Take A Deep Breath

I actually have no idea where to start - it's been a horrendous week or two -not actually sure how much time has passed - first Cannon had to be put down, took a few days to recover from that - then Emma got really, really sick with the flu, cold whatever it is that's going around. Then I got it and it put me to bed for 4 days - so sick, that I had a tiny note on the shop door telling people I was closed due to illness - I could not move. Then while I was lying around feeling sorry for myself I realized my website was no longer. Just a happy message from my hosting company saying they were working on it and that the problem had nothing to do with me - except a problem like that has everything to do with me. I tried to be patient and was finally told they weren't even sure if it could be resurrected from it's grave - however, it is back after much phoning, emailing, crying etc. It's not quite working perfectly but I'm on it and expect all to be well by the end of the day. I've switched to a super duper server so hopefully the problems are a thing of the past. And now that I am just raising my head from the bed - my husband informs me that he's now sick. And yes, I know, much, much sicker than I ever was.

Despite all this there has been good stuff going on behind the scenes - as I indicated in a previous newsletter - Pick Up Sticks is in for a shake up. I have decided, after sending out a survey to over 1000 customers and lots of careful thought to become an even more specialized shop than I already am. Over the course of the next few months all of the commercially produced yarns - big name companies, not Indie Dyers, are going to be put on sale for 20% off until they are gone and slowly new and exciting hand dyed yarns from around the world will replace their spots on our shelves. I'm looking at all weights, all fibres and all hand dyed or hand painted. It's what I love best so why not offer you even more of what we all love! Samples have been pouring in and I've found some good ones for sure! I will also be expanding the hand dyed yarns I already carry to include more of their weights and fibers - a big change like this will take time but one thing for sure is once the new yarns start arriving there will always be something new and exciting here to see. There will be a newsletter going out tomorrow to announce all the items that are on sale with the actual sale starting on Saturday. 2011 is going to be a fantastic year for Pick Up Sticks - hang on knitters!