May Phat Fiber Sampler Box – A Horse of a Different Color

This month’s theme for the Phat Fiber Sampler Box was a little unexpected, and I really didn’t think I was going to participate until one night when I was laughing over posts in the Rubberneckers group on Ravelry.

Like a lightning bolt, I thought of the funny Internet expression, “teal deer,” which references a post where someone has pontificated themselves into oblivion. Respondents are forced to reply with “tl;dr” (too long; didn’t read) or run screaming from the computer. Or both.
“A teal deer, eh?” I thought to myself. “Well, that’s a horse of a different color, all right!” After all, the idiom “a horse of a different color’ usually isn’t talking about horses at all.

So without further ado, here are my brand new Teal Deer stitch markers, handpainted by moi in a gorgeous sparkly teal color so that you can chuckle over the inanities of life while knitting away on your newest project. Enjoy!

Don’t forget, if you purchase anything in my store from May 18 – June 20 you are eligible for the Phat Fiber Superbox Giveaway! To win this month’s Phat Incentive, which includes the contents of this month’s Video (aka The Superbox) AND A $150 Gift Certificate to one of the participating shops, you need to join the Phat Fiber group on Ravelry and then post what you’ve purchased in the incentive thread.

Want to know how you can get one of these boxes? For a Phat Fiber community edited guide to snagging a box, visit this thread in the Ravelry group. The cost of the box is $36 including shipping. Good luck!

Enjoy the new design, which is up in the Exchanging Fire shop!

April Phat Fiber Sampler Box – How Does Your Garden Grow?

My past month was sort of crazy, and I had to work very hard to get my samples into Phat Fiber headquarters in time for the box this month. I really wanted to be a part of April’s garden, because I had so many ideas floating around in my head. In the end I think I was a bit inspired by the volatility going on in my life, because I chose a Wars of the Roses theme, continuing my Tudor series at Exchanging Fire.

The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic wars fought between supporters of two rival branches – the Houses of Lancaster and York – for the throne of England. Both sides were descendants of the House of Plantagenet, which had ruled England during the Middle Ages. The symbol of the rose came into being during these battles for control of the throne of England, when the York supporters wore white roses to show their loyalty. The origins of the Rose itself stem from Edward I’s use of “a golden rose stalked proper” as a badge of England’s Royal House.

The White Rose of York

The wars ended when a relative unknown Lancasterian living abroad, Henry VII, the father of the infamous Henry VIII, was raised up to be the next king. He married Elizabeth of York, uniting the two dynasties together and creating the House of Tudor, which ruled for the next 120 years.

The Red Rose of Lancaster

Don’t forget, if you purchase anything in my store from April 20 – May 17 you are eligible for the Phat Fiber Superbox Giveaway! To win this month’s Phat Incentive, which includes the contents of the April Video (aka The Superbox) AND A $150 Gift Certificate to one of the participating shops, you need to join the Phat Fiber group on Ravelry and then post what you’ve purchased in the incentive thread.

 

The Golden Apples – May Phat Fiber Sampler Box

It’s the weekend of the Phat Fiber Sampler box drop and I’m thrilled to unveil my mythology-themed stitchmarkers – The Golden Apples, now available at Exchanging Fire!

The Golden Apples

This story is based on the myth of Atalanta, who outran all of her suitors except for Hippomenes, who used Aphrodite’s three golden apples to distract her in their race. You’ll get a double-dose of the three golden apples, made out of gorgeous Preciosa Czech stardust pressed glass beads, Indian gold leaves and vintage findings.

Remember, if you purchased anything from me this month and you are a member of the Phat Fiber group (or you become a member…hint) then you could be eligible to win this month’s Phat Incentive, which include the contents of the May Video (aka The Superbox) AND A CHARKHA WHEEL, INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO AND COTTON FIBER to a randomly drawn poster in this thread. This is retroactive from MAY 1st and goes until MAY 31st!

Sign up now to get entered into the giveaway!

Check out the Phat Fiber Holiday Studio Tour!

Artichoke Bake

A bunch of us Phat Fiber ladies got together this Christmas and decided to offer our customers a holiday studio tour, just like when you visit a cluster of mom and pop shops during the holidays. We figured that while we couldn’t serve you hot wassail and a lovely nutty cheeseball when you come in out of the cold to browse in our stores, we could offer you our favorite holiday (and sometimes family secret) recipes while you click away at the computer!

I decided to offer my mother’s famous artichoke bake, which is a family favorite. At Christmastime my family has a long-standing tradition – we don’t have one big Christmas dinner, but instead serve a late luncheon of hors d’oeuvres and finger food. We’ll fill up our plates with baked brie and water crackers, shrimp cocktail, mini ham and mint chutney sandwiches, veggies, and of course, the artichoke bake. After stuffing ourselves we take a leisurely afternoon of opening gifts, one by one, all while sneaking away for my food from the buffet. My mother’s artichoke bake is a hit all-season long, and I’m always happy to share it with others!

So get yourself a nice cup of tea, settle down in from of the computer, and take a whirl through our “studios.” Enjoy perusing our shops and browsing through the fun recipes we are offering you for free. This is just our “thank you” for all of your support this season.

The full list of participating Phatties can be found here on the Phat Fiber blog. You can also browse many of them (with pictures) in this Ravelry thread – stop by and check out their delicious recipes, some of which have already been tried out! If you’re short on time and just want to look at all the pretty pictures, one of our Phat Fiber members was kind enough to turn those Phatties who have Etsy shops into a Holiday Studio Tour Treasury. Extra listings that couldn’t find into the treasury are linked in the comments below.

Happy Holidays from Exchanging Fire! Thanks to all of my blog subscribers – it warms my heart to know that you care enough to read my blog on a regular basis. May you have a wonderful winter break and head into January feeling renewed and refreshed.