What's been happening?

It has been a busy time time here at the homestead. I have been dyeing and dyeing and carding and carding and spinning and spinning and then plying and plying....all in prep for a show coming up April 9: The Fiber Event at Greencastle Indiana. This will be our first 'major' fiber show. The KY one last year was mini mini compared to this one. This one is still much smaller than the Maryland show and other bigger ones around the country but it is a well know regional show. So we want to make a good showing the first time out.



I've been loving working with the dyes on the different stages of the fiber. The roving I had done at Brigittes fiber mill and then my own hand scoured locks as well as some combed tops I had in stash are all fun to experiment on. Each provides a basis for a different way of incorporating color into my naturally colored Shetland. I am loving the variety of results. Next comes experiments with plying and new spinning techniques I'm picking up from the awesome yarn designers on Ravelry. Thos pics will have to wait another day or two.

I've also been doing a little felting bunnies and eggs and birds. I alsopick up a needlefelting attachment for one of my sewing machines which is pretty neat. That got installed today and played a little with that. This new toy will make it easier to put together some felting ideas I've been working on that include material other than wool that is a little hard to get in place without the machine.

This coming week I will be spending more time dyeing and preparing fiber bats and continuing building up the handspun yarn inventory.







Next time: What's happening with the "Shop Opening" and "Annie's Project" "Spring Garden Prep" !!!

The Frost King Has Arrived in Kentucky

It has been the coldest and most unusual winter inover 50 years according to my neighbors. This week's ice storm has covered virtually the entire state and certainly all of Hardin County in a coat of ice that has literally frozen the world in time. I am forced to rely on reports from afar as, alas I am still in NJ. Where the cold and snow is nothing compared to what I here about what's is going on at the farm. I am left to imagine my stately 200 year old trees broken and crippled by the weight of the ice on their outstretched limbs. Thankfully, my sheepies are safe and enjoying the cold, as per the report. I am not there to see and while I know that they are primitive animals evolved to live in the harsh winters of the Shetland islands, still I worry. Are there shelter's holding up? Is there water trough unfrozen? Are they lonely for the reassuring visits from their human caretaker?

How are all my friends and colleagues doing? I think about you all and hope that you either have a back up generator or a friend or family member with one. I wish that I was ther to share my warmth with you. You are all in my prayers.

Thankfully, the heat int the house is propane and not affected by the lack of electricity, so my water pipes are ok. I hear that there is no water, though. Right now, I am in my NJ home. Snug and warm. I have power but no communication outward other than my cell phone. I am now at the library trying to communicate to the world I left behind and feel so disconnected from. I have not been able to get through directly to so many friends but in my heart I know that they are doing ok. Kentucky pulls together. I wish that I was there with y'all. Stay warm with each other.

So far this year.....

has been going along pretty well. I've vowed to get my business off the ground. I am here because it was time to finally live my life in the way that honors my own spirit....to fllow my bliss as they say. I made the move to sheep keeping and farming in mid 20007 but then got sidetracked (de railed?) in 2008. Despite having to leave for weeks at a time at least 6 times in 2008, I feel I have made progress. I am holding on to the dream. I am developing my skills and learning how to promote my business through the wonderful power of the internet. A godsend to one who is basically shy and laid back. In the last few weeks I have investigated the wonderful resources available to fiber fanatics both producers and transformers. I have been quietly observing the wonderful work of sooo many talented women and men through Ravelry and Flickr and learning from their examples. Stay tuned for a progress report...picturers included. Here's just one.