Sx
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Tour de Fleece Day 1
Friday, 29 June 2012
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Shop Update 29th June at 9:30am!
Shop Update 29th June 2012 – from 9:30am- 10am
Welcome to the next shop update!
‘Wow’ you say… not only is she notifying me a day early, but she’s even put a time of upload on it! Yes, well... in light of the last week I’ve tried to give as much advance warning as possible. The reason being that braids in particular have been flying out of the shop leading to many emails and phone calls about what’s in the next update and what may have been missed. So in the interests of making things a little fairer and easier, I’m changing the way I update;
- Update days – You can find the dates of these at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/page/5172-events.aspx. I use Google calendar for my event diary. So if you have a Google account you can add specific events to your own calendar and set alarms if you wish…
- Update times – I will update the shop at 9:30 each update day and do my best to finish by 10am. If I cannot meet this time, I will add a notice to the event page.
- Stock – I will also try to update the diary with contents of each update as I get them ready. These will also be added to the news section of my website (links on home page), which will also be added to social networking sites (facebook, twitter, ravelry, etc…) I will try to have this ready at least 1 day in advance of the update.
- Photos – I will try to make sure that instead of teasing you with photos of some of the product in the update, I will include all of them. That way if you miss something you will know what it looked like… and if you want to custom order then you know what to ask for. I will make my lists below match the order of the photos from top left to right and so on.
- Etsy – If you shop with me on Etsy too (http://www.etsy.com/shop/SarasTextureCrafts), then I will also be updating here at the same time. I will try to have the same stock levels and variety, but please note that my website is my main update priority.
I hope this helps?
I have also doubled my production capacity recently, so I am hoping to have more than 1 of each hand dyed item available. This means that there is now more chance to get your hands on something during an update. Remember so things go faster than others, so please try and keep an eye on the update news and events.
…
Ok… Today is all about the hand dyed… a chance to grab braids and fleece for spinning, or felt making.
Here’s the list;
-
Hand dyed Tops – I have 2 of most braids;
- BFL Hyacinth
- BFL Dartmoor
- BFL Wildflowers (just 1)
- BFL Nightfall (just 1)
- FalklandFall Leaves
- FalklandHarlequinn
- Merino Autumn (just 1)
- Merino Anemone (just 1)
- Merino Pansy (just 1)
-
Hand dyed Fleece – these are easy to draft from in most cases. Where you have a curl and don’t want to make an art yarn, then you can card by hand (you can use a drum carder, but I recommend a quick comb by hand just to loosen the curls).
- BFL Dartmoor
- BFL Fall Leaves
- BFL Nebula
- Romney Marsh Malachite
- Romney Marsh Fall Leaves
- Romney Marsh Nebula
- Romney Marsh Bluebell Woods
- Romney Marsh Dartmoor
- Romney Marsh Nightfall
-
Hand dyed Knops – great for felt making or spinning.
- Tourmaline
- Fall Leaves
You can find all of these in the shop at www.sarastexturecrafts.com, by selecting the hand dyed category from the shop menu bar. I have added this to the front page for this update.
Sara x
Next Update Due: 6th July! This will include more fleeces (depending on the weather for shearing) and stock (including yarns) left from both June shows (WSD Somerset Guild Fleece day and the Lace Guild Sale day).
Don’t forget to come and see me at my next events! http://sarastexturecrafts.com/page/5172-events.aspx
Customer Photos: Jo's Free Machine Embroidery ATCs!
I always love Jo and her sister's work over at Sisters Crafty Creations blog shop... they turn their hands to some lovely sewing craft work! So it's really wonderful that they choose to use some of my products in their work... a real honour.
This is a picture from Jo's blog http://twiglet5.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/woyww-little-dumfling-update.html
... where she used some of my PreFelt as a base.
Thanks for sharing Jo... as ever, I am thrilled to see your work!
Sara x
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Tour de Fleece Prep
Ooo the Manx feels so soft I want to start spinning now! ... Wondering if I should put the rest of the fleece on to wash?
Sara x
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
3 Month Fibre Club!
Coming Soon!
Due to many request and a sucessful customer poll I will be opening a 3 month hand dyed tops club at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com. There will be 30 spots (world-wide shipping) and these will be opened to my newsletter mailing list firstly. To be in with a chance please join the list at http://sarastexturecrafts.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=034d65ea7755ec79ab11ad55e&id=8b697643c0 and watch out for your special update email!
Sara x
Monday, 25 June 2012
Hand dyed update in Etsy... The rest will follow on Friday 29th!
Taken at Www.sarastexturecrafts.etsy.com
Sunday, 24 June 2012
The day after the busy week...
