Ashford Dealer Spotlight – Twilight Fiber and Yarn
Welcome to the Ashford Dealer Spotlight! Where we highlight Ashford dealers from around the world, giving you a chance to learn more about their journeys and businesses. We’re excited to introduce you to these amazing individuals, and we hope you enjoy getting to know them better. Our third dealer in the Spotlight is Blythe Nudelman of Twilight Fiber & Yarn, located in Sagle, USA.
Kate
NAME: Blythe Nudelman
BUSINESS NAME: Twilight Fiber & Yarn
Tell us a little about your business and how it all began?
When my husband Mark and I started our farm in Sagle Idaho, I wanted horses, and he wanted alpacas. I figured that since alpacas weren’t really good for much, but their fiber, that I guess I would get a spinning wheel and learn to spin. My learning to spin became a passion. It was therapy for the soul. I eventually ended up with quite a bit of hand spun yarn that I didn’t know what to do with. So I learned to knit. And my passion for the fiber arts started to grow exponentially. We started with alpacas, and now also raise Shetland sheep. Fiber processing became quite expensive with our large flock. So, we looked at buying a fiber mill or starting one of our own. One night while lying in bed, I was knitting, and my husband was researching fiber mill equipment. Suddenly, he turned to me and said, “you should start a yarn store.” Initially, I laughed at the idea of me running my own yarn store. But my laughter didn’t last long before I started dreaming about the idea laid before me. I woke up the next morning, and with ideas flooding my brain already, I begun the journey of starting Twilight Fiber & Yarn.
What motivated you to become an Ashford dealer?
When I started researching all the different spinning wheels, prepping to get my own, I fell in love with Ashford. And as I did a bit more research, I quickly realized that Ashford was a very loved brand by all fiber artists. So, it just made sense to bring Ashford to our wonderful fiber community here in Northern Idaho.
How long have you been working with Ashford products, and what has your journey been like so far?
I have been working with Ashford products since the very beginning of my fiber love, about 7 years ago. My first purchase was a set of hand cards. I still love them, and they are still a solid piece of equipment. I now run Twilight Fiber & Yarn and sell Ashford products almost every day.
What do you enjoy most about being an Ashford dealer and working with the Ashford community?
I love watching the excitement as a customer buys their first wheel or loom and gathers everything they need to finally start that project they’ve been wanting to do. And they walk out the door with a smile from ear to ear. But the best part, is that they often come and show me their projects that they are so proud of. I get to watch them grow, and they always love their Ashford products.
Is there anything that makes the crafting community in your region unique?
Our crafty community is obsessed with all things 100% natural. When reaching out to my community as I put the store together, to figure out what they wanted in their store, the biggest ask was for 100% all-natural yarn and fiber. So that’s what we specialize in. And the other thing about our community, is they love to support small and/or local artists/businesses. They will often come in, and head straight for anything local, whether they are a tourist, or a local themselves. So we have also switched gears and are heading away from big box companies and started filling the store with more small business and/or local products.
Which Ashford products are your customers most excited about?
Lately, we can’t keep rigid heddles in stock. They are taking off like crazy. And also the Kiwi 3 travel wheel is a very big seller. As well as all Ashford fiber we carry.
Do you have a favourite Ashford product, and what makes it special for you?
I’m in love with the rigid heddle. I have both a floor loom and a table loom. But the rigid heddle makes beautiful fabric with handspun yarn.
Can you share a memorable customer story or piece of feedback that really stood out to you about Ashford products?
A 16 year old boy came in with his mother. She wanted to learn to spin and he wanted to learn to weave his own fabric, as he likes to make his own clothes. They both thought that their want to learn these skills was out of their reach financially. That was until I showed the mother the country spinner, which was perfect for the yarn she wanted to make. And I showed the boy the rigid heddle. Ashford products are so perfectly priced, that they both left with what they wanted, and their excitement was profound.
Have you worked on any personal projects with Ashford equipment that you’re especially proud of?
Yes, I have made some of the most beautiful yarn using an Ashford Kiwi 3 wheel.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their crafting journey, whether it’s spinning, weaving, or any other fibrecraft?
If you’re going to invest in a piece of equipment like a wheel or a loom, come in and take a class or try the equipment first if possible. Make sure you really love the hobby before investing into it. Find what you love first, and then go for it. Also, my biggest advice to people wanting to get into weaving, is that you really need to find a way to love the whole process, including dressing your loom. A lot of weavers don’t enjoy that part, so their loom sits empty more often than they’d like. Find love in the planning and dressing process.
How do you stay inspired and connected with the crafting community? Any tips for keeping your creativity flowing?
We stay connected to our crafty community through social media, emails, our craft therapy night every Wednesday, and a fiber family forum board that a customer donated to the community. They use it to leave messages for each other, free patterns, yarn recommendations, etc.
Where can people find you – online, social media, or at your store?
All of the above.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Ashford community or any upcoming events we should know about?
We will be having a large event for LYS day. We will have three of the community’s favorite indie dyers doing a trunk shows that day, as well as food and other fun surprises planned. The three trunk shows on that day will feature Coven Collective Fiber Arts, Bigfoot Yarn Co, and Rusty Spur Ranch Creations.
