Over a year has passed since we sent out our last blog and, like so many, we find it hard to remember what life was like back then. So much has changed! In that year we've celebrated a mill family wedding, moved a small weaving studio, slowed down mill production due to COVID 19 business changes, gardened and farmed our little hearts out, ramped up mill production in the new COVID 19 world, harvested and canned and pickled our little hearts out, and then buckled down for an intense Christmas season at the mill picking and packing orders for curbside pick-up and mail out. Now we are here, at spring of 2021, moving forward with cautious enthusiasm into a future with new unknowns and potentials (and a few new wooly characters - pictured above - added into the mix). With all that, we thought we had better send out a note to say: thanks for your support over the last year, we're still here (!!), and to let you know how you can enjoy all that the mill has to offer, COVID style!
First off, thank you for all of your support over the last year. The COVID 19 response has been very difficult on small businesses as we all scramble to adjust to new rules, mandated retail restrictions, and drastic changes in demand and ways of doing business. We can't thank you enough for choosing to place online and curb-side pick-up orders with us during this time and supporting Canadian wool and labour - it has, literally, been all the difference for our small mill. We've been in operation here in rural Alberta for over 40 years, working with local sheep farmers and serving local artisans - people who are our community - and we hope to be in operation for 40 more!
Along with the hiatus from keeping you updated through the blog, we also had to take a break from social media. Sometimes in life you just have to put your head down and focus on what is in front of you...and you have to make a point to ensure that what is in front of you is something real, not the virtual world of the internet and social media. So, we left the internet, but now we're ready to come back and keep you all a bit more up-to-date with the goings on at the mill.
Of course, we've always been here in-person at the mill, working away at washing, carding, and spinning wool, and operating our little retail shop when permitted. If you live in our local area, our retail shop is open to the public and you are currently welcome to come shop in person if ordering online or curbside pick just doesn't work for your project. For those of you a little farther afield, you can place an online order, send us an email, or give us a phone call - we're happy to get you set up with whatever wool you need for your spring knitting projects. Something that has been on our to-do list for quite some time is to get our sale bin (underweight skeins, skeins with a few too many knots, discontinued colours, and odd yarns) online for folks to order and enjoy without having to visit us in person - we've finally got that set up and you can find those great deals here on our website. We're aiming to update our sale bin once a month (we'll give you a heads up on social media), so if you miss out on this month's deals, you can always check back again another time!
In keeping with COVID 19 rules and precautions, we aren't able to let anyone tour through the mill. We know that seeing the mill in action is a pretty fun part of the experience so, as an alternative to checking us out in person, head on over to our Instagram and Facebook pages - we'll get back to posting our favourite action shots of life at the mill and even some awesome promotions for you to enjoy.
That's all for now. We'll be in touch again - till then, take good care and be well!
