Swatches of the new colorways

I made a mini-skein and got a swatch knit (as if making a sock) for all but one of the new colors. Cyndi (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun) is the only one I didn't do. I'm thinking of pulling one of the skeins out of the shop to do that. And, I guess I would then have to use the rest of the skein to make a pair of socks for myself or a friend (hmmm, not a bad plan).

Meanwhile, here are pics of the other new colors and how they behaved for me.

Remember, everything is currently 40% OFF in my Etsy shop. Just use the coupon code, "TWITTER40" at checkout.

Lioness

Mandrake

Oh, Baby!

Yellow Jacket

Birthday Girl

Management Material

Knitter's Day Out 2011

I finally attended a show as a VENDOR! Knitter's Day Out (KDO) is a small but well attended one day event (with some bonus time on Friday evening) held each September at the Central Pennsylvania College in Summerdale, PA. The vendors are primarily local (and a few from farther away) yarn shops. 

I took a few photos Friday afternoon as people were setting up... was too busy Saturday at our booth to wander around very much. Besides, I was having too much fun meeting and talking to great folks. 

All set up just waiting for Mom and her fiber to arrive

Mom all set up and getting ready to start spinning.

During the show I spun part of one of my braids of roving using my favorite Golding drop spindle while Mom spun up some Brains using her brand new Lendrum wheel. Spinning in public is a great conversation starter; even among fiber folks.

Before and After spun by me at the show on my drop spindle.

Before and After spun by Mom at home the week before the show.

Handspun Brains

Balticon Update

Here's an update of the availability of the LE Balticon colors for this year...

The first colorway to sell out was Empress Sword. Apparently, you all loved the swirling mixture of greens (representing the Dragon) and the pinks and blues (representing the Princess/Prince) as much as I loved the story and creating the yarn. Thank you!

There are currently three colorways that I am down to just one skein of each left. They are (from top to bottom) Girls' Rules, Phoenix Rising, and Pirates seen here in swatch form.

Thank you so much for your support! I can't wait to see everyone there. Don't forget to stop by the Yarnaholic Tea on Saturday from 2-4!  I'll be bringing more yarn goodness!

Artists inspiring other artists

It seems like there are a lot of artists out there but that's because so many of the people I know and love are artists of one sort or another. I think the truth is that artists might make up 10-15% of the general population but that is just a guess. I have not done any sort of actual research into this. I base this on things I notice when I am out and about in the world (at work, at the gym, out shopping). I am always surprised by people's reactions when they find out that I am an artist. They look at me like they are waiting for my other head to rise up out of my neck or shoulders. 

I mention this because I tend to forget that most people don't immerse themselves in art and the creative processes each and every day. Those are things I am beginning to take for granted. Thankfully. I no longer push those sorts of thoughts to the back of my brain. Now, I make sure that color, poetry, writing, and art are part of my everyday routine. And in doing so, I am talking to other artists every day--writers, photographers, cartoonists, graphic designers, other fiber artists, textile designers, knitters, musicians.  I am reading and listening to and observing their works. Their presence in my life pushes me to grow as an artist. 

I believe very strongly in artists helping other artists. Often this takes the form of doing what I can to help spread the word of their available works. Tweeting and re-tweeting PR stuff, links, liking and sharing on FB. But sometimes this also means being inspired by their works; translating their vision into my artistic language. That is how the Balticon colorways came to be. 

As an artist, I have my own favorite colors. I have traditional inspirational sources (nature in particular). But I found in thinking about paying homage to friends who are also creators (in this case, writers and podcasters) that I was forced to stretch my imagination and think about things in a different way. When you read a story, sometimes (as in the case of Alex White's "Gearheart") the author has included colorful descriptions; other times, there are integral elements of the story that evoke colors (as is the case in Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris's "Phoenix Rising").  Listening to the podcast versions of some of these also adds the element of voice and music. All of these things--words, voices, sounds--all blend together to give the person experiencing the work a particular feeling. It was that feeling that I wanted to capture, or translate, into color. My medium is fiber. Sock yarn specifically. 

