BUSTED!

And I thought I was a big stasher.  Not so much.  I still have to go through the remaining boxes but I have to concede to Cynthia.  Now there is a big stasher.  Thanks Cynthia for your comment.  Now I can shop without guilt.   Yes Cynthia I have reduced my stash since retirement but retirement also gives me more time to shop, however, not as much money to spend, but I can search for sales, Right?  Joy oh Bliss, life is good.

And Deb, you work in one of the biggest stashes ever.  How good can that be - being a partner in the yarn business must be awesome, no end to sifting through and planning projects. 

Katrina, thanks for your good wishes.  I always stressed that I could not go until my stash is done, I will try, but I will still shop, how can I not?  Knitting is my addiction and I will do my best to prevent the stash from overtaking me.   

Met with Deb today, talked about my hoodie and her teen project.  Back home now, knitting on into the night. 
-MommaBearKnits

Am I in Trouble?

Today I was expecting a customer to look at my baby garments with the idea to choose a couple for her great granddaughters and also later today I will have a less than 5 lb baby visit and her mom will have the privilege of choosing preemie sized sweaters for the little darling.  So, I went to my closet and sorted out the appropriate sizes and then I became obsessed with my stash that lately has become quite disorganized.  That may have been a big mistake.  After a few hours I find that my stash is taller than me and I still have four cardboard boxes in the spare room with more yarn.  When I am done, my stash will be pushing on the ceiling.  My question now is, Am I In Trouble?  Is yarn stashing addictive just like knitting is?  Do I have multi addiction problems.  I know that gambling addicts can sign up with casino security to be turned away from entering Casino Rama, do I need to notify all the yarn shops to deny my entry?  Should I put my stash in my Will for the next generation or should I just stay around forever until it is all gone.  HELP ME, Please. In the meantime, ---- MommaBearKnits and obviously will for some time to come.  At least I will be warm. 

Back on Track - Knitting and Designing

I am back working on the Teen Hoodie.  Deb, Dana, Lynda, Sophie and I have met several times and will meet many more times I am sure.  Each of us are working on a different teen style project.  I have received lots of input and have listened to Grandmoms, Moms, Teens, Knitters and other Designers.  I also listened to my Brain. Now it has begun.  It will be a multi-directional project, at least for now it is.  First step is the centre back panel. 

I have worked 10 1/2 inches of the 16 inch centre back.  I am using a large ball of acrylic yarn from my huge stash, just to see how it works. Next I will write the pattern and knit the first sample in Cabin Fever Cottage Colours.  I am working the smallest size to see the project completed.  Then when all the glitches are worked out, I will knit the middle size and then another designer will knit a different size, that way we will have three of the 7 sizes tested (now there are 7 sizes on the spread sheet but it may be taken down to 5 for the finished pattern). 

I am still knitting small mindless projects and socks, of course, when I am tired or being distracted by TV, Visiting or Travelling.

As everyone knows ---- MommaBearKnits and Designs on into the night.  See you next time, with more of the Hoodie Project done.

Still Knitting or Knitting Still

While I was at the Christmas Art and Craft Tour in Oro Medonte, of course I needed a project that would not require a great deal of concentration.  So---- I started a size 12 month pullover version of  "Baby J".  It was easy to work while watching the customers, answering questions and making sales.  My no sew and multidirectional concept became quite a subject of conversation and now I have a new project to start my stock increase for the next show or sale that I encounter-Bonus!  This one is worked in Worsted Weight yarn and is a warm spring or fall coat weight pullover.

Don't think It is over for MommaBear, she is still knitting.

----MommaBearKnits

Mommy, It's Over!!!!!

Great time, Great sales, Great networking, Great compliments.  I learned a lot, and listened to the people.  Now I am knitting on into the night.  Tired, but happy.  Big boost for ego and encouragement to continue. 
Good Night, see you tomorrow. 

