Spinning my Wheel!

I recently had a great opportunity to visit with friends in NE Ohio for a little fiber retreat (more here). Although I have recently been more in the mood for felting, that quickly changed as I was introduced to carding art batts and spinning art yarns at the retreat.

My friends Donna and Robbie have The Alpaca Fiber Studio in Chagrin Falls, where they create incredible yarns, dyed fibers, and felted products, as well as teaching classes in spinning. They are great teachers and got me excited about using my carder to produce colorful and unique batts for spinning and felting.

The coolest yarn I've ever produced was this skein of coiled yarn. It was tedious to spin, but using multicolored roving made it more fun as the combinations changed each time I added a coil. I just keep looking at it and thinking of the possibilities for using this in felt or as trim on knitted works. The thing I loved best about spinning art yarns? NO RULES, no "you're supposed to do it this way." That's my style.... and if I can do it, so can YOU!

Someone Stop Me!

I just can't seem to stop putting my hands into silky-soft fiber! I'm busy getting ready for the 1st Annual Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival which is this weekend and plan to offer our best in dyed rovings, yarn, and finished products.Although I should be taking the time to get myself better organized, I just can't resist doing more dyeing and making things! I recently took some of our finest fleeces to get processed, and these are some that I'll be offering in both dyed and natural colors. Although I wanted to spin up every lot that I dyed (leaving none to sell!), I did indulge myself in spinning and knitting a sample swatch... ahem... JUST so that others could determine what they'd look like!What? You're not familiar with a fiber festival? I can still remember my first, Fiber Fest in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it must have been about 15 years ago. I took a spinning class, and dropped off llama and alpaca fiber and wool with Ohio Valley Natural Fibers to be processed into roving. That festival introduced me to the variety and wonder of working with fiber, and I went on to make spinning, knitting, dyeing a hobby and breeding top quality alpacas became my full-time job after a few years.

At the 1st Annual Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival, you'll see over 6o vendors. Some of us will have livestock (come meet Jasper and Midas, two alpacas that are for sale and Phoenix, our friendliest pack llama). There will be several breeds of sheep, and angora goats (which produce mohair), and angora rabbits (which produce angora) and who knows what else! There will be TONS of yarn and spinning wheels and FIBER for sale (including many pounds of roving that I have been dyeing!).In addition, there will be local FOOD and wine available for sale. AND, if that's not enough, the Bluegrass Classic Sheepdog Trial will be taking place, too. All of this is happening at Masterson Station Park in Lexington from 9 to 5 on Saturday, May the 15th and Sunday, May the 16th, there are some fiber arts classes available on the 14th, too.

I am very excited as well as appreciative of the people who stepped up to make this happen- local fiber, local food, fiber animals, a festival atmosphere, and the opportunity to meet others and sell my wares from the farm.... I hope to see you there!

Wonderful Day of Shearing!

Each year gets better, and hands-down this was our best shearing day in every way. The weather was absolutely perfect, and lots of people came out to enjoy the farm.As always, we had a few unexpected "angels" show up to help- special thanks to Libby and Ken- we can never have too many sweepers and fleece-gatherers. Paul and Sue were the uncomplaining heads of the sweeping crew!The kids worked especially hard, and one of my favorite points in the day was when I sent Robert into the big field on a scooter to herd up a group of rogue females that were heading for the back forty. He got around the group, and they took one look at him and headed immediately to the barn! It was priceless, and Robert was proud of this particular contribution!
Here, Mirian is gathering up the fleece from her alpaca, Willow, who is a Snowmass Casanova daughter with very fine fiber.

Several of our clients came to watch their animals getting shorn, and a few brought animal over.
More people signed up for the upcoming Hat Felting Class which is scheduled for Sunday, April 25th from 1-5. (I still have a few more openings, so let me know if you're interested! alpacalindy@gmail.com).
The shop was bustling- I especially loved watching this young customer trying on hats! We sold lots of products and three alpacas as well. We are continuing to downsize our herd with the goal of being down to 60 by the end of this year, so contact us if you're looking for some great buys!
We all collapsed at the end of the day (this is the shearer, John Gunther, being particular silly after completing 93 head of alpacas and llamas).There's always plenty of cleanup, but we got it done- I love this picture of Mirian sweeping with the spring evening sunshine coming in to the barn behind her. And now, the biggest chore of springtime is complete!

Shearing Day at Seldom Scene Farm!

Accoyo America Sinbad being shorn

Well,, Shearing Time of 2010 is almost here! It's the day that I used to dread but now somewhat look forward to. The reason I don't dread it any more is because we have GREAT shearers and they bring a team of four to help get it all done. It has made it such that our crew pretty much organizes the animals and picks up the fleece, and they do the rest!This year the event will be free and open to the public (10-4) since it's scheduled for a Saturday. Unlike most years, I haven't had the worry of bad weather- it is gorgeous today and is going to be dry and beautiful tomorrow as well! Bring out a picnic and come watch as over 80 alpacas and 8 llamas are de-fleeced.

Inside our farm shop- the great wall of yarn!

We'll have a spinning demonstration (compliments of Linda Hofacker with LSH Creations who will have spinning wheels, fiber, books, etc.). There will be specials in our shop on yarn, fiber and products, new crias to check out, etc. We also have some great new prices on alpacas- check out our new sales list and breeding information. If you are a fan on our Facebook Fan Page or join by 4:00 tomorrow, you are welcome to take an additional $300 off any breeding or purchase over $600 if you make a deposit by the end of this weekend! (AND we'll be drawing for a llama trek for 4 to be won by one of our Farm Fans!)

