Technology creeps - nay, leaps - into our lives more and more. Sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it - then I realize how much closer it has made us. The spinning and weaving world especially is better for it. The sharing of ideas via groups such as Yahoo's WeaveTech is very powerful. Everyday weavers, industrial textile folks, production weavers, shop owners and manufacturers, as well as weaving instructors come together in a common space to share ideas and solve weaving problems on a level playing field. It really is pretty special. We all learn a lot there.
On-line publications such as
WeaveZine and
Spindlicity exist through the generosity of advertisers and the giving crafters who do the writing and web work for nothing or perhaps just peanuts.
WeaveCast is the "on-line NPR" for weavers. For three years Syne Mitchell has poured her heart into bringing a monthly podcast to our iPods (or simply your desktop computer) and bringing us interviews with world-class spinners and weavers like Peter Collingwood, Judith McKenzie McCuin and many, many others. These resources have done much to fuel the growth in weaving and spinning (and, yes, knitting).
At Heritage, we use technology to get the word out and help glue our community of fiber lovers together. This newsletter is a good example. I try to keep the writing short and sweet but meaningful and not be "in your face" when I talk about new things in the store. I want our communications to be useful and instructional so you want to read them.
For me, the problem comes in . . . do I spend the time on technology or playing with fiber. I think the first is important and the second imperative. Without fiber I'd lose my brain. But, technology makes the fiber play better. Balance. Always balance.
BTW - The Sale Continues!
We've doing some serious SPRING CLEANING! April 30 is our year-end and that means inventory counting - and no one likes to count, so we'd rather clean house. A customer came in yesterday and I asked her if she knew about the sale and she said, "Yes, but I didn't think you'd have this much on sale." Nope. I wasn't kidding. We really cleaned and there are some very nice yarns in the bins. Come explore! Use the coupon below to make the sale price even better.
