BLOG

Blog

Spring Time in Wooly World

Opening of our Lund Studio

Our Lund Studio is now open, by appointment only.  You can book a time online or phone 604-485-4859.  The studio is on my home property (Roisin) on forested acreage off Sarah Point Road in Lund.  NO DROP INS PLEASE 

It’s a new venture for Great Balls of Wool, our Powell River Store is still happening, we have our webpage, and now Lund Studio!  I do have wool and yarns for sale there but my intention is to have time and space to devote to designing hand knitted products which, for those of you who know me, know that is ‘MY THING’!  

Great Balls of Wool will have a table at the Lund Seafood Festival next weekend May 14th, 15th.  Come visit us there!  Should be a big hit given that it was cancelled for the last 2 years.    

Look forward to seeing you, hearing from you, putting an order together for you.  Whatever works!  Roisin

Pondering Knitting

Butterfly Shawl knit by a customer/friend

Conversation yesterday in lane with friend who knit one shawl pattern many times. I commented on how her knitting skills had progressed since the first time she knit that pattern.

I shared with her that if I find a pattern I like, I will knit it several times. Once I’ve got the technical knitting details down I feel free to experiment with colours and yarns.

Different knitters follow different knitting paths. For me, experimenting is the fun part, I don’t care at all about tension and see knitting as a skill and art form rather than a craft.

SNOW DAYS!

view from my front window

Here’s what I look out at while I knit. This was yesterday, or day before. I’ve lost track of time. Belinda is at the store today 11-4pm. I’ve been working on a Butterfly Shawl (believe my 9th one since start of covid) This one is in all natural Eri Silk 99% with a thread of gold metallic through it to give some sparkle. The Butterfly Shawl has been my covid go-to. Kinda obsessing! The covid butterfly emerging from it’s cocoon, and the silk and cocoons too….you get the theme!

Butterfly Shawl in progress, knit with Eri Silk, all natural

Since I’ve had time to knit and think and think and knit I’ve got my next project lined up. One I’ve been wanting to get to for a long time, and some of you have been waiting a long time too for me to get to it.

The long promised Bulky wool top down vest, knit all in one piece. More on this in next blog. In the meantime, please check out our re-launched webpage. We’re working hard to get all our inventory on there and easily accessible. You can buy online and click on ‘hold for pickup’ then just run in to the store and grab it. I’m also available for advice, just e-mail me at greatb.wool@gmail.com – Till next time, Roisin

We’re Happening!

We're Happening!

Glad to be greeting you with our newly relaunched website.  It’s been a journey and we’re still working out glitches.  I’m learning so much more about my online store my brain is exploding.  It’s similar taking on a complicated knitting project pattern and having to rip it out 10 times.

Our store in Powell River is open daily (except Sunday) for the month of December.   Our going forward plans are to move some of our inventory and product to my studio in Lund (more on that in another blog) and keeping a Mini Store going in Powell River at our same location for now.

Staying open during Covid was(is) an on-going challenge.  We’ve ridden the roller coaster,  bounced around on the waves, ebbed and flowed with the tides, etc. etc.! now time for restructuring.

I’ll be working more through our website; doing zoom classes, tba.  If you’re having knitting issues, problems with your pattern or whatever, book an online consult with me right now.  You’ll find it in the drop down classes menu.  You have been coming to me for 11 years with knitting issues and I’ve yet to meet a problem I couldn’t solve.

Problems with our website?  Let me know, like I said, glitches being worked out.  Not all our product is online  yet, lots of pictures to upload and and and, but we’re getting there.

Looking forward to our continued connection, in person, online, we’re happening!  Lots of exciting new plans will be unfolding, stay tuned.

 

Slow Clothing Movement

Slow Clothing Movement

 Destination Yarn Store – One Stop for Inspiration and Materials.

A fully stocked, wide selection, gloriously eclectic yarn, wool and fibre destination.

Ethically sourcing has been a hallmark since inception.

