Sheep at Tufts Cummings Vet School

A quick exploration of the sheep barns at Tufts last Sunday discovered these, which I guess are Tunis, dear ovines lounging in the sun on a very windy/chilly day. Sunlight is not my friend when shooting sheep, so I will return another overcast day for better conditions.

Our Guild makes it into Spin-Off Spring 2012 issue

Spin-Off, Spring 2012 - Interweave
Thank you Betsy for a great story and images (see page 66).

New publication from the first CSA wool farm in the USA!

Hair-larious!!!!!!

Visit Heifer Project's Overlook Farm in Rutland MA this spring -- you won't be disappointed.

http://www.heifer.org/visit/overlook-farm

Sheepy group in RI

Rhode Island Sheep Cooperative

A blog to like

http://spokesandpetals.wordpress.com

You go, Jenny!

Must-Watch Sheep Herding Video . . . it will surprise you.

The Walking Wool Calendar: Status Report

I have printed a number of configurations of the calendar and continue to research how to print the darn thing in a cost-effective way. 

 

Update on the printing projects . . .

In the portfolio of promo items are new postcards, note cards, magnets, and small posters. Would love feedback on them.

Awesome Knitgrrl . . . Shannon Okey

If you don't yet know of her, check this fiber femme out!

Exciting Promo Developments . . .

Christmas at the end of January!

New items just received from the printer:
postcards
note cards
posters
sticky labels
magnets
decals
assorted configurations of the calendar concept

I used these images and others:

Needless to say, I am quite excited for feedback and plan to get going this week with showing samples around.

Have also been working with Blurb.com and have a number of ideas in the works utilizing this online self-publishing service:

Maine Sheep
Celebrating the Divine Ovine by Walking WoolCopyright 2012 | Make Your Own Book

Happy New Year

Things are looking very green still here on January 1, 2012. Nevertheless, thoughts and activities turn to sheep and wool, constantly. A late December visit to the Salty Ewe Farm flock found no snow but very woolly and warm looking ewes, wether, and new-ish ram Hercules. Camera and fingers not functioning as well as I would have liked for this shoot, so I expect to return when there is white on the ground with equipment in better shape.

Next weekend is the annual spinning bee at the Westford Museum in honor of St. Distaff Day. This homage to spinners of yore is a great way to kick off a fresh new era of all things fiber. My spinning teacher from the Textile History Museum, Penny Lacroix, is the director of this museum and, presumably, the organizer of the event. Not sure if I will make it this year, again, as it always falls on my husband's birthday weekend.

Linen Sweater Project finally done!

Looking good in Louet linen yarn. Finally finished this project (years in the making) and seems to be getting good use in Florida. I love linen, and this yarn was fun to work with.

2011 Northeast Handspinners Open House in Pawtucket RI

Chris ventured with me to the Slater Mill in Pawtucket on Saturday, where we attended the every-other-year Open House produced by the Northeast Handspinners Association. This time Rhode Island got to pick a site, and they chose well! Slater Mill is an historic site, actually the first textile mill built in the United States (Or North America? Not sure on that factoid.). Not necessarily easy to find if you've never been to Pawtucket, located just north of Providence.



The mill was beatufilly restored and cozy and filled with examples and memories from days gone by. Wonderful enlarged photos of young women and men reminded us of how fiber and clothing was produced, and how the workers looked and lived.

Chris and her prize

A small selection of local fiber product vendors tempted us with new rovings, handmade jewelry, soaps, and gorgeous drop spindles.In true form, Chris won a prize during the raffle drawing. A pouch of lovely angora rabbit fiber to add to her stash

Raffle drawing

.

Ann Hood

The RI planning committee really lucked out in securing our guest speaker. Author Ann Hood -- that's right, of The Knitting Circle fame -- regaled us with life stories, both hysterical and heartrenching. A native RI-der, Ann spoke as fluidly and poetically as she writes. She seemed to enjoy being there as much as we did. Her good news was the book has been optioned for a feature film starring actress Katherine Heigl, one of my favorite animal-loving celebrities. And, Ann has more wonderful projects in the queue.

The organizers informed us that the 2012 The Gathering (the 3-day weekend of fiber/spinning workshops, shopping, talks, and more) will be held in Southbury CT. Again, not at all inconvenient for my local fiber pals. Start saving those pennies now!

For me it was a wonderful, overdue outing with a fiber friend I have come to appreciate very much, and a poignant reminder of how our spinning guild is in transition.

The Salty Ewe Farm in November

The pictures speak for themselves. Another lovely day of visiting with the flock, this time with a new stud on display. Hercules came down from Romney Ridge Farm in Wiscasset, ME. Big Bill moved on to Shearbrooke Farm, due west of Portland, where he will surely keep a new group of ewes happy, and lend his glorious cocoa coat to the farm's fiber production.

Big Bill

Big Bill is indeed.

Hercules is handsomely mottled over his face and body with browns and creams, and has a long tail. Two of the Babydoll Southdown ewes have enjoyed his company in the specially-created "love nest" -- three is definitely not a crowd for this bunch!

Little Hercules

The other light and dark ewes munched peacefully in the groomed field, keeping a wary eye on me and my cameras. Though I brought apple slices to lure them in, they are tough to convince that I am harmless.

See more images at the Walking Wool facebook page. 
Maybe this is the winter when I will shoot sheep in snow. Fingers crossed.

Slater Mill and Northeast Handspinners Association

http://www.slatermill.org/
http://www.nehandspinners.org/forms/Open-House-registration2011.pdf

Looking forward to December 3rd. Heading down to Pawtucket RI for the 2011 NE Handspinners Assoc Open House. Lots of luscious fiber fun. Here's a taste of the program:


Main Speaker: Ann Hood
The author of the bestselling novel, THE KNITTING CIRCLE, and the memoir,
COMFORT: A JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF, which was named one of the top ten non fiction
books of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly and was a New York Times Editor's Choice. Ann has
been a welcomed speaker at Fiber Events- combining her story telling skill with the healing
respect for fiber related arts and crafts. A R.I. native- she is very excited to have been invited to
this event and looks forward to meeting members of NHA. She will have her books available for
purchase during the afternoon spin.

Local Rhode Island Vendors will be on site at the Jencks Center.

Something to follow

http://fiberartnow.net/

Hot off the press

Just returned a few hours ago from the 2nd Annual New England Fiber Festival at the Big E in West Springfield MA. Met lots of very nice people (typical for fiber festivals in my experience) and shot another few hundred photos for the portfolio -- see below, and more at the Walking Wool facebook page.  Also, got a front row seat for a shearing, and learned a little more about that skill, which I covet and hope to learn one day. Some helpful vendors gave good feedback on the sample Walking Wool Calendar I brought with me.

It was worth the reasonably short drive.

Border Leicester

Finn

Shetland

CVM/Romeldale

Corriedale, before and after shearing

Shearing demonstration