It has been a long time since writing. My email is janetwray@sbcglobal.net and my phone number is 417-549-6948. Looking back on former writings, I note I hadn't changed the email or the phone number since my move back home.
Leslie and I are very busy with our yarn dyeing business. Check out jwrayco.com for more information. We also have a blog on that site.
Altho business has been a tad slow at the shop, it has picked up since the first of the year. Go figure. However, doing something constructive with your hands does help in this time of recession.
We have had considerable interest in forming a knitting group. So far 5 knitters are interested but we probably won't start until fall. Too much going on outside during the spring and summer. Looks like Sat. is a good time for most but it will be up to the group to find a time to meet. Otherwise during the week, except Wed. might work too. I am excited about this as it will be great for folks to share projects, learn new techniques and just have fun together.
All for now. Hope to post more in the near future.

Goodness, it has been ages since I updated this blog. This past year has been very busy as my business partner and I started a hand dyeing business called "jwrayco". Not very original but all the names we liked were already taken and we can remember this one! We have a website, www.jwrayco.com. Please visit it to see our hand painted sock,sport and worsted yarns. We also do fiber.
The little yarn barn hasn't been quite so busy in that we have been going to shows in Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas etc. However, I do have some very loyal customers and our local quilt shop is great in sending folks our way.
I have been designing caps, mitts and vests to show off our hand dyed yarns and gradually making patterns for them as well. Not an easy task, especially when working up a variety of sizes. Learning a lot this way. We are also having classes for socks and finishing techniques as well a weaving on the rigid heddle loom and of course spinning. So all in all we are keeping busy. Hope to keep up this blog a bit better in the future. have the best of holidays and a great new year. Peace. Janet

We have started our hand painted yarn project at last. Took about 6 months to get everything organized so we could begin dyeing. what fun it has been. We now have several colorways for socks and for shawls. The latter is with fingering weight wool yarn and the colors are lovely. We decided on the colors from fotos we took on our trip to the Shetlands last summer. Harbor, gardens, shores etc. Such fun. We are also dyeing roving in the same colors. As soon as I know how, I will post some fotos of the yarns on this blog. Check back soon.
Janet

Its been a long time since blogging. Sorry about that. Crazy winter and spring. Have had some successful out of town weekend events. TNNA market was great. Love the classes and visiting old friends and making new ones. Bought some yummy yarns for the shop as well as the new Addi Turbo Lace needles. Always seem to spend too much on books!m My friend Leslie and myself are entering into a new partnership of dyeing our own yarns. Just in the process of purchasing appropriate yarns, dyes, labels etc. Much more about the project later. It has been great to start something new. Gives the old girl a new lease on life, you know. Off to Seattle to visit friends and family. Daughter and granddaughter going with me which should be lots of fun. Obviously the shop will be closed from July 12 thru the 21st. Then will really get to work.
Continue spinning and about to do some weaving again. We will be having classes on both in the fall and I will be teaching more knitting classes sharing information learned at TNNA.
Hope all are having a great summer. cheers, J Wray

The move went extremely well and we are now in our "little Yarn Barn" located at 521 S. Lynn in NEvada. It is in a residential area, south of hwy 54 (Lynn is at the corner where Sonic and Movie Gallery are located). We are the first driveway on the east side after Maple St.
Really not hard to find.
Had a lovely time at SOAR and was amazed by the improvement in my spinning following Rudy Amman's 3 day workshop. Meeting so many fiber enthusiasts was wonderful. We are now teaching an advanced spinning class on Nov. 11 and will offer more on request. Additionally we are teaching hairpin lace and punch needle embroidery, thus expanding our offering besides knitting and crocheting. We are carrying some fiber from Brown Sheep called "sweepings'. Actually this is rovings left over at the end of the day in an assortment of fibers. We can't order specific fibers of the sweepings though Brown Sheep does have wool roving for sale. We can also special order from Louet. However we have some wonderful fiber in Missouri, including shetland and it is appropriate to promote Missouri products.
The website for the Fiber Retreat in Jeff City in March is about ready. More about it later.
Have a good day.

Fiber Art Festival is Sat. Sept 23 from 9am to 3pm. Demonstrations by local craftpersons of knitting, spinning, natural dyeing, quilting, crochet and pine needle basketry. Vendors with fiber and hand crafted items will be present. So join us for a fun filled day on the patio and lawn under tents at 608 E. Cherry St. Nevada, Mo. 417-667-8028 for directions and more information. And for a special treat, Janet will be starting her moving sale that day. The end of October she will move her shop to 521 S. Lynn to the Little Yarn Barn on her home property. The building in which she now has her shop was sold Sept 1.

SPINNERS & WEAVERS

Louet Spinning wheels & Looms by special order
SHOP HOURS
Tues thru Fri 10-5
Weekends & evenings by appointment
Classes offered on Sat or Thurs 5-7 PM
by special request

Mail Order and special orders are welcome.
MasterCard, Visa or Discover accepted.

J Wray & Co’s
Little Yarn Barn

Specializing in quality yarns, supplies, buttons
and
instructional materials.
Classes

608 E. Cherry St
Nevada, Mo. 64772
417-667-8028
Email: janetwray@sbcglobal.net
or
jgenevra@sofnet.com