I’ve decided to take a day off.
 
In fact, I’m taking a couple of them. I’ve been reminded recently of the importance of self-care. 
 
I wrote in the past about the selflessness of knitters and the concept of “selfish knitting.” I think the same compulsion that leads us to knit endless sweaters, baby blankets and winter hats for our loved ones also leads us to give of ourselves in other ways: we give our time, our love, our energy. But those things don’t come from no-where. To paraphrase Eleanor Brown, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
 

This is Syracuse...

If we aren't complaining about the snow, we're whining about the heat.
But this time it's for real. This summer we're facing record breaking temperatures and clinging humidity. If you don't have air conditioning, you may be in trouble. And many of or friends and neighbors don't have or can't afford A/C to save them from these temps. We are not acclimatized to this. 

Please check in on your friends and neighbors, especially those that may need more assistance in a crisis.

If it's getting a little too hot in your own house, come down to KGY. Hang out. Knit. Or don't. If you've seen the videos of Knit Night, you know we have lots of comfortable seating and I have a fridge full of cold water I'm happy to share. You don't even need to buy anything, I just want everyone to stay safe this summer. If you'd like to bring a snack to share, we're happy to have that too.

In other news, the anniversary party is over, but there's still lots of stuff on sale. We're about to start sharing some sneak peeks at the awesome stuff coming in for fall, and we need to make some room before all those boxes arrive! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates and watch me squeal like a child as I open boxes.
Have a safe and happy 4th everyone. We'll be closed on Wednesday, and open regular hours the rest of the week.

​-Kerry

What a wild and wooly year.

I've had entrepreneurs in my family all my life. My aunt and uncle are in real estate. My great uncle owned an antique store. My mother had a restaurant. I've always known how much work entrepreneurship is, and I always swore I would never go into business for myself. 

​Just over a year ago, I officially opened my doors to the public. Because life laughs in the face of your plans.

And what a year it's been. It's been by turns exhilarating and exhausting, terrific and terrifying, fun and frustrating. Along the way, I've met some of the most interesting women and men I could ever hope to, learned from them and laughed with them. I've made the kind of lifelong friends that become family. 

I spent 15 years as a higher education professional, and I still miss my students every day. But every day, I'm also reminded that I made the right decision setting out on my own. 
We're hosting this party because I could not have done it without the continuing support of every one of you. People have been beyond generous: bringing me lunches, toiletry samples, painting chairs?!? When I opened with the goal of serving the community with a different kind of yarn store, I never imagined that the community of makers would be so welcoming and generous in return.

I hope you'll join us this Saturday to celebrate our first birthday. You mean the world to me. 
Also: CAKE.

-Kerry

​P.S. I wasn't kidding about the dance party. If you get there at 11:55 you'll see us shaking our butts before we unlock the doors.

As many of you know, I was traveling with my father in the UK for 10 days, and spent a few of those on the Isle of Man.

The island is beautiful, the people are funny and kind, and everything feels like a fairy tale from the rocky coastline to the sheep roaming free across the mountainsides. Standing on top of a windswept hill, you can understand how and why people developed traditions of myth and storytelling. This is very much a land of dragons and fairies.

While I was there I was introduced to the Manx Loaghton sheep. This rare heritage breed dates back to the iron age, and is believed to have been brought to the island by the vikings. In the 1950s there were less than 100 remaining, but thanks to the dedication of a few people, there are now more than 1000 and the breed continues to survive.

Seeing these sheep in person, and feeling the fibers spun from their locks, I'm reminded that as fiber artists and crafters, we are connected to a tradition of handcrafting that dates back thousands of years. The techniques have evolved but that their core they are still the same: shear, card, spin, create. Where once this was a survival skill, keeping our families warm and protected, now it's an act of love. And it's still keeping our families warm and protected. 

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers and father figures reading this. And a very happy Father's Day to my own dad, who has made so much possible for me.
​
-Kerry

What a week!

Yarn reps are starting to make their way around, and I'm deep into fall ordering. In the next few weeks I'll be meeting with multiple sales representatives to pick out new products I think you will love. Silks, alpaca, Merino. Hand-dye, chainette, blends. This fall, you're going to see some fantastic new yarns, and we're ready to start working up some samples for you.

Some really great people are stepping up to help out while I'm on break, and I'll be announcing any schedule changes soon. They're a little nervous about the new responsibilities, but I know the KGY community will show them as much love, support and respect as it's shown me.
​
Finally, a very happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers: future and former, biologic and not. This weekend, my own mother will be here in town, and at the same time I'll be sending my "kids" off into the world as they graduate college. This is a weekend of gratitude, both to our mothers, for all they have given us, and to our children, for all they have taught us. Happy Mother's Day, friends.

“Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.” 
― Robert A. Heinlein, Have Space Suit—Will Travel
-Kerry