A Life of Colour: 2011.

Wow! When I think about 2010, it seems like it wasn't that long ago and we were ringing in that year. The year has been an interesting one for me both professionally and personally. It's been hard but I'm realizing I'm not as young as I used to be and what a reality check this year has been with back troubles! Thankfully Mr. Zen has been absolutely fantastic and helping me every possible way he can and when the yarn got extra busy, my Dad flew in from BC and worked his butt off helping me with all the heavy lifting of this business. What I would have done without family around me would have probably involved the difficult decision whether or not to close my business. However, after having back trouble a good part of this year, it has lent a lot of perspective on my life and my business. Health is much more important than anything else and I will continue to have that thought as I enter into a New Year. I'm thankful for my business and I'm extremely thankful for my family because without them, I most likely wouldn't have this business.

On a high note, at the end of 2010, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka the Yarn Harlot) finished a pair of socks in Serenity 20...that definitely had a way of lifting my spirits that's for sure! I am waiting on the yarn base now as I type this and hope to have her colourway dyed up again very soon. If I could predict anything this year, I do think the mills are going to be overrun and not able to keep up with the demand - the handdyed market is growing in such leaps and bounds I don't think they know what's coming! As for me? I have learnt that accepting help in my business is just fine and will continue to do that through this year too!

And in the Zen Yarn Garden group on Ravelry, we have a couple of KALs going on - one for the Limestone One Skein Shawl and another for the Astilbe Feathers Shawl - if you finish both shawls, you'll be randomly entered to win prizes...how fun is that? So get on over and join - we'd love to have you!

And if you haven't joined already, Ruth of PennyRose Yarns and I have teamed up to bring you the Light & Dark Lace Club. Ruth is also a dyer like I am whose specialty is light colourways compared to my dark colourways so we thought it'd be fun to team up and bring a lace club to everyone. Ruth also designs the cutest little shawlettes and scarves which will also be included in the club - come on over and join us! This will be a bi-monthly club and the first kit will be coming out in February!

As for what's on my needles right now? Another shawl design! The last one I did I got a few nice notes about it saying "please write up the design" so instead of trying to trace all the way back to what I did in July of this year, I thought it'd be fun to tweak that design a little, take copious notes and hope to write the next one up for everyone. Here's a little sneak peek at the progress so far...

And I think that sums up what's been going on here for the past little while. Hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season and here's to a Happy New Year for everyone - may it be filled with lots of yarn and great health!