The Journey Began



Thursday Afternoon we set up for the show at Shanty Bay



Pictures tell it all, no need to ramble.

You may notice the notes all over the walls.   The St. Thomas Church members have written memories all over the walls inside the hall.  Later this year they are going to begin a renovation which will include a new insulated inner wall.  These memories will be under the new wall for all eternity.  What a great idea!

I had a wonderful show, sold lot's of merchandise, met some wonderful people and was too busy to take any more pictures.  Old friends, new friends and great ideas ---- what could be more enjoyable.  The weather was awesome and the church ladies put on a wonderful lunch.  Once a year I get to drink my coffee and/or tea from a cup and saucer.   Oh yeah! I guess I have to get back on track, November 2011 is just around the corner. 

First I am going to write the adulf version of the Compass pattern, finish the Miss Emilee and then I have an idea for an adult sweater and vest.  I have one that I knit several years ago and I still get compliments and questions about the style when I wear it today.  Keep checking in I will be expanding on the concept of a pullover with a vest.

Until next time ---- MommaBearKnits

Getting Closer to the Art and Craft Tour

I have been working on pricing and tagging my stock for the show.  Lot's of work, but neccessary.  The show starts Friday morning at 9 am.   Looking forward to a great show. 

Today I just piled them all up on my dining table.  Lot's of stock, ready to go.

Another angle Lots of stock!



Getting it ready to go.

This pile (above) still needs to be washed and priced.  I am still knitting too.  What else is new!!

 

Ready to load up with most of it.  Looking forward to a great show!!!!!!!

Getting Down to the Wire!!!!

I am very busy getting ready for the Oro Medonte Craft and Art Show.

Tagging the last of the items and ending the tails on the last few is happening as we speak.  Well, at least it was, until I started typing this post.  I am ready to go -------  almost!!!!

Today I am finishing up the sale tags for my socks.  I have my dining table totally covered with sizes 3 months to Men's Medium.  That is a lot of knitting.  I am addicted to socks I am afraid. 

I will post pictures of the other categories as I pack them away for the trip to Shanty Bay.

MommaBearKnits, what else is new?

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

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

13 Days to Go!

Well I am working hard and almost ready.  Thirteen Days to go, then I will know what I will do over the next 12 months, will I be getting ready for the 2010 Tour or will I be going in a new direction?  Whatever happens, I will still be knitting on into the night.  Today I visited several craft shows in the area, just to see what is being featured.  Not a whole bunch of knitting but I did see some really cute doggie sweaters, they were awesome.  Looking at what is out there, I think I will be well within the range and there were not a lot of baby/children garments just lots of scarves, mittens, dish cloths, stuffed teddies, Christmas decorations and of course, doggie sweaters.  Very few children socks and sweaters so I should do ok. 

My little models are all ready to shine.  Thanks to my Big Brother, Bernard for the work he put into these wooden display units for me. 

I have also been busy making stock lables and pricing the projects.  So far for stock numbers I am at number 122 with still more to go.  I think there will be no problem filling the space.  Hope to see lots of people at the St. Thomas Church Hall in Shanty Bay, Oro Medonte.  Remember I will be there Friday November 20 and Saturday November 21.  After it is over I will post how it went. 

Now back to the sticks and string.  MommaBearKnits on into the night and first thing in the morning.

16 Days and I will be in the middle of it!

I have not been working the sticks and string very much today.  I walked Cruster Ruster this morning and then went to visit my Mom in Law.  She is still doing pretty good for 97.  I love her she is so cute and she still has strong opinions that she is not shy expressing, good for her.  Then I visited with Deb, my Knitting Guru. We had a talk about knitting and she gave me some good advice for my first craft show participation, I really appreciate help from someone who has been there (of course Cabin Fever Sisters go to much bigger venues than a local craft show, but the advise will still help me).  Then I came home, hauled out all my stock and worked all afternoon and into the early evening preparing the stock tags for everything.  Lots and lots of stock.  I still have some tags for hats to do and then all those socks.  I am winding down and will be ready ------

 It doesn't look that large in the picture but believe me it is.  I cannot believe that I actually knit all the items along with the designing and the huge project knitting my JJ Jacket. Thanks for retirement time. 

