admin, Author at Marly Bird

Green Mountain Spinnery

October 18, 2013 By admin 13 Comments

Tuesday on the Yarn Thing podcast: the Green Mountain Spinnery!

Today’s guest was Eric from the Green Mountain Spinnery, located in Putney, Vermont. Green Mountain Spinnery was founded in 1981 and several years ago became a worker-owned cooperative when several employees became part owners. The Spinnery was founded as an environmentally friendly mill that supports sustainable, regional sheep farming and produces high quality yarns, all of which they still do today. Visitors to the New England area can take a tour of the mill on the first and third Tuesday of every month (or you just might convince someone to take you around if they aren’t too busy on any other day!). There, you can learn all about the process of making our favorite material yarn!

All of their lovely yarns are spun from fibers gown in the USA and include:

Mountain Mohair;

Sylvan Spirit;

Green Mountain Green;

These are just three of their many yarns, several of which are completely organic! (An important note Green Mountain is a certified organic mill!) Check out their complete selection here!

In addition to their yarns, Green Mountain has a large pattern selection, many of which are designed by their own employees (Eric included!). They also have several books, the first of which was The Green Moutain Spinnery Knitting Book which was followed by 99 Yarns and Counting. Their newest is an e-book called Green Mountain Weekend with designs from their weekend retreat instructors including Barbara Walker, Nancy Bush, Fiona Ellis, Gudrun Johnston, Alison Green, and Kate Gilbert.

Green Mountain regularly hosts weekend retreats that connect instructors with fiber enthusiasts in an enjoyable weekend in New England. For up-to-date information on their retreats and other events at the Spinnery sign up for their newsletter on the right hand side of their main page and check out their events list and blog.

Last but not least, the weekly giveaway! Leave a comment in the podcast notes using Eric’s keyword to be entered to win your own copy of the Green Mountain Weekend e-book!

You can find Green Mountain Spinnery on: their website, Facebook, and Ravelry and at the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival!

Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing

Indian Lake Artisans

Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I visit the Green Mountain Spinnery?

Yes, you can! If you’re ever in the New England area, you can take a tour of the mill. They offer tours on the first and third Tuesdays of every month… and if you ask nicely, they might even give you a tour on another day if they aren’t too swamped!

What kind of yarns does Green Mountain Spinnery offer?

Honestly… they have some beautiful yarns! They spin all of their yarns from fibers grown right here in the USA. Some of their popular ones are Mountain Mohair, Sylvan Spirit, and Green Mountain Green. Plus, a few of their yarns are totally organic!

Does Green Mountain Spinnery have any books or patterns?

Oh, absolutely! They have a great selection of patterns, and many of them are designed by their own employees… how cool is that?! They also have published books, and their newest is an e-book called Green Mountain Weekend.

How can I find out about Green Mountain Spinnery’s events?

So here’s the thing… the best way to stay up-to-date on their retreats and other events is to sign up for their newsletter on their main website. You can also check out their events list and blog for all the latest info!

Where can I find Green Mountain Spinnery online or at events?

You can definitely find them on their website, and also on Facebook and Ravelry. And if you love fiber festivals, keep an eye out for them at the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival!

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Diana Gabaldon

October 3, 2013 By admin 74 Comments

Diana Gabaldon joined Marly on the podcast to share what it has been like writing the 8 books in the Outlander series (7 published and one to come in March 2014), along with the excitement regarding the tv series based on the first book that Starz is producing and is expected to hit the cable airways in 2014. Click to Listen

The show began with the big SPOILER ALERT disclaimer so that all of the listeners knew Marly and Diana were going to talk about all things Outlander and nothing was going to be left out of the discussion. For me, that made the interview that much better because Marly was able to ask about specific scenes without having to tip toe around the topic.

Here is an excerpt from Diana’s bio on her wonderful website https://www.dianagabaldon.com/ :

“Diana Gabaldon is the author of the award-winning, #1 NYT-bestselling OUTLANDER novels, described by Salon magazine as “the smartest historical sci-fi adventure-romance story ever written by a science Ph.D. with a background in scripting “Scrooge McDuck” comics.”

