Buying @ Etsy

Received the first fiber I ever ordered online yesterday....what a thrill. I usually only buy in person because it's a total sensory experience, drawn first by color and then sold by touch. I'm also fortunate to have several local wool sellers so getting my "fix on" is as easy as going to the grocery store. Something drew me to this fiber, however, on Etsy and it was the best experience.
Firstly, the seller shipped the fiber within an hour of purchase. (timing is everything) Secondly, she sent the package before she had received my payment....amazing. Felt like this seller understood that when you have your heart set on fiber it's severe penance to wait. What I ordered were two different batches of her hand painted roving. The fiber pictured is some Targhee in a color way named Elms and Maples, and it is simply beautiful. It's even more precious because it is dyed in such small amounts and can never really be reproduced. I had never spun hand painted roving or Targhee before so it's a treat on both counts. For those wondering...hand painted gives a truer variegated look while carder blended colors do just that, blend. Similar effects, but painted seems more random. The other roving is a Merino top and is equally as gorgeous.
Roving is now one of my favorite searches on Etsy....."your place to buy and sell all things hand-made" and there are many that hand paint. Also, check out www.yarnhollow.com
from some of this luscious roving and great customer service. Also see links to Etsy on this blog.