A big think you to everyone who kept me busy dyeing last week, despite being a boiler ring down... Orders are out or packed for tomorrow's post run. I should also thank Makro for having a great customer service and replacing said boiler ring without a quibble. I'll test the new one on a couple of custom dye orders this coming week, while I photograph stock for this coming Fridays (29th) shop update.
We have a wonderful time at the Devon Lace Teachers Guild Day yesterday. This was an 'open to all' sale at Exeter Racecourse. It was great to meet new faces and to say hello to fellow stall holders I've met on occasion at other textile shows. It was also wonderful to see all of that stunning lace work!
After the show we rushed home to scrub up for a Wedding reception in the evening... We had great fun and Darrin really restrained himself over the hog roast... I was proud... Bless him!
This afternoon I plan to do nothing more than sit on the sofa, knit and watch podcasts!
Hope you are all having a great weekend too?
Sara x
Friday, 22 June 2012
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Customer Photos: Hunskeli's Annis Shawlette
It's been quite active on Ravelry recently and it's been a lovely way to see what people are making. Hunskeli from Finlandfinshed this stunning shawl!
You can see teh project details here... http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Hunskeli/annis and find teh knitting pattern here... http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/annis. Needless to say I added the pattern to my queue of projects... what a great way to use handspun!
Just look at that lace work... stunning!
Hunskeli used my Merino 80/20 blend in colourway Dusk. Thank you for sharing!
Sara x
Monday, 18 June 2012
Meet the Zwartbles Lambs...
A few weeks ago D and I went to visit the Zwartbles farm I use... by the time we got there the sheep had made their way across the fields away from the farmhouse, so instead of tracking them down (in the rain) we sat had tea with the Farmer and his wife.
While we were chatting we were given some newly taken photos of recent lambs with their mothers. Aren't they just beautiful!
This little fella is a good size and muscle build for his young age. In fact all signs are that he'll make a very good ram.
Have you ever spun with Zwartbles?
A dutch breed, Zwartbles is fast becoming a popular breed with UK farmers. It is an easy lambing breed, which procudes good meat yield. The fleece in the past has mostly been sent for carpets, because of the dryer and more coarse ends. However, if prepared well is handspins beautifully.
The fleece staple has a medium to fine crimp and colours from black to chocolate sun-kissed tips. It is not a lanolin rich fleece, so takes little washing and does have some lustre. In feel it is closest to the Norwegian and Jacob tops I sell and would felt or spin up with a wonderful texture.
Count: 28-30 micron/Bradford 54-56, Staple: 4-5 inches (10-12.5 cm)
Find fleece available for sale here... http://sarastexturecrafts.com/category/2508-zwartbles.aspx
Try some today!
Sara x
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Dowland Country Fair & Dog Show
What a lovely day! We watched gun dogs working and falconry, met Star the amazing Duck, had a go at dowsing (water divination... I'm a natural apparently!), saw Suffolk Horses as big as houses, spoke with Repto man about his collection of snakes, spiders and bugs... We also wandered the plant and craft stalls... And of course ate our weight in Hot Dogs and Burgers!
If you are around next year, I really do recommend this show for a family day out.
Sara x
Saturday, 16 June 2012
WSD Somerset Guild's Fleece Day
Wow, what a wonderful day we've had... A big thank you to the Somerset Guild for having us show as part of the line up for today's fleece day. They worked very hard at putting things together and demonstrating everything from wool combs to lace knitting... D enjoyed the cake and tea!
I would have liked to have taken a picture if the stall, but as soon as we came in it was a bit of a blur... I've almost lost my voice!
I did grab some fleece though... Always thinking of our shop stock (and fleece club!), so watch the shop for news of new fluff as I get it listed.
I need to work on some more batts and hand dyed fluff for next week's Lace Guild meet (open to all). Tgat will keep me busy! Having said that if you need anything you saw on the stall that's not yet on the site drop me a line...
I hope everyone is having a lovely Sarurday? I'm off to put my feet up and ignore the football!
Friday, 15 June 2012
16th of June Somerset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers - Fleece Sale & Open Day
Don't forget to come and find me tomorrow! I will be taking a small selection of hand dyed fibre, fleece and yarn.
Open to all... 10:30 - 3pm
Hatch Beauchamp Village Hall, Village Road, Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset .
See you there!
Sara x
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Crediton Courior May 2012 - photos by Alan Quick (Editorial Manager/Photographer)
So I'm reading my copy a few weekes ago and take special interest in the Devon County Show piece (great coverage)... and guess what?!
There's little old me!
Big thank you to Alan Quick who took the photos and wrote the piece.
Sara x
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Tour de Fleece - Yellow Jersey Colourway Options Extended Due to High Demand!
That's right folks... after selling out last night, I have come up with a range of new bases you can have your 'Yellow Jersey' dyed in.
