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Dear <<First Name>>

I think I might be broken.

I have put off this newsletter for literally, months. Was the last newsletter in June? I know that July came and went, I wrote nothing apart from instagram and facebook posts. I promised a newsletter in August. And now tomorrow is September. September?! 

I haven't lost my mojo for knitting. Crochet has, however, taken a back seat. You might have noticed. I think after years of crocheting, designing, teaching, making - crochet became too much like work. And without the physical contact of teaching in person, it became hard. I miss my beginners workshops so much. And I have come to realise that this broken part of me, is from the lack of contact. I thrive on people, energy, creating together, the deck buzzing with excited voices and busy hands. I know other shops are still teaching, and open, but a big part of me is about protecting my loved ones. I don't have a seperate shop I can just close the door to and then go home and wash off the day. I have woven my life into my studio, just like a cat weaves around your legs where it becomes hard to tell what is work and what is play! And although I have had to make the hard decision to close to walk in's and to suspend in person lessons, I would still choose this option. My bubble is small. I rarely see family. I see friends in the wide open spaces under the sky, or on the sea. I have also had more time to focus on me, with early morning walks, and swims! 

So how do we fix me?

Send me your requests for yarn matching, or ask for pattern suggestions. Let me help you shop online! I must first tell you I am notoriously bad at answering the phone. If you prefer talking then what's app me and we can make a time, but I prefer to send photo's and videos of yarn choices first and then we can chat. My phone is usually on silent, because I don't like how it interrupts my thought flow, and saps my energy. I have always preferred in person to over the phone - I would make a terrible call centre operator!

Send me your pics! I love seeing what you have made with the yarn I have sent to you. I draw inspiration from you, and yes, you make me buy many patterns and start many projects - although this year I have become pretty good at finishing! Starting is still my all time favourite thing!

Be Inspired grew up and around workshops, pop up shops, tours and retreats. Over the past 18 months I have had to renavigate who I am and the value I add to this industry. I am still strong in my support of local artists, and dyers. I am still very active in looking for exciting new products that inspire. I am streamlining some of my product selections so I have everything of a brand rather than little bits of many brands. It remains a challenge to keep innovating, and having to change direction when my offering is not unique. At the moment my imports are on a serious need to have basis. The cost of importing has tripled, but my prices have not. The margins are small, but the rewards to bring in gorgeous products that delight you are large.

I, like you, want to get back to normal. Where I can run a workshop with 20 people and not worry about masks. To be able to put out cake and cookies and not have to worry about sanitizer. To hug and not to worry... 

I miss you and long for the day we can meet up again.

<3
Over the past year we have embarked on many group projects. And so many people remark how this has helped them through a tough time, made them feel connected, and inspired them. I will continue running these groups - which may be project specific like the Peperomia sweater knit along, or technique specific and connected to one of my online classes - like Sock Knitting and Colour Work. 

A group helps you with challenges in the pattern - there is always someone to help, inspires you to keep up (I even finished my sweater in just over a month because you know, I have to set an example, sometimes!) and also establishes many a friendship. You may not have any friends that knit or crochet, so it is always nice to find someone as crazy for yarn as you are!

Peperomia knit along supported Miss La Motte yarns, and Karen is also a part of the group we currently have knitting this sweater. I have shared some of the progress in my Instagram stories, but in case you have not seen them I have included some pics below, as well as lots of my finished Peperomia! 

Keep an eye out for more knit alongs! I have a rubber arm that can always be twisted if there is something you think you'd like to do and which will appeal to others.
Did you know that in a land where there was more time, and when the online shop was a lot quieter and the admin a lot less, I used to dye my own yarn brand? It was called #yarnsnob - I loved creating colours, there was a lot of rainbow easter bunny vomit, and unicorn tails, and peacock feathers! 

Because of this background, I have huge admiration for the indie dyers that do this daily, and some with only one pair of hands, sometimes two. I mostly work with hand dyed yarn, because I love the depth and uniqueness of it. Speckles make me as excited as a little kid at Christmas!

Indie dyers are traditionally small batch dyers, someone who dyes the yarn independently (not part of a big company). Some dye in their kitchens, some have workshops set up in garages or sheds or backyards, and some rent commercial space for their dyeing businesses.They produce unique, once off colours, and sometimes can repeat a colour, but not always exactly, as is the beauty of hand dyed yarn. 

If you have not tried hand dyed yarns, or used merino wool, my question to you is not why not but when will you try? Do yourself a favour, and buy a skein. Then make something special like a pair of socks, a cowl, a beanie or some wrist warmers. 

Let's have a look at my favourites:

"Miss La Motte Yarn was born from Karen Cronje's appreciation of painting, colour and a desire to create sophisticated and beautiful hand dyed, speckled yarns. Pure merino wool provided a surprisingly vivid canvas for creative colour explorations and experiments - and was ultimately not so different from the tools of her daily artistic studio practice. The development of each colourway is viewed as a composition where colour, nuance, texture, layers and contrasting elements unify to create an evocative experience.

Miss la Motte is based in Cape Town, South Africa." - from the miss la motte website

When I first saw Karen's yarn dyeing experiments, I contacted her and told her her yarn was exquisite and if she ever considered dyeing to sell I would be her first customer! And so it began, a friendship built on mutual trust and respect. Karen and I have hosted several workshops and a retreat together. I can't wait to do it again!

miss la motte yarns are exceptionally popular in my store, and disappear as soon as I load them, so unless you are waiting with finger poised, you won't find a lot of stock - but saying that, I restock almost monthly, and you are also welcome to email me with requests. I have some yarns coming next week - so watch this space...

miss la motte
"Inspired by life, light and love, our yarns aim to inspire you to create, have fun and to be happy making things unique to your craft of knitting and crochet.

