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Shuttleworks Fiber Arts News |
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December 15, 2011 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 2012 . . . Another year has sped by but by all accounts it has been an eventful year, although it seems I never quite catch up. As always, I would like to thank you, my customers and suppliers, for your support throughout the year. I stated last year at this time that it sure is a treat to move from one area of the building to another without having to go outside. And that I have managed to run my winding equipment at the same time as I am packing orders or preparing fiber. I hoped that I would eventually sort everything out and get my ordering back on track so that it doesn't all arrive at the same time. Well, part of that worked out, shipments are arriving with some time in between but pallets of inventory keep arriving and still getting in the way, so much so the lower studio is jammed and the upper studio is almost in the same shape. However, I will be working on the storage problem over the Christmas holidays. The only problem is, we have shipments arriving next week, in early January and mid-February, we're talking pallets of stuff from Ashford, Lendrum and Schacht Spindle and more after that. Oh well, and life goes on. Once again, I would like to thank all my customers for their patronage over the years and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2012. Christmas Hours . . . November 2, 2011 Very Cherry February 2012 . . . Schacht Spindle is making February a very cherry month, with cherry Matchless spinning wheels and cherry Baby Wolf weaving looms being produced in limited quantities for shipping sometime around Valentines day. For more information, follow these links Cherry Matchless and Cherry Baby Wolf, or call Shuttleworks at 403-938-1099 during business hours.
David Triple Drum Carders . . . The David triple drum carders (tri-carder) from Howard (USA) in 72/90tpi and 90/120tpi models are now in stock. David triple drum carder . . .
Yippee, it's Heritage Day on Monday . . . Our Louet store specials have been extended and include more of the Jane 40-15.5" 8-shaft looms and the Roving carder (Junior) as we ordered before the price increase of July 1. The new shipment arrived on Friday and current special prices will continue while stock lasts. Louet store specials . . . The Howard Triple Drum Carders should be here next week as they were on a pallet and ready to ship earlier in the week. I made arrangements with the trucking company to pick them up as soon as possible. David Triple Drum Carder . . . Another shipment of silk scarves arrived this week and included two new scarves; a 5mm 15" x 60" Habotai and an 8mm 22" x 72" Habotai in addition to all the other sizes we carry. Silk Scarves and Silk Fabric . . . The timing is perfect, as we now have stretcher frames for silk painting in stock. The stretcher frame project has been in the works for some time, as I mentioned on June 17th, I had been working on a design for a silk painting stretcher frame, where I had completed the prototype (on display in the store). It consists of four stainless steel corner brackets allowing the user to make their frame as small or as large as need be. In addition, it was designed so that legs could be added at any time, thus providing an easy way to set the frame on a table with short legs or on the floor with longer legs. Once the bracket set is purchased all you need to do is source the wood rails (local lumber supplier or friend) for the frame and legs (legs are not required if working on a table). Being made of stainless steel, these brackets are strong and will last a lifetime. The brackets were completed this week and are now available for sale. The price for a set of four including wood screws is $99.95 plus GST and shipping if required. Adjustable Silk Stretcher Frame . . .
A disappointment . . . Just when I thought that the last theft in the store was an aberration, I discovered that I have been hit again (more than once unfortunately). I'm not sure what goes through someone's mind when they take something without paying for it. Not only do I lose the cost of the product but also the profit it could have made. Unfortunately, insurance does not cover petty theft. In the end theft costs everyone as it becomes part of the cost of doing business just like shipping, insurance, bank charges etc. which all add to the cost of the goods sold in the store. In order to keep shrinkage (a nicer way to say theft) to a minimum I now require that customers leave their tote bags, back packs, project bags and baby strollers in the lobby or in their car. Unfortunately this is one of those things that has to be dealt with and I ask my honest customers to understand this new store policy.
A quick update . . . On June 25th at Olds College, Shuttleworks presented a $1000 cheque to Otto Pahl - Olds College Fibre Week Coordinator to help kick off the Olds College 2013 Centennial Fund-Raiser. Otto also announced Shuttleworks will continue to sponsor Fibre Week in 2012 as Titanium Title Sponsor. More info . . .
More good news . . . Shuttleworks is once again the top Ashford dealer in Canada. I received the Ashford certificate of achievement earlier this year and posted it in the store but forgot to mention in the news. So now you know. A new wide drum carder is available from Ashford - 12" wide, 72 tpi, 2-speed, with brush attachment and with a 72 tpi wire density. These carders will be in the store in early July. More info . . . Triple drum carders from Howard (USA) arriving at the end of July in 72/90tpi and 90/120tpi models. More info . . .
Olds Fibre Week . . . We are delivering orders to customers on Saturday pm June 25th. If you need something give us a call before Friday 6pm. Canada Day long weekend . . . We will be keeping regular hours on the Canada Day long weekend which means we will be open all week including Friday, July 1st and Saturday, July 2nd for all you long weekend travelers and shoppers.
Shuttleworks update . . . In trying to keep everyone up to date with what's going on at Shuttleworks I thought Twitter just might do the trick, surely I can produce 140 characters and post them on a regular basis. At least more often than updating the news. It took me a while to see the value in Twitter but after some reading and fussing with the details, I think it just might work.
