Meet Mary Helen

If you don't already know her, let me introduce you to Mary Helen. Mary Helen owned "the Little Shop" in Addison, Michigan for 21 years, and then moved it to Frankfort for the next 9 years. She began the store with a partner because they "thought it would be fun". "Little did we know," she said, "how much work it would be." She and her partner scoured the ads in McCall's needlepoint magazine and wrote to several companies to begin to stock the shop. Bernat was the only one to send a rep, so they carried Bernat yarns for many years. She closed the shop in Frankfort 12 years ago, at the young age of 80.

Now, at 92, she has four projects in the works. She likes to knit sweaters for Guidepost, saying that it's a double blessing: "it's good for the children and it's good for the knitters." She attributes that project to keeping her going. Mary Helen, and her daughter, Susie, are regulars to our Thursday night book club.

The wooden bins currently used by the Yarn Market were made by her nephew, and were used in both of her shops.

Today, Mary Helen says "Life is good!" We share in that sentiment, Mary Helen, and we are blessed to have you in our lives. Thank you!

We've made the A-list

The Yarn Market has been nominated to the A-list as one of the best businesses in the Traverse City Area. You can vote for us at www.wpbn.cityvoter.com beginning March 9. Our good friends at the Thistledowne Shoppe in Suttons Bay have been nominated as well!

New spring yarns and patterns will start arriving this month. In order to make room, we have selected yarns on sale. Come and check them out! We're also waiting on the new Addi Cliks interchangeable needle set.

We've had to cancel the last two book club nights, due to Michigan winter storms! Now that March is here, we hope the ice and snow will melt away, and spring days are not far behind. See the revised dates on the website. We're still listening to "the Secret Life of Bees", the reader has a young girl's voice with a gentle southern accent. I've read the book and seen the movie, but I'm getting much, much more from this audiobook!

Also check out our new class/event schedule at the website. We've added an introduction to tatting class, a lined mitten class, and we're offering some old favorites!

Happy Knitting!