Community Highlight // Janna M Vallee

WEB // Everlea Yarn
INSTAGRAM // @everlea_yarn
RAVELRY // LINK

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Hello! This week I've shifted the way I'm sharing about local folk. I've decided to shut down the VY Instagram since I've been posting mostly regrams of other folks' photos, and I've been bad at even keeping that up! So, instead I'll be using Pinterest more which is actually meant for linking to others' content - a better match for Vancouver Yarn for sure. 

Over the years one of the challenges I've had with running Vancouver Yarn has been having access to a range of photos that represent the community. I didn't have a particularly unique or interesting way to present others' photos on the website that I had committed to, so I didn't reach out an awful lot to local folk for permission to use their photos (also, I'm often too shy to ask).

That changes today! Introducing VY Community Highlights; a platform for us to feature members of the local fibre community. Are you a local designer, shop owner, indie-dyer, artist or maker? Contact Janna to be featured.

The first community feature introduces me and my naturally dyed yarn at Everlea Yarn. I chose to start with myself for a couple of reasons: 1) I needed to create an example of what it would look like to show community members what they were signing up for 2) I'm terrible at self-promotion, so this re-introduces me, what I do. Also, people are always surprised when I tell them I'm not actually living in Vancouver (anymore). So, this gives me an elegant segue into telling you a bit more about me.

In 2008 when I started Vancouver Yarn I was living in East Vancouver and entered into Capilano University's Textile Art Program. Vancouver Yarn was actually part of my entrance portfolio! I had designed VY only a few months prior to applying to Cap. In 2010 I moved to Montreal to finish my Bachelor of Fine Arts at Concordia University's Fibres and Material Practices program. My husband, Danny also studied in Montreal and then moved onto working toward a Ph.D in New York City where we lived with our son for three years. When we returned to BC in 2016 we wanted to live on the Sunshine Coast where Danny and I both grew up. So, we are now in Madeira Park.
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Everlea Yarn is a new venture for me. I've been working with natural dyes since 2009 and am in love with the palette, and especially how it seems virtually impossible to find a grouping of naturally dyed yarns that clash (hello, colourwork!)

I use the Naturally Dyed Canadian Wool in my tapestry weaving practice, and it's excellent for knitting, too. There are a few local knitting designers who are working it into their upcoming designs.

I have an online shop update coming including Canadian Alpaca which is 75% Alberta Alpaca (I've met the farmer personally and she is amazing) and 25% merino wool, and organic merino is coming soon, too!

I'm SUPER excited to have a booth at Knit City this fall. See you there!

​xo
Janna