Huge thanks to Finger Lakes Fiber Fest and the Knitters Day Out

Due to a Super Duper Spam attack, I've not had access to the strandedblog. Glad to be able to thank the spinners, knitters, crocheters, felters and fiber(re) enthusiasts of all persuasions in Upstate New York, finally!

Finger Lakes Fest was a perfect weekend -- I fell in love with Zuzu -- the Pygora goat. She will always be my goat, even if I couldn't buy her and take her home. We could hear Zuzu in the barn next to her enclosure! Nice set of lungs she has. And an amazing coat.

B. talked me out of purchasing an enormous Cormo fleece -- from a lovely sheep named Tony Tiger. While I didn't get the fleece, I did get some combed top to spin from his farm. Oh yes indeed.

Hello to Sandra and Louise -- The Two Wool Crazy Ladies -- who shared their good humour and cuddly Romney fibre. Check out their yarns, rug hooking, and fibre at the Fall Fiber Frolic (PA) in Nov.

The weather was perfect and the people incredibly talented and dedicated to their woolly pursuits. The fairground was lovely -- our stall was in the cleanest shed I've ever seen! Check out the amazing natural light through the special roof!

Thank you to everyone who bought our yarns and fibers(res). See you next year!

GO KDO!

Enormous thanks to the extraordinary knitters at the Knitters Day Out this past weekend at Central PA College. The organisers do an outstanding job, the vendors are awesome -- whoever is the sales rep for Malabrigo yarns in PA is smiling -- their kettled-dyed lovelies are everywhere. The talent of the students and teachers at this event is noteable. So many interesting and beautiful projects on the needles during breaktimes! It was so much fun to look at what was being knitted; I found it hard to go back to the booth with all the knitting activity happening around me.

But of course, I was there to sell yarn and am grateful for the enthusiasm and positive response to my work. Thank you to everyone.

The biggest surprise of my 2009 USA festival tour has been the response to one of my own favourite designs -- A Coloured Sheep Shawl. Thanks heaps to everyone who has wanted the pattern and kits. Due to the overwhelming response (THANKS!) I have sent out an SOS to Oz and have arranged another shipment of wool. It will take a few weeks, but a very limited amount is coming. I still encourage those who have purchased the pattern to seek out your local sheepwool producers to buy as locally as possible. It is in the spirit of the reason for the pattern to do so. If you have questions regarding substituting yarns for the pattern, please feel free to contact me at melissa AT strandedinoz DOT com.

The new prints of A CSS pattern will be posted this week from the list of festival orders.
Onward!

This weekend, B and I head to VT for the Sheep and Wool Festival in Central VT (see link in sidebar). Keep fingers crossed for lovely autumn weather! I'm told this event is one of the best, so Google those driving directions, load up on the Dunkin Donuts coffee and head on out to VT for a weekend of wool and autumn colour.

SIOz near you?

Thank you to all the Stranded In Oz retailers -- the new shipment is heading to Near and Far, Cygnet TAS, so be sure to check with them for their latest stock of SIOz yarns, including the first new lots of soy yarn for the spring and summer season.

And a thank you to Knitters Dreams in Harrisburg, PA, a new SIOz stockist of my sock yarns.

New lots of Nepalese Yarns... are heading to VT and beyond. The lots will keep coming as I dye my way through the new So Sari (wool/recycled sari blend) and Hemp and Wool, just in time for the US autumn.

CU at the fests, Melissa

On the Road Again...

Just unpacked from Garden State Sheep Breeders Festival -- which included an awesome display of the most beautiful Border Collies ever, when I've got turn around and head to upstate New York for the Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival! Waaahoooo! It's going to be amazing. Look for SIOz along with Bitsyknits.

Thank you to all the very cool knitters, spinners, felters, crocheters who came by to say hello and buy our yarns and fibres. We had an amazing time.

Onward to Hemlock, NY and points beyond...
Cheers, M

Off to NJ Sheep Breeders Show

Hi and G'day to SIOz knitters, spinners, crocheters, and fibre addicts of all persuasions.

A quick email to say hello and that I'm off to the NJ Sheep Breeder's Show this weekend. A quick trip to hook up with Bitsyknits and we're off. This year, the show includes the International Shetland Breeders meeting, so it should be a corker.

Don't let the name of the show fool you -- there's plenty for fibre addicts of any type -- fibre, yarn, and of course, sheep, llama, and alpaca to play with.

A sad note: John, from Los Surinos (Adelaide Hills) passed away. I've only just learned about it. John was a fellow trader at the Port Adelaide Markets and an all-around ACE person. He will be missed. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

If you are planning a trip to this weekend's show, do stop by. I have special sock patterns for the Llama Rescue Project -- all the money from the sale of these patterns goes directly to the Llama Rescue. So come on by and buy one, or two even!

Spring Yarn: The shipment of new yarns is in and hitting the dyetables -- just painted a new test batch of cotton/viscose DK which will head to the Port Adelaide Markets in the first shipment to Oz. The Soysilk DK has already been SOLD OUT (more to be ordered), but there are several kilos of Soysilk Aran (for quicker knitting) waiting to be dyed.

Awaiting shipment of Tofutsies and will post availability for that when it is ready to GO.

As always, thank you for buying SIOz yarns and fibres.

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.

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

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

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