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Posts from the ‘General News’ Category

adventures in healing

Hey all…

I know quite a few of you have been waiting on an update and I fully intended to put at least one up before now however… best laid plans and all.

I think I have mentioned before that I might be a bit delusional optimist. In all honesty I think this is one of my super powers and had gotten me through so very much. As with all super powers it has it’s downside I guess we will call it although I hesitate to do so which is kinda funny. Anyway I thought I could recover so much faster than I have and still am, and…it has taken quite a bit on emotional and psychological strength hence the quiet on all social media fronts. I am sorry for any worry this has caused but I needed the quiet and low input to gather strength.

I am doing quite a bit better and all the docs on my team are thrilled and maybe even a little stunned. I’ve gone from cancer makers that were through the roof in November to very low ones now. I left the hospital at the end of November unable to get in and out of bed by myself with drains on left and right lungs to keep the fluid at bay so I could breath and pretty much no strength.

I am now down to one drain and that will come out really soon!!! YAY!!! I can not only get in and out of bed but I can walk a mile and dye yarn. I can’t work all day everyday. I am pacing myself which is not an easy thing for me to do. I get pretty frustrated and sometimes low but mostly I am grateful to be here and to keep doing what I love with the people I care about.

My family and friends has been amazing!! My daughter Rabia has moved back home to help me which I really have no words to express how that makes me feel. She’s an amazing human, all my kids are. I have said it before and I will keep saying it I am a lucky woman because I am rich in people who love me whom I love!! And really what is better than that?!

So…

What does all this mean for Blue Moon? It means one day at a time. I am taking orders I feel I can fill.

Socks that Rock is still out of stock at the moment and I am working on it with a new mill.I do have 2 substitutes that I like until then if you are interested let me know.

The website is not fixed and I am looking to moving things to another. At the end of this month I will be sending out the last of the sock club 2022. There will not be another sock club or actually any club after I finish up with what I have going. I will be doing other offerings which will be as exciting I think. Some of these changes are health related and some are it’s a very different world out there and it just gets harder and harder to run a small business so… I am going to adjust to what I feel is doable and comfortable and supportive to my community and family.

If you want to order email me: orders@bluemoonfiberarts.com with what you want, your shipping info and phone number and I will send a paypal invoice.

I appreciate so much your patience with me over ALL of this the past few years and your support and well wishes. It means so much to me truly!! It makes me feel like I have the best and creative team for healing with me one this so thank you.

As I mentioned earlier when I first told you about cancer coming back my friend Benjamin Levisay set up a gofundme to help with expenses. It’s very costly to be have cancer. You would pass out if I told you what one of these meds cost. I couldn’t believe it, I honestly thought they were joking.  It feels a bit criminal to charge so much for medicine. Big business should not control out health care. I won’t get started on that topic we would be here for days.

Because a lot of you asked how you can help here is the link to the gofundme.

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Ben is also starting his podcast again. Fiber Hooligan. If you have not listened to it you should he’s really good!! I am the first guest this go around and will send a link to that when he posts it. He is one of my best friends so it should be not only informative but entertaining. We are funny together. Well at least we think we are.

I miss you all!! I miss seeing my people and hearing your voices and all of it! So when I am a bit better I am going to start some sort of zoom chat thing so we can visit. I am hoping to be up to some sort of barn sale dye day thing this late summer and will let you know. I might need a few bodies to help pull it off.

Again my dear fiber and color loving friends I appreciate you sooo very much and am beyond grateful to have been part of your lives even in this small way.

Thank you!!!

Take care!

Oh…look what I saw yesterday. I think it’s magic and a very very good omen.

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I am here….

CANCER SUCKS!!!

