I should let know here and now that I am somewhat biased about how wonderful Yarn Circle is.  Truth be told, it’s a shop run by my parents and some friends of theirs.  I think it’s just great!

They have what they call “The wall of color” from which you can select from an incredible array of yarns.

It doesn’t stop with yarns, needles, looms, spinning wheels and felting supplies.  They also have awesome hand puppets and even a few of my handmade books.

My dear mother, Martha Owen, has been a professional knitter, spinner, natural dyer and sheep raiser for the past 30 years.  She purchased her first sheep the year I was born.  Her name was MawMaw (tee hee) and she lived until I was 17, a pretty long time for a sheep eh?

Here is some of Mom’s work:  (She teaches regularly at the John C. Campbell Folkschool if you want to learn how to do this yourself.)

And finally, a picture of herself wearing a hand-knit, Fair Isle sweater from her travels:

This last year she’s been taking on some pretty large projects; the most intensive being a custom-fit knitted dress with a hood.

As many of you artists out there understand, sometimes it takes a while before your destined craft form finds you.  This appears to be it for her.  It’s a wonderful thing to see.

You may run into her knitting away on the subway in NYC.  If you do, tell her howdy from her big sis.

Welcome to A. Fain Books and my very first blog entry ever. This will be the place to find out about upcoming workshops, stories and images of good times had in past workshops, art and book related events, to answer bookmaking questions, as well as to reflect on the overall ups and downs of my works in progress and running a small home-made business. My intention for this blog is to be informative and supportive of you as a customer or interested bookmaker, not as an outlet for personal journaling. Check back regulalry to see what’s up and feel free to get in touch anytime.