Sunday, October 12, 2014

A visit to the alpaca store and a gift

Well, well, well I see that all of your were excited for me to visit the alpaca store, and many of you thought I could not make it out of there without a yarn purchase.  Oh my friends, you do not have much faith in me do you?  Let us take a visit the store shall we?

You have been here with me before, actually it was about a year ago.  This is where I purchased the alpaca nesting balls and had the idea to make Max's fur/yarn nesting balls.   The Store is called Criativity and is located in Largo Florida.  They do not have a website but do have a Facebook page if you are interested.  For my fellow Floridians, or those of you who travel down this way this store is worth the visit.


When you walk in there is a big showroom full of alpaca clothing and lots of Free Trade gifts from soaps, toys to those beautiful felted birdhouse I bought for Christmas gifts last year. Everywhere you look there is something wonderful to see.


Birdhouses, baskets, shawls, mittens, hats and sweaters, oh my!

Around the back of the store is the yarn/workroom.  They used to just have a portion of this wall filled with yarn.  Now they have gorgeous yarn located in three different areas of the room.  
 

They have two large worktables, chairs, projects and looms are everywhere.  And the staff, oh my goodness they are just the nicest people in the world.   They are kind and helpful, ask your name and feel like they have been your best friend for ages.  The yarn they have is gorgeous and I felt it was very reasonably priced.   Did I succumb?  No I did not, but Cathy bought interchangeable needles and my friend Joy bought yarn.  I did make a teeny, tiny purchase which I will share with you another time.


This masterpiece was in the corner, it is spectacular.  This was a 4th grade class project.  Each 4th grader got to felt their own flower, once placed together and adhered to a painted frame it made this gorgeous piece.  I swear I thought it had been completed by a fiber artist.   Well I guess it was created by many young fiber artists.

Seriously if you are near the area you have to visit this shop.  And I seriously need to remember to come back sooner than a year from now.  Maybe when I take myself off my yarn diet I will venture over and have a look at all of the beautiful yarn. 

You can find Criativity here:

Criativity
720 9th Ave SW
Largo, Fl 33770
(727) 584-4191
Tuesday-Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am -4pm
Closed Sunday & Monday

Onto other very happy news.  I was one of the very happy winners of a giveaway hosted by Chris of Chrissie's Knit Times.  We had to identify a very interesting piece of well, piece of something she had posted on her blog.  It was fun to see the guesses, and although I did not come near to being right she took pity on a few of us and allowed us to win anyways.  Now is there anything better than getting a gift in the mail from a blog friend?  I think not!  Especially such a kind blog friend that really took the time to think about what would be perfect.  


Look at this!!!!  I swear I squealed in delight when I pulled this beautiful shawl pin and gorgeous yarn from the envelope.  Chrissy said she thought the yarn reminded her of me and Florida.  I think she is right on both accounts.  The color reminds me of the sun setting on the water with clouds near by.  The hues are gorgeous, can you tell I am excited?  Chrissy, a thousand thank you's for your kindness and generosity.  Pop on by and give Chrissy a hello for me.  You will love her I just know it.

My friend Ellen has returned to blogging recently.  She took time off to rehab a very bad back.  I hope you will pop in and tell her hi and wish her the best on her return into the blogging world.  You can find Ellen at Growing Gills. 

Gillian from Hookin A Yarn,  asked me if I like using Sugar n' Cream yarn for my dishcloths.  I do because the cotton yarn is perfect for that type of project although it is a bit rough on your hands and wrists.  I also get a weird little skins sensitivity on my yarn exposed fingers when I use this yarn.  I am not sure if it is the cotton, the texture or the dye.  When I take a break from the yarn it gets better.  They also make a version that has a scent to it, watch out for that it will knock you socks off.  I accidentally bought some and put it outside for a week and it still smelled much to sweet and smelly for me.  I ended up donating it because I couldn't stand it. Go visit Gillian, she lives in Northern Ireland, and it is beautiful. 

Oh and Pat from the Sew We Quilt blog.  I am using Berroco Boboli Lace in the color 4312 for the table runner on my loom.  Hopefully we will have a finish on that sometime in the near future.

Okay I think I am all finished.  Hope you had a fun weekend.


43 comments:

Mrs. C said...

Seriously, I would say, " Oh, I'm just looking .." then break down and buy something! Especially that yarn! OMG! I would love for a store like that to be around here! :)

Pammy Sue said...

