Lucky Cat Crafts: Rare & Unusual Fibers are here!

Handspinners, you won't believe your hands when you feel Lucky Cat Crafts' unusual and amazing fiber blends!

polworth/mugasilk  |  yak/angora  |  camel/mugasilk/yak  |  merino/mugasilk/yak |  merino/mulberrysilk/possum

Kim, the adorable lady behind Lucky Cat Crafts, has these fantastical fiber blends specially milled in small batches.

We love the warm smoky palette of colors she has created by blending unique undyed fibers in soft greys and browns.

Below is a handspun yarn made with Lucky Cat Yak/Angora, a blend of two downy fibers that are so fluffy soft and ethereal, it almost feels like you are touching sunshine.

Lucky Cat Crafts' fibers are a dream to work with! They are perfect for a special project and extra soft against sensitive skin. We hope you love them as much as we do!

Fancy Tiger Folks' Crafty Holiday Gift Picks 2012! Part 2

Here is part two of our Fancy Tiger Folks 2012 Crafty Holiday Gift Picks!We think your crafty dears will love these as much as we do...

Hey! I'm Katy, and I'm the newest Tigress at Fancy Tiger Crafts! I've been a knitter for ages, and I adore cross stitching and embroidery. While the holidays are some of my favorite times of the year, I'm not a big fan of the weather, so I find I tend to knit winter wear in bright colors to chase away the winter blues. This year I'm hoping Santa brings me colorful MadelineTosh presents, particularly the graphic MadelineTosh Arrows Cowl pattern and Tosh DK, one of my favorite yarns ever! I think the cowl would be fantastic in yellow and purple, a classic color combo made even better with the neon amazingness of Edison Bulb and the deep purple tones of Iris!

Caitlin
As a garment seamstress, I'm always searching for wearable patterns for separates. I love dresses (as evidenced by my ever-growing pattern stash), but they aren't very versatile for my day-to-day wardrobe. I like tops that are simple, flattering and can be sewn with wovens. Wiksten's Tova fits the bill! The pattern itself is beautifully designed and executed, and would be adorable stitched up in one of our new polka-dotted Lecien lawns. These fabrics are super soft, drape beautifully and are classy without being too stuffy. I sure hope Santa is reading this wishlist!

Hi ya! My name is Erica. After years in the corporate world, I came to Fancy Tiger to learn to sew. Classes are great and I learned so much that two years later I retired my first sewing machine for a new one and sew my own clothes. There’s still much to learn and I’m always excited about it. My holiday pick is our Needlefelting Kits to make those cute little wool animals. My kids (ages eight and eleven) love them and have spent hours working on their little animals. They are easy to make. It’s never too early to start crafting!

Emily
Blacker Yarns is an amazing company founded in the UK. They support farmers and shepherds raising rare, endangered and sheep not normally used for wool by purchasing fleeces and producing single breed wool yarns. These single breed wool yarns each have such differing properties, some sproingy some drapey, some shiny some matte, some soft and some super hardy. Do you know how long I have been giving Blacker Yarns those longing looks? Too long! And now Sue Blacker has come out with an amazing book all about all those single breed yarns, Pure Wool. Reading this book is so informative about each of those breeds, both in character of wool and character of personality. You could pair this lovely book with any of these single breed yarns in any number and have a stunning elegant wool lover's gift. Here, I have chosen the lovely black Zwartbles yarn. This I would transform into a hardy, longwearing cardigan hoody sweater, along the lines of Roam perhaps?

Jaime
I would love to make this flattering French dress from Deer & Doe out of any of Bari J.'s new Splendor 1920 fabrics from Art Gallery. Holy smokes, that would be hot! What a fantastic gift for any Francophile seamstress.

Branwyn here. Recently I have been really into changing up my collar style. Who wants to wear the same thing everyday, right? So my holiday gift pick would be the makings of a new collar. It was really hard to choose the right combination as there are so many great trims to choose from! But I finally settled on a lovely teal Echino wide webbing and a hot pink neon trim with a reflective stripe for maximum safety. Add a brass metal ring just in case you need to be more connected to your dearest and you are set!

P.S. If you come buy the store to shop for gifts, be sure to say hello. Treats are welcome.

We hope to see you soon! Happiest of holidays to you and yours!

New Needlefelting Kits Are Here From Fancy Tiger Crafts! Hooray!

We've been busy crafting up some fun new kits for you! Three new Fancy Tiger needlefelting kits are making their debut at Fancy Tiger Crafts and in our Etsy store.

Meet our new Moustache Kit--inside is everything you need to make four amazing needlefelted 'staches! A plethora of facial foliage--you'll be ready for any occasion!

