TWO Giveaways this week!

That's right - I have lots of goodies to give away! I'm going to run the Songbird Designs competition again because there was an email glitch and I received no entries.

So, we have Songbird Designs and Fab Fibres giveaways!

I have 3 awesome prizes from Songbird Designs. (You may have received a cute packet of their knitting gift tags in the last Sampler Box)

Prizes are:
1: fabric covered badge and awesome giant paperclip
2: 3x amazing fabric covered hair ties
3: the most beautiful pair of grey rose hair clips
(there will be three winners, each receiving one of these prizes)

How do you enter?
Tweet/Facebook/Blog this: "I want to win these beautiful handmade hair accessories from Songbird Designs! www.NZYarnSampler.blogspot.com @blendy" and don't forget to comment on this post so I know you've entered. Winners will randomly be selected on Wednesday 10 March. Anyone can enter - I'll post your prize anywhere in the world.

Check out Songbird Design's blog or their felt store to see more tempting gift ideas.

The Fab Fibres giveaway is a gorgeous sheet (a bit bigger than A5) of orange hand made wool paper, and a tantalising pile of matching yarns for you to go wild with your creating!

How do you enter?
Tweet/Facebook/Blog this: "I want to win the amazing wool paper & yarn pack from Fab Fibres! www.NZYarnSampler.blogspot.com @blendy" and don't forget to comment on this post so I know you've entered. Winners will randomly be selected on Wednesday 10 March. Anyone can enter - I'll post your prize anywhere in the world.

Check out the FabFibres website to see more fabulous yarn, fibres and accessories for your crafts.

Knitting Olympics are over

Well, the Knitting Olympics ended a few days ago. Did I win Gold? No. My challenge proved too difficult, so I've awarded myself a Silver for effort and achievement. I was attempting to knit two socks at the same time, which in itself is not that challenging, in fact I saw many people complete several pairs of socks, or absolutely ridiculously challenging sweaters. However, my handicap of two small boys and other real life activities prevented round the clock knitting time, but I am very pleased with the progress I made in the time available.

Here is my last update picture - this was taken the day before the end of competition, so imagine a few extra stripes added after some frantic knitting during the Closing Ceremony. I think I'm actually not far off beginning the toe.However, as the ceremony ended, and I had not achieved Gold, I was feeling a bit sad (I don't like failing on self-imposed challenges!). Like one of the US Hockey guys said, "You don't win silver, you lose silver". So, what's the best way to lift the spirits of a knitter? Cast on a new project!!

So now I am knitting what claims to be a 3 hour sweater, vintage 1930's pattern. While it will take more than 3 hours, I've already completely finished the back. If I continue at this rate, I could possibly have a new sweater by the end of the weekend!

Curiouser and Curiouser Samples!

Sabine from Curiouser and Curiouser is back in our next box - so many of you loved her amazing and unique samples last time and she has been overwhelmed by your comments. I hope you've made something extra special with your sample. If you didn't get one last time, you have a really good chance this time as Sabine has doubled her yarn sample selection! There are so many beautiful samples of her handpainted art on 100% wool, lambswool/angora blends, silk, possum/merino blend and more. They are all different and all excellent examples of the type of work Sabine creates.

Sabine from Curiouser and Curiouser makes yarns for the adventurous crafter, and also the fabulous No Snag Knitters Handcream. For more woolly goodies from Sabine, check out her Felt store at www.sabine.felt.co.nz

Knitting Olympics

I've signed up to be a part of Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics! I'm casting on today during the opening ceremony, and will be knitting two socks at the same time on one set of my new HiyaHiya circular needles from Needlefood. I'm using Vintage Purls Sock Club for the main colour, and then for contrast stripes I'm using the Vintage Purls samples from the last Sampler Box for one foot, and Needlefood Lupin for the other foot. I know they are a little bit different, but close enough for a pair of awesome purple stripy socks!

So last night I wound them up, but my 11 month old son got in the way and created an enormous tangle that resulted in my lovely husband staying up with me until 1am until we untangled it. That's love!!

Zealana Samples!

I'm pleased to showcase the first samples for the next box - and they come from Zealana. What a treat too - these are not just samples, they are a full 50g ball of... wait for it... double knit weight 60% NZ Merino and 40% NZ Possum! *applause*

Zealana have been extremely generous with their sample submissions and most boxes should receive a $15 ball of this luxuriously soft yarn. There are 6 shades from the 'Zealana Kiaora' Rimu range- Powiwi Pink (pinky-red), Toto Red (orange red), Red Rata Tree (rust), Flax (brown), Lake Taupo (blue) and Pukeko blue (blue-charcoal), plus a dusky pink that is 80/20. You will be able to knit something amazing with this, and because it is so exceptionally soft (but very hard wearing apparently), you'll be the envy of your friends, especially if you are from outside of NZ.

'Zealana Kiaora' is a machine washable collection of yarns that focus on the luxurious blends using New Zealands' own Possum fibre. There are plenty of other vibrant NZ-themed colours to choose from as well - go check them out! www.zealana.co.nz Please note that they do not sell directly to the public, but you can order from their stockist KnitWorldStudios.

Possum fibre is sourced responsibly and endorsed by the Department of Conservation, with the aim of reducing the devastating effect of possums on NZ's native birds and forests.

Songbird Designs Competition!

To celebrate the return of the Devonport Craft Market, and the next NZ Yarn Sampler Box, we have 3 awesome prizes from Songbird Designs! (You may have received a cute packet of their knitting gift tags in the last Sampler Box)

Prizes are:
1: fabric covered badge and awesome giant paperclip
2: 3x amazing fabric covered hair ties
3: the most beautiful pair of grey rose hair clips

How do you enter?
Check out Songbird Design's blog (with photos of some new items that you can buy at this weekend's Devonport Craft Market), or their felt store, then pick something you love and share the link via your preferred social networking. Comment below with your link (so I know you've entered!), or tweet me @blendy. Winners will randomly be selected on Friday 19 February. Anyone can enter - I'll post your prize anywhere in the world.

Craft fairs have taken a bit of a break over the holidays, so I expect it will be pretty busy at the Devonport Craft Fair this Sunday! Go check it out from 10.00am - 3pm at the Devonport Community House, Clarence St, Devonport, and tell Sarah from Songbird Designs that you love her stuff and you saw it on the NZ Yarn Sampler Box blog.

The next box is coming...

I hope you've all been having fun doing something creative with your samples from the first box. I've enjoyed seeing the finished articles people have posted in our ravelry group.

Keep playing with them all, and don't forget to check out the supplier websites and support them buy buying your next project supplies from such amazing crafty people.

Start saving your loose change - the next box will be going on sale over the weekend of April 10/11! I'm hoping this one will be even bigger! (if you make something cool that is knitting related and you want to feature in the box, then I'd love to hear from you!)

Register your interest so you can be emailed the time they go on sale, and updates on competitions etc.