How about that? Runner up in the Midlands for the best local yarn shop! Jules and Caroline went down to the Knitting and Stitching Show at the Ally Pally to mix with the movers and shakers, and to collect the certificate. They had a great day, and when Julie downloads the photos, I'll sneak some of them to show you.
A remarkable thing about this award is that most people didn't even know the shop had been nominated. The LYS which won has talked openly about their campaign to secure votes. Christine's didn't have a campaign. I don't think it was even mentioned on Facebook. So that makes the award even more pleasing: customers really do like the shop.
While the bosses were away, the dream team (Doreen, Phil, Maureen and I) kept the shop open and delighted in telling people why we were on our own.
One of our customers bought 10 pairs of small knitting needles on Saturday. She's a teacher, and running a community activity teaching parents to knit. They are making the little hats for Smoothies. She tried to get us to make some, but we just pointed towards the poppies. The shop has now raised £350. We're going almost flat out to keep up with demand, and have pressganged Doreen to sew the pins on the backs for us.
These are the two models I'm making; the one at the bottom is from the British Legion, but I don't enjoy making them so have an alternative. The flat one at the top will have stamens (made from Fun Fur Yarn) in the middle, and both will have a leaf. After lots of trials, and Caroline making rude comments about one of my efforts, I've settled on this one:
It's from Suzann Thompson's book, Crochet Bouquet.
And here you see the pile of pieces waiting to be assembled.
Apart from the happiness at the shop, it's not been an enjoyable week. I seem to have spent a large part of it waiting for plumbers, and this is the current state of play:
This is the tasteful hole in the ceiling. So this week I'll be waiting in for people to replace soaking wet floorboards and ceiling, and then next week they will be installing our new kitchen.
On the craft front, Iam FED UP of losing my scissors. It used to be tape measures, but I got round that by using the heavy, metal retractable ones: you can tell where they are from the weight of the bag!
But scissors is (are?) another matter. Now Gillian's mum made her a lovely knitted holder for hers.
In the old days, ladies had chatelaines - keys and so on attached to their belts for security and easy access.
So, scissors on a chain? But I don't wear belts very often. Market traders pouch, only smaller? An apron? Current favourite is a sort of segmented pocket; I just have to think of a way to attach it to my person, and then I'm set.
Anyone with any ideas out there?
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