Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Tactile Fiber Arts and *Giveaway*




It's raining again today. Sometimes it gets to me this time of year, all the rain and the clouds. I think it gets to other people too, folks don't seem to act right come springtime. This morning while prepping for this post, some half-wit drove his pickup through my side yard, rutting up all the grass. I find the older I get, the more I can't handle little disturbances like this. I marched outside and pointed my finger with my hand on my hips and told him he'd better move his truck out of my yard and he'd better hope I get a second cup of coffee before I come out to see what damage he's done.
Enter Tactile's beautiful site and gorgeous fiber. I felt calm wash over me and my mood has instantly changed. They have a beautiful slide show on their front page and everyone should book mark it for instances like mine, when you need a virtual fiber fix!
I'm going to admit, before I encountered Tactile Fiber Arts wonderful goods, I had misconceptions about naturally dyed yarns and fiber. My past experiences were of dull and faded looking yarns that were not colorfast. That is certainly not the case with Tactile's fiber and yarn! Everything that has been submitted for the sampler has looked rich, deeply saturated and just plain beautiful!
Maia and MissyB take extreme care in selecting quality materials that have low environmental impact. Their hand dye ingredients are sourced globally to ensure they are not only safe for the earth, but socially responsible as well. I am beguiled by the quality of their fibers, which truly live up to the name Tactile, as they are very squishable!
I'm overwhelmingly excited to be hosting a Tactile giveaway! 2oz of precious tussah silk in their "Dew" colorway!! This stuff is so soft and rich and creamy- delightful! Please visit Tactile Fiber Arts and find something you'd like to write about below here. I will draw for a winner on Friday. Get your friends to join the fun, by ravelating (ravelry), twittering, plurking or facebook! I'll count you extra times if you do.
Maia and MissyB you ladies are inspirational role models for those of us striving to lead a more natural way of life. Thank you for letting us choose your yarn and fiber as a small step toward that goal! We look forward to future submissions to the box!

123 comments:

Crys said...

So many of her fibers are beautiful and draw my attention, but the Lichen Merino-Silk 50-50 Top is on the TOP of my wishlist...

SupaCindy3000 said...

I love the Pomegranate on White Organic Cotton Sliver. Love the idea of organic cotton!

purple-power said...

Looks like I'm first to the party. How declasse'!

Wow - their yarn is gorgeous. My favorite is Orchid - Organic Cotton Worsted Weight Yarn

Rav id - purple

idyll hands said...

I'm having website envy right now. I just have my dinky doo Etsy site :)

I was instantly drawn to their BFL (my favorite fiber to spin) Their colors are so soft and beautiful. I especially love the birch colorway - but they are all so soft and beautiful.

Cindy said...

There are so many to chose from, but I will say this is my favorite at the moment Dogwood - Organic Merino Sport Weight Yarn

Cindy

Anna M said...

Honestly I love it all but anything she does in Cherry Blossom is my favorite.

Turtle said...

gorgeous goods! i seriously cannot limit my fav's!

Mia said...

I was fondling their fiber at MDS&W in the Carolina Homespun booth. The problem was that I couldn't decide what I wanted. I wanted it all but the budget didn't allow me to buy it all.

I am planning on ordering from Tactile soon. I plan to order a few different fibers so that I can sample them slowly. Silk in Cherry Blossom is on the list. I will probably get the merino/silk blend and the tussah silk/alpaca/merino also in Cherry Blossom. I love the pale pinks and I can see them plyed together to create a subtle color change int he finished yarn.

Unknown said...

Mmm, there is a lot to love there! The overdyed organic cotton slivers call to me. Especially the slate on green and brown. But so does the lovely lace weight silk yarn. Yum!

Count me in for a tweet and a ravel note as well (my Garden Spinning group is always looking for more cotton suppliers!)

Ponddrop said...

Orchid organic cotton yarn in worsted...I am trying vainly to justify why I should buy some....beautiful.

jennifer said...

Everything is beautiful! I love the carbonized bamboo, but there are probably a dozen other things I'd love to try as well!

desertgarden

burnt rain said...

