Kitty Grrlz and *GIVEAWAY*

One of the more amazing samples in January's box was the large handspun keychains from Kitty Grrlz! I instantly fell in love with the pale gray bamboo mini skein! It had just hints of pale pink throughout and made my heart flutter!

Kitty Grrlz not only has an amazing array of handspuns in the shop, but a second shop (Kitty Grrlz knits) full of gorgeous hand knits!
I am currently fawning over the citrus single-ply bamboo handspun she has listed now, but go look at her dazzling art yarns!

Kitty Grrlz is another one of those shops you should just allocate a portion of your paycheck to- she updates weekly!

Bobbi has also sent in some scrumptious handspun keychains for February's box in some very romantic colorways!

She is such a sweetheart- and case in point- we will be randomly dropping a $25 Kitty Grrlz gift certificate into a February Phat Fiber box!

And, because Bobbi is so awesome, We're giving away a $25 gift certificate here! The winner will be drawn on Friday along with the other winners this week. Please visit Kitty Grrlz and find something you love (easy peasy lemon squeezy) and post about it below! You know, I always give people who blog, plurk, tweet, post about this contest extra entries ;) You might make a video about why you want the gift certificate and post it to You Tube. Just make sure you leave a way for me to find you later.

Bobbi, you're awesome. I hope you will continue to contribute to Phat Fiber! Please everyone, don't wait to win a gift certificate to buy something from the shop! If you can't swing a purchase right now, bookmark her flickr and subscribe to her blog to get you through til next payday!

Stitch Jones "Behind the Dyepot" interview

Recently, I had a virtual sit-down with Sharon of Stitch Jones

a dyestar goddess and contributor to February's Phat Fiber box.

What is a “Stitch Jones”?

Stitch Jones is the name of a character in the 1985 Clint Eastwood film “Heartbreak Ridge”. Stitch is a young U.S. Marine in a Recon platoon, but his true calling is to be a rock star. I thought it was a perfect name for my hand dyed business, since I too have always been an office drone who lived for rock and roll and yearned for mega-stardom, and it’s also a play on words to describe my knitting addiction!

How did you get started dyeing?

On a dark and stormy night in 2007, I got the proverbial wild hair and came up with a ball of white wool in the stash and several packets of powdered drink mix in the kitchen cupboard. They say that this type of experimentation leads to stronger stuff, and indeed I began using acid dyes very shortly afterward…

Many of your yarns are inspired by solid rock. Describe your creative dyeing process.

Much of the music in the genre labeled “Classic Rock” is what I grew up listening to. In our musical household–Mr. Stitchjones is the lead guitarist in a local band, and our daughter a vocalist–we listen to the Canadian power trio Rush every day. Stitchjones’ first sock colorways were inspired by and named for Rush’s greatest hits, most notably “The Trees”. My dyeing process in its simplest form is paying homage to the music I love, just trying to express the poetry and artistry of it through color.

I particularly love your glam sock, what other unusual yarns do you enjoy dyeing?
Thank you! I also enjoy dyeing yarns that have some sort of thread wrap, it gives the result an interesting effect.

For those of us who have never seen your setup, what could we expect when we enter your booth or shop?
A timely question, as Stitchjones just did her first fiber event this weekend! Probably the first thing you’ll notice is a big banner with the distinctive guitar pick logo. In addition to the assorted spinning fibers and handpainted & kettle dyed yarns of various weights that make up the current Stitchjones product line, you’ll find Asian decor accents and, of course, music. At this particular event, the Newport Spin-in at the Oregon Coast, Mr. Stitchjones came along and strummed beautiful music on his 6-string Martin acoustic guitar.

How are your yarns changing the Knit “scene”?
If my yarns are making any sort of impact, it’s that I try to live up to my slogan “Color Goes To Eleven” which, of course, is borrowed from Spinal Tap, the world’s loudest band. My colorways are inspired by music and nature but there is also plenty of inspiration from global and pop culture, for example, “Bollywood”. Inspired by the beautiful, vibrant colors of costumes and sets in the lavish musical films from India, I painted merino-nylon sock yarn in the colors I saw. “Bollywood” sold completely out in Newport, but more is on the way!

We had a little scare recently, about exploding crockpots- tell us more about what happened.
Just a little Ground Hog Day hoax, don’t worry–Stitchjones is alive and well. It’s become a legend that rock stars fake their deaths, so I just wanted to pay lip service to that and write a fake obit as a prank. It’s also a running joke in “Spinal Tap” that the drummers keep dying in bizarre and mysterious freak accidents. However, the Crockpots in the Stitchjones studio have been running night and day lately, so you never know…!

