Last Days of Posting before christmas at Sara's Texture Crafts

Sara’s Texture Crafts Holiday Dates and last day of posting

I will be closing early this year, as I have an operation in mid December. So here are my dates;

Christmas closure – 10th Dec to the 4th of January 2011. All orders and queries made over this time will be dealt with on my return on the 5th of Jan.
Last day of Posting is 10th Dec. All orders paid for by 5pm will qualify for shipping before I close for Christmas… some of which may go out over the weekend or on the Monday 13th, but no later. Please do not call in orders after 5pm 10th Dec, as they will not qualify for pre-Christmas shipping. After the 10th I will be uncontactable.
Apologies for closing early… unfortunately it is unavoidable this year. I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and would like to thank you for all of your support this last year!

Sara xx
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/



Royal Mail Last dates of posting for a Pre-Christmas delivery
International Airmail; Mon 6th Dec - South & Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East (incl. Japan), Australia & New Zealand. Fri 10th Dec - Eastern Europe, USA & Canada. Monday 13th Dec - Western Europe.
UK Inland Mail; Wed 15th Dec – Standard Parcels, Sat 18th Dec – 2nd Class and Recorded Signed For, Tue 21st Dec – First Class and Recorded signed For, Thu 23rd Dec - UK Inland Special delivery.

New for December at Sara's Texture Crafts

Today is a quick update…
I’m going to be at the following events this month, press for the link;

Yard Sale!

5th December 11-3pm.

I look forward to meeting anyone who can make the sale! Sara x

Product/Craft of the Month...  Hand Spun Yarns! After the success I had with my hand-spuns at the November shows, I’m very proud to start listing these new yarns on my website. Each yarn will be slightly different and weights/quantities will vary. These will be a mixture of spindle and wheel created yarns, with fibres from my range, or something wonderfully different I have found on my travels. Find these under my ‘art’, textured and hand-spun yarns page at Art/Textured/Handspun Yarn

Other New stock this month… (Click on a title)

+ Gotland Cross hits the store!

+ Shetland Humbug in stock!

+ Cotton now available!

+ New Fibre bases in stock!

+ Hand Dyed MaWata Silk!

+ SALE page now open!

+ Dark Brown Blue Faced Leicester!

+ Jacob Tops now in Stock!

+ Handspun yarns!

+ Mohair Boucle Yarn!

+ New Limited Edition Batts!

+ New Wensleydale Curls in stock!

+ DMC threads!

+ Yarns back in stock

+ Bulk Order for Yarns to Hand Dye

+ Bulk Orders for Felting Needles.

+ Snowflake Needle felt Mould!

+ Product/Craft of the Month... November 2010

Learning Centre – (click on a title)
Fibre Texture Tutorials: Silk Hankies 22 November 2010 | Mariana

Customer Questions: Waldorf Needle felt project… where to start? 15 November 2010 | sarastexturecrafts

Easidye All-in-one Acid Dyes from Sara’s Texture Crafts – Microwave Method 05 November 2010 | sarastexturecrafts

Designing Sock Yarn – Part Eight – It’s Dyeing Day 01 November 2010 | spinningmad

Until next month, HAPPY CRAFTING!
www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Merry go around: How to care for your art - information for buyers

I occasionally do get aftercare questions from customers, or how to use questions. I've always tried to answer these as best I can... I don't claim to be any expert, but am always happy to help with information I have learned through experience, books and friends.

I decided a while ago to write a basic guide to aftercare for your wool and looking after your fibre and to put a site together with handy hints and tips for other fibre addicts http://sarastexturecrafts.wordpress.com/. This is always a work in progress and with the help of some pretty inspiring fellow artists I'm hoping it will go a long way to bettering it's starting point and provide more help and tutorials.

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

----------------

This post was part of a blog Merry go Around, where I have got together with some friends to talk about a similar subject on the same day... a nice way to meet people!

Mitsy at MindArt - http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/
Kim at Vilt a la Kim - http://viltalakim.blogspot.com/
Sara at Crafts of Texture - http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/
Fabienne at Easterya Jewellery Creations - http://easterya.blogspot.com/
Mariana at Florcita - http://www./florcita.eu/
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent - http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/
Lily at Lily Pang Art and Design - http://lilypangart.blogspot.com/
Ruth at Birdland Creations - http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/

Back to spinning

I had taken a break from Spinning late last week, as the tablets I'm on just didn't agree with me. Last night was the first time I really wanted to look at the wheel again...


So I decided to spin up one of my hand painted Blue Faced Leicester tops. I've been dyeing these as I've been dyeing my yarns, using up the left over dye stuff... In part to give me more choice in spinning yarns for the shop and in part to see if I could start work on colourways for the new range I am planning for 2011.


This is 'River'!

I just need to set and skein it ready for sale... I was really pleased, as the fibre span like butter.

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Customer Photos: A Mosaic!

1. Gentleman Thomas by Alida Bears, 2. superbear500 by Keith Sunderland, 3. Cords, green and purple by Florcita, 4. Humbug Aeolian by Puddytatpurr, 5. Felted Forest Scarf By Molly Made, 6. Blue face leicester shawl by Creative Bumble Bee.

