1/11/11 Updates and Offers!

Hello Readers,


Some of this is a repeat of previous blogs, but the offer at the bottom is in effect through 1/11/11, my nephew's birthday!

A Quick Reminder!

If you who have purchased since September 1, 2010, please log in and check your account. Once you are on the “My Account” page, scroll to the bottom.  There you will see a “My Rewards” link.  If you click on that link you will see that you have already received points in the My Rewards program.  You can start redeeming these points now.  Once you redeem them they will be turned in to gift certificates that you can use at any time.  You must redeem a minimum of 100 points.  The point collection program ended at Midnight on December 31^st and all points must be redeemed by January 31, 2011.  Please make sure to read the terms and conditions for this program.

What's New?

Why not join the OPYF Fabulous Fiber Club!

I love spinning.  I can spin on my wheel or one of my drop spindles.  I also love fiber.  All different kinds of fiber.  Sheep, goat, alpaca, rabbit, silk, tencel, firestar and whatever else I can get my hands on.  Each month I will dye fiber exclusively for our club.  Each color or colors will be unique and will only be available at One Planet Yarn and Fiber.  The fibers will be different roving or blends each month and will include 5 ounces of roving or drum carded batts. Sometimes there may be more than one color in a box.  Spaces are limited so please make a space for yourself or a friend or family member as soon as possible.

Don't forget our other clubs!

OPYF Superb Sock Club

OPYF Queenie's Motif of the Month Club

OPYF Sensational Scarf Club

What else is new?

New indie artist Serenity Stitches has sent us some wonderful hand dyed yarn and spinning fibers.  Make sure that you take a look!

Love to spin?  We now carry Spinolutions Drop Spindles and Spinning Wheels!

New Kits from Fleece Artist and OPYF

This kit is from Heritage Designs using Fleece Artist's Mo and Curly Locks.  The picture on the left is from the pattern cover, the picture on the right is ME!  

     

Favourite Mitt/Sock kit

       

New kits from Noni Designs

I am putting these kits together myself.  The include the pattern and enough Shepherd's Wool yarn from Stonehedge Fiber Mill to complete the patterns.  Some of the bag patterns include a little bit of the hardware also. I am only showing one pattern in the newsletter.  Other kits are slowly being added as I have the tome to post them.  Please check back often.

1.  11% off all kits until 1/11/11.  Use Coupon Code: January11  This includes Woolpets!

**Important-This coupon cannot be combined with ad coupons you might see. Discounts are  not retroactive.  If you placed an order last week or the week before,  we are sorry, we can't credit you now.  Discounts must be taken at the time of order.  Please do not write us after you placed an order and ask
us to apply a discount.  We are sorry, but we just can't do it.  If you need help, please email us before
you place your order.  In addition, these special offers are only valid for in-stock items.  They are not valid for special orders for new colors or yarns that we might not have in stock yet.  Excludes spinning wheels, OPYF Clubs and items already listed on the sale page.  Orders placed for unqualified merchandise will be refunded back to you.

Other Important Things

Make sure to visit the "What's New" and the "On Sale" section of the site as I add items here regularly! Join the Facebook Fan Club and be able to chat with other OPYF fans.  Read One Planet Yarn and Fiber Blog about all of the new items that are being added to One Planet all the time -I have many new yarns, fibers, patterns and more from around the world.  Please join the Ravelry group!  If you haven't joined yet, please do and then post an introduction on the thread titled  "Introduce Your Self!".And please join the mailing list for monthly special offers and news!  I send out at least one monthly newsletter with different offers each month. I never share your name or private information. I use it only for the newsletter.

 Please Don't Forget the Children/Caps for Good Campaign.

Best Regards!

Karen

OPYF

Almost Free Postage in the USA!

Hello OPYF Readers,

I was going to send out an enewsletter listing what's new in the shop, but I appear to have a shipping glitch.  When the USPS rates went up this past Sunday my web service provider was unable to fix all the shipping rates to the new prices.  It seems that all USPS First Class Mail packages are shipping for 28 cents.

Please take advantage of me!  This is an unexpected bonus that I did not plan on.  If you get to your shipping options and the postage is more than 28 cents that means they have fixed the glitch, so please don't take your time!

Regards,

Karen

OPYF

Fabulous Fiber Club Now Open!

I finally did it. I made the pages for the Fabulous Fiber Club at One Planet Yarn and Fiber! This is the one I have been looking forward to the most because I love to play with fiber. I love the blend it and dye it and spin it! My dye baths are waiting and my drum carder is poised to start turning.  Memberships are limited so be sure to join soon as spaces will fill quickly.

Regards,

Karen

OPYF

Finished! WIP's bite the dust and end up on the wearers.

First, I wanted to share with you a project that was completed by on OPYF knitter.  It is a truly lovely knitted scarf using Fleece Artist Woolie Silk yarn.