There are so many subtleties in the viola colourway seen here: https://www.tactilefiberarts.com/store/store.php?crn=233&rn=1297&action=show_detail
I really like it.
Cheers,
Leah
-ravid: burnt3rain

Lady O said...

I love the Dew colourway for the spinning fibers.

And the natural dyeing kit is intriguing.

Elaine said...

Everything is beautiful and very hard to choose. Orchid cotton probably wins.

I'll go blog about the contest now.

HanamiGallery said...

Im going to have to say Kelp - Suri Alpaca Top is my favorite. I am surprised at how vibrant the colors are. I always thought natural dyes were dull. This definitely changed my mind.

Cindy said...

Wow, the tussah silk tops were amazing. Would be a joy to spin.

betshsu said...

Can I just say everything? Love the natural dye, love the organics. The Dew in Tussah silk is amazing!

Unknown said...

I love the indigo alpaca top. Nice sheen and color.

Grace said...

what isn't to like, but my heart goes to the Alpaca lace yarn, just gorgeous in such subtle beautiful shades

needles54

Carol in NJ said...

I have a sample of the Superwash Merino-Bamboo Yarn. It is so pretty - have it sitting on my shelf desk and I pet when I am stressed out!

TNTknits said...

Oh wow. Everything is so gorgeous that it's hard to choose. The Pomegranate (half) baby camel/merino is my favorite. I've never spun camel before.

Elaine said...

OK - the contest is blogged about at elaine-knitting.blogspot.com

Dani said...

EVERYTHING! But if I had to choose one fiber, it would be the merino/silk, in every colorway.

Jags said...

I got one of their samples last month and the colors are great!

I think any of the yak fibers would be a lot of fun to spin, you don't see that type of fiber often and there are way too many colors to pick from for me to have a favorite!

carrym said...

Wow, talk about overwhelming!!! Her shop is incredible! I particularly like the Dew - Alpaca-Merino-Tussah Silk Top, but have to admit that it was difficult to choose just one...

retweeted

Unknown said...

I'm really adoring the Amber Baby Camel/Tussah silk top... And I have to add my complements on the Spindlewood spindles that Tactile sells. I bought one last fall, and I love it!

Anonymous said...

So much prettiness!

I'm going to go with Kelp - Merino-Bamboo Top, but there are a zillion other fibers I like too.

Kitten With a Whiplash said...

It is amazing how richly colored everything is. The Wensleydale Top in the Dew colorway is my choice, it looks so wonderful.

Rachel O said...

I love the colors. I want them all. Picking one is tough but I'll go with the Orchid Organic Cotton Worsted

hotmail - dadofra

Kitten With a Whiplash said...

Forgot to say I've blogged http://kitten-with-a-whiplash.blogspot.com/

LilChickadee said...

I really like the Alpaca/Merino/Tussah blend top in the Cherry Blossom colorway. It looks like cotton candy!

Minou14 said...

I love the flame, pomegranate and viola colorways! I think it's great that they have photos on different fiber bases. The pomegranate had four different fibers listed under alpaca and each was a slightly different color. Very pretty!

Diana Troldahl said...

I went to the shop, closed my eyes and started clicking at random. I wound up in the Exotic Fibers section, on a lovely photo of Yak/Merino Top in Dogwood.
First. Yummmmmm.
I have a wonderful memory of when my grandfather was alive, walking his land and seeing the stars of dogwood show through the evening in the Michigan woods. The lovely subtle shades evoke some of that dream sense.

Robin said...

Thunderstorm - Linen-Merino Sport Weight Yarn looks soooo yummmy

Bannahleigh said...

Everything just looks so pretty... I quite liked the Flame - Alpaca-Merino-Tussah Silk Top.

Bannahleigh on Ravelry

Hampton Artistic Yarns said...

I'm particularly fond of her 50% merino/50% silk fiber in "Dogwood" - just beautiful!
dstj@care2.com

Unknown said...

I especially love the Blue Spruce sock yarn.

gmail - tomknit

Unknown said...

I have fallen for the Merino Tussah blends...especially the forest colourway!

Anonymous said...

ohhhhh I love tussa silk, it is my favorite I love how it soaks up dye and of course it's soooooooooo shiny

Unknown said...

