I’m really not a “limelight” sort of a person. But enough of you have asked when I’d be in the Limelight (and a few of you have asked more than once!), that I’m giving up and doing it. Under duress. And since Loopy already knows all about me, we’re using the questions that you have sent in for the format today. Thanks to those of you who sent them! Next week, I’m bribing Web Guy to be in the Limelight. (Hey – it’s our anniversary month – probably appropriate to let you know more about the people here. I’ll do the Elves, too.) If you have any questions you want Web Guy to ponder, just email them to me. (Like this picture of our family? It’s a couple of years old. Apparently we need to have some more family photo shots taken, if this was the newest one I had…)
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Loopies #1: What did you do before you started The Loopy Ewe?
Sheri: I went to college to be an elementary teacher (with a remedial reading minor) and planned to teach my whole life. I taught for three years at the Middle School Level (reading) and then WH and I had our two kids and I stayed home to be with them. During that time, I started a home-based business as a Creative Memories scrapbooking consultant and did that for almost 15 years. It was more fun than going back to teaching! I was sure I’d be doing that my whole life, but then Loopy came along. I retired from the scrapbooking business about a year ago, to be able to put 100% of my time into The Loopy Ewe.

Loopies #2: Do you have a background in business?
Sheri: Not any official business courses. But I got into the leadership program with my Creative Memories business and have always been one who reads and researches a lot. I learned a lot from that process.

Loopies #3: How did you decide to do something like The Loopy Ewe?
Sheri: I thought it would be nice to have “a little something” going on as a second business, and started researching what that might be. Knitting Daughter and I were having fun knitting and since I had already worked with people who had a passion for scrapbooking, I thought that knitters would probably be just as nice. In my research into starting with an online shop, it talked about the need to have a “niche” of some kind. Since KD and I were into knitting socks, sock yarns seemed like a good idea. We put about 4 months of research into it, then took 3 months to fully set it up, then opened it on August 1st, 2006.

Loopies #4: Where did the name come from?
Sheri: It actually wasn’t our first choice! (And now I can’t imagine it being anything BUT The Loopy Ewe.) We just started playing around with different words that had to do with knitting/yarn/etc and settled on this one. It has gone through some interesting pronunciations when talking to non-knitting-companies by phone. (“Ee-we?” “Ewww?” “You?”) We’ve learned to just spell it out for them.

Loopies #5: Did you ever think that it would outgrow your basement?
Sheri: Clearly I underestimated that a little, given that I thought the corner of our basement where we first set up was going to be just “perfect” for this business. (Clearly, I had no idea what would happen to my brain whenever I came across a new yarn or accessory that I just had to bring into the shop.) I enjoyed having it at home, but by the time it had outgrown our basement, it was nice to have it OUT of our house and turn that back into just a place for our family!

Loopies #6: What’s your favorite part of the job, and your least favorite part of the job?
Sheri: Favorite part – there are lots of them! I love coming in to Loopy Central to work. It’s a bright, happy, colorful place that feels warm and welcoming and happy. I love being here. I’ve met such wonderful people (that’s all of you!) and that’s a huge benefit. It has also been so fun that our whole family is extremely involved in the business. I’m glad to have them to bounce ideas off of, and they always have great advice and insight because they know so much about everything going on here. Challenging parts: the amount of time it all takes. I was used to working hard from my experience in growing my scrapbooking business, but the amount of hours it takes to run Loopy is sometimes daunting, even with great help! And I’d say “never enough knitting and spinning time” but I know that goes for ALL of us!

Loopies #7: Where do you get all of your ideas?
Sheri: Lots of prayer, lots of keeping my eyes open in other areas and fields to see what I might tweak and do here at Loopy, and lots of good old-fashioned brainstorming.

Loopies #8: How do you pick your indie dyers?
Sheri: Oh, there are so many things that go into those decisions. Of course great quality yarn and dyeing are at the top of the list. I buy a lot of samples. Plus, I read a lot of blogs and feedback to see if it sounds like someone who is serious about their business and seems like they’d be fun to work with. I look for dyers who aren’t in a lot of other places and who can keep up with the quantities that we need here. And a few other things as well. We’re so happy with the amazing indie dyers and artisans who have allowed us to have their products here.

Loopies #9: Where do you see The Loopy Ewe five years from now
Sheri: Still going strong! I have had to re-adjust my long-term plan quite a few times now, so I won’t even begin to speculate. But I have learned a lot and I expect we’ll continue to make changes and grow. Keeping a personal touch to the business is one of our main missions, so that does temper all of our “growth” decisions. We won’t lose that aspect of it. (Or maybe Loopy and WH and I will be in a cabin in the mountains by then. Who knows?)

Loopies #10: Where did “FPS” come from? (For Pete’s Sake)
Sheri: Well one time during the beginning days of Loopy, I left a note for Susan-the-wonder-assistant about something we needed to do and it was one of those things that you never enjoy doing (I can’t even remember what it was. Probably filing or bookkeeping or some other such blah thing). And at the end of the note, I wrote FPS on it. She came to me later and said, “Ok, I’ve been thinking about this for 20 minutes and I have no idea what this means. What is FPS?” Now we all say FPS quite a bit around here. Along with “for the love of Herb” (FTLOH) and “for the love of Henry” (also FTLOH).

