Miss Babs Blog

Babs

(N.B. To keep this post to a decent length, and also because it is Babs' blog, I will limit the projects I mention to those using Babs' yarn.) I am one of those ambitious knitters who always likes to knit most of her Christmas (and other) gifts. This is partially because I like knitting, and partially because I often express love through yarn, and Christmas is all about love. This year's line-up is, as always, extensive and impossible. Here are some of the projects I have in mind for gifts:... Read More

The Leaves Have Fallen, But the Year is Not Over!!

Babs

I used to think that when the leaves had fallen, that the year was pretty well done! But we have lots left to do this year!! NYC Trunk Show Next week, Jen and I head to New York City for a Trunk Show at The Yarn Company on Saturday, November 17. Jen and I actually went shopping yesterday over in Winston-Salem so that we wouldn't just show up in Columbia pants and LL Bean shirts. This is my normal wear for the mountains and in the studio, but we thought... Read More

Where the...?

Babs

[caption id="attachment_1249" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Don't even ask![/caption] Now that we are back in the studio after Rhinebeck and SAFF and a few well earned days off, we have discovered how annoying a certain word has become for several of our crew. "Where is this?" "Where did the such-n-such get put?" Where, where, where??? So in the spirit of giving that the holiday seasons brings, we have put our own spin on the swear jar! The Where? jar, requires that anyone who uses the dreaded word pay into the jar... Read More

October 2012 - Shows and New Introductions!!

Babs

It's been awfully quiet here on the blog...because so much has been happening that there simply hasn't been time to write!! But here's what is Happening!! Rhinebeck! and SAFF! Rhinebeck is also known as the New York Sheep & Wool Festival and the full name of SAFF is Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair. With 2 shows in 2 weeks, I have been dyeing everything in sight for Rhinebeck and SAFF! [caption id="attachment_1219" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Getting ready for the shows!![/caption] Big Orange (our trailer) is getting packed for our... Read More

The Summer Season

Babs

The berries are coming in...love that! Farmer's Market is open...love that! It's been 100-plus degrees in 2/3 of the US...don't love that! The heat makes me remember other really hot times. I remember as a kid, before there was air conditioning for regular homes, sitting/laying outside under a tree trying to catch any little breeze. And now that I think of it, sort of like when the dogs dig holes in the ground trying to get to cooler earth, laying on the ground was certainly cooler than inside the house. ... Read More

Summertime!!

Babs

[caption id="attachment_1184" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Yesterday's done blooms and today's getting ready to open![/caption] This is one of my favorite times of year....I absolutely adore Spring when the greens come on and the grass in the meadows goes absolutely brilliant green. My eyes get happy then. But this time of year is when the daylilies bloom. Oh...how I love them. Each day brings a different gathering of color as the different plants move through their buds. [caption id="attachment_1185" align="aligncenter" width="300"] One of my favorite Daylilies! Really intense yellow, much like... Read More

Small Business Grant Application

Babs

What's this grant we are applying for?? Well Chase has a grant program where 12 small businesses will be awarded $250,000 to help their businesses fund major improvements with their business. Among other things, I would love to be able to increase my warehouse space, retrofit my 800 square foot studio space, and update my website and somehow have it be interactive with my inventory. All of these are actually focused on being able to make the lives of my employees better and allow us to provide better customer... Read More

Something to Think About

Babs

Memorial services and funerals are often difficult to attend emotionally for me, since it serves to remind me of the other people I have lost in my life. Last week though we lost a fellow who was married to one of my best fiber buddies who has supported me through all of the start-up and ongoing phases of my business and other personal difficulties over the past few years. Without going into details, it was a short time between learning about what was going on and his passing. But there... Read More

To Dye or To Write?

Babs

So most days when I get up, my first thoughts are about what colors I am going to dye today, not what am I going to write about in my blog. And that is pretty obvious by the state of the blog. Here are some of the other things I try to fit into the start of my day: 1. Drinking Coffee 2. Exercise 3. Meditation and Prayer 4. Walking the dogs 5. Spending time with my cat who lives upstairs because she is afraid... Read More

New Patterns in Our Yarns!

Babs

There have been several new patterns in our yarns released recently! The newest of these are in the May- July 2012 issue of Cast On, the magazine published by TKGA. There is the amazingly gorgeous Vlad's Tunic by Arenda Holladay, using our Northumbria DK: [caption id="attachment_1119" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Vlad's Tunic by Arenda Holladay"][/caption] As well as the uniquely constructed Once Around the Ankle Socks by Charles Gandy in our Northumbria Fingering: [caption id="attachment_1120" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Once Around the Ankle by Charles Gandy"][/caption] A very Northumbria issue! As... Read More

2012 Spring Shows - Stitches South, Unwind, MDSW, & KYSW

Babs

Our spring show preparation is moving along well! I have been dyeing lots of yarn and fiber and it's been drying well (sometimes this is the biggest bottleneck we have). But lots of it is getting wound and is ready to go on the show racks to ride to shows in Big Orange. Stitches South is in 1 week, the Unwind Retreat in Blowing Rock, NC in 2 weeks, Maryland Sheep and Wool in 3 weeks, and Kentucky Sheep and Wool in 5. Our next month and a half... Read More

Party Time! (And Destash too...)

Babs

Carmen and I were the only two working at the Studio last Thursday, which meant she was all alone in the studio, and I was all alone in the office. All alone is not so much fun, so we decided to have a Party! I bought the party hats, and a great time was had by all (notwithstanding my sub-par self-photography skills...) [caption id="attachment_1089" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Carmen, Helen, Woolbert, and Woolhemina have a fun Party!"][/caption] Woolbert and Woolhemina were loathe to leave the party, and stayed long after Carmen and... Read More