How a Yarn Store Celebrates Holi

Our dear friend Pia delivered a fresh batch of fleece today.
It looks like we're ready to celebrate Holi!

Pia Skaarer-Nielsen will be teaching a drop-spindle spinning workshop at The Loop Sunday, March 18th, 10 am - 1 pm.  She was sweet enough to drop this fibre off to us for an upcoming workshop in needle felting (Sunday, March 11th, 10am -1pm with Janine Stewart)
On her farm in the Annapolis Valley, Pia keeps a wonderful (and wonderous) blog chronicling her creative life.  Follow the link below to read about the new lives on the farm, and to see the sheep from whom we get this beautiful, hand-dyed fibre.

http://wonderouswoolerie.blogspot.com/2012/02/lambing-season-again.html

March in like a lion or lamb

Sunday in the Store With Morgan

The world of LYS and craft merchants is a small one, especially in a place like Nova Scotia.  There is a lot of back and forth referring, often beyond the purview of our individual shops.

I often send people off into the welcoming arms of other local and localish yarn stores when a customer needs a yarn we don't cary.  Every Sunday, I have at least 2 customers visit or phone looking for a range of things we don't carry at all....and never would.

Needlepoint and Rug Hooking supplies are the most common requests I cannot fulfill.  Sewing and Quilting supplies are close behind.  Of course, once in a while I have a desperate call for beeswax, pipe cleaners, artificial flowers, garment bags, and once, a Sombrero sized for a Teddy Bear.  I refer these quests on as best I can, but over the years I've amassed a list of craft suppliers.  It's a list that doesn't seem to exist anywhere but under our stapler at The Loop.

Downtown Halifax has a distinct circuit that crafty people take to find their supplies:
DeSerres (AKA 'The Creative Marketplace', formally Loomis & Toles)
Maritime Hobbies & Crafts
Feroz Beads
Black Market (leather, hemp, you never know)
Dustjacket Books and Treasures (Second Hand and Vintage Craft Books)
Jennifer's of Nova Scotia (Cross Stitch and Knitting kits, Finished knitted items)
Love,Me Boutique
NSCAD Student Supply Store
Dollarama/Buck or Two (you never know)

Yarn Stores seem to have a louder presence than other types of craft stores in Nova Scotia.  The average customer will have already found her way to places like L.K. Yarns, Gaspereau Valley Fibres or Have A Yarn (to name Just a few).
Here are some suppliers to whom I often refer customers.  These shops fill some rather large gaps in HRM's crafting needs:

Highland Heart Hookery
www.hookarug.com
23 Chartwell Lane  Halifax, NS B3M 3S7
(902) 445-4644

Dennison's Custom Framing (Embroidery and Needlepoint)
www.dennisonscustomframing.com
626 King St  Bridgewater, NS B4V 1B4
(902) 543-0486


The Beading Room
www.thebeadingroom.com
An online store based in Fall River N.S.  The Beading Room offers several different options for delivery.

Hands Across Time Rug Hooking
2526 Hwy #368 R.R. #1. Pugwash Junction. NS. B0K 1M0.
Tel: (902) 257-2267.
Email: handsacrosstime@yahoo.ca

This is by NO means a link list of Maritime Craft Shops and Suppliers.  Many friends and neighbouring businesses may be found on The Loop's link page.   I would love to hear how this week's Sunday shoppers fared!

Sunday in the Store With Morgan

*a Parker who loves the 4 Georges?

It is officially winter in Halifax, and when the wind blows at Salter and Barrington Streets it is bitterly cold.  On a Sunday however, The Loop is toasty warm.  Sometimes it is downright hot.  Often, at Noon, I have to crack the back window a little, which shocks and confuses the amorous pigeons who rendezvous on our sil.

I took this photo outside of DeSerres, where I was waiting for a cab.  15 minutes later I flagged one down.  I had always been told that in Halifax, you can't flag a car.  My Cabbie told me that this isn't true when it comes to Barrington Street!  News to me.

 This Sunday I spent Embroidering.  It's easy to pick up and put down as the need arises, and it's too too convenient having our supply of DMC floss so close to hand.

