Howdy, ya’ll January 15, 2008

I want to introduce myself! My name is Melanie Esqueda and I am the knitting instructor at You’re So Crafty. I also work there a couple of Saturdays a month and will be offering afternoon knitting workshops on the Saturdays that I am there.

I am originally from Fort Kent Maine, a very small town on the northernmost border of Maine and Canada. There I learned how to knit and crochet from my paternal grandmother, aka Gram Baker. I really loved to crochet, and did it exclusively till about 5 years ago, then I picked up a pair of knitting needles and got clickin’. I am mostly self taught, Gram taught me the bare basics, but I have the mind that easily wraps around the art of knitting. My Aunt Jean of North Haven Maine helps me on occasion if I am really stuck. When I was pregnant with my son in 2003, I decided to take up knitting again and I haven’t put down my needles much since then.A little background on me since I came to TX – I joined the Air Force in 1994 and came to San Antonio via Lackland AFB on March 17th. I went to training school in San Antonio at Brooks AFB, then got assigned to Randolph AFB, then went to the reserves at Kelly AFB. Needless to say, I was destined for this area!!!!! While in the AF, I came through New Braunfels a couple of times and thought that this was the place I would like to settle down in. Little did I know that my future husband lived there!!!!! Yep, I married a native New Braunfleser. We then went on to have three children – Olivia, who is 9, Sophia, 6, and Danny Jr, who will be 4 next week. We have a little menagerie of pets, and live on a little piece of heaven, between New Braunfels and McQueeney. My home away from home is Seguin, which I have grown quite attached to over the years, as all my county stuff (Driver’s liscence, taxes, etc) is there.When I met Dana (through my knitting friends from KOZY ) I knew we would be fast friends. I non-chalantly offered myself to teach knitting classes at YSC, if the need ever arose. To my surprise, it arose rather quickly! My life hasn’t been the same since. I have found my niche in this world! It is also nice to have my very own identity, and it is even better because it is “knit together” with my passion for knitting!

I have had a group of students with me since the first class in September, who are all so cool and wacky and interesting and funny. A very special bunch of ladies. (You might even say…a close-knit group!) I am so looking forward to new students, to getting to know people and sharing my love of the craft with them. A special bond happens when people gather together to knit or craft.

If you have never touched a set of needles, or if you have and want to learn a new skill, let one of us know at YSC, and we’ll get you signed up! I am open for suggestions, too, for class projects.

Hope to see you soon!
Melanie

New Classes for the New Year January 11, 2008

New classes have been added for January, so check out the calendar page!Our card-making teachers – Susan and Toni – will be back in January to get started on those Valentine’s Day projects! These ladies have been crafting for quite some time and their classes are so technique-filled, you will leave with lots of hints, tricks and inspiration. Rubber Stamp Tapestry’s From the Heart stamp set is amazing and offers lots of opportunities for using various bits and pieces of the set in other projects.Check out the Faithbooking class – Lola travels the country teaching this class and we are fortunate to have her here!

Quilting and Knitting (both beginner and intermediate) are gearing back up right away in January, so make a resolution to learn a new craft this year! (Or return to one you set down many years ago). Quilting 102 is a SAMPLER QUILT and will begin on Monday, Jan. 21. Quilting 101 is on Saturdays. Sign up soon – they’re filling up!

Knitting 101 is starting on Thursday nights, beginning Jan. 17. And Knitting 104 – TOE-UP SOCKS – starts Tuesday, Jan. 15!!

Other offerings include Digital Photography, Basic and Intermediate Scrapbooking, Basic and Intermediate Jewelry classes and more surprises!

NEW YARN! We are now a stockist for Euro Yarns and have received our first shipment of Kathmandu – an absolutely gorgeous – and very workable – wool / silk / cashmere blend. And yep, it’s VERY affordable. We have pattern books for this yarn, as well, with some extremely easy and sassy patterns. More to come!

New Scrapbooking Papers have arrived and more a-MAZING things are on their way: New Wedding Papers that would look great on an everyday page, some Valentine’s items and some hip swirly papers, along with some fun embellishments to spice up those pages and cards.

Sit-n-Knit with the KOZY group each 3rd Saturday at 10 a.m. Share tips, tricks and uh-ohs with others. Snacks are usually involved! No charge

Late-Night Craft Night! For all you crafters who just can’t find the time during the day or on your busy errandy Saturday to get all the cropping supplies out and some pages done – You’re So Crafty is open on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month until midnight for your cropping delight.

Of course, if you’d like to bring along your other UFOs (unfinished objects) or WIPS (works in progress), you’re welcome to do so!
ALL crafters welcome!! It’s a great spirit of comraderie and fun! Workshop fee may apply.

Remember, if you’re a Scout or a student involved in 4H or FFA, we have papers, stickers and embellishments for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4Hers and FFAers.. Mosaics are a quick and easy gift for anyone – set aside some time to come in and glue down some tiles for a satisfying creation. Painting your own pottery is as easy as writing your name! We have dinnerware you can customize to fit your style, or slap some paint on your baby’s foot and there’s an instant keepsake!

January 4th, 2008

Well, here goes … January 8, 2008

It’s time to jump into the world of blogging!! This will be an easier way to keep up with the “what’s new”-type news on our website. I hope! Although, getting this thing set up was anything but “quick!” ARGH!! I’d rather be knitting, or beading, or doing JUST about ANYthing!!

Another cool thing about an official blog is that if you enjoy reading blogs, there’s a cool site called Bloglines - (thanks, Denise!) and it will keep track of all your blog updates for you!! If you don’t want to go that far into cyberspace, no worries! This blog will be right here when you check back in!And, another cool thing about blogs, is that our teachers can contribute blog columns! So, watch for that!And, another cool think about blogs, is that YOU can comment and leave information here that will help other crafters – maybe tips and tricks, or help us learn more about what you want in your local craft store!

Enough about the techno-crud, let’s talk crafts!

We are excited about the new year and new possibilities – new classes, new inventory, new friends! Check out the calendar and get crackin’ on those new hobbies! Did you know that January is National Hobby Month? How cool is that? I think we should make the whole year National Hobby YEAR!

It’s never to late to learn something new – it’s been proven that learning new things, keeping your mind busy, and having a passion about something will lengthen your life! Long live crafting!