Episode 103 - Active Stash Exploration

The first show of 2017 brings the project of the year for podcast to you. This year, we're all about Active Stash Exploration. What's that you say? It's definitely not cold sheeping, that is for sure.

First up we have a quick catch up on happenings, before diving in to some news both for the Bees on the business front and for the podcast. Bees Inc is restructuring and that means we will lose some parts of the empire in order to focus on others. There is a free business group on Facebook (Business Without The Boll*cks) as well as a new online community portal that I am currently building. If you're sick of tying yourself in knots about what you 'should' be doing in your business and getting nowhere because of it, I'm the girl for you.

I also organised a business retreat in Cumbria at the end of January. There is one place left - email me to enquire.

On the pod front, I have lots of exciting stuff lined up for the year. The main project will be Active Stash Exploration, but there will also be lots of mini themes and challenges to go along with it. I have started a new Facebook group as an alternative to Ravelry which is getting less engagement in the forums due to the clunky interface. The group is Shinybees Podcast Community.

In Enabler's Corner, I am enabling you to the Brioche Challenge over in Louise Tilbrook's new group on Facebook - Everyday Knitter. If you have ever wanted to learn brioche and have been a bit intimidated, there are loads of great folks over there casting on, ripping back and trying again. If you want a go and need moral support, that is definitely the place to do it. The community is already really chatty and helpful.

Hat Enabling this week is courtesy of Gillian Harkness of Mina Knits Designs with the Rios Rocks collection. It's a group of 6 hats designed in Malabrigo Rios and inspired by the Rio Olympics. If you prefer the more understated look, this could be the collection for you. Quick to knit (worsted weight yarn) and great for nice, semi-solid colours. My favourite is the Rio hat. Collection is available on Ravelry at £14.40.

And then we have Active Stash Exploration. This is my rally against the idea of cold sheeping and stashing down. I've tried it before and I am no good at it, chiefly because when I am told not to do something I have to spend time thinking about how to do it without flagrantly breaking the rules. I hate the idea of depriving myself of something that brings joy. Counter this again the feeling of FOMO when you go into the stash and find stuff you cannot believe you own and you can't wait to knit, but you don't have chance yet.

Active Stash Exploration is the method I will be using to kick those feelings of missing out to the kerb. It's NOT about cold sheeping - the emphasis is on active exploration of what we already have and the stories attached to the yarn. A nifty by-product of this probably will be less acquisition but the emphasis is not on that.

My theme for January is reacquaintance with what I have and thinking about which stories I want to share first. I would love to hear your stories if you decide to join me in this with the hashtag #activestashexploration and in our shiny new Facebook group.

Full show notes for this episode ate at shinybees.com

Music is by Adam and the Walter Boys with 'I Need a Drink.'