Shuttleworks update . . . The Sidekick portable spinning wheels from Schacht Spindle have arrived and are ready to ship or be picked up at the store. Come on down and have a look or better yet, try one out if you are looking for a portable wheel. The Elizabeth 30s are still on schedule and should be here at the end of the month, give or take a week and Canada Post. Also remember that there is no waiting for Lendrum double treadle or single treadle complete folding wheels at Shuttleworks as we have plenty in stock including spares and accessories. I have been working on a design for a silk painting frame, something I said I would do when I had some spare time. I managed to fit it in a bit at a time and I recently completed the prototype which is on display in the store. It consists of four stainless steel corner brackets allowing the user to make their frame as small or as large as they need. In addition I have designed it so that legs can be added at any time thus providing an easy way to set the frame on a table with short legs or on the floor with longer legs. Once a set of four corner brackets are purchased all you need to add is the wood rails for the frame and legs. Being made of stainless steel these brackets are strong and will last a lifetime. More on this at a later date when I get my act together. Cheers, Cal
Shuttleworks update . . . Where to begin . . . how about new stuff? Schacht Spindle Sidekick . . . Schacht Spindle is ready to ship their new portable spinning wheel - the Sidekick. We should see them in the store in early June. The Sidekick is designed to fold easily, and still be a solid spinner. Here are some of the Sidekick’s features:
The Sidekick comes with 3 travel bobbins, fast and medium whorls, threading hook, and adjustable carrying strap. Also available is the Sidekick bulky flyer package. Ashford Elizabeth 30" Limited Edition . . . This is a production wheel for serious spinners. We have several of these beautiful wheels arriving sometime in June, all but two are set up as double treadle and are well priced as follows:
For knitters . . . We finally sourced a new supplier for lace, as well as worsted-weight blocking wires. These no-frills blocking wires are great for blocking your knitting and crochet projects. You get a baker’s dozen (13) of these stainless steel blocking wires (dressing wires) in each set (sets sold separately). All wires are three (3) feet long and come packaged in an attractive, slim plastic storage tube (tube diameter is just ½ inch). Please remember to wipe the wires with a soft clean cloth to remove the "minimal" manufacturing residue before using for the first time. We also stock blocking pins and T-pins. Other stuff . . . Where to go from here - as it is past closing time I guess I will head home for supper . . . March 20, 2011 Shuttleworks update . . . It's been a while, but we have been so busy, some things ended up on the back burner. We closed the store between Christmas and the New Year and traveled to England, leaving on Boxing Day, we had a great time traveling around, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and bringing in the New Year. It has taken a while to catch up but we are making headway. For some reason all the new space has been gobbled up with more inventory but over the next few weeks the mess should be sorted out and the new studio space will be more or less made ready for classes (no dates set as yet). One of my customers said there was a rumor going around that Shuttleworks was out of Lendrum DT folding wheels - not so - as we have quite a few in stock with more on the way. As well, we have a great inventory of spare parts and accessories. More Info In reference to the Lendrum rumor, it seems that the use of social media, while great communication tools, has allowed the immediate proliferation of information whether it is right or wrong. The point is, don't believe everything you see or hear - check the facts. December 13, 2010 Shuttleworks update . . . I'm not sure where the year went but it certainly passed by in a hurry, at least that's the way it seems right now. Shuttleworks' "new building" construction seemed to take forever but has "almost" drawn to a close as the last of the deficiencies have been completed except for two small items that have to be remedied in the spring, however they are not critical to our operations. It sure is a treat to move from one area to another without having to go outside. I can now say, in a small way, I have managed to run my winding equipment at the same time I have been packing orders or preparing fiber. I say, in a "small way" because pallets of inventory keep arriving and getting in the way. Eventually I will have everything sorted out and in its place and my ordering back on track so that it doesn't all arrive at the same time. At least now I have space to put it until I can get to it. Our new wheelchair accessible entrance/lobby is working out just great and is complete with comfortable seating plus a TV which provides entertainment for kids and significant others while customers are shopping in the store. I would like to thank all my customers for their patronage over the past year and for putting up with the seemingly never ending construction. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2011. Christmas Hours . . . September 7, 2010 Studio & store update . . . We are almost there - we signed off with the builder last week - a few minor things still need to be remedied but they will be completed before the end of the month. Probably the most significant improvement, besides all the extra space for classes and storage, is the new entrance which is wheelchair accessible and has a place for husbands or friends to sit and wait in comfort. Although we have started thinking about classes we a have a ways to go before start-up. Namely: sort through all our inventory and put things where they can be found; catch up with all the yarn rewinding that has been on hold for some time; and make room for all the orders scheduled to arrive over the next two months. More important is the setting up of the studio for classes which will take some time but it will get done. The landscaping still needs to be completed and will be finished over the next two or three weeks. A 60 foot retaining wall still has to be constructed but that might or might not be done this year - it depends on whether it can be completed before the cold weather arrives. It's part of the landscaping but is not critical for the operation of the store and studio. August 2, 2010 Richard Ashford update . . . Richard Ashford's visit was an exciting time for us at Shuttleworks, our customers and other Ashford dealers who visited Shuttleworks on July 27th. Richard was accompanied by Kate Sherratt (Ashford sales and marketing) and Marc Peloquin (Canadian Ashford distributor). Richard, Kate and Marc arrived on Monday evening and after a short tour of Shuttleworks we set up wheels, looms, drum carders, accessories and fiber in readiness for the next day's activities. The next day, from 10:00 am until 1:30 pm, Richard met with some of the Alberta Ashford dealers, including yours truly where we talked about and test drove Ashford's newest products. After lunch, participants for the seminar began to arrive and soon after that, Richard, Kate and Marc got the show on the road and if the beehive of activity and excited chattering was a good indicator, everyone was having a great time. Thank you to Richard, Kate, Marc our customers and other Ashford dealers for making it a memorable day. Building update . . . The 27th was the first time since we started construction that we used all the space in the new building. We provided refreshments in the lower level studio and held the day's activities in the upper level studio. We even made use of the new entrance which was a treat given that we have been using the temporary entrance for almost a year. However the temporary entrance will have to be used for a short time this week or next (not sure exactly when) as the new entrance will be out of service while the new brickwork on the front of the building is removed and replaced. Oh the hazards of construction . . . but we are getting closer to being finished. I must admit it has been a long haul since we announced the start of the expansion on August 12th of last year. June 9, 2010 Richard Ashford will be visiting Shuttleworks . . . Richard will be discussing and demonstrating a number of Ashford products from spinning wheels to looms, including their just announced, take anywhere table loom. The 12" Katie is a perfect 8-harness loom for workshops, sampling, travel and just plain fun. This is a free event but limited to 20 persons. If you would like to join Richard in Shuttleworks' new upstairs studio, please RSVP as soon as possible. Light refreshments will be available. As well, you get to take home a Shuttleworks tote bag or spinning apron - your choice. For more information please call Shuttleworks at 403-938-1099.