Now for the quick answers to several misc. questions!

Do you really read all of your blog comments? Yes – every single one. Most days it’s pretty easy to keep up with them. It’s just the monthly contest ones that take a bit longer. But we do read them all!
Do you have a favorite yarn? Yes
Do you ever drink anything but Starbucks coffee? Yes, I like Peet’s coffee an awful lot, too. And Caribou. And now I’m a bit stuck on Starbucks Vivannos. Yum.
Do you have any other hobbies? Well right now I’d rather be knitting or spinning, and that’s all I have time for! But I do love to read and needlepoint and scrapbook. I’ll get back to more of those things later.
How many skeins of sock yarn do you have in your stash? I have no idea. But I do keep adding to it.
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Sheri gladthisLimelightisdonenowandIhopeIansweredmostallofyourquestions!(Ileftoutafew…)

Who would’ve thought that socks would look so cute with coordinating toes and heels? Angela, creator of Duets from A Swell Yarn Shop. I know that lots and lots of you have had fun with her great color combinations and unique colorways – not only for socks, but mittens, gloves, and even striping sweaters, which is what someone this week said they were using their Duets for. (I can’t wait to see that one.) I know you’ll have fun learning more about Angela and her business today. (And I will give you a full Fiber Festival report on Wednesday – we had a great time!)

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Loopy: Hi Angela! Thanks for taking time to be in the Limelight today. How long have you been a knitter and who taught you to knit?
Angela: Hi Loopy! My Grandma taught me when I was 8 years old. I didn’t do much with it then, but my mom was quite the knitter while I was in my pre-teens and I joined in and made some pretty good garments…then came the teen years and the needles were cast aside. In my twenties came my little doggy who shivered constantly. He was in desperate need of a sweater, so I picked up the needles to make him a sweater and I have been knitting constantly ever since! He happens to have quite the extensive wardrobe now, I might add! So technically I have been knitting for 25 years, but that’s give or take a few years!

Loopy: We know just how that “give and take a few years” works. That happened to us, too. What is your favorite item to knit?
Angela: Once I discovered socks weren’t nearly as difficult as the pattern made them sound, I always have a pair of socks on the needles (if not two or three)! Outside of that, I do love my cardigans! Chunky ones, fitted ones, vintage ones, and on and on.

Loopy: Socks – no surprise there since you make such enticing sock yarn combinations. I don’t know how you choose which ones to keep! What is the most challenging thing that you have knit to date?
Angela: Shortly after picking up the needles to knit a doggy sweater, I decided to knit a vintage eyelet cardigan. Looking back, I am amazed that I took that on, knitted the entire thing as fast as I did, and didn’t even realize the skill level that I should have had to even attempt it. Goes to show, if you just take a project on step by step, you can do anything!

Loopy: That’s a great story and should encourage a lot of people. How did you go from knitting to dyeing?
Angela: I was knitting with my Stitch n Bitch Group and as the conversation rolled it came up that it would be great if you could get a sock yarn with a different heel and toe yarn all in one. The idea stayed with me for the next 2 years hoping that someone would come up with such a yarn, but no one ever did. I loved the idea so much that I decided to give it a shot! It started off as just a few skeins for friends, then selling out at crafts shows, then yarn shops asking to carry the yarns. I guess lots of other sock knitters wanted coordinating heel and toe yarns for their socks as much as I do

Loopy: It really is a fun look for socks. How do you come up with your colorways, and do you have a favorite?
Angela: My colorways, as everyone knows, change constantly. This is because I dye the yarn based on what I am inspired by at that moment. It can be anything from a flower I see, to a piece of fabric, to a commercial on TV. The colorways can start with just a name or theme or a favorite color of the day. I never know what color I will be dyeing that day. I have been asked to repeat several favorite colorways and I will give it a whirl, but I have found that if I am not inspired to work with those colors, the batch is a flop. It still amazes me how much inspiration plays a part in creating a good colorway. My absolute favorite colorway will always be Hip Chick…pink, lime green, natural and chocolate brown. All 4 of my all time favorite colors right there in my favorite pair of Duet Socks!

Loopy: We know that you like to constantly change colorways. In fact, we probably have taken more photos of your yarn than any other dyer, since it’s always new and usually limited edition! What is your favorite part of your job? And your not-so-favorite part?
Angela: One of my favorite parts of the job is the commute. I used to commute a total of 2 hours a day in traffic. The walk to my yarn work area each morning is all of 30 seconds and I appreciate that every single day. My VERY favorite part of my job is the amazing customers!!! From the Duet Knitters to the Yarn Shops, they are the nicest people you could ever hope to work with. My e-mail box is full of suggestions, compliments, general conversation and great people. To everyone out there, you are the BEST!!! My not so favorite part is that I have to wear pretty scrungy clothes to dye yarn, so I look pretty cruddy during the day. I even scared the UPS guy when he first started delivering the base yarn because I opened the door with latex gloves on, ratty clothes and no make-up…he about jumped out of his shoes at the sight of me! Thankfully he’s now used to it now.

