Purlescence

First Class all the way!

Our old location is empty and dark, so our Spin U class got to meet here at the new shop.  It's still a bit messy but the living room is clear and so the Summer 2011 Spin U class got to be the first. How exciting to be part of our new adventure! 

 
There is Sandi sharing her knowledge of the art of spinning from the ground up.  It's got to be fun! 

Just look at all that glorious space - and just think - we have a classroom that will be spacious and accomodate a class without crowding.  Plus this lovely space to join us for a spin and a cuppa.

 
Here is a peak at our expanded Spinning & Weaving area.  All our wheels, looms, tools, fiber, and books in one area!  Try out a new wheel without feeling crowded  - check out a new loom with plenty of elbow room for throwing that shuttle!  

Come and see us at our Grand Re-Opening July 30 - August 1, 2011.  

Creating our new space

 
Here are Ben and Tony beginning the process of reconfiguring the yarn cubes.  That nail gun is really loud in our still fairly empty space!

One of our new yarn avenues is nearly complete and ready for stocking.  

Here is the front desk and cashier area moving into it's new spot.  We bought another side unit since we had the space!

Here is the living room all packed up and loaded into the back of Rebecca's truck for the trip to its new home.  We're really excited about the new social space we are creating for you.  We know you'll love to hang out and knit a bit, or spin a while in our expanded living room. 

 Nathania takes a mini break as we unload the truck, after all there were those nice comfy chairs just stitting there, and goodness knows we've been working hard!

Kaye and Nathania try out the new living room.  There in the back is our kids corner.  We're looking out into the shop admiring all our hard work and imagining how wonderful it will be when it is filled up with all of you, our loyal customers and friends!  We can't wait to welcome you into our new space!

 

End of an Era, On to a New One

Saturday marked our last day in the old location. It has served us well these five years. Within these walls we have celebrated joys in our own and our customers' lives. Marriages, births, new jobs, graduations. We've seen each other through tough times, too. We've watched children grow and friendships develop. We are so grateful to this little shop that gave us a place to start from.

Now we're moving to a bigger, grander space with more room, more light, more room to grow. We'll be posting updates as we put together the new shop. For now, our family gives thanks to all of you who have made our shop a home away from home, with hopes you'll love the new shop as much as we already do.

New Floors

We put in 14 hours laying new laminate floors in the new space on Monday. Tony, Scott, Ray, Ruth, Sandi, Kaye, Nathania, & Kevin all lent their muscles (and their knees) to the process. The result is a beautifully warm look. Now we can't wait to move all the fixtures in! Stay tuned for more updates.

We're Moving!

We are thrilled to announce that Purlescence Yarns will soon have a wonderful new location! Not to worry, we won't be going far; just to the end of the parking lot, in fact. Join us in our new shop at 564 South Murphy Avenue. We will have an expanded classroom, a larger spinning and weaving area, and the conversation area that you've come to know and love.

In order to set up the new shop, we'll be closed Sunday, July 24 through Friday, July 29. Our Grand Re-Opening weekend will be Saturday, July 30 through Monday, August 1. Join us for special guests and activities all weekend!

Watch this space for updates on our progress and more news about the new location!

Here's Miss Bess

Nathania & Bess made a public appearance at the Sub-Zero Festival in downtown San Jose. We were there demonstrating knitting and spinning in front of the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles.

Meet Bess

One of the reasons we so love Ashford products is that several of their spinning wheels come as unfinished kits. The beautiful white beech makes a perfect base for creative finishes. Nathania recently brought home an Ashford Double Drive Traveler and set to giving it a Steampunk finish. 

Minwax makes a wonderful line of waterbased wood stains. Nathania chose a dark walnut finish and mixed it with a tad bit of black. The entire wheel got a layer of stain. She then mixed Jacquard metallic pigment in antique copper with semi-gloss polyurethane finish. That went over all the wheel components. Deep rose and copper metallic pigments were mixed with high gloss polyurethane finish to add metallic accents. The final stage was the inscription of a personal inspirational message on the private (facing the spinner) side of the flywheel and a portion of a Robert Burns poem on the public side using copper leaf. (The photo shows the wheel in the midst of the leafing process). 

 

Crochet Welcome Here!

As many of you know, Sandi has been a long time knitter and crocheter, but has often said that while she can crochet, knitting is her passion.  She knits very fast, and so it's been easy to just fall back on knitting to create that emergency sweater.  She would work up the occasional crocheted hat, scarf, or edging, but she hadn't gotten around to working through a whole crocheted sweater!

A challenge from our friend, Emy, has changed all that.  Emy (a FANTASTIC crocheter!), challenged Sandi to stop whining and crochet that first sweater!  After two weeks of stalling around, Sandi still hadn't found a pattern she liked enough to try out this crocheted garment concept.  Emy suggested that Ravelry might have something...we love Ravelry! Sure enough, 15 minutes later Sandi had both a pattern and yarn in hand to start crocheting!

She has finished it up, and it really did go quickly.  Maybe not as fast as a knitted sweater would for Sandi, but still very fast.  She really, really, really appreciates having been challenged to try this out, and the resulting sweater is going to be a favourite in her wardrobe.  It's a perfect sweater for Summer, worked up in Fortissima sock yarn, light and easy care.  She'll be wearing it all week at the shop, so be sure to stop by and check it out!  Hurray for crochet!

Emergency Shop Closure


Dear friends,

Due to a family emergency the shop is closed today, Tuesday, April 26. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. We will update you if further closures are necessary.




Follow us on Twitter (@purlescence) for updates.

Stitches West 2011 is almost here!

Stitches West 2011 is almost here!

Please join us at booths 740, 742, 839, 841 at the Santa Clara Convention Center where we will be for Stitches West. The market hours are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, February 18 and 19, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 20.  You can print out a coupon for the market here.

In order to make this the Biggest Stitches Ever for Purlescence Yarns, the shop will be closed Thursday, February 17 through Wednesday, February 23, 2011. We will return to our regular hours starting on Thursday, February 24, 2011.

Hope we see you at Stitches West!