Ewe Beaut Fibre Sampler

The Bird and The Fish

2010-11-03T03:09:00.000-07:00

www.birdandthefish.blogspot.com

Susannes House of Wool

2010-11-03T02:49:00.000-07:00

www.susanneshouseofwool.com

Eco Yarns

2010-11-03T02:28:00.000-07:00

www.ecoyarns.com.au

Waratah Fibres

2010-11-03T02:21:00.000-07:00

www.waratahfibres.com.au

Rosnasharn Soaps

2010-10-26T23:49:00.000-07:00

www.rosnasharnfarm.com

Shiloh Wool

2010-10-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

www.shilohwool.blogspot.com

Kathy's Samples

2010-10-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

www.kathysfibres.com

Amanda Katz Stitchmarkers

2010-10-23T21:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.yourjewellery.com/

Celia's samples

2010-10-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

www.celiasbasket.com

Benji's Buttons

2010-10-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.buttonsbybenji.blogspot.com/

Moseley Park

2010-10-12T02:51:00.000-07:00

Yay for Yarn

2010-10-12T02:42:00.000-07:00

Raxor's samples

2010-04-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Last one for now for the quick posts....

Here are the gorgeous samples from Raxor who has sent in some delightful raw alpaca fleece for us to play with. This is from the alpaca called 'Brinley' who has three lovely daughters on the farm that is Raxor's. This fleece is straight from Brinley's back so still has that incedibly fresh, soft feeling- just like patting a live alpaca! :)

The samples all have a great crimp to them and are so soft and smooth. It would be great to see these spun straight up with all those natural oils still in the yarn or even as a cute needle felting project! The great thing about this soft neutral, natural colour is that you could leave it as is and it would look beautiful, or you could dye it very easily as it would take up the colour wonderfully.

Raxor also stocks a variety of knitted products, jewellery and thick, smooshy handspun. I have seen some of her spinning before and it is very well made. Why not go and check out her stock at http://www.etsy.com/shop/raxor I'm sure there will be something you will fall in love with!

Thanks for the samples Raxor!

(more photos to follow)

Knits and Pretties Samples

2010-04-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Another very quick post while prebuying options go out...

Here are the samples from Bec from Knits and Pretties - aren't they spectacular? I am just a little bit in love with the dark one hiding away in the background. It reminds me of black forest cake! Yum!!

These stunning samples are handpainted, light fingering weight yarn and best of all- all bamboo!!! If you have never felt bamboo yarn before (which I hadn't until these samples came in) then you are in for a real treat. It is incredibly soft yet feels very sturdy and has an amazing sheen to it. Bec also has this yarn undyed in her shop Knits and Pretties if you are one who enjoys dying your own yarn. I personally LOVE these colourways though!

Come on over and have a look at the incredible variety that Bec offers in her shop Knits and Pretties at http://www.knitsandpretties.etsy.com/ (she has some beautiful jewellery too at the moment!).

Thanks Bec for these gorgeous yarns!

(more pics to follow)

Tarndwarncoort Samples

2010-04-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Just a very quick temporary post for you to see the next bunch of contributors who have just finished in time before the prebuy option goes out. This lovely one is from Tarndwarncoort in Victoria. Wendy Dennis from Tarndwarncoort has generously contributed samples of her delicious 4 ply wool and 8 ply wool/silk blends- all made with Polworth wool. The colours for these are absolutely vibrant and strong, ranging from the deepest blues to the softest pinks. I think my favourite is the lively orange hiding away a little in this photo. They are a gorgeous soft and squishy yarn, which I am sure has the gears in everyone mind whirring already at the potential projects! :)

Wendy has been incredibly helpful and welcoming while talking to her about Ewe Beaut, (as I'm sure she is all the time) and has been a pleasure to deal with. I am sure you will be most impressed with her products!

Come have a look at her website for Tarndwarncoort at http://www.ballaratweb.net/wdennis/ and while you are there looking at the yarns, check out the accommodation! Looks like a very relaxing place! Thanks Wendy! I am sure we will all be very impressed by your products.

(More photos to follow.....)

Stranded in Oz

2010-04-26T01:58:00.000-07:00

Hello again!
I would like to introduce our other new contributor to Ewe Beaut- Melissa from Stranded in Oz who has really taken our love them seriously to make some love-ly samples for the Ewe Beauties. She has sent in simply her best reds and roses along with a little bonus to really win us over! :)

Before I gush over the samples themselves I have got to point out the cute and careful way that she packaged them to look like roses! Isn't that gorgeous! :)
They are all luxury fibre samples of organic merino top (oooh! spoilt!) with the one above in sweet dark pinks, mauves and dusty rose.
The colourway below is in cherry reds and rich pinks. Every sample comes with a delicate stitch marker too that has been beautifully presented, being tied to Stranded in Oz's business card with a velvet ribbon! It is the little details like this that make Stranded in Oz's samples very special.
What, me? A little bit in love? How did you guess! :)
I really can't wait for you all to get your samples, but in the meantime, you really have to come and check out Mel's store at http://www.strandedinoz.com/, I had so much fun looking about and dreaming! :)
Thanks Mel!

Yay for Yarn Samples

2010-04-26T01:46:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

We have two exciting new contributors this time! Our first is the lovely Kiri from Yay for Yarn who has sent in four gorgeous colourways for us to try out. Apologies first for the not-so-great photographs- these yarns have such a beautiful shimmer that it is hard to capture, so above is with the flash, below is without, thought I better include both so that you could see how irridescent they really are! Especially 'Starry' colourway (second from the left above, second from the top below) which is a sparkly sock yarn! How cool! It is 98% Australian Merino Superwash and 2% silver.
The colourway up the top of the above photo is 'Knitosophy', something which I think most of us ascribe to! :) 'Knitosophy' is 100% Superfine Australian Merino Superwash (what a mouthful!) so I'm sure you can imagine how lush it is! It is part of Yay for Yarn's Dream in Colour range that includes 'Starry'.
Next one down (underneath starry) is Bearfoot which is part of their Mountain Colours range in a gorgeous superwash, mohair and nylon blend... so soft!! Last but not least is 'Crazyfoot', also part of the Mountain Colours range, which is a superwash merino and nylon blend. This colur is the most vibrant, tempting red sock yarn I have ever seen! Love it!

If you haven't visited Kiri at Yay for Yarn you really should, she is very helpful and has a great range!

You can find her at www.yayforyarn.com.au.

Sthrnx's handmade glass buttons

2010-04-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Have a look at Sthrnx's buttons!! Don't they just get more beautiful every time? Teri from Sthrnx consistently makes her handmade glass buttons to such a high quality that it is always a delight to open her packages. These ones well and truly live up to this expectation with incredible details and thoughtfulness that only Teri can provide.

