I crochet a lot, and the yarn store around the corner from me recently moved, so I was buying my yarn from chain stores. But, they have such a limited selection. It’s 90% acrylic, with maybe 3 colors of cotton and some mohair thrown in. My recent projects have been cotton, and I’ve realized how much I despise the feel of acrylic.

Last night, I had about 2 hours before the Salt Lake Democratic Central Committee meeting, so one of the things I decided to do was find a new (local) yarn store.

The first place I stopped had mostly sewing items, and the lady talked to me about how when she first opened 20 years ago, she had lots of “yarn craft” items, but that the big stores were selling yarn for the same price she was able to buy it for, so she had stopped. She was able to tell me where the store around the corner from me had moved, but pointed out that Wool Cabin was just across the street.

Mind you, “just across the street” isn’t as easy as it sounds. 3300 South near 2000 East is a mess, due to a pipe that’s being laid in the middle of the road. So, I had to get back on 3300 South, turn right on 2000 East, pull into H&R Block’s parking lot, get back on 2000 South and then go through the light. Anyhow, I finally made it there, and what a treat!

There were 3 big rooms, just full of a variety of yarns, in a rainbow of colors. When I went in, the lady greeted me with a smile, but didn’t hover. When I asked her a question though, I found a wealth of information just waiting for me. Although she was a self-described “wool snob”, she showed me that not all acrylics are the rough “fiberglass” texture that I don’t like. She also showed me some great cottons, linens and wool yarns, along with blends. She was a knitter, not a crocheter, but she was very helpful when I was trying to determine what yarns I would need for the two patterns I had selected. They have tons of patterns in binders for very low cost (about $3) as well as some great books.

And that brings me back to my favorite “buy local” reason. The service! It was so nice to find the staff so pleasant, along with how knowledgeable she was.

I can’t wait to finish the projects I’m working on, so I can go back and find something to make out of the linen yarn!

Inhabitat has a great write on artist Edina Tokodi’s “green graffiti” Abigail writes -

Eco-minded street artist Edina Tokodi is putting a new spin on green guerilla tactics in the trendy art enclave of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Tokodi’s site-specific moss installations of prancing animal figures and camouflage outgrowths are the talk of a local urban neighborhood typically accustomed to gallery hype and commercial real estate take-overs. Unlike the market-driven art featured in sterile, white box galleries, the work of Tokodi is meant to be touched, felt, and in turn touch you in the playful ways that her animated installations call to mind a more familiar, environmentally friendly state in the barren patches of urban existence.

The Moss Graffiti also mentioned in the article rocks, and might solve an issue I’m having in my garden, at least until I can dig up half of the yard to fix it.