Memories and More: we're the store you've been waiting for...

 

November 25 , 2008
December marks Macon's last month - We'll be having a little cake and wishing her all the best this coming Saturday, December 6 (although she's going to be working a few more shifts during the month.) Last night Macon, Kristi and I had an AWESOME dinner at Bobby's Downtown... yeah - we were working =) ... but we did come up with some great ideas! Sneaky peek? You'll have to stop in the store ... New things going on starting in JAN 09.

November 25 , 2008
Whew! What hasn't been happening? I'm glad Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We've been soooo busy. Thank you to everyone who's come in and oogled all the new stuff.

We have a new shipment of Cascade 220 that just came in with BRAND NEW CLAUDIA HAND PAINTS. Oh yeah!

Beginning knitting last Saturday was a blast. Plus, I've really been enjoying knitting on Wednesdays during the lunch hour in the shop. If you haven't been in - please come hang with us. Actually, you can come hang out more than just then...

Last Wednesday I was at Zach's with the Fairbanks Fiberistas (proud to be one!) The big sock was BIG. Yup - swallowed a few people whole!

November 2 , 2008
Updated the website =)

• Changed main page, classes page and this blog

I have a rental (actually two) that are empty... see sidebar for more info.

Here's a summary of the recent trip I took (10/22-29) {I sent several folks LONG summaries of each day... I'm going to trim it up to less than 10% for the purposes of tihs blog.}

