TESTING, TESTING, TESTING

Once again, MA is working on trying to incorporate the SUNNY SIDE YARNS blog into the website so that you don't have to cross the country and back to look at our site and then read our blog - so, here is test number 1,002!!!!   Wish her luck!!

Learn Intarsia in 3 simple lessons!

What beginning knitter wouldn't love to learn to make simple designs with color? Sunny is hosting a 3-session class on "Intarsia" (a big word for a simple technique!) starting Monday, June 13 at noon.

Caroline Germany is an expert knitter and experienced teacher, who will show you how to integrate color design into your knitting. The three-lession class June 13, 20 and 27) is only $20 for members ($30 for non-members), and will take your knitting to a whole new level!

You should know how to knit and purl, increase and decrease, and be comfortable with either double-pointed or circular needles.

Projects you will complete with Caroline's help include a headband and a top-down, 4-panel hat with the design of your choice. You will learn both top-down knitting AND intarsia in this information-packed class.

There are just 3 spots left, so be sure to call Sunny at (423-272-YARN) to reserve your space, or email sunnysideyarns@gmail.com ASAP!

Cruise-In to SUNNY SIDE YARNS on Depot Tomorrow!

To support the monthly Rogersville Main Street Cruise-In, SUNNY SIDE YARNS on Depot will be open late on the second Friday of the month. While car fans are looking at all the fabulous classic vehicles, YARN FANS can cruise on in to see Sunny, just one block down from Main Street, until 7 pm.

This Friday, we'll be featuring "Yarn Tasting;" a chance for you to try out yarns you've always been curious about. Sunny will lay out a buffet of cottons, wools, blends and novelties, and you can swatch to your heart's content in cool, air-conditioned comfort in our Lounge.

Yarn Tasting will be available ALL DAY this Friday, June 10, from 10 AM to 7 PM. Come in and check it out!

Welcome to our cozy Lounge!

Sunny is v-e-r-y proud of the beautiful Lounge at SUNNY SIDE YARNS on Depot. Like a comfy living room, The Lounge invites knitters and crocheters to sit a spell and relax!

There is good lighting so you can concentrate on your project, our mascot Charlie (see if you can spot him in the corner!) for company, comfortable couches and chairs, and a good view of all the happenings in the shop. Plus, free Wi-Fi!

Stop by Monday through Friday between 10 AM and 5 PM or Saturday from 10 - 2 for a quick yarn break. Meet up with friends and enjoy Sunny's ambiance. Take advantage of Sunny's LOUNGE LUNCH on Wednesdays from 11 - 2 (Bring your lunch, we'll provide the beverage and a pattern for a quick, fun project, all for just $2!)

Whenever you drop by, you'll find a friendly, relaxing place to kick back and play with yarn!

Masses of Classes!

From the first opening day, everyone has been asking about classes! Sunny loves introducing new learners to the world of knitting and crochet, and our classes have been steadily getting larger--and more fun! We've also started offering technique classes to intermediate and advanced students, and a good selection of project classes for those who have learned the basic skills and are ready to MAKE SOMETHING!

Class schedules for May and June can be found on our website, http://www.sunnysideyarns.com/ , under the tab Classes. Sunny hopes you will check it out and sign up early to reserve your spot.

Those requiring evening classes are encouraged to send us an email at sunnysideyarns@gmail.com or give us a call at 272-YARN (9276). We'll arrange a class or two in the evenings for your convenience.

Sunny Side Spinners!

On the first Wednesday of every month, Sunny hosts the Spinners' Guild at SUNNY SIDE YARNS on Depot. From 11 AM - 2 PM, spinners who make yarn by hand gather to share knowledge and friendship! Here are some photos from the May 4th get-together.

The Spinners' Guild was organized by Liz Cooper of War Valley Alpacas:

 Even Pam tried her hand at the complex skill, using a wheel loaned by Heidi:



Wes brought a unique wheel (look how big it is!) and demonstrated how it works. There is no treadle on this wheel, it is rotated by hand!

Heidi and Marci keep those wheels a-turnin' !

