Flooding and New Class List

Since the barn and small shed areas are flooded, the sheep are back on the far pasture and the angora goats with kids are in what most people would call our front yarn. The kids are loving the tree stumps, steps and the rocks around a small spring. We plan to leave them these despite the hassle of having to open and close gates as we arrive and leave the property. This weekend, Marc is going to put moveable fencing around the surviving fruit trees, so we can let the goats into the only area that we have kept them off. The grass is several inches there, so they will be happy.

In preparation for the Maryland sheep and Wool Festival, I have drawn up a list of the classes that I teach and put dates to a few of them. To sign up, I need a 50% deposit. Let me know and I will send you an invoice and my Paypal account info.

Art Spinning  May 13 10-3 $100 includes supplies

Freeform Knit and Crochet May 28 $75 10% off yarns on class day.

Nuno felting May 31 10-1 $75 includes supplies

Wet felting a bowl/bag June 7 $25 instruction fee plus materials fee

Wet felting a landscape June 14 $25 instruction fee plus materials fee

Beginning Spinning on a wheel $100 for 2 hours.

Abstract Lace $55—set your own date.

Art Weaving—set your own date.

Call to set up your own class. Art spinning and weaving minimum of 1 student, all other classes 2 or more.

 

 

 

Around the Farm and Maryland sheep and Wool Festival



 In preparation for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, I wandered the farm looking for the perfect picture to use on my banner. This photo appears to be close, but I found a better one. Come check it out. I will be in the sheep dog area in the northwest section of the fairgrounds.

 The kids are enjoying  being out on the front yard. they are running around climbing on rocks while their moms are grazing.

 This mom had twins. They are really heavy kids. They were among the first born. All are keepers.

 The Shetland sheep were also out. The two little white blobs are twin lambs belonging to the sheep at left. The sheep and goats are in the same fenced area but they hang as separate herds.

And there always has to be one. This doe is one of my oldest and she got pregnant last. She never got pregnant by the black buck, so I put her in with the white buck. She is a drama queen and waited till the second round to let the buck catch her. Kids any day now?

I am busy pricing roving, carding large batts and spinning art yarns. I am down to one freeform yarn, so I need to sit and focus. Good thing that it is raining, so there is not a lot of temptation to run around the farm. Marc was kind enough to do all of the feeding and milking this morning.

I have a new flock number for Maryland. Ran out of the Arizona tags and finally found the right place to order new ones. Another part of my past life is being left behind.

See you at MSDW!

Spring, New Designs and Art Yarn

 I am hoping that this will be our last snow for the year.

 I thought Rosemary, one of our dairy goats, was due March 17. Guess she did not get bred that time. She has the blank stare that a lot of the goats get right before delivery. Of course, she has had this look for a few weeks. She is now enormous. Last year we could not tell that she was pregnant and out popped a kid. Definitely twins this time around. Good thing I saved a lot of her milk from last year, because most of my sheep and goats have delivered already.

 Winter is a good time for designing. I started the sweater around Christmas and then decided that it needed a hat and cowl to go with it. I finished it just in time for spring, when I won't need it!

 I have been playing around with new yarns and this is what happened to my feathered yarn. The pattern is available as a digital download on my Etsy shop: www.uniquedesignsbykathy.etsy.com. I have one yarn kit spun up and custom colors may be ordered.

 Spots has given me the cutest lambs so far, They are both ewes and have the modern style fleece. It will be very crimpy.

I have also been busy spinning. The above batch has already been sold, but I thought I would share what I have been doing. I have lots of yarns on Etsy, if you are interested.

Upcoming Shows: Carolina Fiber festival, Stitches South, Powhatan Fiber Fest, Maryland Sheep and wool Festival, and Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Festival.