I have TONS of news for everyone! I spent last weekend - the long Veterans Day weekend - in Vermont and did a "Knit Shop Crawl" all by myself on Friday. I decided to try three shops in close proximity to my father and stepmother's home in Ludlow (home of Okemo Mountain). My step mother told me of a shop in Jamaica. Her cousin's wife owned and ran it and my stepmother thought I would really like the shop. "Margie's Muse" (www.margiesmuse.com )was my first stop and my step mother was dead on. Margie was welcoming and her shop was an ecclectic mix of works of local knitters and artists. Margie also has a wonderful loom and weaves and had beautiful clothes. When I stopped by she was in a frenzy to rearrange her shop in preperation for a needle felting class the next day. She had two incredible gnome figures as an example and I KNEW I HAD to take this all day class! I returned on Saturday for the full day class taught by Lorna McMaster of New Hampshire. Lorna was fantastic and it was a full day of fun and information and we all finished the day with either a Santa in hand or a gnome.

Last night' s Guild meeting was a great group and everyone was so excited by the Santa I made in the class and the two subsequent figures I created (a gnome and winter warlock - see pictures!). So the Good NEWS............... Lorna is coming to Naugatuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Knit Happens is holding a needle felting class with Lorna McMaster on Saturday, December 16th at Lula's Melange from 9:30 Am to 4:00 PM . There will be a break for lunch and we will have a fantastic time learning this great craft. Please call me if you are interested (203) 729-4865. We will be able to only take a limited amount of people and we need to have a firm count by December 11th. If you are interested please either call me or call Lula's. The cost of the class will be $40 plus a $20.oo materials fee which will provide all tools and materials you will need to complete your project! Lorna will also bring enough wool and materails for anyone interested in purchasing additional materials after the class to achieve additional projects as well. She has GREAT wool - she has her own flock of sheep andactually told me this morning that she is "going in the back yard to get more wool" for our class! I am really excited and I am hoping everyone will be happy to have her come down.

I promise to post more information on my trip - I am busting with news!!! I wanted to get the word our about the needle felting class asap though! Hope you are all doing well and I will post again BEFORE weekend's end!

Keep the needles and hooks flying!