The Store Closes Before it Really Ever Opens

My heart breaks to admit that I have decided to close my Etsy store before it's even had its Grand Opening. All the Phat Fiber goodies that my Mom finished, all the samples sitting in a box in the hall, all the nekked fiber...it's finished.

I have always envied the people who post updates on Twitter (what seems like every hour some days) about the stuff they just finished dyeing. These people obviously don't have jobs (outside of dyeing and selling their goods - which, admittedly, is a full time job), or young children. I see people Tweet that live on farms where they work their butts off to maintain their animals and sell what they grow, which makes me jealous...

Truth is, I love my life. I love my son...he is the sunshine in my day (even when he's losing his mind), and I love the fact that I have the luxury of working from home so I can watch him grow and don't have to drop him off at someone's house while I work away from the house.

But on days like yesterday, and they come more frequently as he gets older, when he needs my attention, my work gets put aside. Unfortunately, I still have deadlines and that means I work when he naps (which was a total of an hour yesterday) or in the evenings when his Dad gets home, or on weekends when most families spend time together. That leaves me time to dye at about 1130 at night...and when I finally get to bed and nod off, it seems, Quinn is wanting to get up for one reason or another.

Something's got to give.

My house is a mess...we are trying to sort out what we need to do to sell it. Painting is going to be a big thing, and I have no idea when that's going to take place. Lots of little, everyday things just don't get done (like dinner making) because I'm either having to entertain Quinn or I'm trying to get something done for work. Or, I'm just too damned tired.

Don has headed into busy season with work and he'll be gone away some, he's gone during the day for work and is away leading boxing 3 days a week for a few hours...and boxing season begins in a few short weeks (and it seems like it *just* ended - where did the summer go?) which means that Don will be gone most weekends because he has to get fights for our boxers.

Quinn is getting bigger by the day, and I don't want to look back and regret not spending as much time as possible with him before he gets to the stage where he would much rather just lock himself in his room and irritate me with his horrible choice in music. As he gets older, he'll have things he's involved in which is going to mean me shuffling my schedule, and if there's no leeway, there's no way it's going to happen.

Taking care of him, working from home, trying to run the household, and helping with the boxing club is plenty work for anyone. My priority is caring for Quinn and making sure I'm able to help pay the bills. If I can squeeze some time in there to spin for myself, I'm happy. There's just not enough time to add another job description, kwim?

So I need to say "when". I loved the idea of having a shoppe, and loved dyeing for the shoppe. I even loved listing and promoting for the shoppe and I'll be very sad to see it go, but I have the sense to realize that I'm just too busy and know that something's got to give.

Thanks for all the support you've given me, the encouragement, the advice...I really do appreciate it.

- Jacy

New Store Addition and a Sneak Peek

8 Ball, Corner Pocket (named by Don)

Pending Shop Updates

I dyed a gorgeous rainbow shetland roving which will be difficult to list in the store (because I'd much rather just spin it up myself!) It's still drying so it will be listed in the next couple of days.

Have some knit up swatch examples of Goth Lipstick and a dip dyed yarn that's about to be posted (just have to photograph the skein).





Also listed a 90% Wool, 10% Mohair blend that I purchased from Natchwoolie and dyed a couple of days ago. I love the way the mohair is this beautiful, shiny and wavy strip alongside the lofty wool.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Yesterday we had an awesome day at Niagara Falls. Munchkin Punchkin had fun while we were there, but the ride home was a little bit difficult. I am sure he can't wait to be able to see out the windows. Then, maybe, longer trips won't be such a bother.

I hand carded 2 oz of Merino/Cashmere in the sunniest colour I could muster. I called it "Sunshiny Day" and it was a custom order for my Mom.



I also wanted to share a swatch of "Briar Rose and the Little Prick"...the sample we're sending in for the September Phat Fiber box.



I love the way the "blood stains" go a nice coppery colour once spun up. It's so soft and easy to spin, this Merino/Nylon blend!

I have a 4oz bit of shetland in the steamer right now and it's about time to turn it off and let it cool for the night.

I hear my bed calling me.

Two Shoppe Adds

Alright! It's been a little tougher than I thought to upload two of the many things that need to be added to the Etsy shop but I present to you the first two items in the Munchkin Punchkin store...

Goth Lipstick



462 yds (100g) of fingering weight yarn in red dip dyed with black. The red run is about 33" long and the black around 42", each fading into the other.




Briar Rose and the Little Prick



Get your mind out of the gutter! Sleeping Beauty's name was "Briar Rose"! This colourway features a peaceful blue sky base periodically interrupted by blood hued spots. (Get it now??)

This is a sneak peek at what we will be contributing to the September Phat Fiber box.

This 4 oz. roving is made from 75% Superwash Merino and 25% Nylon.

While I was posting this on Ravelry, *someone* ordered the Briar Rose roving. So I'm back to having only one item in the shop! Not that I'm complaining, haha. We're off to buy more fibre today! I'm sure we'll be updating again very soon!

Mood Ring SW Merino

So I dyed my first roving two nights ago...I named it Mood Ring because it has shades of turquoise and green, just like my favourite mood ring from high school. I had no intention of selling it in the shoppe as soon as I saw it. I just HAD TO spin it!

A 4oz roving spun up to 198 yds 2 ply.

Tears of Joy

Quinn just took two unassisted steps. He did it last night for Don (while I was cooking dinner) but tonight he did it 3 times in front of me. He's way too young for that!

I finished my spinning for the Tour de Fleece today. It was made up of mill ends that weren't even good enough to be sold as mill ends that I got for free. I think it looks great and am considering buying more mill ends in those colours to make a whole proper hank of it.



I also finished my first roving dye job. It's 8oz of superwash merino in shades of lemon, lime and turquoise. I call it "Mood Ring" because it reminds me of a ring I used to have. I can't wait to spin it.