Every single one of these buttons have been handmade by Teri from Sthrnx making these a true labour of love; a theme that she well and truly embraced when designing these buttons featuring cupids, hearts and deep reds.
These buttons can be used on just about anything, but with the rising popularity of upcycling these would be ideal to give new life to an old garment. I have used them on a knitted cowl and a jacket and both look fantastic with the addition of Sthrnx's handmade glass buttons.

Why not pop over to her store and have a look? Teri often has incredible specials that make her buttons and jewellery even more of a temptation! :)

Sthrnx's Etsy site is- http://www.etsy.com/shop/sthrnx

MadeIt site is- http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=5687

Thanks Teri for generously contributing a gorgeous button for every Ewe Beaut buyer! We are very spoilt! :)

Needle food's Samples

2010-04-01T20:38:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!

Here are the deliciously delectable delights from Needle food! If you have ever bought from Needle food before then you will know the high quality that Michelle consistently provides- and if you haven't used her yarn yet then you are missing out! :)

The tasty yarn treats that Needle food has contributed this time are in the beautiful 'Plumberry Ambrosia' colourway with shades of aqua, purple, green and lime (and a super generous 20grams too!). It is the perfect sock blend of 80% merino/20% nylon and a very wearable 23 microns. This sample is fingering weight so best used on 2-2.75mm needles. Most importantly though, it looks awesome! :)

Needle food is also offering Ewe Beauties a special offer again this time around but you will have to wait til the sampler gets here to find out. At the risk of sounding like a infomercial host 'but wait, there's more...' Needle food is also including a delicious New Zealand 'Whittakers' chocolate with every sample!! Ultra scrummy!

If you haven't been to Needle food's site you really must go and spoil yourself, Michelle always has the best eye for colour!

Needle food's website is-

www.needlefood.co.nz

Thanks again Michelle for such amazing contributions! We have been very spoilt! :)

Eco Yarns' Samples

2010-03-22T22:04:00.001-07:00

Hello all!

How about these little beauties from Eco Yarns! Aren't they delightful! Vivian has lovingly prepared these three gorgeous shades for Valentines Day that will keep the love going all year :)

They are made from light and soft Pakucho Organic cotton that has been made in Peru!
Vivian has carefully prepared each of these samples in three gorgeous shades of light, medium and dark pinks that have a stunning earthy, dusty feel to them (my personal favourite type of pink!).

As with all our contributors, a lot of work has gone into preparing these samples which would have each been specially made for Ewe Beauties and as always, Eco Yarns would have done this with sustainability in mind.

Don't forget to check out all the other eco-friendly products at http://www.ecoyarns.com.au/.

Thanks Eco Yarns for your enchanting and lovable yarns!

Kathy's Fibres

2010-03-22T20:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Here are the gorgeous samples from Kathy's Fibres' ! She has made up two sweet colourways that will woo the fibre lover in us all.
The first is Rosy Red (on the left in the photo above) which is a vibrant fading through different tones of red, but with a definite rosy feel.
The second is 'Pastels' which is a romantic shading of spring greens and watercolour, dusty pinks. Very soft hues that would be beautiful for a feminine piece.
They are both a soft 21.5 micron so are lovely to spin with- and even lovelier to knit with! Kathy always produces a brilliant and consistant quality in her fibres and these certainly meet her high standard.
Always a pleasure to recieve Kathy's contribution as I am sure you will agree! If you haven't tried any of her other colourways out yet, it is well worth. You can find them at http://kathysfibres.com/

Thanks again Kathy for your love-ly contributions!

Waratah's Fibres

2010-02-03T14:57:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

Well we are kicking off this month's contributions with some gorgeous 4 ply from Waratah Fibres. Before I natter, check out their awesome range of colourways that they have generously contributed!

Aren't they incredible?! As you can see on the tag below, these have all been hand-dyed at Waratah Fibres using Whitefaced Woodland Pure Wool (How exotic sounding!!!). These have been beautifully dyed using soft complimenting colours and hues and would make for some delicious socks!! When I finally got the opportunity to head up the Blue Mountains to have a look at them it was all misty (hence the bad lighting!) and cool, perfect weather to start thinking about the impending winter knitting projects. So even though it is still warm, I think these colourways will get you thinking of all the cosy winter knitting coming up!

Make sure you check out their full range at

http://www.waratahfibres.com.au/

Well worth it!

Thanks Waratah Fibres! Can't wait for everyone to see for themselves the eye that you have for colour!

February Box

2010-01-04T22:59:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone,

I am finally getting my act together after a very busy festive season (we move into our new home on Friday!! Yay!!!) so thought I should start asking people what they would like to see as the theme for the next Ewe Beaut sampler.

So if you have a suggestion for a theme for a box for February, I would love to know about it, so drop your suggestion in as a comment, post it on Facebook or let me know on Rav and I will set up a poll on the 10th of January with the suggestions. The person with the most votes will see their theme for the sampler and will snag themselves a free one for their creative energies! :)

Catch you soon!

PS. The facebook comp will finish up by sale time for the box so there is still plenty of time to add friends to our Ewe Beaut group! :)

Posting time!!

2009-12-05T15:41:00.000-08:00

Hey all!
Just to let you all know that they are all packed up and ready to go! I'll be heading to the post office tomorrow armed with washing baskets full of packages... full of fibre and yarn! (Oops and other goodies too!)
Hope you get yours soon! :)
JD

Buying time!!!

2009-12-02T00:41:00.000-08:00

Hey all!!
Prebuys are out, so here are the details for those who missed out who want to pounce for one on Etsy.

Details are…

www.ewebeaut.etsy.com
Friday 4th December
10am Sydney/ 7am Perth

Saturday 5th December
11am Sydney/ 8am Perth

At least 12 samples $25 incl postage for Australians, extra $5 for NZ

Good luck to all the pouncers out there!!! :)

Eco Yarns' Samples

2009-12-01T14:08:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

Here are the last samples for our Christmas box and we are finishing it off with a bang! :)
These are from Eco Yarns and are incredible! These are gorgeous little samples of a merino and carbon blend, sounds strange but the result is wonderfully soft 19.5 micron fibre that even non-spinners will be tempted by.

To explain what carbon is a bit better, this is what I have found on their website-

"According to the American Chemical Society, in 1879, Thomas Edison invented the first incandescent light bulb. It used electricity to heat a thin strip of material, called a filament, until it glowed. Edison may also have created the first commercial carbon fiber. Early filaments, were made from bamboo slivers which were formed into the proper size and shape then baked them at high temperatures. Since bamboo consists mostly of cellulose, a natural linear polymer made of repeating units of glucose, the filament was “carbonized,” when heated. It became a true carbon copy of the starting material — an all-carbon fiber with the same exact shape. Tungsten wire soon displaced these carbon filaments, but they were still used on U.S. Navy ships as late as 1960 because they withstood ship vibrations better than tungsten. "
http://www.ecoyarns.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=134_137&products_id=1323

These are really amazing samples of fibre that I am sure you will all be very impressed with.