That alpaca shop looks like so much fun. I would love to spend a while going through it. What a pretty skein of yarn your friend sent you! How great is that? And a shawl pin too! Let me think...do I feel a Southbay Shawl coming on? Hahaha. It sure would be pretty in that yarn!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Just such a fantastic store! I love the yarn you won! Beautiful! Hoping you have a great week ahead!
hugs,
Linda

Caffeine Girl said...

Wow! You have amazing self-restraint! What a beautiful store with so much yummy yarn. And you've got to love the store's name.

Thanks for the blog referrals.I love finding ones that are new to me.

linda said...

That store is my idea of heaven Meredith, you have such good willpower, I would have bought half of the shop! I can't believe it's a year since you were there last I remember the post, time flies. Congratulations on your win what lovely prizes I love the yarn. I am doing a post about dish-cloths so it's interesting to hear your views seeing as you are a dish-cloth expert as it were and it's your fault that I got into making them in the first place! :) xx

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

I love Largo! When I use to live in FL, Hubby and I were always taking day trips out to here http://www.flbg.org). I really miss that place. The shop sounds delightful. Check out the Botanical Gardens the next time you are out that way, it's truly an awesome place. ((hugs))

Judy S. said...

Your resolve is amazing, Mere, with all that temptation everywhere you must have looked! Love that shawl pin and the yarn. What a nice surprise for you!

RedSetter said...

I'm not really sure what you said after I saw that third pic....I think I fainted with the loveliness of it. That place sounds lovely and I cant wait to see what you make with your prezzie.

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

Hello my Florida friend :)
Love the pictures from the store, it looks like heaven :) I'm very impressed that you did not fall off the yarn-diet-wagon!
The red yarn that you won is gorgeous, can't wait to see what you do with it :)
I have only recently found Gillian's blog, I was so happy to find another blogger from Northern Ireland :) it will always be home even though I live in England now. Sigh...
Jillxo

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

Congrats to you for staying strong! I did the same today when I went to a going out of business sale at an antiques mall. Was very tempted, but didn't buy anything. Yay me!

I like the children's art very much. Looks like those felted and knitted wreaths I've been seeing.

Chris said...

I would not be able to restrain myself in that store, it's incredible! So many pretty yarns and projects and everything else, oh my. Glad to see you are happy with your gifties!! Have a great weekend!!

Joyful said...

What a wonderful store! I could spend hours and hours there and you are very lucky to have one in your neck of the woods ;-) The wool you received is also beautiful. Hugs. xx

Mrs. Micawber said...

It must be alpaca weekend! Mr. M and I stumbled on a Fall Festival yesterday, and one of the vendors was an alpaca farm. Of course they were selling yarn. Of course it was the softest, most heavenly stuff you ever felt. Of course I caved and bought a skein. (This is not like me.)

That shop looks like a little bit of heaven, and your giveaway win is simply stunning. Can't wait to see what you make with it! :D

Shirley said...

Hi Meredith, We have some people who raise alpaca's in our area and they have a shop you can visit. I always enjoy looking around. I just don't have enough time nor money to do everything I would like to try. I love the color of yarn that you won. It reminds me of a sunset, Hope all is well with you and thank you for stopping by. Hugs and Prayers from Your Missouri Friend.

Betsy said...

I can't believe you didn't get any yarn at that beautiful store. It looks like it would be an amazing place to visit. The bright colors are so pretty. It would definitely be a place to go when the yarn diet is finished.

What a nice gift from your blog friend. The yarn is gorgeous and so is the shawl pin.

Blessings,
Betsy

Stins said...

I think I could live in that store very happily !
It looks heavenly....
Love from Mirjam.

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Meredith! Oh.. what a wonderful shop! I would not have been as strong as you. Alpaca is my favorite fiber. I have been working on my red shawl.. just today at my son's house for a BBQ. Congrats on the giveaway win.. I need to do another one soon. You are so nice to support your fellow blog friends.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Taci simmons said...

It looks like you had a wonderful time my friend and what a a beautiful gift you for. You are so lucky, but again you deserve it , get well.

Géraldine B. said...

oooohh my ! I would like to have a stire like that here !!!!!! Thanks for sharing your visit !! It's so good for my eyes ... thanks again !! Have a lovely day

mamasmercantile said...

What an amazing shop I will remember that for my next visit to Florida, we haven't anything booked yet but are thinking February.

