August 1 Update

Here it is August 1st!  Wow, where did July go?  It has been a blur of activity since we have made the announcement that Yarn Heaven is closing.  So many of you have sent wonderful emails, letters, cards and phone calls.  I want y'all to know that your kind words have really touched my heart.  It has been very difficult not to break down and cry with each of you.  So many years and each year filled with so many memories. 

We started out behind the Six Flags Mall in a little 500 sq ft space, in just a few months we expanded to 800 sq ft.  Right after we expanded, there was a fire in our strip center, I lost everything due to the smoke from the fire.  We weren't going to let a fire stop us, or my business partner at the time.  We parted ways and I reopened on my own on Bowen and Arkansas.  This time I started out with a 1000 sq foot space and and within three years knew we needed to expand, we were going to take the space right next door but the city decided to widen Bowen Rd, so we move again.  This time we moved to a little space on Arkansas that was 2000 sq ft and before long we took the space next to us, enlarging to 3000 sq ft and now not only was parking the problem, but the roof had collapased TWICE! and we were growing out of our space once again, so after 5 years we moved 1 block away.....that move was hilarious, we just walked all of our products to the new store.   We spent 10 years at 1300 W. Arkansas Lane and have so many fond memories.  Sometimes, they are overwhelming and I feel like I am going to break down and cry for days, but I smack myself and tell myself there is plenty of time for crying later! 

I was doing so well until last evening that is!  Stitches went to her new home.  Brenda and Jesss Whitfield love her so much that they took Stitches to their house.  At my house she would be living with three dogs.  My husbands dog Snuggles is 14 years old and has congestive heart disease with water on the lungs, when he gets excited he barks until he gets sick.  We were concerned that bringing Stitches into our home would shorten Snuggles life span, it worked out best for all involved.  We know that Stitches is in Nirvana.  She loves Jess and Brenda and will soon be good buddies with their existing cat family.  The shop is definately not the same without Stitches here.  Some of her good buddies came to say good bye to her yesterday, we will be posting more pictures of her on her blog. 

 

Then there those of you who are coming in to show me great projects that I helped you get started with or that you took a class to learn and that brings tears to my eyes, for example; when Becca  Agli came into the store the first time, I was overwhelmed by how "just plain nice" she is.  Since she has been coming to Yarn Heaven, I have watched her knitting skills just explode and when she finished this skirt, I knew she no longer needed any knitting classes.  Good Job Becca!

Tina Blevins did a great job on her Vortex Shawl out of SeaSilk!  I have watched Tina's confidence grow over the years and I can see her love of the craft. 

 

Many of you have asked what I will be doing.  My answer is hanging out by my pool and knitting! I do have some trips planned and am sure after I rest up, I will be doing more.  My husband reminds me that the first project is giving his garage back to him!  There is alot of Yarn Heaven in his garage right now!  I have been promising Greg a sweater for years and now it looks like he will actually get one, maybe even by Christmas....your excitment in shopping has rubbed off  on me, just when I think I have stashed enough, I notice that I "need" a few more things!  I pulled some JoJoland Rhythm Superwash to make this sweater for him.  This is a great yarn and it is on sale for $6.36.  Great price and time to stock up. 

 

Time to get back to work, I just wanted to steal a few minutes to thank you all so much for the continued support.  Remember we had a humongous inventory when we started our sale and even though tons has left the store we still have plenty, we only have approximately three weeks left and need to sale lots more yarn, or Greg will never get his garage back!!

 

And, drum roll please; our top ten contestants as of  Tuesday are (remember these totals do not reflect purchases made from Tuesday to present, the board gets updated every Tuesday.)  Good Luck and come on in and get your points up!

 

1.  Linda Haertling           3,355,476
2. Jessica Comeau            2,747,310
3. Teresa Isbell                 1,753,510
4. Judy Neill                     1,588,560
5. Nancy Reedy                1,396,670
6. Becca Agli                    1,166,000
7. Nancy Devlin                1,145,640
8. Carleen Hofman               874,610
9. Lori Torrance                   790,728
10. Marsha Sahm                   758,548

As always, your business is truly appreciated!

July 2013 Update

Good Morning Everyone.  I hope y'all are enjoying our weather here in Texas.  With all this rain and cool temps I have to keep checking the calendar to make sure that we really are still in July.

