Miss Babs Blog

Babs

Yesterday we were talking about how it has been one full year since the smoke damage (I accidentally left a covered dye pot on the stove) in my studio. The smoke caused a loss of over 90% of our inventory. The yarn was exposed to the smoke for over 20 hours and the color was changed on many of the skeins, and the odor was absolutely horrific. Here is one of the pictures of the yarn going into the dump! [caption id="attachment_869" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Yarn in the Dump!"][/caption] So... Read More

Squash Blossom

Babs

One of my favorite colors is Squash Blossom! It is such a happy color and here is a picture to explain why we called it Squash Blossom! [caption id="attachment_854" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Squash Blossoms in Two Forms"][/caption] Have a wonderful summer day! And a great Fourth of July! Read More

Miss Babs - a Real Person!

Babs

At most shows we are asked if there is a real Miss Babs?? We thought we would provide you with a picture of me. Here I am at MDSW. Thanks Sheila! for providing this picture! [caption id="attachment_839" align="aligncenter" width="282" caption="Miss Babs at MDSW - 2011, photo by Sheila Bosworth"][/caption] As usual, my eyes are closed when the picture is taken! How did I get the name of Miss Babs?? Well, it started with my husband who is from the south and he has, off and on, throughout our marriage called... Read More

Upbeat or Thoughtful?

Babs

There are times when I feel like I should just be upbeat for the sake of good marketing. Put that happy smile on. But there just has been a lot going on in people's lives lately and it has made me thoughtful and not so full of joy. I must also say that the loss of my inventory last summer has changed me....I worry more, and I also now understand the sense of loss people feel. Have there been greater losses lately due to natural disasters? Are the losses greater... Read More

Spring and Open Doors!

Babs

[caption id="attachment_820" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Hiding in the shade!"][/caption] I love fresh air! I love a little breeze. I love the kiss of a little sun. I love spring and the greens it brings. And I LOVE having the doors open! We all work better with the feeling of more space and seeing outside while we work. [caption id="attachment_821" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Violets in OUR grass!"][/caption] Read More

Three New Patterns!

Babs

Three new patterns were released in the last week using my yarns! These have come from Twist Collective, Anne Hanson, and Knitty! The first, called Avivah, from Twist Collective was designed by Mary-Heather Cogar, rainydaygoods, of Ravelry fame. This sock was designed in the color Sugar in Windsor Sock Yarn. [caption id="attachment_794" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Avivah Sock in Sugar"][/caption] The second was a Just Babs club design from Anne Hanson. The sock is called the "Cherry Pie Sock" and the colorway is Sugar and Spice, which was developed to celebrate the... Read More

Color and why I do

Babs

what I do. Jen and I were talking about being younger a couple of weeks ago and about how we developed our principles and so on. I can remember being unsure and cocksure at the same time, being in my body and out of my body at the same time (hormones raging), knowing what I thought I wanted and having not a clue how to get there, being sure of how the world should work and not knowing how to get it to be that way, wanting control and having... Read More

It's Been 4 Years.....

Babs

Since we’ve made any changes to the basic prices on any of our yarns. There have been many price increases from all of our yarn and dye and fiber and other suppliers during that time, and we have been able to absorb them without passing them on to our customers. However, because wool is bought and sold like other commodities (oil, steel, wheat, etc…), the price is affected by those same global factors that make the nightly news. Wool prices have increased significantly this year with some of the prices... Read More

A Fiber Post...Finally!

Babs

Jen here: Fiber. It's there at the end of the name of the business! We certainly don't mean to give fiber the short end of the stick here at Miss Babs, even if that stick has a beautiful whorl from the Bosworth's or the Dyak's. So here today we will focus on fiber, and we start with one of our favorites - Bluefaced Leicester. BFL is at the top of our favorites list for a variety of practical reasons. It exhibits an almost ideal compromise between softness and durability. This... Read More

Signs of spring!

Babs

[caption id="attachment_728" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Peeking through the leaves!"][/caption] Before we left for California and Spring out on the West Coast, I took a look around the property for signs of Spring here in Tennessee. This is what I found! These are some Daffodils that are just starting to peek through the dead leaves. There is also some Chickweed that has started to green up and the buds on the Dogwood are just starting to swell. What signs of Spring can you find? You might have to bend down and poke... Read More

Getting Ready for a Show....

Babs

All those last minute things that have to be done. My DH suggested a few years ago that I make a standard list of things to remember in getting ready for a show. Maybe he's right and I should do that, but so many things seem to be different before each show, especially when shipping to the West Coast, which we will do 2-3 times this year. We leave in a day or so and the time that seemed so long, now seems so little. Crazy! All the little things... Read More

Did You Know??

Babs

There's lots of things to learn about fibers and yarns. Everything from how to knit and crochet to how to create the yarn to knit and crochet with. Then there's felting, wet and needle. Two years ago, I might have said I know a lot about fiber and yarn, but this is one of those subjects that the more you learn, the more you realize how much more there is to learn. And there are lots of directions to go in building that knowledge. So here are some of the... Read More