Must...Have...Caffeine...

For the last couple hours I've been feeling as though I was living in one of those scenes you see in movies on occasion, the ones where the hero/heroine goes into shock or is drugged by the baddie, and suddenly everything is slowed down and goes all fuzzy**. It only occurred to me now that this is because I've been so busy this morning that I forgot to eat OR DRINK anything. NOW everything makes sense - I am suffering from Caffeine Deficiency Syndrome. I must administer the appropriate treatment immediately...

Ah, that's better. I think my eyes are more or less in focus, now. On with the blog!

First of all, if you haven't done so, please do yourself a favor and check out the comments for my contest post - these stories are great!! And of course, if you haven't done so already, leave a comment of your own there, and enter the contest...


In the meantime, look at this!! This is an announcement that came in my mail yesterday - an announcement from the lovely Pam at The Fiber Studio, touting the book reading/signing that she is sponsoring at the Anodyne Coffeehouse in Minneapolis on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 7pm. The authors, of course, being my estimable parents, who are entertaining speakers, wonderful authors, and fun to socialize with afterwards. I will be there, too, so stop on by and say hello!


Pam is also going to have free weaving, spinning, and feltmaking demos at her amazing shop (how does she fit all that glorious treasure in one smallish space? the woman is a wizard!) on the following weekend (Sept. 20-21), and also has her new Fall Classes up on the shop website, so check those out as well - you'll be glad you did.


**Fuzzy. Hmm. My eyes are focused now, but everything *still* looks fuzzy. It might be time to vacuum...

Shepherd's Harvest Festival

I am very excited. Again.

This time I am hugely looking forward to this weekend's Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival. If you are anywhere near Minnesota this weekend, you should stop by. There is lots to see (mostly sheep or llama related, but there are some very ambitious herding dogs as well), and buy (mostly wool related), and hear (great music), and eat (lamb burgers!) and do (classes).

One of the things that you will see there is, well, me. I will be tending my little bit of the table that will also be sporting a display of the extremely delightful book "The Wee Mad Road". My folks will be tending the table, as well, and they are very charming. Please stop by and chat with them; they will show you a good time. And check out the book while you are there. It really is lovely.


There will also be knitting and spinning classes. I will be taking one of each - the knitting one will be from Anne Modesitt, and I am really looking forward to meeting her in person. There will also be weaving classes and dyeing classes and other interesting things, but I simply didn't have time to be taking them all, as much as I would love to do so. Maybe next year...

I don't crochet - at least, I haven't crocheted until now - but Timary does, and she has a pattern for these little nesting bowls for sale at her Etsy store. You can make them round or square, in 5 sizes.



Aren't they cute? She is letting me sell them at a reduced price at Shepherd's Harvest, as a sort of charity fundraiser for my extremely fledgling business. She is the sort of person who goes far beyond the call of duty when her friends are gormless enough to have arranged to have table space that would otherwise be displaying... table space.

(See how I cleverly work in that Scottish adjective, bringing you back to the beginning of this post?)

Book Reading

I am very happy and excited to announce that tomorrow my parents are going to be holding a public reading of excerpts from their new book, "The Wee Mad Road".


The reading and book signing will take place at Nina's Coffee Cafe, 165 Western Ave N, in St. Paul, and is being hosted by Garrison Keillor's delightful bookstore, "Common Good Books". Details, a description of the book, and a charming picture of the authors (and illustrator) can be found at the Common Good website here.

I might be biased (who, me?), but the book truly is both beautifully illustrated and charmingly written, and my dad is known for his lively readings. Well worth a listen and a gander, and perhaps a nice cup of coffee in good company.

So come along to the event. It should be a great time, and it's always nice to support small local book stores - they are becoming an endangered species, and we need to support and protect the few we have left.