• 10/29: Saw Uncle Richard's SHOWROOM. This place was amazing - BETTER than the chocolate tour - cabinets Amazing doors, drawers, - hundreds of feet of machinery and choices - that showroom was UNBELIEVABLE... do they ship to Alaska? After that we had lunch at a great fish and chips place that served awesome PIE... Peanut Butter and Chocolate. A beautiful drive - cool houses on Grand Blvd... A Grand Yarn (http://www.agrandyarn.com/). Great choices - ran into a yarn rep there... told her we needed to carry {name removed}... (course name removed is cheaper) Spokane to Seattle... and then sititng there... I got to see two people I knew (Rachel - a knitter) and Rochelle or "Ro" my bank teller whom I made the mittered mittens for... Ro of mitten fame. What else - I got on the plane to Alaska - I met MALCOM he's 12. HE kept me entertained LOTS. He knits. He is precocious. He talked to me about string theory and Peter Pan... and knitting.
• 10/28: Made a few calls - my rental house is probably okay - my renter that is leaving this week needs a place to store her vehicle - I believe she and I made some arrangements that could work out well... just hearing her wondering what she was going to do - well. Good deeds. I'm working on them! Then we took off for class. One and a half hours on the new testament - very cool the way the instructor took us through it - nice that everyone read out loud. Took Auntie on the bus. Yup. Just testing people's boundaries. Beautiful downtown, Spokane really has anything you could want while still coming off as quaint. Great hotel Davenport - amazing photos... we did a bit of our own walk through history then had a very good lunch (that Patty could have made, but not me. She is a great cook... but the dessert rivaled something Aileen makes - like the bananas foster - try putting philo dough around it... ) Then a walk - those ducks that were getting fed looked like they could be a bit aggressive. Out and about for shopping. Just a bit at Nordies. Dinner + great game using scrabble tiles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anagrams to see more.
• 10/27: after casting on and checking two different needle sizes on some socks I thought I'd make, I had a wee bit of breakie. Went to a funeral - I told Patty (wherever you go...) and it was touching, and sweet... and this lady - wow... she had so many grand kids and great grand kids... Trip to Paradise Fibers... apparently they are mostly an online shop - approx 90% of their sales. Back to the house to await Uncle Richard's arrival - and we were off to the WHITE HOUSE... a fabulous garlic place in Idaho... Oh my - how delish! I am full to the gills. Good conversation - oh and a walk down by the docks in this other town (also in Idaho... I think)
• 10/26: A little bit of fruit and off I went for the bus station. Both busses arrived just when they should. I only ended up walking two extra blocks... but there was time. At SEA waiting reading a book on Medical Marvels... Met by Aunt & Uncle - A drive to their house. A wonderful lunch with them and their son Patrick, then a drive to see town and the surrounding countryside. There are a few beautiful buildings (namely on the Gonzaga campus.) Are you sure you have to be Catholic to attend? Supper was a great toasted (and buttered) egg salad sandwich and CHAI... oh my. Also incredible conversation. After supper - hours of talk and knitting. What more could a girl/woman want. Oh - they have a HUGE tub!
• 10/25:. I woke up early - much earlier than the person I am visiting... this meant either A) stomp around a wake her up or B) go for a walk... The walk was Cool! I made a big square... and I found Chai. Who couldn't eh? Looked for raspberry tea (sorry, Diane still no luck.) Then we got some fabric (okay, just me) and went to buy cherries from Chukar. Oh, Yum! Off to the 2pm showing of Three Musketeers. Wow - it was GREAT! After that amazing show we grabbed a bus (that took a little time) and went off to the yarn shop in Queen Anne ... it's called HILLTOP. Went to a shipping store recommended by the yarn staff. The lady was just surprised that UPS might cost more than USPS to my address... Is this remote? No. Is it a villiage? Honey, All of Alaska... IN any case we WALKED a long distance to find another bus. It was downhill... we were looking and looking... I still am surprised that Brett fell for me telling her I saw the bus go into Chocolopolis. When we got to a bus stop we WAITED... turned out the bus had broken down. Back at home base Brett had two friends over and we ordered Thai and played MORE Settlers. It was fun. Then I needed to pack - I'm off to Spokane in the morning.
• 10/24:- Went to a Tea House... yes, I had chai... PINK Chai... I didn't find the raspberry tea Diane wants. Played Settlers (the city and knights version) two times... Brett smashed us (me and a friend of hers Michelle that teaches at Sylvan) then the second time it was close almost a three way tie but Michelle squeaked past for the win. Walked to the bus about 8 blocks; WAITED. Not so sure of the time on my watch or my cell... surely we didn't see three invisible buses go by. CHOCOLATE factory: awesome tour. I learned a lot about where and how chocolate is made - some of you don't want to know. Shopping for chocolate? Heaven! Went into several small gift shops and paper stores...
  I have an idea for another space in the Co-op if anyone wants to risk going into business. Sushi for supper! Another walk... what's 8-10 blocks... but it was uphill... Lets burn off that chocolate shall we? Then a bus (this one didn't take too long) AND I'm almost done with my red scarf...Comedy! Political satire at it's best - Jet City Comedy... what a blast... I laughed until I cried, my throat is a little soar from the type of guffawing I did.
• 10/23: Woke up at 5a FAI time... not fair! Got down to the Ferry terminal. Latheena (a knitter from SEA that showed up in our shop in FAI this last summer) called to say she was running late - the excuse? Balling yarn. Good one. She got there in plenty of time - we boarded - OFF TO Bainbridge Island. Oh my! How beautiful. The trip was gorgeous. Reconnecting with Latheena was fun. On the island we walked two or three streets then stopped into a cafe for an awesome lunch - Shopped in a HIGH END boutique for clothes. Nope. Many tea and coffee shops in this area. You could trip on them. We went to CHURCHMOUSE yarns. Had a fabulous conversation with the owner ... got permission to take pictures (I took pictures at Mad Women Yarn yesterday too.) Got a few ideas and some yarn (of course I did.) We crossed the road (a few times) then did more shopping. Found great vanity and chair... but didn't know how to ship it home. Ate some of yesterday's leftovers and then decided with Brett to go to Red Robin... it's like walking from Gulliver's to Safeway (and back.) Good walk. I figured out the Mobius cast on and knit on a new neckwarmer type garment.
• 10/22: flew to SEA - got off a plane (the door was stuck for ten minutes); I went to the bathroom and stopped for a dark chocolate coa coa - hold on it's important... because I did those two things... I missed my bus. We went for a walk
  We walked her neighborhood. Would you know there's a yarn shop in her district? Bad Woman Yarn... heh. Had cupcakes - a smore like one that was graham cracker and chocolate with marshmellow topping and another one that had pineapple, coconut and banana... Found a good place to have a bite of lunch - this is good because it's in Brett's neighborhood and it helps her discover the area... Then I crashed... like got a nap at the lunch table...
  Walked to the University district. Went into a cool bookstore (second hand) that had cats in it. A big draw, I'm told.
  It was balmy by comparison to Fairbanks. No snow. No jacket required. Oh Knitted while walking... perhaps a surprise to some.
  

