A quiet Thursday evening… Thursday, 11 June 2009

It would appear that Jo not only entrusted me with Yarn Box, she also handed over her love of it. If you read Jo’s blog before you’ll know how much she enjoyed “Yarn Box time” in her day. After the last couple of months I understand why. I could be considered Yarn Box obsessed, and happily so. I’ve taken to researching knitting needles in my lunch breaks much to the amusement of my colleagues! Well, it makes a change from production planning. If you haven’t figured already, Yarn Box is my out of hours “job”, I have two days at home with “Small” (we like to go out for coffe and cake together even though she’s only three!), three days at work and a weekend with the family (and as much yarn as I have energy for.)

It’s all getting quite exciting at the moment. I’ve just placed orders for new yarns and new colourways for September, the release date for the issue 3 of the Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine (Fall/Winter ‘09) has been announced, the first batch of Mini Mochi should arrive tomorrow,and Addi Lace circular needles are in stock.  Look out for some reductions on the site over the next few weeks as I need to free up space for new stock.

I’ve been knitting a mini swatch with a sample of Mini Mochi today, I was hoping to take a photo but it keeps rolling up on the needle. It’s lovely to knit with, really light and almost like it’s not there at all. The only downside I’ve found is that I’ve had to pay attention to make sure I don’t split the yarn, often I knit without really looking but it didn’t work with this. It has a nice halo and would make lovely scarves and gloves, or fluffy socks. There are a quite a few free patterns available on Ravelry and wendyknits, I’ll try to add some links soon.

My Cookie A book finally arrived this week after much messing about with online orders. She’s so lucky; imagine being able to knit and talk about knitting all the time. I wonder whether we could get her back to the UK to see those of us who were unable to make it to Socktopus? Maybe we should have a UK Sock Summit and invite our favourite designers. Anyone for knitting socks in Oxfordshire for a weekend? (Let me know!)

I must get a photo of my holiday socks. I’ve reached the ankle and am looking forward to the fun that is the heel turn. The Kollage square circulars (that always makes me smile) have reduced my problems with aching hands and I love the flexible cords, they’re so soft I just push them into a bag and don’t have to worry about kinking (unlike the Addi Turbo cable, if you know what I mean). Our family holiday was great. Mum joined us and we have a really laid back week between the play parks, swimming pools and Mocha Berry Frappucinos! Many thanks to Mum for babysitting so Graham and I could go to see Star Trek.

Live long and prosper!

–Nicola

Knitting socks on my summer holiday Monday, 25 May 2009

The sun has been shining all weekend and we’re looking forward to a few days away at Center Parcs. I’m looking forward to letting the girls run around outside as much as they like. They’re looking forward to staying in a little house in the woods with Grandma. It’s all starting to sound like Little Red Riding Hood.

I’m hoping to have some time to get on with my socks. I’m currently testing the Kollage circular needles which have recently come into stock by knitting two socks at the same time. My sister-in-law tells me it’s the way to go, but I think I prefer the rhythm of knitting on DPNs. Maybe I’ll change my mind when I have two socks completed at the same time? There’s a certain appeal to the idea! So far, after 30 rows of 2×2 rib on 2.75mm needles I can say that Kollage’s claim that they put less stress on the hands seems to be true. I’ve had none of my usual problems with aching hands from working on fine needles.

When I get home, I’m hoping that my copy of “Sock Innovation” by Cookie A. will have arrived. It appears that  knitters worldwide have gone sock crazy, it took me ages to find a company who had a copy in stock. (Try www.searchpress.com if you’re looking, it was full price but free postage.) I’m planning to join the Ravelry KAL for the book. If you’re looking for sock yarn, I’m expecting Mini Mochi from Crystal Palace to come into stock in June, and there’s always Noro’s sock yarns; Kureyon and Silk Garden Sock.

–Nicola

Lots of yarn, never enough time. Tuesday, 5 May 2009

I can’t believe how busy the last few weeks have been. Manos Silk Blend has arrived, in volume, the first shipment from Kollage Yarns is here and lots of goodies from Blue Sky Alpacas (like the incredibly fluffy Brushed Suri).

I’ve had a quiet evening this evening for a treat, watching Ashes to Ashes while casting-off a hat, after a day out and about with “little one” on the back of my Trikidoo (www.trikidoo.com). I’ve pedalled miles in the wind and my legs really know about it! Anyway, back to the tale of the hat…I’ve been postponing the cast-off for the last week because once I’ve stitched the seams I have to be really brave, or crazy, and felt the hat in the washing machine. I’m still trying to get my head around the idea of knitting something in a lovely yarn and then deliberately shrinking it in the machine. I felted my favourite cardigan by mistake when I was 18. It went in the washing machine my size and came out suitable for a ten year old! I’ve been wary ever since. I’m trying to convince myself that the hat is intended to be felted. I’ll post a picture when it’s done – good or bad!