The Aura, designed from the ground up, has a style and presence of its own but retains the classic Majacraft look. This modified double drive wheel has two independent drive bands, one for the flyer and a second for the bobbin. The flyer drive has three different ratios and the bobbin drive has two ratios plus infinite adjustment. The new style flyer builds on the advances Majacraft has made over the years. It shares the aerodynamic shape of our other flyers for efficient and easy spinning. But most importantly it has a new dual function orifice. Fine yarns can be spun through the delta part of the orifice and can also hold coil yarns very still so you can observe your work. You can bypass the delta and use the large halo ring for spinning bulky. With the new modified double drive, the Aura can spin anything that can be pulled through the orifice. The new folding handle design has the grip in a different location and has special bumpers on the handle to keep the spinning head away from the pedals when you fold it down. As with all other Majacraft wheels, it is designed to be as compatible as possible with all accessories. All Majacraft flyers and all wood bobbins produced after April 2010 will fit the Aura. There are three jumbo wooden bobbins included with the Aura. This unique wheel requires new thinking about spinning and expressing your spinning creativity. The potential is huge and when you are ready to explore what the Aura can do, come and spend some time test driving Majacraft's new wheel, the Aura, at Shuttleworks. Also newsworthy . . . The first 2-pitch hackle produced by Majacraft is on display at Shuttleworks. We have been looking for a quality hackle for some time without much luck, until it came up in discussion with Andrew at Majacraft. After a quick telephone call about a general style and what we were looking for, and some e-mailed specifications, Majacraft developed this 2-pitch hackle in double quick time. These new hackles will be available at Shuttleworks by mid-June. Single pitch is also available. April 13, 2010 Catching up . . .
However, over the long haul, shipping, receiving and product preparation will be easier and more efficient, as the more inventory we carry, the more time it takes to handle it. As well, once the exterior is finished, the new entrance will provide easy access to the store. The lower level is filling very quickly so I will have to be careful or I will be back where I started with no room to spare.
The completion date for the project is still a ways away with some deficiencies that need to be completed on the inside plus all the exterior work once the overnight temperatures are above freezing. In the meantime I will catch up on product preparation and start moving furniture and equipment into the studio where it belongs. I also have to source more tables and miscellaneous furniture for the studio and the lobby area between the store and studio. So, as usual, I have lots to do which keeps me out of trouble most of the time. In the photo above you can see the interior of the upper studio which is complete except for window coverings and all the things that will make it a fiber arts studio . . . I could sure store a lot of stuff in here!!! Next week I have a Majacraft shipment arriving which will be followed by another shipment from Majacraft containing more Pioneer wheels plus their new "as yet unveiled" wheel, but more on that when I have more information. In the meantime, it's back to my paperwork and today's mail orders. March 4, 2010 Ever so slowly . . . Everyone is asking "when is the construction going to be finished?" The end is near, at least that's what I keep telling myself. Right now I'm watching paint dry, floor paint that is - it takes 28 days for the paint to cure which means two more weeks. In the meantime, two coats of clear coat will be applied this weekend to protect the finish. The week of the 15th will see the interior finished except for the fire escape door that will be painted once the warm weather arrives. The builder hopes to have the exterior finished by the end of May - sidewalks and all - which means the temporary entrance will be retired and the new front entrance put into service. In the meantime I can start using the lower level for shipping and receiving and storing stuff temporarily while I start moving things around, putting up window blinds and all the things that will make the new area complete and ready for classes. However, I'm not even thinking about classes at this point as there are so many things to get done once the exterior is finished and the construction folks have departed. The driveway has to be graded along with the parking area plus landscaping has to be done around the buildings and other areas that have been beaten up with construction traffic. Let's call it spring cleaning with a vengeance. Something new . . . Something new is just around the corner from Majacraft - a new wheel - soon to be released. This wheel is a collaboration between Majacraft and Lexi Boeger (Pluckyfluff) design, and is specifically focused at art yarns, however it can also be a general purpose wheel, as it is compatible with most of the Majacraft accessories. Majacraft has been most secretive and all I know is that it will be unveiled at the Sheep & Wool Festival at Maryland, USA in May. I have already placed an order so they should arrive sometime in May or possibly June. I will keep you posted. February 4, 2010 Slowly . . . Not a lot to report on the construction other than progress is being made. The upstairs is finished except for cleaning and the installation of window blinds. The completion date of the lower level keeps getting pushed back due to the myriad of little jobs and repairs to work that has already been completed. I have high hopes the interior will be finished by the end of the month at the latest. Cabinetry and tiling are all but complete, sinks and fixtures are in and operational, as is the lighting. The lower level floor finishing is the next major job which will be followed by cleaning and touch up of the inevitable mishaps that seem to occur during construction. The exterior finishing is still on hold until spring, including stucco, sidewalks, air conditioning, roof tiling and so on. I have faith that it will get done in due course. Once the interior is finished I can start to move things around such as wheels, looms, and studio supplies. Probably the thing that I am most looking forward to is moving my shipping and receiving from the store to the new building making that part of the business a lot easier and certainly more efficient. Hopefully by May the new entrance will be functional and the temporary side entrance can be retired. January 5, 2010 Happy New Year . . . We had a good time on our Christmas break, which included a quick trip to Mesa, Arizona where we enjoyed great hospitality, warm weather and sunshine. It's amazing when you can fly south for three hours and pick fresh oranges and grapefruit off of trees outside the front door for breakfast. Unfortunately