The very small ecosystem that is fiber arts in Greater Boston

[mizarchivist]

We are about to lose Windsor Button, not because it was not well loved or well visited, but because they are losing their lease. Well, thanks to everyone flocking there, the sales at Minds Eye Yarn have plummeted in the past month to the point where the dear owner is thinking she may have to close by June if things don't turn around this coming month. We've lost a lot of good yarn stores in the last 5 years, with folks spending less and rents rising. However, I cannot stand by and watch a friend's business and a family member's job just disappear without some fighting. My word from the inside is that $20 can go a long way if enough people are giving a bit at a steady rate. So, if you're a fiber-nerd that doesn't want to resort to what's available at Michael's or AC Moore by July, you will go to Mind's Eye in and over the next week or two and show some love. Please. Pass it on- (Feel free to buy something FOR your fiber loving friend if you are not one of them.)

Comments

What would you like?

[drwex]

I still would like to give you a $winterholiday present.

Ebeth was talking about Windsor Button closing at HF yesterday. I didn't realize it was having knock-on effects.

Re: What would you like?

[mizarchivist]

That's very generous! I feel like I totally got presents from you this last $Winterholiday, but if you'd like to direct some fiber towards me with that as part of the motivation, watch me not complain.

I'd not considered the cause-effect of everyone shopping at Windsor, either, til AKitty talked got me up to speed, now it totally makes sense.

What would I like? Go with whatever AKitty suggests. She knows what I like and what does/does not make me itch :) Malabrigo is always a safe bet. If you're not in a rush, I'd be happy to knit socks in a color/fiber that doesn't make *you* itch.

Re: What would you like?

[drwex]

The thing that would be most useful to me would be some kind of "lounge about the house on a weekend" socks - thicker than usual and not so much meant to go in shoes as meant to pad the feet and keep them warm indoors. Is that a feasible kind of thing or are those hard to make?

For things like socks that go against my skin I would probably need cotton. Other things like scarves or hats or whatnot could be wool.

Re: What would you like?

[mizarchivist]

Noted.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Signal boosted, birthday gift certificates requested (am super-broke this week).

[mizarchivist]

+++1

[thesilentpoet.livejournal.com]

Here via shadesong, signal boosted.

[mizarchivist]

I appreciate it. I'm hoping the attention of concerned community members like us can be enough to make the difference.

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

I'd actually been concerned about this knock-on effect from the moment WB announced their clearance. No yarn shop can really survive a customer-free month.

It's hard for me to get up to Porter, but I'll try and make the effort anyway.

[mizarchivist]

It really can't.

[sairaali.livejournal.com]

How counterintuitive and terrible it would be if a competitor dying off leads to Mind's Eye also failing :(

[asciikitty.livejournal.com]

To be fair, it's not JUST windsor button. It's also the price increases from the mills, and the economy, and Michael's, a bit. It's just... the combination is TERRIBLE.

But thank you! To you and also all the other regulars we have. Because that's awesome.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Is it okay to signal-boost this all over FB, Twitter, and Ravelry?

[asciikitty.livejournal.com]

email me?