This is the official announcement that Yarn Heaven is closing our doors forever!  I am filled with joy and excitment that I will get to spend time with my family.  It has been a rough year for us.  I look forward to sharing my mornings with my husband instead of rushing out the door before he is even awake.  I look forward to so many things I haven't had the chance to do in the last 20 years and that is why I am filled with excitement.  Of course, there is a little sorrow also.  I will miss so many of you.  I will miss all the crazy laughter and good times.  When the sale is over and the store is fully closed I will post more, but for right now I want to tell you what a great opportunity this is to get the hard to find yarns and notions that Yarn Heaven is known for carrying.  Starting Thursday morning at 10:00am sharp our sale begins.  Everything in the store is on sale including our fabulous fixtures and models.  This link will take you to the front page of our website, https://www.facebook.com/#!/Yarnheaven if you will print out the invitation that is there and bring it with you, it will entitle you to1000 points.  To find out what the points are all about you need to attend the sale.  Let's just say there are 2 flat screen tvs involved and 8 other fabulous prizes.  We hired a company to help me end my yarn store career and what they have planned is alot of awesome fun!  What a way to say good-bye!

Thank you one and all for 20 wonderful years.  We look forward to any comments that you would like to leave either at work4yarn@yarnheaven.com or our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/Yarnheaven.

June 2013 Update

What a lovely afternoon for knitting!  My favorite kind of knitting day is one that is overcast, rain is a bonus but not necessary.  I feel the dust bunnies can't be seen on those days!  LOL  Lately I have had the urge to pull out my spinning wheel and just spin until I can't anymore.  Time doesn't seem to be on my side.  So many things I want to do, places I want to go and garments I want to knit before I know it a whole month has gone by and I have only accomplished one of my desires!

June 8th, Saturday is Knit in Public Day!  That's right, there is a day for everything!  So bring your knitting needles, crochet hooks, spinning wheels, any fiber related items and come sit outside at Yarn Heaven, we have the freeway in front of us and hopefully won't cause any accidents.  The entire strip center is ours on Saturday, wouldn't it be awesome to see knitters and crocheter's lined up knitting and crocheting?  Our AC is working again, thanks to all of our wonderful customers who attended our need a new AC unit sale!  If it gets too warm come on inside and see if you can't find a few cool ideas for starting new projects or finishing old ones!

And to make this even more fun, I have just decided to give those coming out to knit in public 10% off on any Sock Yarn or Kits in the the store.  You must come prepared to knit at least one inch to get this discount!

 

It's the last chance to sign up for the lovely Ringlet Tank Class starting tomorrow, one of our last free classes!  This top was really fun to do and I learned alot.  I love the German method of short row shaping for the sleeves, you can do shaping in the waist or not, your choice.  I can't believe how good the top feels out of Setanova.  A Cotton/Silk blend that is just awesome for Texas weather.  It really feels like you are wearing nothing!  I have started my second one I like this pattern so much.  It is really a very timeless piece and will be a staple in my wardrobe for a very long time.  Give me a call here at the shop if you would like to join the class.

Short row shaping for shoulders

Keyhole back for fun detail

a fun pattern on the front and overall style makes this a timeless piece

And next week, we get to honor those wonderful fathers in our lifes.  I am very lucky this year to be able to spend the day with my dad, in California.  I hope that y'all have special plans with your fathers also.  My dad is not a suit and tie kind of guy, but he does love hand knit socks, and yes he will be getting a pair and since his birthday is the day after father's day, he might be getting two pair!

 

 

As always, this is a special invitation to join us on Thursday nights.  We have so much fun, and last night we got to order from Danny's!  Our old pizza buddies, they also have left the old strip center and are now located at California and Cooper, in the strip center on the SW side of the street!  I think we will be seeing lots more of these pizzas!

 

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are creeping up on us.  We are preparing to go into our summer hours.  We are considering closing on Mondays and would like to get your input on that.  As it stands now we will be closing at 4Pm on Monday,  Friday and Saturday, starting on June 10th.  Please  let us know if it is important to you that we stay open on Mondays throughout the summer.  Time to get a new project started, finish an old one, just keep those hands busy and don't think about the heat!  We really look forward to your feedback and thank you in advance!

