Echo Valley Fiber

2011-09-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

Last night had a little more excitement than I had intended. Drove into NYC for an event at a gallery in Manhattan (20th between 10th and 11th). Took me 90 minutes just to get through the Lincoln Tunnel; I'd almost forgotten those days of daily driving hassles. Parked at a well-lit outdoor garage just a block away. The evening was sponsored by Jane Ubell (of Madison and Mulholland) and was her 10th Anniversary Gala for her wonderful Hampton Bag Giveaways. Met lots of interesting people, talked up alpacas and our amazing yarn, of course . . . . and left about 830 to get my car. Just moments before I arrived, there was an armed robbery at the parking garage. Swarmed in minutes by New York's Finest, followed by the suit-clad detectives and then the CSI people to collect evidence. Yellow crime scene tape everywhere. Needless to say, it took me another hour to rescue my car. Fortunately no one was hurt. But I was very impressed by the professionalism of law enforcement in NYC. They were even better than on tv!

Water Water Everywhere . . . .

2011-08-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

It sounds like that is what we are going to have on the East Coast this weekend. It's difficult to know if Irene is really as powerful as the reports indicate, but I can tell you people are getting ready! The lines at the filling station were so long I had to wait to even enter the lot. Stores have people waiting for their next water delivery. Thank goodness I went to the store yesterday. We live on a rocky hill that in winter/ice/snow is less than pleasant -- but during times like these I am very thankful for that hill. What do I plan on doing? I'm skeining boxes and boxes of new huacaya yarn, have three knitting projects that all could use attention, and we're readying a new snail mailing about all the happenings in the store -- not the least of which is a new name. (Watch for updates here if you aren't on our mailing list!) Sometimes changes can be frightening, and my prayers go out to all the people who will be affected by these storms far more than will I, but a weekend at home is a welcome change for me. Having lived in the East for more than 30 years, I cannot remember them shutting down the NYC subway system or Atlantic City casinos. Stay home and stay safe.

All Things Bridal . . .

2011-05-16T19:25:00.001-07:00

We are in full bridal mode! With just 12 days to the first-ever Diamond Bridal Faire in Virginia, we are still checking with vendors, designing the show booklet, knee-high in favor ideas and sundry odds and ends like a sound system and chairs. The barn has been cleaned from top to bottom thanks to Vanessa . . . If only it would stop raining so we didn't have to bring our furry alpacas in on Thursday to keep them dry. Yup! Shearing all weekend. After the Faire we will sort fiber and get it shipped off to Blue Hill. New today: bring a pre-1975 wedding dress to display and admittance to the Faire is free! We are excited (and a little scared) at such a big undertaking. Everybody come! And check out the website www.DiamondBridalFaire.com.

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

2011-02-18T12:46:00.000-08:00

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

2011-01-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

So, I actually did it. All five goals for the week: check! I just have to make file labels for all that filing that is now organized. Amazing. Plus I shoveled out twice. Feeling very successful. Finished another scarf tonight; starting a cowl. Now I can focus on W-2's, 1099's and getting tax materials to accountant. I should easily be able to skein yarn at least two hours a day this week -- plus watch a Netflux movie. Will be at the store next weekend if the snow doesn't foil my plans.

The Year Begins Anew

2011-01-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

Here it is: 2011. I like those two little "ones" sitting together, very neighborly like. Less zeros in the equation makes for increased coziness. This fresh start means my "to do" list is never-ending. But I will focus the first week in January on only five. Can't do everything all at once. ;-) #1. Get all Christmas decorations put away by Wednesday. (I've decided some items need a completion date.) #2. Finish filing at home. (I may need some time to plow through that stack; ergo, no firm date). #3. Go back to Jenny Craig. Unfortunately, enough said about that. #4. Organize and plan monthly Fiber Features at the store. This means we'll have a project a month for our customers, and it'll be priced at a discount and focused on in our classes. Hope this can begin in February. Watch for it! And finally, #5. A clean office makes a more productive Me. Both my offices have to be tidied by weeks end. Here it is the second day of January and those five already have me feeling overwhelmed. Can I follow through?? Check back in a week and hold my feet to the fire!

Enlightened Pet Owner Very Surprised

2010-11-11T18:28:00.000-08:00

This has been an amazing discovery! My beautiful 10-month old Keeshond puppy, Carmen Ruttkay, was being stubbornly difficult to train. She is very smart, and gorgeous is not enough to describe her sweet face and luxurious coat. But when I would attempt to walk her she pulled on the lead till my arms ached from trying to hold her back. Now touching the scale at more than 30 lbs, I knew something had to change. I took her to the pet store and read on the back of a halter (as opposed to a collar) that some dogs bred for pulling (like huskies who pull dog sleds though snow) just naturally "pull" when their collar strains a certain place on their necks. Whoa!! Keeshonds are originally from the Netherlands and were originally bred to pull barges along the canals. I thought it way too easy to simply swap her collar and change a total behavior pattern, but definitely worth a $24 try. My Carmen was Immediately a different puppy when the halter replaced the collar. She walked cheerfully alongside me -- nary a pull in sight. This morning, after both of us had a good night's rest, we headed out for our daily walk. There was absolutely NO pulling of any sort. She walked right beside me, adapting her pace to mine, looking up approvingly and appreciatively as we enjoyed the crisp beauty of fall. Maybe dog breeders knew this secret all along, but for me it was a discovery of Einstein proportions! Anyone else have this experience?

