Exciting Developments and Taking My Lumps

Let me set a scene for you:  my assistant Amy and I were in the studio, both  looking at a near-empty wall of cubbyholes.  I stood with a look of dumbstruck horror on my face, and she sat on a box beside me, laughing uproariously.  She was laughing at me and, as much as she tried to surpress it, she just couldn’t — because she was right.  I guess sometimes you just have to take your lumps.

The cupboard was bare!

This has been an amazing year for SpaceCadet.  When I look back at the start of 2013, I never dreamed (well, I did dream, but never really believed) that the business would grow the way it has.  It’s been incredibly exciting and, though sometimes it’s felt like we were hanging on to a wild horse going at full gallop,  we’ve kept our customers at the forefront of our minds, risen to the challenges, and — I hope — grown stronger and better with every one.

And with that growth comes some really exciting developments.  Have you met Amy, Jade, and Jill?  There is no way I could run SpaceCadet as a one-woman show anymore and so I am grateful beyond words that I have been able to find three such fantastic assistants ( I know that sounds like platitudes, but it’s totally not: I really cannot believe I’ve found three such awesome women, who are always ready to roll up their sleeves and do pretty much whatever needs to be done.  They blow me away).

Outgrowing our home-studio

And now we are beginning to outgrow my home-studio (“…beginning?!?“, I can hear Amy and Jade saying in unison) and are starting to look for larger premises to move into.  It’s wildly exciting (all that room! we could dye so much more!) and also crazy scary at the same time (the plumbing work we’ll have to do!  the electric work! the multi-year lease!).  And I know that the trendy thing to do is to start a crowdsourcing campaign to ask people for the money, but I’m kind of old fashioned in that way: I want the business to fund this move itself by making yarn that you guys love so much that we earn what we need to cover our expenses.  If we couldn’t make enough money the old fashioned way, then doing it any other way just wouldn’t feel right to me.

And that brings us back to Amy, sitting on a box and laughing at me.  Because if that’s my plan — to make enough yarn to fund our potential move — then I had made a biiiig mistake, and it was staring us both in the face.  Earlier in the year, there was a formulation change in the some of the dyes I use, which meant I had to change my recipes.  And through the year, I found I really stuggled to make the new dye formulation fit my old colourways, and I just wasn’t enjoying the dyeing process so much anymore.  Driven by that, I began developing new colourways — brighter, bolder, and far more satisfying to work with.  And, one day a few months ago, I went into the shop and pulled the plug on all the old colourways.  And by “into the shop”, I mean I went on my computer and removed them from the online shop, so that all that was left were the new colourways that are making my heart sing.

SpaceCadet Yarn

But here’s the thing:  I did not go into the studio and physically separate all the new and old skeins on the shelves.  They were fine sharing the space a little longer, I thought, and I could go through them all later, when there was a little more time (…ahem …there is never a “little more time”).  But with all these new developments in the business, my accountant needed a stocktake, which is why Amy and I were there in the studio the other day.  We were surrounded by that horrid mid-stocktake semi-organised chaos, when Amy began separating those skeins, moving the old shop stock to another shelf across the roomand leaving the new colourways in the cubby holes.

And that’s when she began to laugh, because after about a half an hour, the shop shelves were bare.  B. A. R. E.  All this time, with the cubby holes looking chock-full every time I went into the studio, I had’nt noticed that the actual stock in the online shop was dwinding.  But as Amy began to separate the old colourways from the new, it became obvious…  undeniable..  kinda screaming out at us.  And so there I was, standing in front of the near-empty wall of cubby holes with a look of shocked horror on my face, and Amy sat chuckling away right next to me.

Going to the Show!

All those empty cubby holes made it plain as day that I’d taken my eye off the ball and let all of you — our lovely loyal customers — down by not having the stock you wanted in the shop.  I felt terrible — and a bit stupid.  Sometimes you’ve just got to take your lumps.

And then, after I’d taken mine, I began chuckling too.  Because that’s really the only way to deal with anything:  learn your lessons …and then see the humour in it.   And when you’ve had a good proper laugh at yourself, do everything you need to do to put things right again.  I’ve spent the last few days dyeing like mad for the shop, and we’ve got tons more undyed yarn waiting to go in the pots.  My lovely, patient customers, you can look forward to fresh stock in the shop in the next few weeks!

 Indie Knit & Spin

There’s some seriously good news from this little fiasco:  doing the stocktake has helped us unearth a ton of experimental and one-of-a-kind colourways, and we are the whole lot with us to Indie Knit & Spin this Saturday.  If you are in the Pittsburgh area, you don’t want to miss this show!  Made up entirely of indie fiber artists and makers, it is the place to get your hand-made fiber fix.  Come and see us this weekend and nab yourself some of these fabulous one0-of-a-kind yarns!