Loopy: At least you have a good excuse for looking that way when he arrives. You didn’t say, “I’m dyeing”, right? Because you know how that sounds… Tell us about your family.
Angela: My family is my hubby who has hand made all the machinery that makes it possible to get the yarn out in the quantities that I do. Without his skills and creations, no yarn shops would be able to carry the yarn. Then there are all my critters (my babies) which include my doggies, kitties and angora bunnies. They are my very enthusiastic and supportive co-workers. They create the unexpected and much needed breaks I take throughout the day!

Loopy: Uh oh. You have angora bunnies? The Loopy Lady is now on an angora bunny kick. Better not tell her. Does anyone else in your family knit?
Angela: My mother-in-law has jumped on the knitting wagon and grabbed on with both reins. She LOVES the Duet Yarns! She had no interest in knitting because she thought wool was just too scratchy. I told her that yarns have come a long way and to just try a pair of socks with my Duet Sock Yarn….now she stops by just to see if I have any oops yarn she can get her hands on. She is a Duet Yarn Junky now!

Loopy: Lucky for her that she has an “in” with the dyer! Are there other hobbies that you enjoy?
Angela: This list could go on forever! I spin, sew, and crochet. I design the patterns for the Lucky Lurker Club. I am part of two fabulous knitting groups. I make candles, soap, lotions, and natural household products. I bake doggy biscuits galore. I garden, compost, and create natural and organic foods. I walk. I play Texas Hold ‘em. I spoil all my critters like there is no tomorrow. And on the weekends, my hubby and I sneak off and go camping as much as possible.

Loopy: Well obviously the better question might’ve been “What don’t you do?” That’s quite a list! What would be your favorite way to spend a day off?
Angela: The perfect day off is on the white sandy beach of Mexico with a Mango Daquiri and my knitting!

Loopy: Anything else you’d like to add?
Angela: While knitting and yarn are a major passion in my life, my PURPOSE in life is to do everything I can to help stop puppymills. So many people don’t even realize where the puppies in petstores or on-line sellers come from. They are from puppymills, which means tiny cages in which the dogs live in filth their entire life, doing nothing but making more puppies. They never get to see the outside or even touch grass or feel what it’s like to be petted. They are abused, neglected, starved and tortured. The only thing that can stop puppymills is to simply never ever purchase an animal from a petstore or on-line seller. These sources will insist that they are not from puppymills, but don’t believe them! Adopt from a shelter or visit the breeder’s home. If everyone simply stopped purchasing from petstores or on-line sellers, there would be no puppymills – it’s as simple as that. I encourage you to do your own research and find out more about puppymills too. Please consider giving a critter a second chance at life … adopt from your local shelter!
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Sheri whotriedreallyhardtotalkJaniceintobuyingAngoraBunniesthisweekend
Shehastheperfectsetupforthem.Idon’t.Itdidn’twork.sigh.

Today, for the first time, Loopy shares the Limelight with another animal. Of course it’s a special animal, to be able to be featured in the Limelight. If you’re on Ravelry, you know Bob. Bob pretty much runs things over there. I think he lets Casey and Jess believe that they are connected to it, but we all know that Bob is the Brains behind it all. That, and he’s also the mucker-upper when things go awry. (Have’t you seen his image come up on your screen in times of trouble?) In this photo he’s modeling his first sweater. We like that it’s red. Good choice.
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Loopy: Hi Bob! Finally I get to interview one of my own kind. Sort of. Thanks for being in the Limelight today. First question – what did your people do before they started Ravelry? Did they sit home and play with you all day, or did they have jobs where they went off to work?
Bob: Hi Loopy. When I was a puppy, Casey had a web development job. He left on the noisy scooter early in the morning and then when he was home he was working on Ravelry at night and didn’t have much time to play with me. Before I came, Jessica was working as a study abroad advisor and then quit that to go to school and take care of me. We went to the DOGPARK every day!! (I know when Jess and Casey are talking about the D-O-G-P-A-R-K even when they spell it out, because I am a super smart dog.)

Loopy: Well yes – you have to be smart to be the Brains behind Ravelry. No wonder you can spell, too. Were you in on the conversations when they first started talking about Ravelry? (Seriously, Bob – you can tell us. Who had the idea in the first place, and how long did they sit around discussing it before they had the beta-testing ready?)
Bob: Jess has a bit of a temper on her sometimes – she says bad words. It is usually when she has that tickle-string and the pointy-things, and sometimes when she is on the computer trying to find things to make with the tickle-things. I think before I was born, she couldn’t pet me when she got upset and couldn’t find things, so she would complain to Casey instead. He tried to find a way to make her happy when she couldn’t find the tickle-string information and decided to make a website all about it. I think a site about rawhides and DOGPARKS would have been better. Jessica keeps all the tickle-string in a basket on the floor. She says I can’t touch it, but she lets me smell it all I want. I especially like the string that smells like bunnies. I wish she had one that smelled like squirrels – that would be the best.

