Meeting Santa

Our next door neighbor is a burly man with a long beard and a kind heart.  My 3 year old grandson, Austin, was busy playing with Thomas the Tank Engine on our living room floor a couple of weeks ago when he glanced out the window.  Running to Grandpa, Austin announced that Santa was outside!  Grandpa looked outside and saw Vince busy at work, chopping wood in his red shirt and suspenders.  He asked Austin if he would like to talk to Santa and before you could say "On Dasher," Austin was out the door! Walking right up to Vince, Austin said, "Hi, Santa!"  Vince didn't miss a beat as he greeted the little fellow, asked his name, and if he had been behaving himself.  Austin replied that he was Austin, 3 years old, his sister Ruby was 2, and they had both been behaving just fine.  After a few more minutes of conversation, Santa returned to his wood chopping and Austin returned to Thomas the Tank Engine, satisfied that he had made a good impression on Santa.  I don't know if Vince realized how his generous heart made an even more important impression on Austin, but I believe it is a memory Austin will carry with him for life and for that I am thankful.

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Now and Then

Three pleasant young men came into The Quilted Purl yesterday and have caused me to remember and reflect on two memories of my childhood.

Once or twice a year my mother would take me and my older brother on a bus trip to Salem, approximately five miles away, for a shopping trip.  I'm not sure why we would do this, as many of the Salem stores were also in Beverly where we went every week to visit my grandparents, aunts, and uncle.  Whatever the reason, it was a trip that I loved, not because of the shopping, but because of what we did after the shopping.  Before the return bus ride, we would always make a stop at Stanley's Cafeteria for hot chocolate and a grilled English muffin, the highlight of the trip.  The fact that Stanley's English muffins came as three slices rather than two was a source of amazement to me and I can still remember the crispy goodness of a muffin dripping with melted butter.  Memory number one.

Memory number two is something of a compilation.  I was in elementary school during the beginning of the Cold War.  I remember as a youngster crouching under my little school desk during our air raid practices. (I also remember as a six year old, thinking the small wooden desk provided precious little protection against an atomic bomb!)  Premier Kruschev's famous speech at the U.N., the pounding of his shoe, and the Cuban Missile Crisis were all events that caused me, even as a child, concern.  Maybe that's why a cup of hot chocolate and an English muffin were so comforting, but I doubt it.

So, how did three young men bring back these memories?  When they came up the stairs, they greeted me politely, looked around, and one inquired, "This is really more a shop for girls who knit, isn't it?"  I agreed that was often the case, and detecting an accent asked where they were from.  It seems that they were all from Russia, two from St. Petersburg and one from Moscow.  As we chatted, I learned that one of them was currently working on a Ph.D.at Yale, studying Soviet- American relations of the 1980s, while the other two were working on a public health project.  After a few more minutes of chat, me welcoming them to Georgetown and them extending an invitation to visit Russia, they were gone, but not forgotten.

Traveling by bus to a city five miles away was an adventure to me over fifty years ago.  My little grandchildren have already flown across the country numerous times.  And we now live in a world where three young men from Russia have travelled thousands of miles to our country to visit, study, and enjoy our hospitality. Thank you for coming by The Quilted Purl, gentlemen, and giving me the chance to pause and reflect.

Meeting Santa

Our next door neighbor is a burly man with a long beard and a kind heart.  My 3 year old grandson, Austin, was busy playing with Thomas the Tank Engine on our living room floor a couple of weeks ago when he glanced out the window.  Running to Grandpa, Austin announced that Santa was outside!  Grandpa looked outside and saw Vince busy at work, chopping wood in his red shirt and suspenders.  He asked Austin if he would like to talk to Santa and before you could say "On Dasher," Austin was out the door! Walking right up to Vince, Austin said, "Hi, Santa!"  Vince didn't miss a beat as he greeted the little fellow, asked his name, and if he had been behaving himself.  Austin replied that he was Austin, 3 years old, his sister Ruby was 2, and they had both been behaving just fine.  After a few more minutes of conversation, Santa returned to his wood chopping and Austin returned to Thomas the Tank Engine, satisfied that he had made a good impression on Santa.  I don't know if Vince realized how his generous heart made an even more important impression on Austin, but I believe it is a memory Austin will carry with him for life and for that I am thankful.