Hello all
I am sorry for the delay in keeping you up to date since letting you know I was in the hospital but it’s been a bit of a whirlwind of testing and information and treatments. A whole lot to process for me and my family.
I so appreciate your patience, all of your well wishes and prayers ~ thank you!!!
So… it turns out that what we thought was post covid issues is in fact a return of breast cancer.
It’s metastatic at this point but still very treatable according to my oncologist.
in fact we’ve already started treatment and I seem to be responding pretty well. I have the hormone receptor positive kind as it was last time just a bit more invasive. Because of the amount of lymph involved last go around we all knew this was a very strong possibility.
I have been home for a few days and getting back into the swing of things very, very slowly with a whole lot of help and support.
I am answering emails and working on shipping and a dye schedule.
I know it’s been one thing after another here for awhile now with all of the mill, supply chain, and shipping issues and delays and you all have been so very patient and understanding.
I have put my foot down with the powers that be.
Enough!!
I am putting this little note up on here on the blog and will be sending out an email to all of Blue Moon’s mailing lists.
If you have an order in that you need sooner than later please let me know.
If you can wait a little longer I appreciate it more than you can know.
I love dyeing yarn for you!
A lot of you have already asked how you can help.Your patience and compassion is very helpful in many ways so thank you!
My friend Benjamin Levisay is putting together a gofundme to help cover medical expenses and such. When I have that info I will post it.
A few of you have sent letters which I soooo love if you feel inclined to write.
You are my people I love hearing from you!
Now that I have ripped off this bandaid and told you I will keep you in the loop!
I am off…I have PT coming today and a daughter who is making sure I take ALL of my pills. I know this probably will come as no shock to those of you who know me ~ I might not make the most cooperative patient.
My kids are saints!!!

Thank you!!

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Shopping cart issues

You ever have those moments where  it seems like every time you go to get something done you are met with obstacle after obstacle? Well it has been a few days of this for me. The latest was trying to get shipping out yesterday and the shipping  system on the USPS site is sending errors and it just keeps saying to come back. Yesterday I put in all the info and it gave an error message the the tracking and would not process so…hopefully they get this fixed.

Our other and bigger issue also involves shipping. The shipping module/plug-in for the Blue Moon website is broke and we are trying to figure out if it is fixable which is why orders are not going through and are stalled one that page of the website.

So while we figure this current challenge out if you want to place and order here is what to do:

email me your order include:

Name, address and phone number along with what yarns you want to purchase, how may skeins and in what colors.

I will then send you a paypal invoice to pay and boom order placed.

or you can call me and place your order that way. 503.348.9278

I am sorry for this hassle. It’s certainly not how I saw this week going.

On the positive side of things it’s been glorious here weather wise and my daughter Rabia is home for the month visiting. So this mama is very happy!!

school of Yarn folks your packages are sitting here waiting for USPS to get it together as soon as they do  they will ship!

Okay I am off to play with dye on yarn for a few hours!!

Have a lovely Sunday!!

Sunday are for…

It’s Sunday and I am rinsing all the roving that was dyed yesterday and doing some cleaning because my middle child, my daughter Rabia is coming for a visit. So excited. She’s the one that is teaching and living in Kyrgystan so I have not seen for since last last July.  She will be here for the rest of the month so I have been trying to get as much done as possible so we can spend a lot of time playing!

It’s quite a stunning day here and mostly quiet except for the ravens whose babies are fledgling so every once in awhile there is the raven parent cheering section which is very very loud! we also have a barred owl fledgling whose parents are not putting up quite ruckus that the ravens are. Life in the woods.

I also have baby bunnies everywhere and quite a few baby squirrels. I guess it’s just that time of year but it seriously seems to be a lot more of them than usual.

I have been trying to use Sundays create space for inspiration. I get inspiration from many places and in varied ways all of which require me to be present and open and not occupied so space. Sometimes that looks like a walk or gardening or reading or even doing the dishes. I find you never know when and where a spark is going to fire up. Today it was picking up my CSA for the week which had this beauty in it.

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A tiny little head of purple cauliflower. So pretty!! So I got out my camera and spent some time with this little gem before I add it to my dinner salad.

Crazy cool right?

It’s a tiny head of cauliflower and look at that color and patterning… so pretty. Taking the time today to immerse myself in photographing this stunning little gem gave me such a sense of joy and peace.

I sent one of the pics to a friend who I thought would appreciate it. She’s somone who knows me very well.~ she asked me how I was going to cook it. I told her I wasn’t, that I was going to break it into tiny florets and put it in a salad. She laughed and I was  like what’s so funny? She said I know why. You want to be able to absorb that purple don’t you?!! LOL

Why yes, I do. It will also make a stunning salad don’t you think?!