Yarnism said...

The alpaca store is wonderful, I wouldn't have felt like leaving the store until & unless I got something, I must say you are very strong...

Love
Sabrina

Christina said...

Ooooh I could fritter some time away in this shop! I am glad I live so far away, I might well not be able to restrain myself buying lots and lots. Your giveaway yarn is absolutely beautiful. Cx

Babajeza said...

This looks like a really nice place. I would be there all the time. :-) Hugst to you! Regula

Clare said...

What a lovely shop full of yarny goodness, abd wow that giveaway yarn is pretty nothing better than parcels in the post.
Clare x

Jennifer Hays said...

The store looks wonderful. I'm so glad you have such a good local resource for your hobbies. I agree about that scented yarn...yikes! It was too much for me. I hope you have a good week!

Lucie said...

Bonjour Mereknit,
The store looks wonderful, You are Lucky to have visited the store. Thank you for leaving comments, they are always appreciated.

Lynne said...

What a feast for the eyes! Looks like your restraint was rewarded with that beautiful skein of yarn you received from Chris.
Have a great week playing with your yarn Meredith!

Ljubinka said...

Very nice post!
Fantastic yarn!!!
Happy and creative week.:*

kristieinbc said...

I love the yarn you got from Chrissy! I was a winner as well, and plan to blog about it in the next week or so. Well done you on resisting all that temptation at the alpaca shop. I couldn't have done it. :-)

Anonymous said...

Love that store. Will have to stop there next time we are over that way.

We were in Tampa this weekend for the Bucs game and I stopped in the new yarn shop in St. Pete (Stash). It's nice, but small.

Next time I'm over that way, maybe we can meet up at Criativity.

Amy at love made my home said...

What a wonderful shop!! It looks amazing. You were incredibly restrained not to buy any yarn. What a lovely gift to receive in the post, bloggers really are such lovely people aren't they! xx

Jo said...

oooo what a lovely shop. glad you had a great time. always enjoy your news. x

Grammy Braxton said...

Arrgh. I thought I had commented but I guess I read your post on my tablet and it won't let me comment. Anyhoo, all that yarny goodness and you didn't buy anything. You are a strong woman, Meredith! Hugs, Sharon

Carla from The River said...

I would love to visit. What a fun shop.
You are so amazing. ;-)I am not sure if I could have done it. You Rock...as my boys would say. :-)

Carla

Anonymous said...

Oh My!!! I am drooling over that yarn you won... sorry, for slobbering that is! And that shawl pin... this post has got me to thinking about yarn and my currently empty needles... will I attempt another go at a lace shawl? Hmmmm...
Hugs my sweet blogging sister,
Beth P

Helen said...

ooh the shop looks so lovely! It must be so hard to resist temptation in there :) What a lovely yarn giveaway as well the colours are so gorgeous x

Gillian said...

I've never seen so much beautiful yarn!! How could you possibly resist buying any? I bought some alpaca yarn when I was on Skye recently - the ball bands even had the alpaca's name on them! I've almost finished crocheting myself a hat with it and it's so soft. Thanks for answering my question about the cotton - I'll get some but not the scented kind (it would probably give me a headache). Your giveaway yarn and shawl pin are gorgeous - have you decided what to make with it yet?

It would be lovely to have you all visit us in Northern Ireland. I also run a B&B!!

Anonymous said...

aw man! what a gift! My life would be complete if someone gifted me some of that. Lucky! =)

Suzan said...

Alpaca yarn is the most wonderful, soft and warm wool!!! Congratulations on your win of the lovely red yarn!!! It does look like you and such an interesting shawl pin!! I look forward to what you create with your yarn!!

Karen said...

I can see why you love that store. The flower wall is just beautiful. I'm sure the kids are all proud of their creations. Over the weekend, I was shopping and found a yarn store that had its windows all decorated for fall with gorgeous shades of orange yarn. I can see why you love yarn!

Elisabeth said...

Oh my! What an amazing place! So much colour! Your giveaway win is beautiful :)

Maureen said...

What a lovely store! If I ever make it down to Florida I'll have to go there.

Handmade and off-centered said...

Oh wow! There is no way that I would have walked out of that store without a handful of yarn. I think that I would loose myself in there for a few hours. Big pat on the back for you. Congrats on the win. I agree with you about getting little presents in the mail from bloggy friends. There is nothing like it.

Birgitta xx