It's a pretty drive out to Seldom Scene at the very end of Watts Ferry Rd. (follow the signs), and you can stop at Woodford Reserve Distillery on the way or eat lunch at Addie's Creekside Cafe in Millville. We'll have signs up, and you can't miss us if you just keep coming- look for the new barn and pond. If we haven't met, be sure to come and introduce yourself!

More felting and learning

We had another great class here on Sunday, with several coming from near and far to learn the basics of felting.Christina brought her college daughter and her roommate, and they were very enthusiastic learners. I think it was a neat way for them to spend time together on spring break!
We did a little bit of wet felting...And needle felting.....It's been fun to watch people discover felting for the first time, especially if they are unable to do other fiber arts due to arthritis or simply not having success with needle crafts.
I am truly enjoying being back in teaching mode, especially when it's something I am so passionate about, felting! The next class will be held on Sunday, April 25th from 1-5. It's a Hat Felting Class- the cost is $70 and includes all materials, snack, and a reusable hat form that you get to keep! If you're interested, contact me at alpacalindy@gmail.com as the class is already filling up.

Happy Halloween!

As is typical with our kids (most kids?), ideas for Halloween costumes come at the very last minute. This morning found me fashioning a beard for Robert's costume for school. He's dressed as a "famous" hobo that used to frequent our small town, I'm told.

The beard is not of alpaca, but some BFL (Blue-faced Leiceister sheep's wool) that I got from my friend, Dianne. It is beautiful fiber and I still plan to do "something" with it... this is the something for now!

I have spent the last while scouring my photo files for a picture of the time that Robert had to dress up as a President- he was George Washington and we made a wig together out of white alpaca rovings, it was a hoot!

I needle-felted these pumpkins out of hand-dyed alpaca fiber.

Everyone have a Happy Halloween, and remember to use what you have on hand!

A Second Job

People sometimes ask, "what do alpacas DO, what are they FOR?" and we politely explain that they are raised for their fine and luxurious fiber which is shorn once per year. We also discuss how they are gentle and interesting animals to have around, easy on the land, etc. We mention that they are routinely eating in S. America, but not routinely here.

Another job that they can and do perform is to act as guardian animals for smaller herd animals. We recently sold a male, Friday, to watch over 4 miniature babydoll sheep. Awwww, they are so adorable!

The owner was thrilled with him, but reported that Friday and the sheep were petrified of each other! She was concerned that he was unhappy without another alpaca, and opted to purchase Jack as well. (Alpacas will bond with other herd animals, but are always happiest with another of their own kind!)

I was glad when I returned to the farm to deliver Jack to see that Friday and the sheep were hanging out closely together. Jack and Friday were happy to be reacquainted but quickly went back to grazing!

Mirian was, of course, more infatuated by the owner's cats though she did think the sheep were pretty cute, too!

On a roll with felting!

Last week on my other blog I shared some recent felting projects and talked about having a creative rush without a lot of time to follow my urges. Well, it seems that positive intentions have resulted in both additional time AND continued inspiration!
I've been doing even more felting, and had a particularly great time making this hat! It is made from hand-dyed alpaca fiber, with the embellishments part merino and part hand-dyed and handspun alpaca.

Not a very patient person am I, but I am FINALLY learning to put unfinished projects aside occasionally when I get "stuck." I needled in the flowers last night, but didn't know what else to do the hat and it needed something. This morning I immediately had the idea for the lady bug and spiral, as well as the dotted band and handspun line on the brim.

After needle felting, I got the entire hat wet again with hot soapy water and wet-felted it again very gently with a palm sander (be sure to read up on safety precautions if you try this). I can't decide whether or not to stitch the edges like on the last one, but that can wait.

Manic felting

I'm not always the most motivated or self-disciplined person in the world (not news to those who know me!), and I've been needing to make some felted soaps for the Truly Bluegrass shop for some time. Dropping off fiber for processing at Flaggy Meadow last week got me excited about working with my fiber again and boy did I get a lot done on Sunday!

I made felted soaps galore. Cat balls with a bell in the middle.

Mirian and I made a prototype for a Cat Mat. Sushi loved it but Munchie felt that it would be great for dogs, too. I was excited about a new, original idea I had... felted coasters using space-dyed rovings. They look nice with a bit of zigzag stitching around the edges. (Those newly-acquired sewing skills are coming in handy).

I also figured out how to make Bird Nesting Balls (to hang in the trees for the birds to take tufts of fiber for their nests!) These and other items will be available soon at Truly Bluegrass,here at the farm, and at my Etsy store. I hope I can keep this groove going for a while!

A night scene in fiber...

It's been really hard for me to find time for fiber lately, and I may be breaking a new personal record for time spent NOT knitting (it's probably been at least 3 weeks since I've even picked up any needles!). I did, at least, make time for a bit of felting a few weeks ago, and put the finishing touches on this little project today (I knew it needed something, the recent full moon gave me the idea!)
I started with a felt sheet, purchased from the Kentucky Alpaca Association and processed by Flaggy Meadow Fiber Works. This was a great surface for needle-felting! I keep a good stash of my own hand-dyed fibers, and needled on the design and stitched in some tiny beeds.

Then I sewed a little border about 1/2 inch from the edge to give it a little more finished look and put a hanger on the back. I look forward to doing more of these quick and easy little projects and plan to sell some in my Etsy store and at Truly Bluegrass in Versailles.