Mother's Day Special for Port Markets Sunday

This week's Port Markets Special -- Buy 100gms of hand-painted yarn on Mother's Day Sunday and get a Free Pair of lovely bamboo knitting needles (the sustainable wood for knitters!). This offer is good for online purchases as well.

There are plenty of hand-painted hanks of 8ply and 5ply to choose from -- great for accessories and for mixing with plain colours.

For a quick gift idea, why not give Mum a hand-painted silk velvet scarf -- reg size $40.00AU.

Hand-Painted Silk Velvet Scarf in Autumn colours

McLaren Vale -- shown in 2ply Australian Wool and Handspun Nepal Singles

Waving hello from Port Adelaide

Hello -- it seems Clipsal scared away most folks from visiting the Port yesterday. Still, it was fun to see everyone who stopped by, including Leona and Trixie, an intrepid duo who are really excellent company -- I'm sure the neighbours heard us laughing.

We played with the basics of making dorset buttons and I can't wait to see what they make. Trixie loves to make things with beads, so look out! There are going to be some very nicely embellished people in the eastern suburbs very soon. And Leona is making an artwear vest in soy (colourway Semaphore). 

I'm continually grateful to all the fibre addicts who come by and talk about what they are doing. It's especially gratifying when I meet the family -- so many women come by with their mums and daughters. It's lovely to meet you all. One mum went away with a new gemstone drop spindle -- it was my latest favourite in an olive-coloured jade. Gorgeous thing it is. There are some new Chuppah Whorl spindles -- one in blue and yellow, the other Cool Britannia (just as it sounds, yup, the Union Jack done all trippy/swirly!).

I know it's a hike to the Port, but I just want to say, thank you for making it! And do come by to bring what you made. I felt terrible while I was in the USA when someone came by and I wasn't there! But fear not, as I am planning the entire winter (except my dates in Bendigo, and you'll be there, right?) here in Adelaide. I don't think of leaving 'til it warms up. I mean, summer here is just. Well, you know.

New Yarn Photos: 

Handspun Wool (70%) and Recycled Sari Silk (30%) $8.00AU per 50gm hank-- hand-dyed by SIOz in Violet semi-solid

Handspun Hemp and Wool (in Think Global)

and Handspun Wool and Sari Silk (Violet semi-solid) $8.00AU per 50gm hank

Handspun Hemp and Wool Hand-Paint in Sherwood Forest $8.00 per 50gm hank

 

Sherwood Forest Sock Wool $25.00AU per 100gm hank

Here's a beaut from Audrey in Victoria -- look what she did with some Nepalese wool singles in McLaren Vale (it was my best lot to date!):

Copyright 2009 mataharimau (Ravelry)

SIOz photos to be posted this week include a new supply of painted silk velvet (older posts have photos of these). The previous lot is gone, except for the stole in Phantom Purple, which is magically moving its way towards my bureau. The photos don't do the colours justice. 

 

Hand-Painted Autumn Colours Silk Velvet Scarf $40.00AU

Dark Semaphore Hand-Painted Velvet Silk Scarf $40.00

The banana palm silk and aloo are undyed at the moment and will get the SIOz treatment this week. The colourways will match the silk velvet, so you can knit something to coordinate. I'm planning some new mixes in darker colours for autumn and winter. If you haven't tried my banana silk, do order a hank with your next yarn order. You won't be sorry, as this yarn will inspire you to embellish something as soon as you open the package.

As always, I will try to upload photos as they are ready. 

Getting another day at the Port

Thank you to everyone who came by today at the Port. We're open again tomorrow from 9-5!

There's been a run on the banana palm silk -- good thing the weather should be nice and warm for some wild colours midweek. I'll post those as soon as possible.

The sock yarn has been depleted -- yay, so the new lots will have to go up this week as well. Thank you to all you fabulous sock knitters! There's still plenty of Tofutsies in a rainbow of colours -- it's the hand-paints that are gone -- There's one 100gm lot of Friar Tuck in Tofutsies left, as well as a couple semi-solids - red, aqua, and a dark green.

And the cut silk velvet shawls and scarves are all but gone -- there's one big silk velvet shawl in Phantom left (which I secretly covet) -- there's a photo in an old posting. I'll be painting more velvet as the weather gets cooler. If you'd like to knit something to go with a silk scarf, feel free to contact me with your colour order. I'm happy to coordinate fibres with the scarves and shawls.

Thanks especially to Heather -- lovely to meet you -- and to the intrepid Melbournian who went away with my favourite premium merino 8ply in Queen Anne's Garden. I'm having trouble sourcing that yarn and am looking for a suitable replacement. There's a kilo left which I plan to dye in the next week -- so keep a look out for those. 50gms is enough to make a fab little beanie or a pair of hand cosies.

See you at the Port - m

Merry Christmas

Persimmon Banana Palm Silk and a Cut Silk Velvet Scarf

Thank you to everyone who came by on the Sunday before the Christmas holiday. Check back the week after for a listing of New Year's Specials. Yes, there were more than a few knitters who said, I must wait to see what Santa leaves under the tree, but I'll be back!

The Persimmon Banana Palm Silk has been claimed -- by our good friend, Luci, at Think Global in Hove, SA. She has the knack for plucking the best SIOz colours for her shop -- if you like to buy local and love buying green, check out her shop. Run, don't walk, down there. Staying away from the organic, fair trade chocolate is a challenge. So if you can't get to Port Adelaide on Sundays, Think Global has SIOz banana silks, premium sari silk, and hemp and wool in stock.

Here's a picture of the batch of phantom purple. The shawl on the right is incredibly soft and plush cut velvet. I don't think the photos do the colour full justice. Hope it looks good on your computer.

Vivid Green (it's an incredibly happy green)

It must be spinning and felting season, as spinning fibre was a best-seller on Sunday. There will be some special Blue Faced Leicester from one of my favourite farms in the US for after Christmas. It has to be touched to be believed. This is not to say that our Australian-bred BFL isn't lovely -- it is just different. Hard to describe -- but it must be the different climate and feeds, farming methods, etc... The same lovely properties of the breed with a Yank accent.

So here's to a happy and fun holiday with friends and family. See you at the Port!

Melissa