The Team
Tina Newton
More than just a color genius, Tina brings to the yarn world a wealth of fiber knowledge and experience and an extraordinary artistic flair. The love affair started with spinning. Soon after, she began dyeing her own roving and discovered not only a talent but a passion. She then began translating her color theory from her own handspun onto millspun yarns and Blue Moon was born. Tina has a fertile imagination and the practical creativity to support it. This energy is contagious and inspiring. She loves sharing her vision and working with others. This is the spirit of Blue Moon. Tina is the mother of Narayan, Rabia, and Sophie. A vegetarian, homeschooler, therapist, aging hippie chick, and just a blast to be around. Besides chickens, she has a thing for firetrucks. Her favorite song is "Once in a Very Blue Moon."
Paula Ferrenberg
Paula came to Blue Moon in the spring of 2008 to fill in while folks went to camp. She didn't stay away long and after a bit she was full-time. Now Paula is that person on the other end of the emails or phone calls as well as Blue Moon's shipper. Paula, her husband of nearly 20 years, and two German Shepherd minion live in the styx in Svensen, Oregon. She gardens, cans, and helps out in her husbands wood shop. A 24 year veteran of civil war and Oregon Trail re-enacting and living history she still enjoys cooking outside on a fire, making hand dipped beeswax candles and quilting. She loves sitting on her huge front porch with her knitting and a great cup of tea.
Some of Paula's faves:
Song: Phil Collins - "In the Air Tonight" but she listens to A LOT of classical music
Food: Good country fare... beef and homemade noodles (my mom's are the best!)
Color: She likes so many it's hard to pick just one. Really, working here, surrounded by color, you can't pick just one.
Favorite Book (series): The Hobbit, There and Back Again, and Lord of the Rings
Movie: "A Christmas Carol" with Alistair Sim
Debra McVae
Debra, our head dyer and barn manager, has been at Blue Moon since 2005 after 20 years in the child care business which prepared her for the difficult position of managing her crazy colleagues. Debra is married to Mr. Wonderful (Doug), 30 years of wedded bliss. She is mom to Rian (28) and Melissa (27) and grandma to the cutest grandson in the world, Dylan. Debra enjoys spending time with her husband, family and friends. She likes camping in her toy-hauler, riding quads and time at the beach. In the summer you'll find her in the sun. Debra is the gambler of the bunch, she wheels and deals in Reno and Spirit Mountain. She loves to bake monkey bread to share and we at Blue Moon are all eager to see that warm plate of yumminess on those special occasions.
Some of Debra's faves are:
Movie: "Dirty Dancing"
Song: "Time of my Life"
Color: Green
Food: Soups, all kinds
Book: Gone with the Wind
Becky Trotter
Becky joined the dye team in 2008. With her bright and cheery "Good MOOORRRNNNINNGGG" as she walks in the door each morning, the barn lights up nearly as bright as the crazy bright socks and shirts she loves to wear. The wilder the tie-dye the better for Becky. Becky is married to Bob (20 years), mom to Echo and Andrew and one of her favorite jobs, grandma to Ashlyn (7), Logan (5) and twins Hunter and Juston (2). She says it doesn't get any better than that!
Becky enjoys camping and is passionate about playing in the sand and mud with all of her ATVs...sand rail, Razor and more.
Becky shares her contagious joy with all her co-workers when at nearly every holiday there is a little "something pretty" (thank you Heather for that little catch phrase) on our desks. It's hard not to get on-board when you've got something fun for the holiday, no matter the holiday!
Some of Becky's faves:
Book: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Song: "I'll Walk"
Color: Red
Food: Whatever's put in front of her
Movie: Really? With all the videos this girl has...you can't pick just one!
