Too many weeks have passed - time seems to slip by! The CNY Fiber Festival in June was rainy on Saturday and HOT on Sunday, but a great visit with friends old and new. Then on to cleaning the barn to prepare for haying.....and now this week it is so good to smell the sweet bales waiting til winter use.
Classes will be coming up soon for the summer. I'll post them within a couple of days - after the next round of hay is put in the barn!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
A few weeks have passed during this crazy spring! I've spent many hours looking for my beloved (indoor) cat who went through the screen to chase something on the deck, and he still has not been found.......
There are still some openings in the dyeing classes next weekend; contact me to sign up for either at shadeyside@citlink.net. Saturday, June 2, is the Unraveling the Sock class from 9 am to 12:30 pm, and Sunday, June 3 is the Rainbow Dyeing class from 1 to 4:30 pm. Both will be a lot of fun and some of my favorite things to do - turn natural colored fiber or yarn into a riot of colors! You do not need to know anything about dyeing to take either class, and there will be lots of hands on time to experiment!
For any of you who live in the area, the 2nd Annual Central New York Fiber Festival is June 9 and 10 in Bouckville. Stop at our booth to say hello!
There are still some openings in the dyeing classes next weekend; contact me to sign up for either at shadeyside@citlink.net. Saturday, June 2, is the Unraveling the Sock class from 9 am to 12:30 pm, and Sunday, June 3 is the Rainbow Dyeing class from 1 to 4:30 pm. Both will be a lot of fun and some of my favorite things to do - turn natural colored fiber or yarn into a riot of colors! You do not need to know anything about dyeing to take either class, and there will be lots of hands on time to experiment!
For any of you who live in the area, the 2nd Annual Central New York Fiber Festival is June 9 and 10 in Bouckville. Stop at our booth to say hello!
Monday, May 7, 2012
It was so good to see friends from all over at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this past weekend! But did the crowds seem a bit smaller than previous years? Or maybe folks looked at the roiling clouds that came in on Saturday afternoon, and - anticipating a thunderstorm - decided to stay home? Or (the vendors wanted to know) is the economy really affecting fiber artists?
The sheep did decide to let themselves out into a pasture while we were away over the weekend; the goats (always knowing better) have been letting themselves out for weeks. And it's time for (Border Leicester) Gonzo to come out of the barn, where he has spent the winter in his own pen - separate from 4 By, the other ram!
I am always glad to be back home and enjoy the beauty surrounding us at our farm. We've been joined the past weeks by Rose Breasted Grosbeaks passing through, nesting bluebirds near our deck, and the return of the herons to the road pond. And the first bass have been caught - and released - from the house pond. The best? waking to the chorus of bird songs - second only to the peeping of the frogs in the evening!
The sheep did decide to let themselves out into a pasture while we were away over the weekend; the goats (always knowing better) have been letting themselves out for weeks. And it's time for (Border Leicester) Gonzo to come out of the barn, where he has spent the winter in his own pen - separate from 4 By, the other ram!
I am always glad to be back home and enjoy the beauty surrounding us at our farm. We've been joined the past weeks by Rose Breasted Grosbeaks passing through, nesting bluebirds near our deck, and the return of the herons to the road pond. And the first bass have been caught - and released - from the house pond. The best? waking to the chorus of bird songs - second only to the peeping of the frogs in the evening!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Warm day and fibers dyeing away! Looking forward to seeing friends old and new at MD Sheep and Wool Festival very soon - a little over 2 weeks away.
Pip, my sweet, blind, old lady goat, has shed all of her "fluff" - she looks so different! She has gone from a beige colored fluff ball to her dark brown sleek hair coat for the summer. It looks like it would grade out to cashgora, and I can't wait to have enough time to get my hands on it to spin and maybe blend with a little wool. And she is my goat who answered the question "can goats swim??" The answer is a resounding yes!
Still about a dozen sheep to shear, but the dyes are calling with this glorious sun to make them seem intense and bold.
Pip, my sweet, blind, old lady goat, has shed all of her "fluff" - she looks so different! She has gone from a beige colored fluff ball to her dark brown sleek hair coat for the summer. It looks like it would grade out to cashgora, and I can't wait to have enough time to get my hands on it to spin and maybe blend with a little wool. And she is my goat who answered the question "can goats swim??" The answer is a resounding yes!
Still about a dozen sheep to shear, but the dyes are calling with this glorious sun to make them seem intense and bold.
Monday, April 2, 2012
2 sheep out of 25 shorn - and about 15 to go! I'm starting to get ready for MD in earnest - mohair is washing and in the dyepots, Duncan carder is cleaned up and ready for carding, and planning to dye silk tops this week/end. Look for a change in colorways; we're keeping the old, popular ones and adding some new ones. And it's time to change our catalog, too - who has time to write on the blog? Hope to see some of you soon!
Monday, March 26, 2012
The time has come.......it's like saying good bye to an old friend. I will be selling my Norm Hall Nonpareil Spinning Wheel; you will be able to see it "live" at our booth at MD Sheep and Wool Festival on May 5 and 6. I would love to post a picture, but it is currently at Norm's being refurbished so it will be ready to provide it's new owner with many hours of spinning joy. It is a customized wheel, with a left foot treadle, built carefully by Norm out of cherry, and signed by him as wheel #46 and dated 11-83. Norm has suggested a selling price of $3,600, as he has not made this particular model in many years. Once it comes home, I'll be sure to post pictures!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Spring Classes at Shadeyside!