 

 

 

 

April 2013 Update

How does that saying go...the best laid plans.....what a crazy month April has been!  I started off my morning driving 360 N to come to work, and out of the blue I noticed this odd vehichle that was suddenly in front of me.  The reason came to me in seconds of why it was so odd, it was driving directly at me in my lane of traffic, the WRONG way!  I don't know how I missed hitting him, it was a sure way to get my blood pressure to rise!  I had my whole morning planned out, that the newsletter would be out by noon, other stuff done by 3 and be able to throughly enjoy our Therapy Thursday evening.  Reminds me of what my friend has always said she was going to have put on my tombstone,  "she did not plan it this way!"

Now on to more fun things.......how does WE NEED A NEW AIR CONDITIONER SALE  sound to everyone?  On Monday, we thought it was extremely hot, Tuesday we knew what the problem was and on Wednesday my landlord informed me that I needed to replace our AC unit to the tune of $4000!!  I don't just have $4000 laying around and we are going to need AC again very soon, so we are going to have a sale of all sales! 50% off of many, many yarns! We are clearing out our scarf yarns, we are eliminating lots of our baby yarns and just generally reorganizing and trying to raise money for a new AC Unit. Beaded Silk and Rhapsody Glitter will be in this sale, as well as some sock yarns!   Our loss is your gain.  This SALE begins tonight at 5pm until Tuesday at 5:pm

We are begging for one more thing....PROJECT HOPE....we need food donations for our four families.  In the last month several of them were hospitalized and the need for food is even more important as their prescriptons have increased.  We need summer foods, stuff for pasta salads, sandwich fillings, snacks for summer.  Water, milk, cereal, fruits, macaroni, mayonaise, crackers, whatever you like to eat, they like to eat also! We want to thank Brenda Bailey, Joan Adams,Becca Agli, Barbara Kalley, Cat Johnson, Effi Foster, Greta Raub to name a few that have been so kind and generous in their donations. 

We are still patiently waiting the arrival of our Kabonz needles in larger sizes.  I called to check on them today and the arrival into the United States has been moved up to the first week in May.  I personally cannot wait to get them, like I need another needle!

Don't forget to check out the class schedule, great classes coming up.  Perfect tops for our Texas Weather!

March 2013 Update

I have to tell you as a yarn shop owner there is nothing more joyous than to see knitters improving their skills.  The joy they get out of learning a new skill, finishing a first project, making the journey with them thru their first sweaters or socks or lace knitting is infectious.  I know the satisfaction I get when I figure out a complicated pattern (Lace skirt!) and the project actually turns out and looks great.  Through the years I have watched new knitters take to knitting like a duck out of water, continuing to challenge themselves and inspire others.  That is the joy I get from my shop.  

In the Henley Tshirt Class, I watched two knitters complete their very first tops.  One was a long sleeve sweater and one was a t shirt.  The one thing I wish I could change the most is their
self confidence.  I wish we could just infuse it into them because most of the time that is the only skill they really lack is self confidence.  The best way to build that is to complete your project and know that your fingers made it!  We are going thru the Sock Class now and it is so funny how the first hour, the only comments I hear is "I can't do this, it is so confusing, etc", and low and behold by the end of the first class they are loving it.  Susan loves it so much she has already stocked up on some great sock yarn (lots on sale right now!) and will be wearing her first pair of hand knit socks sometime next week!  If you are stuck on the heels, call me and you can join Saturdays class, we are turning the heels and doing the gussets.  We also have five new entrelac knitters and I have to say this was the easiest entrelac class we have ever had.  I wrote my own entrelac pattern and simplified it, it took alot of the confusion away and I have to admit, Becca's, Barbara's, Cathy's and Marie's new skills are keeping them busy knitting Entrelac scarfs, jackets and hats!  Personally, I love Entrelac and am looking for more fun Entrelac patterns.  So, to sum the last two paragraphs up, congratulations to all crocheters and knitters that choose to continously upgrade and perfect the your skills! 



Barbara's 1st finished sweater!

Marie's Finished Scarf!

