Recently a company called thinksound ™ contacted Urban Fauna Studio asking if we’d be interested in selling their product. My first thoughts were: not really the right product for my shop as we are a fiber arts boutique. Then I was thinking well if enough people were interested in the product we might grab some and have them around for the holiday season. Before making any kind of purchase out of my usual retail realm especially with any kind of electronics I would need to have some sort of first hand experience with the product. I contacted the company back, writing to Aaron Fournier CEO and Engineer, asking for the price-list and if at all possible to test a few pairs and to be able to see a difference between the two finishes that they offer.

We quickly received two pairs of headphones, a set of tso1’s & a tso2+mic, each one representing the two finishes that the y have to offer. One in the silver cherry and one in the black chocolate. Over the weekend we’ve been testing the headphones in different situations and by listening to different types of music as well as different formats. We listen to a wide range of of music from classical and jazz to hip-hop and metal. Formats that we tried were MP3 320Kbps, AIFF, ACC 320Kbps and the Apple Lossless.  We tried the mic out on the tso2+mic and it seems to work well both in respects to the person on the other end hearing us clearly as well as we were able to hear the other person.

Our Experience and the Differences Between the Two Models

To be fair we listened to the same set of songs in the same format on both pair of thinksound™ in-ear headphones as well as the supplied ear-buds by Apple with a new iPhone over a period of 4 days. Right off the bat the tso2+mic quickly became the favorite as they have a very well rounded sound that seems to capture all the highs and mids as well as handle a pretty robust bass level even at the highest level of volume. If you really like the thump of your bass the tso1’s handle bass in a very different manner, VERY RICH and FULL, but we felt that the highs were to soft unless you start playing with the EQ. Both of the thinksound™ models were MUCH more COMFORTABLE to wear than the Apple set of ear-buds. Apple ear-buds are way to tinny for my taste and never seem to stay in my ears.  Between the ts01’s and the ts02+mic I felt that the ts01’s were unnoticeable while wearing and the ts02+mic was only slightly noticeable while wearing them, mainly because I like to clip the mic down.

Both sets were packaged in eco friendly recycled cardboard with no wasteful plastics and come with a great unbleached cotton sack to stash the headphones in. The opening procedure was hassle free and the overall appearance is great. The wood for the body is stunning and beautiful far beyond what a camera can capture. The design is simple and we think very functional between the wood body for a true resonance and the in-ear sealed plug, four sizes to choose from, to also help cancel out noise. They also sport a PVC free cable with a full gold plated tip for excellent sound transfer from device to ear.

Price Point You Ask?

So MSRP on Headphones from thinksound™ range from $75.00 – $100.00 USD each set. Are they worth it? It depends on how much you value a great Eco-conciuos set of headphones. They sound great either model you choose, the tso1 if you really really like bass or if you like well rounded check out the ts02’s, look unique and feel great. I would say the cost is spot on for a great value in the headphone realm especially when you factor in the companies slogan, “Clear sound with a clearer conscience is what we believe in.”, which directly refers to the incredibly small eco footprint this fine quality crafted  product has. The guys over at thinksound™ have created a phenomenal product that has been years in the making. It seems that everywhere you look now the latest fad is to make it out of wood. Have you looked at you speakers at home though? The ones in your home entertainment center or the ones on your book shelf chances are they are made of wood and for a good reason, it sounds great. It would just make sense to make some headphones out of wood as well then right? Probably not as easy to design, but thinksound™ has mastered it.

Conclusion

The ts02’s are a great headphone set! My absolute go to headphone set has been the Sony MDR V-600 Studio Monitors for a number of years. The comfy over ear design along with the extra long cord on a single side have done me plenty good, but the sleek ts02 is definitely a very close second edging to first because of the portability, great sound they produce, and as these in-ears headphones stay in your ear one can even sleep comfortably with them in. A great upgrade from your standard run of the mill ear-buds or in-ear headphones. Great price for the awesome sound they produce. What I would like to see is a set of over the ear headphones with the beautiful wood body that can create the deep rich bass and also hold the mids and highs well.