Indie Knit & Spin
Saturday, Nov 16
11am – 5pm
Wilkins School Community Center in Regent Square
7604 Charleston Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Click here for a map!

Indie Knit & Spin

This is the Way Every Work Day Should Be

We are leaving shortly for a weekend of shows (details below) but before I leave, I just wanted to share this with you.  This week, we packed up the September Yarn Alliance parcels on what had to be one of the most beautiful days of the year.  The temperature was so mild and the breeze was deliciously fresh so, instead of hiding away inside, we set everything up on the porch.

First, we built a wall of boxes at one end.

ISYA shipping day1

Then, we began filling them with delicious SpaceCadet Yarn Alliance yarn.  This colourway is a real eye-popper — I can’t wait to hear what the members think! (The image, of course, is black and white — can’t give away the surprise)

ISYA shipping day2

And working there on the porch, in the dappled light and cool shade of the trees, it had to be one of the most pleasant work environments I’ve ever experienced.  Oh, for every day to be like that day!

ISYA shipping day3

Dying to know what that colourway will look like?  Only the club members will find out!  But the InterStellar Yarn Alliance is open for subscriptions right now, from Sept 1 to 16.  It’s a fabulous club with gorgeous yarns and lovely little gifts.  We’d love to have you aboard!

ClicktoLearnMore YarnAlliance


We’re doing two shows this weekend.  If you’re in the Central PA or Baltimore area, please come and see us.  You get the yarn in person, and we’d love to meet you!

Knitters Day Out
Sept 6 & 7
Central Pennsylvania College, Harrisburg PA

PLY Party (Peace, Love, Yarn)
Sept 8
at Lovelyarns
3610 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21211

Plus, I’m bringing all the new stuff I’ve been experimenting with lately, including a whole bunch of Ombre Kits, Mini-Skein Kits, those fab little Zoom Looms, and some gorgeous new colourways…  including this one called Firewalker.

Firewalker

You’ll have to be fast to grab it.  Hope to see you there!

Perfect… Even After All This Time

Apropos of absolutely nothing (except that I am kinda dying to show it to you), is this…

I have been wanting to try my hand at throwing pottery for absolutely ages, ever since we had a little taster in art class when I was nine years old.  I knew instantly, all the way back then, that it was something I’d love (and it was my first realisation that, while I’m really quite terrible at two-dimensional art, making in three dimensions comes fairly easily).

Pottery1

 

Somehow, life got busy and, even though I thought of it from time to time, I never did manage to try it again.  But then a friend told me that a new pottery studio had recently opened nearby…  And so I finally took that nine year old up on her wish, and booked myself a lesson.

Pottery2

 

I loved it.  Loved it!  It was everything I remembered and everything I hoped it would be — tactile and messy, and with a wonderful, earthy smell.  It made my arms ache with the sheer effort of cajoling the clay into shape, but it was so deeply satisfying in that way only making something with your own two hands can be.  Making things — nothing else feels so grounding to me.

My teacher was soft-spoken and patient.  When I stopped focusing and started to talk to him instead, the clay rebelled   …and collapsed into a sullen heap.   But so long as I concentrated, it flowed between my hands and did everything I wanted it to do.  I can’t even describe the feeling — it was just amazing to watch it slowly form from a shapeless lump to something so beautiful, right there in my hands.

Pottery3

 

So this is my pot.  It’s not big, the size of a small rice bowl, but it is perfect to me.  I love it so much and yet… I’m almost afraid to use it.  For now, it sits on a shelf, looking wonderful, and I sit in a chair, knitting or reading a book, and sneak little glances at it.

Pottery5

 

…And feel rather proud of myself.


SpaceCadet returns to KNOTS on Aug 24

I was absolutely delighted when Kate and Laura at KNOTS (Knitting On The Square) in Chardon Ohio invited me back for a trunk show.  I did one there last year and had such a blast, I can’t wait to go back!  I’ve been dyeing like mad for it and doing lots of experimenting so, as well as my regular colours, there will be fabulous new and one-of-a-kind colourways.  If you’re in the Cleveland/Erie area, please do come and see us!

The SpaceCadet is returning to KNOTS (Knitting on the Square) in Chardon Ohio

 

 

Saturday, Aug 24, 11-5
153 Main St
Chardon Ohio 44024
(440) 285 KNIT (5648)
Click here to map it!

 

 

 


The InterStellar Yarn Alliance opens soon!

I cannot believe that our premiere yarn club, InterStellar Yarn Alliance, will reopen for subscriptions in just a few weeks! Click here to learn more and to get on the mailing list, so you are the first to hear when it opens!

