Hi Everyone,
Just a friendly reminder that today, Sunday May 3rd, is the last day of the 2009 Spring Artisans Boutique at the San Gabriel Bead Company. Here is a link to directions and store hours. There are still tons of stitch markers, row counting bracelets, and more jewelry than was there Friday and Saturday. I'll be here all day from 12-5.
This week brought the sad news that Unraveled, a local yarn store nestles in Old Town Monrovia, CA, will be closing it's doors this Wednesday,April 29th. For all who have spent time in that store, or have benefited from it's quality and community, it's a sad reminder of the recession that has hurt so many. As someone who has been with Unraveled since it's opening, I thought I would post some of my feelings, and invite you to do the same.
Christine (the lovely owner for those who do not know,) has been a friend of my mother's for a long time. She was a local crafter who had been in a couple of paper groups with Mother, and was known for her beautiful creations, as well as her business, A Lost Art. Later, she began working at the San Gabriel Bead Company, until about 5 years ago, when she said she was opening a yarn store! Many were curious and excited; besides Skein in Pasadena, there were really no quality yarn stores in the San Gabriel Valley. People eagerly waited, noses pressed against the window, chanting "Open, Open, Open."
Wait, that's Mervyns. Never mind.
After some time, Unraveled Yarns was open! I remember my first time in there. It was a rainy day and we were in Monrovia, and Mother wanted to take me in really quickly. She had already been, and at this point, I wasn't quite the knitter, and I certainly wasn't in my yarn store state of mind as I am now. I protested; she had already been in, what was the point? She dragged me anyway, and I loved it from the start. The space was beautiful, certainly one of the nicer spaces I had been in, not the typical cramped, beige color cells most stores are delegated to. Christine and her then ONLY!!! employee were in there, stocking and winding. We chatted for a while, then departed. When we left, I distinctly remember saying to Mother, "I think I want to knit again. This time, no more of that Lamb's Pride stuff. I want yarn from Unraveled!" That's when it really began for me.
Since then, we have grown even closer to Christine, and have been come great, close friends with some of her staff. The store was there for me when I first got ill; afternoons were spend lying on the red couch which Mother and the ladies knit or gabbed in the classroom. Weekends were sometimes spent helping in the store, winding, working the floor, or doing office tasks. Tuesday nights were spent at Knit Nite, and Thursdays will forever be Paco's night, no matter how my stomach feels. When hard personal issues struck, we were there then, offering support or a shoulder to a person who had always been standing there with both. This was a family now, and that's what family does.
The best part about Unraveled has been the family part. Christine, Sandy, and FayLynn have all become surrogate aunts, poking and prodding and meddling, asking if I took my medicine, got some sleep, did my homework, or ate something. Susan, Margie, Jillian, and Mary have all become great friends and acquaintances, chit chat and knitting aplenty. The friends we've made through sitting and knitting have been amazing. If it hadn't been for Unraveled, I wouldn't know Sylvia, who we now consider a great and close friend. If it hadn't been for Unraveled, we wouldn't have gotten so close to Larry, or Susan, or Janice. If it hadn't been for Unraveled, Auntie Ehm wouldn't be the yarn magpie she is! So many have benefited from this store, and so many will come away with it's since of community even after it's gone.
Everything at the store right now is 50% off, and patters and books have an even steeper discount. More yarn was found yesterday, so if you went this past weekend or earlier in the week, there's newer stuff available. Fixtures and furniture are also for sale, I'd recommend getting in their today as tomorrow it may be all gone. If you can, please stop by today or tomorrow, and give Christine a hug, and let her know how much you enjoyed the store. Even if you can't spend anything, it means a lot to say goodbye. Their hours are:
Tuesday, April 28th, 3-6pm
Wednesday, April 29th, 11-5pm
t pains me that the store is at the end of the road, but as trite as it sounds, everything happens for a reason. When He closes one door, He opens five more. I hope the ladies all enjoy choosing their doors. I invite everyone and anyone to post their Unraveled memories in the comments section; a sentence, a page, whatever feels appropriate. I'm hoping to send them to Christine afterward.
Best and Many Blessings,
Hannah
Remember me? We've met before :-)
At a time when more and more are struggling with their finances, battling with their money woes, and finguring out how to put food on the table, it's hard for me to advertise this as I know so many of you are having a hard time during the recession. However, more and more signs of the economy's decline are apparent, especially in the arts and crafts world. Stores everywhere are closing (see below,) and artists are struggling to promote and live off of their craft. It's during times like these though that we must hold on to our hobbies, our crafts, and our arts. We also must support others in the same quest. SO, with all of this said, that time of the year has rolled around once again, and it's time for another Spring Boutique!
As many of you know, I work for the San Gabriel Bead Company, a bead and jewelry supply store serving the greater Los Angeles and Pasadena area. Every year, we have a spring artisans boutique, open to staff and certain instructors to showcase and sell their work. Considering the economy and recent changes at the store, it is more important than ever for some of the artists featured to do well at this boutique. If you came last year, there will be some new artists whose work you didn't see before. One artist in particular, Susan Kelso of Luna Grace designs, is one of my best friends, and will be MOVING to PARIS next week to marry her college sweetheart. This will be her last showcase here for at least a couple of years, so it would be fantastic if you could come out. Another artist, Linda Lemoine-Vios, will be featuring her fine crafted silver jewelry for men and women. She is world renouned for her soldered pieces, and it's a very big deal to have her in this boutique. Then there's me. I have two tables though, HOLLA!!!!
