Monday 31 August 2009

New Gemstone Spindles on their Way

Hi Spindlers: a quick hello and note to say that the shipment will leave the US on Monday -- new supply of gemstone spindles, with lovely polycoated shafts. All oak with semi-precious gemstone whorls. They should get to Oz in a week or so. I will make sure I get confirmation when they arrive. All are priced at $30.00AU per spindle and come with 100gms of hand-painted Australian merino top (that's a BONUS people!), as the top retails for $15.00. Buy a spindle and have enough wool to spin some lace or sock wool -- 100gms is plenty!

There are 6 spindles on the way. If you'd like to reserve one, email me at melissa AT strandedinoz DOT com and I'll put your name and email addy on the list.

Spindles: 2 are what look to me like raptor skin (yellow-green and black jadeish), there are 2 blue and clear quartz spindles (not for the beginners), 1 gorgeous light green aventurine, and a lovely dark jasper spindle.

Thank you so much for your interest in my spindles and keep 'em spinning!

Webpage: still on the construction end, but it is running. If you need more information, email and we'll (I or Richard) will get back to you, generally within 24 hrs.

Next installment of yarn:
The shipments from SWTC and Nepal are on the way and restocking for Oz -- spring and summer -- and new fall yarns for US of A will be available shortly. There are new custom sari silks (some real wowsers) and more carded sari fibre for spinners (I bought all that was left in the workshop!).

In the meantime, the 4ply premium merino is available for shawls, socks, and garments of every type.

A Coloured Sheep Shawl: For US customers, the yarn is back in stock. Pre-orders will ship tomorrow. Thank you so much for your interest. I couldn't help it -- I have included in the kits some nice goodies (surprises). There is 1 more kit available in the 3ply CSW. There is also a gorgeous 4ply CSW available to make a slightly larger and warmer version.

Tuesday 25 August 2009

G'day from Easton, Maryland

Hello and thanks to everyone who continues to support my work at Stranded In Oz, Port Adelaide Markets and online.

Drop Spindles:

I've been advised by Eric and Richard that the spindle supplies have been sorely depleted. I'm not complaining of course. Just wanted to assure folks that I'm on the case and will be restocking asap.

There are a few Chuppah Whorl spindles left from the 2009 batch. They are here in the States and will be on display at Garden Sheep Breeders (see sidebar). My clay oven is in Adelaide, so will have fire it up upon my return to Oz!

The gemstone spindles will be available online, at the Port Markets, and at the US shows. As soon as the next lot are ready, I will post photos for you. In the meantime, if you'd like to pre-order, please feel free to email melissa AT strandedinoz DOT com and I'll add you to the pre-order list.

Yarns:

The Nepal workshop is finishing my next supply of handspun yarns and this will be shipped shortly. So check back soon for new photos and yarns. I've ordered some new blends that should be fantastic. Can't wait to tear open those cartons! Included will be new sari silks for summer knitting.

Soysilk@ DK -- new stocks of soy are on the way. The last of the hand-painted Tofutsies@ is here in the US of A. I'm advised it will be a while until SWTC gets the next lot -- and YES, I'll be placing a special order. Thank you to all the Sock Summiteers who made the HP Tofutsies one of my bestsellers.

Pure Merino 4ply: This is a lower-micron Australian merino -- it is grown, spun, and hand-painted in Australia. I'm so grateful to all the people who came by at the Sock Summit and bought this yarn, as it is very near and dear to my heart as a designer and knitter.

The fact that new customers would take the chance and by from an unknown overseas dyer, when the OCC was overflowing with every type of sock yarn imaginable, really made the trip worthwhile. I had an excellent Sock Summit and hope my customers and new friends did too. It's been several weeks since and only now do I feel awake. I think doing Bendigo and SS within a few weeks from each other really tested this hand-dyer's body.

Port Markets:

Continued thanks to Eric Corbin, wool artist and all-around fibre fiend, and to Richard, my husband, for their hard work and for manning the fort. Hello and thanks to Audrey, who has been spreading her enthusiasm for spinning and fibre -- can't wait to see what you're spinning.

Thanks again to Near and Far, Cygnet TAS for their continued support and enthusiasm for SIOz yarns. If you are in Tasmania nearby, do stop in and check out their amazing wares.

And a huge thanks to Luci at Think Global, whom I miss very much. She's an ace market neighbour and someone who truly understands what her business name means. Check out her fab stuff at her shop in Hove, and at the Port Markets and Brighton and Grange Organic Markets, all in the Adelaide area.

I will be travelling again soon and have better access to the 'net, which means I will be able to upgrade and update photos more readily in the next few weeks.

Happy Spinning and Knitting, Melissa, from the US of A

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Hello to Yarns and Co, Easton MD

Greetings from the Chesapeake.

If you are a fan of fine yarns, do pay a visit to Yarns and Co, Easton, MD next time you are in the area. Gail has an excellent selection of knitting yarns and tools to choose from. AND: They're fully restocked with Stranded In Oz Premium Merino Superwash 4ply (great for socks. baby gifts and shawls!)-- as well as some fab hanks of Stranded In Oz Handspun Nepal Singles to make lacey shawls. They're located right in town, at the heart of the lovely Easton shopping district.

Gearing up for Garden State Sheep Breeders -- Sept 12 and 13. Stop by and say hello! I'll be there with sister Beth (Bitsyknits).

Enjoy your time heading into Spring Down Under. It's still stinkin' hot here in the Chesapeake -- humid and all.

For all my Adelaide and Aussie Customers: buy 100gms of Premium Sock yarn (Pure Merino Premium or Italian Sock) from Stranded In Oz and receive a FREE set of bamboo sock knitting needles (5" or 7" DPN's). There's a fab selection of hard-to-find sizes. Email inquiries welcome. Offer good for the rest of the month of August while supplies last!

New season yarns in the works, including a new selection of soy dk and lace yarns.

Happy knitting, spinning, and all crafts wooly. M

Thursday 13 August 2009

Huge thank yous!

We survived, mum and I -- Sock Summit 2009 is done and dusted!

Very large thank yous in order to:

My awesome new customers who came by, had a squeeze or two of the beaut Aussie wool, and went away with our yarn in hand. Knit it in good health! And thanks so much for taking the time to check out SIOz.

Jonelle, Kat, Jonette, Gianna, and Sophia from SWTC -- they were the rockin'est neighbours and heaps of fun throughout the mayhem and madness of a show. Their good humour and relief for toilet and coffee breaks were greatly appreciated. And thank you to Kit from Yarnzone for doing up the "I had great sox in Portland" t-shirts. They were fun to wear and sell.

More thanks to Sheri and the Loopy Ewe crew, my next-door neighbours. They tempted me too much with their groovy Namaste buddy boxes! Yeah, couldn't resist those puppies. Zoik!

Way too much to say about the SS and am still, frankly, buggered! I only left the booth for the toilet, coffee, or the very average salads from the concession in the OCC. I'm told Portland is a nice city, but can't verify, as only saw the inside of the OCC for 5 days. Sorry folks, no travelogue here.

I'll update as soon as the dust settles -- stay tuned for show #2 -- I'll be at the Garden State Sheep Breeders show with Bitsyknits in Sept.

R. continues to slave away on the new website -- again apologies for computer glitches! It's to be expected when under construction. So if you place an order, be sure to email me on:

strandedinoz AT gmail DOT com and I will get back to you within 24 hrs or so -- I'm on Yanktime at the moment. Or if you prefer, just ring the number(s) listed on the webpage for a real time order with R.

With sincere thanks, M