Extreme Blanket Fort Mode: An Update

When I wrote my previous blog post six weeks ago, I knew that shutting the shop's doors to public traffic for an indeterminate period of time would be difficult. I don't think I realized how deeply the shop's operations and operating philosophy would be tested by the pandemic and subsequent shutdown... or how much our shop's operating philosophy would inform changes to operations, and how strongly that would all resonate with customers and the fiber arts community. 

Before anyone panics: the shop is okay. The Shop Kids, The Resident Engineer, and I are okay.  We are still in Extreme Blanket Fort Mode, though we have gingerly moved back into offering porch and curbside pickup during slightly abbreviated business hours. 

I realize, though, that we have a LOT of new people in our audience and a WHOLE LOT of interest in what we're doing to continue to build community, sling yarn/fiber, and serve our customers in new and innovative ways. So  first and foremost - welcome to all newcomers! We are so glad you're here, and we hope that you'll join us around our (currently virtual) social table and settle into our (currently socially distanced) shop community a little better in the weeks and months to come. So here's a quick-start guide to how to find the Stilly River Yarns community in its current form: 

1. Follow us on social media. We're on Facebook (facebook.com/StillyRiverYarns), Instagram (@stillyriveryarns), Twitter (@StillyRiverYarn), and Ravelry (StillyRiverYarns). 
2. The shop building is still closed to the public, but I have a lovely covered front porch with a window I can open to take orders and show you yarns. I'm running office hours each afternoon on Facebook Live (noon - 1 PM PST), where you can pop in and say hi - or ask me specific questions about yarns/patterns/etc. I'm available through Zoom, Instagram video chat, or FaceTime to help you with virtual shopping or technique questions. You can also text the shop at (515) 833-0689.  
3. As I write this, I'm embarking on a major experiment with Nancy Torrance, the independent dyer also known as Schmutzerella Yarns. She and I are running a Virtual Trunk Show on Zoom every night this week, through Saturday, May 16. Each evening from 7-8ish PM PST, Nancy will be talking about a section of her product lineup, and I'll be running the chat and offering pattern suggestions in real time. It's unscripted and a lot of fun, and we'd love to have you drop by for just a night or as much as you want to/can! Here's the link for this event - it's the same all week. 
4. Sign up for our newsletter by signing up at the bottom of our home page. I write a really good, informative, and comprehensive one, and I don't send it out exceedingly often. (Seriously, I can only put one out about once every six to eight weeks - though if we have particularly important news or a big event, I may dedicate a special edition to that.)
5. Join us for online social times, in whatever format works for you: 

• Zoom-Baaaa, the closest thing we have to our traditional social night for now. We meet Sundays from 2-3 PM PST and Tuesdays from 7-8 PM PST. Links for Zoom-Baaaa are currently static, so click here to join our Sunday afternoon meeting and click HERE to join our Tuesday evening meeting.
• Instagram Live: just about every night at 8:30 PM PST. It's pretty free-form, with the occasional special guest and the nearly-guaranteed dose of one of the Shop Cats. Commenting is encouraged, and we keep it real - lockdown is hard, and it's okay to be upset and frustrated. But it's also okay to keep celebrating new projects, ask questions about something that's confusing in your pattern, and laugh when I inevitably knock something over or get ambushed by said Shop Cat. 

So - welcome to the community, and we hope you'll be able to pop in and introduce yourself! If you need anything at all, drop me a line through any of the methods listed above; you can also simply call the shop at (360) 631-5801 or email us at Lindsey [at] stillyriveryarns [dot] com. 

Thank you all again so much for your support and encouragement. It's going to be a long road ahead for all of us, and we're pleased to continue to be able to be here as your local (or long-distance local) yarn shop. 

​-Lindsey