October 12 , 2008
So I'm really looking forward to a vacation that's coming up... - as I look at my blog I think... I must be missing an entry. There was a fabulous retreat I thought I wrote about. Oh well... I did a lot of project work at the retreat (last weekend in Sept) and the best part was connecting with the girls... and reconnecting with an old friend. I did start a new project that I'm really happy about - it is the baby afghan from the premiere Debbie Bliss magazine - it's a mitered square (12 of them) and I'm making it out of stash yarn... Just yummy.

What else? Ahh - more work at American Tire - still no resolution on the ER stuff regardng the infusion therapy and how it really should have been coded and billed. Lovely window at the shop - also a slightly different layout. Plus a blast last week with Kristi and three students for the Great American Afghan. Oh that was fun... Hmmm... What else? I did get a photo from the amazing girl singer I taught how to knit - I'll need to put those up here.

September 21 , 2008
Wow! If you've been checking in to this blog you'll find that it has been forever since I last updated it! My, ohmy. We've received almost all our Fall YARN and much of our newest scrapbooking materials - but on my own front... I have been knitting up a storm... and more than a little bit of crochet thrown in for good measure. I've also taken out my stamps to start doing cards. AND I've put together a new series of winter events. We're making cards in the shop AND we're doing three types of layouts from one drawing.

But I'm kinda excited about MY NEW DESK. Yes, I have a new desk at home... and I'm getting my office put together. I know that's of interest to you. Why? because I do web design at home in my home office. Yes, Alaskan Web Pages is my 'other' business. If you didn't know, I also do the Marketing for American Tire.. I have for seven years in any case. But that changed last Wednesdy. Now I do the rentals (which I'd done since 8/17/07 and a little bit of marketing only... not fully responsible for that anymore - AND ALL OF AP. Yes. That's right. AP. Accounts Payable. for Five Stores.

I'll be knitting a little bit less while I get used to all of the typing and data entry that's required. I can't possibly use my hands that much... NOT BEING 40. Heh. So... I turned 40 on 9/15. Yes. I think that's enough of an update...

But check the FINISHED OBJECTS TO THE left... for just a little bit more. I really wish everything was taken care of with the hospital... it isn't. I've been talking to lots of folks and calling... and I've sat my butt in their chairs... Also, not happy wiht part of the roof. Need to go and look at what 'code' is ... do the nails NEED to stick out like that? Pat gave me awesome raspberry liquor for my b-day and Viv and Marcia gave me cute office and bathroom stuff. My mom gave me fabulous linens... sis - clothes... bro a B&N gift card... all good stuff. My mom is having knee surgery next week (and sis in law is having surgery too...) I'm off to Anchorage to help mom... I'm glad I'm going on vaca next mo.

August 16, 2008
Sip & Stitch today... crazy - Sandra, Vivian and me - again... but that's okay. I was actually thinking the Farmers' Market would have been good. I also meant to go shopping ... but forgot to stop by. Crazy. Today I discovered that maybe the roof job just wasn't all it was cracked up to be. More when I have let the people who did the job explain their side--so I'm adequately representing things. By the way, the hospital did say they messed up three of the bills. Now they're saying I owe more. They forgot things. How crazy is that? I'll need a payment plan. Course they also said that I should pay the first bill and they'll make the other ones 'negligible.' I'm sure they don't mean what I think they mean... so we'll see. Thank goodness I can knit (and crochet) and in the case of today, clean part of my yard - to deal with the stress.

August 13, 2008
Saw Nancy... she's off to Anchorage soon. Wow! Going to miss her!