Mistake rib scarf in Woolie Silk Periwinkle and Ivory by Stephanie B.

I was able to finish off 2 of my wpi's yesterday.  I wanted to share them with you now that they are done.  Let me know what you think.  The first is the Marvelous Mohair Shawl kit from Heritage Fiber.  It used Fleece Artist Mo and Curly Locks in Amethyst.  I did this using a size 11US circular needle.  The pattern calls for 13US.  Being short, the 11's worked will, but I didn't need the 2nd skein of Mo that it was kitted with.

 This is the dog sweater that I was working on for Ranger.  Ranger is slowly growing back his fur after recovering from cancer.  As you can see, Lily Bear loves the new look.  I used Plymouth Yarn from my LYS The Fiber Factory.  This is a machine washable yarn, perfect for a dog.

Regards,
Karen
OPYF

OPYF- Ewe Can Knit - By Mary G - Brick and mortar yarn store - necessity?

I have been knitting for over 50 years and during that time the face of knitting has changed so much.  Time was that I could only purchase yarn at my local department store and then it was either horrible itchy wool or 100 percent acrylic that knitted up into a stiff board like thing!  Patterns were few and many knitters just made up their own.

Local yarn stores started popping up carrying new and exciting yarns, patterns and accessories.  You were able to get help choosing yarns or patterns or learn a new stitch. But the yarns were very expensive  compared to the department store varieties and in those days we watched our pennies.

But as time went on knitters wanted the new lovely yarns that we started to see in more and more knitting magazines.  These yarns were only available at the local yarn store and once we started knitting with them there was no going back.  We became loyal to our LYS and often that would be our source of knitting supplies.

With the advent of the Internet knitting changed once  again. You don't have to go to the yarn store for advice. You can now get help on any topic by simply googling it.  Knitters at sites like Ravelry are happy to share their knowledge and you can get advice on anything from pattern directions and corrections to yarn choices - which yarn works, which doesn't.  You can download free patterns or purchase patterns that are downloaded directly to your computer.

I recently acquired an iPad and have been introduced to the world of "apps". You can get knitting applications that  help keep track of rows  to automatically resizing a sweater and are often free or a nominal charge.  Lately, I have started getting magazines sent directly to my iPad through a company called Zinio.  The resolution is amazing and I can keep the magazine in my library without having stacks of paper copies all over the house. Knitting books are also slowly becoming available on sites such as audible.com or amazon. And as most of you already know books are always available online for much cheaper than retail or you can buy even cheaper used books.

What about actually purchasing yarn?  Well, we now have great online stores available to us like oneplanetyarnandfiber.com.  These sites offer a wealth of yarn companies to choose from - many of which we don't  see at the LYS.  Prices are comparable to our local store and at times even cheaper.  People used to say - well, you can't get an accurate idea of color.  That just isn't the case anymore,  the only thing missing is the ability to feel the yarn. But descriptions are getting better and knitters are more educated when it comes to knowing what a wool and silk blend feels like for example.  But best of all, and this is what I love, you find a perfect pattern and with a few clicks you can get the exact yarn with a color card of ALL the available colors. Not just the ones the store owner liked.  No more settling for a color you don't really want or substituting a yarn that may or may not work. 

Does all this mean I want to see the end of brick and mortar stores?  Absolutely not!  I have my favorite yarn stores where I will continue to spend money and time.  What I am saying is that in order to survive in this tough economy the LYS has to reassess it's place in the market. No longer can owners and staff be surly or unfriendly to customers.  No longer can a store be seen as catering to only certain customers while ignoring others.  No longer can stores have staff that are not experienced and knowledgeable.  And no longer can stores be limited to one specialty. Many stores now offer weaving, spinning and dying as well as knitting and crochet such as the Fiber Factory in Mesa Arizona.  And more and more stores are offering an Internet presence.

A brick and mortar knitting store is definitely not a necessity anymore and because of that fact need to adjust to the times.

Regards,

Mary 

OYPF

maryg@oneplanetyarnandfiber.com

OPYF Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Here are NEXT YEAR’s wishes for you.

May you always make the right moves.

 May your cup runneth over with love 

MAY YOU ALWAYS FIND SHELTER FROM ANY STORM

May you remain good looking and looking good.

May you find perfect balance in the company you keep.

 
May you have as much fun as you can before someone makes you stop. 
 
May the worst thing that happens to you come in slobbery pink and furry TAN.

 May  you  manage  to  MAKE  time  for  siesta.

  May all the new folks you meet be interesting and kind.

May your accessories always harmonize with your natural beauty!

Should your mouth ever be bigger than your stomach, may you have a chewing good time!

May you always know when to walk away and when to run.

AND MAY YOUR FRIENDS ALWAYS BRING YOU JOY

Happy New Year!

Karen

OYPF