Loopy: I think a site about clover and PASTURES would be lovely, myself. And I have to say that I’m sort of glad you don’t prefer yarns that smell like sheep. But that’s just me. Are there things that make your people really frustrated with this job? (You know, like when you get into the system and mess things up?)
Bob: I think the things that are challenging change all the time. They haven’t done anything like Ravelry before so they are learning a lot as they go. Mostly they are all just very excited about Ravelry, and they always say things like, “Hey! I have an idea!” and also “so much to do!”

Loopy: I guess when you hear those two phrases, it probably means no DOGPARK for awhile, huh? What is your favorite feature on Ravelry? (Personally, we like the little icons that pop up when you type in certain words, but we REALLY think that you need a Loopy Sheep to pop up when someone types in “The Loopy Ewe”.)
Bob: I like all the people who start groups about me. Did you know there is a group for a Ravelry award named for me? And there are people who think I would make a good American President! There are also people who are Ravelry cheerleaders who also took my name. It makes me feel almost as good as when I get a good earscratching. I also like to look at the dog groups with all of the pictures – although I wish Casey would make it so I could smell them.

Loopy: I’d vote for you for President, Bob. You might be just what we need. I’m hoping that you get more time with your people now that Mary-Heather is helping out. How did she end up working at Ravelry?
Bob: Mary-Heather had been helping Jess and Casey for a long time on Ravelry – they have said how happy they are to have her working with them. It was very lucky they were able to make enough money to hire someone and MH was just leaving her job and she was exactly what they were looking for. It has been very nice – she helps them a lot.

Loopy: What do your people like to do in their spare time that has nothing to do with Ravelry or knitting? (Besides catering to you, of course.)
Bob: They like to take me in the car and go outside of the city. It is fun because then I can run and play fetch on really big lawns. They also read books a lot – more than they used to – so that is good. Sometimes they bring me into the city with them on the Vespa and we all like that very much. I have a special sling so can sit on Jessica’s lap on the scooter. I like to sniff the air and look at the smiling kids in cars. And Mary-Heather told me she likes to watch old movies with her sweetie and cook things.

Loopy: Wow – your Vespa rides sound fun! Maybe I’ll come visit so that I can get a Vespa ride, too. Speaking of traveling, sometimes we see Jess and Casey at different festivals and markets. Who takes care of you when they’re gone?
Bob: I go to stay with Aunt Erica and Uncle Kyle when they go away with their suitcases. It is very fun because I get to go to work with Kyle and his office has elevators. I like to run in the elevators and go exploring. The bell is just so exciting! They also play with me a lot and throw my toy for me over and over and over.

Loopy: You’re lucky to have good back-up people. They sound like a nice choice. Do you like cats? We have some cat-lovers who want to know.
Bob: I like to play with cats but they don’t like me very much, I don’t think. I especially like it when cats have big swishy tails!

Loopy: Hmmm – we might need to make sure to keep you away from Gracie and Zoe if you ever come visit. Where do you think Ravelry will be five years from now, and how will this affect you? (We’re thinking a customized doghouse would be in order.)
Bob: Wow, 5 years is a long time on the internet, even in dog years! Hopefully my people will have an office by a DOGPARK where we can go during the day!

Loopy: I’m sure you can work out a deal like that! Can you share any fun Rav Stats with us?
Bob: There are 19 Ravelers named Bob, including me. There are also lots of people with pets named Bob – Bob the cat, the other Bob the cat, Bob the bunny, Bob the swiminator (he’s a fish), and Bob the potted plant. The Boston Terrier group was the first group on Ravelry. Did you know that the Loopy Groupies was the 57th group on Ravelry? (Now there are over 6500 groups.) Also, congratulations to the Loopy Groupies – your 100,000th post was on July 3rd!

Loopy: 100,000th post? That’s a heck of a lot of talking out there in Loopy Groupie land! Anything else you’d like to add?
Bob: Most people don’t know that I am more than a mascot (although, clearly you do, Loopy.) I make sure that Casey is getting things right. Here is a photo of me supervising. Also, thank you to everyone who has sent me cards and dog treats and virtual scratchies. Being Ravelry’s mascot is hard work, but it is worth it.

Loopy: You’re so right. People have no idea how hard it is to be a mascot. That’s another reason I like you so much, Bob. You understand.
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Sheri nowLoopyispesteringustoaddaP-A-S-T-U-R-EtoLoopyCentral.FPS.

Today we have Khris from Chewy Spaghetti in our Loopy Limelight. The first thing that drew me to Khris’ line was the fun name for her company! But of course it’s her beautiful yarn that took over from there. We’re glad to have her in our indie-dyer line-up, and I know you all are glad we have her, too.
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Loopy: Hi Khris! So speaking of that fun name, how did you come up with that for your business?
Khris: When my son was little, he loved the old movie The King and I (the Debra Kerr/Yul Brenner musical, not the animated version). He began repeating lines from it, and one day he told me that I was a “very difficult choomon”. My husband and I laughed and laughed at his proclamation, and his mis-pronounciation of the word “woman”. In fact, my husband thought that it was so funny that he began calling me choomon (because I *can* be a very difficult woman at times LOL). It became a nickname, and I started using it as my user name online. When I started my knitting blog, I wanted to incorporate the user name and also reference knitting or yarn somehow. I had seen a photograph online once, of a bowl of yarn with a fork sticking out of it that had stuck in my mind. I sort of rolled that all together- with the idea that yarn would be really chewy to try and eat, and came up with Chewy Spaghetti.

