Tatting You Up!

30MarApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

HomeSpun Yarn Party was amazing! So much fun, so many people, and a near mob-scene at one point!

But first, let me just remind you that there are only two days left to join the SpaceCadet’s yarn club, the InterStellar Yarn Alliance. I’ve already been working on the yarn and goodies for the first parcel and it’s going to be fabulous, so if you’ve been thinking about joining and haven’t had a chance yet, don’t wait! The Yarn Alliance closes for subscriptions on March 31.

Ok, now, back to HomeSpun… The place was hoppin’, absolutely crazy. It was wall-to-wall indie spinners and dyers and, the minute the doors opened, it was wall-to-wall fiber-loving customers too. At one point, I actually found myself pushed out the booth on the other side of the aisle, and physically unable to get back into our booth! It. was. wild!!!

And I’m tickled pink to tell you that part of the reason for the madness was… everybody loved the SpaceCadet tattoos! I was hoping people would like them — they loved them. I was running around the booth just trying to get one on everyone who wanted one. Customers waving and gesturing, calling out, waiting for me to put a tattoo on them — or even taking a couple and putting them on each other. Before I knew it, there was little SpaceCadet all over the place. I was thrilled!!!

I stuck one on my cheek, of course (but you’ve already seen that). And then I got a bit risqué and stuck one just below my neckline…

But then, some of my customers thought that was the perfect spot too!

And the thing about the tattoos is that they were the perfect icebreaker. Suddenly, all the customers waiting in line were helping each other put them on, discussing whether they should go for shoulders, wrists, or biceps… It was so cool to see so many people getting into the spirit! Oh, and then… they started comparing yarn. Of course they did! It’s what fiber people do!

Lots and lots of customers sticking SpaceCadets right there on their cheeks. Including my two lovely assistants…

(Don’t they look fabulous?!?)

We came home feeling on fire — happy, exhilarated, exhausted. HomeSpun lived up to everything we hoped, and our customers were so much fun. Our next show is Knitters Fantasy on April 14 and it’s going to be a crunch to get ready for another show so soon but… I can’t wait!

Hey, don’t forget — only two days left to sign up!

Written All Over My Face

23MarApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

The last couple of days have been crazy busy — I’ve been running around doing last minute things to prepare for HomeSpun Yarn Party this Sunday in Savage MD. But yesterday and I had to stop everything and play for wee bit.

Just stop and play, like a kid.

Because something wonderful arrived in the post. Something I’d ordered completely on a whim, and just hoped it’d turn out all right, thought I’d probably love it but wasn’t really sure…

When I ripped open the package I found this…

And I immediately let out a squeeeeee!!!!

And then, I immediately did this…

(Disclaimer: My nose is not that big. Somehow, I seem totally incapable of taking a close up that does not involve either enlarging my nose to alarming proportions or causing it to become misshapen in a startlingly Gérard Depardieu-esqe fashion. Seriously. I have no idea why. Also, the crazy amount of out of focus area? That hides wrinkles. Yeah, I can see some of you nodding.)

But back to the tattoos. Ok, now, I admit I’m probably a lot more excited about this than you are. The thing is, I love my little SpaceCadet. He hangs out with me all day long — on labels, on my project bag, and on the original drawing I made of him, stuck on the corkboard over my desk. So to see him suddenly appear on a bunch of temporary tattoos just made me feel downright giddy. I mean, a SpaceCadet tattoo! How cool is that?!?

So, If I Wear One, Will You Wear One Too?

Ok, how does this sound… We’ll be taking these funky little SpaceCadet tattoos to HomeSpun and giving one to every person who signs up to the SpaceCadet mailing list (oh yeah, a copy of the SpaceCadet’s Guide and a tattoo!). And — and here’s the fun part — for everyone who puts their tattoo on right then and there, we’ll give them 10% off their HomeSpun purchase! How does that sound?

And if you’re not going to HomeSpun but you really really want one of these cool little tattoos, just remind me in the notes of your next order and I’ll pop one in your parcel. And when you wear it, you gotta send me a photo! Ok?

(Hey, don’t forge: InterStellar Yarn Alliance memberships will be open for only another 7 days. If you’ve been meaning to join and haven’t yet, don’t let the subscription time close before you get a chance!)

Win a Bundle of SpaceCadet Mini-Skeins!

20MarApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

All day today, I’ve been making Mini-Skein bundles in preparation for HomeSpun Yarn Party this weekend (hey, are you coming?). I love putting them together — picking the colours, arranging the skeins and tying them all together. Mini-Skeins are just so cute and, oh, so much fun!

We took Mini-Skeins to Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet to introduce the idea to customers who hadn’t seen them before and… they sold like hotcakes! I mean, it’s one thing to see them online, but I think it’s completely different when you meet them in person. I loved seeing the customers pouring over each and every bundle, trying to decide which one (or two …or three!) that had the colourways they loved the most.

And the very best part? So many of those customers have came back in the weeks after the festival to join the SpaceCadet’s Mini-Skein Club. Seriously, I don’t think there’s any better compliment than that!

