Where have I been, you ask? Well, it's a loooong story with a lot of pictures. And I didn't even include them all. This first picture is of my mom and Ryan playing hockey together. Ryan looks so handsome in his Michigan colors. Ok. I'm getting off track already.
I taught beginning spinning at the Fiber Expo which took place two weeks ago in Ann Arbor. I had 8 students in the morning and 9 in the afternoon. It was very busy. The majority of them didn't even have a wheel. I was able to fit 8 wheels into my Honda Accord. Of course 5 of them were folding wheels. The picture above includes Cathy from Ravelry and.... I didn't write anything down and I am lame at names. Now, ask me what kind of wheel a person had and I probably can tell you in an instant.
And this is Anna from Ravelry and.....help me out here. The fabulous lady in the front is the proud owner of a new spinning wheel. Wish I could tell you her name. The classes were wonderful and fun and everyone was very patient as I went from one student to the next. It was hard work but I do love teaching. Anna's husband was in the class too. He's a hoot. Of course I was pretty focused so these are the only two pictures I took all day.
After the Expo I got back to work at the shop and on Halloween night we left for a very short visit to the families back east. Lou went to his mother's and I went to my parents. We got to stay for two days before we started the stupid long drive back to Michigan. My mom was decorating for Christmas. I think she was going to put the Jack-O-Lantern away though.
Here's the Christmas Village all set up. I took all of those houses out of the boxes. She has to have like 40 of them. (and I'm not exaggerating).
Here she is yelling at me. Happens a lot. Don't feel sorry for me though because I'm used to it. I have a thick skin. I still love her.
Maggie got her hair cut while we were in Pennsylvania.
Isn't her new hair style cute?
She is donating her hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths where they will use the hair to make wigs for cancer patients. Two years ago she donated her hair to Locks of Love. She started wanting to do this because her friend, Tabitha, had Leukemia and lost all of her hair. Tabitha is recovered now but Maggie is still wanting to do the donations. She says she'll grow it again for donation.
We went to Red Robin and the wait staff sang Happy Birthday to my mom and Ryan. Ryan's birthday is on the 17th of this month and my mom's was this past Tuesday. Ryan was a little shy about the whole thing.
And...what's been going on with me you ask? Well, I'm moving. I've moved all of my stuff from the 2nd floor to the 1st floor of the shop. Phil, the architect, and owner of the building, went upstairs. I've taken a few pictures of what it looks like tonight. This is my desk /check out area.
This is another room which is the book / pattern / lace knitting room. It will also have the tea cart with herb teas and hot chocolate and snacks.

This is the color wall.

This is the natural colored wool wall. It will have raw fleeces as well as undyed rovings.

This will be the classroom and will have all of the weaving yarns as well as any in stock looms.

This area will be for luxury fibers. That big cardboard box is filled with mostly silk in all of it's glorious forms!

The box of wool wash selections waiting for its assigned area.

And piles of fiber everywhere.

I have to say, I had no idea how much fiber I had until I started moving it. You know, I've rearranged things but never all at the same time. It's crazy. Man I have a big stash! Will you help me make it smaller please? I promise I'll buy more. I can't help it.

Spinning Spider Jenny is coming in less than a week for 3 days of classes. I am so excited to meet her. Her blog is full of fantastic information and I get to be near her for a while and ask all the questions I can think of until she gets back on the plane on Sunday the 18th. You could come too if you wanted. Call me and tell me you want to. I still have room for a couple more.