Sock Summit Report

Well I guess I was too busy enjoying myself to take many pictures, but here's a little peek at the second annual Sock Summit here in Portland. In my defense, I did have my hands full of wiggly baby the whole time, so wielding the camera was not really on my mind.



Here's a corner of the marketplace. I wonder why the baby was more interested in my keys than yarn? Must work on that. Most days Baby M and I visited the marketplace, crawled around, fondled yarn, and connected with friends. On Friday I attended Tina Newton's lecture. What a delight! My friend watched the baby so I could sit and knit and listen without distraction. The most memorable moment came when Baby M decided to start walking on his own!



On Sunday we were able to catch the Fleece-to-Foot contest. They sheared the sheep, carded the wool, spun it, then knit it into socks...in a matter of hours. Well done, ladies!



Keep spinning! More coffee!









The Fastest Knitter Competition, moments before comparing 106 stitches to 103 in 3 minutes. I definitely can't knit that fast!



Ok, men, can we please go get some yarn now?

Featured Yarn

Bumblebirch is ready for summer! Some of the current yarn offerings feature cool blue, purple and sandy pink.  A variety of yarn weights are available including Grove (Superwash Merino/Bamboo blend), Blossom (Merino/Suri Alpaca blend) and Heartwood (Merino/Nylon blend). But that's not all - check out the Etsy shop for other fine Bumblebirch colorways and stitch markers!


Bumblebirch Grove in Lilac colorway.


Bumblebirch Blossom in Dune colorway.


Bumblebirch Heartwood in Coastline colorway.

Urban Fiber Arts in Portland

Located in the Pearl District of downtown Portland, Urban Fiber Arts is one of the newest knitting shops in town and a must-see for visitors and locals alike. The cozy fireside knitting area with a simple gray and red color palette is quite lovely. Beyond are the rows and rows of fantastic yarn! The storefront is nestled into the stylish Gregory Lofts on NW 11th Avenue, only steps from a Portland Streetcar stop, which I think adds to the charm and welcoming atmosphere.

To set this downtown knitting shop apart from others, friendly owner Cindy Abernethy stocks Urban Fiber Arts with the work of independent Northwest fiber artists and maintains a fine selection of spinning fibers.

Speaking of local dyers, I'm excited to mention that a shipment of Bumblebirch Cocoon was recently delivered!

Etsy OWLs Team Feature: WeiOpenSecret

Wei is a graphic designer and crafter from Michigan whose lovely shop, Wei's Open Secret, showcases invitations, printed cards, luggage tags, party favors, and other accessories. Just look at her cute characters!







Wei has a blog where you can follow her shop news and get the latest updates. Check it out!

Etsy OWLs Team Feature: Squarejane

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing with you the work of the talented designers that are part of the Etsy OWLs Team. For this first installation, I present Squarejane!

Based in Oliver, B.C., Squarejane creates custom sewn and knitted goods and paintings. She has over 30 years of experience with fiber and textile arts and it really shows in her beautiful work:




Squarejane's creative style overflows into her paintings as well:

Etsy OWLs Team Feature: Zemphira

This Etsy Owls Team feature focuses on Zemphira, another midwesterner who loves making dolls, toys, bags and other useful sewn items. Her creations are colorful, whimsical, and also quite practical.









I really love her style and the way she mixes fabrics in her fun and creative pieces. Check out her shop and I'll bet you'll fall in love with those plushie owls, too!

Etsy OWLs Team Feature: Inky Paws

Today's featured OWL is Inky Paws, a crafter also based in beautiful Oregon, in Bend. My regional neighbor seems to share my love of little creatures and soft textures--I already have one of her cute owls!





Not only does Inky Paws make the sweetest little plushies, she also hand-carves stamps and prints stationary:



Be sure to check out Inky Paws' blog too!

Etsy OWLs Team Feature: FashionablyChic

Fashionably Chic, based in fashionable New York City, certainly has her own classy style when it comes to handmade jewelry. She combines beautiful colors, sizes and textures to create one-of-a-kind treasures. Check out some of her great pieces:







It's difficult to choose just a handful of items from her shop, since they're all so beautiful! Take a peek in her shop and you'll love the treasures you find!

Etsy OWLs Team Feature: AoDesigns

It's time for another Etsy Owls Team feature! Let's talk about Angela of AoDesigns, a jeweler based in Lancombe, Louisiana. Angela creates customized jewelry, and hand stamped jewelry and pet identification tags using sterling silver and copper.





I especially love the sweet pet ID tags she makes!



You can read more about Angela and her fabulous work on her blog!