So, the Mini-Skeins are coming with us to HomeSpun Yarn Party this weekend. And if you’re going to be there, do be sure to come by the booth early before they disappear!

Or Win a Mini-Skein Bundle

So, what if you’re not going to HomeSpun? (or if you just can’t wait…) Well, don’t you worry because the lovely folks at the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet festival are giving away a SpaceCadet Mini-Skein bundle in their latest newsletter, along with a copy of Sarah Core’s Mini-Mania Scarf pattern. Just click on this link before March 30, and scroll down to the bottom for all the details on how to enter.

And then you can sit back, cross your fingers, and wait for your own little bundle of Mini-Skein goodness to arrive in your mailbox. Hooray!

The InterStellar Yarn Alliance is Open for Subscriptions

16MarSeptember 4, 2015 By Stephanie

Squeeeee! I am so excited I can hardly tell you! I’ve been counting down to today and it’s finally here — the InterStellar Yarn Alliance is open for subscriptions at last!

The Yarn Alliance is the SpaceCadet’s supercool yarn club. And it’s one of the most fun things I get to do in my job! Seriously. While I’m in the studio creating the colourways, or while I’m writing the dyer’s notes, or coming up with all the fab goodies, I’m always hoping the members will love the results as much I do. And do they? Well, check it out…

And, y’know, while I was putting together the new Yarn Alliance images for the website, I realised I was taking a trip down yarn club memory lane. So much luscious yarn, so many colourways I love!

Members of the InterStellar Yarn Alliance receive fabulous parcels delivered to their door every other month, containing:

SpaceCadet^® Creations yarn (light to medium weight) in an exclusive Yarn Alliance colourway (guaranteed not to be offered on the SpaceCadet website for at least 6 months)
A great Yarn Alliance gift tucked into every parcel!
The SpaceCadet’s Log exploring the inspiration for each colourway.
An InterStellar Yarn Alliance group on Ravelry where you can discuss WIPs, ask questions, and share FOs with fellow members.
The InterStellar Yarn Alliance newsletter with periodic special offers exclusively for members.
A 15% off coupon every six months

Subscriptions are for either 6 months (3 parcels) for $125, or for 12 months (6 parcels) for $235.

Want to join the fun? C’mon! We’d love to have you!

HomeSpun Yarn Party March 25 …and a Shop Update

14MarApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

Exciting news! We’ve been accepted to HomeSpun Yarn Party again!

HomeSpun Yarn Party — March 25, Savage MD

HomeSpun is a fantastic event that showcases indy spinners, dyers, and other makers. It’s not the biggest show you’ll ever go to but the quality of fibery goodness is simply off the scale!

And it is an incredibly fun show to do — the atmosphere is electric! Because the people who come to HomeSpun truly love hand-dyed and it is so exciting to get to meet them, see their projects, talk about the yarn and the colours they love. I can’t wait!

So, if you’re in the DC-Baltimore area on March 25, come to Savage Mill in Savage MD, and fall headlong into hand-dyed nirvana. We’d love to see you!

Shop Update

And in case you can’t make it (…or in case you just can’t wait!), I’ve done a shop update. There’s some incredibly gorgeous laceweights in semi-solid colours, and Estelle and Stella in variegated colourways that will take your breath away.

So grab a big gulp of air and… dive in!

It’s the Little Things that Make All the Difference

09MarApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

First there’s the tying, then the soaking, and the dyeing. After that, the drying, the re-tying, the labeling, the twisting and listing. And then the very last step: parceling it up and sending it out.

I don’t know why, but I love that moment when the parcel is all sealed up and sitting by the door. Another skein of SpaceCadet yarn about to go on its journey to a new home, a new purpose — and I get such a thrill out of that.

I’ve sent quite a few parcels out this week, and I’ll be sending out a whole bunch more when the SpaceCadet’s Mini-Skein Club parcels go out in a few days. And, as I was parceling one of them up, I suddenly thought I’d share it with you…

I think it’s really important that your yarn arrives in perfect condition, no matter where your parcel is left (on the doorstep?) or what the weather is (pouring down rain?) so first, I wrap it in a nice little cellophane bag to keep it safe and dry.

And, if you’re lucky, I may pop in a little extra treat for you…

And there’s a note too. Sometimes I ask you to share your project with me when it’s done and I really mean that — I love seeing how each skein works up in its project.

And I try to pack each parcel so it looks special when you open it…

Each domestic parcel is delivered by Priority Mail and Delivery Confirmation — if you need to know where your parcel is, get in touch and we can give you the tracking number. And I’m always surprised by how quick delivery is!

The way a parcel is packed may not seem that important. But when I’ve taken so much time and effort to create the most beautiful yarn I can, and then you’ve chosen it so carefully and are eagerly waiting for its arrival at your door… well, then I think taking a little extra time to ensure it arrives safe and dry — and beautiful — is one little detail that probably makes all the difference in the world.