The Man, the Myth, the Legend: Michael Patterson.
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 Posted in Current Issue, Staff | No Comments »
A living legend, that’s this month’s staff feature: Michael Patterson, our beloved and long time instructor! Michael has been teaching classes since the mid 1990’s for us, and as such has a loyal following. It’s always fun to see his classes in action - who knew that weaving could be such a raucous and boisterous pass time?!?!
Michael has been in the area for ages now, having moved here with Margaret (wife), and Joshua (son), in ‘75. He’s established strong ties. Mike’s first career was as an RN in intensive/emergency care. Wow you say, how do you transfer from that high intensity environment to the weaving studio (his current occupation)? “Actually, I started weaving while working in intensive care; it was a great non-stress activity” says Michael. Before opening his current studio, he also worked full time at Halcyon Yarn for several years. While Margaret keeps after Michael to keep up with his chores (”when are you going to weave me that yardage I need for my sewing project!), Joshua is just as happy to leave his fiber ties untended (”Joshua has limited his ‘fiber’ history to having a small flock of Montadale sheep while in the 4H” says Mike).
Michael is more than just a master weaver too - interested in a course in spinning, dyeing, or Kumihimo? He’s your man, able to explain time tested techniques and cutting edge experiments with equal parts skill and humor.
Outside of weaving, Michael enjoys “music and ADHD style internet surfing”. Luckily for us he frequently finds time to stop by Halcyon Yarn outside of classes too - A great opportunity for us to try to “stump the master” with anything weaving related… Though, truth be told, we haven’t succeeded in stumping him yet!
Be sure to keep an eye on the classes page, and sign up for one of his great classes! Also, keep an eye out as we develop a series of online video tutorials with Michael… More to come soon!
Staff Highlight: Annalee
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 Posted in Staff | No Comments »
Ever wonder who put together the beautiful sample card you just received? How about that kit you just ordered? Well, all of the Halcyon Yarn kits and sample cards are made right here, and most are made by Annalee. She helps Halcyon Yarn to keep offering the important, informative, and generally awesome sample cards - and, without her we also couldn’t offer the wide range of creative kits designed by local artists.
Annalee started here in September of 2007. While she’s not a “native Mainer” (hey, neither are people who were born here unless their great-great grandparents were also!), she been a local for quite some time: She moved from New York state in 1999. When first asked about being featured for the staff highlight she said “Oh, no, really? Everyone here is so talented with crafts and knits so beautifully, I have a lot of catching up to do”… Hmm, we’ll see about that.
It turns out that Annalee started crocheting in college. Though she hadn’t been actively crocheting when she started at Halcyon Yarn, she offered to hook up some samples from “Amigurumi World” for the store… Wow! Talk about bringing things to life, the adorable samples are a hit amongst kids and adults alike, and we can’t keep the display orderly as a result! Is that it for Annalee’s fiber interests? “I also enjoy embroidery, sewing and cross stitch… And I’m learning to knit since coming to Halcyon Yarn”… Whoa, watch out!
Outside of work and the fiber arts Annalee has two cats, Maya and Tess, and two daughters, Megan and Julie. She enjoys gardening and reading, and is a BIG NASCAR fan! And, she likes to head even farther north (or, east) for holidays and vacations to spend time with family in Nova Scotia.
Thanks Annalee!
Getting to know: Peggy.
Thursday, May 1st, 2008 Posted in Staff | No Comments »
“You may call me a relic” says Peggy, laughing. Since she’s been with Halcyon Yarn for 20 years, her jest is understandable. But the truth is, she has her hand on the pulse of the fiber world as well as that of Halcyon Yarn and she is about as current as they come. What has/does Peggy do at Halcyon Yarn? “I have done most aspects of the business, shipping, packing, taking orders…”, it’s a long list and makes an exact job description tricky. But chances are, if you have a question to ask, she’s a good place to start (for customers or staff!). On the off chance she doesn’t know, she’ll know who will.
With all that experience, one wonders how the place has changed… “We have expanded a lot over the years, from only being open to instore people 2 hours per week to 6 days a week with Sundays off for good behavior” jokes Peggy. But it’s true, with the move to an historic warehouse in Bath, Maine, Halcyon Yarn has become something of a “destination store” with visitors from all over the world - to say nothing of the orders coming in from cyberspace around the clock. And this evolution has been helped along by Peggy’s knowledge and humor.
Peggy’s fiber arts interests are diverse, and she’s amenable to their proud tradition: “I like to do rug hooking, and have made sweaters for each of my grandchildren”, she says. That’s where you begin to realize that she’s a Mainer - blending tradition, ingenuity, and no fear of tackling a project. “If you talk to me on over the phone you can tell I’ve lived in Maine all my life, I have the accent” she said, and she’s got the laugh too - Thanks Peggy for keeping things bright and us productive!
All About Beth Hood
Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 Posted in Staff | 1 Comment »
If you know Beth now, you may find this hard to believe: She was a novice knitter when she started working at Halcyon Yarn. Oh what changes have occurred in the three years she’s been here: She is now a knit-a-holic, a go-to knitter amongst staff and customers for info and advice, and uses her rapidly expanding knowledge to great effect in her role as a customer service provider.