We (your humble fans) also hear you’re recently rehabilitated from a Synthrapol addiction. What advice do you have for others going through similar experiences?
Although those synth jello shots can send you into the fourth dimension, don’t drink it, man–just put it on your wool.

Where can we get our Jones in 5 years?
Hopefully in yarn shops from coast to coast, both brick-and-mortar and online!

Sharon, thank you so much for contributing so generously in February's box. I hope you'll consider particpating in future boxes!

The Unique Sheep and *Giveaway*

Laura of The Unique Sheep has sent in some wonderful mini hanks of her sock yarn for us to enjoy.

I must tell you, if you haven't experienced the beautiful colors Laura offers in her shop, please do yourself a favor and purchase something today!

The Unique Sheep is home to many very popular yarn and fiber clubs- I know some of you who read this have been involved in these- We'd love to know how much you enjoyed them. I plan on purchasing a club soon too!

I really enjoy the layout of Laura's website. First, you go pick a color and then you pick your base yarn- every color in every yarn she offers!

Speaking of yarns, she now offers a wonderfully scrumptious looking "Green Sheep" Yarn which is all organic!

One of the many things I appreciate about The Unique Sheep, is her collaborations with other artists. To me, this is probably the most exciting part of The Unique Sheep!

Laura has sent in a little mini key chain sock blocker and mini hank of her yarn for a giveaway prize! One lucky recipient will be randomly chosen from the comments section below! Please visit The Unique Sheep store, find something you love and talk about it here. Make sure you leave a way for me to find you on Friday when our mass drawings will be held. Tweets, plurks, posts all get second entries so help spread the word!

Laura, thank you so much for sending your absolutely beautiful samples in to Phat Fiber this month! We would love to have you participate in future boxes!

Getting Excited?

So am I!
The February sale date is quickly approaching! Make sure you've cleared your calendar for the 16th, but I will only be posting the secret time to those of you who've signed up on the waiting list- to do that go here:
http://www.phatfiber.com/notifyme.htm

I am amazed at the quality and variety of the samples this month! Marcus and I will be shooting another video to torture *ahem* I mean entice you all this week.

One of the several things that has really gotten me excited is we will be dropping full sized items and prizes in random boxes this month! You will introduced to some fuzzy creatures who unlock special incentives and prizes that will also be put in random boxes and will require your care until they are sent back to headquarters... more details will be forthcoming about them!

I will also be doing giveaways and introducing you to more unique fiber artists and their shops every day this week and a countdown to sale time! Please keep checking back because we need your help to spread the word about these amazing shops!

I will close by letting you know about the items now being listed in the Phat Fiber Shop. As a sort of mini-stimulus, I am working with several ( I wish all of them!) artists to commission custom items for sale in the Phat Shop. We've currently been working with Pre-Raphaelite paintings, so if you're in to really lovely stuff, please stop by. I will be stocking more items all week!

Tracy Rios

I'm a good house guest... really! I promise I won't eat much and I'll make my bed too. Please, please can I come over to your house Tracy and play with your baby angora bunnies?!!

Tracy and Franco's (that's her hubs) bunnehs are no ordinary angoras! Tracy is continually showing her satin angora bunneh babies and has been in sweepstakes for 4 years!

So, those of you who have received a delicious puffy angora cloud in your last phat fiber box, have really gotten a taste of satin angora bunny finest!

Tracy is also the artist behind the most amazing art yarns and handspuns! She painstakingly harvests the bunneh fiber, processes it an spins it all herself! A labor of love.....

All that love transfers to the final product folks! Knit up a cuddly hat or scarf with some of her beautiful yarn! You could knit yourself a crowny headband using this pattern developed by a happy box recipient. If you don't have the time- Tracy offers some finished knits in her shop too.

Tracy has sent in mounds of satin angroa clouds for the February box!! Add some softness to your next handspun project and try some of Tracy's fiber!

Yarn Candy by Melissa Winner!

Cindy!! aka Maxfun!

I have AWESOME giveaways coming up... like full skeins of yarn, gift certificates, pounds of fiber and lots of other goodies! Please keep posting!

Phat Shops SALES

Here are some shops you need to be checking in on this month, as they are having some very nice sales!