Once that’s done I need to decide on my next project. I’ve admitted that the crochet granny squares blanket is on hold for now. I need about 20 more squares and I’m not quite in the mood so I’ll just keep stitching the other 100+ squares together. I think next is going to be the Katerina Shawl from “The Knitter” but now that all the Manos Silk Blend has arrived I can’t decide which colour to use. I want to make using Kollage Square Circular needles to see if they really do reduce the strain on your hands. Of course the other option is  pair of cute little pedi-sock things I’ve found a pattern for, but again which yarn to choose? (I think Yarn Box needs a couple more sock yarns to choose from.)

As if I don’t have enough things I’d like to knit, I signed up to www.knittingdaily.com on Monday. There are some great free patterns. Added to www.Ravelry.com, www.Knitty.com and www.knittingpatterncentral.com, I  don’t think I shall ever run out of inspiration.

My little girl… Tuesday, 7 April 2009

Isn’t time a funny thing? My eldest daughter will be five years old tomorrow. I still remember the night she was born as if it was yesterday. I remember choosing her name and her first clothes. How can she be five so soon? She’s been so excited for the last few days that it’s an absolute joy to be with her. I can’t wait for the morning either. It’s going to be a lovely day.

– Nicola

Is it April already? Tuesday, 31 March 2009

I’m wondering where the last week has gone. Last week Yarn Box moved in and now it feels as if it’s always been here. I’m enjoying seeing what everybody is ordering (lots of lovely Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend) and wondering what you’re all knitting. My daughters are fascinated by it all, but don’t want me to send out any of the pink yarn which they claim is theirs! I’m also looking into exciting new ranges for the summer. It’s going to be difficult to choose. I’m off to have a flick through the new issue of The Knitter before I fall asleep and see if there’s anything that makes me want to pick up my needles. I’ll let you know if I find anything!

–Nicola

Yarn Box moves home Monday, 23 March 2009

What an incredible day! Jo and I have been hard at work today (with much assistance from Jo’s wonderful family). Earlier today it seemed unfeasible that everything would fit into my car but after some creative packing solutions Yarn Box has been packed into boxes and transported around the M25 across the M4 and through the Oxfordshire countryside. Now all I have to do is unpack and find my feet. I’ve already found the Brittany Needles and the Debbie Bliss magazines so I feel we’re off to a good start. I’m hoping that there won’t be too much disruption to Yarn Box, I’m really looking forward to taking over and finding some fantastic new yarns through 2009.

Thank you to Jo and all of her family for making me so welcome and having faith in me to look after Yarn Box.

Thanks too to my wonderful husband for helping me get everything out of the car!

– Nicola

Letting Go… Sunday, 22 March 2009

The house is quiet, all is very still. I have replied to the last email of tonight, time to log off – except it feels very “final” tonight.

 

The past few days have been exceptionally busy for me. The sale of Yarn Box has been brought forward to this weekend. Nicola is super and very accommodating! I can feel she has the energy and passion ready to take on Yarn Box! Sadly, unwell family calls me (and Lewis and Sam) to the other side of the world – Hong Kong. We are departing on very short notice… so the planned sale has been brought forward a whole week.

 

Today was a mad day of stock take, every last needle has been counted for. A crazy exercise which mum, dad, sisters, Lewis, Sam – everyone helped out in. Finally about an hour ago, everything was final. All is ready for the BIG HANDOVER tomorrow. (in 7 mins it will be midnight!). Everyone I have spoken to has told me I am crazy to let go of Yarn Box – but I would rather do it now – doing it properly and finding the right person – then having to rush it all through if I did have to relocate.

 

My father was a business man (now retired and has Lewis as his occupation). I grew up seeing him run many businesses. Yarn Box is my first. I must confess I am very emotionally attached to YB! It started of as a concept, to planning, to design and implementation – it was me, my favourite colours, type font, brands and stock I wanted. It was people around me too! My sisters – Cassie – bringing in Banana Yarns, Lan with the name, me with my favourite colours, Cassie with the logo design, Gebbie with the shade cards, TT with her Ts&Cs, Ernest and his adverts, mummy with her needles, daddy at the post office, Sam with the sellotape and Lewis with the labels… Everyone has made YB what it is today – and with any part or anyone missing it would not have been the same! THANK YOU ALL - everyone who has played a part!