I also took advantage of our huge storefront window.  Over the years I've used countless transfer methods to get embroidery patterns and my own sketches onto cotton and linen.  I've used lightboxes, carbon paper, various papers, pens and pencils and ironing methods.  When it comes down to it, I don't think anything beats scotch tape, a sharp pencil, and a sunny window.

I do advise photocopying the pattern twice; one copy will be taped to the window underneath the fabric, and the other will be taped alongside, as a reference.  I also recommend drawing four crosses on the fabric, tracing each corner of the pattern or pattern paper.  This way, if you need to retrace, you can orient the fabric perfectly.


Clover needles and notions have arrived!
I'd like to thank all those customers who understood that for me to do the oft-procrastinated job of sorting and pricing the needle shipment, and then printing out our tiny price stickers I need to 
A:  Say the prices and item codes aloud, and
B:  Listen to cartoons on youtube playing underneath the inventory windows.  Totally Spies, Disney's Recess and of course, The Emperor's New School are helpful.  
You are very understanding.  It must be a shock to hear a sudden 'Hiya! Ya!' or 'This Whomps' before I remember to switch the audio over to yarn shopping music.
Enjoy the 4 Georges:



Who ever could have guessed that I'd develop a thing for George II?!

Make it a Manos Christams

-Manos Del Uraguay Ad from Vogue Knitting, Winter 1987

What do you know? The Loop has received Manos Del Uruguay Wool Classica and Maxima just in time for Crimbo.  Not in time, unfortunately, to make this holiday jumper.  Can you imagine it made in Manos' 2011 colours?

Christmas Shop Window 2011

Downtown Halifax is hoping for snow this Christmas week!


PS It's proving to be a bit of a Rorscharch test, but I love my Yarn Ball Tree with Niddy-Noddy Trunk!

The Way They Were #4

-Berroco ad, s/s 1987

25 odd years later, Berroco is releasing Nora Gaughan's 8th pattern booklet. It has some gorgeous pieces in it which show off Berroco's core yarns. The styling is quite nice, the palate on point, but what is remarkable about this round of patterns is the fit. While Nora Gaughan's garments are usually generous, drapey, and swingy, these new looks echo a mid 80s sense of ease. Actual patterns from that period didn't always reflect this trend which is strange. The orange top "Pixie" in the ad above illustrates the look. I think that these new Berroco sweaters will fit a wide range of sizes and styles.
Get Nora Gaughan's latest at The Loop this F/W.

These Things are Cyclical

Have you booked your place at the 2011 Maritime Spinners Retreat?

Mimi and I just did.

This year's Retreat is being hosted by Gaspereau Valley Fibres & The Potluck Spinners; it promises to be a real treat. The theme this year is 'Spin Local'. At last year's closing banquet is was suggested that the theme is really going to be Spin Local, Drink Local but I'm not sure that anyone else will remember that...it was a jolly evening!

2010's Retreat was themed 'Spin Wild!" focusing on wild fibre and art yarns so no surprise, I had a great time. Last year's PEI hostesses Louise and Elaine are packing along their feathers and we three will still be spinning slightly off kilter this year (I know I can't help it). We hope you'll join us, especially with the event (at Old Orchard, Greenwich NS) being so close to Halifax.

You can find more information and the nuts and bolts of booking your spot at the official retreat blog by clicking here.

Here are some fun moments from last year:

Games included forcing 'straight-laced' spinners to spin a single blindfolded...and it was a race!

I bought a lot from our fellow vendors...The Loop made money that weekend, but I spent a lot of mine.
Mimi and I taught mini sessions playing upon our wild theme; Knitting Without a Map and Freeform Crochet.
On Day 2, fully into the swing of things, we were encouraged to wear wild outfits...luckily I had brought my Noro Tutu. Oops, I guess I never blogged that project.

We had a great time as vendors. Hope to see you in the valley this year!

Visual Soundtrack at The Loop #11

Lou Reed, "The Blue Mask"

Freedom Spirit Yarn

Connexion: Blue

Pride Window 2011

David sports a crocheted rainbow beanie with giant pink tourie on top. He has the best seat in the house for the 2011 Halifax Pride Parade.