The person who then buys these yarns that I have created based on my friends' works is then the next link in this chain of creativity. For then, you see, they will use my creations to make their own creations; perhaps socks, maybe gloves or gauntlets, or even a scarf or lacy shawl. What they make doesn't matter. That they create is what matters. Artists inspiring other artists inspiring even more artists...

If you are not already familiar with the works that I have used as inspiration for this series of colorways, please click on the links on the Balticon 2011 page and check out these amazing artists and their works. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

New Territory

I have decided to venture into some new territory.  I am adding other weights of yarn to my offerings.  I have purchased approximately 20 skeins each of DK, worsted, and bulky weight yarns.  However, I don't have the space (or the cash flow) to dye every yarn in every color at the moment.  So, I will dye to order.  I will be revamping my Etsy listings in the near future. I will post a listing for what I actually have in stock for each weight, a listing for each weight of all the possible colorways (this will be a dyed-to-order listing and so will take longer to get to the customer), and I will also post information in the shop news (maybe separate listings but I am not sure yet) about designing your own colorways.

The design-your-own thing is something that I have been moving towards.  I mentioned earlier that I am going to do mini-skeins in all of my solid colors to go with my hand painted colorways.  One of the reasons for wanting to dye some solids is to use the yarn as a design/idea aid for future creations.  It helps to have the yarn in front of me to see how certain colors work side by side.  And, if I have the colors in front of me, I might as well put them in front of you as well.  

All of the Limited Edition colorways have been created with input from someone else; a shop owner, an author, or a friend.  I have certain colors that I gravitate towards and find that sometimes it is a lot easier to have someone else give me a list of colors rather than have to pick and choose on my own.  So, why not let you in on some of the fun too?

Because it takes the same amount of time to do one skein of yarn as it does to do a full batch of five or six, there will have to be a cost incentive to buying a full batch rather than just one skein.  So, put simply, if you want just one skein I will gladly do that. However, the cost per skein will be more expensive for just one.  

The other consideration is that no matter how much planning you put into this kind of thing, it is extremely difficult to predict what the finished result will look like or how it will knit up.  Thankfully, I am almost always pleasantly surprised.  That said, once the yarn is dyed there is no turning back.  I will give you plenty of opportunity to select your colors and make any special requests beforehand but there has to be a point where it's a done deal.

As you may have figured out by now, there is not a whole lot of method going on around here but a whole lot of madness.  I have no doubt that there will be some minor glitches in this new hair-brained idea of mine.  I also have no doubt that it will be worth it.  Or, at the very least an interesting ride.  So, if you have any thoughts or ideas on any of this, please leave a comment.  Or send an email to me [Dyed Bright Here (all one word) at google mail dot com] or tweet me at Bright Eyed Dyer (again, all one word).

Dyer's Notes: The Basics of My Process

***Disclaimers***

Any time you are handling dry dye powder you should be wearing a mask.  The dyes are extremely harmful in the dry state.  You should also use eye protection and wear gloves.  If using everyday household materials you should have separate things for dying and for cooking.  Make sure any and all utensils are made of either stainless steel or glass or they may be stained permanently.

***This ends the safety portion of today's lesson***

The first thing I have to say is that for me "Kettle Dying" means using a large glass bowl.  I occasionally kettle dye my yarn but more often, I "paint" the dye on to the yarn.  I heat set all of my yarns in the microwave.  Mostly, because I am impatient.  But it also keeps my work surface (the kitchen counters and sometimes the cook-top too) heat free.  This allows me to pile supplies and stuff on the cook-top so that I have as much counter space as possible (not much at best) for the dye containers and a work surface for applying the dye.  

That said, I will walk you through the dying process (as I do it) and  talk about some of my choices.

