Island Sweet

Shawn O'Hagan, the visual artist-turned tactile goddess, has sent in mini hanks of her gorgeous art yarn! "Best Boy" Marcus, came up with a great question after I cooed and gushed over the samples in his presence: What makes it art yarn? I was only too happy to explain it to him.

When a being invests careful thought, planning, emotion, and previous training (whether they be from institutions or life) and creates something to achieve a result that is deemed significant- it becomes art. Well, at least to me (and who am I anyway?).

Island Sweet is Shawn's shop. She lives in Newfoundland with her husband and adorable puppy. This is another blog you will need to blogroll, because the photos she posts of her walks with abagail are breathtaking and will make you want to pack your bags for the great white north- even this time of year! When I approached Shawn about January's theme being "Wintery Mix", she set about creating yarns that explored different aspects of winter. Akin to a photographic macro, Shawn hit the feelings and textures of winter on the head.

"Pond Ice", a yarn I featured in the youtube video, is a soft blue-green, almost undulating, bulky yarn complete with the sun's reflection off of the ice with patches of sparkling angelina.

"Hearth Fire", is an amazingly brilliant yellow and orange bulky weight that, much like fire, is hard to look away from. I see hints of blue and purple much like a very hot and comforting hearth fire. Delicious.

"Thinking of Spring in Winter", is a gorgeously sparkly and funky-spun lime green and pink yarn. There are the obligatory black streaks of eyelash novelty yarn- which are representative of the cold reality; that this fancifully bright daydream is coiled from the dark night of winter.

Finally, "Glitter Storm" is a mixture of many whites- spun from merino, corn fiber and ramie with angelina glitz and a sprnkling of glittery novelty yarn. I can envision a perfect snow-queen winter shawl stitched out of this pale beauty!

I am now going to amaze you further, by telling you that Shawn has only been spinning for a year!!! I am keenly interested in what she'll come up with next! Please hurry over to Island Sweet's shop and get your art yarn fix, and if you would, beg Shawn to contribute her amazing handspuns to future boxes!

*Natchwoolie Winner*

Sunniefairy!!

Yay!
Everyone please stay tuned.. I have awesome features and more contests coming!
That and the box goes on sale next Thursday evening.. if you have signed up for the waiting list, you'll be emailed the time to show up at the party.

Natchwoolie and *Giveaway*

If I were a fiber-producing animal like a pygora goat, I think I would want to live on Natchwoolie's family farm! Natchwoolie specializes in natural, luxury fibers from a no-kill, eco-conscious mixed herd of fine fleeced friends.

Natchwoolie has sent in an absolute treat for all of you handspinners! A lofty blend of 70% Mohair and 30% wool in their natural winter white called "Heaven Sent". The samples looks and feels as if it will float away! I am guessing this blend would make a really nice thinner handspun with a fuzzy halo. Sometimes, when I fondle the commercial mohair yarns, I think "itchy". This fiber sample is so soft!!! I would LOVE to see what a more experienced spinner can do with this! Because you are going to want to buy more when you get this in your box, a generous 20% rebate coupon was included with the sample! Squee! If anyone wants to buy me a 12 month subscription to one of Natchwoolie's many fiber clubs, I'll let you. Ahem... Marcus... oh camera boy... are you listening? A diet high in fiber is good for you, so I think the "Take out" club will suit me just fine. *wink*Natchwoolie is one of the fewer online fiber farms that sell fiber in the grease! Love it! Spinning in the grease will really soften your hands- try it sometime! It makes interesting yarn too- I read on someone's blog- Island Sweet? That they used to buy socks that were made of yarn spun in the grease.

There is so much to talk about in Natchwoolie's shop- but we're having a giveaway so I suppose I'll let some of you coo over the goodies too ;) Natchwoolie is giving away a heavenly 4oz of this frosty winter white Mohair and wool blend!!!!

Contest Details:Please visit Natchwoolie, find something you'd like to discuss and post about it in the comments section below. Tweets and Plurks and blogposts and forum posts get second entries just tell us you did it! MAKE SURE TO LEAVE AN IDENTIFYING MARK. Your Rav id, etsy id, something ;) Drawing will be held Friday A.M.

Hedgehog Fibres

Hedgehog Fibres sent in a lot of sexy yarn for January's Box! How can yarn be sexy? Just look at the photos Beata let me use! Silky, glossy, slinky, smooth, and the perfect colors! You all know, that knitting and crocheting is sexy anyway- the same way a guy mowing the lawn, or splitting firewood is. It's the knowing you can provide comfort for your partner-that's a turn on. Pair the time spent lovingly crafting a hand-stitched article with the tactile and visual pleasure of Hedgehog Fibres yarn and you've got something that may start something!

Beata, of Hedgehog Fibres lives in Cork, Ireland (but originally from Slovakia!) and hosts an absolutely amazing blog. It is bilingual, and chock full of gorgeous photos and WIPs. Her Laminaria Shawl was jaw-droppingly beautiful! I can't even believe the sheer volume of the stunning hand knits she pumps out! *jealous*

Back to the samples she sent in though... You will not believe the amazing CAMEL handspun she included! They are deliciously squishy treats for sure! She has a really neat- arabesque theme going on too with the thought evoking titles she gives her yarn. "Prophet" "Sunbaked" "Oracle" and "Sin" make me imagine a Persian princess sitting on silken pillows with nothing to do but knit with luxurious yarn all day.

