April's Phatfiber Box

#1) Woohoo, April's box came. Look at all the neat stuff..... the theme was EcoGreen....

#2) Yarn, beautiful yarn.......

#3) Giffordables.etsy.com - way cool abstract/folk/novelty yarn called Green Piece. It's described at Fulled Dreadlocks in bfl/corriedale, ice-blue merino and tussah silk. Feels so neat and soft despite the fact that it looks like it may be rough.

In the top left is a mini skein from http://www.theuniquesheep.com/ called Evergreen. It's organic sheep wool in sport weight. There's a free mini sweater pattern on the site to make out of my mini skein. That's gonna be cool.

In the bottom left is a way cool sample from (HAHA) Coolclimates or Rachel at http://www.coolclimates.etsy.com/. The colorway is blues/green/purples called "the Lilac Festival" and it's mainly wool with small amounts of mohair and some synthetic thread and the sources for this nifty yarn are from trips to the Yarn Tree in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn General Store AND fiber stores in Iceland and Norway, Peace Fleece, Mielke Fiber Arts and some Etsy artisans. Now this is a diverse yarn.

#4) At the top is a pastel mini skein in fantastic Spring/Easter colors called 'Welcome Spring'. this yarn from http://www.my8kidsmom.etsy.com/ is 100% merino. Super soft.

In the middle is a really neat sample from http://www.katsarayarns.etsy.com/ in a pale earthtone colorway called "Palouse". It's organically grown bulky cotton yarn. Sofffffttttttttttt.

On the bottom is from http://www.twiceshearedsheep.etsy.com/. A mini skein of extra fine merino lace weight reclaimed/recycled yarn in a pale blue/gray. I'm thinking a crocheted blouse collar here.

#5) FIBERRRRRRRRRRRRS

#6) The top left is from http://www.natchwoolie.etsy.com/. A dreamy roving (in her words and I agree) of 90% wool and 10% mohair in the colorway PEEPS. And it does remind me of peeps.

At the top right is a sample from http://www.corgihillfarm.com/. Merino, silk and firestar in Green Eire colorway. It's got the neatest shimmer to it. Oh, and Anna sends the most delicious maple leaf shaped maple candies. I may have to try to get some of these.

The bottom left shows 2 samples of handspun from http://www.enchantedyarn.etsy.com/ These two are Sparkle Fiber samples in Sea Glass and Pink Grapefruit. Can ya tell which one is which? They shimmer like glass.

http://www.infinity.etsy.com/ in the bottom right. Random samples in blue/green/brown and steel gray/blue/mint green colors. Soft, soft, soft.

#7) Huge cushy soft 'Bronze Green' merino from http://www.smokymountainfibers.etsy.com/. It says it's about 1/2 oz. It's HUGE.

Below that is a roving from http://www.lotusjulie.etsy.com/ called Breeze. 80/20 Merino/Bamboo. Super soft and no splinters.

Off to the right is a sample from http://www.knit.etsy.com/. It's 50/50 Merino/Bamboo in colorway Tabbycat. It's in one of those neat little plastic envelope/boxes with a note on it suggesting it be used as a notions keeper for your knitting bag. Great idea.

#8) I must admit I was a little taken aback with this next sample. I opened the little brown bag from http://www.farmgirlchic.etsy.com/ and thought 'holy cow, I got a bag of trash'. But it's not. The colorway is Ticking, like a pillow, and it's called Spinning Fixins containing wool, mohair, vintage cotton. This is going to be FUUUUUUUUUN to play with.

#9) These are the extra goodies. The big brownish bag with the leaves on it is so neat. It's an envelope bag with http://www.phatfiber.com/ ironed onto the front bottom. Jessie commissioned a local girl in her area who is legally blind to make these. So impressive.

The pink bag is a KIP (knitting in progress) Bag from http://www.ruddawg.etsy.com/. It's lined on the inside with a drawstring at the top. Superduper. I'm a bag FANATIC so these 2 items are so perfect for me.

A heavenly smelling and very large sample of Peppermint Sea-You-Later Old-Fashioned Soap from www.hyenacart.com/smokymtnsapothecary. It also lists the ingredients so you'll know ahead of time what you're getting and won't have to worry about allergies, etc. Great item.

The yellow square to the bottom left of the pink bag is an Art Pendant from http://www.designsbytami.etsy.com/. I can see this now on my KIP bag or as a great stitch marker or the bottom dangly of a row counter.

