Happy New Year and Thanks

Thank you to all the eager fibre fans who ventured North to the PA Markets this weekend. And a special thank you to my Sydney customers. It was lovely to meet the visitors from NSW. They've got the spinning bug up there too! 

The Nepal laceweight stockpile has been set upon by eager lace knitters and the new supply is on its way. ETA unknown at present, but fingers crossed, it should be here very soon.  If you have a craving for a particular colour, please email melissa AT strandedinoz DOT com and I will add your request to the dyelot list.

Greetings go out to Fiona, who went home with a new spindle -- may it give her hrs of happy spinning.  Nice to meet you!

I'm surrounded by mounds of yarn and fibre, all of which is heading for the dye process. 

Check back here for some kewl stuff for the New Year! Plotting and playing for some fibre fun in 2010. 

Hand-Painted Tofutsies -- shown in McLaren Vale $26.00AU per 100gm

The test lot of McLaren Vale has come through nicely. New lots will be posted online when they are read for purchase. The hot weather has done wonders for the bright purple!

CU at the markets and online, m

New Drop Spindles...

... with more on the way.

A big thank you to the knitters/shoppers who visited the SIOz Port Markets venue on Sunday. The market will be open this Sunday AND Monday, 9-5.

Special thanks to Raphael and Lesley, who ventured up to Port Adelaide for a visit.

Here's a sneak peak at some of the new spindles to be loaded to the online store:


Gothic Fairie mini drop spindle

features small gemstone whorl and pine shaft, finished with black, shiny paint $15.00AU

Primary Colours Chuppah Whorl Spindle $25.00AU

features Tasmanian Oak shaft, finished with natural wood oil

Another shipment of spindle gear is due to arrive after Christmas. More fibre will be loaded online as well, including more lots of organic merino. The new fancy pantsy fibre is in the workshop ready for dyeing in Jan. Check here for updates on some fab, hard-to-find stuff for the new year.

Thank you to the purchasers of the Roclans and Gurdy Run carded fibre! Worth the trip to the Port, no doubt about it. One person snagged the majority of the Jon Benet llama fibre and it is now officially GORN. I only see that producer once a year at Garden State and will be sure to bring back more next year. I have to factor in the time to scour the llama before I ship it back to Oz, so it's always a race against time, but it's the most amazing fibre -- bred to be without guard hairs! High-tech llamas -- very photogenic too.

To all SIOz customers, happy holidays to you and yours. M

Fresh 4ply Fingering Weight Low-Micron Merino

Vellan's Urban Decay II 4ply/fingering wt merino superwash

This yarn is fantastic for socks, shawls, gloves, baby's garments (yeah, it's superwash $24.00AU per 100gm/approx. 360m). Ready for the Port Markets tomorrow. Also in stock, some very soft and squishy Supersocke (80%wool/20%nylon, 100gm/approx. 400m, $28.00AU) in both a light mermaid mix (blues/greens) and a red floralish/berryish blend SIOz colours.

Handspun Part II:

Handspun Australian Merino in SIOz Way Over the Rainbow

First hank of 2ply lace yarn finished. I went a bit more random on the plying than I had originally planned, but I like the result.

Happy knitting, spinning, playing with wool. M

SIOz Shop Online

Right -- this online shop thingo? Wellll. It's taking longer than I could imagine. But the site has been updated today and the kits, as well as some yarns, have been loaded.
In the meantime, just email or ring as you all have been doing (THANK YOU!) and we'll get your yarn, etc... out to you asap.
As always, thank you to the people who continue to support my Real Life retail at Port Adelaide Markets. I look forward to seeing you all and esp. seeing what is on the needles, spindles, and wheels.
For XMAS: I'll have a stock of wrapping for people who'd like their purchases gift-wrapped. If you are ordering by mail, make sure you request gift wrapping in your notes on your order.
Cheers, and see you at the markets, Melissa

way over the rainbow carded wool

I've posted some notes (on my personal blog) on spinning the wool shown above for those intrepid SIOz customers who have stashed the showbag pressie wool from BSWS 2009. I've been plying the results and will post piccies soon as well.

In between design duties, I've been planning the new season yarns. One the dyelist:

• new banana palm silks
• new aloo and hemp (rich red has been requested)
• new designs for soy and cotton/bamboo

The Port Market space has been restocked -- including some killer new hanks of Nepalese Laceweight Singles, as well as new lots of sock wool.

CU at the Port and online! Melissa