WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO?

Yes, it's been a little while since I posted. Life happens! Winter is always a difficult time for me with it's cold gray days but in the midst of the gray days I found a beacon of light. I became involved with @BzyShowers which lead to another connection with a wonder lady named Theresa who owns Beyond Yarn, the only brick and mortar black owned yarn shop in New Jersey. These connections have lead to so many new friendships and wonder opportunities.

A good friend named Laverne Benton, an independent Indie Dyer who specializes in dying 100% Pima Cotton, Tencel and a beautiful Tencel Superwash Merino blend, came up with the idea for BzyShowers. Laverne is busy building her yarn dying business called Bzypeach.com but wanted to do something to support other BIPOC fiber related business owners grow their business. Laverne brought together five women to help plan Bzyshowers. Erin owner of themoderndream.com, Veronica who is @knit1purr2 on Instagram, Sarah @TheWhimsicalSpinner, Yolanda @iowanstoneflowers and me.

BzyShowers was born and we had our first shower. Check out @BzyShowers on Instagram and see clips of the shower for @Sunyshinymoon28. You can find out more about her and her company on Instagram and sunyshinymoon28@gmail.com. You can also find out how to submit an application to be a recipient of a BzyShower.

During one of our meetings, Erin asked me if I heard of Beyond Yarn located in Union New Jersey. I hadn't heard of the store but the next day I went to check it out. I was greeted by Theresa Macklin, the owner, and an immediate connection was made. We have become good friends and the shop has become my second home. This is the most welcoming place to sit, knit, socialize and make new friends. I have done just that. Theresa opened her shop just as Covid hit and is now working hard to recover from that hit. She is working hard to do that with the help of many fiber friends who call Beyond Yarn their second home.

Theresa offers a nice range of opportunities for craft lovers in her shop. Adults and children can learn to knit and/or crochet. I was fortunate enough to help with a class of 8 to 15 year olds who were so excited to learn and can be seen on the store Instagram page modeling their finished projects. You can see people spinning, there's embroidery and more. On Thursday evenings there's sit and stitch from 6 to 8 and there's usually a nice group. Saturday's from opening to closing you will find people dropping in to socialize and stitch. Yes, just what you want in a shop, a welcoming vibe. There is a wide selection of yarn and yarns by Indie Dyers.

The New Jersey Wool Walk took place the last week of April and the shop was filled with fiber lovers and some awesome Trunk Shows. Many of Theresa's regulars, yes I was one, pitched in to lend a hand helping with the many customers who came to the shop. I was excited, after decades of knitting I was participating in my first Wool Walk. One of the hits was the awesome photo wall crocheted by Theresa's daughter Jacque. The music is always on and dancing can break out at anytime. Again check out the Instagram page. Yes you'll see hula hooping going on to. A good time was had by all.

So between BzyShowers and Beyond Yarn my life has been busy. A good busy. This has helped rejuvenate me. I've met awesome people and have some new opportunities ahead. I'll give some information in the next post. I just wanted to break the ice since I haven't sent out a blog in a while. I also wanted to thank my BzyShower ladies, Theresa and my Beyond Yarn friends for helping me get my groove back.

The picture below is of Theresa, the owner of Beyond Yarn and me in front of the crocheted backdrop her daughter Jacque made. It has flashing lights to. Stop and visit if you’re in the area.

Stay tune for more news.

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