August, 12, 2008
Today in speaking with the Billing department at the hospital, they mentioned, yes, there was a mistake on three of the bills and they would be resubmitting them to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Great! Oh, what? You mean you forgot to add things?! Oh man. Yes. Blue Cross has sent me a few notices saying they were disallowing a few charges - namely the other people (not the Hospital, but the Doctors' billing service) had put in five bills (they only sent me one...) and Blue Cross was having a wee bit of a problem with that. Folks - when you're bit, your bit... and if it's after hours, you HAVE to go to the ER. But when daybreak comes, even if you've been told, yeah, come back... no problem - GO SEE YOUR REGULAR practitioner. That's it. That's my sage advice. YOUR Doc might say, hmmmm - you need to continue treatment with the ER... but maybe they WON'T. This isn't the difference between getting a new purse on sale at Fred Meyers or buying a Vera Bradley at If Only! This is the difference between a fly away vacation and a stay-cation where I start asking others if they need odd jobs done and how much could they contribute to the "Janene still has her arm" fund. Knitting for $$$ - could be on the horizon.

The Olympics!
Okay... so Macon and I got up around 4 or 4:30 am on Friday morning to begin our knitting sojourn. Guess what? I don't knit so well that early. Actually, I found an error in the pattern I was doing. So... I pulled out about 5-6 rows (the whole thing.) Then I decided, since Aileen's wedding was that night - I would work on the mittens, that would be easier, right? Oh ho... I pulled those out twice! Friday was not a good knitting day; Saturday, Saturday is a different story entirely. I'm kicking bootie on the Frost sweater (although I've needed to figure out a few things about the pattern on my own...) That's okay - I'm now just under the arms with the sweater (on ball three) this Cocoon is yummy to knit with, but I needed to go up to size 11 needles to get gauge (and that is unusual for me.) Must be tense lately.

What's been going on? After the Bridal Shower and the Wedding... well, I just feel a wee bit run down. Knitting Olympics sure is a 'pick me up.' My couch has been getting a lot of npa time in tho.

August 2 , 2008
Two weeks? Whatever happened in that time? Well... I've been on a finishing kick. I finished the 'boob sweater' actually started and finished a toque hat for the Fair (complete with little carrots and beans); put together ten items (10!) for submission at the Fair - and RIPPED OFF my roof and had it readone... Oh yeah - I've been busy! Oh My! Amanda Shires (the singer I taught to knit during breaks between songs in June?) She sent me this awesome photo! Click on it for a big pic. Yes, it's Malabrigo!

What am I up to now? - I'm going to go grab some tea - so I can DO THIS RIGHT! Mmm Chai (and berries.) Okay - so my roof has been replaced and I have finished things up for the Fair. I'll be booth sitting (or building watching) at the Fair three or four times. I've pulled out (well, Macon's Nana pulled out one item.) I've started a crocheted cape. It's going well. I run American Tire's rentals - I've filled two of them since this email. Possibly three... That means doing the walk through check with the old tenants - and cleaning and repair (some) and then walk throughs with new people... I've also met with Two Yarn Reps and placed wonderful orders. Those are starting to show up now. That and worked with my staff to determine what to buy and where to put things. I kinda want a break - but more than that I just want to sit down and knit or crochet. Sip and Stitch is today! Yay!

Oh - on another front - because I dont' think she's checking my blog - my girl (who is getting married, my best bud) I did an album for her ... one she can just drop photos into and make editorial comments. I've also started a beautiful scarf care of Sandra! The mistake rib is fun.

On the horizon... well - I did get a wee bit of a talking to from some of the needleart guild members ... where were my entries? I entered felted items, hand-dyed yarn, knit and crochet items... what about my needlearts? Okay... so I'm going to get back into that. And I went through the Fair entry book and picked out 40 (FORTY) likely targets for my work over the course of the upcoming year. Talk about "pointing towards the OUT FIELD!" I'll take a line drive, please.

July 13 , 2008
I finished! The BSJ. I'll have to upload more photos... I was working on it with the "Finish it Fridays" time and then it needed a lot of altering - so it is AWESOME now... sometimes a 'hmmmm?" turns into a "WOW!" I also did between yesterday and today - a crochet cap for a girlfriend of mine. Spent time cleaning around the house, and working on the applied I-cord of the 'boob sweater.' I'm sure there is more to say - like ... oh yeah - worked on the malabrigo t-shirt too... and balled up a beautiful hank of malabrigo - project TBA. There is a new shop being created ... www.cafepress.com/memoriesand/ it's not quite done... but there are a few fantastic items there (and we'll put some in our store come Fall.) See items on left. Click on any of the photos to see them bigger - they really look great bigger...

