A little preview!

I have some special requests for superwash roving. So I have been working on some really terrific superwash merino and alpaca hand dyes. It's a 70/30 blend and I can not believe how super super soft it is. And I have put it to the test in the washer. I put some in and aggetated it. No I didn't call it names...I turned on the wash cycle. I didn't leave it for the entire cycle but it didn't felt. The stuff drafts effortlessly!!! I hope to get enough done to start listing it in my Etsy Shop after the first of the year.

Here's a peek at my first hand dye:







It's an overdye. I just fell in love with the natural coloring of this roving and didn't have the heart to totally cover it. What beautiful shade of grey/brown. I can't wait to spin this one up!

As I said it will be available after the first of the year in my Etsy Shop for $4.25/oz

For my Subscribers

Here's a peek at some warm and fuzziness available right now to my newsletter subscribers only.



It's called "Wonder-mint." A custom blend in shades of mint, deep dark chocolate, ecru and teal green. 75% MERINO and 25% TENCEL...and like I said it's available right now to my newsletter subscribers only for a special discount price.

If you are a subscriber you will be recieving your first newsletter in you email box very soon. I just sent the first issue out and it may take awhile to show up. And if you would like to get on the upcoming special offers available only to my subscribers you can sign up by sending an email with the words "add me" in the subject line to newsletter@cjkopec-creations.com.

Thanks everyone for signing up and I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!
~Coby

Four New Color Blends

I finally broke through my new color combo slump. I had a severe case of carders block...I just couldn't come up with anything new. But at last I have had a break through!

Here are my 4 newbies...

Feelin' Peachy



Rain Puddles n Rubber Ducks


Tulsa


and Candy Clouds


More are on the way!

I had the best swap partner ever!

I joined the Holiday Swap 2007 on Ravelry a couple of weeks ago. I was so excited to participate in my first swap. I was anxious about sending out my gift to some one. Especially since my partner was in another country and I was limited on what I was able to send to her with out it getting delayed in customs. But I found lots of goodies to send out to a fellow yarnie nut.

I was so excited today when my package arrived. All I can say is WOW! I had the best swap partner ever! Not only a fellow yarn lover but she's a fellow horse-a holic too!

Look at all the goodies....



There is a Fiber Trends Kit for the cutest sheep (I love it), a ball of Crystal Palace's Merino Stripes in my fav color, some very nice goat's milk soap, a super cool key chain with a horse on it, a bar of soap that looks like a rock (also my fav color), some dark chocolate espresso cookie mix, and this is the neatest item of all a morning blend coffee from Equus Fine Coffees. Horses and coffee...it doesn't get much better than that! You throw yarn in the mix and it is just a super wonderful terrific day!



And the cookie mix...



I'll let you know who won the battle. LOL!

Thanks Ellen! You went above and beyond the call of duty.
But you know what the best part is...I have a new friend. :O)

Business Politics SUCK! Yes, I'm mad!

I have been crazy lately with all of my suppliers price hikes! This year I have had to eat three price hikes from one supplier. Two were just across the board hikes on supplies and the third was a major hike on my incoming UPS shipments. I have ate all of these price hikes out of my profits and have only increased my prices once in the past two years. That increase was just made a couple of weeks ago. (From $9/4oz to $10) I have had no complaints and business has stayed about the same...THANK YOU! But I have just received another letter about yet another price hike.

Here's a quote from the letter: "The price of wool started to increase in January of 2007 and has continued to do so all year; the finer the wool, the greater the increase. there is no way to tell you this will be the only increase for 2008."

I hate hiking my prices but I just did the math....it's not good. I know that others are getting more for their fiber and I know that I am one of the lower priced "creators" but I still hate the idea of taking my prices any higher. I'm a frugal person and try to pass on great deals. But I may be forced to raise my prices if I want to continue doing what I do. I love what I do! So what do you as my customers and other fiber creators think? I'm not talking about a huge hike. But it would put my prices up there with most of the other sellers. Actually, it would be just squeaking below. I am looking at $11 or $12 per 4oz ball of my Custom Blended Roving. I use only top quality commercial grade fiber in my work. And my hand dyes are all from top quality commercial dyes. No mill ends or unknown fibers. They are veggie matter free and smooth in texture. And I do believe that they are worth every bit of what my price increase would be...otherwise I wouldn't consider uping the prices. I have started to import large quantities of wool from other suppliers but they are doing the same thing.

AHHHHHH! I hate business politics! I could really really use some feedback here.

Thanks everyone....I appreciate it.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

I have been working on a newsletter for my shop and really really wanted to get my first issue out to my subscribers the end of October. But in my research for a provider for the emailing service I have found some bumps in the road. I have finally found a provider that has everything I need to provide a great newsletter for my subscribers. And I will have the first issue out very very soon.

Send me an email at newsletter@cjkopec-creations.com to sign up. Please put the words "add me" in the subject line so I see it right away. Your email address is secure with this provider and you will not receive spam emails from them or any other company as a result of signing up. I keep you emails in my files and they are not shared with anyone.

What is in the issues?
Great info on upcoming items for my store, pattern resources, contests, special color blends and coupons that will be available only to my subscribers and I'm even working on a classifieds section for those of you who want to sell or purchase used equipment.

So feel free to drop me a line and sign up.

Take care all!
~Coby