Yes, the blog has suffered tremendously over the past three and a half months. December was of course the holidays. We had a great time with the family. The first part of January was spent spinning a bunch of new navajo-ply sock weight yarns. The listed skeins are around a 100 yards or less, although I am currently working on a skein that should be enough for a pair of socks :)
Mid-January I began teaching a series of classes with the Pierce County Library system based on the book, "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin. This book tells Greg's story of a failed attempt to climb K-2 that brought about new schools in the SWAT Valley area of Pakistan. Ironically after all of this hard work and meeting with the Taliban to ensure that the schools would continue, news was released in February that most of these schools have been destroyed and the young girls have been forbidden to seek an education. Sad news after all of the hard work by so many people.
My class is not literary of course, but based on the fiber animals native to the region. I have been giving a brief description of general domestic fibers, the fiber properties and uses, and then sharing information about Camels, Yaks, and Cashmere goats. My favorite part is now I have these wonderful fibers to spin when there is finally time. The class then leads into each person being able to try spindle spinning. Several folks have attended the class and left with big smiles because they had tried spinning before and failed. I start everyone-even the guys-on a smaller lighter weight spindle using BFL wool and the park and draft method. This allows everyone the opportunity to have a few yards of fiber to take home as a sample, and I feel that giving the sense of accomplishment eases the anxiety of learning a new task.
A few weeks ago, a new laptop came to live at our house and I LOVE IT! Finally, I am able to inventory, and keep good business records. The past few years have been spent wondering how to expand when everything was so disorderly. So instead of expanding my two businesses, I had just muddled along adding new items every now and then and not really promoting anything. Now, within the next few weeks, everything should be inventoried-down to the last thumbtack and I will be a happy camper.
Last Saturday my grand-daughter's dad built new cubbies along the far wall of my bedroom/office/studio. It is a big room 12' x 24' with more than enough space for now :) All of my merchandise is tagged and ready to photograph, but the skies are dungeon grey (the flash would probably go off outside) today, so that will wait.
Am I afraid to try to grow my business in this economy, NO. Crocheters, knitters, and felters will never give up their craft. Will I have to be savvy-yes. Will I have to pay attention to trends-yes, some. Will I have to use effective marketing that is penny-wise, YES!
I know that times are tough and I should probably be saving money for that rainy day, but I live in Washington State and nearly everyday is a rainy day. HaHa. My hubby has a secure job with an agency that thrives in bad economies. The recent stimulus bill insured funding for two of the three major programs that the agency runs to help low income and disabled persons with a variety of need-based assistance. I suppose that if things had been different and the news were shaky in our household for future income, then I would have made different choices about the laptop and expansion......or maybe not :)
Please remember to check both of my stores on Etsy often:
http://www.naturallyspun.etsy.com/http://www.afghanartistry.etsy.com/and follow me on twitter as: naturallyspun
I am also on Ravelry, indiepublic, and facebook as naturallyspun, although I rarely check these social places right now due to the time that it is taking to organize.
Thanks for stopping by to see what I have been up to and HAVE A GREAT DAY~