I start by skeining the yarn if it is not already in this form.  I use a plain wool yarn for tying the skein into sections.  I usually make sure the skein is tied in at least 3 and sometimes 4 places to keep the yarn from getting too tangled in the water.

Here, the first of 5 skeins is in the water.  I've done as many as 8 skeins at a time but an optimum number for the size of the sink is really 4-6.

I fill one side of the kitchen sink about 1/2-3/4 full of hot water (depending on how much fiber or yarn I am doing in that batch).  For each full skein (or 100 grams) I add 100 ml of plain white vinegar and 1 Tablespoon of salt.  The vinegar is the 'acid' in acid dye.  The salt acts as a mordant or fixative agent.  So, essentially the vinegar activates the dye and the salt helps it stay in the fiber permanently.

I gently lay the yarn or fiber on the surface of the water and then gently submerge it making sure to force out any air bubbles.

While the yarn is soaking I mix up any dyes that I don't have enough of for that dying session.  When it comes to mixing the dye you have choices to make.  The dyes do not come with mixing instructions because there is no right or wrong strength.  While I chose to put the vinegar and salt into the pre-dye soak water, most traditional kettle dyers soak the fiber in plain water and put the vinegar and salt in the kettle with the dye.  I prefer to mix the dye with just water.  This way, when I make a stock solution I can store it for up to 6 months without it losing any strength (provided it is in a cool, dry, dark place--which it is).  To make a stock solution I mix 5ml (1/2 teaspoon) dry dye powder with 100 ml hot water.  I use relatively small containers that hold 200 ml stock solution.  Because they are small, and stackable, I can store them easily.

For my work area I start by laying down multiple layers of heavy-duty paper towels.  We got a large box of these at the hardware store.  They are disposable but are also multi use. You'll find them with the drop cloths.

Next, I have an old drawing tablet that still has a few pages on it that I use as a large blotter.  That goes over the towels.  I occasionally take notes right on the blotter but I prefer to have blank paper and a pen nearby to draw diagrams of how I applied the color or to jot down notes or ideas.  This is especially handy when mixing dyes together.  Always measure and jot the amounts down so that you can repeat it (if you want to do that).

Finally, I have a plastic cutting board that helps keep down the amount of liquid that the pad absorbs at any given time.  Paper towels are also always nearby to blot up excess liquid from the yarn or work area.  I also have a little 200 ml beaker type measuring cup, measuring spoons, the containers of dry dye powder, paper and pen, assorted things to pour, drip, and spray dye with within reach. Lastly, a radio/CD player.  Today's tunes are Black  Eyed Peas and Michael Buble. (don't ask).

I usually decide which dyes I am going to use on the yarn before I start applying.  I have some squeeze bottles in two sizes that make applying the dye easier.  Most of the time, especially when painting, I use the dye at full strength and just pour them from the stock solution.  There are, however, times when I want a paler color and the squeeze bottles are perfect when I need to dilute some of a stock solution.  Again, I write down how many milliliters of the stock solution are mixed with how many milliliters of water.

I used a spray bottle to spray blue randomly on the skein before I started adding the other colors in specific sections.  That is why you can see little bits of blue in spots.

This yarn is getting four main areas of burgundy.  As I pour the dye on the individual areas that I want to dye, I use one hand to pour (keeping the container as close to the yarn as possible to avoid splashing) and the other hand works the dye into the fibers by gently massaging it through all of the strands.  You can also vary the results by pouring the dye in just one area and pushing it down the strands.

These skeins have been heat set in the microwave and are now cooling off in the sink.

I left white areas between the burgundy.  In the center of that white area will go a thin stripe of gold.  Finally, I fill in the white areas between the gold and burgundy with a dark blue.

So far, setting up has taken anywhere between 1/2--1 hour.  The actual painting of these skeins has taken between 10-15 minutes.  The final step (heat setting the dyes to make them permanent) takes about 10 minutes.  