Loopy: That’s a great story! How long have you been knitting and who taught you to knit?
Khris: I never actually wanted to learn to knit. When my son was about 6 years old he wanted to learn to knit . I didn’t know anyone who could teach him. So, I picked up a kids knitting book from the library, got some yarn and needles, and went to work. After three weeks of spending an hour each day trying to figure out the cast on, I finally figured it out. I spent another week or so mastering garter stitch, and then sat down to show my son. Of course, he was no longer interested in knitting. I showed him anyway, and started him on a scarf. He knit on it in the car some, but he never did finish that scarf. By that time, I saw knitting as a challenge. I was going to figure this out if it killed me. I didn’t enjoy the process, or the end product, but that didn’t matter. I started knitting toy balls for the children. They were a great first project because the kids didn’t care what they looked like, the type of yarn didn’t really matter, and I learned increases and decreases. I spent a whole year knitting nothing but those balls. Eventually, I began adding stitch patterns, cables, and stripes to them. Only after I knit all of those balls did I ever cast on for my first scarf. I moved right on to sweaters, and I knit my first one in a knitting class taught by Joan McGowan Michael. She was a wonderful teacher, but I never did finish that sweater.

Loopy: It’s ok to have an unfinished sweater in your UFO pile. We understand. What is your favorite item to knit?
Khris: My favorite item to knit is socks, of course. They are a very addicting pastime. I think it’s because they are so portable, so quick to knit, and also that you can easily change patterns from the way they’re written. I also love knitting dancewear for my daughter. I’m working on a Hew for her right now. Anything written in a top down fashion is fun knitting to me.

Loopy: We had to go to Ravelry to find out what a Hew was. So it’s a type of shrug. (Here is the Ravelry link, if you’re on Ravelry!) So what is the most challenging thing that you have knit so far?
Khris: My most challenging project to date was probably a Fair Isle vest that I knit a few years back. I had never used that technique before, so it was a learning process.

Loopy: Some of us still haven’t tackled Fair Isle. (ahem) You were reluctant to start knitting but then learned that you loved it. What took you into dyeing yarn?
Khris: When I started knitting socks, I started with self striping sockyarns. They were not that exciting to me, but they were functional. Then, I discovered the beautiful hand dyed yarns that are available. Those were very attractive to me, but the price difference was off-putting. I saw an article online about dying yarns with Kool Aid, so I thought that I’d try it. I’ve always loved color, so I was hooked after the first time. It was a new challenge, and one that I loved.

Loopy: We love some of the color combinations that you have come up with. Where do you get your ideas, and do you have a favorite one?
Khris: I take color inspiration from everything around me. Color is everywhere- and not just in nature. I try to be open to the combinations when I see them. I take a snapshot with my mind’s eye so that I will remember later. My favorite colorways are always changing. Every time I think that one is my favorite, I come up with a new one that I like even better.

Loopy: It’s probably good that your favorite is always the next thing that you come up with! What is your favorite thing about your job? And your least favorite?
Khris: My favorite things about my work are also my least favorite things about my work- the actual dying process, and coming up with new colorways. When I have a large batch of yarn to dye, I get into a zone where my hands are busy with repetitive motion, and my mind can wander. It’s a little bit like mindless knitting in that way. It’s also a wet and dirty job, and my workshop is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. We’re working on making improvements to eliminate that problem. I love playing with color, and coming up with new combinations. But it’s stressful when I feel “blocked”, or can’t get the color to match my idea of what it should be. I guess that dyer’s block is a little like writer’s block.

Loopy: Dyer’s Block would be frustrating! I guess that’s the time to walk away from the workshop and enjoy doing something completely different for awhile. Tell us about your family!
Khris: I’ve been married to The Rusty Knight for 14 years this month. He’s a Geologist (which means that we have lots and lots of rocks around the house and yard), and a wonderful partner and parent. We have two kids, a dog and three cats. The Boy Wonder is 12. He amazes us daily. He has Asperger’s Disorder, which is like mild Autism. When he was little, we didn’t know if he would ever really fit in with his peers. He’s found an amazing group of kids who appreciate his unique personality, and who accept him just the way he is. Princess Stomping Foot is 9. She has found her calling in the world of dance. She fell in love with ballet at an early age, and that love affair is still going strong. She has an amazing amount of perseverance when she sets her mind to something. At the age of three, she gave up all meat except fish. She just made the connection between the animals that she loved and the food that we eat. She remains a vegetarian, even though the rest of the family is not. Sometimes it’s difficult to plan meals, but we are very proud of her for sticking with her decision. The Princess overcame a rough start, spending her first week of life on a heart/lung bypass machine called ECMO. Except for the scar on her neck, you’d never know it now. We’ve chosen to educate the children at home, and I love being able to watch them grow and learn each day.