Home of RSCKnits  Originals –  one-of-a-kind, locally designed and created.

Great Balls of Wool – in biz since Nov 1, 2010 

Owner, Roisin Sheehy-Culhane has been knitting most of her life.  Taught by her grandmother, Rose, at 6 yrs old,  her needles have been clicking every since.  She has never viewed knitting as a hobby.  For her, coming from the Irish tradition of ‘knitting for necessity’  it is a constantly evolving well honed skill.

Living for many years on the West Coast she has developed many of her own designs and patterns, incorporating  the skills of the Coast Salish indigenous wool workers  with original concepts of Australian Jude Skeers and Roisin’s own knitting visions.   Stylish, artistic garments for everyday wear.

With her life experience of knitting, Roisin sees this as an opportune time to share her skills.  Many classes, courses, workshops are offered at Great Balls of Wool.

This  store is located on  Marine Ave,  main street in Powell River, B.C. in a 1930’s store built by Mme Loukes for her 5th Ave Dress Shoppe.

At Great Balls of Wool our yarns are chosen with care.

Honouring the animals who’s fleece and fibers we love

Support for local producers and artists

Priority for fair trade companies

Each individual piece represents years of skill development, design expertise, and many hours of hand knitting with love in every stitch.

Classes, courses, workshops.

Elizabeth Zimmermann, Baby Surprise Jacket, and Child and/or Adult Surprise Jacket.

Fiber Trends Felted Clog Slippers

The Lundie Hoodie, baby, child adult (a Roisin original design and pattern)

Chantal Poncho (A Roisin original)

Savary Island Clammer (R original)

Jude Skeers Circular Shawl

Coming in February, Zevolution J

ON line sockistas. 

And now for some art!

And now for some art!

 Hey everyone 😀😀😀 It’s official! It’s knitting season! I have so much stuff planned. However, today I want to talk about some of our Art that we have available here at GBOW. So lets get right into it shall we? This first piece is a multi-media painting by Adam Cramb. It’s on paper and mounted and framed and under glass. It’s a bit different for Adam I think because it his choice of canvas. If you are familiar with Adams work then you know that he often paints on found objects of all kinds. So this feels a bit more formal than usual. It would fit easily into any style of decor with it’s classic framing.
 Here is another of Adams pieces which shows what I mean by how his choice of canvas is often part of the nature of his style and Genre. Adam is a Graffiti artist. His work could easily be called fringe art. So the fact that his canvases are often found objects ladders into that style or Genre of art. This piece is from his show called Hugging America. It has political content. One of the things I love about Adams Art is the fact that every piece has a story and some kind of political content.
 This piece is by our newest employee and up and coming young artist Felicia Joseph. This and one other piece I have to show you today are new work for her in a new style. This piece is called Gentle Intuition. So far all of our pieces from Felicia have been abstractions. This painting leans more toward magic realism. I absolutely love it.
 This is one of my painting. Katrina Craig. It is an oil on canvas painting of the view from my apartment overlooking the strait here is West View. It`s titled Rain. It`s a small canvas. It is currently in the window if you would like to see it in person.
 Belinda Fogarty created this next painting. It is an technique called an acrylic pour. This style of painting was very popular in the Sixties and is making a resurgence right now. People are doing some amazing things with this technique using Acrylics as you can see from Belinda`s piece here.She has a few different Acrylic pours in the Gallery right now. If you like this style you should come in and see all of her different works. They are all very different from each other in color and effect. 
 This is another of Adam Cramb`s works. It is in the window currently if you would like to come see it in person. It`s a lovely vibrant piece and a favorite of mine. It is mixed media on canvas and it is a great size to fit into any house, large or small.
 Here we have another of Felicia Josephs paintings. It is acrylic on canvas and is is a lovely local landscape. She has a very west coast style to her work. This piece is in the window currently if you would like to come have a look at it. It is a lovely very classic looking painting that would go well in any style of decor. It`s larger but not so large as to be difficult to find a big enough space to hang it. So gorgeous and versatile.
 these last two paintings are both mine. Katrina Craig. The upper one is a painting of a rain storm over Harwood Island. It is oil on canvas with a wooden frame painted white. It`s on the smaller side and quite traditional compared to my current work. I painted this about five years ago now and I am no longer working in this style so there will be no more like this made. The lower painting is of Texada at sunset. it is also an older painting of mine and is interesting because it is one of the very first of my paintings to shift into a more multi-media abstract style that I paint in currently. It features metallic pigment powders that glow and shift color in different lighting.
Ok that`s what I have for you today. Coming up we will have new pictures of Roisin`s latest Fishermans Rib sweaters on a live model and we have tones of classes available starting this month. There will be sweater classes, slipper classes, felting classes, spinning classes and more! Come on down and sign up while there is still room 😸😸😸
Until next time!
💖Happy Knitting!💖