The Castle Is Ready!

2010-10-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

The Castle Sweaters site (known more officially as svetre zo zamku) is up and functioning! We are also on Facebook. Please LIKE us and tell all your friends!!! The love of your life would be thrilled beyond words to get a beautiful, hand knit, uniquely designed alpaca sweater. What better way to let that special someone know they dazzle your life?

Castle Sweaters Premiere This Weekend

2010-10-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

Very exciting news! We've been working for months on a great project: a small group of extremely talented European women have been making sweaters out of the yarn produced by our own alpacas. This is not as easy as it sounds. But the designs are exquisite. The techniques are flawless. You could never find sweaters like these in any store, regardless of how high-end it might be. They are premiering this weekend at The Homestead Arts and Crafts Festival in Hot Springs, Virginia. Stop by if you're in the area . . . But at least keep an eye on the website because we will soon put up a link to the new sweater website, www.Castle-Sweaters.com. Or in Slovak, svetre zo zamku, which means "sweaters from the castle". We've named them all after Slovak castles. Truly, these are straight out of sweater dream-don.

Summer's over??

2010-10-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hey, wait a minute. Where did August go? Somehow my calendar says October. Unbelievable. Our store has done a brisk farmers market business since last we blogged. It's plum full of the most enticing yarns. We're getting ready to start formulating classes and dragging out our spinning wheels! After a sweltering summer we're sure looking forward to fall breezes and beautiful leaves in the Shenandoah Valley. Next goal: get regular blogs posted so you know what we are up to. Thanks for checking back!

Westward Ho!

2010-06-21T20:08:00.001-07:00

The weekend found my husband and I traveling through northern Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. What tremendous, impressive country: huge mountains dating back 200 million years, cool Plains Indian Pow Wow in Cody, national parks (among them Yellowstone and Teton). It was so interesting to notice that the colors found in nature are very similar to the colors I like most when working with hook or needles. Got some fantastic beads in Jackson Hole to try out the newest "tool" in my quiver of techniques: lace knitting with beads! Can't wait to experiment. Saw buffalo, elk, bald eagle, and antelope. Would sure have loved to see bears like we used to in Yellowstone when I was a child.

Sort, Search, Separate, Repeat

2010-06-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went through the remnants of my overwhelming visit to TNNA. Organized receipts (travel and purchases) filed all my notes and handouts, delighted in what was ordered for the store and planned which new yarns need samples made. This after a day full of weeding, planting, and taking my car in for state inspection. But we're set now. I can hardly wait until the UPS trucks start to bring the stash to the store!

Learning New Skills: Bringing Joy to the Journey

2010-06-13T20:36:00.000-07:00

Learning a new skill, polishing up on an long-unused talent, trying your hand at baking something incredible .... All these types of mental or physical challenges awaken you to the luxury of a new day. Give yourself something to look forward to. Plan something wonderful to look forward to at least every week, with longer-term wishlists for monthly or annual "goals". Anticipating that upcoming gift/opportunity is at least half of the fun. Make your journey an event! My sentiments, precisely. I'd really forgotten the thrill of Learning outside your normal routine. But it's all beginning to come back ............

What would I do if I ever had some spare time?

2010-06-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

I'd almost forgotten what really drives my engine: What I love to do, to learn, to focus on, to revitalize me. This weekend I have been blessed to rediscover my creative roots. As a retail member of TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association) I have spent the weekend at their national convention. Not only have I been able to take classes in lace knitting and implement beading into their intricate designs, experience the ages-old technique of weaving on a small loom, and learn the Continental style of knitting -- I was able to meet and speak with so many of the women whose genius powers modern needlearts: Laura Nelkin, Lesley Solomon, Nicky Epstein, Liz Gipson, Paula Lishman, to name just a few, whose books and patterns and creativity have been an inspiration to so many of us. Wandering the aisles of vendor exhibits was like feeding my soul the best chocolates ever tasted. At the hotel each evening I have practiced new skills and poured over handouts and articles. I didn't have to sit at the edge of the pond and just dangle my toes -- I have been able to completely immerse myself in yarn, yarn, and more yarn. It would be difficult to put into words the emotional energy these experiences have generated and reignited for me. I've had a blast and can't wait to get back and nurture this rediscovered passion!