The view from here.....

It is November 1 and undeniably Fall.  The rainy spring and summer has created a most spectacular display this year in Kentucky to rival any I've seen in my life in the North East.  Whatever season I'm in is my favorite, I admit. The lovely Earth as she changes her costume through the wheel of the year is a reminder to stop and take notice, to breathe and reflect on the joys and blessings in my life here at All One Farms. 

The cottage shop, though not quite finished, is lovely in the evening sun amidst the ancient maples and willows.

The sheepie girls still have green pasture to enjoy right outside my upper office window.  

Their plump sillohettes display the lovely wool they have been growing all summer.

Soon after their Fall shearing next weeek, they will be selectively bred and carry their new lambs till the spring .

As the business of Blueball Mountain Spindle and Needleworks continues to grow, the farm has changed and developed as well.

The Old Work Barn is being outfitted for processing the wool more efficiently.

The house renovation took a big leap a few weeks ago with the painting of the living room. I finally found a color that I didn't get tired of before it got onto the new walls. 

The House now feels warm and cozy 

filled with my favorite collections.....

and does double duty as the shop till the cottage is done.

 

As the house is more and more finished, I've been able to host a number of Spin Ins and Knit Ins as well as GurlFrenz Craft Gatherings with local friends.

One guest room is now ready and served as accommodations for visting Spinning Teacher, Jacey Boggs (www. Insubordiknit.com) during an early Fall Workshop which I had the honor to fascilitate at our local Extension Office. 

opportnities to learn from great teachers

and relax during down time

 

and share good food and good company in the cozy kitchen, comfy porch and sunny side yard.

Finally, since today is Dia de Los Muertos, I remember and honor my Mami, who passed away this Summer after a long illness. Her gifts to me include personal strength, perseverence and steadfastness in your goals, creative energy, and a love of beauty.  Blessed be.

Southern Indiana Fiber Fest

What a great time I had at SIFF!  So many good friends, both vendors and from my knitting and spinning groups were there.  I was also excited to meet a few new people that live right around my home base that I never knew about!

It started out cold and rainy on Friday but got a little better through Saturday.  The crowds were good and i was happy to be in an indoor space so that everyone (including me!) could be comfortable while gazing and shopping.  And the shopping was great!  So many great fiber artists of every kind were there.  There is so much talent and everyone had their own 'twist" on fiber.  this small regional fest is a little gold mine for the spinner, knitter, crocheter, felter and weaver.  Even small farmers found great opportunities for starting or adding to their herd with icelandic lambs, angora kid goats and lots and lots of lovely angora rabbits.

I am so grateful to all the people who dropped into my booth and made the show such a sucess for me.  My only regret is that I did not think to get a bigger booth that would have allowed more people in to shop at a time.  If you were not able to get in, I thank you anyway and hope that you will stop by my ArtFire shop or email me directly if there is something you missed out on.  I am extending my 10% offer on fiber purchases over $25 through November, with or without the coupon since it will take me a little while to restock the photos on there.  And of course if you are in the area, please do email me and stop on by. I loved meeting you all and talking and getting to know you!   More photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/blueballmountainspindleneedleworks/

Wool Santa Table Toppers

I made two new wooly Santa Table Topprs for this year.  I love how these came out.  They are bigger than last year and I've given more detail to the eyes and face.  Each has a different whimsical expression and seem to twinkle.  This cheery guy is almost 11 inches tall and will be priced at $55. His red cousin below is a bit smaller and will be $45.  They will be for sale at the Southern Indiana FiberFest.  I will be making a few more and will add them tot he ArtFire shop later.

This year I will also be making these to order.  They can be made a bit smaller at a lower price.  Please feel free to email me direcctly. PayPal Invoicing is available.

Heading for Southern Indiana Fiber Fest!

Hot on the heels of the wonderful Insubordiknit Workshop and the wildly successful Kentucky WoolFest, I am  now gearing up for SIFF starting on October 16 at 1:00pm.  This is my favorite fiber fest and my first time setting up there so I am excited.  the last few months have been transformative for my little enterprise  and I feel that I have reached a very nice mix to present to the spinners and knitters out there who love color and texture and creating it as much as I do.

I will have many more of my Luna Loca batts which have so quickly becomom popular and are so much fun to create.  They are full of fun and love.  I've also been putting together my Little Luny Bags of clouds, dyed locks and glitz  to add to your own batt carding experience.  And I just love how my Shetland roving batts have turned out.  These are in all the natural colors of my lovely Shetland and also I have personally dyed and mixed some of them with super soft cormo, yummy romney and luxurious kid mohair and alpaca.  Also stocked up are about 50 gorgeous colors of super soft Merino and Corriedele top for felting and spinning or blending with your carder.

Speaking of carders......I again have the Ashford line of carders including the larger fine cloth 72 pt carder and the cute Wild Carder just introduced.  Hand cards, flickers and all manner of small tools are also here.  Plus the new Ashford bulky flyers and bobbins and the new sliding flyers in standard and bulky.  Also drp spindle kits, Niddy noddys, tahklis, extra drive bands and maintenance supplies for your Ashford wheels.  Featured at SIFF will be the beautiful Traveler and the adorable portable Joy and Carrying case as well as my custom dyed green Country Spinner for you to try out. 

For the dyer in you, in addition to supersoft ecru Merino Top,  I will have Panda Top (Merino, Tencel, Nylon blend), SuperWash Merino, Merino Tencel Blend, and pure lovely Tussah Silk available by the ounce!

For the knitter and crafter, I will again have a group of my Funky Handspun Yarns. Use them to add to your knitting projects for a little extra ooomph! here and there.  Also will have some more traditional natural Shetland yarns.   

Come on out.  Ther is something for all your fiber cravings.  Look for my booth in the 4H building.  Mention my blog or Artfire shop (on vacation right now) and receive 10% of on fiber purchase over $25.00.....Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Little by Little: Luna Loca Batts in the ArtFire Shop

Little by Little I am adding more to the the ArtFire Shop.  It is a bit time consuming making it, preparing each one by washing and setting it first, then weighing, pricing, naming it to reflect it's uniqueness and photographing it just so.  The photos never fully capture the essense of fiber. Fiber by nature is tactile as well as visual.  The two senses work together to communicate the life of the fiber.  Here's one that I've had a hard time with conveying its beauty.  I've photographed it at least 15 times.  Can you see the sparkly Tropical Firestar in there?  There is the beautiful tomato color of the Merino created by blending several reds and oranges with a bit of yellow.  There is the wonderful hand dyed Sunny Yellow Silk Noil nubbies.  But I can't see the sparkle of the Firestar.  Firestar itself is a blend of a multitude of colors.  It's all blended through the Merino by the carding process.  In Person it is vibrant and unmistakeable.  But not in the photo.  It is in the shop, nevertheless.  I will continue taking pictures of it to capture that little essense.  Can you see it? Let me know!

Luna Loca Batts

It's true...you have to be a little bit of a Luna-tique to be doing this. So this past week was the full moon....inspiration! I love Crazy Batts and there are so many beautiful ones out there. I have been making some for my own use for awhile now .... experimenting to see what yarns come out of them. This one I decided I want to share with the world. It is calling itself Ai! Caramba! and is the first of more to come under the heading of Luna Loca Batts. I'd love to get some feed back on this one.  Check out more pics and pricing by going to the Art Fire shop from the right column.