All classes are held in our shop/studio here at the Farm and are kept small to insure lots of one-on-one instruction and attention. Each class will be taught during the week and on a weekend - choose one of the class dates that fits in your schedule (you do NOT attend both dates - pick the weekday date OR the weekend date) - or if there are enough people requesting the class for a specific date, Nancy will make arrangements with you for that date. The instruction fee for each class is $35, with materials fees to be paid separately; payment for the class must be received with your registration to ensure your place in that class and must be received at least 1 week before the class date. Spring deal: sign up for 3 classes by April 15 and only pay $75 for the 3 classes!
Spinning Silk - April 12 or April 14 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginner/intermediate spinners
Not sure of the difference between tussah and muga or eri? We'll spin all the many forms of silk (cocoons, mawata, tops, and noils), learn specific properties of each type, tips for spinning each, and you'll go home with lots of samples and ideas. Materials fee: $20
Blending Silk with Many Fibers - April 19 or April 22 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginners/intermediate spinners
So many fibers - but why would you want to blend them with silk? Learn the many tricks to blending silk with other fibers, and percentage blending. Hand carding, drum carding, and machine carding will be discussed. Materials fee: $20
Blending Alpaca with Many Fibers - April 26 or April 29 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginners/intermediate spinners
Do you have so much alpaca fiber that you don't know what to do with it all? Try blending it with other fibers to change the look and feel! Alpaca will be blended with: wool; mohair; silk; bamboo; cotton; nylon; and more. We'll "play" with combing and carding, percentages of blends, and dyed and natural colored fibers. Materials fee: $20
Unraveling The Sock - May 17 or May 20 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
No experience needed
The many colors of sock yarn are SOOOO tempting - this class will have you dyeing replications of 3 of the most popular dyed sock yarns that are available using Superwash wool yarn and acid dyes. You'll go home with enough yarn for 3 pairs of socks dyed your way! Materials fee $20
Rainbow Dyeing Fibers - May 31 or June 3 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
No experience needed
Multi-colored, one-pot dye method for many protein fibers using acid dyes. Learn dye basics and safety, dyeing greasy wool locks and washed mohair locks, and a discussion on working with the dyed fiber to maintain or blend the colors. You may bring up to 8 ounces of a protein fiber to dye in this class (recommended: grease wool with distinct locks, such as Border Leicester, Romney, Lincoln, Cotswold, Wensleydale, and some Finn; unwashed alpaca; and washed mohair, any grade). Materials fee: $15
Knitting or Crocheting With Silk Mawata - June 14 or June 17 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Basic knitting or corcheting skills
Learn to knit or crochet from silk Mawata squares and/or caps, and all the tricks to easily knit or crochet a scarf. Nancy recently had an article in the Winter eMagazine from Interweave, SpinKnit, featuring her knitted scarf pattern using this technique. Materials fee: $10
And then we're in to summertime.........
All classes are held in our shop/studio here at the Farm and are kept small to insure lots of one-on-one instruction and attention. Each class will be taught during the week and on a weekend - choose one of the class dates that fits in your schedule (you do NOT attend both dates - pick the weekday date OR the weekend date) - or if there are enough people requesting the class for a specific date, Nancy will make arrangements with you for that date. The instruction fee for each class is $35, with materials fees to be paid separately; payment for the class must be received with your registration to ensure your place in that class and must be received at least 1 week before the class date. Spring deal: sign up for 3 classes by April 15 and only pay $75 for the 3 classes!
Spinning Silk - April 12 or April 14 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginner/intermediate spinners
Not sure of the difference between tussah and muga or eri? We'll spin all the many forms of silk (cocoons, mawata, tops, and noils), learn specific properties of each type, tips for spinning each, and you'll go home with lots of samples and ideas. Materials fee: $20
Blending Silk with Many Fibers - April 19 or April 22 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginners/intermediate spinners
So many fibers - but why would you want to blend them with silk? Learn the many tricks to blending silk with other fibers, and percentage blending. Hand carding, drum carding, and machine carding will be discussed. Materials fee: $20
Blending Alpaca with Many Fibers - April 26 or April 29 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginners/intermediate spinners
Do you have so much alpaca fiber that you don't know what to do with it all? Try blending it with other fibers to change the look and feel! Alpaca will be blended with: wool; mohair; silk; bamboo; cotton; nylon; and more. We'll "play" with combing and carding, percentages of blends, and dyed and natural colored fibers. Materials fee: $20
Unraveling The Sock - May 17 or May 20 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
No experience needed
The many colors of sock yarn are SOOOO tempting - this class will have you dyeing replications of 3 of the most popular dyed sock yarns that are available using Superwash wool yarn and acid dyes. You'll go home with enough yarn for 3 pairs of socks dyed your way! Materials fee $20
Rainbow Dyeing Fibers - May 31 or June 3 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
No experience needed
Multi-colored, one-pot dye method for many protein fibers using acid dyes. Learn dye basics and safety, dyeing greasy wool locks and washed mohair locks, and a discussion on working with the dyed fiber to maintain or blend the colors. You may bring up to 8 ounces of a protein fiber to dye in this class (recommended: grease wool with distinct locks, such as Border Leicester, Romney, Lincoln, Cotswold, Wensleydale, and some Finn; unwashed alpaca; and washed mohair, any grade). Materials fee: $15
Knitting or Crocheting With Silk Mawata - June 14 or June 17 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Basic knitting or corcheting skills
Learn to knit or crochet from silk Mawata squares and/or caps, and all the tricks to easily knit or crochet a scarf. Nancy recently had an article in the Winter eMagazine from Interweave, SpinKnit, featuring her knitted scarf pattern using this technique. Materials fee: $10
And then we're in to summertime.........
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Winter is always a slower time here on the farm, although this has hardly been a "winter"! It's almost time to shear the sheep. Pip, the old, blind, matriarch goat, has a wonderful coating of what will probably grade out to a coarse cashmere - enough for a beautiful scarf! It will be time to fire up the Duncan carder, and even spend some time at the spinning wheel!
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