Great New Things!

 Hey everyone! Great new things afoot at GBOW 😀. First of all here is a picture of me spinning on the new Atomic Flower drop spindles. It works like a charm. I’m so happy to be able to offer a spinning class for anyone who wants to learn to spin art yarn on a drop spindle. You can spin about a worsted weight on this spindle. We are hoping to have a project available for you to look at to see what you might do with your yarn after you have made it.
 Today we have a bunch of show and tell for you to look at. This is Lori Moore’s Willingdon Beach sweater 😀 Isn’t it wonderful? I love it so much. It’s one of many that people have been knitting. This sweater is so versatile. It looks unique each time someone makes it. You can use the original sweater designed by Roisin and change it to suit your taste. People are finding it an easy pattern that adapts well to your individual needs.
 Here is another of Lori’s projects. They are knitted and felted water bottle holders for hiking or just wandering about town. You can hang your bottle from your shoulder. Very convenient.
This shawl is Lori’s too! It’s lovely isn’t it? It has pockets 😀😀😀 How great is that? I just love anything with pockets.
Next we have another GBOW pattern that has proven to be easy and versatile. The Purl Piccadilly Scarf. this is Lori’s interpretation of the Purl Piccadilly scarf.. Very long and knit simply in a long tube it’s been very popular and it is always fun to see it done in a new color way. Thank you Lori for bringing yours in to show and tell.
 Last but not least Lori brought in this wonderful hummingbird sweater to show everyone. It’s just so lovely.
More new stuff happening right now… we have a new person coming on board to work here at GBOW Felicia Joseph is going to be working here now 😀😀😀 How great is that? She is just starting out but you are welcome to come in and say Hello! And she can tell you a bit about her art that she displays here. 
In the fall season we will be having more classes available for your knitting and felting cravings. Belinda will be teaching her classes on needle felting. Roisin will be teaching her new sweater, the Fin Bay Fishermans Rib. Petra will be teaching knitted felted slippers as always 😀 And I will be teaching spin to knit art yarn. 
We hope to see you come in! 
until next week…
💗Happy Knitting💗

Sari Silk Yarn!!!

 We just got this luscious new shipment of Sari Silk yarn for your knitting pleasure!
 Come in and touch it 😀 it’s sooo soft and luxurious. You will just love it. I bet this stuff is going to go fast! I know I considered it 😍
 It’s hard to tell from the photo but the first two of these yarns below are sparkly 😮😮😮 I`m telling you… that is temptation! You really have to see them. Drool worthy for sure! From what I understand there is more coming! Can’t wait to see that now..
 Look at this! Isn’t this deluxe? This is Roisin’s second Fisher mans Rib sweater called the Fin Bay Fisherman. This one is charcoal with a black collar and button band. The collar and button band have super soft yarn knitted onto the inside. So no itchy scratchy neck! Perfect for all your sensitive skinned Fishermen. it’s getting lots of attention. People just love it. Roisin will be offering classes to teach this one. It’s pretty strait forward. But as of yet there is no written pattern. So classes are the way to learn it!
 Look it’s Claire 😮😮😮 Someone cut her head off. But I know is her. And now so do you.
 But that`s not the point. The point is her glorious poncho. It’s Roisin’s Chantal Poncho knit out of Katrina’s (that would be me) hand dyed sock yarn paired with my hand spun yarn as an accent. I think it’s just amazing. Like nothing I ever could have imagined. I love it. Very creative.
So September is just a around the corner! Are you prepared for knitting season? We have everything you might need. Tones of fun and inspiration by the bucket load. So come on in! There tones of luxury yarns for you to squeeze and dream of knitting. 
Until next week!
💗Happy Knitting!💗

