As I am preparing for the shows we will be attending over the next few weekends, I woke up to a gorgeous day outside. The sun is shining, its warming up, and the first sprouts of the Spring Bulbs are starting to push up between the late oak leaves that dropped long after yard clean-up last fall....and I got to witness the cutest thing that reminded me of my own childhood while watching the river flow by. 

A group of about 8 boys around 10 years old..."walking" in a single file along the top ridge by the river's edge...intent on some early morning adventure.

It was so cute, and I am so thankful they feel free to enjoy the same area I find beautiful and inspiring. Fortunately, the ones I recognized are loving caring boys with pets of their own, and compassionate about animals and nature through the teachings of their parents. It was so precious to me, and after so many disappointments over the last month or so, it has helped restore my faith.

While my house/studio is very small, and I have fiber literally hanging from the ceilings, I wouldn't trade moments like this morning for another location. Sometimes I am privy to the most intimate innocent moments of life, and this was one of those.

Happy Spring everyone!

Carol, Mitzi & Boo

After another "reaction" to the anesthetic in the tooth numbing for dental work and finding out that it wasn't all in my head but that I am allergic to an ingredient used for preservatives...I am finally getting my strength back. Most dental anesthetics (once called Novacaine but no longer is that) contain a preservative due to the short shelf life of the Epi...I am allergic to the preservative and nothing like having it shot directly into my blood stream. Who would have thought? I never could understand why I felt the way I did after something so innocent...and now I know...

Anyway...I am trying to stay true to my New Year's resolutions and still have a ways to go...but I am diligent! The remaining outstanding orders are going out Monday morning - woohoo. The recipients will most likely be happy too!

And once I finish packing the majority of them tonight...I am back to dyeing like a maniac and keeping my faith that the long overdue shipment from the UK arrives this coming week and I will be able to include at least part of it in our upcoming two shows this month in Florida and Ohio.

We also just received in more the Paint Pots and the really large "Pots" for projects that include a pattern of your choice.  Too cool...I plan on spinning up and starting one of those said projects shortly....they will be posted online after Black Swamp Market Day end of this month, along with many other new things we are introducing this year. I sure hope everyone enjoys all the things we have planned!

My brother is electrifying my big drumcarder as I write this - he is such a sweetheart, as are both of my brothers actually. Both are journeymen by trade, as were my grandfathers...and there isn't anything they can't do...between my dad and my brothers...I am very lucky to have such talented family members. But then mechanics, inventing, engineering is part of our family make-up...and I have never known any different. But, I am thrilled that even though we are all in our 50's...that we still have such relationships that we help each other out in our specialty fields.

In those regards, I am very fortunate to live in a little town where I actually grew up, and returned to after many years elsewhere. There is something to be said about being a townie as I experience so often. Even our mechanic for the motorhome is picky about who's vehicles he works on. He doesn't appreciate out of towners taking up his time...which I find totally hilarious in this day and age...and economy...but his reputation and quality of work speaks for itself...and I know why people come from 60+ miles away to have their vehicles worked on. It's just funny to listen to him grumble about "it irritating" him when he feels used by his skills rather then honored (my term) since I do honor his skills and abilities.

Everyone have a great week! And if we are meeting up with you this month, by all means make sure you sign up for our E-Newsletter by clicking on the banner above this message to go to our main website. We will be running a 1-day special on March 20th, only to those who receive the newsletter, so it will be worth it to you!

Yours in fiber and friendship,
Carol, Boo and Jingles

Humor...it always has a way of restoring my faith when my faith has been shaken. Through two recent unfortunate experiences with two "pseudo" fiber people who will remain nameless at this point...my faith was restored tonight by true fiber people.

Bob Black (Mr. Full Merino to be exposed at a later date on our "Manly Men of Wool" calender coming out in 2011) of the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival responded to an off-the-wall email I sent out to several of my fiber friends with his twisted take on the story that always leaves me cracking up big time, and then I had the fortunate experience of speaking with a sister dyer & spinner ordering some undyed fibers...and she was a delight.

Sometimes its these small experiences and exchanges that make all the difference in my life and I am thankful for it...

Of course along with discussing anything and everything with my business partner in crime - debb...and playing with my dogs. Spring is hopefully in sight and we look forward to so many of our wonderful fiber friends in the coming year that we haven't seen yet...or met yet...

According to debb who is talking to me through the phone as I write this is chanting - 3 more weeks....3 more weeks!  First day of Spring - March 20th woohoo...we may have to have a one day online sale - that day only as its also my b-day.

Yours in fiber and friendship,

Carol - Baby Lips Larsen

I think I must be the only one still struggling with having to put the "9" at the end of the 200 when filling out checks and other things, let alone February...whew...

Anyway, there is yet another delay in our South Beach Dye-It. Customs brokers in DE-toilet - my personal name for Detroit (I lived there once upon a lifetime so I have rights to call it what I wish)...have created one of the biggest messes my supplier and I have ever been part of.  So, what I was initially hoping to be here by the beginning of February is being returned back to the other side of the pond (Europe) and being reshipped by reputable shippers/brokers. And the funny thing is that the name of the company giving us the headache is named "Joker International" how fitting...

