It was terribly confusing, trying to figure out if we were going to be open for Family Day today. There was very little direction from the powers that legislate these things; I've never had to deal with an inaugural Stat holiday before.Anyway, as I legitimately have to be away on family business on Friday of this week, I decided that I would go into the store and take today to catch up on some of the things that have been put off lately - the exciting and glamorous things that a store owner (and her partner) get to take part in...like changing the lightbulbs in the fluorescent fixtures that are about 2" higher than I can comfortably manage by myself...like moving the wall unit of the DK yarns forward so we can retrieve the 4 or 5 bags of yarn that have fallen in behind and have been out of our reach since before the Holidays... like removing the cardboard boxes that are broken down and need to be taken to the recycling depot tomorrow...and actually, like the fun of setting up my new computer.
I took the plunge last week and bought a laptop for the store.
I had 3 meetings last week with product representatives and I realized just how much easier it would be if we were able to look up the shadecards on-line.
Also, since last year, I would say that the amount of work that I do via the Internet has increased many times over, it sure would be nice to be able to do some of that work while I was at the store and not have to wait until I get home to do it.
And finally with the advent of Ravelry I'm sure that it won't be long before we are able to use the computer to help customers check if they have a certain size of needle at home, or how many skeins of the Manos del Uruguay in colour 135 they still need. I'm pretty sure that we haven't yet begun to realize how important an on-site, on-line terminal will be.
NOW, if I can just get the darn thing connected without too much fuss, we'll be all set.
This past week was a hectic one with the SWEETHEART SALE being such a great success. Many busy hands in the coming months after this past week's purchases. It was nice to take a break and read the new Interweave Knits that just came in. http://www.interweaveknits.com/nextissue/There's no question that Interweave Knits has many great patterns but I barely see them as I'm going through the magazine. What I love is all of the information they offer like a great section on the best ways to keep your knitted garments from being ravaged by moths, and a super article on the steps to excellent "finishing". I'll be incorporating some of these ideas in the April 5th: "Finish your sweater TODAY" class. (See about this in the Coming Events section above under the spring classes calendar.)
I also got to do quite a bit of knitting this weekend, including trying to use short rows to keep the buttoned neck of an alpaca sweater that I'm working on from pulling up at the front. Then IT HAPPENED...every knitter's nightmare...the circular needle that I was using came apart. I often have the task of comforting and calming knitters who come in gingerly holding their project, trying not to drop any more stitches, asking for help in retrieving the ones that have already fallen when this has happened to them. But I've never had it happen to me...until yesterday. URGH!!!! And it would have to have happened right in the middle of the front where any tension issues will show like a neon sign.
OOOMMMM...This is me relaxing into the experience.