our return trip was longer than expected - our return flight originated in Canada and was delayed due to increased security for all US bound flights, so we were late leaving Phoenix. And because only one runway was open in Calgary, due to poor weather, it meant we had to fly in circles until we could land. Add to that, having to be at the airport three hours prior to flight time and then clearing Canadian customs in Calgary makes it a long day. However, a safe return home is always a plus. 2009 ended with a flurry of construction activity. Drywall, painting, electrical and plumbing were all completed, or almost completed as seems to be the case with most construction projects these days. We'd had great hopes that the interior would be completed by the original target date of Christmas, but the New Year dawned with some things still unfinished. So, we've readjusted the schedule for the end of January and will work with our fingers crossed and see what happens in the weeks to come. On a positive note, both the upstairs and downstairs studios are bright and cheerful and will provide exceptional spaces for classes and other uses - but that is still a ways down the road. And, we will have to wait for spring for the exterior finishes, stucco, brickwork, roof and sidewalks to be completed. December 11, 2009 Best laid plans . . . We had a little oops - none of the interior doors could be installed this week as the rough openings were the wrong size. On a positive note the openings were larger than required, so it is a relatively simple fix, although it puts us another week behind. I have been assured that the doors will be completed on Saturday which means the painters should be finished by next Wednesday. The upper studio is all but complete and if you ignore ladders, taped up windows and no floor finish it looks great. Hopefully the electricians and plumbers will finish up by the end of next week, which means the floors can be started the following week. If all goes well, the interior (both levels) will be completed before Christmas - only just. However, I suspect that there will be some things that will need to be taken care of early in the New Year. December 4, 2009 I like to think we are almost there . . . It is really amazing how how much work goes into finishing the interior of a building. After all the electrical, plumbing, heating, telephone, vacuum, security, communications and other bits and pieces, that make up the building systems were put into place, they were insulated and/or covered up with drywall (also called sheet rock or wall board). The next step was the mudding and taping to fill all the joins followed by more mud and then sanding and then more sanding. At this point the painters and the cabinet maker started their part of the whole process, and just when I thought the painters were making good progress, everything came to a halt. Yesterday the drywall finishers arrived to patch and sand all the blemishes that showed up after the painters applied the primer coat. All the walls and ceilings ended up with yellow patches (different colored mud so the painters would know where to re-prime). This morning the painters arrived just as the final sanding was being completed and all the yellow patches have since been primed and are now ready for the first of two finish coats. By the end of next week most of the painting will be complete, interior doors will be painted and installed along with cabinet doors. The electricians and plumbers will be in the following week to finish up their part in the finishing - making the building operational. After that, we're onto the next step which includes finishing the floors, base boards, stairs, vent covers and a myriad of other things. I have my hopes that the interior will be completed before Christmas including a final cleaning. The only thing I know won't be done is the fire escape door which will be painted in the spring, but I can live with that. However the exterior is another matter, as the current sub-zero weather has put a stop to the outside work. If we are lucky and we get a good long chinook it might get done before spring but I won't be holding my breath. In the meantime the building will be usable and I will be able to access the original studio from the store without having to go outside - what a treat that will be. All this new space will make running the store so much easier - at least that is the plan. Christmas hours . . . We will keep our regular business hours until December 24th (Christmas Eve), at which time we will close at 3:00 pm. We will remain closed until January 5th, 2010 when we will resume our regular business hours. Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. November 13, 2009 More progress . . . We are making great progress with a lot of work completed since my last post. The framing on the inside is complete along with the plumbing, electrical wiring and ventilation. The telephone and network cables were run from the store to the new building - a lot of wire was pulled through conduit which was installed after rearranging the store somewhat to make room for the electricians. It was done quickly and with very little mess, which is a plus. ADT and Vacuflo completed their rough-in, followed by the installation of the exterior doors, insulation and drywall. The boiler was installed and is now operating just in time for the drywall finishers. Once the walls and ceilings are taped and sanded (a week's work) the painters will take over followed by the finishing carpenters. Then the painters come in one more time followed by the electricians and the list goes on and on and on . . . Next week more exterior work will be completed, hopefully the weather will hold for another week or two which is about all we need to finish up on the outside. The last things to be done outside are the sidewalks and some landscaping which might not get done until spring or the next Chinook, we will see. We received our long awaited shipment of maple bulky flyer units and extra bulky bobbins from Schacht Spindle for both the Matchless and the Ladybug. Give us a call for more information. Unfortunately the cherry version has been pushed back until January 2010 but better late than never. Some new books in stock include Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting, VAV & Weave - A Book on Weaving, Twisted Stitch Knitting and an all new Homespun Handknit. October 18, 2009 Progress . . . Since October 7th a lot of work has been completed. Almost all the windows have been installed, the soffit and facia are in place, the roofers have repaired the wind damage and most of the preparation work for the stucco has been completed. There were some last minute modifications and changes, including the removal of the stucco from the original store/studio to prepare it for the building wrap and stucco wire. Three things warranted the stucco removal: previous hail damage, making a weather-proof seal where the old building and new building are joined, and matching the original stucco color.