Sunny carries a small selection of raw wool and bags of ready-to-spin rovings, as well as balls of locally-produced alpaca yarns in natural and dyed colors from War Valley Alpacas. Each bag of wool (we really DO have "3 bags full!), is tagged with the picture of the alpaca it was sheared from. If you are curious about where yarn comes from, or are interested in spinning, contact any of the SUNNY SIDE girls at the shop!

We're Famous!

The first week has been a whirlwind for the Sunny Side Girls! Everyone has been so kind in their comments about the shop--how pretty it is to look at, how comfortable it is to sit-n-knit in The Lounge, how yummy the yarn looks, all stacked up in bright color combinations! We've already started classes, and beginning knitters and crochetters are flocking in, eagerly wanting to get going on projects!

Soon, Sunny will be scheduling classes for kids of all ages, and adding classes for what he's calling "Beginners Plus" -- those who have the basic skills and want to learn how to work with Novelty Yarns, or make Hats or Socks. If you have an idea for a class, come on in and talk to the Sunny Side Girls about it!

We're also getting ready to unveil our Charity Knit and Crochet Projects...so stay tuned for that info...

In the meantime, come enjoy our relaxing Lounge, wander through and check out our beautiful yarns, and pick up a few supplies to make your yarn adventures easier. Remember that SSY Members get 50% off all bamboo needles and hooks this month--what a deal!  And don't forget to sign our book when you come in...we want you to feel at home at SUNNY SIDE YARNS on Depot.

Sunny is ready to welcome you Monday through Friday from 10 - 5, and on Saturday from 10 - 2.

See you soon!

Tomorrow....

Sunny says, "The doors open at 10 AM tomorrow!"

Sunny's helpers are determined to give everyone a friendly and happy shopping experience, even as they are still moving furniture, cleaning windows and putting stock in bins! Come and be part of the fun!

Members: On your first visit, you can pick up your membership card! Just let us know you are a member, and we will present it to you so you can take advantage of savings and specials all year long!

And your Monthly Member Special for April is...(drum roll)...

All Bamboo Needles and Hooks are 50% off!

Straight single points, circulars, double points sets and crochet hooks normally priced from $2.25 - $5.00 are now $1.13 - $2.50. Members can purchase up to 3 during the month of April at this incredible price!

Annual memberships in the Sunny Side Yarn Community are still being taken at the Special $15 fee (normally $30/year), TODAY only! Stop by to take advantage of Sunny's last day of pre-opening madness!

And don't forget to sign up for classes...there's something for everyone (especially beginners) this month, and soon, Sunny will be adding classes for kids, specialty techniques and specific projects. If you have an idea for a class you'd like to take, be sure to let us know!

Be sure to take a look at our beautiful finished knit and crochet goods too! Consignors of fiber arts have been bringing in their finest sweaters, baby clothes, tablecloths, scarves, hats and gloves and are offering them for sale in the shop.

It's all coming together at Sunny Side Yarns on Depot TOMORROW!

(No Foolin')

Eleven Days to Opening!

The boxes of supplies are arriving, and Sunny is busy sorting, labeling, displaying and inputing it all into the computer. What choices our customers are going to have!

We have every size of bamboo needles you will ever need--circulars in 5 lengths, double point sets, single points in two lengths, all in sizes 0-15; plus cable needles, stitch holders, stitch markers, point protectors, crochet hooks... and more is on the way!

Our yarn orders should be arriving this week too. Heleen and Pam are gearing up for a roadtrip to Atlanta, GA to pick up display shelves for all that yarn. They couldn't ship it to arrive in time for the shop opening, so the Intrepid Twosome are taking matters into their own hands (and borrowing a truck), and heading for the Interstate this week.

Classes are starting to fill--be sure to sign up soon to get in on all the fun!

Thanks to Chaz, Rosie and Bill, for contributing the much-needed manly construction work that was required this past week.

It's all coming together, and Sunny is getting ready to put out the "Welcome Mat" for YOU in just a little more than a week! Are you ready?

Classes!

