Ewe & Company

Regina and I have been friends for probably 15 or so years.  Only a couple of years ago did I pick up on the subtle fact that her close friends called her Gina.  I’m sometimes slow that way.  She just didn’t want to correct me.  Hence, she’s been Gina Regina to me.

I love this girl.  She came to the yarn shop to learn to knit, after following me for years with my photography classes.  I appreciated her support, but knew she was a lefty (and a red-head) so kinda walked gently around this.  But I taught her.  Her first piece was a washcloth … and Picasso worthy.  It zigged, zagged, here a hole, there a hole … and then she sent it on to her future son-in-law as a ‘welcome to the family’ gift! (sorry, do wish we had a pic of that … and that’s a whole other story!)

Gina Regina kept at it … and has become a very astute knitter (she’ll say not, but she is).  She is not a random knitter, she knits only for her loved ones, and she will tell you that.  If she doesn’t feel the love, she won’t knit it.   And I sometimes try to call her Gina.   So that maybe she’ll knit something for me.

This pic is Gina Regina loving her first grandchild, Owen Thomas.  In a blanket she knitted.  For months.  With a boatload of love for all.  Well done, girlfriend!

The pic is Gina Regina with her first grandchild bundled up in that baby blanket she knit with love in every stitch … (some of them several times!)

On Sunday, August 11 from noon until 2, Nicky Epstein will be at Ewe & Company signing her most recent books!  We are asking that you RSVP if you are coming … you can reply here, or on our Ravelry thread, send us a message or call the shop ~ 615.952.0110 (we need to know how many cookies to bake … and how many books to have available!)

This is an opportunity to meet one of the rock stars of knitting, don’t miss out!  We’ll have copies of Nicky’s latest books on hand for purchase, including Knitting in Circles, Knitting Block by Block, Knitted Flowers, and her newest book, Knits for Dolls. (I’m thinking I’ll get her to sign my Vogue Knitting mag … you know, the one with her wedding dress on the cover!)

As most of you know, I’m from East Tennessee (just spend a little time with me, you’ll hear it!).  I was born in Elizabethton, my MeeMaw was from Mountain City … Roan Mountain has always been a special place to me.

Tuned in the Nashville’s NPT this morning, Tennessee Wild Side was coming on as we waited for the coffee .. thought this segment was going to be either about Watauga Lake or the giant rhodendrons. maybe Iron Mountain or the Appalachian Trail.  Much to my surprise it revealed this magnificent story of preservation, goats and Great Prys  (Click here for the link to the show.!

Frankly I usually skip Tennessee’s Wild Side because I’m not a great outdoor girl … my idea of camping at it’s worst is a new Holiday Inn.  Watched this segment and haven’t been able to quit thinking about it all day.  Just made me proud, the work they are doing to preserve those sacred spaces on Roan Mountain.

Bottom line, Ewe & Company is adopting a goat (or 2), perchance a dog  … if you’d like to participate with a donation, please send us a message on our Facebook page … (so you can be included in the goat-naming contest)!

(PS … Baa-chus is adopting a dog!)

We’ve just been approved as a Craftsy Affiliate … pretty proud of that!  Craftsy is a great resource for classes (of all kinds), patterns and supplies.  Any of the Craftsy classes we’re previewed have been most excellent, and they have a great supply of interesting patterns.  If you link through our shop when you sign up and purchase, we’ll get a bit of the proceeds, and it won’t cost you a penny more,  just one more click.  Click on the logo below to get there.   And we thank you for your continued support …

This is what we envisioned when we knit this poncho for Olive ….(& please consider yourself a test knitter for 4-6 child’s size … we’re new to this pattern writing thingamajiggy … we just knit ’round here!) Hopefully here’s the link to the written pattern … Olive’s Poncho 02-2013.

Everyone that comes in the shop asks ‘what are you knitting?’ … and my first thought is ‘well, everything I see’? So I just thought I’d tell you what I’m really trying to complete in this first week of 2013 …

A very cozy pullover knit with Schaefer’s Miss Priss in Julia Child Colorway .. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/danforth-pullover

I’ll miss Schaefer’s thoughtful colorways and their wonderful customer service.  One of my first favorite boutique yarns.

Nice to have this bit of knitting in my lap during these cold days.