Let the Shop Hopping begin!

(Click poster to enlarge it)

It's on!  Shop Hop starts today and continues through Sunday, October 7.  Our extended hours during Shop Hop will be:

Sat. 9/29 10AM - 7PM
Sun. 9/30 11AM - 6PM
Mon. 10/1 11AM - 6PM
Tues. 10/2 11AM - 9PM
Wed. 10/3 11AM - 6PM
Thur. 10/4 11AM - 6PM
Fri. 10/5 11AM - 6 PM
Sat. 10/6 10AM - 7PM
Sun. 10/7 11AM - 6PM

Happy Shop Hopping, everyone!  We're looking forward to seeing lots of familiar friends and making plenty of new ones as well.

Shop Hop prizes, part two

Shop Hop starts tomorrow!  Are you excited?  We sure are!

Here's a sneak peek at another one of the prize packs we'll be giving away.  This basket of goodies focuses on spinning.  If you've been thinking about giving this craft a whirl (haha), this just might be the perfect opportunity!  The spinning prize pack includes:

• Top whirl spindle by Louet
• High Whirling: A Spinner's Guide To An Old World Skill book by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts
• 3.5 oz hank of hand-dyed extrafine Merino fiber from Manos del Uruguary
• 4 oz. hank of hand-dyed Targhee fiber from Mountain Colors

The retail value of this prize package is over $80.

Remember, you don't have to visit all nine participating Shop Hop shops to win a prize.  Even if you only get your passport stamped at one shop, you'll still be entered into the drawing for lots of great prizes like this one.  But if you do get all nine stamps on your passport, you'll be eligible for the  Grand Prize--$100 in store credit to each participating shop.  That's $900 to spend on yarn, books, needles, patterns, whatever!

If you haven't picked up your passport yet, you can still get yours during the Shop Hop for only a buck.  We're looking forward to seeing lots of you during the Hop!

Wednesday's Child

Today we hosted a crew from Fox 5 News as they shot a segment for their weekly Wednesday's Child feature.  Each week, Wednesday's Child spotlights a child living in foster care who is looking for a permanent adoptive family. 

The segments are shot in various locations around town, depending on the featured child's interests. Fifteen-year-old Ashley loves to crochet and knit, so Fox 5 contacted us about doing her feature here at Sheepish.  We were excited to be able to be a part of this program!

Ashley is already quite an accomplished knitter, but she wanted help with her bind-off skills, so Carrie gave her a quick lesson.

Fox 5 anchor Amanda Davis interviewed Ashley about her hobbies and her hopes for the future.  After high school, Ashley wants to go to college to study architecture.

We had a great time with Ashley, Amanda, and the Fox 5 crew.  The segment will air sometime in October.  We'll keep you posted so you can tune in!

Bear Creek yarn

Here's another great new yarn from Kraemer, the folks who brought you Perfection Worsted.  Bear Creek is a very loosely spun wool, almost like a pencil roving.  But unlike some loosely spun yarns that pull apart when you work with them, Bear Creek is wrapped with a fine nylon thread that holds the strand together and gives it a wonderful texture.

We have ten fabulous colors in stock:

Top Row, L-R: Berry Blast, Peach Cobbler, Blueberry Pie, Peppermint Stick, Grapevine.  Bottom Row, L-R: Orchid, Snickerdoodle, Black Licorice, Kiwi Ice, Pepper Pot.

This yarn is an ideal choice for those times when you need to whip up a project in a hurry.  It calls for a size 17 needle, with a gauge of 2 stitches per inch, so a little goes a long way.  Each skein has 130 yards and retails at $19.00/skein.  Stacy knit this Super Bulky Button Hat (free Ravelry download) in just a few hours, and used less than half a skein!

Bear Creek Button Hat in Peppermint Stick

By the way, this hat pattern is perfect for showcasing our wonderful handmade buttons from Gail Hughes.

Resin button created by Kentucky artist Gail Hughes

The hat was knit on a size 13 needle, creating a wonderfully cozy, squishy fabric.  Stacy reports, "I really enjoyed knitting with Bear Creek, and I don't normally knit with anything this thick.  But this was a pleasure!"

Fall shipment from Brown Sheep

The day we receive our fall shipment from Brown Sheep is always one of the most exciting days of the year.  Yesterday was that day:

Brown Sheep goodness!

We would have posted a picture of this yesterday, but we were too busy being up to our necks in FIVE HUGE BOXES of yarn.  There was much rearranging, inventorying, price stickering, and re-rearranging to be done.  But now we're stocked to the ceiling with fall/winter favorites Lamb's Pride Bulky, Burly Spun, and Nature Spun Worsted--yippee!

Shop Hop prizes, part one

Shop Hop 2012 is right around the corner!  The fun starts Saturday, Sept. 29, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 7.  Have you picked up your passport yet?  They're only $1.00 and could end up winning you hundreds of dollars in prizes!  Each shop gives away three prizes, not to mention the grand prize: one lucky Shop Hopper will win $100 store credit to EACH of the nine participating shops!  

Here's one of the prize packs we'll be giving away.  This basket of sock-related goodies includes:

• Sock Club book by sock guru Charlene Schurch
• The Eclectic Sole book by Janel Laidman
• Laurel Burch zippered pouch with three sets of HiyaHiya double-pointed needles (sizes US 1, 2, and 3)
• Skein of Fame Trend yarn (this also makes a fantastic Wingspan--just sayin')
• Skein of Frolicking Feet yarn

The retail value of this prize package is over $120.  

If you've never participated in Shop Hop before and aren't sure how it works, read more here.  Stay tuned for photos of more prizes....