I have been wearing JJ and am truly amazed at how many people approach me and say how much they like it.  Makes me proud. 

MommaBear is going to rest now, that means of course, she will pick of the sticks and work an easy project to relax.  Love to knit, yes I do-------

Time is Running Out!

It is November 2, 2009.  I have only 18 days left until the 16th Annual Christmas Art and Craft Tour in Oro Medonte.  Oh My --- What was I thinking. 

I am busy getting all the yarn ends worked in, (my least enjoyable task of knitting).  I have solved the problem of sewing, working top down and multidirectional but still have to face the "Work in the Yarn Ends".  Here lay some stringy unfinished projects but they are well on their way to being part of the show.  Thanks Buffi for the opportunity to shine ---- I hope I shine.

 See below a baby hat knit from left over self patterning yarn knit double, really multicoloured and knit from the top down. 

Below is a circle (there are more coming) of warmth for cold hands in Oro Medonte.  Hope they get to do what they are meant to do...........

I will also have a circle (or pile) of hats and children's socks.  So warm heads and feet are in.............  I will have baby/children's hoodies, cardigans and pullovers.  Lots and lots to choose from.

I am now working on all the information/price tags for each and every item.  I had no idea just how many pieces I have produced.  If nothing else there will be plenty to choose from.  I am also still working on the Tween Hoodie that I asked for advice from my visitors over the past few days.  I am still open for suggestions - don't hesitate to post a comment or comments. 

I love my retirement, it enables my passion, how can that be a bad thing. 

MommaBearKnits, boy oh boy, does she knit.

Countdown to the Oro Medonte Christmas Tour

I am counting down to my first Art and Craft Show participation (6 weeks to go).  Scary, but I need to do it or else I will have to add on a room or two for my stash and my projects and take out a second mortgage to keep me in yarn; just kidding, my stash would keep me knitting forever.  No matter how the show goes, I will still "Knit On Into the Night".  This morning I decided to sort out the sweaters by size.  I have overdone it with the Preemie/Newborn sizes, they are sooooo cute and very quick to knit.  I have 13 Preemie/Newborn; 6 Three months; 8 six months; 5 nine months; 9 twelve months; 9 childrens sizes 2-10.  Total 50, I think--- I keep finding more tucked away with other projects. Quite a few of the baby cardigans will also have matching hats and booties or socks.  I will also have many Baby/Children/Adult hats.  There will be a special price for the ones that I call my Scrap Hats.  Dish cloths, mitts, scarfs; baby/toddler socks and fingerless gloves will be for sale as well.  My Huggy Bear and my Hoodie Bear patterns will be available and there will be a special show price.  I plan to take copies of my Friends of Cabin Fever Patterns and if anyone is interested I will be proud to direct them to http://www.patternfish.com/ or http://www.cabinfever.ca/ to see all the Cabin Fever Designs and, if they are interested, they can be purchased for download on line. 

So, one more time:  The 16th Annual Christmas Art & Craft Tour in Oro-Medonte will be held Friday November 20; 9:00 am - 7:00 pm and Saturday November 21; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.  Four locations, all within 10 minutes of each other; Old Town Hall, Oro Fairgrounds; Oro Station Community Hall; St Thomas' Church Hall, Shanty Bay; Art and Sale Show at the White House, 628 Ridge Road East, Oro Medonte.

MommaBearKnits will be located at the St. Thomas' Church Hall in Shanty Bay.  Please drop by, I would love to meet everyone and there will be a great variety of arts and crafts of all kinds at each of the locations. 

-----MommaBearKnits on into the night.