A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2007 ACMoore and WUA

What a difference a store makes!

You all know how disappointed I've been in the lack of turnout at Michaels for the Warm Up America program - I blame it on the fact that they refuse to advertise it - the headquarters of the chain, not the store here - their hands are tied!

So, ACMoore sent me an email yesterday - I'm on their mailing list - but could they possibly give a little more advanced notice???

Anywho... I got to the store 45 minutes early, to see the yarns that were on sale - no big deal there. I bumped into an old friend there - she was actually one of my college roommates, and coincidentally ended up living in the same town as I do even though we both came from elsewhere! So, we got to talking, and I wasn't the first one back to the table for the knitting. I was delighted to see that there were already about 8 people sitting there, including the woman running it - Karen.

Karen used to work for the store as an instructor in the yarn dept - she would just sit at a table and knit or crochet, and answer any questions customers might have about yarns or stitches - very knowledgable! So, of course the store layed her off!!! But she came back to do this one day deal. More woman came as time went on, and we had a full table of about 15 people on and off - amazing! And all the yarn you could want to use! And needles and hooks too - just go help yourself to whichever ones you want to use!

The newspaper even sent out first a photographer, and then a reporter - no, I wasn't part of either - they chose the oldest, blandest looking woman there! But the article will be in tomorrow's paper and I can post a link to it here - they put it online too.

While we were eating, I found out that some of the woman were there because they had all been part of a knitting group that met on Friday mornings there while Karen was working there - why did I not know this??? I am in that store several times a week - how did I miss it??? Of course they no longer meet now that she doesn't work there, but they've become close friends and it took a while for me to break into the group and become accepted - finally I did!

So, at the end, the manager ended up ALSO giving each of us who was there the entire time a $20 store gift certificate!!! I certainly did not expect that, and already spent most of it today!

We are meeting again next Saturday to sew up the blankets - most of us took yarn home to keep working on it during the week - I've already made another piece since I've been home.

Like I said... what a difference a store makes!!!

Wow, that is awesome , Lynne! You must feel great about that, I know I would! Isn't great breaking into a group of nice women with common interests and great conversation?!

It is, but it was rather uncomfortable for the first few hours because the "group" was sitting next to me, and the one had her back to me and would not look at me when I asked her to pass things like the tapemeasure or scissors - she was very snotty at first. At the end she was pretty friendly - thankfully!

Lynne, I am just sooooo excited for you. I know you were so disappointed with the whole thing at Michaels and to be able to find this group is just the best thing ever! I still have yet to hear a darn thing from WUA or Michael's so I will still send you my squares. At least they can be put to good use for you all. Will try and get them in the mail on Monday so you can use them next weekend.

Thanks Triss! I'm sure they will be greatly appreciated! I'm thinking of bringing in my 15 pieces also, since I've not heard back from Liz from Michaels!

Only 15, I thought you were up to 35???

total of 35 - with the ones I had already brought into Michaels - plus the Granny square lap blanket I made... I don't think ACMoore wants that, and I hope I can send it through Michaels! Or... we'll just have a cute small blankie here!

Oh ok, gotcha. I hope they can send the lap blanket along with anything you make.

That's great Lynne, It sounds like great fun.
I don't know your whole Michael's story, but I am glad found a place to knit away with the ladies.

Good for you for sticking with it and making friends. Women in groups of friends can be a tough crowd.

Very cool about seeing a college friend too. Did she knit?

Thanks, Jane.

My friend did not knit - she was looking for some things for her 4th grade class there.

Lynne, I sent the box out to you today. I think it was 30 rectangles. Hope it gets there for you by this weekend!

WOW Triss - thanks so much!!!
I'll have to remember to take my camera so you can see the finished blankets!

Would you please try and remind me as we get closer to Saturday?

I would love to see it finished. Thanks!

I put a tracker on it so I can follow the progress.

uh oh... Triss - I just found out that Amy has a recital at the music school in the city on Saturday, and I'm probably not going to be able to go to ACMoore other than to drop off your and my pieces. I'm soooo soooo sorry! The others will be able to use them though, so they certainly will not go to waste, it's just that I might not be participating in putting the blankets together, or getting pictures. I will definitely ask someone else to take one if they bring a camera - I wish I could get in contact with Karen, but she didn't give me her number...

So, if you like, I can either send the pieces back, or let the others do the sewing. Or bug Liz from Micaels to get on the stick and have another meeting! It's such a disappointment for me too! :p

Oh Lynne, what a bummer. I know you were so looking forward to that as well. You do what you want with them once they get there, either take them for now or save them to use when you can put a blanket together. Up to you. Either way I know they will be used for a good cause and that is really what matters!

I agree - that is what matters in the end, of course!
It just would have been nice to be able to help put them together and see the final products.

Thanks for being so generous - I'll make sure they know that you sent them!

Yes that would sure be nice. I hope someone will take pics for you so we can all see them!

I finally got a picture of all of Triss' pieces that she is contributing to Warm Up America that she sent to me this week.

The picture does not do them justice!
They are WONDERFUL!!!

Very nice Triss! And some very pretty colors!

Thanks you two. I sure enjoyed working on them!

Wow.....very pretty Triss....well done

Lynne, How did things go this weekend?

Hi Triss - sorry to not answer last night - I, like Amy, was not feeling very well and went to bed early.

It was very chaotic yesterday. Many of the same women returned, but the pieces were all dumped in the middle of the table, nothing was layed out to make sure they'd make a blanket, and Karen just kept saying to "do whatever"... I guess she was in a "mood" - everyone has those days, right?

So, given that, I kept all our pieces together, since they would make a full blanket, and proceeded to sew them together. When I had to leave, another woman from last week arrived and I asked her to continue with our pieces. She was fine with that and set out to get to work - she seemed pretty meticulous and orderly in her work.

The blankets will be donated to Hospice, as Karen was most fond of that organization. I'm not sure I'll get to the store tomorrow to take a picture before the manager calls Hospice to pick them up, but I do thank you so very much again for your contributions!

The others were all amazed that you had sent them from so far away,
and oooooooooohed and ahhhhhhhhhhhed at your fine work!!!

Sounds like it was a lil hectic and chaotic there. I am glad you got to do some of the sewing though!

Hope both you and Amy are feeling better!!!

Are you planning on sticking with that group?

Thanks, Triss.

It's really not a group - this was a one time thing unfortunately.

But... I did give Karen my number in case something else comes up like this, and also the woman who I sat next to both times. We'll see if I get any calls...