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Gifts

It has been quite a while since I have written, though much has been going on during that time.  Here in Georgetown, Christmas Market's first weekend has come and gone, with the next one is just days away.  This is certainly one of the highlights of Georgetown's calendar and I have been busy for several weeks quilting and knitting in preparation.  A light snowfall added just the right touch, bringing out the beauty of the town in winter and the single digit temperatures held off until Sunday evening.  For me however, the highlight was the arrival of my dear friend from Georgia, Maria Elena, and her daughter and niece.  What fun it was to visit, reminisce, and sew together after all these years apart.  Their visit was truly a gift for me, to be able to sit in the shop with Maria Elena, have a cup of tea, chat, sew, knit, and share tips we have learned during our years of being two thousand miles apart.  There is something so rewarding about having a friend with whom time and distance have no real meaning.  Tomorrow I'll head to the airport to pick up my sister-in-law, Nancy, and share the second weekend of Christmas Market with her.  More fun, sewing, knitting and tea. Definitely, another gift.  I am blessed!

If you haven't been to Christmas Market, you are missing a treat, a step back in time.  Why not come up this weekend?  We'd love to share the town with you!

Folks from Near and Far

Yesterday, three women from the Netherlands came to the shop.  After talking for a few minutes and telling them how much I had enjoyed my three visits to their homeland, I figured they would probably be a good topic for the blog - how much I relish meeting new people from such interesting places.  But as the day wore on, the story changed.

A friend from town who is learning to quilt came by for a bit of advice, some new fabric, and eventually, a cup of tea.  While chatting as we drank our tea, we were joined by a young woman who came in to check out the shop.  She told us she was from the midwest but now lived in Denver.  When my friend, Ellen, asked where in the midwest, we were all surprised to hear that she was from the same small town where Ellen had grown up, that Ellen's family had patronized Kate's family gas station, they had both attended the same parish, and that their relatives had been friends growing up.  Kate joined us for tea and told us she is considering a future move to Georgetown.  I, for one, think she would make a fine addition to our town!

Bighorn Sheep Festival

Courtesy of the Colorado Department of Wildlife

This Saturday is Georgetown's Bighorn Sheep Festival and it is no wonder that the sheep like to come down from the mountains and head toward town with all of the activities planned for the day.  Of course, there is also the fact that it's mating season and stepping out to town for a date is a time-honored tradition in so many cultures.  To learn more about Georgetown's herd and the schedule of activities for the day, click here: http://wildlife.state.co.us/Viewing/Pages/Viewing.aspx  Better yet, come to town and see them in person.  Though I have a variety of wool at The Quilted Purl, none of it comes from the Bighorn Sheep.  However, you could celebrate the day by knitting!

To Market, To Market to Buy a Fat Quarter (or more like several hundred!)

Last week I went to Houston, Texas to attend my first trade show, Quilt Market, and had a  blast.  Thanks to the kind generosity and gracious hospitality of my cousin Rosemary and her husband Tom, I stayed in a beautiful home, had delicious meals, and didn't have to drive a single mile.  All that, a chance to catch up with relatives (including my sister-in-law who is opening a shop in NH this spring), and a quilting bonanza to boot!  Those of you who quilt will recognize quilting maven, Eleanor Burns, in the picture above. She is just as upbeat and personable in "real life" as she is on the screen.  What a treat to meet with so many quilting people introducing new techniques, new products, and new fabrics.  And then, like the nursery rhyme says, "Home again, home again, jiggety-jig!"