The adventure began in 1991 with the classic OUTLANDER (“historical fiction with a Moebius twist”), has continued through six more New York Times-bestselling novels— DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, VOYAGER, DRUMS OF AUTUMN, THE FIERY CROSS, A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES, and AN ECHO IN THE BONE, with more than twenty million copies in print worldwide.”

Smiling woman in a colorful blue shirt signing a book at a table surrounded by greenery.

So what’s in store if you give the podcast a listen? You will find out the answers to the following:

Does Diana knit or crochet herself?
What kind of writing process does she use when writing the pages of her books?
Who was the inspiration for Highlander Jamie Fraser?
How long did it take for Outlander to find a publisher?
Will book 8 (My Own Heart’s Blood) be the final book in the series?
How does Diana react to feedback regarding certain scenes in her book?
How long has Diana be a presence on social media?
How does Diana feel about the casting for the main roles for the Starz series?

Join Marly and Diana as they talk about why Jamie and Claire have entranced so many readers for the past 22 years, and why the idea of “What makes people stay married for 50 years” has had such an impact on the development of the series.

Besides Diana Gabaldon’s website, you can also follow her on Twitter @Writer_DG or her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDianaGabaldon .

*Giveaway* – leave a comment here with Diana’s secret word, and you could win a booklet containing the first 7 chapters of My Own Heart’s Blood. Winner will be chosen the week of Oct. 14^th!

Discover Hobbies Internet Radio with MarlyBird on BlogTalkRadio

Marly Updates:

Join Marly at STITCHES East in Hartford, Ct. Nov. 7-10th

New pattern available exclusively at www.KnitCrate.com

No podcast week of Oct. 6th as Marly is traveling to Detroit to film the next season of the Knit and Crochet Now TV show!

Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing

Indian Lake Artisans

Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Marly chat with Diana Gabaldon about knitting?

Honestly… yes! In the podcast, Marly and Diana talk about whether Diana knits or crochets herself. You can tune in to find out!

What’s the scoop on the Outlander TV series?

So here’s the thing… Marly and Diana discuss the excitement around the TV series based on the first Outlander book. It was expected to hit the cable airways in 2014 by Starz.

How did Diana Gabaldon get started with Outlander?

Yes! The adventure began way back in 1991 with the classic OUTLANDER. It’s described as a historical fiction with a Moebius twist, and it just grew from there!

Is book 8 going to be the last one?

Honestly… Diana and Marly touch on this! They discuss if book 8, “My Own Heart’s Blood,” will be the final book in the Outlander series. You’ll have to listen to find out!

Where can I find Diana Gabaldon online?

So here’s the thing… you can visit her wonderful website at dianagabaldon.com. Plus, you can follow her on Twitter @Writer_DG or on her Facebook page.

Clara Parkes – The Yarn Whisperer

September 27, 2013 By admin 43 Comments

Thursday’s Podcast Guest: Clara Parkes!

Clara came on the show to promote her new super fun book “The Yarn Whisperer“! (Also, she came on to try to get Marly to laugh so hard she’d snort.)

From Clara’s website:

The book was born from a simple notion: We are what we knit. I’m not suggesting you’re a pullover or a pair of socks. But over the years I’ve realized just how deeply knitting itself—our stitches, materials, techniques—is a metaphor for who we are and the lives we live.

It began while I was sitting at a table for two, waiting for a friend to show up and suspecting that I’d been stood up yet again. I wondered: Is this how a dropped stitch feels? Or consider the traveling stitch, that blundering Winnebago swerving from lane to lane without so much as a how-do-you-do. Or garter stitch, the robust and wholesome friend who’s always overlooked in favor of the slender homecoming queen, stockinette?

The stories became more personal as my mind turned to my grandma, terribly self-conscious of the skintags that peppered her neck yet obsessed with adding bobbles to everything she knit. Or my parents’ divorce, a poorly worked steek that caused my young self to unravel.

The Yarn Whisperer is about my own life in knitting, both literally and figuratively. But it also explores our collectivelives in knitting. I’ve left many blanks for you to fill in. My hope is that it may help you see your own story, and your knitting, in a new, more meaningful light.

