Pinterest

Our shop has a Pinterest Page!

I have added patterns for yarn, consigning ideas and loads of other goodies that will spark ideas for you and your family.  Go check it out.

Bigger, Better, Beautimous!

The new shop is coming together and we are enjoying all of the extra space to fill with new yarn and more colors.  Come by and visit us soon.

And in the next chapter....

I was a little emotional last night as I locked up.  It is the last time this shop will look like this.  Friday afternoon Stacy will begin to pack up all of the yarn and shrink wrap all the spinners.  She thinks it can be done in 2 days.  I am not sure you can pack up all the stuff in this space in 2 days.  It took 4 years to get this way.  It is a lot of stuff.  There is a ton of yarn, tools, kits, and fiber.  The memories are here too.  In my wildest imaginings, I didn't see this coming.  This was supposed to be a career plan and a business move but it has become a destination and a series.  People hang out here when they can.  We have a cast of regulars and guest stars.  We have a background music and laughter that is not canned. 

The same people that hang out here are helping the shop to move.  I am truly appreciative of that.  It is enormous.  In our new space, we will have more room for more people and creative energy.  We have room for more yarn and fiber and tools.   We will have the same laughter and vibe in the little shop just more of it.  See you in the new space soon.  

StitchBox!

Every month you can have a box of yummy yarn and notions delivered right to your door.  We look for the most wonderful, yummy yarns and send them right to our most special shoppers.  Order yours on our facebook page or through the website.

Moving Day Preps

Preparing to move a shop requires a lot of planning and a fair amount of time.
We don't have any of that.
The landlord wants us in the new unit by May 3.
 A process that I thought we could ease into over two or three months just got compressed into two weeks and change.

I began with a scaled drawing of the new space and put everything in it's place in the new space.  That will help all of our helpers to quickly move things into place.  Thank goodness we have a lot of helpers.  Today the new racks arrived for the consignment part of the shop and there is no room in the old shop for them to sit.  A neighboring business offered to keep them sheltered for a week until we get going in the new space.  A crew of about 8 women will be loading up the yarn and moving it all 2 doors down to it's new spot.

Tonight I make the list of all the vendors who need our new contact information, the utilities that need to be notified and the government agencies that will also need to know.  I hope to send out a form letter with everything essential on it.

I surely hope we get some consignors interested in the new venture quickly so that this new space fills up.  Otherwise we will have lots of pretty yarn in a big echo chamber filled with happy knitters.  We need more stuff to fill this space.

Moving Day Approaches...

It looks very likely that we will be moving the shop the first week of May.  Please watch the facebook page for dates that we will be closed and then the opening date in the new shop.  The new space is only 2 doors south of the existing shop so we are very easy to find.  Please come visit us soon.

It's about to happen.  We are moving sooner than expected and it might be the most stressful thing ever.  I haven't moved my house in over 30 years and now I have to move the inventory of this lovely shop 2 doors down to the south.  Fortunately, there are lots of lovely people who have offered ideas and support and the muscle to pull this job off.  We will be able to offer lots more yarn, more classes and more services in this new area.  It is almost twice as big as the current spot and it will have decent restrooms too.  Renovating anything takes time and patience, so this will be done in phases.  Please bear with us as we create a lovely space for creative people.

A Rainbow of Pediboo

One of the most popular yarns in the shop is Frog Tree Pediboo in sport weight.  Pediboo is a supersoft combination of wool and bamboo that is great for socks, scarves, shawls and anything that needs to be bright and comfortable next to the skin.  The solid colors hold up well to regular wear and washings. Each 100 gram skein has 255 yards to work with.

Favorite Colors

When you think about color, what is the first one to come to mind? 

What is your very favorite color?

Has your favorite color changed over time?

Color is a personal thing.  Favorite colors and least favorite colors say a lot about a person.  Choosing a yarn color to work with over a long period of time to make a sweater or a pair of socks becomes a joyful activity or a trudging one depending on the color and the texture of the yarn.  

Color controls your driving, influences your buying habits and changes your mood.   

Red, is action oriented and sensory.  Always on the go.

Orange is social, likes to be part of a group and loves physical and mental challenges.

Yellow is logical and orderly, full of new ideas.

Green is acceptance, acknowledgement and belonging.

Blue is for a deep need to find inner peace and truth, to live their life according to their ideals and beliefs

Indigo lovers have a need to feel in harmony and at one with the Universe and to be accepted by others.

Purple or violet is for a deep need for emotional security and to create order and perfection in all areas of your life, including your spiritual life.

Pink is for a deep need to be accepted and loved unconditionally.

Turquoise is for emotional balance in your life, hopes and dreams and living by your own terms.

Magenta, is a non-conformist who sees life from a different point of view.

Brown is for a deep need for a safe, secure, simple and comfortable existence.

Black is a need for power and control

White is for  simplicity in your own life, independence and self-reliance.

Gray is a middle of the road type, cool, conserved, composed and reliable.

Silver is for intuitive and insightful and have a strong connection with a higher spiritual guidance.

  

Gold is charisma, personality and individuality.

StitchBox!

Surprises that come in the mail are great!  Some people even send themselves surprises in the mail just to get that little thrill that comes from the mystery box that suddenly appears.  I am talking about those subscription boxes that are all the rage right now.  You can find subscription boxes for snack foods, doggy toys, wine, cheese, and yarn too.  Yarny surprises delivered right to your door with patterns and needles and sometimes even a goody or two.  It's the best fun.