It truly is the little things, especially on a Sunday and especially now.

Hope you are having a good day.

Thanks for listening!!

School of Yarn ~ Master Class

 

“The function of art is to more than tell it like it is ~ it’s to imagine what is possible.” ~ Bell Hooks

 

Years ago, our School of Yarn series as a way to give you the (knitter, crocheter, spinner or weaver) a better understanding of the yarns you were using. We wanted to open up your knowledge about fiber content, yarn construction and weight, as well as how and when to utilize which weight of yarn, with the right number of plies, made of the perfect blend of fibers. We covered quite lot of territory and I am hoping we contributed to you being more successful in your yarn choices and pairings with patterns.

… And then in waltzes the pandemic, bringing to a head issues that the textile industry has already needed to deal for quite a while. We are experiencing supply chain challenges, shipping issues and large price increases, some of which will hopefully get better and some that will just stay new and different. We need to look at these issues, not only in order to become better stewards of our planet in general, but also to start building a more sustainable approach to what we wear and make.

Blue Moon wants to be part of a solution, and with your help I believe we can add to the positive momentum forward. Our community is you – as well as the ranchers here in the western US who lovingly raise the sheep that grow the wool we are going to use – and also the processing people who clean the wool – and also everyone at the mill who contributes to milling and designing the yarn – and then of course me, your dyer and Karen, representing the designers.

All of the yarn we create and choose to bring into the Blue Moon line-up under the Community Supported Yarn initiative will be US made with The Textile Institute’s Responsible Wool Standards stamp of approval (certification). Yarn making takes time to get it from the sheep to your hands. So we are going to start now and go for a little over a year ~ 14 months. Taking time like this will allow us to give you the experience of the full scope of what (and who) is involved in creating yarn. We’ll also be able to take a look at why it is important to have ranching practices to protect the ground, to have scouring and milling practices to protect our water, and to have fair wages and humane treatment for everyone along this wool chain.

Change starts with us! Truly! I have seen first hand the power we have, so let’s get this ball rolling.

Our plan is to create two yarn-bases from sheep to skein together! You will also get skeins of some of the yarns we are adding to our line-up that have already been designed.

What follows is a general outline of what is to come in our Master Class and Community Supported Yarn venture. Our primary goals are: to create beautiful yarns for us all to enjoy while supporting everyone (animal, human and planet) along the supply chain; to build and celebrate a rich, vibrant community; and educate ourselves on more sustainable ways to create, dress and live on this beautiful planet. Karen and I are thrilled and grateful that you are joining us on this journey!

One of the things I know is that life is fluid, so things might change a bit since there are a lot of elements and folks involved, and we are still dealing with pandemic issues. (For example, I thought it was going to be challenging to get to ranches and talk to folks, and now it looks like we will have an abundance of these experiences to share with you. So very exciting!!)

As you can see, we have 13 months listed out here instead of the 14. It’s a safety net!! We have an extra month in there just in case we need that time. Live and learn!!

As Karen and I have worked through all of this we have found that there is so very much we would like to cover and discuss, so we are going to add in a monthly Zoom session that you can join live, or watch later if you missed it (or want to revisit a topic).

Every step of this process and every person involved has a story, so we will be learning a lot through each of these ranchers, growers, millers. Honestly, it’s my favorite way to learn because you get to see, hear and breathe in their passion and experience.

It’s quite the undertaking.
And here is a note from Karen:

As makers, we have a unique position vis-a-vis the climate crisis. On the one hand, we have the best perspective on what it takes to *make* the things we use on a daily basis, which puts us in a better position to empathize with the workers in the Global South who sew ready-to-wear clothing. We really know how long it takes to knit a pair of socks, or sew a dress!

But on the other hand, we are still consumers – our making takes resources, and with this emerging awareness of this situation the planet is in, we have to balance our desire to make with our need to consume.

I sum this up with an oxymoron: I call myself a ‘Minimalist Maker.’ And really, what it boils down to is, like in other aspects of my day-to- day life, questioning what I intend to consume. Do I really need it? If yes, can I source it more locally or from people who are doing really good work that I want to support? They are tough questions, but ones we have have to be asking ourselves so we can be an active force in turning this ship around.