When I have finished putting dye on the yarn, I wrap the skein in microwave safe plastic wrap (Saran Wrap is my preferred brand but I have also used Glad Press-n-Seal in a pinch).  Depending on the color placement and how much you want or don't want the colors to bleed on each other determines the method of wrapping with the plastic.  Generally, when I know I am going to be painting the yarn I cover the whole work space with plastic wrap.  Then, as I finish each section of yarn I can roll it up from the outside edge and help keep the colors from bleeding too much.  Unless I want it to blend together.  There really are no right or wrong answers here.

But, however I have wrapped the yarn, I give the whole package another layer of wrap just to make sure it doesn't leak all over the inside of the microwave.  Once it is cocooned in plastic, it is placed in the microwave and heated for two minutes on high power.  When the microwave beeps, I open the door and just let it sit there cooling for three minutes.  Then I repeat the process again.  Sometimes I turn the yarn package over.  Sometimes I don't.  Total time is now 10 minutes.

Make sure you are wearing gloves when taking the yarn bundle out of the microwave.  It will be extremely hot at this point and some steam may leak out of the plastic wrap.  BE VERY CAREFUL to avoid burns.  I drop the bundle in the empty side of the sink and just go on with other colors while it cools.

After the yarn has cooled for about 20 minutes or so, I remove the plastic wrap.  It is still pretty hot.  If there is more than one skein I separate them and leave them in the sink to cool to room temperature (see the picture above).  Once they are at room temp they can be rinsed.  The rinse water should be at least as warm as the yarn, or warmer to avoid felting.  Warm/hot water causes the individual wool fibers to open up at the end.  Cold water causes the ends of the fiber to close down on one another.  It is not the warm/hot water that causes felting, but the repeated opening and closing of the fibers when shocked by temperature changes in the water.  Friction (or agitation) of the fibers helps speed up the felting process by tangling the ends of the fibers while they are open so that when they close they are permanently twisted together.  So, try to not rub the fibers much while dying and rinsing  but be especially mindful of temperature changes in any of the liquids you are working with.

Once the water rinses clean, gently squeeze out as much of the water by hand and then hang the skeins up to dry.  If you have the space, and the weather is nice, go ahead and hang them outside.  Direct sunlight can damage or fade the yarn if exposed for long periods of time.  But the time it takes the skeins to dry will only be a few hours if in the sun, or if there is a breeze so go ahead.  Besides, freshly dyed yarn looks so pretty blowing in the breeze.

Any questions?

Dyer's Notes:Polo Ponies and Georgia Peach

I knew ahead of time some of the colors I was going to be dying.  The first one on my list was Sophisticated Schoolgirl.  I have dyed this color twice before and sold it instantaneously.

Then, I knew I wanted to do a masculine, darker yarn.  The last two pair of socks that I have made for Addison have been with these warm brown sort-of mixtures.  When I was deciding which colors to use for this, I was reminded of horse colors.  Chestnut, brown, black, bay.  And so they named themselves.  I liked this color combination in theory but the reality of how they turned out exceded my expectations.  I love the dark purple quality of this yarn and can't wait to see how the colors play off of each other when knit up!

But the biggest surprise for me was Georgia Peach.  Someone had commented that the color they most wanted to see was peach.  Since I don't have a specific peach colored dye I made my own (yes, I take notes so I can do it again).  A few of the skeins were dyed in a kettle manner rather than being painted.  This color was one of the kettle ones.  I used the dye in a very diluted concentration and then added some of the full strength as well as some pink selectively.  Now, while I love the color pink, I am not a pastel person.  Nor am I usually wowed by the color peach.  But, I've got to tell you, I am smitten with this color.  Somehow, it is rich and yet subtle at the same time.  I'm not sure that's really possible but there you have it.