Loopy: We love the names that you have given your kids in blogland! They sound like great kids. Does anyone else in your family knit?
Khris: My mom is a very crafty lady. She does a little bit of everything- from toll painting, to cake decorating, sewing and quilting, knitting and crochet. It’s funny that I didn’t learn to knit as a child, although I do remember being taught crochet (which I can’t do now). I have taught both of my children to knit. The Boy Wonder did not keep it up, but his sister occasionally pulls her knitting out and works on it. Her first project was a scarf. It took her 4 years to finish it, and she gave it to her father for Christmas. He wears that brightly colored, wobbly scarf very proudly.

Loopy: With all of that beautiful yarn around the house, it would be unusual if it didn’t inspire other people in your household to knit from time to time! Thanks for being in the Limelight today. Anything else you’d like to add before you go?
Khris: I feel really fortunate to have found this little niche in the fiber community. It’s really full of amazing people, wonderful artists, and generous patrons.

Loopy: We agree! (And for those of you waiting on our next batch of Chewy Spaghetti, it ought to be up sometime this week.)
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Sheri drivingbackfromFloridatodayandknittingawayinthecar

Today we have Beth Casey, owner of Lorna’s Laces, in the limelight. We have carried Lorna’s Laces since the very beginning and I remember this being the first line that we began getting in GREAT quantities – pounds and pounds of their yarn coming through the door at once! (Do you remember the blog post where I told you about the delivery guy leaving a 125 lb. box of it on my front porch and then helpfully yelling at me from his truck to “watch out – that one’s really heavy”? I had to call him back from his truck to use the dolly and at least put it inside the door, FPS.) I know you love their beautiful colors and will enjoy learning more about the woman behind the company.

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Loopy: Hi Beth! Thanks for joining us in the Limelight today. How long have you been a knitter and who taught you to knit?
Beth: I learned to knit in the late eighties. I had just moved to Kansas City from St. Louis. I didn’t know a soul there and I had a sales rep job where I worked from home. Because of that work environment, it was really hard to make friends. There was none of the built-in socializing that goes with a traditional office job. “Wanna go to lunch?” or “Let’s go to happy hour.” I had two colleagues that lived in the area and they were both knitters. I’d never done much in the way of crafts but it seemed like a good idea. So, I signed up for a beginning knitting class at The Yarn Barn of Kansas and never looked back. Not only did I find a life long love of knitting, but I also found a community and friendship.

Loopy: That’s fun that you lived in our hometown! You’re right – not a lot of inner-office socializing when you’re the only one in the office! We’re glad that you found the knitting community. So what is your favorite thing to knit?
Beth: I probably like knitting sweaters the most. I find it so gratifying to hear “I love that sweater” and be able to tell them I knit it myself. I have to admit that lately I’ve been doing more small projects, like socks. I need the gratification of a finished product and I don’t have as much time as I used to.

Loopy: Well socks are good too, you know. We’re kind of partial to them around here. What is the most challenging thing that you have knit so far?
Beth: The most challenging? That’s a toughie. I can tell you what the most challenging project I STARTED was. Right after I moved to Chicago, I bought the yarn for a Kaffe Fasset Tumbling Blocks blanket. There were over 45 colors in it! I got the first few rows knit and then put it aside. It sat in a basket and made fun of me for years. One day I saw an article in Vogue Knitting that gave the address where you could send unused yarn that would ultimately end up overseas to underprivileged women. That article allowed me to let go. I packed up that yarn the next day. It felt so good to have it behind me. You’d have thought I’d lost twenty pounds. That experience taught me a lesson. Knitting for me is about relaxation and enjoyment. I have enough challenges in my life. Knitting shouldn’t be one of them. I like simple patterns and texture. I’ll do a bit of fairisle, but I’m not a fan of intarsia or lacework. And that’s OK. We should all knit what makes us happy.

Loopy: Absolutely! What did you do before you were with Lorna’s Laces? And then how did you end up there?
Beth: I worked in college textbook publishing for eleven years. It was a great job for a long time, but after awhile I got bored. In order to move up meant I would either have to travel about 25 weeks a year or move to NJ. Neither was an option. My unhappiness got so bad that one morning as I was starting my daily ritual of whining and complaining, my husband stopped me and said “I’ve had enough. One of us is going to call your boss today to tell him you are resigning. Do you want to do it or shall I?” So I put on my big-girl pants and made the call. I spent the next couple of years bouncing around, trying to figure out what to do next. I studied bread baking at the French Culinary Institute in NY. I walked dogs, I watched way too much daytime TV. One evening I was thumbing through a knitting magazine trying to decide on my next project and I noticed a small ad in the back. You know those little half inch want ads? It said something about a hand-dyed yarn company being for sale. And it mentioned that it could be relocated. So, I emailed for more information. That was in August 2002. I flew out to meet Lorna Miser and see the operation in October. We negotiated the terms of the sale over the next several weeks and I was introduced as the new owner of Lorna’s Laces at TNNA in January 2003.

