Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Wilcox
Allison , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After working for 30 years as a Clinical Psychologist in public health and family law, I was inspired by a love of knitting to try something new, and The Sated Sheep was born. I had no previous experience in retail and have continued to work as a Psychologist two days a week while running the store. It’s been a tremendously rewarding and interesting journey. We are a beer and wine retailer as well, the goal being to invite crafters to gather and develop a sense of community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Aside from the steep learning curve of retail, we were forced to close for several months during COVID, in part because we were a gathering spot. This meant pivoting to online sales as well as store pick ups which led to the new learning mountain of online retail.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Sated Sheep. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a small Local Yarn Shop in Dripping Springs Texas. Allison, the owner, is also a Clinical Psychologist who practiced in Austin for 30 years and now practices two days per week in Dripping Springs.
We specialize in natural fiber yarns from all over, with a wide range of hand dyed products. We also have a selection of “entry level” yarns (acrylic and acrylic blends) although our emphasis is on natural fibers (wool, linen, silk, cotton, etc.). In addition we are a beer and wine retailer with a curated selection of small production, sustainably produced wines available by the bottle and glass.
The goal in opening the shop was to encourage gathering and allow crafters in the area to form a sense of camradarie and community.
We teach on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and run kids camps during the summer. We believe in the positive effects of crafting on the mental health of both children and adults, and feel that handwork encourages patience, calm and connection.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I’ve lived in the Austin area my entire adult life and love it! Diversity and a concern for our fellow citizens has always been a touch point for me. While I realize any city with a good thing going has to grow, the small town feel of Austin I experienced in the the 1980’s is pretty much gone, and that makes me a little sad. Ditto the traffic!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesatedsheep.com
- Instagram: @thesatedsheep
- Facebook: #thesatedsheep
- Yelp: @thesatedsheep