Machine Cones

 Look at these babies! 😀😀😀
 Are they not gorgeous??? Machine knitters cones or weavers cones. Gorgeous colors. 100% wool form Germany. Deluxe stuff.
 And look at the colors! I personally am diggin the oranges, pinks and purples. But that moss green is super sweet too. You should drop by and squeeze them. You will love the feel of it. Very soft.
In other news here is a picture of Patti knitting Roisin’s Savory Island Clammer original design. Lovely colors out of soft cotton. A very nice summer top.
 Here she is wearing it! It’s not that difficult a knit if you think you might like to try it. You can come in and pick out your yarn that you want to knit it with and then Roisin will walk you through it if you have any difficulties. Doesn’t Patti look splendid? I love this design. Very cool and so pretty.
 Next we have a picture of my progress on my second Wilingdon Beach sweater. It is starting to really take shape now. I just separated for the sleeves. I am super enjoying this pattern. I made a mistake though and had to rip it back a bit. Roisin had to help me pick up the stitches. So far that has happened on both of my attempts to navigate this pattern. I am new to knitting from patterns. This is my first ever sweater pattern. I’d like to make it a couple more times I think. I am learning so much.
I am crazy about the colors in this sweater! And it feels amazing. So soft. The Alpaca is slightly slippery and the mohair is kinda fuzzy. It’s been challenging to knit with two such fine yarns. Also the mohair is kinda sticky/felty so ripping out is dangerous. Making sure I have always got two strands means I have to pay more attention. But all in all I would say it has been a pretty easy project. I am almost done all the tricky bits. All I have left to do is the cable cast on stitches under the arms. then come back around and pick them up. Then is just knit, knit, knit, all the way down the body and I am done! I don’t think I will be putting on caplet sleeves. It depends what I think when I try it on. I will keep you posted!
I hope everyone is enjoying their lovely hot weather and swimming lots and lots while the sun shines. Goodness knows that soon the rains will start and we will be moaning about the grey rainy days! That is part of being a Canadian I think… moaning about the weather! No matter what the weather might be.😂😂😂
September is almost here then it’s officially “Knitting Season” 😀😀😀
We all look forward to seeing you here!
Come drop by even if it’s just to chat😘
Hope to see you soon…
until then…
💗Happy Knitting💗

Atomic Flower Power!

