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.