Having a pet gives me such joy, but there comes a time when they have to leave us.  This past Saturday was such a day for Lady Darcy of Thistledown. 

Darcy is actually our eldest daughter's Scotty Terrier, but she was living with us since January as Kristina and her family had just moved to Lansing and could not keep her in their temporary apartment.  I had noticed that Darcy was failing and Saturday my husband took her into the vet to have her checked out.  We learned that she had tumors that had gone past the point of removing them and the decision was made to let Darcy go peacefully.



Darcy was nine and a half  years old and our whole family loved her.  She had the sweetest personality.  There was a time when both she and one of our cats had a litter and Darcy nursed the kittens. 



On the days that Darcy knew I was working at the shoppe, she would jump into my van and sit in the shotgun seat, letting me know that I could not leave without her.  She made it her job to greet every customer at the door and show them her belly for a good rub.


Thank you, Darcy.  You were an amazing shoppe dog.

Kathy

 A Brief History Lesson

I know that I sent this information out last year, but because I cannot remember anything, I like to see it over and over.

Did you know that Memorial Day started out as a remembrance of the Union soldiers of the Civil War?  In 1865 freed slaves in Charleston, South Carolina cleaned up and landscaped an area where Union prisoners of war were buried in unmarked graves.  That became Decoration Day and Michigan declared it an official state holiday in 1871.  Federal law changed the name to Memorial Day in 1967.  We now honor all men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Services.

Thanks to all who sacrificed their lives for our country.  

 New and Updated

Excited is the word of the day. 



We now have interchangeable sets of Tunisian Crochet Hooks, from E - L.
 

 interchangeable Karbonz needle sets from US 2 to US 10.

 If you are not familiar with the Karbonz needles, you  may want to stop by and play with them.  The needle itself is made with carbon fiber and the tips from nickel plated brass.  This gives you a lightweight, yet strong needle with a sharp point.  Your yarn will move smoothly on the needle and through the joins.  The cords on the circular needles are firm and flexible.  Sizes run from US 2 up to US 10 and we carry this needle in double points, straight, and circular.


ChiaGoo Twist Red Lace set, from US 2- US 15.


 


Opal yarn has sent us their new colors in the Handwerk & Hobby 2 line.


More colors of  Mini Raggi yarn and Raggi yarn 

 

 Join Us

 Free Patterns

 
Linen Top -   We knitted a sample in the shoppe for this pattern, using Euroflax linen

Dew Drop Cowl -  take a US 10 needle and one skein on Euroflax Linen and you can knit a quick and easy summer cowl.

Bamboo Wedding Shawl - Knit a lovely shawl.  It calls for lace weight, of which we have Misti Alpaca Lace, Madelinetosh Lace, and Dragonfly Fibers Squishy Lace.  Others have also used fingering weight such as Baby Ull.  We also suggest our other fingering weight yarns.

Rattan Cloths - This pattern makes me want to learn how to crochet.  Be aware that it is recommended that this link be used for the instructions.

Ode to Joy hat -  Do you have a loved one that is a music lover?  Knit them a hat out of worsted weight yarn.  Lamb's Pride, Nature Spun, LIberty Wool, and Madeline Tosh VIntage are our suggestions.