Where Hands Create.

Since we opened the shop in 2008, we have come to know such an amazing and eclectic group of knitters, spinners, hookers, stitchers, and non-crafters.  Each person brings such a story to our shop.  It truly is like living in one of the novels about yarn shops that you can find at your local Barnes & Nobel (or Amazon if you are more of an on-line shopper).  (BTW - we are starting a Knitting Book Club - check out Events in August.)

For those of you who join us to stitch at the shop, you have come to know the others who frequent or those who pass through.  Each person/family is a jewel.  These are our "fiber friendships".  It doesn't matter what we have done in the past, how old/young we are, or what nationally or religion - the bond is amazing.  A few stories may bring the thought home.... 


On Saturday mid-morning - Lonnie Pat ran in with a bouquet of her Mexican Zinnias.  She and her husband are amazing gardeners, and you can often see them at the Comfort Farmer's Market on Saturdays.  They were wrapping up their morning - and she thought we could use a splash of color with her flowers.  Beautiful!!!  And despite not having a picture of Lonnie Pat - she is just as beautiful inside and out - she is also a great knitter. 


Another frequent visitor is Janet - and we love her.  She learned to knit with us late in 2009 - and boy, she has been knitting up a storm - in addition to the beautiful jewelry she makes.  She isn't just fast either - she is good.  I enjoy our Sunday talks tremendously.   What I learned about Janet this weekend is that she is a Hill Country Master Naturalist.  Amazing.  She even met her husband (Bill) on an archeological dig in Houston years ago.  Here is Janet in her recently finished Laguna Tee made in Rowan's Summer Tweed.  Don't you just love those sleeves?


This weekend, we had a beautiful family re-visit.  We first met Heather at Girls Night Out in 2008.  She was so glad to know that we had hot cider versus the "adult" beverages that abound as she was pregnant - and she started knitting something for her new baby.  In April, Heather had her beautiful daughter, Aaliyah.  We had a snap of Aaliyah in her winter hat before a trip to Germany to meet her grandparents - and she was such a baby.   This weekend she came in walking/running with cute piggies and chasing Noro crying "uh-oh".  (Didn't get great pictures as she was truly moving so fast.)   Also, with typical fashion, Laurel hid during this time with Aaliyah - but Noro had a swell time.  How exciting that Heather is having another baby due in December. 


There are so many stories - I could keep going.  I also wish I were better and faster with the camera.  This is truly why we opened the shop.  It is connections like these that draw us in, warm our hearts, and generally fill our souls...

It also helps that we are totally fiber addicted - and are turning others on to fiber addiction.  There are no Fiberaholics Anonymous (FA) meetings here.  We are proud to fondle yarn, ahhh over great new pattern books, read about knitting, and generally just relish in being fiber connoisseurs and master stashers.   I wouldn't be a good addict - if I didn't share one new yarn that we got in....  This is Kathee Nelson's Art Yarn - and it is artful...  Here is a snap of the silk blend...


Back to people!  Our Wrap Me Up! and Sock groups met last weekend - and what fun!  Again, the combination of different personalities and yarn!

Another great personality and pleasure to see walk through the door is Bobbi.  She always has a smile and a great laugh.  Most times she is here with Pam - but on this occasion she was solo until lunchtime.  Here she is with her finished Wrap Me Up!  She used Noro's Aya to give a lighter summer shawl.  Don't you love the colors?


For our Knitting 24/7 Knitalong that began this Saturday, I knitted the Leafy Knot Bag - and I love it.  The pattern is great - and paired with Classic Elite Provence it is a perfect summer project.  I should be able to finish up this weekend.  What?!  Finish a project?!  Ahem - here is a picture of where I am thus far...working on the handles.


As I was outside taking a picture of my bag - I was just taken with our next door neighbor's yard - the vine is blooming, the flags are out and waving.  Sun is warm.... 


Comfort - it is wonderful.  Don't forget the big July 4th parade is on July 3rd.  If you haven't been - it is a blast and so patriotic.  Only six more days!

There are also a number of awesome festivals that you can enjoy outside...    On June 20th, there will be the first ever Comfort Country Day Fair.   One of our customers, Melissa, shared the information with me - and it just sounds too cool! You can find the festival on 87 going towards Fredericksburg - watch for the signs.   Here is a snippet of Melissa's email to me about the event.

"A large centennial ranch in the Comfort area has been set aside to preserve it from development into a subdivision. To introduce it to the public a small festival is scheduled on the ranch on June 20th. We will be trying to preserve some of the old skills and talents along with preserving farming and ranching. On June 20th the public is being invited to enjoy some of this and see some of what we will be trying to do. There will be storeytellers, a chuckwagon cook, milkers, cheese makers, Native American dancers,wagon rides, vaqueros, mule farming exhibition, Jack Russel races, birds of prey, a blacksmith, master naturalists and historians. We would very much like to be able to include weavers, spinners, knitters and anyone else who would like to participate in the event.  We will be doing some children's activities also. The event will run between 10am and 5pm. We have space available for campers and camping if desired."

As you will note - they are looking for weavers, spinners, and/or knitters to participate.  If you are interested - please contact the shop, and we will get you in touch with Melissa.   If you don't participate - at least you can go see the animals, watch folks with the "old skills", etc. 


As always, I am always digging the chance to take pictures of the great finished projects, and this time around I have quite a gallery of beautiful projects as well as those "finished" smiles!

We have had the best time with our Wrap Me Up! knitalong over the past several months!  Now we are getting to see some of the finished wraps - and you will note that everyone's looks great and so different.  We were lucky this week to see three - and hopefully we will see a few more "wrapping" up over the next month or so.




This past week, I took several days of vacation time, and it has been a treat to be at the shop a bit more than usual.  Unfortunately, I haven't gotten as much knitted - but have had a great time touching all the yarn.  (True Yarnoholic, huh?).  On Thursday it just felt that we needed to shift around the shop and "freshen" it up a bit.  Mom had been saying she would like to have the fingering yarn together as we have gotten such a great variety - and I was hoping to cluster the Berroco better....  The dominoes rolled from there - and we are so pleased with the result.  It is a little challenging to find something now - but we will learn.  Just hope that this doesn't drive Dad totally crazy - he had just learned where things were...

I do love my "day" job, but there is a cool feeling driving west to Comfort on a Monday morning.  Plus, I got to see the two shop cats in the window when I walked up the steps this morning.  I am believing that they were happy to see me and not just hungry!


Well, off to rest a bit (aka knit) before I return to my "day" job tomorrow.  However, before I close - I do want to share how appreciative we are of the amazing community of fiber enthusiasts who have embraced The Tinsmith's Wife.  There is something special when you have an amazing group of women sitting around the table - who are all ages, walks of life, and there is just a general warmth.  Fiber is an amazing bonding agent, isn't it?   

Happy June!