Tied to My Great Grandmother's Apron Strings

I wear an apron often and have done so for years.  Time was, and this goes back hundreds (thousands?) of years, when most women wore one most of the time.  What a useful part of a wardrobe the apron is.  Not only does it protect the clothing underneath, it also provides a towel that is right at hand, and even a potholder in a pinch.  As a child and teenager, the aprons I wore were my mother's.  I remember that she would sew some every year for the "apron table" at our church bazaar and then buy one made by someone else from the same table.  There must be an economics lesson in there somewhere!

In 1968, my future husband gave me a hope chest - a beautiful cherry chest in which to store the linens I was beginning to collect for our life together.  When my grandmother, Memere, learned I had a hope chest she took me upstairs and opened her own hope chest.  Inside her cedar lined chest were linens that she had saved over the years, including an apron made by my great-grandmother, which she presented to me, the eldest grand-daughter.  It has been in my hope chest for the past 43 years and will be until my grand-daughter, Ruby, has a hope chest to put it in for her future.  It is made of a very thin organza, frilly, hand embroidered, and practically speaking, totally useless.  To me, it is priceless and one of my most precious possessions.

There are aprons for sale at The Quilted Purl.  Yesterday, a woman came in and as she was leaving, noticed the aprons.  She paused and then told me how her mother is now in an assisted living facility where they recently had a tea for the women residents.  The feature of the tea was a woman who came with an apron collection and told the story of each one.  The residents had been invited to bring their own aprons to the tea and had the opportunity to then share their own apron stories.

My thanks to this customer for making me remember my apron story.  How about you?  Something to share?

It's a Small World After All

On November 1, The Quilted Purl will have been opened for five months.  As I have mentioned in past posts, one of the most interesting and rewarding aspects for me has been meeting the folks who come through the shop door and up the stairs.  In the past five months, I have met people from each of the continents shown above, except Antarctica.  Just yesterday two women from South Africa stopped by and bought a few fat quarters to bring home, and I also had the chance to chat with women from Florida, Alabama, British Columbia, and Germany.  The language of knitting and quilting is certainly international.  If there are any knitters or quilters on Antarctica, come on by - I'd love to meet you!

As much fun as it is to meet new folks, I was also able to meet with old friends.  A former teammate came by with her mother on Tuesday, to see the shop and visit over a cup of tea, giving me the gift of a very pleasant  afternoon.  Then today, a high school friend and his wife stopped by on the road from Massachusetts to California.  What a treat it was to reminesce about our hometown, high school days, and old friends.

On June 1, 2011, I never dreamed such interesting people would come into my life.  What a blessing!

Going Out for Breakfast with the Family

Whole grain cereal, fruit, a cup of tea, and some whole grain bread.  That's my idea of a great breakfast and I have all the makings for it right at home.  So, breakfast would not be my choice for a meal out.  The rest of my family, however, loves to go to one of the many nearby restaurants for a "real" breakfast.  As I stepped out of my front door yesterday, I saw another family out for breakfast.  It must have been something of a progressive affair as they had already dined on all the vestiges of my summer petunias, moved next door for the main course, and then across the street to conclude breakfast with the "family!"

Crisp Fall Day

 
         My brother, an excellent writer and prolific blogger, has gently reminded me that I have not posted for quite a few days.  His blog at A Concord Pastor Comments, is my favorite!

         Were I to choose three "weather" words that delight me, they would have to be "crisp fall day," and we in Georgetown have recently been blessed with a few of them.  The other morning as I walked to the shop, the sun was shining brightly, the breeze teased with the idea of becoming a wind, and there was the thinnest layer of ice on the recently formed rain puddles.  It was too beautiful a morning to let go, so I grabbed my camera and snapped the picture above.  Good thing I did since by five o'clock that afternoon, the temp had dropped, the sun was gone, and our first snow flurries since June made a brief appearance.
        Since that spectacular morning, the weather has continued to remind us we live in the Rocky Mountains and it is October.  The winds blew so fiercely Wednesday morning that when I arrived at the shop, the sign was hanging on by one broken carabineer  and swinging wildly.  Which brings me to today.  Taking advantage of today's bright sunshine, I moved a chair outside the shop door and spent a pleasant afternoon finishing the binding of a wall hanging and knitting a hat.  Meanwhile, ten miles to the west it was opening day at Loveland Ski Area!

