Celebrate hand knitting this month at Alpaca Direct!

The contemporary crafter can be anyone - young or old, housewife or executive, rich or poor. Some craft to provide for their loved ones; others seek artistic expression or the comfort of familiar motions. The diverse, growing community of crafters who call our Hayden storefront home in North Idaho is a testament to the near-universal appeal of the fiber arts! For all our differences, though, there's one experience that nearly every crafter shares in common: The joy of providing a "handmade" gift. Each perfectly-draped alpaca sweater shows the world that hand-knit can be far superior to its machine made counterpart. Every teenager crocheting at the park, despite the raised eyebrows and confused looks, proudly announces that granny squares aren't just made by grannies.

Here at Alpaca Direct, we think it's high time to celebrate fibercrafts and show the world how gifts from the heart can delight and inspire. To make our point this month what better mascot than the poster child of hand-knit gifts: The tea cozy! Decades of bad press have turned a simple, practical knitting project into a symbol of frivolity. Tea cozies, like crafters, deserve love and appreciation, so we think a little reinvention is in order.

To kick off "Tea for Two" month, we're hosting our first Tea Cozy Contest, starting today! Visit our store to sign up and receive 10 percent off contest materials of your choice. No stunning creative masterpieces in mind? No problem! We have three brand new pattern collections in stock to help you find inspiration, whether you're a tidy traditionalist or an eclectic envelope-pusher. We'll display your completed entry at the store for others to admire through April (don't worry, we promise we'll give them back!); plus, the winning crafter will receive a $50 gift card and their project will be pictured in the Coeur d'Alene Press! Please visit our store on Hayden Avenue to learn more.

And remember to join us for crafts and good company at one of our free weekly events! The Night Owls group meets at 6 p.m. every Tuesday or enjoy a warm cup of tea at our new Knit 'n Sip group on Saturdays at 1 p.m.! Be sure to pick up our spring events calendar for a full list of classes and group meetings.

Alpaca Direct is a direct merchant of high quality yarn, apparel and jewelry. We stock a full line of fiber art accessories, from handcrafted needles and hooks to spindles and spinning wheels. Our carefully curated boutique selection also includes Peruvian alpaca sweaters, hand-loomed lace scarves, performance alpaca socks, pima cotton pajamas, cuddly alpaca teddy bears and unique international jewelry.

Our building is handicap accessible, with ample parking and is easy to find. We are located on Hayden Avenue, just two blocks west of Highway 95 at 1016 W. Hayden Ave. in Hayden.

Our Alpaca fiber experts are on call 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Visit us at 1016 W. Hayden Ave. or online at www.AlpacaDirect.com - your local destination for luxury yarn, apparel and gifts. "Like" us on Facebook for exclusive coupons, product spotlights and news!