Make sure you check out their other eco friendly products at
http://www.ecoyarns.com.au/
Thanks Ecoyarns for introducing us to an unusual and luscious fibre!!

Milk and Honey Fibres

2009-12-01T05:15:00.000-08:00

Hi all,
These are the samples from a brand new (or almost new) company 'Milk and Honey Fibres' which is not quite open yet, but wanted Ewe Beauters to be the first to try them out. They have provided some gorgeous 21 micron merino handspun mini skeins and mini rovings. The rovings are in the colourway 'Plum Pudding' and are a beautiful concoction of cream, burgundy, olives and rich caramels. (Sounds tasty now that I am writing it!) They are very soft and beautifully dyed. Great intro to Milk and Honey Fibres for the spinners out there! :)

Milk and Honey Fibres have also contributed some simply brilliant handspun samples of their colourway 'Cranberry Christmas' which has cranberry, gold and cream through it. I would love to see this knitted up! Could make some very cute little projects.

Danielle from Milk and Honey fibres is launching her business with some huge discounts-

Everything on opening day - 1st of February- is buy one get one half price!!

Not only that but every purchaser on the day is entered into the draw to win a prize basket to the value of $150!! Wow!! I'll be there for sure.

You can contact Danielle at

milkandhoneyfibres@yahoo.com.au

if you would like to make any colourway suggestions, but don't forget to jump on her website

www.milkandhoneyfibres.etsy.com on the 1st of February to bag yourself some bargains!

Celia's samples

2009-11-30T15:28:00.001-08:00

Here are Celia's wonderful samples of her new range of yarn called 'Warmth 8'. It is a very cozy 8ply of 21.5 micron merino wool.
These are a very snugly range of yarn that would be great for both those who want to venture into dying their own colourways or those who like a more natural tone to their knitting. Just gorgeous either way!
Celia has sent in some good sized mini skeins that would certainly give you a feel for the beautiful way in which this yarn handles.
She has also sent in 2 extra big 50g samples for two lucky buyers!! Very generous Celia, thank you!!

What a wonderful contribution to this sampler that will keep a wide range of people very happy I am sure :)

Don't forget to check out Celia's other products at-

http://celiasbasket.com/

http://ozebaby.com.au/store.php?VS=128

and keep up to date on her blog-

http://celiaknits.blogspot.com/

Thanks Celia for joining in again! I know many look forward to your contribution :)

Wooltopia's samples

2009-11-29T01:02:00.000-08:00

Doesn't this picture just make you drool? :) All of these wonderful Christmassy samples were sent in by Wooltopia who also loved them so much that we just had to show you the piccies that she sent in with them.

First is the colourway 'It's Christmas' which is a 10ply cotton/bamboo blend (such an awesome blend!). This is more on the Earthy side of the collection that Wooltopia sent in.

Next is 'Semi Forest Green' which is a beautiful blend of different shades of green-

Then we have 'Xmas' which is slightly more on the brighter side of 'It's Christmas'.

Then lastly this is 'Semi Red' which is a lovely bright and fun red- perfect for Christmas!

These are all 10 ply cotton/bamboo blends and can be bought from Wooltopia's shop where you can find plenty of other tempting colourways!

Thanks to Wooltopia for such an amazing Christmas collection!!

Remember to check out the shop-

http://www.yarncollective.com/store.php?SS=29

Ms Gusset's Samples

2009-11-29T00:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's taken so long, but here are Ms Gusset's samples. What an exciting package to open! They look as beautiful as these pictures- maybe even more so :)

The yarn is all Australian grown, spun and dyed. It is Aussie merino machine wash wool with a dash of nylon to make those socks extra hard wearing.

The colours are perfect for the traditional Christmas with a generous amount given in the sample. It knits up beautifully too! Have a look-

Ms Gusset has also thought of the spinner out there with her super squidgy, super soft hand dyed optim top. They are in gorgeous greens and ravising reds and are a good sized sample to get a feel for Ms Gusset's quality work.

These really are fantastic Christmas samples and I think we will be seeing Ms Gusset's work more and more as her website gets up and running ;)

Don't forget to check out her website and even sign up to the mailing list at-

www.gusset.net

Thanks Ms Gusset for your awesome samples!!

Jungle's samples

2009-11-22T20:08:00.000-08:00

Hey (again!)
It is with great excitement that Jungle has rejoined the sampler with some awesome samples!! She has made up some great mini batts and some funky merino tops for us this time.

These mini batts are just gorgeous!! They are made from creamy Aussie merino and a touch of nylon sparkle, making them shimmer beautifully. The red one is called 'Mulled Wine' which is just a brilliant shade of red with hints of dark purply-red just peaking through and a sparkly gold shine to it. I'm loving this one!
The blue one is called layer cake and has more aqua and purple than is showing up in the picture. It is just divine too!!

The mini tops are very cute with top left being called 'Disco Kiss' (love that name!), centre is called 'Misty Forest' and top right is 'Tutti Frutti'. These are incredibly soft and are all Australian merino that have been hand dyed.

Jungle always has a good eye for colour and a great sense of fun in her colourways! Plus she has a special offer for any Ewe Beaut customers! Very tempting!!

Don't forget to check out her other colourways at

www.jungle.etsy.com

Thanks for your awesome samples Jungle!!

Zanz Thingz

2009-11-22T19:43:00.000-08:00

Hellooooo.....

Here are Zanz Thingz samples. These are particularly lovely as they have four different aspects of Christmas represented in their colours.

First there are the colours of the Christmas Tree with a variety of shades of green in "The Tree" on 10 ply cotton (above right)
Then decorate your tree with the lovely bright reds, golds and blues of "Jellybean " on lovely squishy soft 22 micron merino tops (below left).
Add a Christmas night - the white of the bright star to guide you against the deep blues of the night sky in "Night Star" on 22 micron merino (above right).
And finally some gorgeous presents stacked under the tree, perfect for any excited little girl in "Candy Dream " a lovely mix of pinks, aquas and blues on 10 ply cotton (next to the tree, top left).

I really love the Christmas story that Zan has gone to so much effort to achieve in her samples. There are also some generous coupons for 5 lucky people for a massive 30% off at Zanz Thingz. How exciting!!! :)

Don't forget to check out all the other lovely colourways at Zanz Thingz

http://www.minicuteture.com.au/store/36

Thanks Zan for your amazing contributions!!!