So I’ve been digging in and reading a lot across a veritable Venn Diagram of overlapping topics: minimalism, the problem of fast fashion, capsule wardrobes, visible mending, conscious consumption…. Probably before the course is over, we will find a few more!

Every other month or so, I’ll take you through the highlights of some great books I’ve collected on these topics. If you want to do a deeper dive and read one or more for yourself, you can see if your local library has them, or order them up from your local bookstore – the links I’ve provided are from Powell’s in Portland.

Thank you for being a part of this community and journey! – Tina and Karen
Master Class Proposed Schedule

July 2022:Theme: Developing a Sustainability Sensibility
Where we are now: consumption and climate change Creating your ‘toolbox’ – what are you using and how does it reflect your values?
Reading: All We Can Save (Ayana Elizabeth Johnson)
First yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas
Local Indigo Dye Farm Profile

August:Theme: From Sheep to Yarn! An overview of the steps along the journey of making yarn
Shaniko Wool Story
Yarn Industry Standards of weights and measuresExploring your personal style: what’s the story you want to tell with our clothes?
Ranch Profile #1 and Ranch and Small Mill Visit

September:Theme: Carbon Hoof-Print from lamb to garments Traceability and Certification
Specific US breeds and choosing wools for specific yarns What makes a good sock yarn and why?What is our role in the global clothing economy and why is that important?
Reading: Consumed by Aja Barber
Second yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas
Ranch Profile #2

OctoberTheme: Shearing, baling and scouring…oh my! Superwash and other treatments
Your body quirks: what is your body comfortable in?  Ranch Profile #3

November:Theme: Mills and spinning
Mills in the US and certifications
Spinning a yarn: as the spinning frame turns all the singles Yarn weights, the importance of gauge, and how to knit a great swatch
Reading: The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth L. Cline  Ranch Profile #4 and Ranch Visit

December:Theme: Yarn design, milling timelines and testing procedures Matching fiber or fabric to your project – figuring out what you love to work with and wear
Third yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas   Ranch Profile #5
January 2023:Theme: Yarn design, construction and making, Part Two Winter Ranching!
Your favorite clothes are the ones that fit: sizing and ease Getting to an ideal capsule wardrobe with a January Reset! Reading: Project 333 by Courtney Carver                                                            Ranch Profile #6

February :Theme: The value of place. ‘Fiber-sheds’ throughout the US Your sustainable wardrobe: what you already own, secondhand resources, and me-mades
Fourth yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas Ranch Profile #7

 

March:Theme: Dyeing and dyestuffs both natural and chemical Footprints and sustainability
Building a color palette for more efficient making Reading: The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees    Ranch Profile #8 and Lambing
April:Theme: Ranchers and their sheep; animal care and safety; loving what we do; caring
Cared clothes last longer: hand washing, storage, and how to extend the life of your clothing             Fifth yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas. Ranch Profile #9 and Ranch Visit – Shearing

MAY: Theme: Running a yarn business
Building a community of like-minded souls
What 24 years in the hand work part of the textile industry looks like
When your favorite clothes get worn: mending and stitch work as wardrobe enhancement
Reading: Loved Clothes Last by Orsola de Castro
Ranch Profile #10 and Dye garden Visit for planting!!

June:Theme: Rounding it all up, casting off and working in the loose ends
What happens to the clothes you’re ready to let go of? Reuse, repurpose, refashioning                     Last yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas and joy!!  Ranch Profile #11
July:Theme: Where do we go from here?
Show and Tell – what are your sustainable wardrobes evolving into?
A Zoom session to round up all our ideas and successes!

Garment Yarn Special

Okay so I have been chuckling about this since I sent out that email on Saturday.                                                                                    Actually I had a feeling as I was adding all the bases to the coupon code on the website. As I added each of the bases to the code I wanted to include in this “Garment Yarn”  special I kept thinking what makes each one specifically for garments.Is there really such a thing as a garment specific yarn anymore.

