Grey Heron bits

It's the time of year to spend holidays with your family - if you can. Set aside the busy work days for a little down time with the grandchildren - all 8 of them... Very Best Wishes to you & yours from Grey Heron....  Christmas hours @ Grey Heron Thursday Dec. 20 - open until 8pm Friday Dec. 21 - open 10 - 5:30 Saturday Dec. 22 - open 10 - 5 Sunday Dec. 23 - open 11 - 4 Monday Dec. 24 - open 10 - 2 Tuesday Dec. 25 - CLOSED Merry Christmas! Wednesday Dec. 26 - CLOSED Happy Boxing Day! Thursday Dec. 27 - CLOSED Friday Dec. 28 - reg hrs - yarn specials - stay tuned for more details!! Saturday Dec. 29 - reg hrs Sunday Dec. 30 - Tuesday Jan 1 - CLOSED Happy New Year! Wednesday Jan. 2 - OPEN 10 - 5:30

If you are familiar with Ysolda Teague then you'll be happy to know we carry her patterns and books. One pattern called Ishbel, a gorgeous lace shawl has over 11,000 projects on ravelry and 4,800 knitters have queued it as a project for the future. Ishbel - just beautiful!! Then of course she has sweet patterns like Tiny Little shoes, the Ishbel Beret and the Hap Blanket... Hap Blanket with beautiful lace trim Ishbel beret - perfect made with Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze Tiny Shoes- perfect for a baby's first Christmas

Here's a funny story I heard today. My friend was asked to knit a winter white hat for this lady. So, of course my friend sets out to do just that. Now, where is the merino cashmere yarn I had? Hum, searching bin after bin = no winter white MC to find... now what, well my friend is very resourceful - she realized the last of the yarn she needed was already knit into a beautiful sweater - so picking out the cuff she knits the hat unraveling the yarn from the sleeve of the just knit sweater... have you stopped laughing yet? Wouldn't you want a friend like mine?? My answer was, well you can give your one sleeve sweater to "J" the summer knitter who came out to our knit group - after all "J" designed & knit a one sleeved sweater... there is a back story to that design... My friend hasn't decided what to do with her sweater, but she's the type of friend we all want to have. In this case, one who gives you the sleeve off their sweater. If you have

If someone told you your rose would be blooming in the first snowfall - Ya right!! would be your answer... Here it is - a soft pink hardy rose.

This Danish drink is served hot and spicy!!  If you aren’t warm after you have your first glass, you will be by the time you eat the raisins and almonds.” Yule Glogg 1 1/2 bottles of full-bodied red wine - Check out Coffin Ridge, I'm sure they have a wonderful choice 1 cup Aquavit 1 tsp. crushed cardamom seeds 2 tsp. cloves ½ tsp. freshly grated ginger 2 tsp. freshly grated orange zest 4 cinnamon sticks 1 cup almonds – blanched 1 cup seedless raisins 1/2 cup brown sugar Bring wine to boil. Tie spices and zest in to a cheesecloth bag. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add in almonds, sugar and raisins; cook for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add in Aquavit. Stir and remove spices. Serve hot.

At 132 yards in 8 ounces of yarn, this yarn is the “Fastest in the West.”  Burly Spun can be knit, crocheted, or woven with.  It is very fun and useful in needle felting.  In short it is just a really fun yarn.  If you want a quick gift that can be made up in an evening, reach for Burly Spun.  Spun from 100% USA wool, dyed into 31 solid colors and 8 hand painted colors, this yarn is for anyone who wants instant gratification and total satisfaction. - as per Brown Sheep's description  http://www.brownsheep.com/yarns/burly-spun?view=category This honking huge skein is will take minutes to knit up into a wonderful cowl... Xmas knitting still? Drop in to check out this yarn. Four skeins just left - check ravelry.com  20+ cowl patterns to knit using Burly Spun

Some days everything falls into place and you feel fabulous at the days end. Yesterday was the day this week. Our Wednesday knitting group has stepped up the Xmas knitting and some returned on Thursday to keep going. Mittens, Baby Bolero, baby socks, lace shawl, cable hat, felted mittens, honeycomb hat/mitts, thrum mittens, sweater, gift dishcloths, cowl, fingerless, scarf... and more to come. When knitters are happy the room fills with laughter... thanks to Rhichard Devrieze, who popped in to knit with us... BTW - Ruth has a new job - snow removal I think.. Eco Alpaca is our new store mascot this week. 100% alpaca chunky weight = yummy and warm Eco cloud follows in a close second. Hudson and Murrino both have tons of multi colours for cowls, scarves etc... Oh, and Soakbox fingerless kits are heading out for Xmas gifts. I want to be on the receiving end of that!! So enjoy your weekend. I'm working on a special gift for a friend. You'll see the pics soon enough... Ciao

Chocolate Truffle This cowl was designed because the wool colours reminded me of a Danish chocolate truffle. dark chocolate, light chocolate, marzipan Chokoladetrøffel Denne cowl blev designet , fordi uld farver mindede mig om en dansk chokolade trøffel . mørk chokolade , lys chokolade, marcipan This sumptuous Alpaca yarn is perfect for this wrap around twice cowl. Yarn; Eco Super Alpaca, ( 109yds/100m) 3 hanks- (934 Dark Brown, 85 medium nutmeg, 935 vanilla) Needles; 7.mm @32” circ. 8.mm used for cast on/off only Size; 62” circumference   X   10” depth Cast on 164 sts – with 8.mm – choose   - knit cast on, cable cast on, long tail cast on- your fav, place marker (add markers every 50sts for easier counting), join in the round – careful not to twist stitches-  Rnd 1; Purl – switch to 7.mm Rnd 2; Knit Rnd 3; repeat rnd 1 & 2 = 5 times Rnd 4; Knit 5 rnds – change colours Rnd 5; Knit 1 rnd Rnd 6; Purl Rnd 7; Knit Rnd 8; repe

