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HERITAGE CLUB
Are you a member? Ask about joining the next time you are in the shop. Or click the logo for more information. |
| Standing Events |
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These are ongoing shop happenings. An "*" by the event indicates that there is a fee.
These are social knitting times - no charge, but no help is provided.
Tues. evening 7 to 9
Wed. morning 10 to 12
Sun. afternoons 2 to 4
Master Knitter Support Group
2nd and 4th Sunday from 2 to 4.
*Open Weaving
Every Monday from 6 to 9.
*Drop In Knitting
Tuesday from 11 to 1
Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Thursday from 1 to 3
Friday from 10 to Noon
*Knit with Suzanne
Thursday evening, 7 to 9
Girl's Night
First Friday from 7 to 10 (except July and February)
Spinning Group
First Saturday from 10 to 12 (except July and February)
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| Greetings!
It is official - autumn is here. It's certainly not showing up on the thermometer yet, but it will soon. Are you working on your winter projects?
Art Show
Just a reminder that entries are due no later than this Wednesday for the art show. We're open until 7 that night. Check out our front window for all the great prizes that you can win if only you enter! Details on the website. The Art Show opens this Friday evening at 6.
BiWeekly Newsletters
In case you missed my previous note, I will only being doing a "full blown" newsletter every other week. My goal is to get it out early in the week so you have more time to plan for weekend events, classes and activities.
This Weekend: Dragon on the Lake & Heritage Open House
There is a slew of events in downtown Lake Orion this weekend. It all starts Friday night with Midnight Shopping at 10 downtown businesses from 6 p.m. to midnight, including Tesori, Elements, Little Monsters and . . . Heritage! At Heritage you will find specials, the opening of the 5th Annual Fiber Arts Show and a special night to Sit & Knit. Come join the fun, watch a movie, shop, converse, eat chocolate! PLUS First 30 persons to make a minimum $25 purchase during the evening receive a FREE downtown fabric shopping bag. Bring your bag in through the end of the year and receive 10% off your yarn purchases (may not be used in conjunction with any other discount - you MUST have your bag to receive the discount. Offer valid 9/27 through 12/31/09).
The following day, Saturday the 26th, we have our annual fall open house event. We'll have special happenings in the shop from 1 to 5 that include spinning and weaving demonstrations, Ryan's pottery available for sale, Sybil the silversmith at work, Rosanna (my personal trainer) doing mini-classes demonstrating exercises and stretches for fiber folks and more - including yummy treats.
Also on Saturday is the downtown Scavenger Hunt. It runs from 11 to 5 and includes prizes. Visit www.downtownlakeorion.org for more information.
Finally, many additional activities celebrating Lake Orion's 150th anniversary and the Orion Art Center's 30th anniversary can be found at: http://www.dragononthelake.com/. |
| What's New |
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 This time of year Dan the UPS man isn't so happy with us. He really has to work HARD bringing all the boxes in the front door. Once he drops the new yarn (and other things) off, then we have to find a place to put it. As you can see from some of the photos, our shelves are FULL! Not only does this mean that we have very full shelves and a great selection of yarns, but inevitably, somethings have to go and they end up in the sale bin. It is an exciting time of year to be a yarn consumer! Here's a taste of what's come in recently:
 New lighter colors of Mt. Colors Bearfoot yarn. This sock yarn is 25% superwash wool, 25% mohair and 15% nylon, and has 350 yards per 100 gm skein. Did you know that you can special order any of the Mountain Colors yarns in exactly the quantities you need? Lead time is generally 4 to 6 weeks. For larger projects, this is a great solution as you can be sure you'll have the same dye lot. In addition to their Bearfoot, we also stock River Twist - their yarn with a Michigan connection. New colors and a restock of it should be in soon.
Super Aussie is a yarn from Knitting Fever. It is a lofty superwash made from Merino. The skeins aren't overly big, making it great for colorwork and projects for the kids or grandkids. It comes in a variety of kid friendly colors. Super Aussie is a bargain at just $6.50 per 50 gm skein - 109 yards of worsted weight yarn that is really soft. Machine wash, lay flat to dry.
 After years of thinking that Anny Blatt yarn was not our cup of tea, I finally knuckled under this fall. We are giving one of their yarns a try. The cool thing about their yarns is that nearly every one is machine washable - even fine yarns like kid mohair and cashmere. So, we just received Cosy a 65% kid mohair and 35% silk yarn. It is comparable to Rowan's Kid Silk Haze or K1C2's Douceur et Soie - similar yardage and price range but it is machine washable. This yarn is heavenly. Truly heavenly. We are working up an Orenburg style shawl in it - I'll let you know when it is done. Another idea for a quick pair of warm socks is to pair it with sock yarn and use size 3 or 4 needles. Quick knit. Cozy socks!