I was beginning to think that we wouldn't get a break in the weather to place the lower level concrete floor but Mother Nature came through for us and the floor was placed yesterday. The whole process started before 8:00 a.m. and wasn't complete until 8:45 p.m. - it was one long day. The work was supposed to have been completed the day before but through a scheduling problem Rolling Mix wasn't available to do the job until Monday which would have put us further behind and meant all the trades scheduled for later next week would have been pushed into the following week.
I just wandered over to the store to check the new floor and it looks great - and now I can get into the old studio where a lot of my inventory is stored. October 7, 2009 Survival and other stuff . . . All I can say is I barely survived last week - it was one busy week - looking after customers in the store, mail orders, shipments from suppliers (we're talking three pallets of stuff plus several multiple box shipments) and the studio construction project - everything seemed to happen at once. The toughest part was finding space for everything. I am really, really looking forward to the new building being completed and it can't happen quickly enough as far as I am concerned.
Yesterday, the in-floor heating pipes were put in place and fastened to the rebar. After that the piping was pressurized to check for leaks. It will remain pressurized until the concrete is placed and the new boiler is installed. Today was supposed to be the big day to place the concrete for the floor - sadly it was not to be as the outside temperatures were too low. So it now looks like next Tuesday instead. One has to be very patient . . . I'm not sure watching the weather forecast helps very much. There is a lot of outside work to be completed - windows, roof tiles, soffit and facia, siding and more. Yesterday's wind storm caused some damage to the roof membrane - like it ripped parts of it clean off, including the boards holding it in place. The builder says that's the construction business. On a brighter note we have Schacht Walnut Baby Wolf looms in stock loaded with accessories - three to be exact. These looms were part of the Schacht shipment that arrived last week. Don't wait, as the price on this loom package is as good as it can get. More . . . The Ashford Wild carder is now in stock, More . . . and we have a great special on the Ashford double treadle Joy spinning wheels complete with carry bag - don't miss this great deal. More . . . September 24, 2009 Shuttleworks celebrates 7 years serving the fiber arts community . . . . . . maybe not celebrated, but remembered for a change. This is the first year I actually remembered the anniversary and only because I was reminded on the 23rd. As I recall, on the evening of the 23rd of September in 2002 we were out putting up our signs and making the last preparations for opening our "then" little store to the public on the 24th of September 2002. What a ride it has been. We would like to thank all our customers and suppliers (local, national and international) for their support over the past seven years. We will continue to do our very best to provide you with the service you have come to expect. Cheers for the next seven years . . .
The plumbers will continue the rough-in work tomorrow along with the gas fitter who will rough-in the gas supply to the new building and reconnect the gas to the store. This will be followed by the placing of the under-floor insulation, steel reinforcing bar, heating pipes and lastly six inches of concrete to complete the lower level heated floor. Once the concrete has hardened, the stairs to the upper level will be installed along with the walls for the washroom and utility room. Then the electrical, heating, security and vacuum systems will be installed to a point where the inside finishers will take over - drywall, doors, paint, flooring and trim. In between all these things will be the installation of lights, heating and air conditioning plus a whole lot of other things not mentioned. It seems like a long time since the construction was started but it has only been about six weeks so we have to be patient. However, with the foundation and framing complete things will progress more quickly and should remain more or less on schedule. August 28, 2009 More than just a hole in the ground . . .
With the power and sewer lines in place and the footings poured we moved on to the next step. The cribbers set up the forms for the walls along with rebar plus all the other stuff that holds them straight and level and were ready for the big pour by 10:00 this morning. The concrete trucks and pumper arrived about 11:00 and 45 minutes later the crew had finished placing the concrete and were on their way at about the same time early bird customers had arrived.
Now we wait a week for the concrete to strengthen (much like watching paint dry). Before the end of next week the concrete will be waterproofed followed by backfilling after the long weekend. The next step will be to remove part of the roof on the existing studio ready for the framing crew. Both the existing studio roof and the new studio roof should be in place by the end of September along with the windows - like Col. John "Hannibal" Smith (aka George Peppard) on A-Team says, "I love it when a plan comes together." Target completion date for the entire project is mid-December 2009.
August 23, 2009 Business as usual . . .