Last night Jim & I went to hear Scott Kress http://summittraining.com/ speak about his Mount Everest climbing adventure. It was a fabulous evening. Scott has the same sense of humour his Mom Donna has. Donna works here @ Grey Heron. She's provides the shop with all our knitted samples, teaches classes, stops in to drop off something and stays for hours helping customers. She is one in a million!! After listening to Scott's focus on teamwork. "Your team makes or breaks the climbing experience". He asked us to find similiar situations in our lives that would require a good solid team. People you can count on to "watch your back" as he put it.  I related that to running a small business. Each member of the team works together - promotes the business - provides a pleasant experience for customers, knowledgeable about products and provides helpful service. If everyone practiced that with each and every customer - WOW, what a place to shop!! You start to pu

Christmas wish list - new - Knit Picks needle set https://www.knitpicks.com/knitting.cfm new - Denise interchangeable needle set http://www.knitdenise.com/ new set of Harmony Sock needles   http://www.knitpicks.com/needles/5_Harmony_Wood_Double_Pointed_Knitting_Needle_Set__D90433.html Four skeins of Rhichard Devrieze yarns - http://www.rdyarns.com/ Eucalan wash for my woollies -  http://www.eucalan.com/ Our shelves are full - sock yarns, superwash DK for kids, Cascade Casablanca (silk, mohair, wool blend), Northern Lights by Cabin Fever, Interweave mags, Apple Pie Sock yarn kits, Stitch Red books, felting tools, tons of patterns, SOAK box kits - much more Stop in - we'll gift wrap just for you!!

We all have them - the week we want to skip. One week without heat was just a bit much. Now back to a comfortable temp... :)) Full beginner classes- any knit shop would be so excited to have such a situation. Everyone thrilled to be here and having fun. Even the week two returnees were still having fun!! Successful mission, thanks Donna... more for next week too... We have received a new alpaca shipment- OMG!! If this was dessert I want two helpings!! soft, warm, cozy, fluffy, beautiful, natural, undyed - AND on sale... Cascade Eco Cloud - 70% merino 30% alpaca 164 yds 18sts @ 5.5mm      $13.00   SALE $10.00 Eco super Alpaca - 100% alpaca 100 yds 14sts @ 6.mm     $12.00  SALE $9.00 I feel a need for a cowl or a scarf or ??? What do you want to make? Let's not be out done by my own colour - yes, my very own Rhichard Devrieze colourway Grey Heron   http://www.rdyarns.com/     I was speechless - hard to believe I know, such a thoughtful idea... presenting Grey Heron

You are going to want to see these yarns. The colours are spectacular!! and you can find them on my shop shelves... Don't be shy, just head to Collingwood - call me - email me or shop online @ http://www.shopcollingwood.com/ and look for Grey Heron Embers = yummy!! Into the Shadow = no mystery here just 100% merino  This is just s tease... check out Yarns of Rhichard Devreize for yourself = http://www.rdyarns.com/ Line up your next projects with this yarn in mind:)

Here's a lovely yarn - 30 Silk 70 Merino - DK weight 150yds 50gm skein - wonderful colours Xmas Cowl = check Lace Scarf = check Lace Shawl = check Check our ravelry - you'll find dozens of beautiful projects to make Woodland 3109 Caribe 3116 Deep Sea 3302 Spumoni 3303

Casablanca  by Cascade yarns has just arrived. We have some lovely colours. Details -single ply yarn that is a blend of wool, silk and mohair - 8 colours in every skein 220yds, 100gms, 5mm, worsted weight yarn, $19.00 Neutrals 01 Denim Blues 02 Peacock 05 Reds 07 Fall 09 Jemstones 12 Southwest Desert 15

Just a quick note to mention, we are now OPEN until 8:00pm on Thursdays , starting tomorrow night. NEW!!!              Our evening Knit & Chat will run Thursday 6:30pm to 8:00pm In the Classroom;     We will be offering a two part Beginner Knitting class November 8 th and 15 th from  6:00pm to 7:30pm $ 30.00 Pre-registration required. Yarn and handout included Yarn specials;      Greenland by Cascade, 16sts = 4” @ 5.5mm Superwash Merino 137yds    SALE $6.95 per ball Happy knitting, Karen

I'm getting my fill of fresh Georgian Bay apples- yummy!! apples & cheese - apple butter - apple crisp Courtesy of Kristen- here's her recipe for Apple Harvest "Bundt" Cake   Apple Harvest Cake Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 12 cup bundt pan. 1 1/4 cup unbleached flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 eggs 2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples        (I used 2 large apples - one Red Delicious and one Honey Crisp) 1 cup nuts - walnuts taste best with apples. In a large bowl, measure all dry ingredients and mix. Add remaining ingredients except apples and nuts. Beat for three minutes at medium speed. Mixture will be thick. By hand, stir in apples and nuts. Bake in a 12 cup bundt pan at 325 degrees for 55 to 65 minutes until a toothpick comes out

Knitters gather, chat, teach, laugh, learn- generally have a fun time together.  That’s how I Love Yarn Day started…. We decided @ Grey Heron to do just that- have a fun day.  Join us on Friday October 12, 2012 for a day of fun. We offer short demos all day long. New cast on cast off methods – How to make a pompom – Cabling without a needle – How to make a frilly scarf – Fun with beads – Thrumming examples The fun begins at 10:00am – demos run all day   Bring your lunch and make a day of it. Drop in and out as your time permits. Check our schedule for up-coming classes