Isn't traveling fun! I have done a lot of traveling this summer and fall (hence no blog updates) and have made many wonderful memories. So I'll start with Paris.
Ahh, Paris - (add music in your head): I love Paris in the Springtime ... I love Paris in the fall... and I never knew how much that song would be true for me. The quaintness of the little streets, the flower shops, the bakerys ... and yes, the closed for the summer yarn shops - ahh Paris - sighing with a smile of memories. We saw the typical sights, but Monet's gardens and house stand out with inspiration for me. Yes, I felt inspired! I had many plans to come home and garden. everywhere. at work, in the backyard, in the front yard, with friends. But let me remind you, we live in the Mohave desert and, until last week, the temp has been well over 100 and the flowers that I did have in had scorched by the time we got back. So reality set in upon arriving home. Anyway, back to topic.
Yarn shops - my husband was so happy to come tell me he had found a yarn shop right down the street from our little condo we were sharing for the week with friends. It was closed, but it was Sunday so it should be open tomorrow. Monday - stopped by, still closed. Tuesday, stopped by, still closed, oh, but looking in the window made me drool! So full of yummy stuff! Wednesday, sadly the baker next door told Pop they were closed for their summer holiday.
Ahh, Paris - (add music in your head): I love Paris in the Springtime ... I love Paris in the fall... and I never knew how much that song would be true for me. The quaintness of the little streets, the flower shops, the bakerys ... and yes, the closed for the summer yarn shops - ahh Paris - sighing with a smile of memories. We saw the typical sights, but Monet's gardens and house stand out with inspiration for me. Yes, I felt inspired! I had many plans to come home and garden. everywhere. at work, in the backyard, in the front yard, with friends. But let me remind you, we live in the Mohave desert and, until last week, the temp has been well over 100 and the flowers that I did have in had scorched by the time we got back. So reality set in upon arriving home. Anyway, back to topic.Yarn shops - my husband was so happy to come tell me he had found a yarn shop right down the street from our little condo we were sharing for the week with friends. It was closed, but it was Sunday so it should be open tomorrow. Monday - stopped by, still closed. Tuesday, stopped by, still closed, oh, but looking in the window made me drool! So full of yummy stuff! Wednesday, sadly the baker next door told Pop they were closed for their summer holiday.
On to Vienna. I looked online for yarn shops and found 6 recommended, with directi
ons. A couple were in the main shopping district so we thought that would be fun. We take a cab to Mariahhilfer and start walking. Yes, we were easily distracted but the numbers were clear so we came to an 'alley' of sorts with the range of numbers we wanted and right there was a simple little shop with this sign:
ons. A couple were in the main shopping district so we thought that would be fun. We take a cab to Mariahhilfer and start walking. Yes, we were easily distracted but the numbers were clear so we came to an 'alley' of sorts with the range of numbers we wanted and right there was a simple little shop with this sign: Now who wouldn't know that was a yarn shop :-)
They had a wonderful sales bin out front with yarn for 1 euro each, and I got some for my dil, and me. My friend also got some for a crochet buddy and we had a wonderful time. Did you know that yarn from Turkey - which here I spent $11.50 a 'spool' for just before I left, is much much cheaper there. I assume because it doesn't travel so far. I tried to buy some Austrian spun yarn, but with the language barrier, it was a bit hard. I did end up with some treasures, though and I love looking at my goodies, I just haven't decided what wonderful things to make from them! (If you have any ideas, leave me a thought in the comments) Here is my 'booty':
I have enough for 2 sweaters and a scarf - or I could break it down even more! How's that for 50euro? (Lot's of other Vienna memories - convention, meeting people, etc - but that's way off topic :-)
Back Home to Stitch and Pitch with the D'backs! My first MLB baseball game and I loved it. It had the added feature of Yarn and vendors and crocheters and knitters - ho
w could we go wrong! Oh, and it was in Phoenix, AZ and we were with our kids - just perfect! My son, Ben, knew how much I wanted to go to a game and to go to Stitch and Pitch, so he got us great tickets and great seats, really close to the action! But, he didn't know that to get the free D'backs bag, you had to have the special 'Stitch and Pitch' ticket - which was way up in the nosebleed section. He was so nice that he stood in line for about 20 minutes when we got there and bought a 'special' ticket for 3yr old Kyler, just so I could have a bag! Isn't that sweet! But there's more! Of course, Lindsey, too, wished for a bag, sooo about an hour into the game, Ben took off and showed up with a bag for Lindsey! Yes, he went and bought yet another ticket so she could have one. Now that's a great guy!
