christmas time brings a cornucopia of cheap, funky materials for the "progressive" tyer. check out the xmas decoration depts. of your local supermarkets, garden centres and dime shops...
I bought some fantastic strands of fine tinsel (makes great bodies palmered) for a pound or so today :8)
Im taking a wee trip to poundworld later, they have cracking small parts organiser boxes, perfect for storing all my hooks!