Look at this! My brand new design!!! Atomic Flower Jumbo Drop Spindles !!!!I had help though, from Turtle Made on Etsy.com, together we designed these unique. One of a kind. Hand made. JUMBO drop spindles 😀 These spindles are specifically designed for spinning bulk, chunky, Art Yarns. Each one is individually 3D printed out of fully COMPOSTABLE natural fiber plastics. They are made from CORN 😀😀😀😀 and can Bio-degrade. They are available here at the store already so you can come buy one and try it out. Or I will be teaching classes here at GBOW in spinning designer Art Yarns. 
 And here is something else new in the shop 😀😀😀
 a whole new batch of all new color ways of my hand dyed sock yarn!
 I have been trying out some new colors in my pallet. So I have a whole bunch of new grey color ways. 
 There are twenty new skeins in all to choose from. They are currently in the window if you want to walk by and have a peak. They are all priced and ready to walk out the door if you are feeling the need for some knitting therapy.
 Look at this work of Art!!! It is Roisin’s latest design project. A men’s sweater in lovely Fisherman’s Rib stitch. So as I understand it, Fisher mans Rib is like the less “fancy” predecessor of Brioche. So if it looks similar to you there is a reason for that 😜 This is our new signature men’s sweater and Roisin will be teaching classes on this in the future. So if it looks challenging, no worries, Roisin can walk you through it.
 Last but never least I have some news. Belinda and Cindy and I will be having a booth out front for Blackberry Street Festival. 😀😀😀 Here is a picture of Belinda’s gorgeous Blackberry inspired dryer balls! Are they not the cutest thing ever? So come on by and see us for Blackberry fest 😍
Ok! That’s about it for this weeks installment of our faithful blog o sphere presence. Hope you feel inspired! Knitting season “officially” begins in September… that’s less than three weeks away 😮
until next time…
💗Happy Knitting💗

Recent Posts

Spring Time in Wooly World

May 5, 2022

Our Lund Studio is now open, by appointment only.  You can book a time online or phone 604-485-4859.  The studio is on my home property (Roisin) on forested acreage off Sarah Point Road in Lund.  NO DROP INS PLEASE  It's a new venture for Great Balls of Wool, our...

Pondering Knitting

Mar 4, 2022

Butterfly Shawl knit by a customer/friend Conversation yesterday in lane with friend who knit one shawl pattern many times. I commented on how her knitting skills had progressed since the first time she knit that pattern. I shared with her that if I find a pattern I...

SNOW DAYS!

Jan 7, 2022

view from my front window Here's what I look out at while I knit. This was yesterday, or day before. I've lost track of time. Belinda is at the store today 11-4pm. I've been working on a Butterfly Shawl (believe my 9th one since start of covid) This one is in all...

We’re Happening!

Dec 13, 2021

Glad to be greeting you with our newly relaunched website.  It's been a journey and we're still working out glitches.  I'm learning so much more about my online store my brain is exploding.  It's similar taking on a complicated knitting project pattern and having to...

Slow Clothing Movement

Sep 28, 2021

 Destination Yarn Store – One Stop for Inspiration and Materials. A fully stocked, wide selection, gloriously eclectic yarn, wool and fibre destination. Ethically sourcing has been a hallmark since inception. Home of RSCKnits  Originals -  one-of-a-kind, locally...

And now for some art!

Sep 6, 2018

 Hey everyone 😀😀😀 It's official! It's knitting season! I have so much stuff planned. However, today I want to talk about some of our Art that we have available here at GBOW. So lets get right into it shall we? This first piece is a multi-media painting by Adam...

Great New Things!

Aug 30, 2018

 Hey everyone! Great new things afoot at GBOW 😀. First of all here is a picture of me spinning on the new Atomic Flower drop spindles. It works like a charm. I'm so happy to be able to offer a spinning class for anyone who wants to learn to spin art yarn on a...

Sari Silk Yarn!!!

Aug 23, 2018

 We just got this luscious new shipment of Sari Silk yarn for your knitting pleasure! Come in and touch it 😀 it's sooo soft and luxurious. You will just love it. I bet this stuff is going to go fast! I know I considered it 😍 It's hard to tell from the...

Machine Cones

Aug 16, 2018

 Look at these babies! 😀😀😀  Are they not gorgeous??? Machine knitters cones or weavers cones. Gorgeous colors. 100% wool form Germany. Deluxe stuff.  And look at the colors! I personally am diggin the oranges, pinks and purples....

Atomic Flower Power!

Aug 9, 2018

Look at this! My brand new design!!! Atomic Flower Jumbo Drop Spindles !!!!I had help though, from Turtle Made on Etsy.com, together we designed these unique. One of a kind. Hand made. JUMBO drop spindles 😀 These spindles are specifically designed for spinning bulk,...