World Traveller Club: April

By now, everyone in the World Traveller Club should have received their April shipment, and the may shipments are well on their way.

I had great fun picking the theme for the inaugural trip. After all, the first trip will set the tone for your entire voyage!

So for our first trip together, I wanted to take everyone to a region close by that is near and dear to my heart: The Australia Alps.
We're getting ready for our wintersport season, such as it is, so this area has been on my mind.

The Australian Alps consists of two biogeographic subregions: the Snowy Mountains including the Brindabella Ranges, located in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory; and the Victorian Alps, located in Victoria. The latter region is also known as the "High Country", particularly within a cultural or historical context.

While I mainly visit the alpine region in winter, there are many gorgeous things to do there in summer. It's dry and has a stark beauty all of its own. but that dryness comes with an ever-present danger: Bushfires.

In 2009, the bushfires were so devastating and widespread, they are now known as the Black Saturday fires.

Just this summer, fires raged around the mountains almost all the way to the peaks. The images from those fires were striking. I was planning the club colours during that time and I could smell the smoke. I wanted to do something that reflected what was reality in our area.

The variegated colourway for this month was inspired by photos of yellow and orange fires and billowing blue-grey smoke against a deep blue sky.

The tonal colour is inspired by the Pygmy Possum, a tiny marsupial native to only the Victorian Alps, and whose already small habitat was vastly decreased due to the fires.

And there you have it. Our April trip. May travellers will be going somewhere different, and then it's time for our April travellers to pack their bags and hop on a virtual plane to somewhere completely different.

For the love of tea

I love tea.
I mean loooooooooove tea. I have at least two pots of tea most days, and I feel incomplete if I don't get to brew at least a cup on any given day.
Depending on the brew, tea can uplift or soothe me, calm me or give me that burst of energy.
I have tea for dark, miserable days and for hot and languid ones. Tea I drink in the morning, and tea to drink at night.

In fact, if you look at my tea shelf, crammed full of goodies (it goes on three deep), you might think I have a bit of a problem.

But it's all for research, you see? After the popular Tea & Stripes club (scheduled to return at the end of the year), I had the upcoming Downton Abbey tea & yarn swap to think about! So I really had to sample a wide variety of teas and tisanes to make sure I picked something delicious and inspiring both for your cups and for your needles.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time to brew a fresh pot of tea.

Tea & Stripes Club Roundup

November '12 - French Earl Grey

The inaugural Tea & Stripes Club is well and truly over.
I had a wonderful time choosing the teas and coming up with colours.

There has been lots of activities in the group, which was super fun.
Of course the greatest thrill is seeing what people knit with my yarns, and we've had everything from socks to cowls and hats.

December '12 - Morning Dew

For those of you who missed out this time around, fear not! There will definitely be another Tea & Stripes club later in the year.

First, I'm going to focus on a new adventure though. The World Traveller yarn & goodies club is open for sign-ups right now, and it's going to be a blast!

January '13 - Cleopatra's Champagne

It's going to be variegated and tonal yarns (to give me a break from balling dozens of self-striping yarns each week!), but once that's through, the next round will be better than ever.
I've already got a few new and exciting teas lined up for you all.

What's your favourite tea? Which tea do you think would make an excellent addition to the line-up?

And which of the current crop would you like to see added to our regular Yarn vs Zombies line-up?

High Tea at Downton Tea & Yarn Club

 
Welcome to Downton, where we take tea with our intrigue, and high drama calls for high tea.

Are you in love with Downton Abbey? 
Then this club is for you. 
Every other month, for three months, you will receive a shipment of one skein of yarn (at least 100 grams of fingering weight) and a sampler of tea inspired by or relating to the characters, setting and period of popular BBC drama Downton Abbey.

Love clubs but want some control? One month before shipments go out, we’ll send you a preview of two colourways -- one variegated, and one tonal. You’ll get to see them before making your decision about which you prefer. You’re not stuck with yarn you don’t want!

Want them both? Club members have the option of ordering extra skeins of either the tonal or the variegated yarn for as long as they are members of the club.

Want a different base? We can do that, too.

High Tea at Downton ships on the last of April, June and August with previews going up one month before.

The base yarns will include one merino/nylon blend, one luxury fibre blend and one surprise blend! All yarns are superwash and perfect for socks, shawls, accessories or baby clothes.

Sign-ups are open, but places are strictly limited.

Why World Travel?

Why would you want to choose to travel with Yarn vs Zombies?

1. Fun Yarns Each yarn has been selected to best showcase the colours of each destination, or to reflect something about the destination itself Our club will feature both traditional merino and merino/nylon blends as well as more exotic and luxurious fibres and yarns.
2. Something new Each level will have at least one new, never-before-seen in the shop base!
3. Flavour It’s not just the yarn that’s delicious! Each shipment will highlight a dish from the region you are travelling to.
4. Exclusivity Each of our handpainted colorways will be exclusive to the club, never to be sold on our regular site. You’ve got to travel to get unique souvenirs! Plus, club members will be able to order as many extra skeins as they like for a year from the start of our world tour. Seen something the other travellers got you particularly like? You can order those, too!
5. Souvenirs Who doesn’t love souvenirs? From little goodies inspired by your destination to free coupons, stitch markers, and patterns, there’s something for everyone. Contests and prizes. We’ll also run periodic contests and drawings that only club members can enter. Win free yarn, or other awesome gifts.
6. Friends Get to know other club members. Hear about your fellow travellers’ stories and adventures, show off your yarn and goodies, and make new friends from all around the world!
7. Bonus Club members are eligible for special prize drawings and other shop surprises. What are these? You’ve got to travel to find out…
   
   
   Club sign-ups are open until the 28th of February 2013. Places are strictly limited and will be assigned by lottery on the 1st of March 2013. If you are selected for a spot, payment will be due in full by March 15th.

World Traveller Yarn Club

 
Sign-ups are now open! Simply fill in the form to be added to the lottery. 
Link here.

Yarn vs Zombies is taking you on a world tour to visit different destinations.

Experience a truly international club with colourways inspired by locations on different continents.

Extras will include a recipe from the region with each shipment, as well as a goodie or pattern inspired by the location or yarn colour.

There are four levels of club in two flavours.

Choose from:

• Quick Trip Traveller (1 skein of sockweight yarn of 100 grams plus goodies every other month)
• Long Distance Traveller (2-3 skeins of coordinating fingering weight yarn of 100 grams each plus goodies every other month)
• Big Traveller (2 skeins of coordinating DK or worsted weight yarn of 100 grams plus goodies every other month)
• Adventure Traveller (1-4 braids of fibre of at least 125 grams/4 oz total)

Choose from two flavours: variegated or tonal.

If you are interested in more than one club, please fill in the form once for each club of your choice.

All clubs have the option of re-ordering extra skeins of club colours (variegated and tonal) for a year after sign-ups.

Club sign-ups are open until the 28th of February 2013. Places are strictly limited and will be assigned by lottery on the 1st of March 2013. If you are selected for a spot, payment will be due in full by March 15th.

If you no longer wish to be part of the club before payment is made, please let me know asap so I can offer your spot to someone on the wait list.

So, are you ready to go travelling?