If you’ve listened you heard Clara’s wonderful chapter on bobbles, and is it just me, or who else wants to see her book turned into an audiobook??

Clara’s other books can be found here! Other places you can find Clara: her blog, Knitter’s Review, Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, and of course, on her BOOK TOUR! Make sure you check to see if she’s coming to a town near you, and go check it out! 🙂

*Giveaway* – leave a comment here with Clara’s keyword, and be entered to win a copy of her super awesome fun book!!

Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s Clara Parkes’ new book about?

So here’s the thing… Clara Parkes has a new book called “The Yarn Whisperer”! It’s all about how our knitting stitches and the fibers we use can be metaphors for who we are and the lives we live. She shares personal stories and leaves spaces for you to fill in your own knitting journey.

How does knitting relate to our lives according to Clara?

Honestly… Clara believes that we are what we knit! She uses examples like a dropped stitch feeling like a missed opportunity or stockinette stitch being the “homecoming queen” compared to the overlooked garter stitch. It’s a really neat way to think about how our craft reflects our experiences.

Can you tell me about Clara’s other books?

Yes! She has written other books that you can find if you look for Clara Parkes on Amazon. The post also mentions her blog, Knitter’s Review, and her social media, so there are tons of places to connect with her and her work.

Is there a giveaway happening?

Oh yes! To enter to win a copy of “The Yarn Whisperer,” you just need to leave a comment on the blog post with Clara’s special keyword. It’s a super fun way to potentially snag her awesome new book!

What makes yarn “crimp”?

Well… the page talks a lot about “crimp” in yarn, especially when discussing wool fibers! It’s a property of the fiber itself, and it’s really important for making nice, spun yarn. Many commenters love wool with a good crimp for texture and warmth in their projects.

Blue Moon Fiber Arts

September 12, 2013 By admin 52 Comments

Today! Blue Moooooooooooon!!!! That’s right, Tina Newton from Blue Moon Fiber Arts!

Tina Newton was Marly’s guest today, and oh what a ball these two had today!! Tina told us her story about how she got into the fiber industry, and what aspect is her favorite (spinning) and how she got started in hand-dying her spun yarn. Blue Moon’s yarns are all hand-dyed (there are 29 different yarns, and 700 colorways…holy cow!!), and are dyed in small batches, and follow a very specific “recipe” for each, so if you see a colorway you love, make sure that you snap up a couple extra skeins!!

Some of Blue Moon’s (there are 29 different ones, we couldn’t list them all!) super yummy yarns:

Billy The Kid:

Worthy:

Woobu: (Note from Jolene…I just LOVE this name…cracked me up!)

Socks That Rock/Rockin’ Sock Club:

Tina has a kick booty sock club, that has taken off to epic proportions, and because it’s taken off and is now so big, there are only a certain number of spots available each other. You can check out their page (here) about the Socks that Rock and Rockin’ Sock Club. Make sure your family knows to get you a membership to Rockin’ Sock Club for the holidays, they open up the registration/gift certificates then so that you can be guaranteed a spot in next year’s club!

(Jolene here again…My personal favorite colors of the Socks that Rock yarn? Medium weight After Sundown or Bejewelled. 🙂

Big time announcement, you heard it first here on YarnThing!! **Blue Moon’s yarns are coming to local yarn stores!** You’ve seen them in booths at trade shows, however, they are expanding and changing, and are going to go wholesale!

One of Marly’s favorite things obviously as a designer, is patterns. Make sure you check out Blue Moon Fiber’s pattern selection! They have quite the plethora of beautiful patterns, covering baby things, garments, socks (of course), and non-garment things. Tina has scored the cream of the crop to design for her, so make sure you check out the pattern page.

Giveaway!! Leave a comment here on the podcast notes, and use Tina’s keyword to be entered to win a skein of her super awesome fingering weight yarn, Worthy! (Who doesn’t want some silk and cashmere in their stash/wardrobe?!)

You can find Blue Moon Fiber Arts on: Facebook, Ravelry and find Tina on Twitter!

Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

How many different yarns and colorways does Blue Moon Fiber Arts offer?

Honestly… it’s a lot! Blue Moon Fiber Arts has 29 different yarns and a whopping 700 colorways. If you see a color you love, you’ll want to grab a couple extra skeins because they dye in small batches!

