As the piles of yarn and fiber start taking up each and every nook and cranny, not only am a hit with a sense of awe at all the yarny goodness, but also excitement and dare I say a little bit of fear? Only a smidge though so don’t worry 
Needless to say my Husband is very excited for Halloween day. Not for the candy or for the the trick-or-treaters, but because that is the day that Pulling at Strings will open! Saturday, October 31st will not only be one of my favorite holidays, but Pulling at Strings birthday!
In honor of our grand opening we will be running 3 contests starting on opening day:
- The first 100 customers will be placed into a drawing for a $10 gift certificate towards a future purchase from Pulling at Strings
- Anyone who signs up for the Pulling at Strings newsletter between October 31st and November 7th will be entered into a drawing to win a free pattern of their choice up to a $7 value
- Comment here on my blog between October 31st and November 7th with your favorite item in my store to be entered into a drawing for free shipping on any future order from Pulling with Strings
Now, its time to meet one of our artisans, Katie of Wool Food Market. I have long admired Katie’s work and have quite the collection of her wool food for my little ones. When she wrote her wool fruit felting tutorial earlier this year, I knew that I definitely wanted to carry it in my store. Luckily for me, she agreed.
Here’s Katie!
When and why did you start felting?
I’d been introduced to felting by an on-line friend and fellow crafter. However, she was a needle felter and I preferred the wet-felting process. I had a rather large bag of wool roving that I started rolling into balls. As I stood at the sink rolling wool in soapy water, I lingered on what I could make from the balls. Most of the colors were fruity in nature and wool food was born.
What do you use for inspiration?
A farmer’s market or the produce section is where I get most of my inspiration for food. I try to replicate the hues and variations of the fruits and vegetables. Pineapples still escape me.
When I make playscapes, I love to create what one might imagine is hiding on the forest floor. A gnome, troll, critters…a secret home in the base of an old tree stump.
What is your favorite item you have felted and why?
I really enjoy felting up wool tree stumps. What exactly emerges from the water bath is always a surprise.
What are your favorite colors?
Orange and avocado green
Tell us one secret:
Tell us one secret: A washing machine is more forgiving than your own hands when wet-felting. It’s not discriminating and felts evenly on all sides. Our heads, via our hands, try to manipulate the wool. A washing machine allows the wool to do what wool does…felt. My greatest works would have never happened if I’d hand felted them. Unwrapping them after a run through a washing machine allows the wool a certain amount of freedom that usually works.
I also understand that I’m working with a natural element so it’s not always going to work out as I envisioned. I go into it every time understanding that some days the wool just isn’t going to work with me and I have a willingness to scrap disasters.
looks fantastic! it is difficult to choose a favorite item and really a bit of a toss-up… my favorite “newly seen” item has GOT to be the shawl pins. every single one of them is a work of art. my favorite “already know” item is becoming art’s outlaw colorway. it makes me swoon
good luck with your new endeavor!
Congrats on the store opening, Jenn!! Looks fantastic! I have to say this is my fave: http://www.pullingatstrings.com/item_47/Madigan-on-Kells.php – how on earth did you get that to stand on end?!
My favorite items are the huckleberry knits colorways. Sorry I cant choose one.
Congrats! I’m so excited for the opening of your store. Everything looks great. My favorite thing right now are the shawl pins. They are gorgeous.
Congrats on opening your shop! It looks lovely and I cannot wait until next month when you get new yarn in…:)
My favorite item is the Merino/Bamboo roving from Yarn Love. Can’t wait to put it on my holiday wish list! The website looks great! Thanks for gathering so many great artists.
Congrats on the opening! Your photography is gorgeous. How to choose a favorite item?? Larrabee by Huckleberry Knits is beautiful, one of many lovely items.
http://www.pullingatstrings.com/item_79/Larrabee-on-Willow.php
COngrats! My favorite is Selah Fiber.. *Drool* over Sat Morning and I have the pleasure of knowing Julie in real life. She is a genius with colors and fiber.
The Sheepy Yarn Bow from RSE is my favorite for now. Selah may take the lead in the future.
Great new shop you have here!
Your store looks great!
My favorite(and there are many) but I love the Madigan on Kells. In fact it’s so lovely, I had to buy some. Now I just need to remember how to knit!
Your store is nice! Love the logo too. My favorite yarn you have for sale right now is
Twilight on Willow (fingering) by Huckleberry Knits, I never saw it before and it is gorgeous!
Everything looks lovely! What an awesome collection of items.
For a favorite…RSE yarn bowls. I just love those and swoon over them all the time. I think one is calling my name!
I really love the RSE yarn bowls. Her little sheep are so adorable.
The store is beautiful!
I commented already but I forgot to say my fav yarn…it would have to be anything with Yarn Love. Just cannot get enough of the stuff…good luck with the opening. I hope it is going great.
Congratulations on your new store! Everything looks wonderful.
My favorite item in your store (for now) is anything Selah, especially At the Ball!
Continued success
My fave item is the “Neverland” on Bonita by Becoming Art. Still drooling. Sorry about the puddle.
This is exciting. Congratulations on the creation of your endeavor. It is great to see so much yarnie goodness in one place. I love Selah, Yarn Love, Three Irish Girls. I do not spin at this time, so my addiction of choice is yarn. I also love Naturally Luxe. I hope that your opening is going great.
I am so excited to have found this site! Congratulations on the store. I especially love the Endicott on Cascara!
Congratulations on your opening!! My favorite items are anything by Selah and Becoming Art.
I especially love Rich, Neverland and Saturday morning! Will you be offering more bulky and aran bases as well? I would love to get one of these 3 on a bulky gaia base for a dropstitch scarf!! 
Hi Amanda! I will be carrying more bulky and aran bases from Selah and Becoming Art, shoot me an email with what you are interested in
Thanks!