Alright, the requisite “About Us” page. I don’t know about you but I’m usually curious about the people behind shops and projects. I’m also impatient and occasionally lacking in attention span (which is why I love reading the Yarn Harlot - she just seems so familiar!) In deference to these things - and the fact that you’re here to find fibre arts supplies, here’s the quickie version of who, how, where, why, what and when.
Who: Colleen Deatherage and family. A fibre addict by night and clinical social worker by day who realized there seemed to be more healing in fibre than in therapy (or at least that’s how she justifies her personal stash). I’m also a fallen shepherd (former shepherd is just so dull sounding) who hated to give up her flock but life circumstances were such that it had to be done. Ironically, a lot of the Icelandic fibre we’re sourcing is coming from my old flock (so I can vouch for the quality of the fleece - amazing stuff). Raising sheep gave me a great understand and appreciation for every aspect of the “wool growing” business. This year we’re going to try flax for linen...
I am doing this largely on my own but my goodness, I could not manage without the shoring up by my husband J and son LG. And, a handful of fellow fibre addicts willing to be paid in yarn. So, sometimes here you’ll read “I” and sometimes it will be “we” and both are true.
How: By taking over the entire house and the treehouse (properly sealed office treehouse - don’t worry, it’s all about keeping the yarn happy) with totes of fibre, that’s how. Oh and learning a whole lot about small business, internet everything. Fortunately there wasn’t a lot of learning curve needed with the fibre. The difficult part is a) picking things without thinking only of me and b) realizing I will, in fact, have to part with all of this.
Where: Well, here, at Flannelberry Fibre, in the heart of the BC Kootenays (Creston, to be exact). Perhaps more importantly in rural Canada but I’ll save that for the why.
Why: Look, I’m here already. The why is an easy one. I live in the middle of nowhere. We’ll not nowhere, it’s gorgeous but not somewhere with the kind of yarn I wanted. I was addicted to Malabrigo in my first knitting year and suffered for years at the lack of access to anything with natural fibres. Not that there’s anything wrong with acrylic; I just wove a shawl for my best friend in the most gorgeous wash and wear acrylic. But - that’s not as hard to get as the natural fibres. So, I asked and asked at the few places that carried any yarn at all. And I bought tonnes whenever I went anywhere that had any good yarn but it just seemed that it was another sort of rural oppression (melodramatic, I know but when you’ve run out of your colourway three days before some gift giving occasion and you have to drive two hours to get more, it’s pretty serious). That’s why we’re offering the rural discount. If you’re rural, I’m giving you 5% just to try and even things out a bit. You can contact us for the discount code.
I also wanted to support smaller processors - the indie dyers and spinners who have really great stuff. Barring that, I wanted to support the collectives of women and children who bring us Fair Trade yarn (like Mirasol). It’s like a fuzzy love that makes the world go ‘round. Indie yarns are another thing we have a hard time getting in these areas. You don’t see lot here yet because it takes time for them to get their products together. As the shipments come in, we’ll be listing them so keep watching.
What: Well, fibre arts supplies of all kinds. Because I knit, crochet (badly - but I used to be really good), felt (both wet and needle), weave, spin and dye... I didn’t want to leave any of the fibre arts out. I know I haven’t included some of the older arts, like sprang or naalbinding but that’s because I haven’t had time to learn them yet. And if I’ve missed something else - please let me know, I’ll add it (and learn it too, most likely).
When: Why right now, of course.
If you want to read more or follow the adventures of this crazy, crazy, crazy idea of mine check out the blog. I’ll do my best to keep it updated but if not, just nudge me.
Who: Colleen Deatherage and family. A fibre addict by night and clinical social worker by day who realized there seemed to be more healing in fibre than in therapy (or at least that’s how she justifies her personal stash). I’m also a fallen shepherd (former shepherd is just so dull sounding) who hated to give up her flock but life circumstances were such that it had to be done. Ironically, a lot of the Icelandic fibre we’re sourcing is coming from my old flock (so I can vouch for the quality of the fleece - amazing stuff). Raising sheep gave me a great understand and appreciation for every aspect of the “wool growing” business. This year we’re going to try flax for linen...
I am doing this largely on my own but my goodness, I could not manage without the shoring up by my husband J and son LG. And, a handful of fellow fibre addicts willing to be paid in yarn. So, sometimes here you’ll read “I” and sometimes it will be “we” and both are true.
How: By taking over the entire house and the treehouse (properly sealed office treehouse - don’t worry, it’s all about keeping the yarn happy) with totes of fibre, that’s how. Oh and learning a whole lot about small business, internet everything. Fortunately there wasn’t a lot of learning curve needed with the fibre. The difficult part is a) picking things without thinking only of me and b) realizing I will, in fact, have to part with all of this.
Where: Well, here, at Flannelberry Fibre, in the heart of the BC Kootenays (Creston, to be exact). Perhaps more importantly in rural Canada but I’ll save that for the why.
Why: Look, I’m here already. The why is an easy one. I live in the middle of nowhere. We’ll not nowhere, it’s gorgeous but not somewhere with the kind of yarn I wanted. I was addicted to Malabrigo in my first knitting year and suffered for years at the lack of access to anything with natural fibres. Not that there’s anything wrong with acrylic; I just wove a shawl for my best friend in the most gorgeous wash and wear acrylic. But - that’s not as hard to get as the natural fibres. So, I asked and asked at the few places that carried any yarn at all. And I bought tonnes whenever I went anywhere that had any good yarn but it just seemed that it was another sort of rural oppression (melodramatic, I know but when you’ve run out of your colourway three days before some gift giving occasion and you have to drive two hours to get more, it’s pretty serious). That’s why we’re offering the rural discount. If you’re rural, I’m giving you 5% just to try and even things out a bit. You can contact us for the discount code.
I also wanted to support smaller processors - the indie dyers and spinners who have really great stuff. Barring that, I wanted to support the collectives of women and children who bring us Fair Trade yarn (like Mirasol). It’s like a fuzzy love that makes the world go ‘round. Indie yarns are another thing we have a hard time getting in these areas. You don’t see lot here yet because it takes time for them to get their products together. As the shipments come in, we’ll be listing them so keep watching.
What: Well, fibre arts supplies of all kinds. Because I knit, crochet (badly - but I used to be really good), felt (both wet and needle), weave, spin and dye... I didn’t want to leave any of the fibre arts out. I know I haven’t included some of the older arts, like sprang or naalbinding but that’s because I haven’t had time to learn them yet. And if I’ve missed something else - please let me know, I’ll add it (and learn it too, most likely).
When: Why right now, of course.
If you want to read more or follow the adventures of this crazy, crazy, crazy idea of mine check out the blog. I’ll do my best to keep it updated but if not, just nudge me.