Loopy: Wow – what a story! It’s a good thing you had someone who could encourage you (tell you?) to leave the job that was no longer right for you. In your role at Lorna’s Laces, what is your favorite part of the job, and what are the parts that you like a bit less?
Beth: This is probably going to sound corny, but the thing I like most about what we do here is the idea that we create something beautiful with our hands that in turn is transformed by hand into another beautiful thing. I believe that we knit for people we love (even if it is ourselves) and that the positive energy that comes from all the hands that touch the work along the way it what makes it special. The thing I dislike the most is the everyday grind of running a company. There are bills to pay, email to answer, phone calls to return. I’m much happier playing in the dyepots.

Loopy: I like that idea of the chain of hands working together down the line. How do you come up with the names for your colorways, and do you have a favorite?
Beth: The colorways come from so many different places. Much of it comes from keeping my eyes open and paying attention to the world around me. For example, Glenwood was inspired on an autumn walk. One of my neighbors had a big terra cotta pot of yellow and orange mums on her front porch. So, Glenwood has orange, yellow, green and a brick-ish color. Another example of pulling things from every day events is Irving Park. I was in a store to pick up some new bath towels. Instead of walking in and just picking out the color I needed, I really looked around at the way the different colors played against each other. Some of them spoke to me and the next day I went in and fiddled around until I found something I liked. One last example just to show you that sometimes things just happen. We had a batch of a color that turned out badly. Some yellows and purples got mixed up and looked just awful. They were so bad that I didn’t even want to throw them in the millends box. I had some leftover dye from another color I was working on. I just poured them all together and tossed in the ugly yarn. Lo and behold, Lakeview was born. I had to do a little reverse engineering to figure out how to recreate it, but it was worth it. Lakeview is always one of our top 10 best selling colors.

Loopy: So you really do get ideas from all over! Does anyone else in your family knit?
Beth: I have an older sister who knits pretty regularly. She is very talented with needles. She knits, does needlepoint, sews. She even made her own wedding gown!

Loopy: Yes, I’d say that qualifies her as very talented with needles! Are there other hobbies that you enjoy?
Beth: Does running count? I get up most mornings a little after 5 am to run. If these old bones hold up, I’ll be running the Chicago marathon this fall. I also really enjoy cooking.

Loopy: ….. wait a minute ….. I’m still trying to get past the 5 am thing….. (yawn). Well good luck on the marathon! If you had the day off, what would be your favorite way to spend it?
Beth: On a perfect day off, I’d take a long walk on the lake with my husband and dog, find time for an afternoon nap and have friends over for cocktails and dinner.

Loopy: That sounds like a nice day – we hope you get one of those soon!
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Sheri notenjoyingtheheatinFloridabuthavingfunknitting!

Today, it’s all about more bags. (I did warn you that I have a wee bag problem. As in, I like them too much.) Many of you have enjoyed collecting the different fabrics and sizes of BigBags, BabyBags and NeedleBooks from Lawre’s Laine, and I thought you’d have fun learning a bit more about this indie artisan that you have supported. Her work is top notch and it’s always fun to unpack a case of her bags when new orders come in.

Loopy: Hi Lawre! We like having your wonderful bags here. How long have you been sewing and do you remember the first thing you made?
Loopy: My mother taught me and my 2 sisters to sew when we were 7 or 8 years old. I do not remember what it was I first sewed, I just remember ripping seams, again and again, until they were RIGHT!! I hated it then, but am very thankful now! I sewed funky clothes during the 60′s (that never fit) and clothes for my daughter in the 70′s (which did) I don’t like fitting clothing – I’d much rather sew home furnishings and decorative things. I really liked sewing teddy bears from an old mink coat!

Loopy: All of that attention to detail when you were young really paid off. Your workmanship on your bags is beautiful. What made you get into making bags as a business?
Lawre: First I took an early retirement from the telephone company and needed a little more income and something to keep me busy. I am a hand-spinner, so decided to sell hand-spun sweater kits with hand-made buttons and stitch markers. Way too time consuming and not enough knitters ready to dive into knitting with anything hand-spun, much less a whole sweater! But the yarn is the reason for the business name- “Laine” is French for “wool”. While spinning all the yarn for the kits, I found that I did not have a bag big enough to carry 1 1/2 pounds of “fluff” and the bobbins and all – so I made myself a BigBag. Other people liked them and before I knew it I had a few orders for bags. With the help of my sister Jane and my group of spinning friends, I developed the final design: the pockets, beads, length of handles, firm bottom, you name it.

Loopy: That’s funny, because the first bag I bought from you became my spinning bag (spindles, oil, scissors, etc.) and then of course I needed another one for my knitting projects right away. What is a typical day like for you. Do you sew all day long?
Lawre: I have a part-time job with Strauch Fiber Equipment Company making drum carders, ball winders and swifts, so I only work on Lawre’s Laine Thursday through Sunday. I usually get up around 6, make a BIG pot of coffee, feed the family (I can wait, but the dog will not!!!), take care of the e-mail stuff, and then get down to the real stuff around 7:30 or 8. I will sew until I have all the sewing done on the order I am working on and then do the finishing on all of the items – put in the grommets, cut the leather for the handles, etc. My husband is great – he does most of the house work and cooking. How lucky am I?! I will work till 5 or 6 and then usually braid the leather handles while watching TV at night.

