Expanded shop hours

Things have gotten busy around here, so I am expanding my shop hours to include Monday-Wednesday, as well as what was already scheduled. The exception will be the THSG guild Wednesdays. (February 27th, 2008) Got to go to that to remain inspired!

Decided I needed to sit down and spin, despite the real need to make batts. Sold a couple of pounds today to different customers, and I really need different colors. The brightest just went, so back to the dyepot I go!

Officially a farmer

You know that you are officially a farmer, when you get an official census in the mail. It was scary at first. A total of 24 pages to fill in and a lot of it more personal than I want to put in a form for others to read. I had to think about it for a few weeks, but the deadline for mailing is almost upon me, so I got it done tonight. Marc had to provide some of the info, since I don't do the number stuff, if I can help it!

Anyone else get one?

Polly's purse

Polly felted a gorgeous purse and then used coiled yarn in matching shades to create a strap and tassle closure. A work of art!

Monet, Felting, and Lambs

I am currently back on the novelty yarn kick. It is so much more fun to just kind of do a little of this and a little of that. I am spinning a series that I am naming "Monet" because it reminds me of his waterlilies series. I don't think blues, greens, and yellows are in, but my customers don't seem to care!
New felters hard at work. Lots of lovely purses and bowls. One lady has already sent me a photo of her purse completed with strap and a tassle. Gorgeous. I am waiting for her permission to post it here.
You can't see their work because the netting is covering it, or the sun washes the color out from a distance. The weather was gorgeous for felting. Not too hot and not raining. We are supposed to get some and I was really glad that it held off, so we did not have to work in the garage. The garage is going to be enclosed with glass doors, so we can use it year round. Our land hunting has been put on hold due to lack of properties without issues that are also scenic
I asked one of my visitors today to help me name the lamb. I have decided to use desert flowers and trees as my theme this year. The little girl feeding him settled on Desert Rose. We will call him Desert. He has settled in and comes running when he hears me, looking for the bottle. He is all legs!

Tor's baby

While at the TH&SG meeting today, I got a call from Tor. He is going out of town and he had a mom with triplets. He asked me, if I would like a bottle ram. I could not say "no", so I stopped by his place on my way home and picked up the lamb. He is cute, but very loud. He quiets down, when the other sheep are nearby or I hold him. Like all babies, he likes to have something around him. I would let him out, but then might not be able to catch him in order to feed him. Once I know he will come for the bottle, he will get free run.
Now I am going to have to think up my theme for names. It has to be something that I know a lot about and can REMEMBER! I also checked out his baby angora goat kids. They are so cute! Can't wait for mine to start delivering. They are at least a month out, except for the Jacobs' ewe.

Mystery thing = hat and a scumble

This is the hat that I created using a freeform technique. It turned out really well and, depending on which end you gather, can be a small or medium.
While teaching the freeform class yesterday, I came up with an idea for a way to start using some of the millspun that I got back last week. By mistake, I came up with a new stitch that I can use to create little flowers as I am knitting. No ends to weave in, if I spin a yarn that has the right spots in it. I have white kid mohair and some lace weight to spin for the green crochet shawl pattern before I can start experimenting with the new yarn. Too many ideas and not enough time!

The mystery thing

I have finally decided what the mystery thing needs to be: a hat! It was so cold when I went out to feed the animals, the only thing I wanted to do was knit a hat. Since my mystery thing was started and needed to be finished, I pulled it out. I have about half hour to knit and one more pattern to put in it. I will wear it in the morning. If you read this and want the complete pattern for free, email me within the next week. I plan to publish it for sale after that. I will post a finished picture in the morning.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to design patterns. They will sell on etsy. Yarns ought to, but will probably only start to sell after people visit and touch my yarns. Guess there is a place for everything.

Felting is still really popular. I am trying to finish my southwestern Monet. I am making progress and should have been working on it instead of my hat, but I NEED to be warm!