What is the “Socks That Rock” club?

So here’s the thing… Tina has a super popular sock club called “Socks That Rock” and the “Rockin’ Sock Club.” Because it’s so popular, there are only a limited number of spots each year. You can get a membership as a holiday gift to guarantee your spot for the next year!

Will Blue Moon yarns be available in local yarn stores?

Yes! Big time announcement… Blue Moon’s yarns are coming to local yarn stores. They’ve been in booths at trade shows, but they’re expanding and going wholesale!

Can I find patterns from Blue Moon Fiber Arts?

Absolutely! Blue Moon Fiber Arts has a lovely selection of patterns, including baby things, garments, socks, and other non-garment items. Tina works with some super talented designers, so you’ll want to check out their pattern page!

How can I enter to win some Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn?

It’s easy! You can enter the giveaway by leaving a comment on the podcast notes and using Tina’s special keyword. You could win a skein of their fingering weight yarn, Worthy… which is made with silk and cashmere!

Halos Of Hope and Drew Emborsky

August 30, 2013 By admin 3 Comments

On Thursday’s Special Podcast: Drew Emborsky and his amazing challenge for Halos of Hope!

Drew has put out the Chemo Cap Challenge, to stuff the box in his Crochet Dude booth at Stitches East in November with as many chemo caps as he can possibly get! Last year, Halos of Hope voted Drew as Man of the Year, and now he wants to show this amazing charity even more love and support with help from his fellow crafties, and our big hearted, awesome Marly, wants to help.

Drew has put out a coupon code for his website, where you can get 20% off your order of Drew’s yarn to give it a good “taste” between now and the end of September! (How cool is that??)

To go with Drew’s coupon code for his yarn, which would be awesomely ideal to make caps with, Marly has put two of her best patterns up for FREE so that you can make as many as possible to help stuff the Crochet Dude’s Halos of Hope!

Marly’s “Gerri Hat” and Marly’s “Sous Chef Hat“

If you go to Marly’s Ravelry page, and click on Gerri Hat and/or the Sous Chef, and use the coupon code “HALO”, you will get these patterns for free. Make as many hats as you possibly can, and send them off to Drew’s collection address, which is on his website here for you!

To make things even MORE awesome, Boye (the makers of Drew’s Crochet Dude Ergonomic Crochet Hooks), has made the most amazing donation/promise to cover the shipping of all of the hats that Drew collects for Halos of Hope! How AWESOME is that???

(Note from Jolene: Okay, who else cried? I was SO reaching for the Kleenex during this episode!!!)

This week’s little nugget to remember: When God shines a spotlight on you, you should always stand next to someone who needs it. – Oprah (via Drew)

See you next week!!

Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s this Chemo Cap Challenge all about?

So here’s the thing… Drew Emborsky is doing this amazing challenge for Halos of Hope! He wants to stuff his Crochet Dude booth at Stitches East with as many chemo caps as possible… it’s all about showing this wonderful charity even more love.

How can I help make caps for the challenge?

Honestly… Marly’s put two of her best patterns, the “Gerri Hat” and the “Sous Chef Hat,” up for FREE so you can make tons of caps! Just head to Marly’s Ravelry page, find those patterns, and use the coupon code “HALO” to get them for free.

Is there a discount on yarn for this project?

Yes! Drew has a coupon code for his website where you can get 20% off his yarn. It’s the perfect time to grab some yarn to make those hats… and it’s a good “taste” of his yarn too!

What about shipping costs for the hats?

Oh my goodness, this is the best part! Boye, the makers of Drew’s Crochet Dude hooks, has promised to cover the shipping for all the hats Drew collects for Halos of Hope… how super awesome is that?!

Where do I send the hats I make?

You can find Drew’s collection address on his website. Just click the link that says “here” in the post, and it’ll take you right to the page with all the details for sending your wonderful chemo caps!

Brett Bara

August 22, 2013 By admin 22 Comments

Brett Bara was Marly’s guess on a special episode of the podcast this week!