Loopy: Your husband does the housework and cooking? Yes, that sounds pretty darned lucky on your end! Do you have a workshop where you create? What things are “must haves” for your sewing room?
Lawre: Our largest bedroom has been converted into my sewing room and most of the basement has been fitted out with the tools for processing the leather and finishing everything. I would love to have a bigger space because I am always juggling the areas and moving stuff around. Have I mentioned I am a dreamer? The “Must Haves” are:
A: my industrial leather sewing machine – I needed a machine with a “high-rise” pressure foot to sew the many layers of tapestry. It turned out to be a walking-foot leather machine, so I can sew the leather as well.
B: my 4′ x 8′ measuring and cutting surface. I actually could use a larger cutting space so I could lay out a whole hide for cutting, but this one works fine. I would love another 4′ x 8′ table for ironing- plus a professional steam iron, but no space for that!
C: I found this cool leather slicer, so I can cut a 1.5″ length of leather and then just pull it through the slicer to achieve the four pieces needed for braiding. I was cutting each little strip separately – what a pain. Leather stretches and isn’t really flat to start off with, given that cows are round and a bit lumpy! A good rotary cutter is also needed.
D: All the other tools – grommet and rivet setters.
E: Last, but maybe the most important are my Ott Lights. Good color matching is impossible without good light.
And, oh yea, F: the computer – I do almost all my shopping on-line, and I love it!

Loopy: I’ll bet there are some seamstresses out there who think your work area and equipment sounds wonderful. Are you a knitter? If so, how long have you been knitting and what do you like to make the most?
Lawre: Yes, I am a fluff-a-holic!! I love the look, the feel, and the smell of fiber….Wool, silk, alpaca, cotton. even the fluff from my dog, Vanny. My mother started this, too. She taught my Brownie Troop to knit and I spent more time by the frog pond than I really want to think about, but that was my mom – do it over and over until it is RIGHT! I started knitting sweaters and they are my favorite. Cable work is so much more fun for me than color-work, but right now I am working on the best sweater. I got a kit at Maryland Sheep and Wool that has seven colors. It is fabulous and is done with slip-stitches, so all one color is used on any row. I also love socks – great carry-with-you and pick-up any where projects.

Loopy: We’re glad that you knit, and really glad to hear that you like to knit socks, in addition to sweaters. For any other artisans out there, do you have any advice in starting up a business and marketing yourself?
Lawre: Do what you know and love and don’t be afraid to experiment. Use the internet as much as you can. It is a wonderful resource, especially for those of us who live in rural areas. I buy almost all my equipment and supplies from on-line stores and almost all of my fabric comes from online sources as well. I can shop at 3am in my PJ’s, from all over the world. And the shipping costs are less than the time spent driving all-over. As for marketing, I am not sure I can help much there. I was very lucky – a sales rep saw my Bags at Holly Spring Home Spun in Powhatan, Virginia, and contacted me. I also did a few craft shows, and soon discovered that it can be a good advertisement, but it is good to be selective and choose venues that attract the people who will ultimately be your customers. So I guess figuring out who your customers are and where they will be found is a good thing.

Loopy: Good advice, Now, any mistakes that you made along the way that you want to share?
Lawre: Boy, oh boy – that is a loaded question! I have done things that I might now do differently, but this whole thing has been such a learning journey for me. I sometimes am not as aggressive as I should be and have let others steer me in a direction I would not have chosen and regretted it. My husband says that I don’t push my business enough. I think I tell him too much!! There is one thing that is a continuing challenge – the web site. I have a very hard time getting around to updating it. I first tried to blog frequently – yikes. And, I am not gifted in the record keeping area, so come tax time, I have major stuff to do. Every year I vow to be better. One year I just might get there.

Loopy: Well I think most creative people have way more fun doing the creative end of things than the business end of things. You sound very normal! Tell us about your family.
Lawre: My husband Michael, and I live in Blacksburg, Virginia with our fiber producing dog, Vanny (yes I do spin her fur into the most wonderfully soft yarn!). We moved here about 12 years ago and feel we came to heaven. A small college town in a rural setting in the mountains – who could ask for more? Gardening is my 2nd love, but finding the time is a challenge. Right now I am enjoying the strawberries that have just started ripening and it looks as if the apples, raspberries, blueberries, and grapes are also going to have bumper crops. The rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks share the bounty too. I have become the garlic queen – there is nothing better than fresh garlic from your own garden. If you haven’t discovered the joy of home-grown garlic, give it a try. Plant in the fall and harvest in mid-summer, Yum!

Loopy: Home-grown garlic? That sounds like a fun plant for the garden! Anything else you’d like to add?
Lawre: I would love to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me in the past 3 or 4 years. It is hard to believe that Lawre’s Laine is so young and has grown so. This could not have happened without all of you! AND Life is an adventure – try to enjoy the RIDE!
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Sheri whohas3Lawre’sLaineBagsandoneNeedleBookand
willattempttodoablogpostonWednesdaywithoutoncementioningtheword”bag”…