I'm home! I'm home. And I'm happy to be home. And I was happy to be at my folks. The Little Bit and the Ratty Old Baby and I had a wonderful time. I'm really grateful to have parents that I love and I like being around.
Highlights of the trip --
-Little Bit (LB) got to go on my mom's bus route with her, at least the last one, where he met a new friend who came over to play a few times.
-LB playing pirates with my mom and stopping to take a drink from his water bottle exclaiming ahhh, me loves me rum!.
-My pop taking up all on a surprise day to a big cat sanctuary! Yeah, it was awesome and I've got pictures to prove it!
-Coming home to a finished bathroom! Yes, finally, after 2 years of having a bathroom in various states of unfinished-ness, it's now done. Bill worked his hard little ass off and it's awesome (and fushia)!
Now, I didn't update the shop on Monday because I just couldn't get my baltimore feet back after so long in MO. They'll be one this Monday, for sure. I'm renewed and rejuvenated, you know, except for the times I'm sluggish and must sleep all afternoon. But I'm renewed when it comes to the yarny bits. I took some time organizing my knitting when I returned home. Which, btw, I've got 2 more pairs of Socktoberfest socks to show off -- 4 total, yep! My knitting for the next 2 months of the year is mapped out in all it's insanity. Two sweaters (one is original for Bill, one is going to be a EZ yoke sweater with handspun for LB), a clapotis for my mom (I think...I don't have the yarn yet). And we call them pirates for my pop, who reads this so that all the details I'm putting in here, he'll just have to wait and see. Shew, so as you can see, I've got some knitting to do. Starting.........now!
And spinning. I'm going to try to be better about updates, especially since I'm kinda supporting us now. Did I ever mention that Bill lost his job during my illness due to having to take off for so long (me in the hospital and then bedrest)? Yep, he's been getting unemployement but it's not much and it's about to run out. He's focusing on the band right now, and doing a little freelance web and graphics work, but pretty much, we're sitting on a house built up by fiber. So it you know a brick and mortar shop that needs to stock me, lmk, I could use 2-3 more brick and mortar shops and then I'd be set.
I've decided to really put my all into the spinning. Not that I haven't been, but even more so. I'm only going to sell yarns that I love, no more spinning just to fill the orders, it's all going to be my best or it doesn't get listed. When I started spinning, I didn't think it'd become a business and I want to make sure it stays something I love. I know my yarn is expensive, more than some, not as much as many, but expensive just the same. I try really hard to be fair with the pricing, I don't believe in taking advantage or charging the most I could possibly get.
I could buy super cheap wool. It exists and I know it exists. I also know where to get it and that lots of spinners use it and it's perfectly lovely. However, it's personally important to me that my fibers come from humane sources. I am vegan and have been for over a decade and I just have to know I'm not contributing to any suffering. So I buy my fibers from sanctuaries and small, no-kill farms where the animals are friends, not food. These fibers are more expensive, no $6, $7, $8 per lb here, it's usually more like triple that, depending on the breed and it's usually dirty, even if they're washed. So that means washing and dying and carding. Or sometimes, I'll send it out to be processed into roving, because I like the variety and some yarns call for carded batts and some yarns call for combed roving. So my cost is higher, but it's a cost I think is important. Werd.
Now, let me say that this is not a slam on those that buy from the other places, we're all different and everyone's has things that are important to them, this just happens to be one of mine.
All my cottons are organic as well, human suffering does not come second to animal suffering to me, yo.
I spend time (and am commiting myself to more of this) thinking about each yarn, what it is, what it means to me, how it'll look, how it'll knit up, and how to make it do what I want it to do while keeping it's structural integrity. The more time I spend with a yarn, the more I like it, so each yarn gets a little piece of me.
I really do love the fiber work that I do. It's given me something that I've never had before, peace and satisfaction. I don't feel all itchy, like I'm waiting for my life to happen anymore. I don't have to look for things to fill my time or my brain. It contents me, even the part of me that isn't concerned with fiber or creativity, the part of me that has friends and relationships and a house to clean -- having something I love makes me happier with all those things. Poo poo the drama and dissatisfaction, pick up the wool!
Posted by jacey at November 11, 2006 05:09 PMHave you tried spinning soysilk, tencel, etc? Renewable fibers from plants, yay!
Posted by: carole at November 11, 2006 07:16 PMI find your yarns always show your commitment to excellence. I am always so amazed when I knit one up just how wonderful they are. Each one is a true work of art. Keep it up and I'll keep working to try to help support you. Ha Ha!
Posted by: Diane at November 11, 2006 09:30 PMglad you're back!
