Sorry to play Eeyore, but as long as we've been absent, it is a bit surprising that so many people noticed that we've posted again recently. Thanks. It's nice to be missed, it's nice to be welcomed back, and it's just plain nice to be back among you.

I was doubly delighted to recently hear from friends and customers of ours from our days in Indiana. We recently had a visit from our friend Deb who just recently disappeared from our business site's front page (she was the model for Ingeborg), and I just received an e-mail from Jen who remembered my affinity for Olivia and thought of me when she saw a new set of stamps.

Aren't those awesome? I can't wait! Of course, I'll just have to wait another decade or so for my other favorite to be reissued.

Much love, folks.
-Matt.

Yes, everyone at ThreadBear is alive and kicking. It's been a busy year, and the holidays were certainly no exception. Busy is a good thing in business, though, so there won't be any complaints.

We're even getting to a point where Rob and I actually have a real day off once a week. We're trying to take another half-day, but realistically it happens when it can.

As for the pups, all is well. Connor is doing well on her insulin treatment, and Tate... well, Tate's Tate.

On knitting, I've been trying to make time for some design work, and that's coming along nicely. I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeve yet, and ThreadyBear is going strong after numerous delays in getting the pattern published.

So what's 2006 look like for us? Lord, who knows? We're settling into a very pleasant groove here. Of course, we still miss our dear friends and wonderful client base in Indiana, but it's nice to be back among so many old friends we left here in Lansing several years ago. We've also made a lot of new friends here, and despite the agony of moving for the umpteenth time in the past ten years, I'm very glad to be back in Michigan. The weather, though chaotic, is beautiful, and we're finally getting settled into the house.

And for ThreadBear? Oh, I wish you could see my smile. It's nice when something you've put so much work into is truly appreciated. We came into the industry when it was on a mad upswing, and it was a tumultuous ride staying upright during the crest of the wave. But we're really surfing, now. We're doing it! It works! People like it. People get it. And it's a great place to be. It's not what we'd originally set out to do, and there have definitely been times when I thought that it couldn't possibly work. But it has. And we have a wonderful new life among some of the most delightful people in the world... the curious and daring folk on every continent who've decided that clicking some sticks together and twisting yarn around makes a pretty mean fabric and an amazing way to live. I'm glad to be among them.

Much love, folks.
-Matt.