So I ask you my readers, What do you think? Leave me comments about the product or ask any further questions about my experience with them. Should Urban Fauna Studio carry some of these headphones? They are electronics but they have a sustainability to them and a very small Eco-footprint. Leave your comments, share and spread the news. I think that it is wonderful that there is a company out there making some pretty HIFI electronics that can be manufactured with a conscious effort to reduce the impact on our small planet. They even have a recycle program to close to loop. you can send in a pair of headphones, even broken, and receive a discount on a future purchase.

Join us for our 3rd year anniversary as a fiber arts studio!  Your support has helped make our dream to contribute to the fiber arts community a reality! Partake in fiber fun and join us for cake and refreshments ONE DAY ONLY. Everyone is welcome!

** Enter our FREE Raffle for Product & Gift Certificates **

** Free Cake & Snacks **

** Sale Prices On All Products In Stock **

Discounts on commercial yarns, floor model spinning wheels, books, fibers and more! New Product Lines In Store! Items marked 10% 20% 30% and 50% OFF FOR ONE DAY ONLY!

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1:00 – 4:00 PM ** FIBER MEET UP **
Bring your wheels, and projects and hang out with us at the studio! There will be cake, snacks, yarn & needle felting supplies to use for free!

12:00 – 5:00 PM SHOP WITH OUR HANDMADE VENDORS

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** GREENSLEEVES TRUNK SHOW **
Join us for a Bay Area exclusive event, meet Elizabeth Dailey of Greensleeves, the head maker of breathtakingly beautiful drop spindles made from the finest exotic hard woods available. For every spinner, from novice to expert. She will have a wide array of her handmade spindles, accessories and can give you advice on how to best use your Greensleeves products – ONE DAY ONLY

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** GIRL ON THE ROCKS **
Fun and whimsical knitting notions and tools! Along with beautiful hand dyed fibers and yarns http://www.girlontherocks.​com/knit

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** SINCERE SHEEP **
Sincere Sheep of Northern California produces naturally dyed fiber and yarn. When Brooke founded this company she used only local wool processed locally into carded roving and yarn labeled with both animal and farm names. Since then the Sincere Sheep line has expanded to include other fibers and yarns sourced near and far but I still carry farm-specific items. http://sinceresheep.com/

RSVP TODAY ON FACEBOOK

New Item In The Store

The Schacht Sidekicks have arrived at the store! Check out a blog post about the wheel from our teen intern Tina Li HERE. They are available for purchase or rental today!

EVENTS & CLASSES: Click Class Titles For More Information

We just received a new spinning wheel, the Sidekick! Many of you can’t wait to get your hands on these fabulous wheels! The Sidekick is designed to fold easily and be a solid spinner! This Sidekick catches a lot of attention from critics because it is highly portable, you can take it everywhere you want. You can tell that the designers have had put a lot of time and care to produce this great spinning wheel. It is light-weight and decorative. You will definitely love the Sidekick once you set foot on it. Stop by Urban Fauna Studio to get a tour of the new Sidekick Spinner! Below are some of the snapshots of the Sidekick:

Below is a video showing this wonderful spinning wheel in action. The video was created by the knitmoregirls when they visited the Schacht Spindle Company, Inc Factory in Boulder, Colorado.

We have new items in stock and they are Interchangeable Knitting Needle Cables. These Cables allow you to change your needles while knitting without a hassle! Ever felt like changing the needles in the middle of a project but just couldn’t because you had to finish knitting with the needle first?! Well, needn’t to worry no more, Interchangeable Knitting Needle Cables are here to save you. We have 2 different kinds of Classic Circular Knitting Needles that go with the Interchangeable Knitting Needle Cables, Nickle Plated and Wood! Stop by Urban Fauna Studio sometime to check out the items! Below are some of the images of our items:

With warmer weather coming we have stocked several new lines of cotton yarns in the shop including:

Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton- A silky soft cotton yarn that comes in a beautiful range of vivid hues! Ultra Pima is also easy to care for; you can machine wash it in cool water and tumble it dry on low!