July 11 , 2008
Oh. it is EARLY. I'm almost done with another Baby Surprise Jacket. I think I'll surprise someone at the church. Nancy came in yesterday - it was good to see you! The shop is going well. We have Christmas in July going on - and the Alpaca with a Twist hanks are almost gone! Took a moment to teach a 14 year old (thereabouts) about crocheting and joining in a circle... I think her Dad and brother are about to get adorable beanie caps! Sore throat. Could make for a long day. Almost done with Boob Sweater - I've taken to carrying it around in the hopes that I'll finish darning and do that applied I-cord.

July 6 , 2008
So - I sat down one other day to add to my blog and was unable to upload - since I was writing on a different machine - I'm not sure I can capture what I wanted to say... I've been knitting a lot {I remember that part} but I haven't been in the shop a lot. That means I miss it... but I've been thinking about it - what would be best... what to bring in, what to put on sale... Oh - Tuesday night Sip & Stitch is postponed until the fourth Tuesday in September - 5-8p and only if I'm in town... I'm thinking since I turn forty - 40! on 9/15... that maybe I need to be out of town. As to the other things from that bloggy day so long ago. I don't know. I know that Friday I wanted to blog about ALL THE THINGS I was doing instead of knitting. How I wanted to knit. But instead I:

• mowed the lawn!
• put dirt into my second raised box and got it ready to transplant the items waiting to have ALL THAT SPACE
• cleaned my house
• put together a dining table and chairs that my brother sent me OVER A YEAR and a half ago... oh yeah.
• Had folks over and
• Used Grandma Ruby's (from Nancy's side of the family) dishes for the first time. People present: Marcia, Staci, Jon, Mark, Macon and me... a very nice dinner party.

However, I really did want to knit. I think I did two or three rows. Yesterday I got together with Sandra for Sip & Stitch... just she and I... but then Viv sat with us {I taught her cribbage} and Marnie came over with her amazing PIN LACE. OM! Today I took my Dad to church - made him and Mom lunch and supper (That's Easy to Do - there were soooo many leftovers from yesterday's bbq.) Now I'm going to upload this and sit and knit. Goal is to finish up most of the Malabrigo blanket... and cast on a NEW item... Remember the Fair entry day is Saturday 7/26... and in the shop we'll be having FINISH IT FRIDAYs froom 6-8 p the next three Friday nights... to help. I'll be putting together what I'd like to take to the Fair... You should stop in and bring an item you want to FINISH.

Christmas in July: in case you're wondering what we're talking about... we've put together some great Artyarn kits - that you can make and give, or simply wrap the kit and give. We also have a few items on DEEP DISCOUNT - like Alpaca with a Twist's big bundles of Alpaca - these won't last long. A few Colinette items, Rowan denim - ooooh high end wash cloths or the CUTEST baby slippers! Plus a few others... AND we have Christmas related scrapbooking items at 35% off. All of this starts Wednesday 7/10 and runs for two weeks... Okay some of the items are up and sitting out now.

June 22, 2008
This is going to be a three-dayer: So, I'm feeling MUCH better {of course there were the last three concrete steps that seemed to reach up and grab me... but that means icing my foot and KNITTING on the couch.} Do I know how to relax, or what? As to the knitting in question - it is MALABRIGO... a beautiful t-shirt. I only have 30 or so rows, blocking and... hmmmm okay so I'm thinking this weekend. MIDNIGHT SUN - What a great success. Thank you to the 125+ people that came in. I love the fact that it seemed more than half were from Fairbanks! Keep coming in... You'll be surprised by what we have in the store.

Friday, June 21 - okay LOVED seeing the ADDI TURBOS show up... and some yarn we're thinking of trying.

Also LOVED getting to meet with Rob from Cascade (with Kristi - and I think she loved it too) for almost three hours while we PICKED OUT FALL YARN! OH YEAH Baby! We have purchased three new lines of yarn, plus added on to other successful CASCADE items currently in the shop.

June 18, 2008
Missed Knitting at Noon... will upload a picture why - probably... but I was busy dealing with an infection (no, the picture will not be gory!)

