More Pretty Things

      I tried to post this earlier in the week but WordPress wouldn’t let me upload the photos, so I have lots more things to show you than what’s here today.  I was excited when the UPS man brought me five or six more big boxes early in the week, but on Friday he outdid himself when he unloaded eight BIG boxes at the shop. 

      What a rainbow of colors in the first big shipment!  It was mostly my Plymouth Encore.  Although I don’t have a bag of every single color from the dozens that they offer, the large grouping was a wonderful splash of color for the display area I’d been saving for it.  Everything is still in plastic bags or I’d show you what it looks like. 

Aren't these Kundert spindles lovely?

      But, there are lots of pretty things that I can show you right now including these gorgeous Kundert spindles.  Besides being beautiful, they’re also very reasonably priced for such fine workmanship and I’m delighted to have them.  I know I will soon be ordering more.  Two nearby shops are owned by women who actively spin and represent the major spinning wheel companies, so I don’t want to compete with them.  Our niche will be to offer a nice selection of drop spindles ranging from the basic beginner models to those made by crafts people well-known in the industry for their fine workmanship. 

      Speaking of spindles, I had a nice visit the other day from Elizabeth who is a member of the Culpeper Clickers.  While she was here she pulled out a darling little Turkish spindle and spun on it while we talked.   She’s the second person I’ve met lately who is skilled in using a drop spindle and it was great to meet her. 

    I’ve also finished setting up most of the items that are currently available  in our jewelry case although I still have one or two other vendors to contact.  Some of the items on display are shawl pins from Nicholas and Felice including these two pretties. 

Nicholas and Felice shawl pins

      When I look around the shop I see a couple of empty areas in the display cases that still need to be filled, but they’re getting fewer and fewer.  We’re getting close, very close.  Stay tuned.  More pictures will be coming and the shop is almost ready to open.

Don’t Eat the Egg Rolls

      Last week started off like any normal week.  I was juggling a knee-high pile of  e-mails trying to finalize the last few orders that I need to send off for items that we simply must have before the shop opens.  Then the phone rang.  It was one of the male members of our team.  [Hint:  it wasn't Roscoe or Mosby.]  He was on the way to the hospital complaining of chest pains. 

      Two days and multiple blood tests and a stress test later, he was released from the hospital having apparently suffered no major catastrophe.  The outcome?  Too many egg rolls (think four for dinner and a couple more for lunch the following day) put into a system that is highly sensitive to acid changes.  Doctor said it was the third case of egg roll attack they’d seen that week.  We were glad it was only the grease from the egg rolls but by the time the doctor and hospital bills arrive those are going  to turn out to be really expensive egg rolls! 

Mosby, one of the four-footed team

       The reason for sharing all this is to answer the question of why it is taking us so long to open the shop.  We keep running into unexpected delays like this.  Once the week starts badly it seems to just keep keep sapping our time even though the rest of the diversions this week were pleasant including a visit from an out-of-town team member and two days of taking Mosby (our therapy dog)  to see his friends at a nursing home and an assisted living facility. 

      But, we’re back on track now, finalizing orders for the remaining needles and notions we need, and for our one remaining large order that we simply can’t open without.  I’ll keep you updated about our progress. 

      If you’re in the area during a weekday afternoon, it’s okay to knock on the door for a sneak peek if I’m there.  That’s what Teaist (Ravelry name) did recently and it was nice to meet her.  She’s a spinner and fellow tea enthusiast (she had her own tea company before her recent move to Virginia) and she’s also skilled with a drop spindle.  Meeting all you great knitters and crocheters and spinners, and future fiber arts friends is one of the most exciting aspects of opening a new business.  Hang in there.  It won’t be long now.

And Now It’s Our Classroom

      One of our favorite things about the location we selected for our yarn shop was the separate room at the rear that has now become our classroom and gathering space.  Two windows provide lots of natural light and the area that once housed only a sink now features an upper cabinet, a microwave, and a small refrigerator which we will stock with soft drinks and bottled water. 

      There is a large window between the classroom and the retail area. We also have enough counter space to hold several small racks that we will fill with pre-packaged muffins or other baked goods for sale.  There are also small containers for crackers or candy bars, plus a work area in front of the window. 

      So, drumroll please, here is our classroom unveiled. This view was taken from the “L” that will be used for storage and is looking from the rear of the area toward the retail space on the other side of the window and doorway. 

Classroom looking towards the retail area

      And here’s the opposite side of the room showing the kitchenette. 

 

      And, here’s the view toward the storage area where there’s a wagon seat bench and a smaller table.  On the wall to the left are the three dogs who inspired the name for the shop.  A wheelchair accessible bathroom is located off the left edge of the photo in the area behind the dog photos.  

Looking toward the bench and storage area beyond

      Having a separate classroom means that people trying to learn a new skill don’t have to feel like they’re in a fishbowl being stared at by anyone shopping for yarn.  And, the shoppers won’t feel like they’re intruding on a class or need to walk around a class in session to pick up their favorite yarn. 

      The larger table expands to seat eight and since we like small classes this will be plenty of seating.  There are also several seats at the smaller table, plus the bench for when we have gatherings. Additional chairs are also available. 

      We’re not quite ready to show you the retail area.  As yarns and other merchandise arrive we’ve been placing them where we think they’ll be displayed, but they’re still in their plastic wrappers until we inventory them.  But, from time to time I’ll snap a picture of some of the new arrivals to give you an idea of what you’ll find when we open our door sometime soon.