Marisol Hap’I - Mirasol Hapi is a great thick-thin yarn that is perfect for textured projects. Available in stunning, saturated colors.

Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton – Authenticated as 100% organic through the BioRe textile chain, the cotton fiber is grown without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers or defoliants and is harvested by hand. These gorgeous shades are achieved by using non-toxic, non-carcinogenic dyes, and all water is recycled and made drinkable.

All commerical cotton & cotton blends in stock are 25% OFF in May! Special Order Bags – 15% OFF!

Great yarns for baby projects, lightweight apparel and plush dolls for kids. Come see our cotton selection in May and save!

Studio Classes: Click Titles For Class Times & Information

May 15th – Woolbuddy: Felt Owl - 3 spaces left!

Join Jackie Huang of Woolbuddy as he walks you through the creation of one of his signature wool plush. Jackie has developed an original felting character style which he will teach you in this beginners project.

Sunday May 22nd – Knit Amigurumi Aliens

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals. Learn the basics of amigurumi by making this cute quick tiny knit alien. You’ll have so much fun you’ll end up making a whole colony!

Sunday June 19th & 26th - Beginning Crochet (two classes)

Crochet is fast and fun.  In this two-part class you’ll learn the basic stitches while making a cute stuffed bunny and also start a crocheted scarf.  We will cover chain stitch, single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, and triple crochet.

Saturday June 25th & July 2nd Crochet Amigurumi (two classes)

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals. Learn the basics of amigurumi by making a crocheted bird or Dragon.

Sunday June 26th Knitting 911: Fixing Knitting Mistakes

In this class we’ll go over how to fix many common mistakes on the following row, as well as how to safely undo a few stitches and many rows when you have to. You’ll learn how to recognize mistakes and many tips on how to avoid them in the first place.

Saturday July 2nd Continental Knitting

Knitting continental-style is faster than American-style, especially with knit/purl or lace stitch patterns. Switching to continental style knitting takes some patience, but in this class Kira will give you lots of tips to help you make the transition smoothly.

The Jordana Paige trunk show will be at Urban Fauna Studio from April 11th to 25th! Stop by to see the latest design, L.J. Kaelms, plus the complete product line of knitting bags. Jordana Paige handbags are fashioned for carrying your knitting project, tools and daily purse items. Featuring a variety of pockets for organization, comfortable shoulders straps and lightweight vegan leather, Jordana Paige’s clean designs are practical for everyday outings and knitting nights with friends. We’re convinced you will find these bags a lifesaver when knitting that we’re offering the followng incentives…

20% OFF to the first 5 people who place an order for a bag

**PLUS** Ask our staff to give you the Jordana Paige sales pitch and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $40 store gift card. So hurry over, take a look and we’ll order your favorite just for you!

EVENTS & CLASSES: Click Class Titles For Class Times and More Information

Weds. April 20th – Learn To Spin: Drop Spindle

Learn to spin yarn using the simple and ancient tool called the drop spindle!

Sat April 23rd – Rigid Heddle Weaving
This class will teach the basics of weaving with a table top rigid heddle loom. In this four hour class you will learn how to warp the yarn, thread it and weave on a cricket loom. Great way to start weaving!

Weds. April 27th – Beginning Wheel Spinning

Learn to spin your own yarns on a spinning wheel. In this two hour course we’ll cover the basics of how a spinning wheel works and learn to draft and spin a continuous thread.

Sat April 30th – Introduction To Embroidery- 4 spaces left

Embroidery is a great way to jazz up your kitchen towels, napkins, clothing and more!  You’ll learn the basic embroidery stitches of split stitch, stem stitch, backstitch, french knots, and chain stitch while working on your choice of designs from the cheeky Sublime Stitching line.

Saturday May 7th – Wet Felt Flowers

With a wonderful kit by Spiderfelt you will assemble 2 large or 3 medium sized 100% wool felt flowers using a wet felting technique.

Sunday May 1st & May 8th- Beginning Knitting (two classes)

Learn the basics of knitting while starting a simple scarf and a stuffed bunny!  You’ll learn how to cast on stitches, knit, and purl as well as some simple stitch patterns that work well for scarves.  This is also a great class for those who are starting to knit again after a long break.