On Friday the plumbers and electricians laid the sewer and electrical services into the building area ready for the cribbers. By the end of next week the concrete foundation will be complete except for form stripping and backfilling. And then it's on to framing, roofing, windows and exterior finishing. Once the building is closed in the heating pipe will be laid and then the concrete floor will be poured. Of course there are a lot of other things that need to be done including placing pipe for floor drains and other minor details. More to come as we make progress . . . August 12, 2009 Studio expansion is a go . . . Space has been an issue for some time and, because of that, we stopped teaching classes so we could use the studio for product storage and preparation - and even that has become difficult. The new space that we are building will allow us to resume teaching classes in two studios (up and down) and also provide us with more space for inventory - it also means that everything will be under one roof which will eliminate dashing between buildings to get stuff, which isn't much fun when it's raining or snowing. Earlier this year we made contact with a builder who gave us a rough estimate to add about 2,000 square feet of space to our store and studio. The price seemed reasonable enough, so we asked Rick Balbi, an architect in Calgary that we had previously used, to look at our sketches and produce a set of construction drawings. After some revisions we had good set of drawings from which to work. The builder eventually picked up the drawings but after a month of delays, decided that the job was not one he was willing to take on - it required more attention than he was willing to give it. Although it was disappointing it was better than in the middle of construction. It was almost back to square one - find a builder. Not as easy as you would think, given the current economic climate - it seems we were looking in all the wrong places. Just by chance we made contact with a commercial builder in Calgary who was willing to give us an estimate and could start the project within a week or two of the contract being signed. After a few more changes and revisions to the drawings we received the final quote, quickly followed by a contract. To make a long story short, consensus was reached, the contract was signed and Nova Terra Developments, a Calgary commercial builder, starts construction this week, with the project scheduled to be completed before Christmas. During construction, it will be business as usual, with access to the store through the current entrance or the first door on the south side of the building depending on what stage of construction we are at. June 8, 2009 The day before yesterday was almost a replay of March 22 with freezing temperatures and snow. However, the snow didn't last long and was all but gone by the afternoon. We do need moisture as our hay field is not coming along as it should but we also need higher temperatures to speed up the germination process. In the meantime we have a great crop of dandelions to look at. We have some new products in the store that includes color fast, water based liquid silk dyes (iron to set) in 30 mixable colors. More info . . . And, arriving next week, metal temples (made in Sweden) in 11 sizes from 8"-10" (20-25 cm) to 47"-75" (120-190 cm). These are in addition to the Swedish wood temples that we already carry. We now have hairpin lace looms, bamboo afghan hooks both single and double hook styles. As well, we have 22" and 40" circular afghan hooks coming in within the next week or two. One other item we are adding is a 40" wide, 5-count, 100% cotton latch/locker hooking canvas (Swiss made). Arriving soon from Schacht Spindle with our stock order are "Special Limited Edition" cherry Matchless double treadle spinning wheels plus extra cherry whorls and bobbins. Also coming in from Schacht in late summer are "Special Limited Edition" walnut Baby Wolf looms - that will be loaded with walnut accessories. Only 34 of these looms will be available world wide and we have three coming in. These "Special Limited Edition" products are in celebration of Schacht's 40th anniversary. One last item of interest - Louet's continuing 35th anniversary celebration now includes a FREE Skein winder ($170.00 value) with the purchase of an S10 DT or S51 DT spinning wheel. This offer runs until October 31, 2009. Shuttleworks has both the S10 DT and S51 DT in stock at exceptional prices while quantities last. More info . . . March 31, 2009
LNA is offering a $200 Free Fiber Coupon for LNA hand spinning fiber with the purchase of any new Louet Julia or Victoria spinning wheel (fibers must be in-stock items at LNA). This coupon is included with the wheel at the time of purchase. To redeem your coupon you must mail it along with a list of LNA hand spinning fiber or fibers you would like (retail value of $200) directly to LNA (this offer applies to LNA in-stock fiber only). This Louet - North America promotion is effective to July 31, 2009. Available in North America only. Not redeemable for cash. Coupons expire December 31, 2009. For more information please call Shuttleworks at 403-938-1099 March 22, 2009 Just when I thought we were in the clear - more snow and lots of it. That's spring in Alberta. Speaking of spring, I just posted a list of specials for our "Spinning into Spring" Store Specials - Ashford products at great prices so don't wait, just head for the store or call to place your order as some quantities are limited. Store specials We have two Louet 8-shaft 40cm (15.5”) Jane looms left in stock at a low price of $822.28 each plus GST. This lightweight and portable loom folds down to a height of only 5.5” for easy transport or storage. Jane table looms Another shipment of folding wheels (both single and double treadle) from Lendrum will be here within the next 30 days, we still have a few in stock so the timing is just about right. Keep in mind we have lots of standard and plying bobbins in stock as well as other folding wheel accessories. We also have several Saxony wheels on order with a delivery date of January 2011 - one is already sold. If you are interested in a Lendrum Saxony double treadle in maple, cherry or walnut, left or right hand wheel, single or double drive, give us a call during business hours and we will be happy to help you - current price is $1070.00 $CAD, GST extra (price is fixed once your order is placed). Lendrum A shipment from Schacht Spindle will be arriving late next week with more Matchless wheels and Cricket looms as well as accessories and other stuff. Four Cherry Matchless wheels are on order with a June arrival date (one is already sold) - this is a limited edition wheel celebrating Schacht's 40th year in business. One 8-shaft Mighty Wolf loom is available in stock at a great price of $2827.74 $CAD, current price with today's exchange rate is over $3,300 $CAD, GST extra. Schacht A bit about prices and exchange rates - we are now approaching the half year mark from where exchange rates took a tumble - in October 2008 the dollar went from $0.90 to $0.76 within a three week period. Considering it was at parity with the US dollar