It feels that this year, more than others, we have been anxiously awaiting the spring equinox and the shift from a cold winter grind to a sunny spring sprint toward summer. The first day of spring didn't disappoint - a wet, slushy, white-out spring snowstorm in the morning followed by a sun-burning bright afternoon. Our yard is wet and muddy, another true sign of spring, but we are happy for the sunshine that is melting the winter snow and for the moisture that will help to replenish the land after last summer's drought. And, with spring, we are happy to invite you all back out to the mill for self-guided tours, a visit to our freshly painted and re-organized little mill shop, and a sunny trip to the countryside!
We are pleased to once again start offering self-guided tours through the mill during our open hours. If you're looking for an excuse to get out for a drive and break out of the winter blues, come see us for a visit! We have some great information cards that explain about each step of processing, and an observation deck from which you can see the mill in action. We can accommodate groups of up to eight people at a time. If there are other large parties in the mill, you might have to wait a few minutes for your turn in the mill, but this is a great opportunity to check out the shop or take in the sunshine from a seat on the porch. To see the most stuff in action, we recommend that you visit here between 8am and 2pm - after 2pm, many things in the mill are shutting down for daily cleaning. If you would like more details or have any questions, feel free to contact us to find out more.
We've also just finished refreshing and restocking our little wool shop - a new coat of paint inside and the shelves restocked with new colours from our recent production run of dyed yarns. That also means that you should check out our online sale bin, as we are filling it up with yarn bundles containing the last few skeins from old colour lots and other odds and ends at unbeatable prices!
If you are in the mood for a more extended day trip in the countryside, there are some other great local businesses to wrap into your visit. You can head another 10 minutes down the road from Custom Woolen Mills to the little town of Linden and High Seas Coffee Shop - a local favourite for fresh roasted coffee, baked goods, and delicious cafe-style lunch items. Alternatively, you can make a little detour the opposite direction from us off of HWY #2 into the town of Carstairs. There you will find our soap making friends at Hollyberry Soaps (certainly a delicious smelling stop), local farm and artisan markets at The Pantry and The Farm Table, and several delicious eating spots ranging from homestyle Vietnamese food at Country Kitchen, to fine Italian dining at Villa Maria, to delicious drive-through at Burger Baron (basically a small town Alberta food institution - our small town has the best one - the history of which is the topic of a pretty awesome documentary called The Last Baron).
We hope to see you soon!