Colors Beyond the Rainbow

      It might seem like a simple task to select yarns for the shop but this is probably what has been the hardest task in putting it all together.   While we want to be a community yarn shop covering the needs of the basic knitter, crocheter, or spinner we also want to offer enough variety to make our shop a destination for fiber enthusiasts from nearby urban areas who head our way for a day in the country.  To meet both needs we will be offering yarns costing less than $2 a ball all the way to $40 or more for one skein.  Whether you want to make a cotton dishcloth or a special shawl for a social event, you should be able to find something to please you in our selection. 

      Although I love color and arranging the yarns so the colors compliment each other I’ve come to appreciate the yarn companies that keep their color selection limited to a few dozen choices for a particular yarn.  So many yarns and so many wonderful color choices!  It’s been a real headache trying to select a manageable group of popular colors.  To give you an idea of just how big this task is, here are the color cards for four of the Plymouth Yarn Company’s most popular yarns. 

Color choices for four of Plymouth's most popular yarns.

      If we tried to stock all of the colors there wouldn’t be room for any other yarns in the shop. 

     I think the pinks, blues, greens and browns give me the most trouble.  Take a look at this small selection of blues in Plymouth Galway.  There are at least six more shades of blue elsewhere on the color card.  In Encore, alone, there are 15 solid blues plus five or six more in the colorspun and heathered groupings.  Some of the colors are so close that I can hardly tell them apart.  What would you choose from this group of autumn colors?

More Plymouth color choices

       I’ve lost track of the number of lists I’ve made of Encore colors to order.  My other problem is that there are so many wonderful yarns and so many great companies to choose from.  From the very smallest hand-dye companies to the giants of the industry, each one has yarns I’d love to sell.  

My first shipment from Blue Ridge Yarns

      So, I’ve been working hard with you in mind to select colors and fibers that will please a wide range of tastes.  The biggest order that arrived last week was four boxes from Blue Ridge Yarns including bags and bags of that gorgeous Silk Shimmer.  Leanna carefully selects the yarns that she uses and then dyes them to perfection.  It was a beautiful shipment to unpack.  This year she’s offering eight of her best-selling colors of sock yarn in a Footprints collection that includes enough of  a coordinating solid color for the heels and toes.  It’s great to have such an outstanding hand-dye company right here in Virginia.  

      I’m expecting two more big shipments this week and still placing orders so the shelves are starting to fill up.  Opening day is getting closer.

Before It Was a Yarn Shop, Part 2

     The idea of opening a yarn shop started to become a reality when we noticed a space for rent in one of the small shopping centers in the southern end of town.  I knew the space well since it was the former home of the hair salon that I’ve been going to for years.  We talked several times with the owner and the price was right, but just before we committed to it I decided to drive around town to take a last look at whatever else was for rent. 

      Times may be hard and there are still a variety of retail spaces available at various locations around town, but even with some downward adjustments rents here aren’t cheap.  Many yarn shops in smaller cities have been fortunate to locate in quaint cottages or historic homes, but in Culpeper “progress” wiped out most of these buildings along the main streets over the years.  We do have a wonderful shopping district on Davis Street downtown, but few of the buildings have their own parking areas.  Nothing I could find seemed suitable. 

      As I drove out of the Food Lion shopping center I noticed the “For Lease” sign at 708 Sunset Lane, the former home of the EyeDeal shop.  I’d been a customer once or twice and I immediately realized some of its advantages.  We called the owner and even though it was early evening she said she’d meet us.  As soon as I saw inside the building I knew we’d found the right place.  Here’s the interior when we first took a look. 

The main room before

       One of the best features about the shop is the spacious room at the back of the building.  There’s a small kitchen area plus two big windows and plenty of room for classes and group events.  And, the adjoining rest room is wheelchair accessible.  There was a lot to like about the space, but as you can see from the next two photos, there was also work to be done. 

      The first picture was taken from the doorway between the two rooms.  The rest room is out of the picture on the left, and there is a storage area and the second window in an “L” that wraps behind it. 

Future classroom and kitchen

       This view, below,  is from the storage area looking toward the window that separates what is to become the retail space from the classroom space. 

Future workstation with under-counter storage space

       We’ve made a lot of changes since these pictures were taken.  I taught beginner knitting and crocheting classes there for the parks and recreation department last month, and the room worked really well.  It’s also been a great place to meet with yarn company sales reps.  

      In the next few days I’ll show you photos of what the two rooms look like now.  It’s amazing what new carpet, a little paint, three trips to IKEA, and a numerous treks to Lowe’s can do.

Before It Was a Yarn Shop

      Welcome to the blog for Dog House Yarns and More, the only full-service yarn shop in Culpeper, Virginia. 

      We will be opening in a few short weeks and thought it was time to let you in on all the progress we’ve been making.  We are located at 708 Sunset Lane and here’s what our shop looked like a few short months ago.  Many of you may recognize it as the former home of EyeDeal where you went to be fitted for new eyeglasses.

      Or, it might look more familiar from this view that includes The Regency hair salon in the center, and Good Earth Flowers at the opposite end of the building.

      Although we took the “For Lease” sign down long ago, we still don’t have our sign up, so the only clue to what our new shop will be is a small notice we posted in the front window announcing our name and listing our website.

      My favorite view of the shop really isn’t a photo at all.  It’s this cheerful graphic we had created by Broken Box Designs to use in some of our advertising.  Doesn’t that just make you wish for spring?  Spring is arriving quickly here in our beautiful Piedmont and so are the boxes bringing us lovely yarns and other accessories for the fiber enthusiast.  We just finished teaching beginner knitting and crocheting classes for the parks and recreation department, and we will be posting a list of classes on our website very soon.

     The shop is divided into a one-room retail area plus a large classroom at the rear of the space.  Two windows bring in lots of light for the classroom and we have a small kitchen area that will be useful during our group events.  We plan to have soft drinks, bottled water, and snacks available for purchase in the classroom. 

      In my next post I’ll show you the “before” photos of the shop’s interior.