Spinning…setting up my spin with a few quick back crossovers, gaining speed now I cut my right back inside edge into the ice and step sharply onto my left forward outside edge and snap into my spin. Arms and right leg extended finding my center and then slowly pulling in my arms and right leg across my body, increasing my rotation speed until the world is just a blur. Spinning for as long as the momentum will allow and then it’s over, rotation slowing and I find myself checking out of the spin and everything is once again in focus. That’s what happened to my summer, it was just a blur.
When the summer’s spinning stopped I found that Indian Lake Artisans knitting needles had traveled around the world. Yes, we have definitely gone global. From the top of the world north of the Arctic Circle, to France and then down under to New South Wales, Australia. Amazing. To think in one year to reach so many people in all parts of the world is just awesome.
If you travel to Inuvik, Northwest Territories you will find a wonderful book store and gallery gift shop, Boreal Books. Mary Beckett, proprietor, embraces native art and nature as she showcases an abundance of creative pieces from so many wonderful artists. Boreal Books is my newest retail shop, check out her website and store, http://www.borealbooks.com/, and it’s one of many retailers to carry our new shawl
pins. The shawl sticks are basically shorter single versions of our smaller sized knitting needles. The pins are available in any wood with any topper but the most popular are the feathers, owls, fish and rowboats. My quilting friends love the feather and owl pins to use as stilettos. Just a little hint, a versatile gift for anyone on your shopping list.
Speaking of gifts, Knit ‘n Style magazine loves the shawl sticks so much they made them one of their 12 Days of Christmas gifts. So many great projects to inspire your gift giving too in their December 2011 issue just hitting the newsstands now. Add a little extra warmth to your gifts this year and knit something special. Or better yet, make your friend a scarf and slip a shawl stick between the stitches to make your gift complete.
My traveling chair hasn’t physically traveled to Inuvik, France or Australia, but Mary Beckett assures me that my Jeep will handle the Dempster Highway just fine. Now I have to decide what time of year to visit the far north. How do you decide between viewing the Northern Lights, experiencing the Midnight Sun or enjoying nature’s rainbow of fall colors and berry picking? Fall… turning colors… twirling leaves…spinning yarn…my world is starting to look a little fuzzy again, warm and fuzzy that is.