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Basically, I had wanted to steer clear of a few yarns because I am waiting on shipments that are a wee bit late. Also the sock yarns went up in pricing again so I can’t really discount them at the moment. Pretty much any yarn can be used to knit a garment. Do I think you might regret choosing a very fine lace-weight silk like our Silk Thread to knit a cardigan out of yes, I do. However, it does not mean it’s impossible ~you certainly can give it a go. I sure do not want to be the one to limit someone’s creativity. I am that child that totally ignored the lines when coloring. And that right there is what I was finding so very amusing. Well, that and the fact that I know one needs to be specific on these kind of things. Communicate well Newton!!!

I knew as I hit send on that email I should probably qualify what I meant but I let it go and moved onto shipping what I could get out before USPS showed up. She tends to come early on Saturday.

 

Now that I have answered a fair amount of emails about what bases are included I am putting a list of them here and will be send out another email with that list.

I am sorry.

I know better. Ya know some of us just need to be hit over the head a time or two extra to get it!  LOL

The SPECIAL runs to the 8th . The codes is: garmentyarnspecial and it’s a  15% discount

Yaksi and Yaksi Fingering
Targhee Worsted
Silky Victoria
Twisted
La Luna Dk
La Luna Fingering and La Luna Lace
Aspen Worsted
Aspen Sport
SilkMO Lace
Aria
Plushy

ALL Rovings are included in this! Got an extra bump so….lots and lots of Targhee!!!

I would like to say, that while it’s true that pretty much any yarn could be considered a garment yarn it does not mean they should be. As much as I believe in not limiting vision and creativity I also believe in using the yarn that is going to give you the best outcome no matter what you are knitting. And some of these yarns are better suited for garments because of the fibers used to make them and how they are spun!!!

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My current favorite yarns for sweaters and such are Targhee Worsted, Aspen Sport and Worsted, Silky Victoria, Aria and the La Luna’s. Someone is bound to ask!

Anyway there you are!

Hope everyone is hanging in there!

Take care!!

And just because here is my Felix who is so very loving and absolutely ridiculous! He does this ALL the time. Silly boy!

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New and pretty exciting things!

Hey everyone!

Yes, it’s been awhile!

I’ve had a bit of a shit hitting the fan kinda month. So much drama from a late April snow storm (feet of snow and now power), a propane leak, and electrical short (in same building at the same time), a clog in the septic system, and a few other less stop in tracks issues.  I know… it was a whole lot. At this moment in time though all are dealt with and  I am moving on. My hope is that it’s all out of the way at once but I know that the powers that be have one wicked and dark sense of humor so we’ll see.

Okay straight onto the exciting part of life. You know how I have been hinting at this exciting new yarn venture for almost a year now?  I tell you it’s coming soon and then it doesn’t and then it is but then it doesn’t?  Thank you powers that be!  I am also a firm believer in waiting for that right time and this happens to be that time. Also these things take time especially during a pandemic!

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See this? Isn’t it stunning?

Meet Aspen! Our first wonderfully woolen step into a more planet loving, community-building, yarn future. You are so going to love this!

Aspen comes in both Worsted and Sport (for now): it’s is a wonderfully soft and lofty 3-ply tweedy yarn! It’s made from a very special high quality luscious Merino (from Shaniko Wool Co. and Jeanne Carver), which is ranched and processed all here in the US. It’s completely traceable from ranch to dyer (Blue Moon) and compliant with the Responsible Wool Standards developed by the Textile Exchange. The Responsible Wool Standard ensures animal welfare, preserving land health, and ensures traceability. Blue Moon will be working on many more new yarns in partnership with Jeanne and Shaniko. Aspen also uses mostly black and brown repurposed acrylic/rayon nubs to create that lovely tweed effect. See? it’s worth wait right?

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Our Aspen yarns are the beginning of Blue Moon’s CSY Community Supported Yarn launch. It’s our goal to continue to supply high quality, well made, beautiful yarns for us all to create with while also supporting our beautiful planet and all the hard working souls along the wool chain that are invested in creating such wonderful yarn for us. I’ll be sending out a newsletter tomorrow with more details on how we see this all rolling out.

The initial plan was to be start out all of this goodness in a Master Class which we are going to offer. I felt like it would be more inclusive to make it accessible to you at different levels of involvement.  We are all different and some of us like all of the engagement and education and some of us want to be supportive and have yarn to hold, smell and knit! So we are doing both levels (both of which include yarn) within a Community Supported Yarn paradigm.