w could we go wrong! Oh, and it was in Phoenix, AZ and we were with our kids - just perfect! My son, Ben, knew how much I wanted to go to a game and to go to Stitch and Pitch, so he got us great tickets and great seats, really close to the action! But, he didn't know that to get the free D'backs bag, you had to have the special 'Stitch and Pitch' ticket - which was way up in the nosebleed section. He was so nice that he stood in line for about 20 minutes when we got there and bought a 'special' ticket for 3yr old Kyler, just so I could have a bag! Isn't that sweet! But there's more! Of course, Lindsey, too, wished for a bag, sooo about an hour into the game, Ben took off and showed up with a bag for Lindsey! Yes, he went and bought yet another ticket so she could have one. Now that's a great guy!It was fun looking through the vendor section and I bought, yet again, another new project. The girls from the Fiber Factory in Mesa, AZ were demonstrating knitting socks on a 9" circular needle from HiyaHiya. As you know from my continuing sock saga (Next blog will expand on that) I really want to make socks. So, I did have to buy it, and the same yarn she was using. It looked like something I can do, so I'm willing to give it a try. How could you go to a vendor section and not buy anything? [rhetorical question]
If you go to Ravely (www.ravelry.com if you're not a member, join, it's great!), there are more D'backs Stitch and Pitch pictures posted in the group Arizona Knitters, under the forum discussion 'Stich and Pitch'. They are great!
Now, last but not least Canada! We had a wonderful time using up our expiring timeshare in Camore, Alberta, Canada. We met our daughter, Tesia, and her husband, Jeremy, there and thoroughly enjoyed the Beautiful scenery of Banff and Canmore - and I could do another blog about that, but, again, it's off topic. Here we found the well stocked Knit & Caboodle yarn shop. (there should be a picture here of Knit & Caboodle's shop, but Tesia has it on h
er camera) Tesia and I had so much fun looking through the bins and asking questions - it was a perfect mother/daughter time. Tesia had said on the phone that she wanted to learn to crochet, so I brought all the goodies to teach her, but when she saw me knitting my 2nd sock on the little HiyaHiya needle, she decided that's what she wanted to learn. So we went to the shop, hoping to get her a needle and some yarn so she could be on her way. Well, they didn't have that size, so I ended up giving her mine and showing her on that (futher explained in the upcoming next blog). I, however did get some yummy Canadian spun and hand painted yarn to make my husband, Pop, a pair of socks. Tesia and I also got some beautiful DK weight yarn for more socks and I can't wait to get started on them! Hopefully before the next sock saga blog. Oh, and since she went home with my HiyaHiya 9", I'll have to find another one for that project. Anyway, here's my Canadian booty (with my finished pair of Pop's 'Canada, Eh' socks in the pile):
Well, my traveling's done for a long time, and now I get to enjoy all my 'booty' for a long time to come! Oh, and if you are flying, it doesn't matter if you have measured and they are okay, put your scissors in your checked luggage. Right away in the Phoenix airport, that girl checking us in asked if I had scissors, etc. I said yes, but they are the right size and she advised that when traveling in Europe, they will need to be checked. My crochet hook was fine on the plane. I complied and took them out of my carryon and stuck them in the checked luggage and had no problem. Going to Canada, I had my little HiyaHiya needle with me (no scissors) and was never questioned. The needles on that circular are very small, so I didn't worry. Also, the flight home, I was using my new Addi turbo 32" circulars, and they were fine, too.
er camera) Tesia and I had so much fun looking through the bins and asking questions - it was a perfect mother/daughter time. Tesia had said on the phone that she wanted to learn to crochet, so I brought all the goodies to teach her, but when she saw me knitting my 2nd sock on the little HiyaHiya needle, she decided that's what she wanted to learn. So we went to the shop, hoping to get her a needle and some yarn so she could be on her way. Well, they didn't have that size, so I ended up giving her mine and showing her on that (futher explained in the upcoming next blog). I, however did get some yummy Canadian spun and hand painted yarn to make my husband, Pop, a pair of socks. Tesia and I also got some beautiful DK weight yarn for more socks and I can't wait to get started on them! Hopefully before the next sock saga blog. Oh, and since she went home with my HiyaHiya 9", I'll have to find another one for that project. Anyway, here's my Canadian booty (with my finished pair of Pop's 'Canada, Eh' socks in the pile):Well, my traveling's done for a long time, and now I get to enjoy all my 'booty' for a long time to come! Oh, and if you are flying, it doesn't matter if you have measured and they are okay, put your scissors in your checked luggage. Right away in the Phoenix airport, that girl checking us in asked if I had scissors, etc. I said yes, but they are the right size and she advised that when traveling in Europe, they will need to be checked. My crochet hook was fine on the plane. I complied and took them out of my carryon and stuck them in the checked luggage and had no problem. Going to Canada, I had my little HiyaHiya needle with me (no scissors) and was never questioned. The needles on that circular are very small, so I didn't worry. Also, the flight home, I was using my new Addi turbo 32" circulars, and they were fine, too.
Next blog will be on my continuing sock saga ... so until then Keep on pegs and needles!
