A Busy Day

This has been a very busy day for The Knitting Nest.  Every day brings us closer to our opening!

1. We got our Lavishea order this morning!  We got a display box and testers in each scent along with a complimentary “Man Bar”.  We’ve put the  box in our window so people can start to see some of our products.

2. Patrick and I ate breakfast this morning at the Pine Café, a little diner next door to the shop that is only open in the morning.  Not only did we get a yummy start to the day, but we met the owner and let her know about our shop.

3. The Knitting Nest joined the Chamber of Commerce today and Patrick went to the meeting at noon.  We’re becoming part of the community!

4. Patrick made a lot of good contacts at the Chamber meeting today, one of whom stopped by the shop to drop off information about his products and services.

5. Our order from Mango Moon arrived!!  We got Recycled Silk in worsted weight and DK weight as well as Bumble Bee in three colors.  They also sent me a sample of Pastiche, which I LOVE!!  (Maybe we’ll get some Pastiche the next time we order.)

6. A woman from another downtown business stopped in to say that her 8 and 10 year old daughters are learning to knit and are very excited about our opening.

7. Patrick signed us up to host the Chamber’s Business After 5 for the month of August.  We’ll have lots of community business folks through our shop that evening – more ways to get the word out about our little shop.

8. Patrick has the computer, cash register, and Square Up all set up.  We also got a price gun and labels.  It feels so official!

9. Patrick and I went to the Weyauwega Fiber Arts Circle meeting tonight and really had a great time.  Chris, the owner of the Coffee Klatsch was working on a beautiful glass mosaic tabletop.  (I realize that glass is not a fiber art, but we don’t discriminate, even based on craft!  Besides, we like Chris!)   Brandy, whom I had met online, but not in person, came for the first time tonight with her spinning wheel.

10. Brandy taught me and Patrick how to use our drop spindle!  We’ve had it for over a month but Patrick and our daughter couldn’t quite get the hang of it.  Brandy was good enough to show us how to spin the roving into yarn and to help us fix our mistakes.  By the end of the evening, Patrick and I had both made a respectable-looking section of  single-ply yarn!

Yep, it was a busy day.  And now, I’m going to relax for a while before bedtime.  And have happy dreams about beautiful yarn!

A Few Of My Favorite Things–Mango Moon Recycled Silk

 

When The Knitting Nest first opens, we’re going to be focusing on your basic “workhorse” yarns – partly because we want to be deep in good solid brands and lines, but also because we’re on a budget.  That doesn’t mean we won’t have a few “fun” yarns, though.  Here is one of my favorites.

One of the sales reps that we met last week represents Mango Moon yarns.  Mango Moon is a company that  works “with the Nepali Women's Empowerment Group and a spinners' co-op in Indonesia to bring you yarns that are colorful and fun, and that help improve the lives of the artisans who spin it.”    The Nepali Women’s Empowerment Group is a non-governmental organization that gives women leaving abusive situations safety, education, health care, and the chance for financial independence through knitting and spinning.

You’ll see lots of wonderful kinds of yarn on their website – and I can confirm that they feel as wonderful as they look!  Initially, we’ll be carrying Recycled Silk in worsted and DK weights.  I’m looking forward to getting this yarn in stock and using it for a poncho or shawl.  When you buy a skein of Mango Moon yarn, you not only get wonderful, recycled yarn, but you also are helping to provide a path to financial security for women halfway around the world.  Does it get any better than that?

After we open (August 23), please stop by The Knitting Nest to see this and other wonderful yarns (and notions and needles and more).