Why Community Supported? Because honestly in my experience the hand knit part of the textile industry already leans in that direction. I am big on community, ALL INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES that support and build to a greater good for everyone. The textile industry needs to make changes so that it supports everyone involved with a living wage, has animal welfare at it’s forefront, and addressed land health and restoration and affordability, to name just a few aspects. The Master Class part of this venture will include all the ways we should be thinking about our yarn purchases along with what is involved in the process so we are more informed and can make better choices for ourselves and the planet. We will have all kinds of fun and will share the yarn-making adventure with you ~ we will be creating at least two bases together!! Honestly this has been a dream of mine for quite awhile so I am over the moon excited to share all of this with you!

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One element of the CSY is we will be offering these yarns as pre-sales only, at least in the beginning. Stocks are limited with this first offering since it s new base and this will be true for most of these offerings.

We will be shipping from this first batch starting  June 10th. I am offering the color a special pallet for these lovelies. I might add a few more but this is what we are starting with. I have chosen lighter colors to highlight the tweedy aspect of Aspen.  I will tell you that right now besides the Winter Blue one and the Sage I think I am pretty smitten with the Natural one. It’s seriously stunning and so very lofty and soft. It feels a bit like cotton.

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Karen knit us this beautiful sample. She knit size 41-1/2 and it used 8 skeins. Called for 1600 yds.

The pattern is: Uniform Cardigan  by Carrie Bostick Hoge the book “Uniform”.  Available as a single download from Lovecraft.

I love this cardigan!! It comes in a worsted  and fingering weight version. It fits so well and looks great on all kinds of shapes and sizes!!! Way to go Carrie! Thank you for such a lovely design and a great pattern to follow. If you do not have this pattern already you are going to want it!

Oh I almost forgot! We will be naming all of these bases after trees as a bit of a homage to all plant life that keep our planet healthy despite us!

I will be sending out a newsletter in the next day or so with a lot more specifics about Aspen and our Master class which I will have up for sale by this weekend. Cross my twisted little heart!

To those of you that are part of the Socks that RockSTAR Sponsorship they are shipping this week!! Thank you so very much for you undyeing support! You are the best! All of you.

Thank you for listening!  I know things are hard and a bit scary right now but we need to keep on keeping on. Be that light for each other!  Thank you for being mine!!

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Can’t even….

Hey! I know it’s been awhile.  So since I am kinda stuck (snowed in) I thought an update would be good.

It’s Tuesday April 12 which is a bit surreal since this is what it looks like outside at the moment.

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I have over a foot of snow and it is still snowing. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning yesterday because it was freezing to find the power was out which seemed a bit odd for this time of year. Then I looked out the window and saw the massive amount of snow on the ground and still falling. In all honesty I kinda thought I was dreaming but no.I can’t tell you how much I wish I was dreaming.

I was without power for most of the day and… it is still snowing here. I can’t get out and USPS and UPS can’t get in so what was destined to ship early this week is not. I am still going to label all the things and get the packages ready for when I can get out and/or USPS can get in.

I will tell you it’s been a surreal few weeks here. For the first time in over 15 years I had a gas leak in the dye barn. Yeah kinda crazy. It took them a bit to find and fix it so that kept me out of the barn for about 5 days. When I finally could get back in I waltzed in with my morning brew all ready to rock and roll the dyeing for the day, hit the light switch and nothing! Yup no lights. I just stood there thinking you’ve got to be kidding me. what the hell is going on? I called my trusty electrician and they came out the next day which was quite the blessing in itself and fixed it. It was a short so think about that for a minute. An electrical short and gas leak at the same time. Yeah I am one lucky woman I think.

There was also a plumbing issue that resulted in a small flood in my back bathroom but that was an easy fix for me. If we run with the whole these kind of issues tend to come in threes then we should be done. Well once the snow clears I guess.

I did not see this one coming I am usually prepped for these kind of things but who expects a snow storm in Oregon in April? Certainly this dyer that is for sure. I feel for the folks that already had parts of their gardens in. I always wait until May since I am up in elevation and it still can get too chilly at night for little plants to thrive.