I love Heliotrope - Alpaca Sport. It looks fabulous. Please enter me and pick me.

jerseyjessie AT gmail

Unknown said...

I love so many of the yarns. The colors look wonderful. Of the worsted weights, I think orchid organic cotton is my favorite.

gmail = bloglessinnj

goodnessgraciousWV said...

oooooh! pretty colors!!! and they LOOK soft! I also love the "green" mordanting and natural dyes...
Especially loved looking at the Heliotrope Superwash BFL :)

Kristen said...

Wow, it's all lovely. I especially like the alpaca laceweight in Amber!

Debbie S said...

Beautiful! Just found your blog. Happy day.

RiverPoet said...

The Yak and Camel blends look lovely - especially the silk blends. Too many nice colors to choose just one!

MacBug said...

what a fantastic selction. IF, and that's a big if buddy, I had to just choose one I'd go with the Handspun Blue Faced Leicester with Silk. It's a gorgous combination of cloros. Though I'm attracted by the unspun fibers as well.. oh my such a lot of goodness!!!

ikkinlala said...

I love the Indigo - Organic Merino Sport Weight Yarn.

Carlin said...

It is impossible to choose just one thing so I shall comment on the first item that caught my eye: Sorbet - Handspun Blue Faced Leicester. Gorgeous.

Unknown said...

I love the Alpaca-Merino-Tussah Silk top in the Flame colorway. It scorches my eyes in the most wonderful way possible.

Count me down for:

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knitmomma said...

When I first got my spinning wheel, a friend surprised me with 2 lovely braids from Tactile. It's LOVELY stuff, and I have since bought more.

What she got for me was 1 Merino-bamboo and 1 marino-soy silk. They are both amazing, but apparently they don't currently have the soy silk blend. I have since tried superwash BFL, and have a couple more in my stash. I adore their colors, and their fiber!

Lara said...

All of the yarn looks so tempting, but the Carnation superwash merino fingering-weight looks especially delicious.

Carla said...

I love them all but the Heliotrope Alpaca Sport is number 1!

popofra AT hotmail

Unknown said...

Very very tough choice. I keep changing my mind about my favorite so one of the many favorites is Carnation superwash merino

I'm foolforknit on gmail

Sara said...

I really love all of the laceweight yarn. So pretty!

RavID: WintersSong

Martha said...

The Dogwood Organic cotton totally caught my eye.

GHouk said...

I love Maia and I love Tactile Fiber Arts. I want all of it, ALL of it! ALLLLLLLLL!!! Muah ha ha!!!
But...if I could only pick one, I think I would go with the silk lace in Carnation.

Tina said...

So many pretty things! But I just adore the Heliotrope - Merino-Silk 50-50 Top. The colors and the sheen are just wonderful.

Kate said...

The fibers are beautiful and luscious, and I love with the Alpaca Lace Weight Yarn in Algae. The colors are so subtle - it reminds me of a Japanese woodcut!

AmIAKnitterYet said...

that lichen sock yarn is calling my name....

Sharon Rose said...

The Dew and Blue Spruce Merino-Silk are so pretty - I wanted to reach right into the screen! :)

CptSnoopy said...

I love the Cherry Blossom - Alpaca-Merino-Tussah Silk Top. That would make the most gorgeous yarn!

rav id: CptSnoopy

Infinitespirals said...

I am totally in love with the Yak/tussah blend in tangerine!

Teresa said...

https://www.tactilefiberarts.com/store/sc_images/products/1014_image.jpg

The Viola Alpaca Top. 'nuff said.

Lydia said...

The Alpaca/Merino/Tussah in Pomegranate. So beautiful!

punkcatknitter on rav

Natalie J said...

Wow, I'm really happy I now know about this website! Beautiful fibers. I'm particularly loving the Merino-Bamboo in the Dew colorway. Looks like it would be a dream to spin up!

~Natalie~
(organicstills on Rav)

Karen said...

It's all so gorgeous... I think my favorite is the Merino and Silk top in Dogwood. Or anything in Dogwood!

Tamara said...