You can find the listing at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com and you can choose from;
- BFL
- BFL/Sparkle (while stocks last)
- Cheviot
- Falkland
- Merino
- Shetland
Sara x
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Tour de Fleece 2012- Team Sara's Texture Crafts Prep & Prize!
I decided to start the prep work for the Tour de Fleece... I've had a reaction to Lanolin because of all of the processing I'm doing at the moment, so I need to wash out the Lanolin from the fleece I want to spin.
I've gone with a Manx fleece, because I fell in love with both the sheep and the fleece at recent shows and farm visits. I'd love to make a yarn that preserves the colour change in the fleece.
Rich Moorit brown with lighter tips the Manx Loaghtan fleece is widely sought after.
Count: 46/54 Bradford, 28/37 micron. Staple length:7-10cm
Originally bred on the Isle of Man, this sheep is now found across the UK. Both sexes are horned and can have up to 6 horns! The fleece is beautifully coloured and soft, so makes excellent yarns and felted items.
If you'd like to try some for yourself you can find in on my website at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/category/592-sheeps-fleece.aspx with price options for 100g, 250g, 500g and 1000g.
I will let you know how prep work goes as we draw closer to the start of the Tour de Fleece on www.Ravelry.com (30th June).
Sara x
Don't forget!
If you'd like to take part and spin with me, you can find the details of my competition, website discount and prize at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/news/528-tour-de-fleece-special-discount-and-competition-2012.aspx
Here's a picture of the prize... 'Yellow Jersey' in Merino and Sparkle blend.
Monday, 11 June 2012
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Friday, 8 June 2012
Shop Update 8th June 2012
Shop Update 8th June 2012
Welcome to the next shop update! I’m a little bit early this week, as I updated on Thursday the 7th instead of Friday the 8th… the reason being that I’m out at the Crediton Spinning Group tomorrow afternoon and the rest of the day I shall be prepping for the show next week… of course I’m here if you need to contact me!
So it’s a short one this week, but hopefully plenty of fluff for you to play with!
Ok, here’s the list;
- Custom Order of Tour de Fleece Prize colourway Yellow Jersey – you don’t need to be in the competition to buy an order, although you will need to enter for a chance to win one! Website orders will be dyed to order and turn around times will be dependant on stock and drying times.
- Knit Patterns – I have a new free spin and knit project, called Blackberry bush headband. I am working on some more ideas from handspun yarns and I hope to release these later in the year.
- Fleece – I have my first Wensleydale and Texel fleeces. I also have some hand dyed options in Shetland and Teeswater/Kerry Hill.
You can find all of these in the shop at www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Sara x
Next Update Due: 29th June! This will include more fleeces (depending on the weather for shearing) and stock left from both June shows (WSD Somerset Guild Fleece day and the Lace Guild Sale day).
Don’t forget to come and see me at my next events as I’ll probably be showing exclusive new hand dyed shades! http://sarastexturecrafts.com/page/5172-events.aspx
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Somerset WSD guild's Fleece Day - open to all!
Somerset Fleece Fair
I will be taking a small selection of hand dyed fibre, fleece and yarn.
If you need to pick up an order, please let me know 3 days in advance with
full payment. This will ensure I have enough time to process.
|
When
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Sat 16 Jun 10:30 – 15:00 |
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Where
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Hatch Beauchamp Village Hall, Village Road, Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset.
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While this is a guild meeting I do believe it is open to non-members.... So come along, meet the guild and fill your bags with goodies!
Sara x
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Free Knitting Pattern – Blackberry Bush Headband
This is a simple pattern using my Merino twice blend, which has been spun into a two ply sock weight/light fingering yarn.
Skill Level – Beginner
Fibre – Sara’s Texture Crafts, see here.
Download the pattern at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/products/59033--free-knitting-pattern-blackberry-bush-headband.aspx
If you are on Ravelry you can cast on the pattern at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blackberry-bush-headband
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Monday, 4 June 2012
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Friday, 1 June 2012
Customer Photos: Ammie's Tail Spinning
I've been spending a bit more time on Ravelry lately, as the group over there has become a bit more active. In the group I love to catch up with what people are making with my fibres and yarn... not just because I love to see it and share it with you (my customers are a pretty talented bunch, bless 'em!), but also because I hope it inspires your work, or for you to try something new.
I just saw this from a new member (and new spinner) Ammie aka Craftcrazy...
Firstly I dyed some Gotland Fleece.
I called it Fire Opal.
Ammie purchased and then tailspun some of the locks into her wonderful art yarn.
Ammie is hoping to make a cowl for a friend's xmas gift.
Isn't this just fab?! This is why I love sharing work... not only do customer's some up with the most amazing and creative ideas, but it really does make me feel honoured that they chose to shop with me and include some of the fibre and yarn that I love to make.
Thank you Ammie!
Sara x
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