I have had a major computer crash and am not be able to update my newsletters on this web site. However I have a new web site being created and once it is finished and replaces this one on line I will resume the newsletters.
I will keep Decembers newsletter on line until then as I think it is newsworthy:
DECEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER
Merry Christmas from Rosa and the Gang!
REGULAR HOURS
Monday 10 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday.....Open by chance only, so please call ahead before making the trip!
Wednesday 10 AM - 5 PM
Thursday 10 AM - 8 PM
Friday 10 AM - 5 PM
Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM
Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM
2011 Gathering Hands donations and of course Rosa had to get into the picture too!
My "Gathering Hands" donation programs was a great success for 2011! I can't thank all of you knitters and crocheters enough for all the time and energy that you put into making projects for my 2011 donations. I stacked all the boxes in front of my Christmas tree just before delivery so you can see all that you did. Here is a list of the projects delivered this year:
Operation Maine Military Families: 41 hat & mitten sets, 2 hat & scarf sets, 94 hats, 12 blankets, 1 vest, 8 sweaters, 3 headbands, 2 purses, 15 scarves, 2 baby sweater with hats sets, 2 pair of gloves, 12 sets of mittens and all have been delivered to tell our military that we care about their families as their loved one serves our country.
Operation Sunshine Bears: 63 beautiful little bears delivered to the Ronald McDonald House and Barbara Bush Wing at the MMC!
Operation Richie's Caps: 100 Chemo hats delivered to the Sanford Cancer Center and 109 Chemo hats to the Scarborough Maine Med Cancer Center. An additional 100 hats had been delivered throughout the year so that made a total of 309 hats for 2011! WOW!!! A special thanks to the knitters who so quickly responded to my request for the summer hats as they were so needed to protect the heads from the sun and the cotton and bamboo hats were warmly accepted at the centers.
Operation Warm Hands: 50 pair of mittens delivered to the Windham schools and 38 pair of mittens delivered to the Westbrook schools.
Operation Precious Baby: 35 Preemie hat, sweater and bootie sets, 3 hat & bootie sets, 5 sweaters and 1 sweater and hat set have been made for the MMC Neo-Natal Unit for 2011!
I am now accepting donations for the 2012 season and if you would like to help with any of these programs, please give me a call!
...............I have my own group on Ravelry and if you are already a member of Ravelry please join my group. All you need to do is search in Groups for Rosemary's Gift & Yarn Shop and you will find me. Besides reading or adding to posts, you can post pictures of items that you have knit or crocheted from yarn purchased at my shop and view what others have made.
...............I'm also on Facebook and you can be part of my page by searching "Rosemary's Gift & Yarn Shop", and clicking "Like". This will allow you to get updates of what is happening at the shop in between my newsletters as I post them! I try to keep up with it as best as I can.
THE YARN SHOP NEWS: I've brought in some great new yarns for you to try. Some are to keep you warm in winter, ready for spring and fashionable when you step out on the town! I'm hoping they will soon become one of your favorites. Here they are:
ON-LINE:
 
Supersocke Vintage Sock Yarn (Wool, Nylon) Fingering Weight
Supersocke Alpaca Sock yarn (Wool, Nylon) Fingering Weight
QUEENLAND COLLECTION:
 
Air (Wool, Acrylic, Polyester) Super Bulky
Caracara (Acrylic, Nylon, Kid Mohair) Multiple Gauges
SUBLIME:
Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK ( Extrafine Merino, Silk, Cashmere) DK Weight
ARAUCANIA:
  
Lauca (Wool, Camel, Silk) Worsted Weight
Liwen (Alpaca, Wool) Bulky Weight
Panguipulli
MIRASOL
 
Hacho (Merino Wool) DK Weight
Tuhu (Baby Llama, Fine Merino Wool, Angora) DK Weight
EURO
Prancer (Merino Wool) Heavy Worsted Weight
KNIT ONE CROCHET TOO:
Ty Dy Superkid (Superkid Mohair, Wool, Nylon) DK Weight
PLYMOUTH
  
Joie De Vie (Acrylic/Polyester) ruffle scarf yarn
Joy Metallic (Acrylic/Polyester) ruffle scarf yarn
Joy Prism (Acrylic/Polyester) ruffle scarf yarn
Joy Rainbow (Acrylic/Polyester) ruffle scarf yarn
  