Ohhh, how cool. This is a new website for me! I think I may need some of its therapy too as we have had so little sunshine here. The pages were loading slowly for me (I think my laptop is tired today too), but I got a glimpse of the Dogwood colorway and that is really nice. I also love anything purple and am intrigued by ways of natural dyeing that achieve purple!

Artifax said...

What a gorgeous website! I love all the colors, but my fav is the "Algae - Alpaca Lace Weight Yarn". I can see myself making a very lovely pair of gloves from that :)

Anoush said...

Wow--what lovely stuff! I've never seen their site before, so thanks for introducing me.

I am particularly partial to Wendsleydale, so I'm glad to see their lovely choices in this fiber.

Unknown said...

Ok... here goes another paycheck. I love the Flame colorway (Wensleydale & Merino/Tencel & Merino/Silk); The merino/tencel blend was dyed with indigo. How cool is that?! Have to have the Pomegranate on White Cotton Sliver. Raisin in Merino/Silk. I think I've found a new favorite shop for the day. Thanks! :) Hittin' twitter, ravlery, and FB.

ZombieCat said...

I don't think I can narrow it down to even a top 5. I like pretty much everything on their site. I'll say that one thing that stood out to me was how they list their fiber. It's so organized and the "categorizer" in me was giddy with the way it's laid out. Separate fiber categories, staple length, micron count. Things that not everyone selling fiber thinks to mention, but help to give the buyer a good idea of what the fiber is like without touching it.

Beautiful site!

Zaneta @ Runner's Luck said...

I really really like the Surf superwash merino sport weight yarn... something about blue and white together really make me want to buy it ;) lol... its lovely!
Zaneta
superwoman_4002@yahoo.com

sciteacher said...

It's hard to decide when there are so many nice things in one shop. I do like the Angora-Merino Top called Wisteria - I like it a lot.
~sciteacher at Raverly

Anonymous said...

I'm such a sucker for sock yarn.... love the Blue Spruce and Flame and Marigold!

Jen

Taleah said...

I love the Pinot Noir laceweight - it's the perfect color. My bookmark list is a tad longer now!

I'm naughtyknots at rav

Strike My Fancy said...

I fell in love with the Merino/Tencel blend in Pomegranate and also the one in Tangerine (simply could not choose between the two). To me they look positively edible!

PogKnits said...

Everything is so gorgeous - I don't know what to pick. But the Raisin BFL did catch my eye.

Abby said...

I really respect that they use all natural dyes, it's a more involved process, but the end result is so worth it. =)

Anonymous said...

I got some roving samples in my April box from Tactile fiber arts and they were beautiful. They were several different colors, a generous sample and a pleasure to spin. I love how many of the colorways are named after particular flowers or plants. Especially liked the coral and dogwood ones.

redshoes said...

My, that is extremely lovely! I also like the Carnation - Organic Merino Sport Weight Yarn.

Will tweet
@girlinredshoes

Lauria said...

Gingko - Organic Merino Sport Weight Yarn Definitely caught my attention! There looks like so many yummy things on the site!

One Sheep said...

The Golden Olive Tussah Top reminds me of a beautifully weatherd statue. It's amazing.

LoverofallEmo said...

ooo i really like the free pattern for Ditty Bags, they are sooo cute!!!:D i cant wait to make one, i'm always in need of bags, and then omg the yarn and fiber they have is soo pretty that i cant choose just one.....

Heather said...

I love that they are continuing in a tradition that has lasted centuries, and cannot be improved upon by "technology." It has such a rich history.

zot said...

There are too many colors and fibers to look at! I can't decide on one favorite, but I really like the orchid, carnation and dogwood colors. I have to say though, I really like the patterns for the ditty bags.

Unknown said...

Wensleydale top in the Dew colorway--I love long staple wools, and that is a gorgeous colorway. Gorgeous.

dragonmaille

kataish said...

Oh wow, what a great selection to choose from! I love the golden olive colourway!

lwhitewave said...

Absolutely the alpaca lace weight in Algae! Added it to my Wists already. I would love to do a shawl in that!

teejayhansen said...

I so love Tactile. I was lucky enough to get some in my Phat Fiber box, the cranberry and cherry blossom, SO YUMMY! I have been oggling the Purpleheart/Yellowheart spindle for a while.