It would mean a lot to see you guys there. Even if you can't purchase anything, the support of having you stop by means a lot.
BOUTIQUE HOURS:
Friday, May 1st, 12-6pm
Saturday, May 2nd, 10-6pm
Sunday, May 3rd, 12-5pm
Located at:
325 East Live Oak
Arcadia, CA 91006
Phone: (626)447-7753
I've attached a map below, and I hope to see you all soon!
You find yourself craving Acapulco, and you're not hallucinating.
Whoo-hoo, twice in one day!!
Sorry, I got excited. A longggg time ago, I had started a WordPress site, in hopes of having two blogs, one simply creative and the other personal opinion and politics. In light of the recent Dim Sum Knitter move, and considering the fact that I'm a little frustrated with the layout of blogger, along with the interface between it and Mac OSX Leopard, I'm conducting a little experiment by blogging on both sites. Pleas add a feed for The Daily Memorandum, my blog at WordPress.com
Muchas Gracias Hovens!
Dear Michelle Obama,
Let me start this letter off by saying that I never voted for, nor did I support, your husband. The only reason why I do so now is because I believe strongly in respecting the office of the President, and frankly, being pissed off does me no good when my country is $2 trillion dollars in debt and owned by half of Asia. (No offense Asia.)
Despite all of this, I find myself needing to write to you in support of your recent fashion choices. Due to the recent economic struggles the US has been facing, I was taken aback when I saw here, here, and even here stories regarding your choice in sleeveless attire.
As someone with a mother so puritanical that she would not let me wear sleeveless things until she was 16, I am an odd defender of your sleeveless conduct, however, I feel I must let you know of my support. First off, you have lovely arms. Your emphasis on physical fitness will be an asset to a nation that is having some difficulty with staying healthy. Second, I have noticed, as has the media, that since the election, you have been re-wearing and re-using outfits. Seeing as we are in the middle of an economic pickle, I am delighted to see that you are capable of doing something I am not-wearing the same thing more than twice. Third, it's your f-ing prerogative. What you wear is what you wear. Yes, it is winter. Indeed, your husband was addressing congress. However, it was indoors, and it wasn't a state of the union address-it was a speech to the bicameral body we all know and love. As it was not short, ugly, or low cut, I have no problem with such "tawdry" coverings.
This sudden attack of your sleeveless garb has proven that you suffer from what every first lady from Lady Bird to Barbara to Hilary to Laura has to endure since Jacqueline Kennedy- if you are smart, educated, and maybe not a touchy-feely-arm-decoration of a first lady, you are tarred and feathered at any and every possible opportunity. This, coupled with the lack of respect for DR. Biden, not Mrs. Biden, has proven once again that women in politics, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Shirley Chisholm to Geraldine Ferraro to Sarah Palin simply are not equal, and when all else fails, focus on their dresses and babies.
Sincerely,
H-Chie
Last week I had the pleasure of attending a surprise party for one Larry Davis. It turned out to be a riproaringly good time, complete with friends, laughter, Mexican food, and plenty of drinking. And by plenty I mean KnitDad had plenty. I had been planning on writing a Happy Birthday post for him, and slowly the week slipped away, along with all my free time; more on that later.
I met Larry when he was working at Skein, a lys originally from my hometown that has now moved to the city over. He was the resident knit guru, and spent his time dropping the phat knitting logic on the masses. My mother began hanging out at the store more and more, and established a friendly relationship with the guru. After a while, he moved to A Stitch in Time, a lovely needlepoint and yarn shop. He spread his knowledge to a whole new group, and his flock followed, including my mother. She had already been a lifelong knitter, but became fast friends with Larry due to their many common interests. Larry and I became better acquainted with each other in the time I was out of school during my sophomore year. His concern and support brought comfort to my mother and me during that difficult time, and he soon became one of my mother's closest confidants.
I have spent many hours with Larry in the past two years. Our differences are plenty. He and I disagree one just about everything from politics and religion to color choice to food to socks (well, maybe not socks.) There is a.....large age difference (I'm older by about 14 years.) We are of different sexes, races, ethnicities, religions, orientations, political parties and everything in between. All in all, we are an unlikely pair of friends. Despite all of this, I can think of very few people I have met in my lifetime that have taught me as much as Larry has.
His knitting knowledge is second to his world knowledge, and I have been a student of his in more ways than one. His lessons come in different forms, and like all great teachers, he leaves his students feeling as if they have learned one thing, when really, they have left with volumes more. His gentle and soft spoken nature disguise an intellect and a passion that many strive for. He is easily one of the smartest people a person will ever meet, and yet one of the most down to earth. It is with great pride and appreciation I call KnitDad my friend. Happy Birthday Larry. Remember how loved you are.