I was just thinking I have lived here for about 21 years and this is a first. All the things are budding and some are flowering. I have never seen the maples buds covered in snow. It is pretty. Hmm…

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In the grand scheme of life especially right now I am going to call it good. I am not having to feel my homeland. My city is not flooded or bombed and my family is intact. True blessings at the moment.

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Felix reminds me to chill out!

Below is my current favorite quote! Have a good week! Take care and stay safe and warm and loving!

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Happy New Year!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

So…I have been trying to post this basically since the first. Because of all the snow  and other winter weather issues it’s been touch and go with power and internet. I am trying to get this posted and emails answered as quickly as possible this am since the power has been flickering all morning!!

The snow is finally stopped and it’s warmed up quite a bit in the past day or so. Now we will have flooding and mudslides because the ground is saturated. Right now these is still snow on the ground here and the pond is almost int he front yard. I am goign to go get some sand bags later today just to keep my driveway in tact.

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So at least here 2022 is coming in with a bang! Although I will say that it is winter and well it’s pretty much just being winter. U do think that almost 3 feet of snow is a bit extreme but am going to roll with it since really what other choice is there.

Because of the power issues there’s been very little shipping out of here. That should change today. I have help coming this weekend so fingers crossed that the weather powers that be take a break for a few days.

Being stranded here during the holidays was not the best for my mental health so thank you to everyone who checked up on me! I am good!! As soon as I finish this I am out to immerse myself in color and yarn so yay!!!

I am going to leave you with Amanda Gorman’s poem for the New Year. I was trying desperately to find the words to express how I felt about this past year in a hopeful light while welcoming the new year bathed in that same aura. And truly even up to my hips in snow I do feel hopeful most days, even it’s a glimmer. Amanda so eloquently speaks to our hearts and souls acknowledging our collective pain and grief as she reminds us of our strength and resilience. I think I am going print it out and tape it where I can read it at least once a day. Thank you Amanda!!!

Okay l am off to reel, skein, soak, bundle, label, dye, steam, rinse, label, ship and love yarn for the day!!!!!!!

Take care and stay safe!!   Big LOVE!

***********************************

“New Day’s Lyric”

May this be the day
We come together.

Mourning, we come to mend,
Withered, we come to weather,

Torn, we come to tend,
Battered, we come to better.

Tethered by this year of yearning,
We are learning
That though we weren’t ready for this,
We have been readied by it.

Steadily we vow that no matter
How we are weighed down,
We must always pave a way forward.

This hope is our door, our portal.
Even if we never get back to normal,
Someday we can venture beyond it,
To leave the known and take the first steps.

So let us not return to what was normal,
But reach toward what is next.

What was cursed, we will cure.

What was plagued, we will prove pure.

Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree,
Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we foresee,
Where we weren’t aware, we’re now awake;
Those moments we missed
Are now these moments we make,
The moments we meet,
And our hearts, once all together beaten,
Now all together beat.

Come, look up with kindness yet,
For even solace can be sourced from sorrow.

We remember, not just for the sake of yesterday,
But to take on
tomorrow.

We heed this old spirit,
In a new day’s lyric,
In our hearts, we hear it:

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.

Be bold, sang Time this year,
Be bold, sang Time,
For when you honor yesterday,
Tomorrow ye will find.

Know what we’ve fought
Need not be forgot nor for none.

It defines us, binds us as one,
Come over, join this day just begun.

For wherever we come together,
We will forever overcome.

~ Amanda Gorman

New colors or ….

waltzing out of 2021 with a whole lotta of  colorful love LOVE notes!!!

Okay so this is a whole lot to get up on the website so some of these are not up yet. I am working on it. If you want to order and take advantage on the 15% Stash Enhancement Discount that is good for another 48 hours and you want one of these that is not on the website yet just order one that is and then in the notes section of your order let me know the colorway you do want!!

Easy Peasy!

I wanted to get these up here at least since I told a few of you I would!

The discount code is: stashme2021   and since I am still getting a few things caught up ( soooo close) I will not be starting on these orders until the end of January!

Okay look for a New Year message tomorrow!

Take care and be safe!

LOVE!!!!!!