Extreme Spinning extra 20% off of her already LOW prices and adding new fiber this weekend (I think we are all holding our breaths for the organic stuff she had in January's box!)

Moonwood Farm is marking 1 item each day down by 1/2- 50% off of delicious handspun yarn? Yeah!

Natchwoolie is having a "Sweetie Sale" and you do NOT want to miss out on her new Bon Bons! She has sent some in for February and I'm going to have to say they are a MUST have.
In Stitches
Will be giving a special gift away to anyone who mentions Phat fiber in their orders before Valentines Day

Knit Craft Note Cards has a FREE printable Knitters Valentines Card
Give one to your sweetie swap partner this month!

Seven Yaks
Is having a secret 25% off (excluding shipping) sale just for Phat Fiber followers- add "phatyak" in the message to seller!

DesertGarden
Is offering a free mystery gift to those who mention phat fiber while checking out in their "mesage to seller".

DesiredHavenFarm is offering Phat Fiber readers %15 off of handspun and roving- Misty will knock another %5 off for saying you read it here in the comments section when you check out.

DragonLady Designs

DragonLady Designs has the most beautiful lamp work bead stitch markers available! I really couldn't believe the giant box Kimberly sent in for January! She promises to send in for this month too! I am way too excited about that!

One of the things I really love about her shop is the pricing. Sometimes, a girl just needs to buy something pretty, even when funds are an issue.

Some of the stitch markers Kimberly sent in last month were so stinking cute, I wanted to just use them as a pendant- I suspect some of you are doing that now! Look at the little kawaii panda... Awww!

Kimberly offers over 300 items in her shop at any given time. So, the next time you're on the hunt for pretty stitch markers, hair accessories, bookmarks or jewelry- have her shop bookmarked in your favorites!

Look for more DragonLady Designs in future Phat Fiber boxes!

Whirligig Yarns (and fiber too!)

Which of you got a delicious tasting of Whirligig Yarns in their January box?

I'm going to cut right to the chase here: Nicole is awesome.

To prove that point, I will copy and paste her shop profile here and make a few comments about it.

"My name is Nicole and I live with my husband and our Evil Cat of Perpetual Badness in a little apartment by a creek in Boulder, CO. I picked up a spindle while on my honeymoon in Colonial Williamsburg in 2006, and that was the beginning of the obsession/downfall. :) Since that time I have also acquired a wheel--an Ashford Kiwi named Indigo Montoya--and have taken several classes with the great spinner Maggie Casey. I have also begun to weave, dye my own fiber, and am really loving learning to process wool from scratch. I make every attempt to obtain fiber from local or humane farms...animal-friendly fibers are very important to me, as I can't bear to think of sheep and other animals in factory-farm situations. My goal for 2008 is to be 100% sourced by rescue, humane, and/or local farms. My background is in anthropology, so I am fascinated with the history, variations, and cultural significance of spinning around the world. Fiber arts are so important to the basic fabric of human society, and I am proud to be included in the ranks of fiber artists throughout history. One of my favorite things to do is spin yarn sitting by the creek with my neighbors, a scene that has been replicated countless times through the ages."

First, and foremost: she named her wheel Inigo Montoya. I pity the foo who has not memorized The Princess Bride by now, because it is a part of our modern lexicon and you will not be able to function in post- Baby Boom America with out this knowledge.

Secondly, Nicole is sourcing humane fiber for all of her products and we love her for that.

Last but not least, 5% of all Whirligig Yarns contributions are invested in http://www.kiva.org/ which is an amazing way for people to invest in people ( I highly recommend checking into this for yourselves!).

I think I have made my case for the fact that Nicole is awesome- anyone wanna disagree? Yeah, I didn't think so.

Thank you so much for your handspun yarns and rolag contributions Nicole! We so look forward to your next appearance in Phat Fiber!

Turtle Cove Farm

Did you get any beautifully dyed Turtle Feet Sock Yarn in your January Box? To me, the "Ice Flower" colorway is the perfect cerulean blue- almost 3 dimensional in depth!

Turtle cove makes amazing soaps and salves too! I'm beyond excited to see what Turtle Cove's February box sample will be!

Eryn is doing something I really wish I could do myself (hey, there's still time!) She's moving her family from a city in tropical Florida to fiber farm in North Dakota! The family is already raising angora rabbits and hope to add Icelandic Sheep to the farm- making sheep milk's goat too- YUMMY!

Support the dream farm! Visit Eryn's shops today!