A simply gorgeous stitch marker from http://www.dlynndesigns.artfire.com/. Even though I make stitch markers, I still love to get and use other folks' stuff. It's kind of like eating your own cooking all the time.... sometimes it's nice to do something different.

An absolutely marvelous button from http://www.wildharefiber.com/ that shows a pic of 'samples' for Phatfiber and says 'shop 'til you drop' 'www.phatfiber.com'

And last but not least the wonderful coupons from http://www.platformnine.etsy.com/, http://www.wooliebullie.etsy.com/, http://www.wcmercantile.etsy.com/, http://www.danidocrafty.etsy.com/, http://www.slvfest.etsy.com/.

I get more and more excited each month with the neat things in the box. So many talented folks in Phatfiber. I just love being part of it all.

Desired Haven Farm

Misty at Desire Haven Farm has some of THE most gorgeous yarns and fibers. I got some of her WasteNotWantNot2 thrums in my first PhatFiber box. I spun it on my little cd spindle and am using it in a project right now.

The first time I visited her shop I fell in absolute love with Ocean Dapples. She's had several skeins of this and I want them ALL.

Misty is a sweetie in her emails and is a very hard worker according to what she writes. There's always so much to be done on her farm that I don't see how she has time to do anything else. Go visit her shop at http://www.desiredhavenfarm.etsy.com/ and see what you find to fall in love with.

northernlightsfiber.etsy.com

Kelsey has the most gorgeous sock yarn called Solar Flare. This colorway reminds me of Christmas and at first I couldn't understand why. Then I got to thinking that since I get such a warm feeling at Christmas, Solar Flare is the perfect name. I think this yarn is so gorgeous and I can so see me wearing a pair of these socks on Christmas morning. Go visit Kelsey's shop at http://www.northernlightsfiber.etsy.com/ and see for yourself.

Shopping for a drop spindle?

Zebisisdesigns on Etsy has me drooling already this morning. She has a Brazilian Red Agate Stone drop spindle with a gold filled hook. Sounds heavenly just to read about doesn't it? Yes, I have a drop spindle made out of 2 old cd's and a dowel rod. It gets the job done for my playing around, but this one just looks like it'd be the ticket to getting this new hobby off the ground. Did I say new hobby? Ok, don't tell my husband.

Go see Maiysha's shop at http://www.zebisisdesigns.etsy.com/ just to ogle if nothing else.

YAY!!!!! I got my PhatFiber box today. I have to admit I wasn't real excited when I first got it. I've been in such a blue funk lately. But as soon as I opened it EVERYTHING changed. This month's box is better than the first 2 and those 2 were stupendous.

In the first two pictures is a neat manilla envelope with an Irish recipe for Colcannon. I'm dying to try it.

In the upper right of the second picture is a little lucky lamb from MyFairbagLady at http://www.myfairbaglady.etsy.com/ He's so sweet and innocent. I've gotta find a very special place for him. Maybe as a brooch.

A wonderful bookmark from Becky's Paper Creations at http://www.backspapercreations.com/ . The bookmark says Knit Happens. It's cool.

A fantastic handmade stitch marker from http://www.yarndemon.etsy.com/ . I was so excited to get this. I've been admiring them in her store.

A gorgeous stitch marker from Vickie's Knitted Things at http://www.vbarton24.etsy.com/

2 beaded charm stitch markers from Princess Emma's at http://www.sparkleshan.etsy.com/

A beautiful shawl pin from http://www.wyrdingstudios.com/ I really liked getting this as I'm working on my very first lace shawl.

Lavender mini-sachet (my FAVE scent) in a hand-painted and stamped, unbleached muslin bag from Ambrosia and Bliss at http://www.ambrosiaandbliss.etsy.com/ I'm going to put this in my pillowcase since lavender helps to relax me.

And a SLEW of discount coupons from different contributors.

This is where the yarn is. But first, a neato scarf pattern entitled Stargyle by Michelle Miller the Fickleknitter at http://www.fickleknitter.etsy.com/

Nora at http://www.simplytwisted.etsy.com/ sent in a nice, soft variegated purple/yellow/cream/green, etc. handspun.

I blogged earlier this week about Woolyhands after I saw something in her shop that I crave and now I got a sample of her Celtic Path. A really thick, soft handspun in green/grey. Erin's STORES are http://www.woolyhands.etsy.com/ and http://www.idyllhands.etsy.com/ and the sample says it was dyed by www.cloudlover69@etsy.com so you'll get a combo treat on this shopping trip.

Celtic Tuxedo from Corgi Hill Farm. Wow, this sw merino and firestar is black/blue/purple/sparkly and I'll definitely have to go to http://www.corgihillfarm.com/ and shop.