NEW
Every now and then something new comes along in our industry that just makes you scream with joy!  Yesterday was one of those days for me!  Skacel, maker of the Addi Turbo needles,  has come out with the most phenominal tool that I used once and will never go without....It is called the SOS


sos cord

Heart Cord Protector

cord!  This is a cord that goes on our interchangeable Addi needle sets, at the beginning of the cord there is a little slit in the cord its self, you thread a thin yarn thru the hole and knit your stitches as usual, but at the same time you are putting in a safety line!!  Wonderful for lace knitting and arrived just in time for it to be used on my lace skirt!!  Love, love, love it!  The latest Addi Interchangeble kits already have these cords but for those of us who already bought our kits, we can buy these special cords separately, we have one package of 40" cords left and have two more shipments coming in for them, arriving any day!  We have extra tips in the Lace sets and Addi Turbo Basic Tips  from US 4-7 in stock as well as; extra cords.  If you haven't seen the Heart cord protectors,  they are also fabulous.  Need the needle tips that are being used, take them off, put your heart stoppers on and continue.  Addi has been the leader in the industry for all needles, but nothing beats their interchangebles sets!



Addi Interchangeable crochet hooks, does not come with cords

Another new Addi Click set is the interchangeable Tunisian Crochet Hook Set!!  Sizes 3.5mm to 9mm, makes it easy for Tunisian Crochet.

Dreamz has also come out with interchangeable Tunisian Crochet Hook Sets and yes we have them in the store, now!  We have stocked up on  Complete sets of Crochet Hooks just in time for Easter Gifts!




Dreamz Interchangeable Crochet Hook Set


We love our crocheters as much as our knitters!  So lots of new Crochet Hook Sets have come in and here are pictures of just a few.  I have to admit, my favorite ok, two favorite are pictured here.  The Symphonie Rose Set is absolutely gorgeous, rosewood crochet hooks with  the added beauty of a crystal in the handle!

And the Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set is just plain fun to look at and to crochet with.  Easy colorful grip, comes in sizes B-J
 



Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set

Symphony Rose Rosewood Crochet Hooks





And we have back in stock our Crafters Thumb Glove in Small/Medium, that afghan will be driving me to wear one before long, or it could be the lace skirt!

 

The new class list is being worked on and should be posted by Friday.  Also want to remind everyone that we will be having our 2nd annual Therapy Thursday Adults Only Easter Egg Hunt!  Such a great time was had by all last year we just had to repeat it!  Will your egg hold the grand prize? 

 

One last note; for several months now we have been collecting and distributing food to some of the elderly in our community.  I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.  It has truly been a group effort.  But, sadly we need more, much more.  We would love to be able to provide a ham for all of the families for Easter.  Sadly we have $40.00 in cash to buy bread, milk, and meat for four families, please, please search your hearts and pocketbooks, we need food and we need store cards or cash donations.  These families really, really need our help, so please help.  We desperately need, canned or fresh fruit, potatoes, eggs, vegatables, little sweets, and meats of any and all kinds.  I will be delivering this coming Saturday so now is the time to drop off your donations!  Thank you so very much!

 

We have been getting lots of phone calls about Therapy Thursdays, yes everyone is welcome, no we do not encourage you to bring your small children, the conversation gets rather adult at times, no you do not have to knit or crochet, you can color or needle point, cross stitch.  We have ALL age groups, yes, sometimes males do attend, and yes, we have a GREAT time, come check it out and p.s....food goes along way with this crowd!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



February 2013 Update

February 2013 Update

&%(*&%^& I hate being behind in anything and it is with deep apologies that I start this update. I can't believe the last one came out in December!!

With our crazy Texas weather the last couple of months I am not sure if I should be knitting tank tops and t shirts or if I should be working on nice warm pullover sweaters. So, I say to myself, why not both!! On days like today I knit on my upcoming summer wardrobe, on days like yesterday, I knit on warm wooly things! Of course this is inbetween knitting on an afghan that is 120" wide by 120" long. This is being done for a friend from GRADE school! At first I dreaded working on that afghan, but there are 16" knitted and I have grown to love this project. It is great for mindless knitting. I am using Berrocco Comfort and what a great yarn for an acrylic. I know this blanket will bring years of warmth and it will definately be treasured. Our grandmothers crocheted and quilted together and here are the granddaughters years later still sharing the craft. 