 One of our best selling yarns is Berroco Comfort. Comfort Worsted has been out several years, last year we brought in the DK weight and now they're making Comfort Chunky. This yarn is a real treat for the gift knitter. A blend of 50/50 acrylic/nylon, it works up fast and is machine washable and dryable. It isn't as hard to knit with as 100% acrylic yarns because it has more stretch and is softer. Even though it isn't a natural fiber, it IS nice for what it is: an affordable yarn ($6.20 a ball) that can take the abuse of a busy household!
 Here's one of the new knit samples. Mom just finished these socks from Mini Mochi using a pattern from the Sensational Socks books. Mini Mochi is Crystal Palace's newest sock yarn and it really has been flying off the shelf. Check out free patterns for it here and view the color card here.
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Heritage Gallery |
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Fran sent this photo in. In her words from the email:
Hi Joan... I'm so enjoying your newsletter, I just wanted to share my latest addiction. I know you'll understand. I don't seem to be able to stop myself from doing mitered squares. Hopefully I'll get over it soon and move on. After the slippers and hats, I've done up this backpack from "Knit to Be Square." Fran used scraps of handspun yarn to make the bag, but you could use comparably sized commercial leftovers to make your own unique bag.
Sonya has been at it again. This time on her floor loom. I must tell you, her enthusiasm for the fiber arts is contagious. These are all chenille scarves - her first weaving projects.
As always, click on the images for a closer look. |
| Our Patterns |
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Our original patterns are now in stock in the store. Over the next weeks, I'll be introducing you to a few at a time. Click on the image to learn more about each pattern. Enjoy!
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| Classes |
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Click on the class calendar on the class page on our website and see what is starting and what is already underway or ongoing.
Spotlight on Tapestry:
Learn to Tapestry weave starts Sunday, October 4. We are very fortunate to have Mollie Fletcher teaching the class. Mollie in the weaving instructor at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and has an M.F.A. in fiber from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. She is a widely published expert on textiles and has exhibited her fiber art and lectured throughout the United States. Mollie is a past recipient of the "Best Michigan Woman Artist" award, and her commissions include works for the Ford Motor Company, Beaumont Hospital and Marriott Hotels. In addition to that, Mollie is just "good people." Becca and I have been weaving with her most Monday's for the past year working on our tapestry skills. It has been fun! Mollie will teach the foundation skills of tapestry weaving and I know you'll enjoy the class.
On Taking Classes:
In these tough economic times, we'd like to work with you to make it possible to take classes by allowing you to make two payments for classes that cost more than $100. The first payment will be made at time of the reservation and the second one month after the class starts. These skill booster classes are a must for anyone who wants to learn more and make their craft their own. We hope that offering this payment option that you will be able to take part in the class you've had your eye on! Hurry, several are starting in the next two weeks.
Remember, complete details can be found on our website:
 Open Weaving is back:Every Monday evening from 6 to 9 in our new weaving room. Back to School Fitted Vest: starts 9/25
Focus on Lace: starts 9/26
Sam the Ram: starts 9/27
Focus on Fit: Starts 9/29
Our Next Learn to . . . classes:
Learn to Crochet: starts 10/7
Learn to Knit: not yet scheduled. In the meantime, please come to Drop In Knitting to learn (schedule at left above)
Learn to Tat: starts 9/24 FULL Next class in February.
Learn to Spin: starts 11/22
Learn to Weave on the Rigid Heddle: 10/17
Learn to Weave: Open Weaving on Monday evenings OR Learn to Weave in a week: January
Learn to Tapestry Weave: starts 10/4
Learn to Tablet Weave: starts 2/14/10
Details on all of these classes on our website. | |
Credit Cards at Heritage
At Heritage we are very happy to accept credit cards (and soon we will be able to accept debit cards again). That said, as the cost to use credit cards go up for businesses (we just got yet another notice of fee increases), I thought it would be an appropriate time to ask you to think twice before paying with plastic when you shop at small businesses. I know I really appreciate it when you can pay by check, or ever better, cash because every little bit saved does help. That said, of course, we will always cheerfully accept your Master Card or Visa.
I mention this because a number of customers recently have mentioned that they just reach for the plastic by force of habit or they didn't realize what a burden credit card fees are on the small business owner. What better way to get the word out than to tell you! As my mom would say, "If it hurts, say ouch!" To those of you who always have a check (or cash) tucked in your wallet for just such an occasion, thank you!
Tickled
I must say I was tickled to get an email from Schacht telling me that I was a finalist in the "I Made it on my Schacht" contest. My table runner will be on display at Schacht starting next month through early December. Contest winners will be announced early next month. Totally fun! Now, to find more time to weave!
Joan Sheridan
Heritage Spinning & Weaving
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