jessie, right? The one with the moved pizza blog. Right. Moved next to the beer. Follow the link.
Her yarn store destroyed the theory I had about local yarn stores. Let me tell you the theory. No one will ever love you like your LYS loves you. No matter how far and wide you travel, you will usually be given the cold shoulder when you travel to a foreign store because there is certain trepidation about whether or not the customer is serious about knitting or not. Now its not to say that its the REAL cold shoulder, just cold by knitter standards. Maybe it is just me though. I know I don't look like I would be a typical knitter. I know, a lot of younger girls are doing it now and they are knitting garter stitch scarves for their boyfriends, and that's all well and good, but I am more serious than that. Mosaic yarn shop in Blacksburg Virginia crushed that theory. First, can I tell you that had a DOG in the store. I LOVE dogs. They were all super sweet, they offered help very frequently, and they complimented me on the felted entrelac bag quite a few times. They said I had good taste, too. Its true. I do. I was really impressed by their charity knitting too. Hokie Healing. When I was in the shop they had over 2000 squares in Hokie colors. Their plan is to sew the squares together and make blankets for the victims' families. It was a little emotional to see all of the squares. I'll tell you something about Blacksburg, too. That place is awesome. I will admit I was nervous that it would be scary and very very depressed, what with their recent tragedy. It wasn't really like that. They are really trying to get through it, and I think they are doing a great job. Its there, kind of looming, but you don't relly feel like asking questions about it yet, but it seemed like it has so much to offer (mmmm Gillie's). Also, look what they did while I was visiting. I think that is neat.
Okay so yesterday I drove 12+ hours by myself in my car then I went out until really late (I stayed awake 24 hours in a row, y'all) there is something about wiffle ball, dance parties and beers that take the tired away. But it turns out that is just momentarily, today it's back. Also, can I tell you to please go buy the new Wilco album "Sky, Blue, Sky." Now. I will take a nap in the mean time.
Laterz.
In other news, I have finally decided what to do with the yarn my lovely boyfriend gave me for Christmas. Its local natural alpaca!