Let's talk about the newest, most wonderful needle on the market! They are called Karbonz, by Knitter's Pride. They have a stilleto tip (really sharp), cord is fantastic, thin and pliable and the needle is made from Carbon Fiber. Carbon Fiber is one of the most versatile materials, used in the manufactoring of the new generation air crafts, space ships, automobiles and now knitting needles. We have truly moved into the 21st century with our knitting! The only sizes available at the moment are US Size 4 and under, including the half sizes. When I am holding these needles it feels like their is nothing in my hands! Very warm and light weight

 

We have gotten nothing but rave reviews on the new Poems Socks. Gorgeous self striping yarn, 459 yards of 75% Superwash Wool/25% Nylon. It is great for socks, but it looks wonderful in the entrelac scarf pattern, both Barbara and Marie used it and we will be posting pictures soon of their finished scarves. The Vortex Shawl looks fabulous in it

Also new from Universal is Poems Silk Worsted. I was really surprised at how nicely this yarn knit up. The colors are beautiful, 75% wool/25% silk gives it a nice feel. 109 yards to a skein. My favorite needle size to knit this with was a 9, and I would definately use a 10 also. Package calls for 18 stitches over 4" on a US 8.

New Colors have arrived in Zauberball Crazy, one of my favorite yarns in the whole store. I love the graduating colors, I love the feel and I love using it in shawls as well as tank tops. The Camino Bubble Shawl and the Camino Leaf shawl are done out of Zauberball Crazy

And I have heard it is the year of the SKIRT! This was after I scheduled our skirt class! In March we will learn how to make a skirt, using our own personal measurements and our own personal stitch gauge! My favortie kind of projects. I have been getting new kits in and putting some together, there will be lots to choose from. In the last issue of Knitter's Magazine it was almost all skirts and I am making three of them! The first one is all lace, pattern says to use two strands of lace weight, I am using one strand of Sea Silk, I didn't even mind when my needle broke with 160 lace stitches on it, ok, I minded a little, but will be eager to restart this weekend with a new needle and get as much as I can done. I have decided that that lace skirt is going to be my Easter outfit

 

 

Be watching we are having some "Special Events" coming up, one of them being our 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt. We had way too much fun last year not to do it again this year.

 Our classes are filling nicely! The year of free classes. I worried that I would regret this, but everyone has been wonderful! We have a new pattern for the Entrelac scarf that I wrote myself using the knitting backwards technique. The class will be offered again in April. We do have to stress that if you want to take a class you need to contact us no later than the day before the class to see if we have room. I believe that our scarf class is full as of this typing. We can still take 2 more people in the Two at a Time sock class.

 

Next week I will be placing a new Sea Silk order, if there are any special colors, or something else from HandMaiden that you would like me to order, please let me know as it takes 3 months to get our orders of this fabulous hand painted Silk/Kelp blend.

 

The website is now is very capable hands! Ms. Lori Nelson we cannot thank you enough. If I would have just listened to you 10 years ago! Lori, an official webmaster is slowly and methodically going thru the website. You will be seeing good changes soon, but things have to be changed in the background first. We have had the most problems with keeping our shopping cart updated and adding new items to it, Lori is fixing all of that for us and soon we will have a much more efficeint and easier to navigate site! Again, much thanks to Lori Nelson!

 Where ever there is joy, there also always seems to be some sadness. In January, my husband lost his brother, best friend, confidant of 61 years. He was a father, brother, grampa and friend to many. He is so missed and I thank all of you who reached out to us. His death was quite unexpected and just as we are accepting that and moving on, on Monday, one of our 34 year old nephews was killed in a horrific car accident. My sister's oldest son, he was a brother, son, nephew, finacee and father to a beautiful little girl. We worry about our children all of the time, but espiecally when they start driving and becoming more independent and then they have the nerve to grow up!! Once they are on their own, it's hard to let them go, but when they come back to visit, the joy and happiness are so overwhelming. The tragedys of the last 5 weeks are bringing our surrogate children home. They are coming home for Easter and to help my husband and I celebrate our birthdays. They are each grown, Precious with three children and Justin with a brand new chefs job, planned it all out to come for 10 days together! The joy I am feeling is so overwhelming and helps take the hurt away from our loss.