Givers

       Over the weekend I had a delightful chat with a couple out to view the foliage who happened upon The Quilted Purl.  As we were talking, I mentioned how I have found knitters and quilters to be such friendly folks.  The woman agreed and put it in one word - givers.  How right she was!  So many of the people who have graced my shop are involved in some sort of charity work involving their craft and just about every knitter, crocheter, or quilter is creating for someone else's joy, most of the time.
       Then this morning, the word giver came back to me.  There are two young girls, Nancy and Marysol, who are taking lessons at the shop.  As soon as Marysol learned the basics of knitting, she asked me to help her as she designed and knitted a purse for her mother's birthday and is now working on a quilt for her dad.  Nancy has made pencil holders for friends and has even taught one of her friends how to sew.  At such a young age (10 and 11) both of these beginning crafters are showing that beautiful quality of so many experienced crafters- giver.  

Hat and Mittens

Making Mittens

We have been enjoying some beautiful aspen color for the last couple of weeks, but the temperature is starting to drop along with the golden leaves - time to make a hat and maybe some mittens with the leftover yarn!

Materials:
I used Lonesome Stone Alpaca, but any 3-4 weight yarn will do.  Weight of yarn will naturally affect the gauge.
Size 4, 6, and 7 knitting needles (or again, needles that will get you the size you want).  I used circular for the hat, but you could make a seam if you want to use straight needles.

Hat

Cast on 56 stitches  size 6 needles.
K2, P2 ribbing for 7-8 rows.
Change to size 7 needles.
Stockinette stitch for the next 3-4 inches.
Crown:
Row 1   *K5, K2tog (rep from *)
Row 2 and all even numbered rows: K if using circular, P if using straight needles.
Row 3  *K4, K2tog (rep from *)
Row 5  *K3, K2 tog (rep from *)
Row 7  *K2, K2 tog (rep from *)
Row 9  *K1, K2 tog (rep from *)
Row 11* K2 tog (rep from *)
Run a yarn needle through remaining stitches, pull tight, seam if needed, weave in ends

Thumbless Mittens


Cast on 23 stitches on size 4 needles.
Row 1   P1, K1 across
Row 2   K1, P1 across
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have 5 rows, ending after a Row1.
Change to size 6 needles and increase five stitches, evenly spaced (28 stitches).
Stockinette stitch for 6-7 rows.
On a purl row, purl 14, place a marker, purl to the end.
Shaping:
Row 1  K2, SL1, K1, PSSO, K to 3 before the marker, K2tog, K1, slip marker, K1, SL1, K1, PSSO, knit until four before end of row, K2tog, K2.
Row 2  Purl
Repeat these two rows until 16 stitches remain.
Last row - K2 tog across.
Draw yarn through remaining 8 stitches, pull tight, seam and weave ends.

Thank You, Tea Time Quilting and Stitchery

Two weeks ago, a wonderful quilt and yarn shop in Breckenridge, Colorado closed the door for the last time as the four partners ended a successful eight years and entered the happy ranks of the newly retired.  Over the years, I have enjoyed stopping by there and like so many others, will miss those visits.  As the shop was closing, I was fortunate enough to get a few of the fixtures from Tea Time to use at The Quilted Purl: cubbies for yarn and a lovely antique sewing cabinet.  However, the most valuable "remnant" I have received has to be the wonderful group of quilters and knitters who have made their way from Breckenridge to Georgetown to welcome me to the world of quilt and yarn shops.  My thanks to them and to the gracious owners of Tea Time Quilting and Stitchery for sending them all my way.  My best wishes to each of you for a retirement that is everything you might hope it to be.  And for all you former "Tea Timers," know that when you come and go at The Quilted Purl, it will be to the ting-a-ling of the Tea Time Quilting and Stitchery shop bell!