Hello!
Last night saw the first frost arrive in
our area signaling that winter is just around the corner.
There comes a time every fall when it’s a toss up
whether or not to put skeins outside to dry or leave them
hanging in the dye room.
Both shows we attended this fall were great experiences
with a chance to meet many of our customers. The continued
growth in the popularity of Tencel was clearly evident. |
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Marie was really enthused about all the folks interested in wanting
to hand dye and hand paint yarn to achieve there own special pieces.
Our “Special of the Month”
is a bit different for this issue. As year end approaches it brings
inventory time. The annual review of stock highlights the items
that have not sold. Right until January 31st, 2006 we have some
super savings for you.
In 2004 our supplier of 2/10 Tencel announced the first two colors
in a line of 2/5 dyed Tencel. We received Purple Sage and Herb
Green but the remaining colors have not been added. These are
great colors but do not make a line so out the must go!
A similar situation came about with 2/20 Tencel/Cotton blend.
When introduced we took it on as an addition to the 2/10 Tencel/Cotton.
The 2/10 is no longer available so the 2/20 is a bit of an orphan.
It’s gotta go and has a real deal price. (See Special
of the Month).
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Marie and I would like to thank you
for your support during 2005, and extend heartfelt greetings
for a very happy holiday season.
Don and Marie |
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Woven
Shibori
Several of you have probably seen this new weaving book by Catharine
Ellis. Catharine was the instructor for the workshop I was fortunate
enough to take in Kansas City this past summer.
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The text is very clear and well thought out.
The book begins with a brief history and background into
the Japanese shibori process.
Catharine explains how one can get amazing results using
only the basic plain weave structure, but goes on to describe
and illustrate several other possibilities. You will discover
how inserting the shibori gathering threads using other
threading patterns, such as lace, monk’s belt and
overshot, will give you exciting dye patterns in your woven
cloth. |
| Catharine has included several
different dye recipes and discusses vat dyes, discharging
and disperse dyes (for polyester), as well as the more familiar
fiber-reactive dyes that are commonly used. She also describes
adding a thickener to your fiber-reactive dyes to lessen
the wicking effect and encourage the dyes to just sit on
top of your gathered up fabric. There are illustrations
of cloth using this woven shibori technique along with devore
and also with felted wool.
There are many beautiful and inspiring photographs illustrating
some of the endless possibilities for design when using
the woven shibori technique. Included in this book are step
by step directions to guide you along the way when exploring
this exciting process. |
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I have only had a chance to weave a few pieces and explore the
various dye techniques, but this winter I hope to experiment much
more with woven shibori having this excellent text by my side.
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From the Distillery |
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas along Trinity
Street in the Distillery District. The recently installed gas
lights will be an added flare to this heritage Victorian site.
Buzz in the District is the opening of Young Centre for the Performing
Arts. As mentioned in the last issue it is a joint venture by
the George Brown College Theatre School and Toronto’s acclaimed
Soulpepper Theatre Company. Performances begin in February.
When you are at the Distillery District be sure to drop around
and say hello to Marie at Marie Josette Wearable Art, Studio 105,
Ground Floor, Case Goods Building located just behind Balzak’s
Coffee, foot of Trinity Street. Wed—Sun, noon to 5 p.m.
A complete schedule can be seen on their website - thedistillerydistrict.com.
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Shipping and Postal
Rate Surcharges
It didn’t take Canada Post long to jump up the Fuel Surcharge
on their Expedited Parcel Rates to handle the rise in fuel costs.
This surcharge was stared some time ago at 3.5% and the most recent
change increased it to 7.5%. We qualify as a Venture One customer
which grants us a 5% discount. We pass this saving on to our customers.
We will continue our practice to bill shipping at cost backed
down to the nearest half dollar. We cut cartons to fit the contents
wherever possible and use shredded paper as packing to minimize
added weight. We would like to remind customers due to revised
International Postal Regulations parcels sent out of Canada must
carry the customer’s as well as our own telephone number.
Let’s hope the traditional Canada Post increases that occur
early each year are minimal.
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What's New &
Coming!
Rayon Chenille in four new colors!
Just received four new 1450 yd/lb colors in Rayon Chenille. All
are very rich and are ideal for scarves, stoles or yardage.
Plum is a very attractive mid purple, Red Purple is just that
it’s red and it’s purple a very vibrant color with
a lot of punch. Emerald is a rich green with character. Dark Navy
is exactly the shade you expect Navy to be, darker than the Navy
already in the line this is a fantastic yarn. Marie took one look
at the Dark Navy it and said I want some of that, it is now a
scarf.
Reelings are yours with a toll free call to 1 877 448 4544. Done
up on one pound tubes all carry a special introductory price of
only $20.00/lb. until January 31st.
Full Stock of New Colorways on Hand….
We are now in a great stock position for the Night Sky and Spice
handpainted colorways introduced in September. Each color is available
in 2/8 Hand Painted Scarf Warps, 3 oz. 2/10 Tencel skeins and
2 oz. Rayon Chenille skeins.
| We
may just have it?
When we buy mill end lots of rayon chenille we often end
up with smaller quantities of some colors. When the quantity
of a color on a shade card gets low we may drop it from
the card but still have stock. One of these colors may be
just what you need for a project. Just call, we’ll
be glad to send a reeling for you to check. |
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Shows we will
be attending in 2006….
We have booked 3 showes for 2006. Details will be issued in next
issue.
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November/December
Specials
2/5 Dyed Tencel Year End Clearout
Two great colors, Purple Sage and Herb Green now only $14.00 a
lb.
You Save 44% off our $25.00 regular price until January 31, 2006.
We bought this yarn in late 2004 as the first two colors of a
17 color line. To date the rest of the colors have not been dyed
so we have to clear this inventory hopefully by year end. 2/5
Tencel is a great yarn which we have found very popular in the
undyed yarn line. These two colors are the same as Purple and
Herb on the on shade cards. Purple Sage is a strong mid purple
color while Herb Green is a nice soft green with a slight yellow
cast.
This is a deluxe yarn in a great weight for a great price. For
a sample just call Toll Free 1 877 448 4544.
Gotta Go Pricing on
2/20 Tencel/Cotton now only $10/lb.
You save 50% off the value price of $20.00/lb. until January
31st, 2006
This yarn was to be an added size to the 2/10 Tencel/Cotton blend
and has the same twist and feel as the 2/10. The 2/10 is no longer
available so the 2/20 size is price slashed to sell. Intended
to sell for $20.00 per pound it is now super value priced at $10.00
per lb. There are only 19 pounds left so move fast on this one!
When it’s gone, it’s gone!
As always a sample is just a toll free call away—1 877
448 4544.
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Customer Satisfaction
Guarantee
As mail order specialists we fully understand the apprehension
to purchase yarn sight unseen. If you are planning a project and
feel our yarn may be suitable we’ll be glad to send a reeling
of any yarns you may want to order so you can be sure they are
right for you. Just call toll free 1-877-448-4544.
If you buy yarn from us and discover it is not exactly what you
wanted for your project we’ll take it back. We want you
to be happy with your Yarns Plus purchase. To make it absolutely
risk free we are happy to exchange an item or give a refund. We'll
even pay the return postage. Just call!
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A Little Pearl…..
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be
looking for it.”
Henry David Thoreau
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