Hello Friends!
This might be a long one, but I promise it's worth it.
For awhile now, I've felt the desire to transition the name and logo of my business. I've grown and changed, and it was just time. The new name comes from the collaborations with Jill Bigelow Suttell and all the time we've spent working together. We've joked for years that she is the Oak and I am the Acorn, where she grows the designs and I take them out into the world to "plant" them - coming back to be sheltered by her. I also joke that, maybe, I'm more like the squirrel that takes the acorns out into the world, with many side quests and "oh hey look at that!"
Here's where it gets interesting (and perhaps where I buried the lead) In addition to our new branding, we are also expanding, which may be the most exciting part of 2026 for us at A&O.
What does that mean? It means we bought a mill. Yes. A mill. For the the last year, we've been working on purchasing the processing equipment from Stonehedge Fiber Mill in East Jordan, training on the equipment, and getting all of the paperwork, permits, and contractors lined up to begin the move here to Leelanau county with the intent to process for ourselves, and eventually for others.
On the way back from Indie Untangled last year, Jill was joking that it really was time to make the shift. Right after that joke, a car drove by with an OAK license plate and, a couple miles later, the exit sign read "Oak Ave." It felt like the universe was whacking me upside the head right at the moment saying "See? it's time."
Part of this expansion includes Steve (who you might know as Mr. Why Knot) taking a bigger roll in day-to-day operations and Jill Bigelow Suttell (who you know as The Bean Knits) merging her website with ours to streamline how our collaboration works.
I have DREAMED of creating my own yarn and doing so for others. I have longed to expand out into a full production mill even though I've old myself for over a decade that it was a pipe dream. Turns out, I just had to get out of my own way.
We will still have the same great yarn (and even more variety), but a new name and logo that really speak to who we are now; a little bit squirrely and with a lot of whimsy.
SO - What's next? Lots of packing, prepping, upgrading, and actually moving great big machines from Stonehedge Farm to their new home, our home. Oh, and continued dyeing of our current lines, show prep, and introducing Eunice's new boyfriend, Eddy the Squirrel (isn't he cute?).
We will be launching a kickstarter campaign soon for anyone interested in backing our dream - and you get first hack at the early-bird backing. This isn't an "ask" for nothing - there will be special yarns, spinning fiber, swag, and more as backer rewards.
We can't wait to share this exciting new journey with you!
<3
Kat