We moved inland through the tunnel to Lafayette from Oakland, just about 25 years ago. We left our home town and the arty farty community around Piedmont Avenue to give our kids a chance at better schools, with the help of my parents. It was a hard hard transition for all of us, moving from the funky flat with the Perfect Weather Veggie Garden out to Hotter Than Hades Lafayette With The Clay Soil. I felt like a freak with all of the buttoned down types but slowly realized that my neighbors shared my love of art and knitting. My next door neighbor, who was at least 20 years my senior became my willing companion many times when I needed to go into Berkeley to prowl a wholesale yarn company's loft. We found something in common.
I conditioned my soil year after year, turning a huge plot of crummy grass into a funky, eclectic garden and I turned my love of knitting and color into a business that grew into what it is now. The garden, chickens and ducks grew on the outside and the children, fiber business and art collection grew on the inside. The children are the age of so many of my customers now and so the circle of older friend is complete now, with me being the senior in many equations. It is all good, as someone told me the other day.
When we moved here, there was but one yarn store in town. Betsy's knit N Stitch was the friendly yarn and needlepoint store in what was the old LaFiesta Square. (now it is a really ooh lala place with fancy anchor stores) In the back of this square was a funky little fabric store called The Cotton Patch. I frequented both places. Then came the revolt. The landlord at the time was a Snidely Whiplash who made it so difficult for these woman owned businesses that they did something radical...they found a way to turn some little homes that had been zoned for business into what I soon called the street of Rebels. One block of Brown Avenue became the home for both Betsy and TCP. I frequented both and loved it more. Betsy has since retired but the Cotton Patch is a well known destination for quilters...right down the hill.
I bring this up because while I was claiming Betsy's as MY LYS, where I would go buy a ball or two of foo foo yarn to supplement my handspun, there was another little store opening in town, in the Clocktower building. It was a TINY store owned by a European lady with a very different sensibility and focus. I did not go there too often but would remain loyal to Betsy. As Betsy's time in the yarn business was winding down (an old woman plowed into the front of the little house with her car and things were never the same) another woman opened something yarny in another spot down town. She was Lisa Daniels, who moved to this small spot to have a design studio and ended up running a too tiny yarn store with a big following. Three yarn stores in our little town and me being a yarn MAKER. Too funny and an embarrassment of riches.
Betsy closed her doors, the European Lady sold her business and Lisa Daniels (the OTHER Lisa in Lafayette) opened a really big high end shop right on the main drag, across from the little yarn store in the Clocktower Building. The person that bought The Yarn Boutique was Marianne Adams...a very nice and enthusiastic woman that I met several times at TKGA or Stitches West. I wished her well but wondered how anyone could carve out much of a go in such tiny quarters, especially across the street from the fancy schmancy store.
Here is the thing and why I am bringing all of this up. I have finally found a place to call MY LYS again. Marianne found a spot in the same La Fiesta Square (in the funky part) where BOTH Betsy and Lisa got their start. It is right next to the old Cake Box bakery in a former art gallery. I went in to give her my support and some of my $$ and was happy and comfortable and knew that I could honestly say that Marianne has made this a very smart move. Go check out the new digs and give her your support. Check out her website for the new address. See? Another circle of sorts. While you are there, stop into Papillon for coffee, buy some fabulous pastry at the Patisserie, shop for fancy dog toys at Nitro Dog and don't forget the Lafayette (co-op) art gallery. It is worth a stop and if you are hungry...well...there is Chow . I guess that Lafayette has finally caught up to the place that I left 25 years ago...a little funky and kind of arty farty. Took long enough, sheesh.
Of note, I got my copy of More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch yesterday. I was telling Tom the other day that this book was something that was seeded over a year ago and to see my yarn transformed into a beautiful sock and the link in the back was just thrilling. Charlene contacted me a long time ago...back when I had just found my first sock yarn. Now look. More circles.
July is when Alison's book comes out but you can join me by pre-ordering this one as well! Wrapped in Comfort is filled with lovely lacy shawls and stories from this woman who knits in as zen a way as a nice Mormon Lady can, giving and giving and giving. Spreading the Love, baby.
Alright, I don't know what came over me this morning but I am done being The Town Cryer and need to go dye some yarn and fiber for some patient people.