Trust me here. Whether you buy a skein of hand painted silk, some luxe camel handspun, or a fluffy sparkling batt from Beata at Hedgehog Fibres, you will feel like royalty and have good luck for the next seven years. Okay, maybe we can't guarantee the good luck part, but the royalty bit is a sure thing.

Phat Fiber Video for January's Box

Wooden Treasures

Wooden Treasures was kind enough to send in several hand made wooden buttons!

Did you know that wood is a fiber too? Jay, the man (and master button maker) behind Wooden Treasures offers an eye pleasing assortment of hand made wooden embellishments and shawl pins! The last time I checked, there was something like 11 pages of goodies for you to browse through! Have you been wanting some cedar sock blocks? Jay makes them!! In his profile, he explains that as a retired person, he gleans much enjoyment from his hobby. Happy people make quality goods- and judging by the craftsmanship of the samples he sent in, you can feel comfortable buying smooth and well-finished pieces! What can you do with just one button? Try knitting or crocheting a scarflet and using the button as a clasp.You could also make a bag and use a single button closure. Wouldn't it be lovely to have these wooden buttons as closures on a knit cardi? Perhaps you've already knit a Calorimetry http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTcalorimetry.html

and you're waiting for a special button to come along.Jay also accepts custom orders! Perhaps you like some of the shapes he has, but prefer another type of wood, drop him a line- he's a very reasonable person. *wink*
Please support Wooden Treasures, by visiting Jay's shop- psst. He's got some great sales going on now! Thank you Jay! Please consider contributing to future boxes!

Taos Sunflower *Winner*

Kathy!!!

Your info is set to private so you had better email me!! *grin*

phatfiber@yahoo.com

More luscious giveaways and reviews coming soon!!

Taos Sunflower Too and *Giveaway*

I am squealing inside!

Martie, of Taos Sunflower Too has sent in the cutest bags of luxe locks you ever did see. I know you could spin with these silken, colorful and curly locks but wouldn't they make wonderful doll hair or special trimmings? So lustrous and soft, the colors almost emit their own light- they are dyed to perfection.

I absolutely adore Martie's shop! She really gives me the impression this is one of those shops you would stumble upon on vacation, tucked away from the main road- a shop the locals buy from because the quality is outstanding and the customer service being personal, truthful, and thoughtful.

I have had this fantasy about going to Taos since 2002, after seeing a Robert Miribal concert. He spoke about Taos in such a tender way, it made me want to live there. Since then, I've had eerie coincidences associated with this place called Taos, New Mexico. In my head, I've built up how great it must be that for a while, I decided I would never go, because I would probably just be let down.

Then, I happen upon Martie and Montie's shop, and blog. Martie should be getting paid by the New Mexico tourism beaureau. The photos, the quiet living, the gorgeous scenery all confirm my suspicions that Taos, or Arroyo Seco should, at least, be visited and enjoyed.

Martie's first Taos Sunflower Yarns shop came into fruition because of a desire to leave a corporate world and settle into a more truthful way of life. The shop grew to be extremely popular, having a downtown storefront for a while. Martie has since closed the shop and Taos Sunflower Too is a Renaissance, a rebirth, of a secret dream I think we all have. To live a more simple, meaningful life. Sometimes, the best way to get there is to start afresh and new, having peeled away excess. I can certainly relate.

I am so very pleased with the discovery of this new shop Taos Sunflower Too- I hope all of you who might have Christmas money burning little holes in your pockets, might consider making a few purchases from this delightful fiber paradise. Thank you so much, Martie for your gorgeous samples and for your inspiring blog! Please, Please, participate in future boxes!

For a lucky commenter, you will receive a gorgeous bit (2 oz) of hand dyed Blue-Faced Leicester in Taos Sunflower's "American Beauty" Colorway!!!!! I swear, when I first looked at the shop I immediately picked the same roving out as a potential purchase! I can't even tell you how gorgeous this is. If it was edible, I would eat it. Please visit Taos Sunflower Too, find something you love and write about it below. I'll draw a name on New Year's Day so be sure to leave an identifying mark. Good Luck!

Chocolate Princess

I am very happy to show off these gorgeous mini cakes of Chocolate Princess hand painted yarn in "Ice Queen"! What a treat for several of you in January's box! Stunning!!I approached Liz, the one woman wonder behind Chocolate Princess, because I couldn't get enough of the blazing jewel tones in her line! Her spinning fiber looks almost iridescent, the spectrum of colors are amazing. I personally, am eyeing her Marea colorway- the deep mauve, oranges and teals are so pretty- I'd love to see this knit up into something!I just love Liz's profile on her Etsy shop too- it reads:
"I dye, spin, and knit daily.

5 kids

2 cats

1 dog

Great hubby"
Fiber first! See where Hubby ranks? LOL This sounds like something I would write!! I LOVE it! Who else can relate? A Big thank you to Chocolate Princess for sending in her "Ice Queen" samples. I am sure when you get your samples you will realize what an absolutely perfect colorway this is for January's box. The deep, dreamy blues are really mesmerizing! How soul- soothing would knitting with this yarn be? Please visit Chocolate Princess and let us know what you love about her shop!

Holiday Break

The blog will be offline for a few days this week while we all fervently finish up last minute holiday stitching and hopefully spend time with our loved ones. We'll be back early next week with lots of giveaways and reviews!! Wishing you both peace and prosperity this season and throughout the New Year!

Psst. I got a manicure and it is making my knitting go much faster ;) It really is the little things that make all the difference sometimes.