Well, what can we say? In a word, our trip to California was awesome. Awesome hostesses, awesome knitters, awesome friends, awesome yarn, awesome wine, awesome students, awesome weather.
We began the trip at A Verb for Keeping Warm. The first thing we saw after stepping foot in Oakland? This graffiti:
Quite uplifting after over 10 hours of travel, don’t you think?
The owner, Kristine, has been producing naturally dyed yarn and fiber for over four years and in November opened a really gorgeous larger space to sell yarns, spinning supplies, expand her dyehouse and hold classes and gallery events.
Kate does a little pre-event shopping.
Wall of gorgeous spinning supplies.
The featured artist in the gallery + teaching space is Christopher Woodcock. His photographs are absolutely stunning!
As an added bonus, Daphne and Iain, the original founders of the Fibre Company came to the opening. It was so great to see them – we even managed to do some covert (if not quick) product development before the event.
After our Roositud class on Saturday, filled with delicious bread, cheese and buzzing from the good times had by all, we piled into the rental car and headed to Santa Rosa to Cast Away. Kate visited the shop last year on a mini-honeymoon and was so excited to go back. Courtney, after hearing Kate talk about how cute it was for over a year, was excited to finally see it for herself!
Along with beautiful yarns, the shop is filled with a bunch of cute and quirky handmade gifts, including these really great handmade fairy crowns by Miss T.
On Saturday night, we set up the samples and had a really lovely time hanging out, signing books and talking to the local knitters about their projects.
Then on Sunday, we taught a group of awesome knitters Bohus and two-handed Fair Isle using the Baltic Beret as a sample.
One of the best things about all of the classes we have been teaching is seeing the awesome color combinations students come up with. This one, Canopy Fingering in Sarsparilla, Purple Passion, Chiclet Tree and Orchid, is a new favorite.
Thanks so much to Kristine + Adrienne at Verb and Justine + Ramona at Cast Away for hosting us. We had such an awesome time in California and cannot wait to go back!
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Are you a LYSO in the Philadelphia-ish region (and beyond! We love ourselves a nice long airplane flight – more time to knit!) interested in hosting Kate + Courtney for a workshop or book signing? Shoot us an email at info {at} kelbournewoolens {dot} com or give us a call at 215.687.5534 and we would love to schedule an event with you.
Are you a knitter looking to attend one of our classes or signings? Check out our Workshops + Events page to see about attending one at your LYS.
looks like it was a lot of fun! where did you get that fantastic cardigan, courtney (the one on the last pics with the flowers)??
The pictures are beautiful.I love California too.The pictures of the yarn came out great.Love your yarns.Glad you had a great trip.
Andrea, I got it on the Anthropologie sale rack! It was missing a button (although it had spare buttons sewn to the inside, duh, c’mon folx) and a part of the ribbon trim had to be re-tacked down$20!! I <3 sale racks.
I too love your sweater, Courtney!
Looks like a great trip. I have your book, but was sick the evening you were at Rosie’s. Hope someday, somewhere, I can get it signed … 🙂
It was lovely to meet you both at Verb! Your yarns are stupendous, and each of the book projects was even more beautiful (and soft!) in real life than in the already impressive photographs. Getting my hands on some Road to China has jumped up the priorities list big time. 🙂
What fantastic photos (and writing!) Made me so happy to see, yet again & always, how wonderfully successful you are. BRAVO, and LOVE !
[…] any longer, but we quickly perked up when it meant she would be close by when we took our trip to California in April. As expected, seeing her did not […]