A Day with Maggie Sefton, Mystery Writer 

at 

Lambspun Yarn Shop, Fort Collins, Colorado

A reunion of friends!  It's been two and a half years since I saw Maggie.  

She's been very busy writing her new, Molly Malone Suspense Mysteries, 

http://www.maggiesefton.com/molly-malone/ 

As some of you may know, her Kelly Flynn Mysteries have been popular with knitters for a number of years starting with her first book in the series, 

 Knit One, Kill Two and her latest book is Yarn Over Murder.

http://www.maggiesefton.com/index-knitting.php

Can anything be more fun than "breaking bread" at the Back Porch Restaurant with friends and spending the day in an environment that exudes beauty and creativity? 

L-R:  Gail, Maggie, and Kim

Maggie, Writer
http://www.maggiesefton.com

Gail and Kim, Owners of What's Needling U?
https://www.facebook.com/whatsneedlingu

The Backporch Cafe http://thebackporchcafe.com 

is attached to Lambspun yarn shop.
http://lambspun.com

They share a beautiful, relaxing venue 
for spending a day in their historic surroundings.




After a scrumptious breakfast which included the Backporch's baked goods and in-house made breakfast sausage, we sauntered into the glorious, colorful rooms of the yarn shop.  It was a "feast" for they eyes and hands.  (You know you can not resist touching the colors and textures.)

Their associate Anu, has been busy knitting and giving classes for the Streamlines stole:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/streamlines

Shirley, the owner of Lambspun and every associate were delightfully hospitable which was evident by the happy customers they were serving.  Their shop caters to not only knitting and crocheting but also to those who spin, weave, and hand-dye yarns and fabrics.  Thanks for the wonderful experience, ladies!

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival 

May 3rd and 4th, 2014

My sweet, dear friend, Lois (extraordinary spinner, knitter, and bridge instructor) picked me up early in the morning to drive us through country roads destined for my first visit at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  From a distance, the many peaks of the white tents aroused my senses knowing that there was a "playground" of sheep, yarn and related "toys" before us.

We had to park in a vast field that fortunately had willing volunteers with antique tractors give visitors a ride to their destination.  As we pulled up to the long walkway to the entrance, it was lined with a yarn-bombed fence and trees.

Once we got in the park, it was bustling with vendors

offering a plethora of gorgeous hand-dyed yarns, roving, spinning wheels, looms, drop spindles, shawl pins, etc.  Did you every stretch out your hands and exclaim, "I want it all!"?   

                                                   

It wouldn't be a wool festival without the sheep.  It is amazing how many varieties there  are.  Lois used to be a fiber judge and knew the characteristics of the sheep like the back of her hand.  What a thrill it was to have her educate me pointing out the various properties of their fibers.

Obviously we left with more yarn, tired feet, and smiles on our faces.  Thanks for a great day, Lois!

April-May 2014 Continued. . .

Another venue added to my teaching schedule was 

Yarnover 2014 

https://www.knitters.org/whats-yarnover in Minneapolis, MN, 

hosted by the Minnesota Knitters' Guild.  

The exciting event was bustling with vendors, yarn, classes, fiber artists and students.  Shelley Hermanson was amazing as she and her wonderful Guild members organized this event.  One of the most memorable moments was when 

Franklin Habit 

http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com

delivered his keynote address: 

Five Women, Five Shawls; Love, Wisdom, and Yarn Overs

My favorite departure gift was a treasured, new friend, Shelley.

As you will see in the following photos, we were surrounded with top-notch designers and teachers who are crazy, wonderful, fun-loving people.  

L to R:  Mary Scott Huff, Carson Demers, and Daniel Yuhas

L to R:  Sally Melville, Fiona Ellis, Marly Bird, 

      Brigitte Elliott (me), and Amy Detjen

L to R:  Betsy Hershberg and Marly Bird

At the same time, 

Steven Be 

http://stevenbe.com 

was hosting his yarn shop classes on Sunday which coordinated with Yarnover 2014.  It was there that I had the most remarkable visit with Steven Berg's mother, Christa.  She is originally from East Germany and bravely escaped on foot, for an eight hour hike at night in the pouring down rain through the woods!  Her generosity, and knitting knowledge shined through when she offered to teach me a German technique for a stretchy cast on which is especially useful for a top down sock or sweater.

                           

                                Steven and Me                                     "Mama" Christa

Steven Be's is packed with a glorious selection of yarn!  As you will see in the following photos, the shop is a treasure trove of color, texture, design, and extraordinary taste.  Check out the beautiful chandelier.  Franklin Habit was teaching a class in an area which was sectioned off by beautiful oriental screens.  Take a tour. . . . 

    This is the opulent foyer of Steven Be's with Jeremy and Bridget.      

Shelley is showing off her "pearly whites" under the chandelier.

Every wall is a gallery of yarn, samples, and tactile delicacies.

Carol, Leslie, and BarbAnn of  http://passiontocreate.blogspot.com

Yours truly and Melissa Gower-Pence of Craft Cruises http://www.craftcruises.com

Catching up . . . . 

Back in April, I flew to Washington, DC to spend one glorious month with my grandchildren, using their home as my hub for teaching venues.

On two different weekends, I taught at The Knitting Boutique in Glen Burnie, MD.  Dianna, the owner, is a phenomenon!  She is the most gracious, lovely, innovative, hard-working, creative, interesting, smart, and intelligent person I have ever met.  Obviously I can not say enough nice things about her and her wonderful associates.  Get yourself to her website:  http://knittingboutique.com 

Mother’s Day Weekend at The Knitting Boutique and Swing Knitting

Posted on May 12, 2014 by kbblogs

Famous Knitter Brigitte Elliott joined us on Mother’s Day Weekend to teach Swing Knitting and the Dreambird Shawl.  Roses for our mothers started the day Sunday and then we all began making “feathers” to our Dreambird Shawl.  What a great weekend!

Happy Mother’s Day!

     

The different feathers of the Dreambird Shawl created by each knitter.

 Jūl Designs 

Another place I visited was Jūl Designs in Savage, MD.  Laura Bellows is principle owner and designer of the most innovative "jewelry" for knitwear in the form of closures and buttons.  She also has accessories for handbags to adorn the most artistic as well as traditional satchels.  Laura's studio is located at Savage Mill, an historic structure that has abundant charm surrounded with an atmosphere of creativity and beauty of colorful foliage.  

Please take the time to read about Dr. Laura's (yes, she has a doctorate degree) Balinese connection and co-owner/artist, Augus Astradhi.

Here are some Jūl designs. . . .

The latest "treasure" is Naga, the beautiful Indonesian dragon, related to either fire or water.

Below is one of many unique and practical closures Jūl Designs offers.

The Yarn Thing Podcast

Coming up this week on The Yarn Thing Podcast, hosted by Marly Bird, artist, designer, instructor, knitter, crocheter and person of many talents is conducting an interview with me (Brigitte) regarding the "fever" and extraordinary interest that's been created over Swing-Knitting™.  

June 19th at 10:00 am Mountain Time and 12 Noon Eastern Standard Time

Enjoy!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2014/06/19/swing-knitting-with-expert-brigitte-elliott