Shiloh Wool and Fleece

2009-11-22T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hi again,

We have all been very spoilt by Shiloh Wool this sampler!! They have generously contributed 8ply skeins of Silk Dream, both undyed and handdyed varieties.

Apparently these are seconds but there I have yet to work out why! They are beautiful yarns that are incredibly soft and true to their name of 'Silk Dreams'. These really are lovely colourways and buttery soft yarns. They appear to have taken up the dye beautifully so would be wonderful base yarn to work with for those who dye their own yarns.

Shiloh Wool have also contributed some incredible fleeces this time round as well. They are gorgeous samples that would have anyone who works with fleeces drooling just a little ;) These would be beautiful for spinning and felting or dying your own.

You can contact Shiloh Wool for their brochure via-

email- shiloh40@bigpond.com

phone- 03 5251 2497

A copy of their brochure and price list (very reasonable) will be included with their lovely samples.
Thanks to Shiloh Wool for their amazing contributions!!!

Susanne's House of Wool

2009-11-22T18:25:00.000-08:00

Hello again,
Here are the samples from the talented Susanne from Susanne's House of Wool who has contributed some very bright and beautiful (and tempting) tops and yarns. She has dyed up some incredibly vibrant colourways this time and they are just so perfect for a fun summer project. Here are the yarns that Susanne's House of Wool have contributed. Both are 8 ply and the brighter of the two is made from pure New Zealand wool. The softer one has the most pretty purples, mauve, pinks and blues through it and the brighter one is very fun and playful with lovely bright blues, yellows, greens, purples and a great dark pink.

The tops I must admit, I have fallen a little bit in love with this month :) They are a generous 20 grams of 22micron merino tops in awesome bright colours. I am just loving the combinations of colours here! Very funky and playful!

Don't forget to check out the other colourways that Susanne has brought together in her shop

www.susanneshouseofwool.com

Thanks Susanne for your beautiful contributions!! We are very spoilt :)

Kathy's Fibres

2009-11-20T23:03:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
Once again we have been very spoilt with Kathy's Fibres' contributions! She has made up a delightful Christmas roving "Christmas Holly" that is almost in jewelled tones leaning towards a deep red and almost jade green. Just a gorgeous combination!!

The other colourway that Kathy's Fibres' has contributed is 'Carnival' with such bright and cheerful colours that really sets the tone for the fun holidays ahead of us. Kathy has a way of making her colour combinations almost seem to dance playfully together and I think this one shows it best!
These colourways would spin or felt up beautifully and are of the high quality that we have come to expect from Kathy's Fibres. Don't forget to check out her other colourways (each as lovely as the next) and her new limited edition rovings too on her website http://kathysfibres.com/- though be warned, they are very tempting! :)
Thanks again Kathy for your gorgeous contributions!

Knits and Pretties

2009-11-20T22:34:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Here are the amazing and delicate stitch markers that Dovey has contributed from her shop Knits and Pretties. Such an appropriate name when you see how pretty and elegant these stitch markers are! There are some very beautiful Christmassy ones, diamond looking ones and some pearly ones, (which I think might be my favourite!). Not only this, but her very talented and clever husband has made a drop spindle for one very, very lucky Ewe Beaut buyer! How generous!! For those who miss out out on what is such fine and special spindle, there will be some available soon at her shop http://knitsandpretties.etsy.com/. I know I can't wait for that! :)

Thanks to Doveyyyyyyyyyyy and her hubby for their amazing contributions this month!

Don't forget to check out their store for other great finds-
http://knitsandpretties.etsy.com/

Hawthorne Cottage Fleece

2009-11-18T22:45:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Here are the fleeces that Hawthorne Cottage have sent in.

They are in such brilliant and vibrant colourways this time and would be an amazing addition to any project. I've taken a shot of one without the packaging just to show the depth of colour as it really is dyed beautifully.

As you can see, Hawthorne Cottage has sent in a great variety of colours that are each as rich and as vibrant as the next. They aren't just pretty to look at- they are also quite soft with great crimp. I know I will be remembering these next felting project!

You can find Hawthorne Cottage at these places-

http://www.hawthornecottage.com.au/

http://www.hawthornecottage.etsy.com/

http://www.hawthornec.blogspot.com/

along with the the Arts Centre Market in Melbourne on Sundays.

Thanks again to Hawthorne Cottage for their beautiful contributions. I am sure the lucky box buyers this month will be very impressed with your eye for colour!

Sthrnx's handmade glass buttons

2009-11-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

Hello again everyone,
Here are the absolutely stunning buttons from Sthrnx who has contributed some classy Christmas designs on her buttons for this sampler.
As always, these are of such quality and beauty that they would make a fantastic addition to any soon-to-be-Christmas present or maybe just a spoiling for yourself! :) I know that's what I have in mind....
These needn't be just for Christmas though, they are so beautiful that they add a little bit of intrigue to whatever project is lucky enough to feature them.
Sthrnx has just started up a blog which would be worth following along with, maybe even getting a sneaky peak at her lovely creations.

Thanks again to Sthrnx for her gorgeous contribution to our very special Christmas sampler!

After...

2009-10-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

And then the order returns! (well, temporarily anyway!)

Before....

2009-10-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Needle food's Samples

2009-10-11T21:53:00.000-07:00

Mmmm...... Needle food...... How could I not be excited when I opened up Needle food's box? :) Not only do they make incredible yarns, but they also hand out free chocolates with their orders!!! Whittakers no less :)
Ok, enough drooling over the cute little packages (yeah, I know, I'm a sucker for any promo!), have a look at the yarn close up-

This awesome colourway is called 'Spring, thy name is colour' (Libbie Fudim) and I can tell you this yarn full encapsulates the quote. It is so rich with all shades of green that I can't help but dream up what I would make with it, a cute Spring hat (for me this time!) comes to mind, along with a luxurious cowl, hmm, to many choices!

Needle Food have done a fantastic job packaging all of these up to make very exciting samples for this box! Have a look at their other tempting yarns at http://www.needlefood.co.nz/ or keep up with Michelle's blog at http://www.needlefood.blogspot.com/. Thanks Needle Food!!

The Yarn Cafe's Samples

2009-10-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

Here are the samples from The Yarn Cafe in the incredible colourway of 'Fern'. They are so bright, yet soft and very inviting. The 'Fern' colourway is one of those rare ones that could be perfect for either a stylish gentleman or a creative woman. It is great to see some more colours that could suit just about anyone!