But it's been a very painful last few weeks trying to get this matter taken care of. Fortunately my sweet supplier and I have discussed this and we both realize it has nothing to do with either of us and our relationship is in tack, because I love their products and service, as do you my fiber friends who have purchased said goods from us.

For those of you waiting for orders...I have been tied to my laptop and phone literally for the last week working on trying to straighten out this mess...we threw in the towel a few hours ago...and I am getting back to fulfilling one of my New Year's resolutions - getting every single order out of my house and to everyone...I will not let this event cloud my business ethics.

With that said...I am thrilled with our new colorways and fibers we have in, and can't wait for the new ones.  I will be updating our website throughout the week.


Love,
Carol

Absolutely gorgeous lines have been coming in all week long with more to arrive next week!
Woohoo.
Today's shipment brought in this absolutely gorgeous 100% bombyx silk yarn that is excellent for knitting, weaving, and any other fiber art.
Can't wait to get this ready for its first showing in Pennsylvania next weekend, following with being posted on our site after that.
Gorgeous...luxurious...luminous...all pieces will be wrapped in tissue paper so as to protect them...with a few samples out for those desiring one of our top yarn lines for their work.

On more occasions then debb or I would like to admit to, we discuss customer service and customer satisfaction. We truly believe that if you aren't happy, we will do everything in our power to make you happy for whatever reason. We discuss this because we rarely see it on our end, but hear about other vendors and retailers with very poor practices from their "former" customers.

We believe in our products, we try our best to offer the best products we can find for our offerings, and we believe in helping every single person if they want in achieving success with our products. 

With that said, it never ceases to amaze me how different River's Edge Weaving Studio is in our beliefs. I have yet again experienced another single business owner, that simply doesn't get what good business practices is all about. Two in one week - and I haven't even left the house....that's a record.

Yup...what else is new? More snow.
I am fortunate...I no longer beat the 8-5 crowd drum....instead of worrying about what time to get up to clear out the driveway to get to work on time....I dream of when the weather will turn so I can continue dyeing outdoors on my screened in porch rather then inside...which is okay...but I love the feeling of being outdoors...and the sounds...and rustling in the trees of either the wind or the squirrels, the birds on the river and what have you.
The quiet snow falling does give a certain peacefulness to my home. I was just outside a few minutes ago...and it's amazing how bright it is out at 11:30 at night. My spruce trees are gorgeous with the snow falling on the branches and I hope to take a photo of them tomorrow to post here.

FTC - federal trade commission mandates that textiles be labeled with specific information when offered for sale. As a consumer, you are entitled to specific information about your textile products.

We at River's Edge Weaving Studio follow FTC guidelines in our offerings as a matter of law...and of course because its important to us that every single person purchasing our products has the opportunity to understand what they purchased, how to care for it and so forth.

When I used to teach textiles, one of the assignments was to go to any fabric store, pick out some fabric and ask for care labels. It was definitely a major learning experience for them, and a great way to kick off the semester. It was to many, the first time they found out how much they really had to dig for the truth that they were entitled to as a consumer. Needless to say, the students' interests were tweaked and if nothing else, they at least became better consumers after the course.

We welcome questions about products, where they were made, how they were made, how to work with our offerings. Its part of the fun to us. So, ask away, we did the research for you and are more then happy to share.

Carol

It will definitely be a White Christmas here. It's snowing and the wind is blowing once again, seems to be the norm lately.
Snow and ice are forming on the river, and the scene is gorgeous from this side of my home, which is of course my favorite side.
It's almost fairyland like.
And my favorite neighbor is moving, it saddens me. We have always watched out for each other over the years, and I already miss her.
Off to bake cookies for our favorite mechanic - making sure the Party Barge is always ready for the road. I jokingly asked him what he wanted for Christmas....
What a simple request for all the extras he does for us. We are so lucky to have someone 3 blocks away, very talented, and never hassles me or makes me feel stupid about things mechanical.
Carol

As I was going through a catalog today, I came across several "plaques" of three words that Frank Lloyd Wright had put together and were one time on the balconies of a building since torn down. Reviewing the choices, I am still drawn to my favorite, "Faith, Hope & Charity" and try to incorporate those three words into our business and my way of life.

Many times, I draw upon debb's strength to remind me of those very things, and am thankful that she is there to remind me to keep the faith especially.

I always have hope for not only myself and my endeavors (and hers) but for everyone else I come in contact with. I want everyone to realize their dreams and aspirations, and if those dreams and aspirations were tossed aside for one reason or another, to remember them, and pursue them now.

As to charity, one of our missions is to always be charitable and to try and put ourselves in someone else's shoes even when we don't feel like it.
We constantly are asking ourselves when a difficult situation arises, how would we want to be treated, and then try to proceed accordingly. Sometimes debb's and my decisions are at total opposites, my wish is that the decision we make is always the best for everyone.

I find especially in these trying times for many of our friends and family, that to be generous in everything we do is important. Be generous in love, in caring, and in providing.

Happy Holidays.
Love,
Carol and my fur girls - Mitzi & Boo