This weekend is the annual “big event” for yarn shop owners, “The Needle Arts Market.” Big it is. The entire convention hall at the Columbus Convention Center is full of companies that sell product to knitting and needlepoint shops. For first timers, it is incredible. It’s not like a consumer show. You don’t actually use...

  The last time SOAR (Spin Off Autumn Retreat) was in Michigan I met Deb Menz (author of Color in Spinning and ColorWorks) and decided that I wanted to have her come teach at the shop. Shortly thereafter I booked her for 2007 – 4 or 5 years in the future. I remember thinking that...

  Sally came in yesterday to put the finishing touches on her Fair Isle sweater. The pattern is from Ann Feitelson, The Art of Fair Isle Knitting. Sally started her Fair Isle odyssey in last fall’s Focus on Fair Isle class and is the first of the group to finish. This hasn’t been blocked yet,...

  I think Mariah and I were initiated to true-island-living the last couple days. We were scheduled to leaveBois Blanc Island yesterday afternoon, but nothing was moving – not the ferry, nor the airplanes, just wildlife to the bird feeder and corn pile. So, we hunkered down and enjoyed the majesty of winter . ....

  That was the BIG NEWS over the weekend. Peter, my oldest who married Jeannine last May, called on Good Friday as Mariah and I were on our way north for a week and shared their wonderful news. So, of course, almost the first thing I think of is “I don’t have any yarn.” Or needles. Or...