Saturday May 14th – Needle Felted Bird

Needlefelting, an exciting and easy dry felting method, has gained tremendous popularity over the last decade. Using your own needle, wool, and other basic tools, learn to needlefelt a lovely bird!

Monday May 2nd 6-8PM - First Monday Fiber Club Night

Join us for a free fiber night at our new store location! Drop in any time and bring a fiber craft of your choice to work on (Felting, Spinning, Knitting, Crochet, etc..).

Sunday May 22nd – Knit Amigurumi Aliens

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals. Learn the basics of amigurumi by making this cute quick tiny knit alien. You’ll have so much fun you’ll end up making a whole colony!

Sunday June 19th & 26th – Beginning Crochet (two classes)
Crochet is fast and fun.  In this two-part class you’ll learn the basic stitches while making a cute stuffed bunny and also start a crocheted scarf.  We will cover chain stitch, single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, and triple crochet.

Saturday June 25th & July 2nd Crochet Amigurumi (two classes)

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals. Learn the basics of amigurumi by making a crocheted bird or Dragon.

More classes on our Web Calendar

CREATORS FOR JAPAN CHARITY CRAFT SHOW

Creators For Japan’s mission is to raise money through art and crafts sale for relief efforts to assist the victims of Japan’s catastrophic earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear emissions. Join them for a high quality handmade arts and crafts sale along with an amazing bake sale. All of their handmade and unique products are donated by talented creators all over the globe. 100% of all net proceeds will be donated to Artists Help Japan Fund with Mercy Corps: http://www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/artistshelpjapan

Saturday, April 30 at 12:00pm – May 1 at 6:30pm

New People 1746 Post Street San Francisco, CA

if you’d like to participate in any way, please feel free to contact them at creatorsforjapan@gmail.com.

CLOSED or SHORTENED HOURS On The Following Days

April 11th – Closing early, hours from 12-5PM

April 24th – Closed all day due to Easter Sunday

We’re now carrying yarns by Cascade! Please drop by to see our growing selection (220 Wool, Eco Duo, Cotton and more!). UFS can special order any yarns for you by the bag – all BAG orders are 10% off. These are great yarns for felting, general knitware and more! Affordable prices starting at just $6.95 per skein!

* 25% off all in stock yarns, sales cannot be combined with any existing offers, coupons or discounts.

Upcoming Events & Classes: Click Class Titles For Info.

Sat March 5th -Beginning Wheel Spinning – 1 space left

Learn to spin your own yarns on a spinning wheel. In this two hour course we’ll cover the basics of how a spinning wheel works and learn to draft and spin a continuous thread.

Sat March 5th – Knitted Cables - 3 spaces left

Cables add a wonderful depth to knitting, as well as making the knitted fabric thicker and warmer.  In this class we will try a variety of cables moving from simple rope cables to travelling cables and twisted stitches.

Sat March 5th & 12th -Beginning Crochet (two Saturday classes) - ONLY 1 space left!

Crochet is fast and fun.  In this two-part class you’ll learn the basic stitches while making a cute stuffed bunny and also start a crocheted scarf.  We will cover chain stitch, single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, and triple crochet.

Mon March 7th – First Monday Fiber Club Night

Join us for a free fiber night at our new store location! Drop in any time and bring a fiber craft of your choice to work on (Felting, Spinning, Knitting, Crochet, etc..).

Sat March 19th – Intermediate Drop Spinning

Now that you’ve mastered a spun single, let’s show you how to ply and finish that yarn. In this “Part Two” Intro class, Michael will show you how to Handy Ply (a version of Andean Plying), how to skein, and set the twist in your yarn. He will also review your technique and suggest ways of refining and getting the most out of your spindle spinning.

Sun March 20th & 27th – Beginning Knitting (two Sunday classes) - ONLY 2 spaces left!

