Chirp Chirp Honk

Posted in Fun on the farm, Fun with fiber, Uncategorized by 4theloveoffiber

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The short term guests have arrived on the farm, 30 broilers and 3 geese…I suspect that at least one of the geese may end up as a long term resident, that is if the 13 year old in the house has anything to do with it.

For the first time ever someone in the house has gotten attached to a short term guest, I guess we will have to see how this turns house as the goose gets older.

I recently decorated the greenhouse in Shades of Autumn

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Late one night I decided I just had to dye some romney wool I had been carding up. Almost half a pound to be exact. I went for a certain dye technique that did not work out at all but instead something else happened and you know why? I kinda like it!

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I have all sorts of plans for Shades of Autumn, however I’m certain those plans will change 20 times while I continue to spin up the remaining wool on my bobbins to make way for this beautiful colorway.

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For instance Poseidon and Atlantis here, I’m excited to ply these two together and see what happens. I picked up this lovely wool in Virginia last summer but there were only 4 oz of each so combining the two is a must.

For awhile now I’ve contemplated a new fiber art, one that is not new to me but one which I have not practiced in many years. While cleaning up my craft room a while back I noticed my older wheel sitting in the corner collecting dust, I cleaned it up and took pictures, and listed it for sale.

Oh I had some interest and an offer of $150 less than what I was asking that made my eyes pop out of my head. After awhile I de-listed it and decided to hold on to it for awhile.

By way of fate I found someone who was not only selling the one thing I had been looking to save up for, they wanted a spinning wheel for the trade.

That folks is how I ended up with this beauty that is still sitting in my garage until social distancing is over when I can find someone to help Toph and myself carry it into my craft room

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I’m so excited to start weaving and creating beautiful items. I’ve been watching videos on making fabric and cutting that fabric to make clothes. Oh I cannot wait!

Have a great week folks!!

30Mar2018

The wheel isn’t turning

Posted in Fun on the farm, Fun with fiber, Gardening, Sharing is caring!, Uncategorized by 4theloveoffiber

And that is because my spinning wheel broke today, I am hoping that it is an easy fix because I was in the middle of plying this gorgeous romney I blended together.

I have been having so much fun blending batts lately, I wanted to finally spin some up to see how they turn out….I’m also trying to keep myself occupied spinning these batts while I impatiently await my recently purchased wool combs from Susan’s fiber…I won’t lie, the fact that she allows sheep to roam around her shop was the reason I choose to buy from her 😂

I have so much merino waiting in my basement to play with, but it does not turn out well when I run into through my drum carder….the one I spent almost two years researching…the one that claimed it was for fine fiber like merino (it was written right in the description!!!)

I am excited to try out these combs and see how well they work (Hopefully better than my handmade combs 😞 not very pretty & it’s just tetanus waiting to happen)

The snow is starting to melt, the chickens are laying over 80 eggs a day, we have 150 chicks arriving any day now (I hope) & seeds have been started for this years garden.

We have been making plans for when the snow melts. A wattle fence is on the list, more fruit trees & berry bushes (Elderberry Jam anyone?).

The fiber festival is happening soon, because of course the 60lbs in my basement just isn’t enough, one must try out all wool options before choosing a breed of sheep.

Another big trip will be to Fedco in Maine, for their annual tree sale, lots of fun planned for the year!

Have a great weekend folks!

21Jul2017

Short and sweet

Posted in Uncategorized by 4theloveoffiber

I'm quiet I know, in the summer the farm is my full time job. I have little time to do anything crafty and as I have previously mentioned, any crafting I have done cannot be showed until after my best friends bachelorette party. With the exception of this hat I made last week

I can show you farming pictures however.

The turkeys are finally outside full time and I'm not sure who is more excited about it. The turkeys or myself as I now have my breezeway back!
Introducing Bacon seed, Blueberry, Bonny, and Bucket head. Delightful names I know lol.
Our newest babies, recently hatched right here on the farm on Tuesday morning. Beauty is one of three hens who have gone broody and the only one to actually hatch out eggs which I got from a friend over in Maine. The other two are out of luck however, I don't have the time to run all over for fertile eggs.

Short I know, but I wanted to check in! I am here, all is well, aside from the exhaustion of 5 am – 10 pm days. Crossing my fingers for some cooler days ahead of us.

Have a great day folks!

25Apr2017

Babies everywhere

Posted in Uncategorized by 4theloveoffiber

We have 102 new babies in the house and are they ever cute!!

They are all happy and healthy and noisy!!

The ducklings have been moved to the greenhouse for a few weeks, until they can get big enough to join last years ducks. Sadly we did lose one before the move was made.

We have had a busy week this past week, not only was school on vacation, but we planted fruit trees

That so far have been left alone by our daily visitors, hopefully this will continue so we may get proper fencing.

I am finally pain free…in my hands, I am happy that I am now able to pick up my knitting or crochet without wincing. Though my head is still hurting slightly and I am having a hard time focusing on pattern, I’ve worked on a few items

I’ve recently started a mermaid tote bag, I am using red heart unforgettable yarn. I know some people aren’t fans, but I have no complaints.

I’ve also almost finished the first skien of a Caron cake on my granny square blanket.

For weeks I’ve been thinking of the pattern I wanted to use with the fabric I have for Lorelai’s quilt. I had my heart set on the Ohio Star, and though I watched many videos, and read many version of the pattern, I could not figure it out. It looks easy enough, though as I previously stated my head is still hurting, so it’s as if it goes in one ear and out the other.

Yesterday a friend from quilting was able to help me and this was the outcome!

I’m happy with the turn out and I am looking forward to practicing more over these next rainy days, so that I may start cutting the fabric intended for the quilt.
I hope you all have a fantastic week!

19May2013

Fuzzy babies

Posted in Uncategorized by 4theloveoffiber

The cold front has passed and we have been enjoying the warm sunshine. Catching frogs, singing with the birds, and running in the sprinklers. From sun up till dinner time, we enjoy the smells of wild spring flowers floating around the air, the green grass tickling our bare feet, and the sounds of nature all around.

Our new babies make very little noise compared to the last bunch we had in the house, it is hard to remember that we have them sometimes.

Our older babies like to visit us on the lazy afternoons, when we choose to lay on blankets and listen to audiobooks.

Our pup Moose likes to be lazy to, be it on the deck or over by the logs waiting to be cut.

Carrick enjoys the sunshine as well, though as he has become a little escape artist lately, he enjoys the sun from my arms until we can figure out how he escapes.

Our oldest baby, our cat, Ailey, has been running all over the place. Climbing rocks and trees and whatever else she wishes.

Yesterday I took my kiddos to the Sheep & Fiber festival and they enjoyed it…..ok they enjoyed jumping in the barn more but at least they had fun.

Yes, that is my girl watching the sheep sheering, we had gone to a motorcycle event that morning and she just had to put on the t-shirt her daddy got her.

And finally to leave you with my current progress of my bartók tunic

I am at 11″, 6.5″ more and I begin the next part woo!

Have a great day folks!