Rainbows abound, and giant ric-rac sprouts twisted lengths of coloured crepe paper. They reach towards the sky optimistically.

Ilga Leja's "Earth Maiden" sampled in Kauni's Effekt yarn, colourway "EQ" looks right at home. Draped over a triangular metal form it makes a cheerful yet sophisticated statement despite being placed in the background, away from direct sunlight.

"Better Together" is the motto this year.

The formally longest scarf in the world cascades down the back wall, embraces the vivid yellow Judy (repeatedly) and coils into a tumshie seat at her feet.

The swift kicks up a breeze when used which sends the paper garlands dancing.

This year, Lamby wears Red Velvet Platformed Stevie Boots, an Art Yarn Necklace and Blue Feathered False Eyelashes.

The Way They Were #2

Brown Sheep does know classics. The Loop carries their Burley Spun as our basic super bulky yarn. 'Classic Chunky' is a hoot.

PS I also like Laurel & Hardy for advertising knitting; I play their theme song in the store on cruise ship days.

You Need A Market Bag

I often ask myself "Do I need another reusable Market Bag?". I always end up answering myself "Yes." I love receiving them from foreign friends and they are a great thing to send away in return....but I crochet mine. They are a snap to craft and take just a few hours to complete. I like to add inner pockets, trick bottoms (so that the bag is self-containing) and special considerations for different kinds of groceries. For me, the Market Bag is a great go-to gift because it's quick and easy to make, usually only takes one ball, requires no special care for the recipient to worry about, and it does any kind of person on your gift list (note: this is an excellent thing to give someone you don't know very well. It's also great for someone you do know, but don't really like). Everyone is always glad to get a bag, and one more in the bottom of your purse can't do you any harm either.
This summer The Loop is running a new workshop for Crocheters. In one session we will make a class full of greener than green bags for our summer marketing (or we will at least cover all the bases and get most of the project crocheted).
The crochet pattern for this workshop is a classic. The format for the pattern has been in use here for over 100 years. You may come across Victorian versions on the internet, or spot a lookalike on Road to Avonlea reruns*.

The pattern is designed to use a certain amount of cotton (keeping the materials at one ball) but additions such as wider straps and an attached change purse will be covered in the class.

The bag pictured (my "Posh Nosh Fennel Carrier") used one ball of Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton DK, which has about 120m to the ball. Each colour in this line is plant dyed. This pretty blue was achieved with indigo. Indigo is the Pluto of the Colour Spectrum, poor little guy.

[From The Loop Website]Mesh shopping bags--called "filoches" in French--are a chic, practical, and environmentally friendly way to carry your produce home from the market. They're also a great introduction to crocheting in rounds. In this workshop, you'll learn how crochet can be used to make both firm, stable fabrics and open, stretchy ones--while making a market bag of your own.

Instructor: Morgan Forrester

2 hours

Tuesday, July 12th, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Thank you Chives & Ciboulette for the photo props. I was very glad to use the fennel; very posh nosh.

*Aunt Olivia crochets throughout the series, and uses a white version of these bags to carry groceries for the Dale homestead back from Lawson's. This was obviously my inspiration as are the Dales; Yorkshire and Jasper.

Welcome to Halfiax, Cruise Ship Season!

There are lots of ways to shop the city whether you're a cruiser or a native Haligonian. Remember that most small, independent stores are busy sourcing and stocking local products for visiting shoppers. It's a great time to buy products from your area that might not be available during the off season months. I pick up Maritime gifts now, to save for mailing at Christmas.

Local Artisans have been stockpiling work for this season, so expect to see new works in all the shops and galleries. Farmers are busy and are hearing back from mills, so there will be new local fibres at The Loop and lots of goodies at the Farmer's Markets. You may even need to take a bag to carry it all.

Staycationers should still do their research. Pick up the Coast Guides as well as the new local guidebooks and maps. The Loop is included in the MUG (Modern Urban Guide) and the new I Love Local HFX brochure. Watch for I Love Local HFX events online and throughout the downtown.

Spring Window

An organic tipi structure of flowers, foliage and wrapped yarn twigs, supported by metal stands, a vintage 1930s dress form base and the former holder of the World's Longest Scarf Guinness Record.