Blogging again at last!

Its been a long time since I blogged, not because life has been boring but because too much has been happening.

My younger daughter is now living and working in Singapore just as we did for 18 years. In fact Chrissie was born  there and now feels that she has arrived back home again.
Anyway we were persuaded that we needed to fly out and revisit Singapore as well as our favourite spots in Malaysia and Thailand.

Such a long flight.... good excuse to go away for a whole month's holiday leaving my wonderful team of girls to look after the shop.

After a couple of days in Singapore we took a short flight on a very small plane to Tioman Island, Malaysia,  which is where they filmed South Pacific many years ago. I'd forgotten how blue and warm the sea is and how white the sand. Also how peaceful with no people on the beach!!

Did lots of reading and knitting. It really was an idyllic holiday.

Singapore was as hot and busy as usual but fortunately there was no nasty haze when we were there.
Sorry about all these beautiful blue skies but now that England is so beautifully and sunny, I don't have to feel guilty anymore.

It was wonderful escaping from a cold England to the sunshine and arriving back here to such good weather. The summer already seems to have been very long and we're still in the first half of July.
We were able to catch up with lots of old friends still in Singapore including my old quilting group. Quilting not knitting is what I did mostly in Singapore.
The final beautiful beach in the photo is on Rawa Island in Malaysia. We started going to Rawa Island in 1979 when it was just like camping on the beach now it is quite a luxurious resort.

Good friends came over to see us for a night and brought a cake for Chrissie's 30th birthday.


David stayed on with Chrissie in Singapore for another 3 weeks but I couldn't stay away from Spin A Yarn any longer.
Flew back on my own to find out that Katie my elder daughter and her husband Dan are expecting a baby in the New Year while their Springers had had 9 puppies.
Katie collapsed while teaching and had to go into hospital to be rehydrated. I was devastated as my beautiful border collie dog Flynn collapsed and I discovered he has a tumour in one front leg so is now on strong pain killers. He seems quite happy for a while but don't expect him to last long..................

Its not been a quiet few weeks! I'll finish here and get back to knitting topics next time.
I was trying to post a picture of Katie with the puppies I took at home today but not sure where the photo has disappeared to.
Some techie person will help me I'm sure.

The newsletters have all been labelled and are just waiting to be franked now. They look beautiful and we are very pleased with the printer. We have arranged for them to be picked up on Tuesday so you should all Start receiving them on Wednesday.

Back to knitting next time.

Joyce

Louisa Harding Fashion Show for Macmillan

This April, Spin a Yarn is proud to host a fashion show with designer Louisa Harding at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. We have put on a number of fashion shows in the past but this is our first with Louisa and we’re excited to meet her.

Last November, Louisa proved her mettle by undertaking a trek into the Himalayas to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. As well as being sponsored for the trip she also designed hat patterns – the proceeds of which added to a handsome total.  So far she and her group have raised £180,000!

Louisa’s cause is personal as her husband was diagnosed with Lymphoma in January 2011 and the Macmillan team were a huge support for her family. There aren’t many of us who haven’t been affected by cancer in some way and Macmillan is a name most of us will recognise. Inspired by Louisa’s story we will be giving half the money we raise at the fashion show to Macmillan Cancer Support and half to our usual charity the Devon Air Ambulance Trust. Louisa’s hat patterns are also available to pick up in our shop in Bovey Tracey for any amount you wish to give to her charity.

In other news, it’s Spin a Yarn’s 7^th birthday on the 4^th of July and we will be celebrating with a week long sale on all yarns and accessories! Loyalty Card holders get an extra 10% off. This sale will also be available on our website www.spinayarndevon.co.uk so don’t forget to register online before then.

Details of Louisa’s trek are available on her website http://www.louisaharding.co.uk/macmillan/

While I'm away from the shop I'm missing the arrival of MillaMia yarns from the Swedish sisters design team. Also expecting the beautiful Artesano sock yarn to arrive any day now.
If any of you have a favourite yarn that we don't stock don't forget to get in touch with you suggestion; you never know it might be on my list of yarns i need to buy next. I'm looking at Malabrigo, Erica Knight and Habu at present.

Jersey continued

Must get out and take some piccies in the snow soon. Meanwhile I've got my Andes neck roll in Debbie Bliss's Andes to complete as well as Anniken's pretty little shawlette, Mar Menor, knitted in Botany Lace and a random misplaced rib scarf I'm knitting in 2 strands of Angel Prints together because a ball got tangled in some luggage and is a brilliant easy knit.

We're so proud of our son here working as a PWC accountant surviving his first busy season working from 8.00pm until after midnight most days. He is so mature now and took his parents out for a delicious seafood meal last night at the Navigator seafood restaurant at Rozel overlooking an exciting Atlantic sea.

I love to watch the lashing waves while my husband just thinks puke!1

Stranded in Jersey!!

When I had the idea a few weeks ago to visit our son in Jersey combining his birthday, my birthday and mother's day all in one weekend trip nobody had any idea that we would have the worst weather Jersey has had for the past 30 years!
We arrived after a pleasant crossing on Saturday to warm barmy weather here.
unfortunately the storm arrived last night and everything has been cancelled today flights, schools and more importantly for us the ferries. The comfortable fast one we came over on is not due to run until next Friday. We are booked to take the next available one out on Wednesday. This leaves at 6pm and takes 13 hours to Portsmouth. We are booked into reclining seats and are trying to get hold of a cabin.
Fortunately I have plenty of knitting to keep me calm!! My poor husband gets very seasick so is dreading the journey back.

Sue is keeping the team together at Spin A Yarn. so don't worry you can still buy wool to take advantage of this cold weather to knit.

Spring news

Already March, although its still pretty cold.
visited the Stitches show in Biirmingham a couple of weeks ago and was impressed by the Milla Mia stand. I decided to order the extra fine merino because the clear bright colours are so pretty and the patterns and books are brilliant.

We've just had a delivery of lots more qiviut mixes; as all the ones we had in stock have sold out. Its easy to become addicted to this luxurious,so soft yarn and customers have been tempted back to buy more once they have knitted with the beautiful fine yarn.

Now I'm excited about the Rowan Angora Haze and Kidsilk Eclipse which are being launched in the Autumn.

New Hand - dyed sock yarns are obviously the new obsession. I've ordered some Rowan Art Yarn and the Artesano Sock yarn which comes in lots of plain colours. Also been looking at Malabrigo........................!

Oh Dear . can't seem to stop planning what I'm going to purchas next!