This Weekend: HomeSpun Opens And Yarn Alliance Closes

Before I say anything else, I just want to remind you that subscriptions to the InterStellar Yarn Alliance close in just TWO DAYS, and there are only a handful of spaces left.  If you’ve been thinking of joining but haven’t grabbed your place yet, do it now before subscriptions close on Sunday night!

Click here to learn more or to join the SpaceCadet's InterStellar Yarn Alliance yarn club for knitters and crocheters

 


How to be a Super-Awesome Fangirl!

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Stacey Trock of Fresh Stitches asked me to write a guest blog post about how to be a great customer (and fan!) at yarn shows.  So often, a show is such a conflicted situation: on the one hand, we’re dying to chat to customers that we’ve only been able to “meet” online but then, the booth is often just so crazy-busy that we hardly have the chance to really talk to anybody!  What’s a dyer to do?!?

SpaceCadet Creations at HomeSpun Yarn Party

Well, like so many things in life, the best thing to do is start with a plan.  And my guest post for Stacey goes through the basics of how to plan out a yarn show trip so that you get to spend some quality time with the vendors you’re dying to meet up with.

 

HomeSpun Yarn Party This Weekend!

HomeSpun Yarn Party

And the timing couldn’t be more perfect, because this weekend we’re heading to Savage MD for HomeSpun Yarn Party, one of my most favouritest yarn shows of the whole year.  The place is packed with indie makers selling all hand-made, home-made, and just gorgeous stuff!

We’ll be taking…

  • More of those coveted kits for Laura Nelkin’s Juego Mystery KAL.  These are the yarn and beads that completely sold out in an absolutely frenzied 24 hours earlier this month, but we’ve held a few back for our spring shows.  If you want one, get in there and grab it quick!

 

  • The Show Exclusive Colourway — a gorgeous yarn in deep, rich colours that I’ve designed that will be available only at the shows we’re doing this spring.  You gotta be there to get it and, until the shows are over, I can’t even show you what it looks like!  The skeins we took to Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet absolutely flew off the shelves, but — lucky you! — I kept a second a batch safely back in the studio to take to HomeSpun Yarn Party.

 

  • More kits for Melissa Jean’s Dublin Tee, and in some exciting brand-new colourways, including one called “Fizz” (any guesses what colour that might be?), one called “Fire”, and one — just one kit — that I may never be able to repeat again and looks like this…

A one-of-a-kind SpaceCadet colourway for Melissa Jean's Dublin Tee Kit

 

  • Plus Sparkly Heels & Toes kits, Mini-Skein kits, and hundreds and hundreds of skeins of amazing, hand-dyed SpaceCadet yarn.   …Oh! And SpaceCadet tatoos — make sure you ask for one!

 

HomeSpun Yarn Party

Sunday, March 24, 2013 from 12-5pm
Historic Savage Mill, 8600 Foundry Street, Savage, MD 20763
Want a map? I gotcha covered

So if you live anywhere in the DC-Baltimore area, you absolutely want to make sure you’re there!  We can’t wait to see you guys!

And Show Season Begins!

Today is an exciting day, because today starts a series of yarn shows that I’ve been looking forward to for months!  This weekend is the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival (15-17 March in Mars PA), followed next weekend by HomeSpun Yarn Party (24 March in Savage MD), then a quick break for Easter before Knitters Fantasy (6 April in Youngstown OH).  It’s going to crazy, busy, fun, exciting, and…  whoooo-boy, pretty exhausting too!

But this year, there is more reason to be excited than usual, because we have some GREAT stuff to share with you this year.  Here let me tell you all about it…

Colourways like you’ve never seen before!

Our show stock this year is focused on one-of-a-kind and unsual colourways.  Yes, there are a few of the standard colourways, but those are always available to you in the shop.  For the shows this year, we’ve really cranked up the dyepots and created some gorgeous, vibrant, eye-catching mixes that you may never see again.  I can’t wait to see what you think of them!

The SpaceCadet's Hand-dyed Yarns at the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival

Sparkly Heels & Toes Kits

It started with the idea of knitting socks out of a lovely skein of Stella in one colourway with fabulously sparkly heels and toes with a coordinating baby skein of  our wonderful Lucina.  Who wouldn’t want funky socks with sparkly heels and toes?!?

Socks made from the SpaceCadet's Sparkly Heels & Toes Kits

But then, I thought, why would you stop at just socks?  What about a delicate shawl with a sparkly lace edging? How about lovely mitts with a sparkly lace cuff?

Or wait…  what about sparkly stripes?!?  How cool would that be?!?  I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!