Our little Red Fox kit is here by popular demand and he's ready to be your friend forever. This very adorable vulpes is sure to bring you or a loved one a surplus of smiles!

Our happy whale kit isn't for landlubbers! This wooly ocean friend is the most darling cetacean you'll see this side of the shoreline.

We hope you love the newest members of our needlefelting kit family! Happy crafting!

New Pollika Wool and Wope!

New felting wools are here in a rainbow of magical colors. These little bundles of Dutch wool are wrapped in paper which is dyed to match the colorful wool inside--little bundles of woolly joy, they are!

And can it get any cuter? Why, yes it can. Also from Denmark, these portable little palettes of wool have their own adorable totes printed with fairies. These could be the perfect gift for your favorite young felting enthusiast.

Wool + Rope = Wope!

Wope is here in a gorgeous array of hues! This thick and sturdy yarn is amazing for making bright rugs, ottomans, purse handles, hot pads...we are way into Wope.

 

 

 

And now here is Joey Lawrence with a special shout out.

Better Know A Crafter: Zumi

Zumi is just six and a half and already she is impressing us with her crafty designs. She was sweet enough to share her most recent--and first ever--one-of-a-kind felted book projects with us! We love it. Keep up the awesome work, Zumi!

Tell us about yourself.

What types of crafts do you do?


What makes you want to be crafty?


Tell us about what you've made.
 

Did you you use a pattern to make your book?

When did you learn to felt?


Tell us about the person who taught you to do what you do.

What is your favorite animal?


Thanks Zumi! Happy crafting!

New Pico Accuardi Heritage Breed Roving--Naturally Dyed!

Pico Accuardi kettle dyed roving is here! Based in Portland, Oregon, Pico Accuardi is a dye company you may know of from their amazing sock yarns. Jaime knit her fabulous Daybreak from their naturally coffee dyed Stumptown colorway. We love their inspired dye combinations and were thrilled to discover that they are naturally dyeing heritage breed wools for spinners.

The Fiber Exploration Kit is a great way to get familiar with the variety and texture of different wools. In the kit you receive naturally dyed fiber from Masham, Polworth, Wensleydale, Gotland, Corriedale, Shetland, Falkland, Finn and Blue Faced Leicester. It is amazing how different breeds of wool can be so different! Silky or springy, soft or wiry, these wools are a rainbow of colors and great for needlefelting or spinning.

The various heritage breed wools also come in four ounce braids. These are great for hand spinning and wet felting. There is enough here to finish an entire project such as a hat or scarf.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, the sheep:

Falkland, Gotland, Wensleydale | Blue-Faced Leicester, Shetland, Corriedale | Polworth, Finn, Masham

New Cute Craft Supplies From Around the Globe!

New Japanese felting supplies are here! Most of these so-adorable-they-can-only-be-Japanese crafting kits, books and tools now have instructions translated into English, for more fun and less "say what?".


Felt ball makers are back! These sweet felting tools flew out of here last time we got them in. They make perfect little wet-felted wool balls with ease!


This new felting book is cute as cute can be!


And from Germany, the land where magically self-patterning sock yarn originates, Ambiente yarn is here! These little balls of sock yarns come in the prettiest colors which transform into a faux Fair-Isle pattern of stripes and speckles as you knit. You may know, we are all about making shawls out of our sock yarn around here, so keep your eye out for some Ambiente shawl action!

Better Know A Crafter: Nancy Ballinger

I am so excited to share this Better Know A Crafter with you! When Nancy came into Fancy Tiger Crafts to show us what she's been working she had a giant plastic tub with her. She opened it up and we couldn't believe how many tiny little felt cuties were in there. Nancy is an amazing needle felter who makes felted dogs. Her woolly canine sculptures are sweet little purebreds, perfect enough to please any AKC judge or dog lover.

Nancy Ballinger

What inspires you to be so crafty?
I am retired and needed a hobby.


Tell us about your pups.
I've made over 50 breeds of needle felted dogs. I use sheep wool and alpaca.




How did you learn to make these cuties?
I saw dogs like these on the internet, but they were too expensive to buy. I bought a book and started making dogs. I use AKC standards as a guideline.



What is your favorite animal?
Cairn Terriers.


If anyone out there wants a mini pup to call their own, where can we find you and your felted dogs, Nancy?
I sell the dogs every other weekend at the Parker Farmers Market at the Moonpie Candles booth. In the fall we will go to various craft fairs, Hyland Ranch, Heather Gardens, Bear Creek High School and several others.

Thanks Nancy! Happy felting!