Next up: Early Autumn and Summer garden

A Tale of Two Yarn Shops

I so wanted to start this post: "It was the best of shops.  It was the worst of shops."  But couldn't.  At first glance, both shops are lovely.

Let me back up a bit.

I got a phone call from my sister, Steph, who lives in Orlando this past Sunday.  One of her best friends (an only child) mom had died suddenly of a massive heart attack.  Steph has always been the social butterfly of the family who can become best friends with someone in practically an instant (she will chat up anyone).  I think of her as the 'Chatty Kathy' (sorry to all the Kate's, Kathy's, Katherine's and Kattie's out there.  My name is Susan (lazy Susan) so I understand but you know how it goes) of the family.  However, even with all of the people she 'friends' she really has a core group of people who are her BFF's and for them she will do anything.  So, when her BFF Vicki called at what has to be one of the worst times in a person's life Steph said she would be here for her.  She was calling me to let me know that she would be flying in to Philly in two days.  Mom & Dad were going to pick her up.

Now, I love my parents dearly faults and all.  But the drive to Philly is 2 hours each way and the PA Turnpike between here and there is hilly and twisty.  The drive out would be in daylight but the return trip would be at night.  My Dad will be 68 in a few months and while his health is generally good (he had a mild stroke a few years ago) he does not have complete use of his left hand and (let's face it) shouldn't be on the highway for 4+ hours when someone else is available.

I was available.  And, since her flight wasn't due to arrive until a little after 5 in the evening there was plenty of time to stop in at a Philly yarn shop.  Maybe two if I left early enough!

Well, the weather yesterday did not match my enthusiasm.  It was dark, grey, cloudy, overcast, foggy, wet, and rainy.  A perfect day to stay in bed with a good book or some warm knitting.  But I was on a mission and taking Max with me.

I contacted Ann (a twitter friend who lives in Philly) for her thoughts on the Philly yarn scene.  I had visited Loop a few years ago.  While I liked that shop I wanted to see others.  There were logistics involved including actual location and also the availability of parking.  All of the shops she recommended that are in Philly she had been to herself and could vouch for the pros and cons of each having experienced them.  There was one other she knew of in the suburbs but she hadn't personally been to...

A Garden of Yarn is in the suburb of Chadd's Ford just outside of West Chester.  This is the "I've got money and am not afraid to prove it" side of the street when it comes to Philly suburbs.  It took us a while to find as some of the roads in PA seem to have been marked and/or numbered by someone's drunk uncle with a math/directional impairment.  But we found it.  To paraphrase a review I found of this place online, "It is a beautiful little shop nestled amongst other beautiful little shops in a quaint shopping village".

First of all, I didn't think this shop was "little".  Not compared to the square footage of most of the other LYS's I have been to where they have to creatively use every square inch for display.

Secondly, It is a gorgeous shop.  They have a very broad selection of yarns, though very little sock yarn and no local indie dyers.  The yarns they do carry were very nicely displayed.  Arranged by color in some interesting ways.  They had some hand painted wool that I would have plunked some serious cash down on except for one little problem....

They were so f***ing rude as to not even say, "Hello" or greet me in ANY way when we walked into the store!!!  I don't walk into business establishments with my head down hoping they don't see me.  Nor, am I a tiny, petite, whisp-of-a-woman.  I wore my Noro February Lady sweater for f*** sake.  They completely ignored me!  It was only after I had wandered around the entire shop that one of the women came over and complemented my sweater.  And then walked away again without so much as asking if I was looking for something in particular!  You can't possibly expect me to spend even a penny in your shop if you value me so little as a customer.  And, just to clarify:  there was not one owner/salesperson manning the shop all by herself during a busy sale...there were three women there.  In fairness, I think one was not employed there but I'm certain the other two had some official business in the shop which should have included TAKING CARE OF THE POTENTIAL SALE OR SALES THAT JUST WALKED IN THE DOOR!

