How knitting saved my life

Okay so maybe that’s a little extreme - but I used to be an actor so I like the added drama. This was the situation - my husband had just lost his job, my mom had just been diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, we had a 2 year old - and I didn’t know what the heck to do.

My mom lives 4 hours from me so I felt helpless. I couldn’t go there everyday to help and I didn’t know if she was going to make it through the chemo. I had just seen my Grandma lose her battle with uterine cancer and I couldn’t bare the thought of losing the other the woman in my life who I held so dear.

My mom, me, and my daughter after her first chemo treatment

My mom, me, and my daughter after her first chemo treatment

We needed money. My husband had been working as a professional actor for a decade and now there was no contract to be seen. Despite the financial woes all I could think was - I have to help my mom - I have to help all the people who are going through chemo - I have to do something - and I have no money to work with (don’t worry it gets better).

A shop had just moved in down the road called Sweet Charity (which is now Fresh Vintage by Amy if you want to check it out). They sold artisan made products that were dedicated to giving back. Immediately, I knew what to do. I walked down to the shop with 5 handmade hats and a mission to donate one free hat per five sold to Nemours Children’s Hospital. The owners graciously excepted my work (which is a far cry from what I offer today) into the shop and the rest is - as they say - history.

One of the first hats I ever sold

The first hat I ever sold on Etsy

The first five hats I took down to Sweet Charity - oh how far we have come!

The first five hats I took down to Sweet Charity - oh how far we have come!

The demand for product got bigger so I started to sell on Etsy. The need for donation hats that could be shipped straight to patients became apparent so I coded my own website that would allow that.

All of a sudden I needed to hire staff, order in bulk, turn my cat closet into a knitting studio, and knit round the clock. God had turned what I had seen as curse into a blessing. I had all the money I needed to completely fund the charity thanks to my wonderful Etsy customers and I had enough left over to help pay the bills.

My knitting studio

My knitting studio

Now for the important part - my mom is healed! After extensive surgery and two years of chemo she is alive - beautiful - and healthy! Praise the Lord! As for me I must also praise the Lord. I am able to stay at home with our daughter while running a legitimate business. A business that I would have never thought of had difficulty not struck our lives.

Me and my mom a few months ago

Me and my mom a few months ago - in matching hand knit cowls of course

So be encouraged my friends. Someone high above and mighty is looking out for you. He loves you. He cares about you. And he will provide for you.

Work hard. Pray hard. He will show you the way.

Some of our popular current designs

Some of our popular current designs

LABADIE LOOMS

This shop full of locally sourced hand-dyed yarns and fibers in Lancaster County is a quaint spot filled with lots of great threads and gives you with that warm fuzzy feeling we all crave. Upon entering the shop my daughter I were greeted by the owner, Donna, with a warm spirit and an obvious love for fiber arts. She told me all about the weaving and spinning classes she offers (note to self - must take lesson) and even showed us a bit of weaving on her beautiful loom.

The back room filled the hand died roving is absolutely delicious. The colors are rich, original, and I wanted to buy one of everything!

Looms and wheels of all shapes and sizes are always just an arms length away and freshly died fibers are soaking in tubs along the ground. We entered the yarn area full of fun and different yarns - almost all hand died - and lots of great variety and sparkle (which of course my little one loved).

We selected a lovely Lancaster County Rain yarn - a 420 yard wool with sparkle sport weight hand dyed yarn for $24. Donna was kind enough to spin it into a ball for us which was entertaining and educational.

I would highly recommend this shop to any fiber enthusiast. Make sure you leave enough time to soak in all the goodness the shop has to offer and to enjoy a chat with the owner. Now off to design a new original cowl pattern with the yarn I bought there for Bo Peep’s Bonnets! Tootaloo for now ❤ Bo Peep

Store website - http://www.labadielooms.com/