Brett Bara is the founder of Brooklyn Craft Company and Brooklyn Craft Camp. With a professional background in print publishing, Brett was the founding editor-in-chief of Crochet Today magazine and is the author of several craft books. She is the host of the PBS television series Knit and Crochet Now and appears regularly on camera, including appearances on The Martha Stewart Show and more. She is a contributor to Design Sponge in addition to blogging about DIY, decor, crafts and food on her own blog, brettbara.com.

In 2012, recognizing a need for fun, stylish and accessible crafts instruction, Brett created Brooklyn Craft Camp, a one-day event that combined crafts classes with good food, great music, cool people and fun. The event was a huge success that has spawned a new initiative, Brooklyn Craft Company: a brick-and-mortar space in Brooklyn, New York which will offer modern crafty and DIY classes for adults in a fun, social setting. Who doesn’t love a crafty party day??

To prepare for their launch, Brooklyn Craft Company is fundraising via Indiegogo. Please visit their campaign page to make a contribution and help them get off the ground – and score some great crafty rewards in the process! C’mon crafty folks, lets send some awesome support Brooklyn Craft Company’s way!

You can also follow the fun on Brooklyn Craft Company’s Facebook and Twitter pages!

Links to follow Brett on: Facebook, Twitter, Craftsy, Knit and Crochet Now, and find her books here.

Also, gratuitous picture of Fifi (for you devotees)!

Brett was so kind as to have a super fun giveaway to one of our lucky commenters! You can leave a comment with Brett’s key word, and be entered to win a Brooklyn Craft Company Tote Bag as well as a free Craftsy class! The lucky winner will be announced on next week’s special show Thursday with The Crochet Dude himself, Drew Emborsky!

Make sure you tune in next week on our regular day for your next happy dose of Marly and The Yarn Thing Podcast! 🙂

Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Love of Knitting and Love of Crochet
Bijou Basin Ranch

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Brett Bara and what does she do?

So here’s the thing… Brett Bara is the founder of Brooklyn Craft Company and Brooklyn Craft Camp! She’s also been the editor-in-chief of Crochet Today magazine and has written several craft books.

What is Brooklyn Craft Camp?

Honestly… Brett started Brooklyn Craft Camp in 2012 because she saw a need for fun, stylish, and accessible craft instruction. It’s a one-day event that mixes craft classes with good food, music, and great people!

How can I support the Brooklyn Craft Company?

Yes! You can help get the Brooklyn Craft Company off the ground by contributing to their Indiegogo fundraising campaign. Plus, you can snag some awesome crafty rewards in the process!

Where can I follow Brett Bara’s crafty adventures?

Well, you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter, and also check out her blog at brettbara.com. She’s also on Craftsy and you can find her books on Amazon!

What kind of events does Brooklyn Craft Company offer?

Honestly… they offer modern crafty and DIY classes for adults in a fun, social setting. It sounds like such a blast, like a crafty party day!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I visit the Green Mountain Spinnery?

What kind of yarns does Green Mountain Spinnery offer?

Does Green Mountain Spinnery have any books or patterns?

How can I find out about Green Mountain Spinnery’s events?

Where can I find Green Mountain Spinnery online or at events?

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Marly chat with Diana Gabaldon about knitting?

What’s the scoop on the Outlander TV series?

How did Diana Gabaldon get started with Outlander?

Is book 8 going to be the last one?

Where can I find Diana Gabaldon online?

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s Clara Parkes’ new book about?

How does knitting relate to our lives according to Clara?

Can you tell me about Clara’s other books?

Is there a giveaway happening?

What makes yarn “crimp”?

Frequently Asked Questions

How many different yarns and colorways does Blue Moon Fiber Arts offer?

What is the “Socks That Rock” club?

Will Blue Moon yarns be available in local yarn stores?

Can I find patterns from Blue Moon Fiber Arts?

How can I enter to win some Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn?

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s this Chemo Cap Challenge all about?

How can I help make caps for the challenge?

Is there a discount on yarn for this project?

What about shipping costs for the hats?

Where do I send the hats I make?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Brett Bara and what does she do?

What is Brooklyn Craft Camp?

How can I support the Brooklyn Craft Company?

Where can I follow Brett Bara’s crafty adventures?

What kind of events does Brooklyn Craft Company offer?

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