StephCat said...

I'm torn between the kelp and indigo colorways of the sport weight alpaca....

Darcys Knotty Knitter said...

I like her Viola - Superwash Merino Sport Weight Yarn.Hugs Darcy
darcysknottyknitter[At]gmail{DoT]com

edina said...

I visited Tactile's booth at Stitches West a few months ago and their display was fabulous. I can't pick only one thing on their website because I love everything!

helenlam said...

Brooke and Maia are two wonderful ladies. I'm still partial to the Yak down in Blue Spruce...need more of this!

rebelhousewife said...

I love everything on that site, wow. If I had to choose I think I would gladly have any of the silk blend fibers for spinning. Lovely and lovely colors.

Ravid: rebelhousewife

Anonymous said...

I just posted about the contest on my blog.
http://pixiefashions.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/more-contests-at-phat-fiber-2/

Vee said...

Wow, they have gorgeous yarn! I would have to say that I love the Lichen Sock Yarn! Thanks for the opportunity to win some yarn!

Vee said...

I forgot to say that I am blogging this!

cthulhulovesme said...

I'd gotten one of the Tactile Fiber Arts samplers in my April box, but I still haven't had a chance to spin it up yet. I'm looking at the Sorrel BFL she has in her shop and wondering how it spins up right now.

-cthulhulovesme on Rav

Anonymous said...

Ooh - the Pomegranate - Organic Cotton is very pretty!

vickie said...

i love the Flame - Alpaca-Merino-Tussah Silk Top the best i think vbarton24 at gmail dot com

vickie said...

i plurked vbarton24 is my username vbarton24 at gmail dot com

vickie said...

i did the facebook thing victoria barton is my username vbarton24 at gmail.com

vickie said...

i twittered twitter.com/morgaine24 vbarton24 at gmail dot com

vickie said...

i blogged http://vickiescontestblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/tactile-fiber.html vbarton24 at gmail dot com

PenelopeRose said...

There are so many great things to choose from! The Cherry Blossom - Alpaca-Merino-Tussah Silk Top makes me weak in the knees. Lovely!

Liz said...

The Algae alpaca lace weight yarn is gorgeous.

Holly said...

The blue spruce sport weight is such a lovely color! I'm such a sucker for blues. I also love the dogwood colors. Great store!

Mama Rasheika said...

love, love the orchid. what beautiful stuff~

Brat said...

Oh the Birch BFL for sure, I love the subtle colors.

Kelley
aka BratKnits

Unknown said...

The sunrise and the slate in the Merino silk are beautiful. but frankly I loved it all.

Unknown said...

Tweeted on this one also

. said...

Oh i m loveing the Dogwood - Alpaca-Merino Worsted Weight Yarn . I love those colors together. I loved the sample that they had the April box i cant wait to get it spun up.

Toby said...

One thing that really attracts me to Tactile is that they have beautiful fiber, yarn, and accessories. When I make a purchase that has to be mailed, I want to get the most for my shipping money which means I want to buy more than one thing from a shop. In this case I need a second spindle (really, you can't have just one), a shawl pin so I can wear my shawls with less fuss, and who doesn't want more fiber or yarn? Even though I have plenty of yarn I see some of their Merino laceweight finding it's way into my stash soon.

Teresa said...

Blogged all the contests.

Spinnergirl said...

Heliotrope Sport Alpaca is just tooo! beautiful.

cksknitter said...

I'm loving the saturated color of the Pomegranate - Organic Cotton Worsted Weight!
Chrissy at knittoday(at)hotmail(dot)com

wildthing1058 said...

everything is so lovely I have never worked with something that nice before

Dena said...

Carbonized Bamboo Top, Naturally Colored - the color, the fiber,

But then there is Pewter - Merino-Bamboo Top, if only I could spin worthy of this top

CinderLisa said...

This Wensleydale Top looks just gorgeous and so touchable soft! So much lovely stuff, though!

Unknown said...

I want, I mean WANT the BFL in Slate!

KPP said...

The Slate - Merino-Silk Worsted Weight Yarn looks lovely.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Anything. For serious.