You can find their photos on my customer Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1303917@N20/. Most of these artists sell their work, so do check out their profile links!

Sara x

All of these items were made with fibre from my shop at http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

I'm still here promise!

Just busy trying to get all of my new yarns up on the website... I was lucky enough to have some comissions too, so have been dying, drying and sending those.

I hope to get back on top of blogging real soon...
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Spinning like a Crazy person!

Partly because I need more stock since the show (which is unbelievably fantastic, thank you!), but also because it's sooooo addictive!


I'm back using my pre prepared blend from the shop at the moment, but can't wait to try more fancy stuff.


I've even asked for a tapestry frame for Christmas... I'm thinking handspuns and Curly fleece??

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Knit-Expo

As you know this show was my first real outing as a yarn seller...


I've spent weeks dyeing and spindle spinning to complete my first show range. So as you can imagine I was a bit nervous... Not really nervous, but full of hope and anticipation maybe.

I also did my first demo on Spinning, which was a bit worrying too!


I have to say, Exeter didn't dissappoint... They came out in force, very eager to soak up the atmosphere and pick up new tips. I love people's enthusiasm!

I was amazed and thrilled, not only did I sell handdyed yarns and get a commission from a machine knitter (a wonderfully, talented lady), but I also sold a lot of my handspuns! This has given me so much confidence to keep going and to try more complicated yarns... So thank you. Crafters of Exeter, you rock!

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Knit-Expo Prep...

I know I've been very quiet here on the blog, but that's because I'm mid prep for Knit-Expo, in Exeter (13th Nov).

I'm really looking forward to it, as it will be my second show where I get to show off my yarns, but my first real knit/crochet orientated showcase. So that quiet exciting! I think most people think of me as the felt lady, so it will be nice to show that I do spinning and knitting supplies.

Here are some of my handdyed yarns rinsing and drying...

 I'm also concerntrating on spinning too, so I have made several arty batts (rolags)...

 Here's some more yarn drying... my living room looks like a yarn shop!

 And I'm starting to sell my handspuns too... like this one...

 So do please come and take a look... and I apologise in advance for the state my hands will be in. At the moment I have a habit of dyeing them odd colours!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Finishing a handspun...

As you know I've been excited with my new found spinning technique this last week. To the point where I've been trying new things, which is a hugh step forward for me.


One of these new yarns was from the fabulous dyed Faukland top I bought myself... The colour reminded me of Dartmoor as we drove through it to the show at the weekend.


It spun up like a dream into thick and thin singles (much more controlled, which was great).


So I decided rather than leave it as a single, or ply it against itself, instead I would try something new.


I have loads of silk embroidery thread left over from my textile and fashion design days... I couldn't part with it even after two house moves! So finally I had an idea... Why not ply the single yarn against it?


I had seen a customer do this with some handdyed Shetland she had bought from me... Photos can be found on my Flickr group (link under gallery page on www.sarastexturecrafts.com )

Plying against thread seemed to give a bumpy texture... Maybe I could achieve this?

I decided to do this on my spindle, yeah it would take longer, but I do have more control that way.

And so here it is ready to be set and skeined.


I'm quiet pleased... Scratch that, very pleased with how it came out and in fact it's really boosted my confidence to try other ideas (I'm thinking beads and stuff!)

What have you been making?

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Merry Go Around Challenge

So we decided for December's post to swap a stash item and make something with it.


My beautiful little bird arrived from Ruth of www.birdlandcreations.com and I've been waiting for inspiration to strike... And struck it has, so I'm planning my materials as I type. I don't think I'll get time to finish it completely before December, but I hope to have the part that features the bird ready to go.

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

P.S. Sorry the photo is round the wrong way... I can't change it on my phone. You get the idea though!

An addiction!

Honestly I thought feltmaking was addictive, but it doesn't seem to compare (at the moment) to my spinning addiction!



I learnt to spin in the spindle and for quiet some time managed only to spin thick and thin singles. Until that was I hit a Eureka moment.

I have no idea where it came from or what I did differently that day, but suddenly my yarns became smooth and fine, almost lace weight.



I had a wheel by this time and again could spin thick and thin singles, but never really got the hang of things or even enjoyed the experience as much.

Until, this last weekend!

I met a customer/Twitter pal, Shani from http://www.dyeverse.org/ at the Duchy Square show and luckily she had brought her double tredle wheel with her. After explaining my theory that my single tredle was my problem, the very lovely Shani allowed me a little play time with her wheel. I can't tell you what a difference it made to my technique and thought processes about wheel spinning... Suddenly a click of inspiration hit me!

I came home and started spinning on my wheel again and although I definately still want a double tredle, my single tredle Ashford Joy wheel suddenly made sence and there I was, Spinning!




Now I have lots of yarns to set... If you are coming to Knit-Expo in November, ask me to show you my progress!

Bye for now,
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Duchy Square Friday & Saturday

This is a little late... but here is what I would have posted on Friday/Saturday evening, if my blog would let me in to post!!

Friday - http://sarastexturecrafts.tumblr.com/post/1432825665/duchy-square-friday
Saturday - http://sarastexturecrafts.tumblr.com/post/1440308156/duchy-square-saturday

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/