Sweet Skeins hand-dyes small batches of yarn that are one of a kind and original every time. We are an Indie yarn dyer seller." - from the Sweet Skeins website

Karen (Karen's are a talented bunch!) is one of the sweetest people I know, so her company name is totally appropriate! She has also just knitted the most beautiful sweater with a Zauberball from my shop, combined with her yarn - I will put a picture below along with some of her yarn currently available.

I am currently knitting a Wool and Pine Design with Sweet Skeins and my Floofies combined - Sorrel. I am going to make up a limited edition yarn pack, so watch the website closely!

Sweet Skeins
Morgan is the talent behind the Luna Fibers yarns, as well as a crochet designer of the cutest critters for The Copper Crochet Pot. Morgan entertains my crazy requests for really bright colours so she is my go to for eye popping colours and neon brights!

Morgan has also hosted some crochet classes online with me, with her Sisterhood - we had Rose and Poppy, as well as Ethel and Eggbert, and she has recently released a cute Christmas bauble elf called Mischief. You can find her creations below:
The Copper Crochet Pot Kits
I often add new Luna Fibers to the shop, you just need to be speedy and not hesitate! I hope to one day host Morgan on the Be Inspired deck!
Luna Fibers
This mother and daughter team dye up yarn at the speed of light. Both of them have "day jobs" so they work a lot at night and on weekends. 

"We are Teresa and Ester, a mother and daughter team who are passionate about yarn and all things crafty. We live in a small town near Bloemfontein in the Free State Province, South Africa. Dyeing yarn is a hobby we do in our spare time. We believe in doing everything by hand to ensure that the utmost care goes into every skein that we dye.

We both knit and crochet and believe that this keeps your soul happy and your mind peaceful.

It is our passion to create one of a kind yarns, because we believe that life is too short to use the same yarn twice.

We find inspiration in nature and all of the precious little moments of life. We always try to find beauty in the small things that usually goes unnoticed." - from the Esteresa Yarn Creations website.

I have a lot of sock yarn sets in stock from this duo, including the very pretty exclusive Rainbow Yarn Cat skein sets inspired by the Be Inspired logo. Ester and Teresa are also not afraid of making me lots of mini skeins for your blankets, scrappy projects and for sock heels and toes!

Esteresa Yarn Creations
My brain is constantly seeking the next thrill. By thrill, I mean next project! Nevermind I do have a few sweaters still on needles, including my Sorrel. I still have a few Wool and Pine Book One's in stock if you like a hard copy of a pattern. The Sorrel pattern is in Book One. There is a download code in the book so you can add the electronic patterns to your Ravelry library.

I have used Sweet Skeins and Floofies together - and will have a few yarn packs in store soon. Miss la motte has also dyed me a pale poppy to combine with my teal Floofie - so there will be a few yarn packs of that colourway too. No reserves - I will be loading them on the website for everyone to get a chance to grab one!

PS. Customer just received some Floofies in an online order and commented that they feel nicer than the Rohan Kidsilk - in case you were wondering - try them!
Another pattern that caught my eye is Batad by Stephen West. This pattern would work fabulously with the Zauberperlens (deconstructed Zauberball). I am currently working a sample with some of my stash, but keep dreaming of making one using the yarns below.
Finally (well, not really but one must know when one should stop. This one does not however, but space is limited), is the Weekend Shawl by Suvi Knits. It's strange but these colours are not my usual scene but I truly love it and the fluffy texture. I am putting together a couple of kits with cowgirlblues and Floofies. Again, no reserves (sorry, got to be fair). On the left is the picture I saw on instagram (knit by @ullaroejkjaer) and on the right are similar colour yarns from my shop (a new orange yarn is coming to join the set)

I am quite keen to do a knit along for this one, in case there are some newer knitters that need help, or a confidence boost. Just let me know by email if you want to join and I can also help put colours together for a custom kit for you. (The knit along would only be for those who purchase the yarn from Be Inspired.)
I have been waiting over a week for HiyaHiya needles to clear customs - lots of sock needles and more cables and missing sizes.

Also on its way from overseas is an order from Durable Yarn - a restock of the Colour Cakes, the Piece of Cakes, Coral Cottons, Clover Amour hooks and some other items.
Is choosing yarn not exciting for you? Does it fill you with terror? You need to read my article in Issue 9 of the South African Craft Magazine. 
Buy Now
Last year I put together some kits for Royal Garden blanket by Jane Crowfoot. I am now the proud owner of a completed blanket! No, I did not crochet it, a friend did and she did a superb job! Thank you Nicola for this beauty! If you have finished yours, please send pics, or if you are nearly finished. I would love to fill up my feed with blankets!

Crocheted in Freedom, by African Expressions.
I look forward to seeing your projects, to being your personal shopper, to seeing you on a knit along, or a crochet along.

Please don't forget about our Community Buff Fund raiser. The proceeds go to the Community Policing Forums of Kloof and Malvern, and a smaller portion to the artists. Zero goes to Be Inspired, although costs have been incurred. We still have 150 buffs to sell - please support this initiative to keep our communities safe. 

Take care of you and yours.

x Chantal
Chief Yarn Enabler 
Charlotte's Universe - a new crochet along with Dedr Uys - being crocheted by Zolita in Scintilla in the Calm colourway by ColourSpun.
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