Monday, September 1, 2014

Changes At Black Sheep Studio


September 1st.  Already!  It's hard to believe where this year has gone.  Fall is in the air though and change is coming.  I have spent months having a mental conversation with myself or with whoever was willing to listen to me ... trying to make a decision about my business.  Black Sheep Woolens will be turning 12 years old in January.  I feel my life reinventing itself with an empty nest.  Do you all go through phases like this?? There is just so much I want to do. I have decided to keep things going, but I feel I need to change things up a bit.


I won't be able to do an Open House this fall.  We have just sent our youngest daughter off to college and we are coming up on the 1 year anniversary of the death of our son.  It has been a challenging year to work through this grief and spend the time we need and want to with our children. My energy and focus has been 100% with family and not with the business.  I am so grateful for all of the love and support so many have shared with us.  You are all remarkable people and I love you all!


I do have wool though - lots of beautiful wool.  I have started kitting up some holiday projects and would love to see everyone and what you have been working on!  I am going to have open studio hours  f i n a l l y!  I have a calendar up (See Calendar and Events above) that still needs some tweaking, but it gives you an idea of what I am thinking.  Wednesdays and the second Saturday of each month.  I am trying to schedule some classes in as well.  I should have more details about those by the end of this week.  {Comment or email me with any suggestions you have on those!}

For the open studio, I plan to be here to sell my wares and help put together custom kits for you.  I have table space if you want to come for awhile and work on your projects.  We can figure out new stitches together and get some projects completed!  Somedays I just might have a pot of yummy soup on the stove!



I know I should probably charge a studio fee but I don't really work that way.  I have decided to put out a kitty jar and if you want to make a little donation for instructions you received or studio space you used, die cut machine etc, you can do that.  I don't want to price anyone out.


I am happy to put kits together for you and your group.  I will need to charge a nominal kit fee for projects that are more involved with lots of pieces.  You can send me the pattern ahead of time and I can have them ready for you when you come to the studio.  Sometimes we can just get them done while you are here.  I don't know how busy each day will be.



I am open for suggestions on classes or instruction.  I know there is an interest in embroidery stitches, rug hooking, beginning wool work and some of my projects. I'll try to get a few of these scheduled for the fall.  It is hard to please everyone with day and night schedules - but I will do my best to mix things up.  I will be teaching the little Crazy Patch Sewing Kit at Village Dry Goods in Brigham City on October 8th from 1-4pm.  You can get info about that here.  And I have been invited to teach at Winter Quiltfest in January.  They are in the process of creating a new website but you should be able to link to it through here very soon.



Please remember that I am happy to set up an appointment with you or your group on days other than open studio days.  Just call or email so we can get a time that works with everyone! I have a few weeks that I will be out of town this fall, but I am usually here creating a happy little mess of some sort or another!



This was certainly very wordy!  Thanks for your patience. 
 I need this week to get my empty nest in order before I am ready to open the door.  
I sure enjoyed the past few weeks with my youngest daughter xo

See you all soon!!
Happy Stitching

3 comments:

Curtis Family said...

That sounds wonderful. I fully support your plan Leisa. I wish I could come every 2nd Saturday. That would be amazing. Too bad I live so far away. :(

Virginia Taylors said...

I love you lady!

Gayle said...

Sounds like you're all organized and ready for a new season! I sure do love your studio - wish I'd taken you into mine when you were here last month, so you could give me ideas of how to organize/display/etc...