Daisy (Nylon, Cotton, Acrylic) Chunky Weight
Dandelion (Acrylic, Cotton) Worsted Weight
Marley (Wool) Super Bulky
Energia (Nylon, Acrylic, Cotton, Polyester) Aran Weight Novelty yarn
GRIGNASCO
  
Champagne ( Extrafine Merino Wool Superwash, Silk) Sport Weight
Loden (Wool, Alpaca, Rayon) Worsted Weight
Merinosilk (Extrafine Merino Superwash, Silk) Lace Weight
UNIVERSAL
Bamboo Bloom Handpaint Thick & Thin (Wool, Rayon from Bamboo, Acrylic) Bulky Weight
ROSEMARY'S PROJECTS: As some of you know, my mother is very ill and is now considered to be in the last stages of dementia so I have not been able to find much time to do a lot of creative work the past few months. When I found a little time I worked on some quick and easy patterns that do not take a lot of thought or effort,(by me). These are what I came up with:
SHARE YOUR PROJECT: I think you will enjoy the wonderful projects that I am able to show you from some special customers!
 
Alexis knit her hat and flower! She is only 8 years old and as cute as can be. She is working on mittens next so I can't wait to show them to you.
Way to go, Alexis. I'm very proud of you!
Averi knit herself a great little top. She used Berroco's Comfort and a Knitting Pure & Simple Pattern. She is looking pretty good, wouldn't you say?
 
Marilyn first knit the Butterfly hat and then we worked together in coming up with the pattern for the Butterfly scarf to match. It came out really nice and now others are knitting the scarf, too. Then she knit the cute blue hat and mitten set. She hated having her picture taken but I think she looks great!
Carol came in the shop wearing her great sweater that she knit using Encore by Plymouth. I just had to get a picture for you to see. She said the pattern was found in a Creative Knitting Magazine.
  
Jan had her fingers working hard this last month.
She knit her grandsons the pullovers and the darling pullover and skirt set for her granddaughter.
. She used a solid Berroco Comfort for the main color and did the stars as FairIsle.
The pictures don't show off that they all matched perfectly. What a wonderful job she did!
 
Patty knit this great sweater using Silky Wool yarn. I really loved how it looked on her and think I want to make one for me!
 
Shari entered her terrific pullover, entralac scarf and baby sweater in the Cumberland Fair and won two blue ribbons and a red ribbon.
Congratulations Shari for a job well knit!
 