in 2007 that's an unsettling change. Currently it sits at about $0.79 and it's anyone's guess which way it will go. Bets are that it will settle in the $0.80 to $0.85 range over the long haul. Not all that bad considering it was at about $0.63 to $0.65 in early 2002. How does it affect prices - not much over the short term but over time replacement stock becomes more expensive with higher exchange rates. Prices at Shuttleworks have remained fairly stable with some items increasing in price and a few decreasing. However, we will always offer great quality products at the best possible prices regardless of where the dollar ends up. January 6, 2009 We had a great Christmas and New Year's Eve and certainly very different from previous years. We spent time with our families but left Canada on Christmas Day arriving in England on Boxing Day. No snow, rain or other weather issues so it was a pleasant stay. Having experienced the crowds on three visits to Westminster and London we decided to forego New Year's Eve in London and celebrate it with dinner and watching fireworks in Bromley. We rented a car for our entire stay and after a few false starts and mix-ups in driving on the other side of the road and dealing with how to enter and leave mini, regular and double roundabouts, driving became less of a challenge but remained very exciting. We also used public transport into and around London, including bus, train, boat and underground rail. We never had to wait more that 5 to 10 minutes to catch a ride - a bit expensive but extremely efficient and convenient. Our accommodation at the Bromley Court Hotel was excellent as was the food - English breakfasts are a great way to start a day and gave me the strength to carry on with sight seeing and the inevitable shopping with my wife. We visited with my Aunt and Uncle in Beckenham and went to places I lived as a boy and even had fish and chips at the fish shop where I had purchased fish for my grandmother's cat many years ago. We also drove out to Stonehenge (the rock place) and Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire where I was born - what a beautiful town. I could go on but the store is calling . . . We are back to our regular hours, noon until 6:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. December 20, 2008 Old Man Winter (see December 4) has decided he would stay for a while longer. The temperature is currently minus 29 C, again not all that bad, but it's wearing a bit thin. My in-laws arrived home from Phoenix for Christmas and are still recovering from the shock. Some exciting new products have arrived - Jane table looms from Louet, addi Turbo "Click" sets from Skacel and more sizes of No-Slip Morgan hoops to 17" great for needle punch embroidery, rug hooking and quilting. As always we have more new books on order that will arrive early in the New Year along with new colors from Brown Sheep. Remember we stock all colors of all yarn lines that we carry. Shuttleworks will be closed from 3:00 p.m. Christmas Eve until January 6, 2009, at which time we will resume our regular hours, noon until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Our Christmas letters and cards have been mailed and we are looking forward to spending time with family and friends - we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here's hoping 2009 will bring peace and prosperity to all. December 4, 2008 Old Man Winter has finally arrived - minus 18 C this morning - not all that bad, but certainly a lot colder than what we have experienced over the past month. Enough snow (a skiff) fell to remind us of what to expect over the next two or three months. However, I should write a little more quickly as the weather is going to change for the better sometime tomorrow - oh well that's weather in Alberta's chinook zone. Speaking of change, and not necessarily for the better, the Canadian dollar took six years to drop from $1.60 to par against the US dollar and in less than six weeks it lost half of that and now sits at about a $1.30, not very pretty from where I sit. However, all is not lost as we have not changed our prices on most products and likely not much will change until sometime in the New Year. We have received notification from several suppliers expressing regrets that prices are on the rise and this hasn't taken into account higher exchange rates. As well, shipping costs have risen even though the price of oil has dropped - go figure. All things considered, current prices are a bargain. For example Schacht's Ladybug complete with Kate is still at par with a price of $587.00 CAD and at a little over par is their Matchless double treadle at $1045.13 CAD - while quantities last - GST is extra. November 6, 2008 Majacraft: Our shipment of 26 spinning wheels from Majacraft arrived last week, including the new Pioneer wheels. More Pioneer info . . . It took all of 15 minutes to assemble the Pioneer and we found it a great spinning wheel with which to spin - a real treat - and priced right to boot. Standby power (my summer project) . . . done!! The electricians finished up last week, after which I ran the generator for a short time in test mode and then warned my wife that I was going for real and shut the utility power off - lo and behold the diesel fired up, the fresh air vents opened and after about 20 seconds or so we had power. I let the generator run for 20 minutes and then turned the utility power back on and within 5 minutes the transfer switch did its job and switched us back to the utility power and then shut the generator down. Just like it was supposed to. So now to the good part - it snowed the night before last and yesterday morning and wouldn't you know it, the power was out for about two hours. I didn't know this until I got back from my morning mail order run when I realized that the generator was running and all things electrical were purring away - according to my battery backups we were without power for 25 seconds - I love it when a plan comes together. Inventory: Our financial year end was October 31 which means counting everything in the store and studio - a monumental task and one that I dread - but one that has to be done every year. It serves two main purposes; one, it lets us know how much inventory we have (numbers and value) and two, what our cost of sales was for the year. Felting needles: We currently carry six styles of felting needles and sell them in packs of five. Sometime this month we have a new shipment coming in which includes three new styles - conical, pinch and crown. We will post more information once we receive the new needles. October 10, 2008 It has been an extremely busy year in the store and we celebrated our 6th anniversary on September 24th - I almost missed it, but was reminded when I was congratulated by my wife on completing six years in the fiber arts business. With year seven well underway, and with a full larder so-to-speak, we have more inventory than ever before, which compounds our space problem - oh well, there is still some floor space in front of the counter - almost. Winter is just around the corner but there are still some things to do before the snow season begins, although most