Learn the basics of knitting while starting a simple scarf and a stuffed bunny!  You’ll learn how to cast on stitches, knit, and purl as well as some simple stitch patterns that work well for scarves.  This is also a great class for those who are starting to knit again after a long break.

Sat March 26th – Needle Felted Woolbuddy: Frog **NEW CLASS**

Join Jackie Huang of Woolbuddy as he walks you through the creation of one of his signature wool plush: Woolly Frog! Lots of fun for people of all ages and no experience necessary!

Sun March 27th – Reading Patterns and Charts

Does the abbreviation sk2p leave you scratching your head?  How about those charts full of symbols? At this class, the mysteries of reading knitting patterns will be revealed and you’ll learn how to follow both written and charted instructions, as well as lots of tips to keep you from losing your place.

Sun April 3rd -Learn To Spin: Drop Spindle

Learn to spin yarn using the simple and ancient tool called the drop spindle!

Sun April 3, 10, & 17 Baby/Toddler Sweater (three Sunday classes) – 5 Spaces Left!

Toddler-size sweaters are a great way to learn the basics of knitting sweaters with less time, money, and anxiety.  You’ll learn how to increase, decrease, knit in the round, and read a sweater pattern.  Choose from two adorable sweaters that are knit seamlessly from the top-down.

Sat April 23rd – Rigid Heddle Weaving ** SPECIAL OFFER** The first TWO students who register w/new loom purchase will get a FREE skein of Cascade wool yarn of their choice!

This class will teach the basics of weaving with a table top rigid heddle loom. In this four hour class you will learn how to warp the yarn, thread it and weave on a cricket loom. Great way to start weaving!

Sat April 30th – Introduction To Embroidery

Embroidery is a great way to jazz up your kitchen towels, napkins, clothing and more!  You’ll learn the basic embroidery stitches of split stitch, stem stitch, backstitch, french knots, and chain stitch while working on your choice of designs from the cheeky Sublime Stitching line.

New Product In Store: Imperial Stock Ranch Yarn

Right before Stitches we got a great shipment of new yarns from Imperial Stock Ranch. The Imperial Stock Ranch is a family owned and operated ranch located on more than 30,000 acres of Oregon’s beautiful high desert where you’ll find resident populations of elk, deer, antelope, gamebirds and fish. It is on this vast landscape that their stewardship practices — of the land, of the animals and of their family — are cultivated and the strong foundation of our business has been forged.

Once a year, they harvest the soft, white wool from the sheep and begin the process of transforming this naturally renewable resource into a wide selection of fibers and yarns. All of their wool is specially milled without harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures, leaving it comfortable, soft and pure. Custom colored to reflect the ranch’s unique high-desert landscape, Imperial Stock Ranch yarns and fibers offer knitters, weavers and other fiber artists a naturally beautiful array of hues, textures and weights. You won’t find Imperial Stock Ranch wool in any other yarn on the market. They are a USA wool product.

The Imperial Stock Ranch has received numerous awards for excellence in stewardship and land-management practices. Chalk it up to a 140 year tradition of responsible stock raising and mindful land guardianship.  You can read more about their commitment to sustainability Here, and of course find out more about how their yarns are made Here. Come into the shop and see examples of each of their yarn lines and peruse their elegant patterns written by Leigh Radford.

Some new classes…

Meet the Artist

This newsletter’s featured artist is Matney Paine of YoKNITS! YoKNITS (which stands for the knitting term Yarn Over) is run from her home in Colorado, where she spends most of her time raising her two children. Matney is a self-taught knitter of 8 years creating handmade scarves and hand-spun yarn for many special and unique people….Read More

New FREE Pattern at Urban Fauna Studio!

We love our local knitting group, Purl Jam! They’re regular fun at Fiber Club Night and we learn so much from them. Tracey Kay recently published a FREE Ravelry hat pattern “Fenced In”. A cozy toque/beanie with chain link fence cables. Knit in the round from the brim up. The pattern is offered in 3 sizes for bulky weight yarn….modeling it are the Purl Jammers themselves. We’re offering free printed copies (thank you Tracey!) at the shop with any purchase of bulky knit yarn! Jam on down to the shop….and make yourself this fun hat!