Apple Blossom is 70% baby alpaca, 20% silk, 10% cashmere and is so super soft. Variegated pinks/whites/creams from http://www.theyarnside.etsy.com/

I already have a project in mind for the bulky, novelty/art green/beigne/brown yarn spun with BEADS from Laura Murphy at http://www.wildethyme.etsy.com/

I love worsted weight yarns because they make great socks for my menfolk. Fireweed worsted is merino in colorway Eire from http://www.aurorafiberarts.com/ and the green/yellow/orange/red reminds me of one of those allday suckers we used to love as kids.

Desert Garden Farms at http://www.desertgarden.etsy.com/ is so crafty. Her samples came in a little brown cardboard box wrapped on the outside with a LARGE business card. It's soo neat. I got a sample of 'Darby O'gill" (one of my fave movies when I was a kid and still today). It's a hand dyed mohair/wool blend in green/yellows. 'Blarney Stone' is a homegrown, handspun 3-ply in a tree bark colorway. It's such a natural looking color. Plus I got a discount coupon. I said they're crafty, but they're busy, too. They raise angora goats, assorted sheep, llamas and angora rabbits, so you're such to get a diverse treat from them.

oooooooooh, fibers!!!!!!! First, there's the heavenly soft Suri Alpaca locks from Moonwood Farm at http://www.moonwoodfarm.etsy.com/ Shades of brown. I can't wait to play with this. ;-)

Next is a blend of blueface leicester, mohair and silk in a tartan colorway from http://www.libertyfibers.com/ So soft and fluffy.

Jordan from http://www.punkjordane.etsy.com/ sent in a roving called Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Sounds good enough to eat. It's a blend of domestic wool, angora and alpaca. She also sent a sample of Full Bloom scent bath salts that she makes. I received an order of plant seeds from Jordan last week and she'd included a different fragrance of bath salts containing vanilla. She's gonna have me being the best smelling female on the mountain here. I may have to chase the bears off with a stick. And it's about time for them to start showing up.

This one really got my attention. 100% Mulberry Silk in Traffic Jam colorway from http://www.hedgehogfibres.etsy.com/ It's unlike any of the other rovings I've gotten, which isn't saying much, as I'm an extremely novice spinner. It's so soft, silky (no pun intended) and shiny. The colors are natural earthtones of browns/greys/creams/beiges, etc., etc. I'm so ready to see if I can do this any justice.

Last, but not least is a sample that deserved a picture all its own because there are so many samples in it. Easy Kentucky Fibers at http://www.sarahwood3587.etsy.com/ sent in a variety of rovings. They're blended rambouillet wool and merino. Each little bag has a 3 digit number so you can find that colorway on her site. Really neat and inventive in my opinion.

Well, I know this sounds greedy, but I'm already looking forward to next month's box. But I'm so excited to go play with this month's stuff.

These are the other fibers from my Jan. and Feb. boxes. From now on I'm keeping the tag with the fiber/yarn until I'm finished using it. I've gotten all kinds of confused as to whose fiber was what, but here's a list of contributors:


ThePaintedTiger.com
AbstractFiber.com
MoonwoodFarm.com
fromewetoyou.etsy.com
infinity.etsy.com
home.earthlink.net/-tracyrios
kangaroodyer.etsy.com
FireLizardStudios
PlumCrazyLlamaRanch
Desired Haven Farm

Fiber Spinning

In my January and February Phatfiber boxes I received unspun fibers. I'd spun maybe 12" of yarn in my entire life so I decided to make a drop spindle and give it a shot. I may not have made what most people consider to be yarn, but I made funky stuff, abstract stuff, OOAK stuff and hopefully the people these fibers came from will not hate me with the very fibers of their being.

Friday the 13th

I've never tried to have a blog and really keep up with it. I tried MySpace and it got on my nerves, so I'll try to do better with this one.

I'm anxiously awaiting the next PhatFiber box, which comes out this weekend. If you are a fiber artist, spinner, dyer, knitter, crocheter or anything associated with fiber arts, then PhatFiber sampler box is for you. http://www.phatfiber.com/ will take you to the site where you can view the artists and find out how to get your box crammed with samples of rovings, batts, toppers, yarn, stitch markers, row counters, discount coupons, patterns, etc., etc., etc. Hop on over and check us out. My store is In Stitches and I can also be found at http://www.memarcierenee.etsy.com/ where I make and sell beaded stitch markers, row counters, size markers for circular needles and more.