Posted by: Hope at November 12, 2006 01:48 AMI completely agree with you on the pricing of handspun and all the different factors that go into it! I too have had this issue recently, people complaining over the cost of handspun, handpainted wool. If only they knew all of the work that goes into it! I source my wool from places that are animal friendly and organic also, so you go girl, your wool rocks! As for those who prefer petroleum acrylics... you dont know what you are missing!
Posted by: Tye Neich at November 12, 2006 02:08 AMI missed you! I'm glad you had an awesome time. And after that comment about the rum, I could eat LB up!
Sorry to hear about Bill's job, but what an awesome, devoted man you have there. He's a damn good one- takes all that time to take care of you and LB AND finishes a fuchsia bathroom? Mrowr!
Right on with your yarns, too! I've reached a point in my life where I'm just not going to settle (in the bad way, not in the nesty, cozy good way), nor will I compromise my beliefs and passions. I'm gonna have to save my pennies so I can buy some of your work, sass up my winter coat with a kickass scarf AND be inspired by all it represents.
Missed you on the Quirky Quiz!
Posted by: Susan at November 12, 2006 11:26 AMGlad you had a great family visit and you do sound renewed! Can't wait to see what's new for the shop :-)
Posted by: Disentangled at November 12, 2006 12:55 PMYou're an amazing artist; your commitment to your craft always comes through your work! I love your yarn, and I support what you do, no question. I also hunt for and hoard your yarn whenever possible (I sit like a hawk on the kpixie site). I do this because knitting with your yarn makes me happy, and it makes my friends who get some of the finished knits really happy too. Also, we always get stopped on the streets here in NYC when we wear stuff made with your yarn (I got mobbed at Purl SoHo yesterday for wearing the "Midnight Beau" scarf). Good stuff like yours gets recognition, no doubt!
with much admiration from a huge fan,
Sophia
Jacey, you are such an inspiration... keep your head up and follow your own muse. Glad you're back!
Posted by: Miranda at November 13, 2006 10:50 AMI hope you enjoyed the crazy weather we've been having in MO lately while you were here! Did you get to enjoy the 80 degrees?
I'm sorry about Bill's job. That surprises me tho, I would have thought it'd fall under Family and Medical Leave. :-(
There's always a lot of hidden costs that go into hand-made items. Lots of people don't think of those when deciding something is expensive. I love your yarns and keep coming back when I've got a bit extra and want to treat myself to something nice. :-)
Posted by: Sarah at November 13, 2006 10:57 AMHey there-
I was just stopping by to tell you that your yarn is in the new BUST Mag again! congrats! Its in the "holiday gift guide" so be prepared for a rush of business!
also, re: good wool and reasonable prices-
i have found some really great farms through LocalHarvest.org. availability is not as consistent as with the big suppliers, but you can often find nice wool at very good prices.
ciao!
Dharia
Skeintily Clad
Welcome back! So sorry to hear about Bill losing his job- that really stinks! But, it's nice to hear you sound so refreshed and excited about your spinning! Hang in there, and enjoy the process!
Posted by: Nonnahs at November 13, 2006 11:34 PMhey jacey,
speaking of fair prices for handmade, handspun goodness full of heart and soul and thoughtful meditation, i really appreciate your feedback and helping me figure out how to fairly price my goodies as i embark on my new adventure having my own online shop. i, too, seek humane sources for my wool and feel it is well worth the extra cost to support family farms and folks that treat their flock with love and respect. and we, too, will be leaning on my shop as a source of financial support in a time of transition, so best of luck to both of us, eh?
thanks again, jacey, and my barter yarn is next on the list as a couple of projects come off the needles! i'll send you some pics!
smooch,
-shannon
Ok, at risk of sounding like I am jumping on the bandwagon - I agree with every single comment made before me. I think it is great and your yarn is beautiful. Amazingly, the "at peace" thing also came to me when I started to spin art yarn. I found that I released everything into it. And it was like coming home. I recently read a comment about mill ends - the person viewed it as recycling. It is a different way to look at it, so I guess each has their own stand. I also think some people just don't know better. It is like the by the pound yarn at Walmart - who buys that? I myself would never bother to knit something with that stuff because I wouldn't buy something made from that polyester stuff.... but apparently lots of people find it wonderful because they sell a lot of it.
To each his own.
Stand in your own space and know that you arethere - mutated quote by an unknown source
Thanks
Holly
Your yarn is awesome....but that sucks about your dh. Has he checked with the EEOC (www.eeoc.gov)? FMLA doesn't apply to every employer but it applies to a lot of them....still, any employer who ditches someone with a sick spouse is unethical if not unlawful.
Posted by: Jen at November 15, 2006 10:05 AMJacey! Welcome back!!
Posted by: Pam at November 15, 2006 01:14 PM