Upcoming Shows

The Festival brings residents, neighbors and friends together for a day of entertainment, music, dancing, and good food. It doesn’t matter whether you’re from Glen Park or Glendora – you’ll feel like part of the neighborhood. The Glen Park Festival is a great time and a great cause! Urban Fauna Studio will be hosting a FREE make and take project! We hope you’ll come out and say “Hi!” and enjoy this family friendly community event! Sunday April 25th 10AM – 4:30PM on Diamond Street More info here

Image courtesy of Imperial Yarn

We also have several new Louet wheels at the shop, a Louet drum carder, and a new Mach 2 in stock. All available for rental or purchase. Take them for a spin and pick out a Valentine’s Day Gift early!

Learn to love fiber craft:

We’ve added more classes for February and March! Learn the basics or move to the next level, we have classes for everyone. Register now so you can ensure your space in one of these fun intimate workshops…

Saturday 1.23 Learn to Nuno Felt a Great Neck warmer - 2 spaces left
Nuno felted fabric can be used for a variety of projects including quilt squares, scarf making, jewelry, mittens or apparel. The beginning nuno felt class is a great starting point for learning how to make flat felt fabric. $40 pp

Saturday 1.30 Beginning Knitting - 3 spaces left
You’ll learn how to cast on stitches, knit, and purl as well as some simple stitch patterns that work well for scarves. Make a hand knit scarf to keep warm on these rainy days! $26 pp

Saturday 1.30 Fix-It Clinic
Bring your knitting and crochet problems in for diagnosis and first aid.  Our resident knitting and crochet expert can help you start a new project, untangle an old one, or learn a new skill. $26 pp

Monday 2.01 FREE Fiber Club Nigh at The Old Jerusalem Cafe
Join us at our montly hangout the Old Jerusalem Cafe! Drop in and bring a fiber craft of your choice to work on. Now meeting on the first Monday of every month. FREE

Tuesday 2.02 DIY Sweethat knit or crochet
Know the basics of either knitting or crochet and want some expert help with making that first hat? Sign up for the Sweethat class! Class meets on two Tuesday evenings. $52 pp

Saturday 02.06 KTTG #6: Survey of Knitted Lace – 4 spaces left
Interested in lace knitting but scared? With the guidance of Kira you will be able to tackle a variety of patterns by learning how to read them and confidently take on those new lace patterns.

Tuesday 3.02 Beginning Crochet
In this two-part class you’ll learn the basic stitches while making a cute stuffed bunny and also start a crocheted scarf. Class meets on two Tuesday evenings. $52 pp

Saturday 3.06 KTTG #7: Understanding and Correcting Knitting Mistakes
Learn how recognize and fix many common knitting mistakes and avoid making them in the first place. This class will make you more confident when trying new techniques! $26 pp

Saturday 3.06 Intermediate Knitting
Bring your knitting to the next level with this skills workshop designed to move you from a beginning knitter to an intermediate knitter.

Sunday 3.07 Spinning on a Drop Spindle
Ever wondered how yarn is made? In this class you will be given a brief overview of spinning and what can be spun. You will work up to spinning with a drop spindle. All supplies included. $40 pp

Saturday 3.13 Learn to Weave with a Cricket Loom - 3 spaces left
We sold out so quick for our first section we brought it back for March! This class will teach the basics of weaving with a table top rigid heddle loom. Registration includes a brand new cricket loom and instruction. $210

Saturday 3.20 Needle Felted Bird
Needlefelting, an exciting and easy dry felting method. You get to pick from a rainbow of colors to make your bird. $16 pp

Every month we will be giving you a closer look at our Artist Community. The studio carries products from artists and designers we love and we hope to share some of their story with you. This month we feature Kira Dulaney of Kira K Designs. Kira is a Bay Area resident who learned the basics of crochet around age three and knitting around five.  She studied theatrical costume design and worked as a costume designer in and around San Francisco for several years.  Her research in historical clothing is a strong influence in her design sense, and many of her patterns reference styles from the 1920s through the 1960s….read more