 

Letting go is hard – and everytime someone has asked me this week “Jo – are you sure” I stop and think… can I? must I? Yes – it will be for the better.

 

I have worked very closely with Nicola this week. She is wonderful and super efficient. I can see this being a smooth transition. Though I am away for the next two weeks – Nicola will know how to get hold of me – therefore if any questions arise – we will be able to work them out (though the lead time might be a little longer than the usual). Though from today – I am no longer running Yarn Box – I will always be “hanging around” Nicola and I have agreed that I will be around… I have let go – but I will still always be here too! (does that make sense??)

 

This will be the very last post from me at this blog! Thank you all for your support over the past 18 months. I would very much like to stay in touch with you all – as I feel I have lots of great friends as well as customers – follow me on my personal blog: http://bbjolewis.wordpress.com  here we can still stay in touch. Yarn Box will be my preferred yarn shop for the rest of my life ! Good bye~~

Welcome to Nicola… Thursday, 19 March 2009

As many of you have noted (thanks for all your lovely email messages), Yarn Box went up for sale a few weeks ago. After a painful process this weekend of finding the new successor to Yarn Box – I would like to say a big welcome to Nicola.

 

Nicola will be taking over the running of Yarn Box from 27th March (next Friday!!)  and the physical move of stock and shelves etc all happen during the weekend. In the meanwhile we are keeping distruption to Yarn Box services to a minimum and everyone should still be able to access our lovely site and place your orders.

 

A lot of you also noted that many colours of many yarns have been taken offline. This was due to the uncertainty we had about how long this handover might take, but we can now be certain that everything will be back to normal by Monday 30th March. If you need something, a colour, a particular type of yarn etc and you can not find it on the site, it will only be temporary. Please send us an email: info@yarnbox.co.uk and Nicola will have this ordered in and ready for you to place the order and dispatch w/c 30th March.

 

As for me… it is very very sad that I am letting go of Yarn Box. It is a company that I started from nothing, and built it into something meaningful. It was not all fun and games – a lot of hard work has gone into Yarn Box, not just from me, but also from my sisters, mum, dad, Lewis… I can not have done it with out my family’s support all along the way. You will still be able to find me and my blogging at: http://bbjolewis.wordpress.com  I hope we can all stay in touch as besides running a successful business I have also made many friends along the way and would love to hear all your stories and projects…. Yarn or otherwise… Make sure you add bbjolewis blog to your feeds… will miss you all!  Jo x

Mother’s Day Discount Code: SMILE Saturday, 14 March 2009

For a weekend – it was a very busy day today. Lewis had his first class at Chinese School this morning. Which left me two hours to complete all my household chores. I also met with some lovely people today and yesterday… everyone was all very friendly and all very nice… I now have some decision making to do for the rest of the weekend. I also planned to watch “Marley and Me” tomorrow with my three sisters – I do look forward to that too!

As promised in the last newsletter… there is a special offer code for Mother’s Day: SMILE

I can not think of a time when my mother did not put a smile on my face. Even at the worst of times she is there to help and support me (even when I made a bad choice or decision) a mother’s encouragement is amazing. Being a mother myself – Lewis is too young to appreciate Mother’s Day – but with him being around I can only learn to appreciate the occassion more! I therefore choose the discount code: SMILE

SMILE will give you a 20% discount redeemable when you spend £25 or more. I hope this will bring a smile to your face – and if it is a gift for mum – a smile to her face too

This offer will run until midnight on Mother’s Day – 22nd March 2009

Yarn Box – For Sale Sunday, 8 March 2009

The “For Sale” sign has gone up for Yarn Box. Following last night’s newsletter I have had quite a few emails coming back asking about Yarn Box For Sale, why, when, etc etc…

As many of you know there has been quite a few changes to my personal circumstances – this has now led to a possibility of relocation to the Far East, as wonderful  as it might sound – not something I am particularly keen on – but might be a must go situation.

With that as a possibility I need to be free of obligations and be able to pick up the bags and go when the boss says “go”. Yarn Box is not really an obligation, but I see it more as my little creation! Yarn Box = Jo and Jo = Yarn Box. I would hate to see it having been sold at last minute and going to the first buyer that comes along…

Therefore – the quest in search of a new owner has started – there is now the time to find someone who will be passionate about Yarn Box. Who will devote the time and dedication it deserves. I am hoping the sale will be a seemless process and the usual high standards we provide will not be compromised.

If you are someone who is interested in being Yarn Box’s potential owner – get in touch with me: jo@yarnbox.co.uk