OK, so Max and I got back in the car.  I was angry and disappointed.  Max was hungry.  He's a sixteen year old boy on a weird field trip with Mom and always hungry anyway.  So, we drove on.  I contemplated just going straight to the airport and hanging out (knitting and spinning) there.  But, I had told Max so much about South Street and the wonderful atmosphere and food to be found there that he insisted we at least try it.

Because it turns out that one of the other shops is on South Street as is Loop.  Max was with us the day my Mom and I went there a few years ago.  He had stayed in the car with the men folk but remembered it was on South Street.  Funny that visit was also in February on a cold and dreary day.  Note to self: bring Max back to the South Street neighborhood in the summer when he can really appreciate how special a place it really is.

So, we headed south on 95.  That's an experience in and of itself.  I got lucky and found a parking spot at the corner of South and 9th.    The shop was less than a block away.  We slogged the short distance through the rain that had been with us all morning.  We were looking for a shop called Nangellini.  I almost missed the door to the unassuming little shop.  Stepping through that door was like walking into a warm and sunny retreat.  We were instantaneously and warmly greeted by the owner, Nancy (Ravelry name Nangellini); one of her customers that was getting some one-on-one assistance from Nancy; and from Mandie (Ravelry name moderndaygypsy), the shopgirl.  I use that term lovingly.  An employee is someone who just works for someone.  Some are good, some are not.  A shopgirl is essential to a good and well run shop that takes care of its customers.  Mandie was that and more.  She showed us around, asked about my interests, showed me various products, and made suggestions.  You could tell that she cares about Nancy, the shop, and the customers.

Here are some pictures of the shop:

Nancy also sells pop art made by her and a friend of hers as well as some lovely finished knitted items.

Everything is beautifully displayed.

Lots of color everywhere!

These pictures are all of the downstairs of the shop.  Most of the yarn is upstairs.  I, however, am lazy and when I remembered I had my camera I had already come back down.  Plus, I think Max would have gnawed my arm off if he thought I wasn't about to go out the door in search of food for him.

Through Mandie's suggestions, I finally got the answer to my how-the-hell-am-I-going-to-bead-this-lace-weight-yarn-I'm-spinning dilemma.  The answer is string the teeny tiny seed beads on a teeny tiny iridescent thread.  At $.04/yd I was going to spend $20 and get 500 yards.  But this stuff is so teeny tiny that it was impossible to measure that many yards without ruining the thread and/or driving the person trying to measure it insane.  So, Nancy graciously offered to sell the cone for $15.  I have no idea how much is on the cone nor do I think anyone will ever know.  But I think it was probably a good deal for both of us.  And, I greatly appreciated it.  

The thread under natural light.

How it sparkles when it catches the light!

In addition to the thread, I also got these...

That, my dear friends, is just over a pound of silk!

Offered for sale by this company and available at Nangellini.

One of the coolest things about this yarn is that it is recycled scraps from the weaving mills in India that is then handspun by a women's cooperative.  So buying this helps the environment, the women who create it, and the communities in which they live.

And, the colors are amazing!

Reminds me of a peacock's tail.

The solid colors are in hanks of 100 g/100 yds and sell for $14.  Nancy has an orange and a bright green that I am kicking myself for not buying but as is I spent more than I probably should have...isn't that always the case?  My yarn appetite is always bigger than the budget.  Oh, well, I LOVE what I did get.

The multi-color skeins are a great deal though.  Each is 200 g/180 yds and sells for just $16.

When I was done drooling over and petting all of the lovelies in Nancy's shop I asked for a pizza recommendation.  Max was getting ready to start chowing down on whatever he could catch and wrestle to the ground and I didn't think that kind of behaviour would make a favorable impression on the ladies in the shop.  They heartily suggested Little Italy, a relatively new (opened in 2008) pizza shop less than a block away.  Let me tell you, these women know their pizza in addition to their fiber!

He went from snarling to purring!

Amazingly, I even got him to take the thing away from his face for a split second for this shot.