These ones are Bluefaced Leicester 4 ply Superwash Sock Yarn and are kettle dyed using professional acid dyes. With brilliantly coordinated colours, 'Fern' sock yarn has grass greens, forest greens, and a slight hint of light brown, effectively evoking the sight of the rainforest floor.

The lovely soft tops are also in the 'Fern' colourway and are just slightly lighter than the yarn, but just as beautiful! These are made from 100% Bluefaced Leicester.

It is well worth having a look at The Yarn Cafe's store at www.theyarncafe.com.au which has heaps of other exciting products too- plus some great tea and coffee! :)

Eco Yarns' Samples

2009-10-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

Eco Yarns are here! They have sent in some fantastic samples of their Organic Cotton and Hand Dyed Bamboo fibre. Aren't we spoilt! :)

Firstly, here are the colours of the yarns that EcoYarns have sent in. They are 100% organic and fair trade tanguis cotton that have been plant dyed by hand using traditional methods. So, we can justify splurging with the knowledge that we are buying ethically. The colourways above, from left to right, are 'Patience', 'Pride', 'Gluttony' and 'Faith'. These would be great to use with summer coming up!

The extremely soft and luxurious bamboo has been contributed in three cute colourways of 'Ladybug', 'Spring' and 'Pink Purple Rose'.

More of EcoYarns' incredible stock can be found at www.ecoyarns.com.au. I can't wait for you to try these products out for yourself as they really are incredible.

Celia's samples

2009-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Here are Celia's samples from Celia's Basket. She has contributed some gorgeous Fine Merino top samples that fit beautifully into the Spring theme of this box.

These first ones are in the colourway of 'First Blooms'. They are so fresh with softer greens flowing from bluer green tones to grass greens. These could be spun or felted into some beautiful pieces.

The other colourway sample is called 'Spring is Sprung' which has some amazing combinations of colours including apricots, golds, blues, pinks and creams. It reminds me of beautiful bulbs that are just opening up into even more beautiful flowers.

Both of these colourways are so lovely and fresh and incredibly soft. Thanks Celia, I am sure everyone will love them!

You can see all of Celia's range at http://ozebaby.com.au/store.php?VS=128 and at www.celiasbasket.com

2009-09-25T03:43:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Here are the samples from Vintage Purls, our first New Zealander to get their samples in to Ewe Beaut! Very exciting, and wonderfully packaged might I add! It was so exciting to open the box to see the three layers all beautifully and carefully wrapped ready for me to oggle! :)

The yarns above and below have are a very clever colourway, the top being 'Hyacinth by Night' and the one beneath being 'Hyacinth by Day'. Such fitting names that perfectly describe the colourway. They are both 75% New Zealand Merino Superwash/25% Nylon and would knit up into the most beautiful pair of socks.

Vintage Purls have also sent in some incredible tops for us to sample as well. They are New Zealand Perendale that are 29 micron. They are a generous 25 grams as are the sock yarn samples. I can imagine these would have the most amazing distribution of colour when spun up. Can't wait to see what you all make of these!

If you would like to see what else Vintage Purls have to offer you can check out their website at www.vintagepurls.co.nz. They also have a group on Ravelry called Vintage Purls which is well worth having a look at for, if nothing else, to have a stickybeak at the amazing projects that people have used their Vintage Purls yarn for.

Thanks for contributing, Vintage Purls! I am sure everyone will be just as excited to see your samples as I am! :)

Sthrnx's handmade glass buttons and stitch markers

2009-09-25T02:23:00.001-07:00

Hello all,

Here are Sthrnx's brilliant-as-always contribution to the Spring box. Except this time we are getting extra spoilt!

Sthrnx has contributed some stitch markers as well as buttons this time! They are incredible! Each stitch marker is like a little work of art that could easily pass for a piece of fine jewellery. I wish I had words to explain just how intricate and detailed each one is, but you might have to wait til your box arrives! :)

The buttons are also just exquisite with the high amount of detail and perfection that we have all come to connect with Sthrnx.

Thanks Sthrnx for such wonderful works of art that we can adorn our knitting with (and other creative endeavours of course!)

You can see what else Sthrnx sells by checking out her

Etsy site-http://teriglassbeads.etsy.com/

Madeit site- http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=5687

Zanz Thingz

2009-09-22T02:23:00.000-07:00

Imagine my delight when I opened up this package of samples! Such a feast for my eyes!
Zanz Thingz have contributed three gorgeous colourways for Spring that fit the theme of 'Spring' perfectly. So lets have a look at what Zan has sent in!

First sample in our Springtime gallery is called "Jasmine" and is incredibly soft! I love where Zan has taken this theme as this is so crisp, so fresh, so perfectly Spring morning! We used to have the biggest Jasmine vine climbing our childhood home where the scent would just fill our house every Spring. This sample invokes this memory so perfectly!

This next one is 'Spring Flowers' made from 22 micron merino doesn't it look like those gorgeous little bulb flowers that surface each Spring?

Lastly in "Daffodil Garden" made from Aran weight Organic Merino- what a lovely combination! :) A very bright, bold and beautiful colourway!

Don't forget to check out Zan's shop at www.minicuteture.com.au/store/36 where Zan has many, many more exciting products.

The Bird and The Fish

2009-09-22T01:53:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Here are the incredibly vibrant samples from 'The Bird and the Fish' that so beautifully show up the variety of colour found in any thriving Spring-time garden. The camera had a little bit of a hard time showing up the brightness of these lovely colours, but I promise you they are so rich and delightful that you will be amazed when you are holding your own lovely samples.
These are a very soft 20 micron merino sample that have been meticulously hand-dyed. They are the sort of sample that you can really see the quality, care and time taking in when you look at them up close. I can only imagine this would be more so when you start to spin with them!These are quite generous sample sizes looking to be about 8inches long! I guess you can use the size of the business card as a scale for just how generous The Bird and the Fish have been.

Have a look at what else The Bird and the Fish have been up to by visiting their blog at www.birdandthefish.blogspot.com. It is well worth the visit!

Hawthorne Cottage Yarns and Fleece

2009-09-22T01:28:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
These samples are from Hawthorne Cottage for the Spring box. They are so soft and feminine this month. I have had the yarns sitting on top of my coffee table for the past few days and I think I have fallen more in love with them the more I see them! They have the most amazing and tasteful combinations of colours. As you can see in the photos below, no two sample skeins of this are exactly the same, giving a beautiful and tantalising taste of the full beauty of this colourway.
These skeins are made from a blend of English Leicester and Corriedale and are 8ply. They are each a generous 25 grams and are in the colourway 'English Garden'. Such a fitting name for such a lovely sample.

Hawthorne Cottage has also included some natural undyed fleece for those of you who spin, dye your own and felt. I'd love to see what you can turn this blank canvas into, although it is quite beautiful in it's undyed state too! There is plenty more available from Hawthorne Cottage, so feel

free to drop them an email to hawthornecottage@bordernet.com.au to gather more information.