End of Day # 1

It was great.  There was a steady stream of touring paticipants, I received awesome compliments and sold much more than I expected for my first event.  I know, I tried to keep the prices reasonable and likely could have upped them some but I still am very very happy.  I could hardly get my swelled head inside my car to drive home.  Apparently tomorrow (Saturday) will have much more traffic so I had to really spread out my stock to keep the table looking full.  I am happy, very very happy and I listened to the customers and now have many more ideas of what people want.  There seems to be a lot of requests for the tween sizes so I guess the Tween Patterns that Cabin Fever and Friends are working on will get out of the starting gate and do well.  Today I took some pictures of my show neighbours.  It is a small location but fits right in with the Christmas Tour concept.  The ladies of the church served tea/coffee and muffins in the morning and a great English Style lunch.   How great it was to be served tea in a china pot with the choice of sweets and a cup and saucer to enjoy your tea and also refills from your own personal teapot.  The pictures are random shots of my vendor neighbour's products before the doors opened.  The locations are small and intimate but the tour consists of four locations within 10 minutes of each other, a great idea. 

  MommaBear will be up and running again tomorrow morning.  At 4:00 p.m. it will be over, until next year, because Buffi already invited me back. 
---- MommaBear is tired.

12 HOURS !!!!!!

Set up is done, well sort of, I know that I will be changing things around in the morning.  I need more space, or less stock. 

This how it looked before I begun getting stuff out of bags.

First go at it, changed things around quite a bit, still not enough room.

I will make some changes and then I will be out there for all to see.  I look forward to the experience.  I have no idea where I will put the three sweaters, two mittlet pairs, and one last pair of mittens that are still drying on the towels.  I will be reporting after the tour is over.

The weather was scary for the drive to Shanty Bay, Rain and Fog big time, but I made it in one piece.  I guess better than snow but Buffi was looking for a little snow to help promote the "Christmas Tour".
---- MommaBearKnits

ONE !!!!!!

Countdown, One More Sleep!!!!!!

The Last Items are now drying on a towel and the Information Tags are ready to be attached.  This afternoon I will drive to Shanty Bay and set up my display.  I guess these last few projects will have to remain at home until tomorrow.  They should be dry by then.  Wish me luck, I dreamed about the show last night and I am looking forward to the next two days talking about my sticks and string.

MommaBearKnits on into the night.

Then I will take a break and get back to my Hoodie Project and finishing up Baby Compass and Samorelle.  Will it ever end ----- I hope Not!

Two

Days That Is!

Three Days!

Oh My!!! I Only Have Four Days Left!!!

We went to Orangeville this weekend for a OFAH Zone Annual Meeting.  PoppaBear went to the meetings, MommaBear networked, shopped, ate lots of food, had a few cool ones and sat out in the Sunshine, in November, in Canada without a coat on.  It was a good trip, because we normally travel through terrible weather to the Annual meeting. Last year we travelled to Owen Sound and came home in a bad winter storm.   Of course I was accompanied by my Sticks and String all weekend.  I also visited the local yarn shop and, guess what---spent money on yarn.   My knitting attracted lots of attention and I answered lots of questions, the most common question was, "Where is your pattern"? Answer: "In my Head".  "Oh, how does that work.? Answer: "With lots of frogging".

The Cruster Ruster also had a fabulous weekend at Snuggles Pooch and Kitty Holiday Camp http://www.snugglespetcamp.ca/ .  He loves it there and this time he even got to go for a 40 minute walk in the bush with one of the owners.  It is a great home away from home for the lucky dogs and cats that get to holiday there and we never worry about him when he is under their fabulous care. 

Now I am getting down to finishing up the last of my stock, I will be ready, hope we have lots of traffic. 

Last week I discovered that, although my stock was plentiful, I was a little short on the size 12 month garments, so I started the cardigan shown above.  Now it is finished, just needs its ends sewn in (oh I hate the word sew, when it comes to knitting). 

I also am working on two pullovers, the Rhubarb/Beige pullover is on the home stretch, and the Denim Blue pullover will be ready for Friday morning---I hope, if not, it will be worked on during the show.  I also have two pairs of mittlets, one pair of adult mitts and a child's hat to finish off and then I am ready.  I will, however, start a couple of projects to show off at the show, hopefully the knitting will attract some interest and be a topic of conversation. 

Come visit if you are in the area, remember ------MommaBearKnits

ELEVEN DAYS TO GO!!!!!

Today I spent several hours preparing my stock records.  I had no idea just how much knitting I have done.  But now, every item is tagged with my contact info, size, yarn content, price, description and stock number.  Now that I finally got down to record keeping instead of playing with my sticks and string I can, from now on, just update my stock records with new products and hopefully record some sales.   I will be ready for the show, I know I will.  Hope it goes well and the weather is nice to us all. 

Back to the sticks and string now.  MommaBear will work on the hoodie design as well as finishing off some small items. 

- MommaBearKnits