The SpaceCadet's Sparkly Heels & Toes Kits at the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival

 

Laura Nelkin’s Juego Mystery KAL Kits

Yep, you read that right!  And yep, when Laura announced the Juego KAL on her blog, six weeks of kits sold out in 36 hours!  We’ve been dyeing like crazy ever since to meet the demand but, at Laura’s request, I’ve dyed a few extras for the shows.  They won’t last long — get in and grab yours quick!

Laura Nelkin's Juego Mystery KAL

 

Dublin Tee Kits

I adore Melissa Jean’s amazing Dublin Tee!  Can’t you see yourself wearing it to…  well, pretty much everywhere?  So I know you’re going to love our Dublin Tee kits, created in Lyra, Ester, and Celeste — the very yarns that the pattern was designed for — and all packaged up in a sweet little bag for you carry them home and cast on straight away.  And to thank you for buying the kit, we’re treating you to the $7 pattern for free!

The Dublin Tee

 

The Secret Show-Exclusive Colourway!

Now, this is something really special — a custom colourway that I’ve designed exclusively for these Spring shows.  It’s rich and deep, multi-tonal with pops of colour and hidden surprises…  Intrigued?  I’m absolutely in love with it, but you can’t get it unless you come to the shows.  In fact, you can’t even see what it looks like unless you come and visit us!

Welllll…  I will tell you, it’s in Celeste, which is the lovely 3-ply fingering weight in 100% Superwash Merino that Laura Nelkin chose for her Juego.  And wellll…   I’m not completely heartless — here’s a little sneak peak…

The SpaceCadet's Show-Exclusive Colourway at the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival

Ok, but seriously — come and see us at the show!  We’d love to see you!

Don’t Forget…

Oh, and one last thing  — but this is only for the brave…   If love our little SpaceCadet as much as we do, go ahead and ask me for a tattoo!  We had so much fun at HomeSpun last year with all the bold, brave women who wore their SpaceCadet tats with pride, and I would love to do it again.  Arms, faces,  shoulders…  cleavage!  They’re all fair game, and the SpaceCadet’s cheeky grin looks cute on all of them.  So don’t be afraid — let’s tat you up!

 

And if you can’t make the shows?

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten you!  All the great kits you’ve see here will be making it into the shop once show season is over.  So keep your eyes peeled and your needles at the ready.   But if you can get to the shows, do it.  They’re so much fun, and you know you want to!

 


 The InterStellar Yarn Alliance is open for Subscriptions

from March 8 to March 24 only!

Click here to learn more or to join the SpaceCadet's InterStellar Yarn Alliance yarn club for knitters and crocheters

The Week of Fabulous!

This Sunday: Indie Knit & Spin Boutique

Whatcha up to this weekend?  For me, the spring yarn show season will be starting whilst there’s still snow on the ground, with a lovely little show on Sunday called Indie Knit & Spin Boutique.

 

Pittsburgh Indie Knit & Spin, Sunday Feb 10

 

 

I’m so looking forward to it!  It’s going to be a small, really intimate event — just five local fiber artists coming together to share with you the very best of their recent work.  I’ll be bringing lots of yarns that have never been in the shop (and may never get in the shop either!).  Tons of one-of-a-kind and fun experimental colourways.

Come out and see us!

Indie Knit & Spin Boutique
Sunday February 10th, 2012, 12:00-5:00
At the Cosymakes Studio, 1406 South Negley, Pittsburgh PA
(Click here for a map!)
Vendors: SpaceCadet Creations, Cosymakes Studio,
Gwen Erin Natural Fibers, Fibernymph Dye Works, and Burgh Baby Gear

 

KnitCircus Interviews the SpaceCadet

 

KnitCircus Magazine interviews SpaceCadet Creations

 

I was absolutely tickled pink several weeks ago when Jaala Spiro asked if she could interview for KnitCircus.  I’ve known her for a few years now, and always enjoyed her work, so I said yes immediately — chatting with Jaala is always so much fun!

 

 

KnitCircus Magazine interviews SpaceCadet Creations

 

And I think you can tell we enjoyed doing the interview.  I got to talk about how I started dyeing, my upcoming projects, and how much fun I have dyeing for our customers.  If you didn’t get a chance to see it, click here to read the whole thing.

 

The Love Actually KAL Casts On this Thursday

Valentine’s Day is on its way and this year we’re bypassing the chocolates and mushy cards and going straight for what really matters: casting on a fabulous new project in gorgeous yarns.  The Love Actually KAL starts on Feb 14 and I simply cannot believe the response — so many people have signed up!

 

The Love Actually KAL with Sara Bench and SpaceCadet Creations

 

 

If you’ve not joined yet, there’s still time.  And just a few of those fabulous Love Actually KAL Kits left in the shop!  Click here to read all the details about the KAL and click here to grab one of the last kits!

The Chocolate & Roses Kit for the Love Actually KAL from SpaceCadet Creations