We have a subscription box at the shop now that is getting rave reviews from the regulars.  It is top secret until they are mailed out and then everyone is excited to share what they got.  They leave comments on the facebook page or email the shop to share how exciting the box was.  The secret to each box is that it has items that are not in the shop yet.  It is filled with new colors of yarn or new lines of yarn,  needles, notions and who knows what else.  The items in the box are a lot less than you would generally pay for those same items in a store.  That is another plus for subscription boxes.  You can count on getting deal with most of these boxes.

Try out a surprise for yourself this month.  Pinterest has loads of subscription box posts.  Find a box that interests you and try out something new this month.

Here's a link to our offering this month : http://www.juliayarnshoppe.com/

A new video!

Changes, changes...

The name "The Painted Sheep" belongs officially to a very nice person in Connecticut somewhere.  She and I visited today.  She called to say that she officially owns the name "The Painted Sheep" and I would need to change the name of the shop.  For what could have been a terribly nasty encounter, all is well.  The paperwork will take a bit.  Changing the signage and the business forms will take a bit.  We may have to work a bit harder for a while.  But I did get something important out of this and I need to make sure it is recorded in "print".  In my real life, I work with what is politely called a lot of "challenging" people.  All of us have "challenging" people in our lives.  Once in a great while, when you commit a really serious wrong, it is possible to work things out without having a meltdown and going crazy.  This was one of those times.  Kudos to the original  "Painted Sheep".

We need something wonderful to call this place.  Most of you who frequent here call it "Julia's Shop" anyway and that is probably what it will remain unless someone in the week can come up with something else.
Send your ideas my way.

Baby Presents

Fleece yarn seems to be the "in" thing for edging baby blankets this summer and fall.  Crochet thread with fancy scallops is still popular but fleece is edging out the thread.  Pardon the pun.  Flannel baby blankets with a hand crafted edge are such a fun, fast and  easy project to give to expecting moms.  Babies certainly need a lot of them.  There are so many colors to put on the edges too.  It isn't just a blue and pink world out there.

Start a project for someone you love today.  Yarn is great therapy.

The Painted Sheep has added a section of counted cross stitch kits.  There are kits for every interest and skill level.  If you are looking for short weekend project, we have little items with animals, snowmen, butterflies and many more.  There are kits for new babies.  There are beautiful, artistic works that would look good in any room.

Many of our regular customers have asked about cotton yarn for dishcloths.  We have 17 colors of Sugar n' Cream on display now.  Dishcloths are a portable project for travel or wait time.  They are also a gift item that is very much appreciated.  It's not too early to start thinking about your Christmas gift making list.

We are getting new things every week.  We are not on Main Street but it is worth your time to find The Painted Sheep.

Why would you "do" this????

I've been asked quite a number of times why I would start a business "now".  Now is as good a time as we are likely see and there are quite a number of people in this area who feel as passionately about good fiber products as I do.  That said, business is slow to find us but the people who do find us, really enjoy the products and the store.  I found this piece in another yarn shop's blog and it is so important that I am reposting it here.  The author gave permission for other yarn shops to use it with personalizations and it references the 3/50 project which The Painted Sheep supports.

Only $40 a month. . .

It’s happening all over the country. Every day our hearts break as we see another

“OUT OF BUSINESS” sign on the door of our favorite businesses. A great restaurant,

delightful bread store, or especially our favorite yarn shop; here one day and gone

the next. The fiber community is still reeling from the closing of Vintage Yarns and

Fiberworks, and the question asked of me every day is, “So, how is your business. . .

really? You won’t be closing too will you?”

To honestly answer your questions,

it all depends on sales.

below what was expected and what is needed

exists today. The last thing I want to do is break your heart. . . and mine, and I’ll do

anything to try to keep that from happening. Which is why I have information to

share with you.

I am not PLANNING on going out of business, butPlain and simple. And, quite honestly, sales are significantlyfor long-term survival of the shop as it

Why Shops Don’t Survive

1.

 Profit margins fall below what is needed to re-stock. Example: a skein of yarnThe first $5.00 is needed to pay rent, taxes, salaries, utilities and

the remaining $5.00

If the yarn goes on sale,

now there is not enough money left to re-buy yarn because it still costs $5.00

Suddenly there is less to sell, customers get bored or already have it, and stop

buying. (not all “sales” create this condition, but most do, unless the item was

greatly discounted to the LYS at the time the shop purchased it)

The above is a very simplistic explanation, and there

can do to increase the profit margins somewhat, but the two items listed here are the

major components to success or failure for retailers.

is left to re-buy another skein of the same yarn to restock.the first $5.00 still has to pay rent/salaries/taxes, and.are things a small shop owner

You Can Save Your Favorite Small Business!

A Minneapolis-based retail consultant explains that if even half of the employed population

spent a mere

$50 a month each, at 3 independently-owned establishments

(instead of big box/chain stores), this economy would turn around in the blink of an

eye! And those 3 businesses would be saved from closing. That is about $12.00 a

week at each of your 3 favorite independently-owned retailers. Think about what you

spend weekly on gourmet coffee, texting charges, or bottled water (ooooh, I just

found some money for MORE YARN !).

At The Painted Sheep, if every person on our Preferred Shopper list spends even just $40and be!

a month (or $10 a week), we will not only survive, we will prosper

able to offer you more new exciting yarn, great classes, and a wonderful place to

come and play and forget the outside world exists for a while

I hope you will continue to see The Painted Sheep as your “favorite” shop of choice, and that you will continue to support us by: referring your friends, by NOT using photocopied patterns from a friend, and by taking a class or two now and then. It all adds up. Only $10 a week keeps your favorite yarn shop in business.

 

2.

is sold at $10.

Customers stop buying. No explanation needed.