With yarn in car and pizza in stomach we were finally ready to do what we came here to do and headed for the airport.  Surprisingly, it only took 15 minutes.  We got a close parking space and went in to hang out and wait for Steph.

Just chillin'

The view.  Driving home in this was a blast.

Steph's flight left Orlando 30 minutes late yet arrived on time.  How the hell do they manage that?  But I have to say, she said the flight was uneventful.  So, way to go US Air.  It's not very often that you hear anything good about the airline industry so I kind of figure they at least deserve a quick shout-out on an obscure fiber arts blog.  It's the least I can do.  All of the people Max and I came into contact in the airport were also very helpful and courteous.  I had never been to the Philadelphia International Airport before but would not hesitate to fly in or out of there in the future.  They were great.  (I had to get directions to the gate and where we should wait from two different people near two of the security check areas and they were awesome).

The drive home sucked.  The Surekill Expressway was as bad as ever.  But I'm glad we had the chance to take a little road trip.  I got to see my sister during what is going to be a very short and hectic visit.  And, it kept Mom and Dad from having to deal with an ugly drive.

Most importantly, I can check off two more PA Yarn shops that I have visited.  And, look forward to visiting Nangellini again in the future.  If you are in the Philadelphia area or want to get some of this gorgeous silk for yourself, stop in or call or e-mail Nangellini.  Here's her card.

Tell her that Ann and Sue sent you.

Potential & Possibilities

I started a little shop on Etsy (Knitted Things and Strings from the Fearlessknitter) a little less than 3 months ago.

The first group of things I put up for sale was knitted items. They ranged from a large, expensive circular lace shawl made from a yarn that is a blend of wool, silk, and silver

 to some simple hats and inexpensive cotton coasters.

The second set of things I put up for sale was hand dyed yarns. I am working on developing my own lines. I named my sock yarn "High Society" because hand knit socks make you feel like a million bucks.

 My personal color sense involves bright colors. I try to combine colors in unusual ways and the results usually make me smile. So, I call my superwash line "Celebrate Superwash" 

and my merino worsted weight "Creative Colors".

The third set of things was hand spun yarn. I have listed a variety of fibers and weights from lace to bulky and including angora and some sparkly accents.

When I started this venture I figured I would be mostly selling those knitted things and maybe a little yarn. The reality so far is very different. Of my seven sales so far, two have been finished items, five have been yarn I dyed, and so far no hand spun sales.

So I've been thinking about my potential customers. It turns out that I am attempting to sell to two very different groups of people at the same time. One group appreciates hand knit items but does not knit or crochet themselves. The second group is made up of people like me who knit, crochet, spin, weave, or felt--fiber crafting folks.

So, what to do? When I knit do I knit to sell? Knit to experiment with design, color, shape, texture, fiber, stitch, form, and construction? Knit for myself, family, and friends? Knit for the pure pleasure and joy of it?

What about my newest fiber love-spinning? The questions are pretty much the same as the knitting ones.

Then, there's the dying...

Turns out that even when I am dying my own stuff, I will still buy other people's yarns. But, the more I see and experience with color the more I want to do. As a knitter I love finding a color that makes me say, "Wow, I gotta have that". I will forever be going through the never ending cycle of adding to and then using from my beloved "Stash".

While we are all such individuals I think most of us fiber folks are more alike than we realize. So, I'm going to try to focus on what I love the most--COLOR. I want to create yarns that make people feel like "I just gotta have that color". I want to offer a product that is reasonably priced yet compensates me for my time, effort, and expertise.

So, I plan to talk to a local gift shop owner about some of the small hand knit items that I create every so often. I will continue to spin and will sell (or gift) what I don't persoanally use. But the main focus of my shop will be the hand painted yarn and as I improve with dying roving I may end up selling some of that too.

I'm gratified that people like the things I knit. But, rather than sell things, I want to sell potential and possibilities.