June 17, 2008
Oh my - what a day... had to go to ER - for self - not Mom... a bug bite or a spider bite or something got infected - EWWIE! I did knit... quite a bit (while waiting) but then the nurse told me I should probably not move the arm... hmmm... that makes knitting difficult (*not impossible - grin!)

June 15, 2008
It's early. Yesterday evening was rough - Mom is still in the hospital. She is looking much better, but there are decisions to be made... I took her some movies and a new blanket. I'm going to see if I can find my Dad and take him to church with me... he's going to remark on the fact that I knit in church... Oh Boy! Today is going to be finishing day - and blocking... two items (little owl vest and mitered mittens...) THEN I get to start on a brand new project! It's made from Cocoon by Rowan... YUMMY! Once I have the prototype done, we'll offer them in the shop. I also hope to see Amanda Shires again today for another knitting lesson before she leaves town.

June 14, 2008 WWKIPD
What a lovely summery, warm, summer day. It was quiet in the shop mostly (because 2nd Ave was closed off for 3x3 basketball.) However, there were several wonderful ladies in the shop knitting away! We had some sugary snacks and companionship! One was working on a bag, another a vest - make that two... but two very different vests and the third hmmm... not sure what hte project was - but there was good conversation and it wa an enjoyable afternoon.

June 13, 2008
Friday the 13th! Hmmmm.... Got to meet an incredible lady - Amanda Shires - and teach her to knit! Yes, I'm just going to become the crochet/knit guru to the Country Western world. She and Rod Picott (whom I got to listen to last year) came up and gave another series of house concerts. Amazing. Oh yeah - I was working on the mitered mittens from EZ (along with my Noro Iro bag.) You can listen to both of them on UTube.

June 12, 2008
Took Mom to emergency room. This is not the way I'd like to get a lot of knitting done. Checked into hospital.

June 3 , 2008
Lovely day - but then, I like rain. Had a great lady come in - her daughters live in California, and they both knit... it was fun looking for yarn for someone else's potential new project - warm, but not too warm... Tore down almost all of the greenhouse on Saturday. Needed a break on Sunday. Knit and read... that's been about it. Lovely! Heard about Malabrigo's fire. It is so horrible. They lost more wool/roving than I will ever own (or most likely carry in my shop... course that depends... if I 30 years go by then, maybe.) We're putting together a "Christmas in July" presentation for the window - to get folks thinking of what gifts they can be making now. I tried four different patterns last night (maybe five) for a baby blanket... Hmmm.... No dice! Kristi is working on a few items and I'm working on mittens and a scarf. I think she'll be picking out a toy to knit - so lovely. Her noro socks are really coming along - riverbed increases in the bottom of the foot are COOL.

May 28, 2008
Oh Wednesday, my friend - we had a great collection of folks at our 'knit at noon.' I really enjoyed seeing everyone - anytime you need to go grab extra chairs... well, that's a success! Oh yeah... the rest of the MALABRIGO showed up today too... So that might just outshine all the company =) I've been thinking of what to do next (other than replace the tomato plants that died ... too cold just yet to let them be outside...) The Malabrigo lace calls to me... but first I'll finish off my new window dressing - EZ's mitered mittens (made a women's and a child's size from one ball of silk garden.) There is a shrug type garment I've been thinking of - and since the yarn didn't swatch up to the right size for the Simply Marilyn sweater... it just may become a shrug... leftovers will find their way into a baby garment, I'm sure. I really need to get a move on... I got the GOOGLE CHECKOUT account set up and tested - now I need to plug it into the online store... and figure out the final steps for pay pal. That will be two payment methods...

May 26, 2008
Reading, working on this - lawn/garden work. Thinking about other work. Laundry. Mostly knitting and eating - a few quick naps.

May 25, 2008
I've tried bloggin in the past. We'll see how I can do if I put it as a weekly review... I've spent the day doing a little bit of gardening and quite a bit of relaxing. Bumped into Steve and Aileen at Fred Meyer. Shared 'sore' stories. We emptied five pick-up loads of dirt yesterday. After that, they went to a wedding and I went and worked the American Tire & Auto booth at the Fairbanks' Grizzlies indoor football game.