Miss Babs Blog

Sojourn and Sojourn IV - A Story in Yarn

Babs

Once upon a time we found a lovely yarn to use made of cashmere and silk. We enjoyed it and our customers enjoyed it too! Oh so soft and dreamy to knit and wear around our necks, on our heads, and and hands. It was nice enough that we gave some to Stephen West this year at Stitches Midwest and he used it in a design he was developing! Then, drat! The supplier of this yarn had trouble sourcing it just as we needed to dye it so we... Read More

SAFF and More

Babs

We are getting ready to head to SAFF and we'll finish packing things up today! This is the show where we take most everything we have! For example, I will be destashing some mill-spun that I had done for me a few years ago, and some other yarns that we tried, but decided didn't fit in our line-up, including some 100% alpaca lace. And for those of you who think we might have taken everything to Rhinebeck, you would be very mistaken! We saved some lovely jewels, plus many... Read More

Bad Girl! Bad Girl!

Babs

So I have been bad and not blogged in forever, and one of my customers told me as much at dinner tonight! So here I am...no pictures, I am on the wrong computer for that, but adding some words to the blog. We are at Rhinebeck for the first time ever as vendors! We are all excited! We are in Building C, Booths 25/26. Nice building with natural light and good space. We have brought lots of yarn in lots of bases, as well as lots of fiber!... Read More

We've Been Searching for that One Right Word or Phrase...Can You Help?

Babs

As many of you know, I do lots of repeatable colorways in monochromes and handpaints. But I have also started doing a lot of "one of a kind" colorways that are essentially limited editions. We have tried using the phrase "A Day at ..." as a way to indicate this difference, and then we couldn't find more that didn't sound really contrived. We have done a selection of "The Wreck of..." (which we will continue to do) but these tend to have a lot of blue. And then we... Read More

It's Been One Year - Let's Have Cake!

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