“Amid such inspiration (both in store and from our customers), I have ventured into unexplored fibers and projects, and done some basic designing” says Beth modestly. Such understatement, such creativity and skill: She is the genius behind the Diamond Hood in Silky Flamme, the Fountain Hood in Halcyon Gemstone Soft Twist Silk and an alternative to the traditional Prayer Shawl, the Trinity Shawl out of Misti Cotton.
No doubt, Beth is productive. About recent projects she had this to say: “I have really enjoyed working on projects displaying some of the lesser known yarns and accessories. I had fun with an I-cord necklace out of Silk Garden and a triangular scarf out of Malabrigo Angora to show off the striking Magnetic Clasps. My favorite yarn right now is Taffy which comes in such splendid colors! I was very pleased with a yellow dress in Taffy for one of my granddaughters and I am working on a Pure and Simple Henley T Shirt in red Taffy doubled.”
Having a dad in the Army, and “Marrying into the Navy”, Beth has lived just about everywhere, no kidding. But, “My parents are both from Maine so it has always been home”. While she now lives close to work, she’s also had some far-flung and important jobs: “My most exciting job (before Halcyon) was working in the Vice President’s Office in D.C. as an Administrative Assistant.”
“When I’m not at Halcyon, I love being with my family–parents, siblings, husband- Jack, our four sons, three beautiful granddaughters and handsome grandson” says Beth. She has a son in California, one at the U of Maine, one living locally (he’s a lobsterman - a real Mainer), and one serving in Afghanistan. Luckily for Beth, her well traveled family has some young ones close to home: “Golden haired 3 year old Savhana keeps us young and on the go! She is my favorite knitting inspiration!”
Beth has recently tried her hand at felting in a Nuno class, is enrolled to take the ‘Knit to Weave’ class and has even started contemplating spinning! Beth also enjoys reading, gardening and cooking. “There are a lot of great cooks here at Halcyon and we are frequently trying things out here and exchanging recipes!” Oh man, the only problem for the rest of us is restraining from “trying out” too many slices of Beth made cakes… As if all that wasn’t enough, she is studious as well: “I am in my fourth year of Education for Ministry and hope to continue those studies,” says Beth.
Thanks Beth, for all that you do for Halcyon Yarn!
Barbara McGuinness = Me Scrubs A Bargain!
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 Posted in Staff | No Comments »
This month we feature a very important person at Halcyon Yarn: Barbara McGuinness. “Barb” is the person who makes sure that your order is complete, well packed, and shipped quickly for the best rate possible. Says Barb “how else are we going to keep our shipping rates so low”?!
Barb came to Halcyon Yarn, and Maine, about a year ago. Formerly hailing from sunny Southern California, she surely smuggled some sunshine in the back of the U-Haul, and has been graciously sharing it with the rest of us. She certainly helps to keep spirits high in the busy shipping area. Check this: It’s Friday, 4:30 pm, an order arrives… It’s 10 items, and is shipping in like 5 boxes because it includes a yarn, shuttles, 6′ reeds and a loom… It’s going to Greenland… Can’t be done right? Wrong, 10 minutes later, the boxes are making their way out the door with a smile and a “that one’s for the shipper”.
Barb has quickly “gone native” living here in Bath, Maine. She usually walks to work, and we often have the pleasure of saying “good day” or “good evening” to her husband Mark and their dog Bagel. “Bagel the Beagle” is surely the cutest Beagle east of LA, and that’s according to all of us, not just Barb.
Barb is a knitter of considerable skill and modesty. “Yeah, I knit a bit” she says, while co-workers marvel at her skill and creativity with making her own patterns. “I also love cooking, baking (yeah! thank goodness for the treats in shipping), watching sports, and travel”, she says, and clearly we see that boredom is not a problem for Barbara!
Not one to slow down, Barb is busy with new friends, keeping up with family, exploring Maine, and making plans to visit some of her favorite international haunts such as London and “La plus belle du monde, Paris”. Thanks Barb, for keeping the creative fiber-arts folks supplied quickly!
Getting to Know… Denice!
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 Posted in Staff | No Comments »We’ll be introducing the staff of Halcyon Yarn over the next couple of months, as we add staff profiles to our web site. We are a small, friendly, and diversely knowledgeable group, so check us out! We’re starting with Denice, since she had her name drawn at random from a beautifully felted hat…
Denice started working at Halcyon Yarn in November of 2007. “I learned an amazing amount” she said of the first few busy months. That is surely true, but she’s doing a fair amount of teaching as well. Her fiber knowledge is far ranging: Starting with crocheting some 25 years ago, she has progressed through stints with knitting, dyeing, and most recently has become an avid spinner. “Going back to the source of the yarns has been a practice for me in my life and has given back to me as much as I have given it”. She’s a ring-leader with the Tuesday Twisted Spinners group, and an always smiling presence in the store. Her positivity is contagious: “There is always something to do, there are always customers to work with: The people that I’ve gotten to know here are all very unique and fun!”.
Any chance she’ll be slowing down and resting on her laurels? Nope. “I’m hoping to branch out over the summer and teach a class or two. I’d also like to be available for beginning knitters and spinners… What’s great about it all is you know there is a future and tons of possibilities to improve and enjoy the whole realm of the fiber industry”.
Outside of the fiber universe she is the mother of the most charming group of kids you’ll ever meet, and married to a dashing sheriff’s deputy… so don’t be tempted to snag any of her beautifully spun fibers without asking first!