The first week's class schedule is up on the website (under the "Classes" tab). Sunny has tried to arrange for a variety of times and days, attention spans, budgets and skill levels. The bulk of the classes are for beginners, since we have had such a tremendous response from people wanting to get started. But we will quickly transition into Project Classes and more specific skill seminars to please everyone!

Here's just a sampling of our courses for the first week:

GS - Granny Square Crochet - A 2-hour beginners course in crocheting Granny Squares, which can be used as doilies, placemats, scarves, afghans, and embellishments.

BC - Beginning Crochet - Another 2-hour introductory crochet course, covering various stitch variations, changing yarn and creative patterning.

QC - Quick Crochet - A 1-hour "quick-learn" class to get you started on your crocheting adventures.

LL - Lunchtime Learners - A 1-hour basic knitting course for novices or re-learners.

MM & SS - Morning Movers and Saturday Starters - 2-hour beginning knitting courses that will have you going in no time!

RL - Right & Left From the Start - A 2-hour beginning class that will teach both right and left-handed knitting techniques, so you can find your most comfortable and efficient style of knitting.

KC - Knit Clinic - Half-hour private lessons and/or "fix-it" sessions. For all levels of knitters.

Feel free to sign up for as many classes as you like -- and remember that members get discounts on all classes. Just click on the "Members" menu to get your discounted price.

If you have any questions, or prefer another payment method, just email Sunny at yarns@sunnysideyarns.com .

See you in class....

Progress!

Every yarn rep who comes through the door becomes Sunny's "New Best Friend!" Amidst the "ooohs and ahhhs" while we squeeze and inspect the latest offerings, is the sad realization that we can't carry everything and still have room to breathe! But the selections we are making in weight, yardage, fiber content, color, and price are starting to gel. Sunny's going to do his best to get the biggest bang for every customer's buck.

For those who love the "bling," we've just received a fantastic selection of novelty yarns--sparkles, furs, and ribbons in fabulous colors and textures. They are drop-dead gorgeous and are sure to please. We're even hoping to offer a class on the ins-and-outs of working with the particular challenges of novelty yarns, so every project will be a success.

Meanwhile, Sunny's helpers are painting, painting, painting, to put together a delightful environment for yarners to gather and create. Our library of books and patterns is growing. Our class schedule is coming together and will be up on the website soon. A truly extensive collection of bamboo needles and hooks is on its way--along with handy tools every yarner will want.

Don't forget that members of the Sunny Side Yarn Community get discounts on every purchase and every class. Plus, there's a super-secret Members-Only special for April (50% off!) that you will love. And, if you sign up before March 15, you get Sunny's $15-by-the-15th special membership deal, good for all of 2011. Become a Charter Member today!

One Month To Opening!

In 32 days, Sunny will be opening the door to a world of colors, textures and fun! At Sunny Side Yarns on Depot, you'll find truly affordable knitting and crocheting supplies in hard to find sizes, unusual fibers from around the world to spark your creativity, informative classes to bump your skills to the next level, and a comfortable place for new friends to gather and share.

We're hard at work getting the physical space ready. We are slowly putting together a class schedule for all levels of expertise. We're expanding our internet presence and ordering inventory. We're busy signing up consigners of finished goods. We're planning our charity projects and informational presentations.

Check back soon to gauge our progress, and put us on your calendar for April 1st. Sunny can't wait to welcome you all! 

WOW!

Sunny was completely blown away by the attendance at the Monday night meeting! In the Sunny Side Girls' wildest dreams, we thought that m-a-y-b-e 10 or 12 people would show up. We set up two large tables and 20 chairs and thought we were covered.

Then the crowds came pouring in! We kept setting up more tables and more chairs, until we had 34 yarn enthusiasts gathered together (including 2 men and 1 young boy), wanting to hear what we had planned!

Sunny is thrilled that 23 people signed up for the Yarn Club on the spot, and more memberships have been coming in ever since. We want to be a real Yarn Community, where friendships are formed and nurtured, where skills are shared and improved, where our handiwork helps worthy causes, and where our handmade goods can be offered for sale. Your participation makes it all possible--and more fun!

