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NEW THOUGHTS FROM TREETOPS
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What can I say? I know, I've been quiet for way too long, but life is ever evolving, and I didn't know I was going to feel this way. Here I am at 65, having been creating my dreams at Treetops for over 36 years now! I have to pinch myself that I made it this far - inspired, happy and healthy!
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However, lately... it has come to my attention that I need to change. I find it is time to announce that the fibre production side of Treetops will cease once our current stocks are depleted.
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I have been sincerely overwhelmed by the support and appreciation everyone has given to Treetops over the years; but alas, the time has come to reinvent myself into the next stage of my creative life. I want to embrace this challenge and learn how to operate in a different manner. Reinventing oneself is part of the cycle of life...
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Of course, if anyone would like to step-up and become a small creative business owner, I am happy to talk with you, just send me a message/email.
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Otherwise, when stocks are gone, there will be no more Treetops Colour Harmonies fibres and fabrics for sale! Gosh that is hard to say... but I'm sure it's just as hard for you to hear!!!
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We all have become such good friends over the years, I'm not quite sure how it will be not having you in my life on a daily basis. Hopefully, I will be inspired to keep teaching, maybe we can stay connected that way? I'd love to hear if that is of interest to anyone???
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Just so you know... Treetops recently took possession of our last bale (350kgs) of AMAZING 17.6 micron superfine Merino wool tops (the finest we have ever purchased). We are halfway through dyeing this bale. We also just received our last shipment of 4.5mm Paj Silk fabric. Hopefully, these extra purchases will help ease the transition for everyone. I have no idea how long stocks will last, could be a month, could be 6 months or even a year. Hard to tell... So, first in best dressed (as they say).
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Again, I'd like to thank everyone for supporting me in this crazy creative journey I call Treetops Colour Harmonies.
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Here are a few photos down memory lane. One of me when I first started Treetops Wool Works in 1987 (as it was originally called). Treetops was named after the wooded property where my husband, Mark, and I built our first home together outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a gorgeous little cedar house tucked into the woods over-looking a pond.
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Trees have always been special to my life. Who was to know that 36 years later, I would still be living amongst the trees, only Eucalyptus trees this time, halfway around the world in Perth, Western Australia.
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Here is a photo from my first year living in Perth (1990). I was still more of a spinner than a felter back then.
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Later in 2006, when we needed more "wool free" space for a growing family. We rebuilt our house into a passive solar upside-down house so we could live even more in the trees. At certain times of the year, large Carnaby and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos feed at arm's length on the Pincushion Hakeas right outside our balcony.
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During this rebuild, I was also able to design my own studio. What a pleasure it's been working in a room filled with colour and light!
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Last, but not least... I'd like to say thanks to my amazing staff who have supported me along this journey. I could not have done this without them! First and foremost is the amazing colourful Heather Davis who has become the apprentice that now teaches the teacher. There are not enough words to describe my appreciation for her kindness, thoroughness, creativity and reliability. We all are indebted to her for her amazing dyeing skills. A mega thank you to Heather!!! I would also like to send out big hugs to Louise Snooks, John Parks and Sally Bridgewood, to name a few of my other amazing staff along the way. Last, but not least, is a huge mega-pixel thank you to my talented computer/website manager Soosie Jobson. No need to state the obvious, but any international business goes nowhere without a well-functioning website and all the bells and whistles that go with it. Soosie has always been up to the task and always on-call. Thank goodness she loves to make felt, else I'd be broke by now... thank you Soosie, it's been such a fun collaboration! Also, a quick thanks to Felicia Bourke at Brand Fixer for all my early days branding and website layout. What a fun journey that was! Then there was also my good friend Rosemary Carlson, who took on being my USA distributor when I first moved to Australia. Couldn't have done it without your help Rosemary!
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Ok, enough said EXCEPT for one more all-encompassing ginormous thank you to the man behind the team, Mark Ballesteros himself! A super-hero financial advisor, bookkeeper and problem solver. He believed in me when I didn't, he supported me when I couldn't, even if he is partially colour-blind - he's a keeper!
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