Our first ever crafty genius chat happens this week! This Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. we'll be spending the evening with Tara Swiger aka the Blonde Chicken. She is a writer, maker, and Starship Captain in Johnson City, Tennessee. She explores creating smart businesses through her own yarn company, Blonde Chicken Boutique, and by serving as First Officer and Community Manager aboard creative, crafty and downright adorable ships (from tech start-ups to copywriters). She creates tools (the Map-Making Guide) and spaces (The Starship) for teeny tiny crafty businesses to explore their own best businesses and marketing plans. <PREVIEWEND>

Tara's new book, Market Yourself: A Marketing System for Smart and Creative Business Owners is now available in select shops (we're one of those shops!) and as an e-book. Published by the amazing Cooperative Press, we've already poured over the book and it gets two thumbs up. It has worksheets! It has diagrams! It has the answer to so many small business owner's questions including mine. Seriously, it was like finding my future-self who's been through it ALL once and can help me make more informed decisions. A resource at your fingertips that you can return to again and again as you and your business change. Brilliant.

check out Tara's amazing yarn!!!! amazing!!!!

So join us on Thursday, May 10th. We'll provide some snacks if you provide the beverages. I'll be knitting my next pair of toe-up socks using DyeKnittinKDye's Batgirl sock yarn (did you know we carry Ady Bee's hand-dyed, one of a kind yarn in the shop???). And sipping a Pimm's Cup. Just like they did back in the 18th century...or something like that.