2012 - New Year's resolution

As we head into 2012, many reflect on things that they should have, could have done, thus many of us make resoultions to only break them a few weeks or months later. Let's change that!

Our store in Natick embraced the holiday season with the shelves loaded with hand crafted items from favorite artisans and a few new ones in the local area. We have been well received by the community in Natick. We ahve been in the center of Natick over two years since moving from our small sotre on our farm. Knitters and crochet artisans are still finding us which s wonderful! New weavers and hand spinners are realizing those dreams of being a artisan of years ago by weaving and spinning beautiful yarns are right at their finger tips with workshops and classes we offer.

The decision was made to keep the store closed today to give everyone a much deserved break from the holiday hub bub... It was a busy day at the farm, dyeing our Merino, Cashmere, nylon fingering yarn as well as dyeing new roving colors. The fun part is coming up with different color combinations and that watching them appear as we hand paint or kettle dye.

The farm will be represented at the Farm Wool Days at Russell's Garden Center, http://www.russellsgardencenter.com/wayland_winter_mkt.html in Wayland, Saturday, January 21, 2012 10 am to 2 pm. We are excited about this venture! We have not done any shows in 4 years and this is so close for us to attend. We have to thank Peggy Mallet for insisting we needed to participate. We will have roving, yarn, both natural color and hand dyed, wool felting sample kits and more!

What is one of my New Year's resolutions? To write more on our blog!

Happy New Year!

The dawn of a new year brings hopes, expectations and resolutions to make this year the best year. We have to comment about last year first. Last year was the first year in our new home in downtown Natick. The hard work, long days and nights and bringing in inventory, new co-op members instructors has had a wonderful response from all. We thank you for every day, not just once a year.

Thank you to our co-op members who help out in the store as well as bring us your beautiful hand crafted items for all to enjoy. When they are given as a gift or purchase for oneself, they are receiving something truly special. Their items are available throughout the year and they also welcome custom orders.

What is the new year bringing for you? The list of classes is on our website that are ones you have asked when they will be offered again or you have stated you are so glad they are still be offered. We learn as much from you as you learn from us! It helps to improve our teaching style.

New yarns for the new year have started to arrive. You have asked for more cotton and more luxury yarns and they are coming! We will still have the favorites also. Berroco Flicker is in the store now. A luxury yarn with alpaca and a tiny bit of glitz. Glitz and novelty yarns are coming back this spring, but they are not the novelty yarns of years past.

We have brought back out project of the month theme for those who have wanted to be inspired year round and not just in the summer to keep you motivated in the warm months. We have posted it in our newsletter but briefly it is a sweater called Amherst by Dolce Handknits. A fun, easy, fast, raglan top up cardigan with fun bottons. That will start Jan 3! The yarn we are using is Berroco Peruvia. I am making it out of Abusar If we don't have enough in stock we will custom order what you need. Berroco is so good at sending orders right out also.

We just introduced a new KAL (knit along) This was first suggested to us by Kate F. . She and I have the same taste in knitting and we both laughed when we showed each other the same pattern! It is knit side to side but using color work through out. We have a sample pattern in the store and will be ordering them and the Lamb's Pride yarn as a special order just for those who will be participating. We do request payment at the time of placing the order. This will be ongoing until one of us finishes it! Please join us Thursday mornings to stitch, bring it to stitch night the second Monday of the month or work on it at home.

There is so much more to talk about today but it is a day off for me and that means farm work. I am "skirting" fleeces today to get them ready to send off to the processors to have more natural color roving made.

FYI, thank you Kate, the date for the monthly spinning group is incorrect in the newsletter, it is Friday but the 28th not the 29th. That is what I get for not proofreading at a reasonable hour.