Valerie has been busy again knitting these cute baby sweaters and matching hats.
She is a very busy lady but finds time to knit the cutest things. Love your knits, Val!
Virginia knit this beautiful blue baby blanket using Plymouth Encore yarn.
She did a wonderful job, and I'm sure the baby will love snuggling in this blanket!
CLASS SCHEDULE: I have suspended holding any classes for the month of December due to my moms poor health. I am working on a new program that I hope to introduce in January to replace my regularly scheduled classes. It will allow for students to purchase a punch card for instruction time. Each punch will be worth a 2 1/2 hour instruction period. I will take no more than six students in each instruction period so each will have ample instruction. I will furnish a list of areas that I will teach for the students to choose from and each Friday evening from 5:30 - 8 PM I will offer the instruction time. I will charge $10 a punch, however the student must purchase all their supplies from me to make it worthwhile for me to offer a 2 1/2 hour instruction time. My thought for this change is that it will allow for students to come when they want and not have to wait for a particular class to be offered. I will need to have them notify me in advance that they are coming so as not to have more than six show up but I think this will work better for all. I would love your feedback on this idea and on what you would like on the list to choose from for instruction.
Rosemary's "Yarn Shop" is the home of "GATHERING HANDS"
Gathering Hands is comprised of knitters and crocheters who share a common goal of helping others through various projects. You don't need to live close by to be part of Gathering Hands. Our hands can reach many!
Everyone is invited to be a part of GATHERING HANDS. You can help from your own home or your own knitting/crochet group and if in Maine or within driving distance of the Windham area please drop by and say hello.
NEW......OPERATION MAINE MILITARY FAMILY: My former program "Operation Homefront Kids" has been replaced with "Operation Maine Military Family". The intention of this project is to make a difference in the lives of active duty Maine Military men & women whose families are living in Maine. I'm working together with the Steven's Avenue Armory to provide knit and crochet items for the families at Christmas time. I can use anything that you think they would like from birth through adult. I will start collecting for the 2012 Christmas in January but do need all items turned in no later than December 1, 2012 in order that I can get them distributed .
OPERATION PRECIOUS BABY: I was approached by Melodie Provost, who heads Project Linus, Cumberland, Maine, and was told that she had been contacted by the Maine Medical Center, Neo-Natal Unit for sweater, hat and bootie sets to be used for their tiny preemies and for bereavement kits. This sounded like something I wanted to help with so I have added a new donation project to my "Gathering Hands" and I'm calling it, "Operation Precious Baby". This new project is strictly for preemies and any preemie pattern you like can be used, however; I have written a pattern that I will give out free to anyone who will knit for my project. My pattern is for very small preemies and written in three sizes. The first size is done on fingering weight yarn using a size 2 needle and will fit a preemie under 1 lb. The second size is done using DK/Sport weight yarn using a size 3 needle and will fit a preemie between 1-3 lbs. The third size uses worsted weight yarn and a size 4 needle and will fit a preemie between 3-5 lbs. I will turn over the sets I receive to Melodie and she will match a preemie afghan or quilt for each set and will deliver them to the Maine Medical Center, neonatal unit. I have already given her 25 sets knit by myself and the wonderful ladies from my Thursday knitting groups and some who have learned of the project through these gals and here on my web/newsletter, the need is more than I anticipated, consequently, I need more knitters for this project! Upon seeing what we delivered, the hospital has requested that the most needed sizes are the first two sizes (under 1 lb and 1-3 lbs) and suggested that we make these sets in yarn colors that are best suited for a girl or a boy and if using a solid white to add an accent of either pink or blue such as for the ties to identify boy or girl as that is what the parents would prefer. Because some of these sets may be part of a bereavement kit we want to be sensitive to the parents wishes. If you can help with this project please drop me an email at gifts@maine-crafts.com and I will see that you get a patterns!
OPERATION SUNSHINE BEARS: This is such a touching and fun project. I have a free one-seam knit Teddy Bear pattern available at the shop or by email at your request. The bears will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House and Maine Medical Child Life Program Barbara Bush Wing in Portland, Maine, and to Police and Firemen to give to children in crisis. These are wonderful Teddy Bears and I hope you will participate by making them too and help bring a smile to the face of a child. I want to give a very special "Thank You" to Eva McDonald who created this pattern and gave me permission to use and alter it for this project.
OPERATION RICHIE'S CAP: This is a project for making chemo caps for cancer patients in memory of my friend, Richie Aaron. I have created a knit and crochet pattern and it's free when you'll make a cap to donate. This project continues to be such a success as I receive hats from all over the country from customers that have come by the shop or read about it on-line and mail them on to me. I encourage soft yarns for warm caps during winter months and cotton, bamboo, etc. for summer months to protect against the sun.
OPERATION WARM HANDS: This is another wonderful project of making mittens for donation for the 2011-2012 winter season to those with a need. What a great small project for the knitter with little time and so worth while to a child with cold hands! I invite you to help in this project......it's a great summer project too!
PROJECT LINUS......ROSEMARY'S GIFT & YARN SHOP IS ALSO A PROJECT LINUS DROP OFF LOCATION: Please drop off quilted blankets or knit and crochet afghans for Project Linus at my shop. To learn more about the Cumberland Chapter for Project Linus
IF YOU KNIT OR CROCHET......CAN YOU HELP AND BECOME A PART OF GATHERING HANDS?
Together we can make a difference!
Deliver or ship Preemie Sets, Mittens, Richie's Caps, or Sunshine Bears to:
Rosemary's Gift & Yarn Shop
39 Roosevelt Trail
Windham, Maine 04062
GIFT SHOP......Maine & USA Made (No Imports)
DECEMBER SALES......SALES.....SALES
I have placed many of my Maine & USA made gifts on sale from 25 - 50% off! This applies only to in-stock items and includes all my Maine North Country Buoy Bells, Windchimes, Kim's Stenceled Slates, Metal Decor, Wooden Toys, Pewter Ornaments and many more things. It is a great time to purchase early for Christmas at a great price and support a Maine or USA family!
Please remember that when you purchase from the gift shop you are supporting a Maine or USA family. I think you'll find we have a good selection of very inviting gifts. I appreciate your supporting these talented craftsmen.
 
I do sincerely thank you for your continued support of Rosemary's Gift &Yarn Shop.
Rosemary
 ..............Rosa and the gang says "Happy New Year"!
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