Don't forget to check out their other creations at www.hawthornecottage.com.au or to see what is happening on their blog at www.hawthornec.blogspot.com

Kathy's Fibres

2009-09-22T01:06:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Here are Kathy's Fibres' samples for this month. They are just gorgeous! The ones above are beautiful earthy, yet bright tones in the colourway 'Inspiration'. I can see where Kathy got the name from! I am thinking elegant summer evening shawls.... funky urban cowls.... the possibilities are endless really! What does this colourway inspire you to make? I'd love to hear! Drop us your ideas in the comments :)

Here is 'Happy'. Great, golden, bright Spring colours in this one. It seems to be a celebration of the warmer and longer days that are starting to creep in. These colours would look great on a cheeky little toddler, or anyone really with a playful streak!

Have a look at what else Kathy has on her website at www.kathysfibres.com. It is really worth a visit!

Wooltopia's Cotton Samples

2009-09-12T03:22:00.000-07:00

Hello again,
Here are just a few more samples from Wooltopia for the Spring September box. These ones are 8ply cotton and will be ideal for those Spring and Summer knits.

These blue toned ones are in the colourway 'Carribean'.

Mmmm! 'Chocolate kisses' colourway looks just delicious!

You can have a look at what else Wooltopia offers by checking out
http://www.yarncollective.com/store.php?SS=29
and you can keep up to date with Wooltopia on her blog-
http://wooltopia.blogspot.com/

Waratah Fibres

2009-09-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!
Here are Waratah Fibres' contributions for the Spring Ewe Beaut box. Can't you just see the flowers blooming as you look at her bright and beautiful array of gorgeous samples! They are simply delightful!

Here are a couple of closeups of her Wensleydale tops which are a generous 50gram sample each! These are so beautifully dyed with the colours being even more amazing in real life.

These samples from Waratah Fibres would have taken a huge amount of time and effort as they have all been so beautifully presented.

You can contact Helen from Waratah Fibres on her website at http://www.waratahfibres.com.au/ or by email on helen@waratahfibres.com.au.

Susanne's House of Wool

2009-09-08T02:43:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Here are Susanne's gorgeous Spring themed samples from Susanne's House of Wool love this colourway!

She has again contributed tops and pure wool mini skeins for you to sample so whether you are a spinner, knitter, crochetter or any other textile artist, I am sure you will be very impressed with the quality of this colourway.

Above are the 22 micron merino tops in her 'Spring Delight' colourway. Very lofty and 'squidgy'. I would love to see this one spun up, it looks as though it would turn out wonderfully!

And here is a close up of her 8ply 100% pure wool samples that have been hand-dyed in the 'Spring Delight colourway. I must say, I am very impressed with where Sue has taken the Spring theme, you can almost smell the fresh rain on the grass just by looking at her samples.

Don't forget to check out her other dyelots on http://susanneshouseofwool.com/

Well done Sue! I love it and I am sure others will too!

Wooltopia's samples

2009-09-08T02:20:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

Finally back on the net properly, and with some awesome samples to show you!

These ones are from Wooltopia and are so very soft and vibrant. Wooltopia has sent in a variety of her yarns in some beautiful colour ways.

These are all made from 100% wool, either Blue Faced Leicester (Aran) or traditional wool. They are lovely generous samples that should give you a lovely amount to play with. They are dyed beautifully with excellent combinations of colours.

You can have a look at what else Wooltopia offers by checking out

http://www.yarncollective.com/store.php?SS=29

and you can keep up to date with the clever lady behind Wooltopia on her blog-

http://wooltopia.blogspot.com/

I am very sure you will love Wooltopia's samples and will be back for more! :)

Jungle fever!

2009-08-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Here are Jungle's yummy samples that got in just in the nick of time! And you will be so happy that they did, they are super soft, super scrummy and super squidgy! She has sent in awesome handspun yarn and gorgeous mini batts. Have a look...

Her batts are superbly lofty and the handspun yarns and so softy and squishy! If you haven't got your box yet, you are in for a treat! :)

I must admit I have already had to splurge in Jungle's shop and bought 'Mog' for a friend.... she might not get it though! ;)

Thanks Jungle for such a beautiful and soft contribution!

Last minute addition

2009-08-11T02:55:00.000-07:00

Hey all.

Jungle has just snuck her samples in, just in time to make it into our first box.

I will post pics up asap, but our first lot of boxes are about to go on sale in a matter of minutes!

Wish us luck.... :)

Buying time!!

2009-08-10T17:06:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone. It is finally time to let you know of the purchase details. I have PM’d those at the top of the waiting list on Rav so if you haven’t had a msg yet, you will be up there next time. If you didn’t get a msg but would like to buy one anyway, I will be putting half of the remaining boxes on Etsy at www.ewebeaut.etsy.com on Tuesday night at 8pm Sydney time and the other half at 8am Wednesday (also Sydney time). They will be $25 instead this time as most boxes will only have 12 samples- though there will be some bumper boxes! When you buy one you can elect whether you would prefer mostly yarn or mostly fibre and we will do our best to accommodate everyone, but unfortunately can’t make promises. Feel free to PM me if you want more details or have any questions.
A huge thankyou to everyone who has supported this mammoth first effort! Next month looks to be shaping up to be even bigger and better! :)
JD

Spinning Ewe Yarns

2009-08-07T22:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody,

These are my yarns that I am contributing, but in the interest of fairness (don't want to give myself an unfair advantage!) I am just simply posting the pictures and the link to www.spinningeweyarns.etsy.com

Sthrnx's handmade glass buttons

2009-08-07T22:13:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

New to the box today are Sthrnx's handmade glass buttons- and they are such stunners! It has been said that her buttons are little works of art, and I can't tell you how true that is! The amount of detail that goes into each little button is just incredible.

Sthrnx has sent in a huge variety of her buttons but there are even more beautiful creations on her website http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5270984 which is well worth checking out.

Here is a closeup of one of her samples, just to try to give you an idea of the quality and detail in each button, but I'm afraid that the photo's just don't do them justice! Sthrnx's photos on her Etsy shop show them even better at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5270984.

Minique minigoats

2009-08-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Here are some more samples from a different Celia this time. Celia from Minique Mini goats has contributed some cute samples of her handspun yarns. This first sample is called Watermelon wine and is made from Cashmere and Wool. Lovely and natural texture!

Celia has also contributed some handspun wool and viscose (8ply) that is quite light to handle. This could knit up to have an interesting tweed look to it. It will be great for you all to see what I mean when you get your boxes!