of the pre-winter chores are done - there is one more pasture to mow, the driveway needs to be graded, a pile of gravel has to be moved and then I can put the plow on the tractor. Schacht Spindle: Two huge pallets and four large crates of spinning wheels, looms and parts from Schacht Spindle were picked up at the truck terminal and unloaded this morning - should have been done on Tuesday but clearing shipments through customs sometimes takes longer when the paperwork goes astray. Two trips to the terminal and unloaded by 11:00 am - not bad for a Friday. PS - Schacht's new Cricket looms arrived with this shipment, 10 in all. Cricket . . . Majacraft: We are expecting a shipment of 26 spinning wheels from Majacraft on October 20th, including their new Pioneer wheels. Pioneer . . . Strauch Fiber: In September we received another shipment of Strauch drum carders which included both manual and the new electric Finest single and double wides as well as more Petite carders. One Finest electric model was sold almost right away, which is nice to happen when new products are introduced. Brown Sheep: Our Brown Sheep order arrived on schedule, which included Lanaloft, a new line in both sport and worsted weights. This 47 color line has solids, monochromes and handpaints. As well, new colors have been introduced and are in stock in all Brown Sheep lines we carry - colors galore! Standby power (my summer project) . . . We decided a diesel powered generating plant was a necessity as we have power outages from time to time - up to six hours on occasion. This system will provide full (prime) power to all our buildings and equipment during power outages. It is fully automatic and will switch from the electrical grid to the generating plant and back again when power is restored. The building was completed in September, the bulk of the electrical work is now done as well as the ventilation system. The diesel generator has been installed and I am currently installing the fuel tank, lines and fuel pump so it should be ready to fire it up after Thanksgiving. While our power is currently running through the new automatic transfer switch we still need to hook the generator into the system - a little more electrical work to do, but it is all inside work which makes it easier now that the weather is dipping below freezing. I had hoped to have it online by the end of September but the end of October will do just fine. What's a month here or there when you are having a great time. |
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Please call during business hours for more information (403-938-1099). 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. - Mountain Standard Time - Tuesday to Saturday. |
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This site is maintained by Shuttleworks Ltd. - Updated December 15, 2011
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We’re happy to announce that Richard Ashford of Ashford Handicrafts in New Zealand is coming to Shuttleworks in July. Please join us for a free seminar and product demonstration at Shuttleworks on Tuesday, July 27 from 3pm to 6pm
Majacraft's latest wheel, a modified double drive, has been unveiled. This exciting new wheel will be available at Shuttleworks by mid-June. Please call for more information. Download this Aura PDF file for specifications. 
I can now report that the lower level of the new building is in use as two large shipments arrived from Lendrum and Schacht and there was more than enough space to store it until it could be counted and put away. Pat, my sister, and I sorted through our fiber storage and rearranged it in some semblance of order. And for the first time ever, we could move product from the old studio to the store without going outside - what a treat. But the most exciting thing was that I now have a place to eat my lunch without having to go to the house, which was a real pain in bad weather. My wife's comment was that it is a pretty expensive lunch room . . .
To make a long story a little shorter, the builder, Joe Kozina of Nova Terra Delopments in Calgary, quickly shifted gears and called Alberta Concrete Contractors in Balzac, and sometime late Friday night mixer drivers, a concrete pump operator, placers and finishers were contacted and they arrived with their equipment and concrete trucks just as the sun was coming up on Saturday morning. Pumping the concrete in place was completed just before the store opened at noon. After that, it was up to the finishers to complete the job which takes time and patience. It really is a complicated process. All in all, they placed and finished about 21 cubic yards of concrete that weighs almost 43 tons including the rebar.
It's amazing how many different trades or subcontractors are involved in the building process. Last week the plumbers were on the job laying the sewer lines for floor drains, washing machine, shower, sinks and WC. The electricians installed the temporary electrical panel so the building now has power. Most important, the gas fitter was in and installed the gas line for the new boiler and the boiler in the store. This was done in the nick of time as the temperature was starting to drop close to freezing at night.
On Saturday, following the placement of the perimeter insulation for the concrete floor, more gravel was shoveled and packed into place followed by a poly vapor barrier and steel rebar placed 12" on center - almost like weaving - plain weave if you will.
Construction update: we are making good progress on our studio expansion. The roof was assembled on the ground in two pieces and was put in place earlier today.
Things are moving right along with no disruptions for customers as they find their way into the store.
It's amazing when you think about it - this time last week all we had was a hole in the ground and piles of fill everywhere. But with the footings in place and the walls poured we can see progress - in fact the cribbers have already started stripping the forms.
It's been an interesting week, with non-stop customers and construction all happening at the same time - quite a mix. It seems that our signs are working as everyone is finding the temporary entrance to the store. The studio has been isolated with five foot wide trenches but that will be sorted out when the concrete footings and foundation are completed and then backfilled. One has to be a bit mercenary when tearing apart things that were previously built but it is the price of progress.
The toughest part of the past week was all the noise associated with tearing out the patio and connecting sidewalks - it took two days to break up the concrete using a trackhoe and jackhammer - a comment from the trackhoe operator was that he has never seen sidewalks built as strong as ours. If you are going to build, build it to last.
Digging the trenches for the foundation also proved a bit difficult because of the rock and sandstone just below the gravel surface but the trackhoe operator persevered and he finished up on Thursday. Of course it didn't do much for our grass but that's the way it goes.
Louet - North America (LNA) has introduced a "direct to consumer" manufacturer's rebate program.