Charlotte Thurston
Charlotte's been with Blue Moon for just over a year as a dyer. With no background in the knitting world this is all new and exciting. She loves there is a small close "knit" family feel here at Blue Moon. She's on the shy side and a bit of a neat freak. She's married and has no kids. Her husband has a pit bull, Cooter, and Charlotte has Mitsy, a Maine coon cat, that she loves and spoils. *Note* Charlottes initials are C.A.T.! Warp speed ahead and Blue Moon has it's very own Trekie. Charlotte collects everything Star Trek and yes, even goes to Star Trek conventions. In total opposite mode, she also collects Betty Boop, yep, two very different worlds...right?! Charlotte is our very own wine connoisseur, supporting exclusively, Oregon wineries and breweries. She says the darker the beers and the dryer the wines, the happier her taste buds are. She loves to shoe shop and has a small fortune in them. Charlotte loves the summer months. Hot days to her = Mexican food and cazuela's, preferably by the water. Born in California and time spent in Arizona means the warmth of the sun, sounds of the pool, the smell of coconut oil and chlorine mean comfort. She loves time with family, she's all about family, and spends as much time with them as she can.
Charlotte's favorites:
Colors: Deep Red, Gold and Dark Green
Song: "Swingin'" by John Anderson
Food: Mexican and cazuela's
Movie: "It's a Wonderful Life"
Denise Jackson
Denise is the newest member of the barn. She joins us after long-timer Becky poked and prodded over the years. Denise had worked in the food industry for 20+ years when she lost her job and decided it was time to step out of the box and into the barn. Denise has been happily married to her husband Jay for 19 years (been together for 25). They have 3 boys, Donovan (17), Tyler (15) and Noel (11). She jokes that she works just to keep food in the house. Her boys keep her very busy outside of work, between football, soccer, baseball and riding BMX. Yes, it gets pretty hectic with all that shuffling but she wouldn't have it any other way... though it would be nice to be able to watch a movie the entire way through or maybe even read a book once in a while.
The two constants for Denise are her need for caffeine - strong coffee in the morning and strong sweet tea in the afternoon..."anyone going to town, here's a dollar for a large McDonalds Sweet Tea," and the color purple.
The best part about joining the barn team is all the fun loving and colorful (no really) jokes, pranks and down right barrel of laughs that we have.
Denise's faves:
Movies & Songs: It all depends on her mood or season
Food: Any sea food, crab or halibut are at the top of the list
Book: Romance novels
Heather Van Nurden
Heather is a globetrotter. She has a keen desire to step foot in every country, and only has 175 more to go; she is very optimistic. Heather was first asked to come to BMFA to wash fibers and loves that she is surrounded by changing rainbows; COLORS, COLORS, COLORS. She’s a bit grumpy when she arrives between 8:00 – 8:10 (blames the tardiness on the commute and not the snooze button), but after her thermos of coffee and the hours staring at the variations of colored yarn, her quirky attitude shines through and she fits right in with her Blue Moon colleagues. She spent the latter part of her 20’s studying at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and received two Masters degrees (maybe a bit over-zealous). Heather hopes to use these degrees in Humanitarian Assistance to attain World Peace. What do you expect from someone who is excited about a changing rainbow everyday? She is fluent in Spanish and mastering the art of bundling yarn. Heather is companioned by a beautiful, big, black, beast of a rottweiler which she has owned since she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Llacanora, Peru.
Some of Heathers Faves:
Movie: "Secret of My Success" or "Some Kind of Wonderful"
Song: John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (she sings it daily when the music goes off)
Color: Dark Purple
Food: This week, Pho, last week anything Mexican, a few times this month Sushi but the constants are good coffee, IPAs, and a big cold glass of water
Book: Says she's a book whore, she'll read anything
Jessica Burch
Our resident "techie" helps keep our website updated with new colorways, specials, and announcements, Jessica also helps address customer questions, coordinates our e-newsletters, and designs a thing or two for us – you've probably noticed our new home page announcements and advertisements popping up here and there. Jessica loves all things handmade, especially handdone type, so she fits in well with us (though her own writing is mostly illegible). Since joining our ranks, we've enticed her to join the fiber arts world and she's pretty dang excited to knit some Socks that Rock®! Jessica can't pick just one color, but her favorite part of the spectrum is – funnily enough – the blues. She's a new(ish) mom, married to her high school sweetheart, passionate about food, and likes to take photos of rusty old trucks, landscapes, and her family.
Some of Jessica's faves:
Movie: "Class C" - A Montana girls' basketball documentary
Book: Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon West - No masterpiece, but it's nostalgic for a variety of reasons to her
Food: Anything Thai - Curries, drunken noodles… and don't forget sticky rice w/ mangoes!
Color: Just about every color of blue
Song: Currently - "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz
