Sunday Brunch Special: Midnight Sky Fibers

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
I started in January 2006 (when I was 19) as a natural progression of my love of knitting and crochet (I also weave, tat, and much more as well). My love of handspun lead me to want to share it- and my love of environmentalism- with other people. There aren't many other people out there making eco friendly yarn the way I do, using greywater, not many other people are naturally dying sock yarn either. So, my business is an extension of my lifestyle! It is vegetarian and eco friendly just like me.

2. Where are you located?
I am located in the lovely Pacific Northwest, which I am very lucky to live in- we are really green here, and I'm not just talking about the trees! I love that I can live in an area that has like-minded people, and a large knitting population!

3. How did you come up with your business name?
My business name was a screen name I have used since an early teen, so it seemed natural to incorporate it in to my business.

4. Where do you sell your products?
You can find my yarns and fibers at: www.MidnightskyFibers.com. You can also find a list of our wholesalers that carry our yarns there as well. You can also find us on etsy and eBay both as MidnightskyFibers. We also have a blog where we update our recent yarn as well as our crafty projects as Blog.MidnightskyFibers.com.

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
A few, but college (just graduated with my BA after two years) has kept me busy.

6. What inspires you?
I absolutely love where I live! The pacific Northwest is so beautiful, full of wonderful, natural colors and so many different types of trees, fish, and so much more that that is probably where most of my inspiration comes from.

7. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
Does cooking count? My whole life revolves around making things, even if it isn't for my business. I make bread at least a couple times a week, and try to cook quite a bit from scratch. Most of my hobbies are also craft related as well- sewing, knitting, tatting, weaving, and the like.

8. Have any marketing or business tips you’d like to share?
I think the biggest thing people tend to forget is that they are not anonymous on the internet. Never forget that. You want to be able to say, "Yea I totally am [that person on the forum]", not, "O, you heard about that too?". It's really the 7-11 rule for businesses on the net- if you are nice to people and respectful people will tell people about how much they like your business (the 7 part), but if you are rude, don't follow through, or cause drama- well, that is the 11- they will tell many more people how hard it was to work with you then they would have told if you were nice. O, and play nice with the other businesses, especially in your niche.

9. What would be your dream job?
I am in my dream job! I love everything related to textiles and creating and dyeing yarn- well, except the bookkeeping and accounting. So maybe what I am doing now but with a bookkeeper!

Ok, now these two are mandatory and I have to ask (this being a diner, after all)

1. What is your favorite meal?
I really, really love waffles. Not the Belgian waffles you get when you go out to eat, but the waffles from the machines that make them in five little heart shapes, spread with real butter and lots of syrup! Maybe some peanut butter if I am really hungry or trying to be healthy. O, and coffee. Lots of coffee!

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
It really depends on the occasion and the time. In the morning, coffee for sure (or a chai), it is more filling to me. Tea is better at night or drinking idly while I am working, especially a yummy flavored rooibos.