If you would like to see more of Celia's yarns or order anything from her, she has a store on MadeIt called The Yarnbarn. It is well worth having a look at her stud site too, which has beautiful goats milk soap too.

Shiloh Wool

2009-08-04T18:28:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,

We have some more fibres in, this time from Shiloh wool who have contributed some delightfully soft Australian Wool and Thai Silk blends in a natural creamy colour. I hope you can see how beautiful the twist is on these samples, it is just gorgeous! You wouldn't believe how smooth they are either!

The 4ply Silk Dream yarn samples are spun from ‘Silky Wool’ (trade name ‘Optim’), the same wool fibre as the tops samples, and have a twist of silk filament. So luxurious!

Shiloh wool have also sent in some luxurious 'Silky Wool' which is pure Australian Merino that has been treated in a way that makes the fibres more lustrous and two or three microns finer than it was originally. How cool is that? There is more info about this for those who are interested on the Csiro website.

If you are interested in any of Shiloh Wool's products, drop Jenni and Tony a line at shiloh40@bigpond.com who have been so friendly and helpful whenever I have emailed them. Included in the box will be their brochure with heaps more info and products too!

Celia's samples

2009-08-04T17:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Here are some much awaited samples from Celia at Celia's Basket that are amazing! She has generously sent in a variety of organic hand dyed wool tops (19.5 micron!!!!!! Sooooo soft!!!) and hand dyed yarns.

These are the pics of the wool tops. They are so soft and lofty! Can't wait for you all to try some of these out!
More wool tops....

And here are the lovely and soft hand-dyed samples that Celia has sent in. Aren't they beautiful!

I love these soft, but clear colours! If you want to see Celia's other gorgeous yarns and fibres, have a look at http://celiasbasket.com/ and guess what? She is having a MASSIVE sale right now!! Really worth having a look at what she has, Celia is a master at what she does!! :)

Spacefrog has landed!

2009-08-03T18:37:00.001-07:00

Hello,

Here are the absolutely amazing sock yarns from Spacefrog. The first photo I have included just because it was so exciting to open up her box and to see all of her yarns together. Hopefully you will feel the same when you have your box full of everyone's yarns!

Aren't they awesome! Once again I am head over heals in love with the colours that have been used. My poor savings is not looking so great anymore! :)

My son has already put in his order for lots of the rainbow yarn! I can't decide which colours I like the best from Spacefrog! They are all so beautiful. Thanks Spacefrog these are great!

Have a look at Spacefrog's store on Etsy at http://www.spacefrog.etsy.com

Wearablesok

2009-08-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

Hello again.

Here are the soft and squidgy hand spun yarns that wearablesok have contributed. They are so bright and fun! Imagine my excitement when I opened the package and these came tumbling out! A feast for my fingers and eyes! :)

Wearablesok has contributed some super samples in a few different colourways that are all eclectic and exciting to see the unique combinations of fibres.

Most exciting of all were the four bigger samples that were sent in that will be included in four random boxes! Have a look at their sparkly, stunning, squidgy, sumptuous goodness! :)

AND.... (you thought that would be it didn't you?) Wearablesok has even included a free pattern for every box!!! Follow the instructions on the card and she will send you as a PDF file! How cool is that!? Have a look at what else she has on her website http://www.wearablesok.etsy.com

The Yarn Cafe

2009-08-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the delay in the next lot of pictures, haven't been too well the past few days.

Here are the pics of the samples from the Yarn Cafe who have contributed some beautiful yarns. All of them have been packaged up superbly and have the most incredible shades!

I have just fallen in love with the stunning colour schemes that the Yarn Cafe has used! They are rich and earthy, but not in the least muted. So soft too! They would knit up beautifully for almost any project you can think of. I'm thinking I'll be using the dark blue in the bottom right hand side for a squidgy thick pair of socks for hubby. He pointed that colour out, so the Yarn Cafe should be very proud- it takes a lot to gain his interest, let alone enthusiasm! :)

If you would like to see more of what the Yarn Cafe offers have a look at http://www.theyarncafe.com.au

September theme

2009-07-24T04:54:00.001-07:00

Hello to you all,

Hope you are all having more time to spin and knit than I have lately! :) I'm wondering what theme you would like to see for the September box? Post a suggestion below in the comments and if your theme is chosen you will win a free box for that month!! Too easy :)

JD

Kathy's Fibres

2009-07-24T04:16:00.000-07:00

Hello again everyone!

More samples to add! These are from Kathy at Kathy's Fibres, she has included two different colourways and they are amazing!!! So exciting! Anyway, enough chat, have a look for yourself :)

This first colourway is called 'Jewel' and are just magnificent! They are true to their name and will spin up beautifully.

The second is called 'Strelitzia' and fades through from greens to pinks to browns. These samples are stunningly beautiful. I can't wait for you all to see for yourselves! :)

You can see her full range of fibres and yarns at http://www.kathysfibres.com

If you are anything like me you will be spoilt for choice! :)

Zanz Thingz

2009-07-24T03:41:00.000-07:00

Such an exciting week at the post office this week! :) Zan's fibres have also come in this week and they are gorgeous!! Have a look-

This first one is a sample of her fibre called 'Ocean' made from Merino. Beautifully soft!

The other sample that she has sent in is a bunch of Organic merino DK weight skeins called 'Summer in Bloom'. These will knit up amazingly! Have a look at her blog too, it has more beautiful images of her dying, you can find her at http://zanzthingz.blogspot.com

Zan has also included 10% off vouchers for the lucky box buyers to use at her brand new store at http://www.minicuteture.com.au/store/36

It looks great Zan! :)

Hawthorne Cottage Yarns

2009-07-24T03:09:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Sue has sent in some absolutely gorgeous fibres and handspun from her store Hawthorne Cottage Yarns that I am sure you will just love! Below are photos of each of the colours that she has sent in, hope the photos do the rich colours justice as they are just divine :)

These are the samples of her Hand Dyed English Leicester/Romney Cross fibre and weigh 20g each. Beautiful!

And these are a selection of the delightful pencil yarn samples that are hand spun and hand dyed. They would be wonderful to knit with (as you will find out!). Sue has contributed a generous 30m of yarn- I'm sure you will want to come back for more though- it is beautiful!!

You can check out Sue's products at

http://www.hawthornecottage.com.au\

www.hawthornecottage.etsy.com

and her blog can be found at

http://www.hawthornec.blogspot.com

Plus.... Sue has included a gift voucher as a surprise for one lucky box-buyer! If you are the lucky winner you can use this on her websites or at the Arts Centre Market at Melbourne on a Sunday- worth checking out if you are in the area.