If you have friends who want to join in, just have them email Sunny at yarns@sunnysideyarns.com . There's even a convenient way to take advantage of our Early Bird Special -- Your 2011 membership is only $15 until March 15, and you can even securely pay online by credit card or e-check via the Paypal "Buy Now" Button, on the Sunny Side Yarn Community page.

Wow. It's really happening! Thanks to all of YOU!

272-YARN!

Once the shop opens on April first, you can get in touch with Sunny by just thinking YARN!

It's official!

423-272-YARN (9276)

We're getting ready for business in a big way this week--painting, ordering, decorating and of course, holding our big membership meeting tonight.

Be part of the fun--Sunny's looking forward to welcoming every one of you into the Yarn Community!

The Yarn Community

So what is this "Yarn Community" Sunny keeps talking about?

First, we envision a peaceful place where yarn crafters and enthusiasts can gather to learn and to share; to knit, crochet, maybe even spin! A place where books can be perused, problems can be solved (and Sunny's not just talking about yarn project problems!), and friendships can be formed and nurtured.

The Yarn Community will sponsor Charity Knitting drives (where we will supply the yarn and donate your finished projects to local charities), and periodically bring in speakers to present ideas of interest to knitters and crocheters.

The Sunny Side Yarn Community will also be a "club," where members can get 10% off EVERY purchase from the retail shop, all year long--supplies, tools, yarn, patterns, books & instructional classes--AND, every month, there will be a special 50% discount item that every yarner needs!

Membership in the Yarn Community brings plenty of benefits, all for only $2.50 per month -- and as a special "Welcome to the Community" kick-off, if you sign up before March 15th, this year's membership dues are just $15. WOW!

You can join the Sunny Side Yarn Community at the meeting on February 21st, or mail in your membership form by the March 15 deadline to get the special rate. Sunny can't wait to welcome you to the Yarn Community!

Yummy Yarns!

The Cascade Yarns rep came to visit us on Wednesday, and Sunny's little lamby brain is spinning! So many lovely colors, textures, weights and twists to choose from! Talk about "Too Many Choices..."

We are working on putting together all of our favorites to share with our customers on opening day (April 1st, no fooling). Sunny knows that you are going to love the look and feel of all these beautiful yarns as much as we do.

Don't forget to sign up for the Sunny Side Yarn Community membership drive meeting on February 21st--we'll be giving away all sorts of great
DOOR PRIZES to attendees, and you don't want to miss that!

Don't Forget to Fill Out the Poll!

I just took a look at some of the DOOR PRIZES the Sunny Side Girls have put together for the Membership Meeting on February 21st. It is going to be so much fun to give these wonderful presents away!

And wait until you hear about all the benefits and discounts you get when you sign up for the SUNNY SIDE YARN Community! You won't believe how you can save all year long when SUNNY SIDE YARNS on Depot opens April 1st.

Get all the details at the meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, February 21, 2011 at the Holston Electric Cooperative Meeting Room in Rogersville.

We'd love to know how many are coming, so please fill out the "poll" on the right sidebar. Sunny can't wait to meet you all!

Getting Ready!

I can't wait to get stocked for the retail shop's opening on April 1st! I can already picture in my mind a whole store full of fabulous yarns, cool tools, beautiful buttons and nifty notions!


There are only two things standing in the way: Tennessee weather and the Chinese New Year.


We're expecting bad weather again this week, which will prevent us from meeting with the rep of one of our core yarn suppliers. I don't know about you, but Sunny has had quite enough of Winter Weather, thank you very much.


I never realized what a big deal the Chinese New Year is until I visited Singapore last year. It isn't just parades with giant paper animals, and pretty flowers everywhere. EVERYTHING comes to a grinding halt for a week while the "Spring Festival" is on. This is a family time for the Chinese--shops and factories close, everyone goes home for a week of feasting and visiting, very much like our Christmas holiday celebrations.


So, Sunny will have to be patient for the moment. We'll work on other projects, like getting ready for the big Membership Drive Kick-off Meeting on February 21st!

TESTING - ARE WE THERE YET?

Trying extremely hard to set up a pleasing blog - must test first....testing, testing...can you hear me?