Thanks for the samples Sue! I am sure that everyone will delight in seeing them and playing with them as much as I have! :)

Susanne's samples

2009-07-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

We just flew home last night, a little late, but safe and sound! As promised, here are the pictures of Susanne's beautiful samples. I can promise you they feel as great as they look.

Susanne has done a perfect job for the packaging, so anyone who is yet to send in thier samples and want an idea of how to package them, then have a look at how she has done them. Thanks Susanne!

Our first samples have arrived

2009-07-06T00:03:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Sorry it has taken so long to update everyone. We have been having a wonderful but busy time in the Blue Mountains visiting our family.

Our first samples have started rolling in with Susanne from Susanne's House of Wool passing on her contributions last Tuesday when we met up for coffee. I don't have my usual computer with me so I can't put the photos up yet (should be up Wednesday week) but I can promise you they are absolutely gorgeous! Some yummy gelato colours that are bright and delightful and some beautiful purple, pink and violet samples are amongst the ones that Susanne has sent in.
Her website is well worth a look in the meantime http://susanneshouseofwool.com/

I'll be back on in WA again soon, so will post pictures of all the samples as soon as we are back.

Happy spinknitcrochetting!
JD

Tell me what you want....again! :)

2009-06-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

Hello again everyone.

I figure the response to the poll has been overwhelmingly 'preorder' so there is no need to keep on polling you for that one! I will put up listings for preordered people plus a couple for those who want to pounce.
So the next thing I would loooove to know is what type of box you want to buy. There is no guarantee I will be able to fill these just yet, but just to give me a rough idea of numbers so I can do my best to accommodate.
Till next time.....
happy spinknitcrocheting! :)

Oh, whatever shall we do with the samples?

2009-06-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, just found this awesome pattern on Ravelry that would beautifully use up the samples, especially when we start themes!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/justify
Enjoy!!!

For those interested in buying a box....

2009-06-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hello again to all of you who have already voiced their interest!

Things are coming along quite well for our first box. Thankyou for your support, it has meant there have been plenty of business willing to contribute after seeing your enthusiasm!

At this stage the first box will go out early August and will cost $30 (this price was revised from $35 after checking post costs- thanks to Celia for her feedback!)

It will be sold on Etsy, which you will need to sign up for. It is free and is a secure site to purchase with credit card or Paypal. It is also the site where you will be able to find a lot of our contributors.

At this stage we would like to know from you whether you would rather preorder or be given a time and day that the box will go on sale. It would be very much appreciated if you can vote for what you want on the poll on the side bar- this is your box, tell us what you would like! :)

So what do you get for your money? A minimum of 20 sample sized products from our contributors that are all small scale, indie, Australian dyers, spinners and fibre related product producers. It is a mix of all sorts of items, like getting a lucky dip! We will be putting all of the contributors details on this blog so you can see what else they offer and we will make a video of a sneak peak of products included, so if you miss out on a box, you can still see what is out there for Aussie artisans.

I am sure I am forgetting details right now, so if you think of anything that I should be mentioning, please drop me a line or leave a comment.

Once again, thanks for all the interest everyone!
JD

For those interested in having their products in the box...

2009-06-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, so here are the details for those wanting to have their samples put in the Ewe Beaut Fibre Box-

It is basically a box of samples from various Australian fibre designers who want to have their product tried by eager, addicted, discerning knitters, spinners, crocheters and fibre artists.It works by you contributing your products to the box then I distribute them to a bunch of buyers who know the need to feel a fibre before buying bigger amounts.

So why advertise this way? There is nothing like playing with a fibre to get the feel of it and to envisage all the exciting projects that could unfold from it! You will be able to target a wider range of buyers who might ordinarily be put off buying something that they haven't had a chance to feel and play with first.

It will go out once a month, you can join in as many months as you want, but to keep it fresh we will be having a theme for each month after the first month (August). This will mean that you can showcase different products for each month, keeping our buyers interested and allowing you to get as much exposure for your business as you want.

There would be a minimum of 20 samples in each box depending on the sizes of samples sent in, with a minimum of 20 samples being required from each business. If 40 samples are contributed, then you will also receive a box. You can send a variety of products (eg, mix of yarns, fibres, etc) or just one (say, just black alpaca fibre), it is entirely up to you. All products sent in will be featured on our blog site and a video of the fibres will be set up on youtube.

The pay off for you to advertise this way is that only interested buyers are targeted, you can get your name out into the knitting/spinning community more and there will be more ways for people to find your business through links on this blog site, so buyers can keep coming back for more! The box will be advertised in spinner newsletters, forums, Ravelry, other blogsites and we are also currently looking into getting it into bigger magazines such as 'Yarn'.

We will also hold competitions for buyers from time to time that will encourage them to blog about the box and your business on their own networking sites and blogs. You are more than welcome to run your own comps like this through our website where you can offer a full size version of your product as a prize for that month's blogging. More info of this will be available as we have the basics established first.

Now for the practical matters-
Each sample size needs to be big enough to be played with by our box buyers. A rough estimate is 20-25g of yarn, but it is totally at your discretion, you may even want to send out a few full size versions of your product as a one off for a lucky box buyer- this will be advertised on the site and the youtube video should you wish to do this.

As mentioned before, 20 samples is the minimum, but we will contact you if there are higher numbers of buyers interested from month to month to give you the opportunity to get you product out to as many people as possible.

Boxes will go on sale at the beginning of each month, August being the first, so products need to be received by late July for the first batch. You will also need to email me you logo and website link by then as well to have your info on the website. If you would like to offer any specials to coincide with your box product, just let me know and I can advertise that next to your logo and product.

If you are not a fibre producer, you can send in patterns, row markers and other related products, as these can definitely be included too.

All it will cost you is your samples and any postage to get them to me. (I will be in Sydney late June til early July, so if you want to drop them off in person, email me and we can make arrangements).

Make sure that each sample has a label on it with your business details and the name of the sample so that people know what to buy! Feel free to have fun with the individual packaging of the samples, but rest assured that we will be displaying your products beautifully in the box.

Box buyers will be able to purchase the sampler box on Etsy, which is free to sign up to and is a secure website to purchase on with credit cards and Paypal. At this stage we are polling our interested buyers (on the side bar) to see whether they would prefer a sale time to pounce for the product or a preorder system. We will run this for a week and then decide the best method.

If you would like to check out the overwhelming interest so far, there is a thread running on Ravelry.com in the group 'Australian Knitters'. The discussion is called 'Aussie only sample box' with the posts giving an indication of interest for this project.

For those who are now wanting to get involved, send me an email to either ewebeaut@tpg.com.au or jdrobbo@tpg.com.au and I will send you the address to send your samples to.

Any other questions feel free to leave a comment or send through an email and I can add the information onto this post.