Such a life!

DEDICATING THEIR LIVES 

TO SLED DOGS

Kulning - ancient swedish herding call

WalkingWool featured yarn on February 28th podcast . . . !!!

So so excited! Ewe University featured my handspun, hand dyed Karakul Yarn on her recent podcast. Thank you so much, Kristine Kelly, a super host!

You can zoom to the 23:19 minute spot where my segment begins. She was so enthusiastic. I'm grateful.

Dogs Vs. Stairs

Well, just had to share this though no sheep were involved in the production of the video.

Renate Hiller - "On Handwork"

These two sweeties just picked for group show in Damariscotta . . . ovines getting some fresh air!

River Arts Opening Reception for 

“Faces & Figures” Exhibition 

River Arts in Damariscotta is inviting the public to the opening reception of its newest exhibition “Faces and Figures (animals included)” Friday, February 19th  from 5-7. The exhibition includes 120 works in a wide variety of media by 70 artists from all over Maine and runs through March 26.

The juror for the exhibition is John Lorence. Lorence attended Case Western, the Parsons School of Design, Cambridge School of Design and the Cranbrook Academy of Art where he earned his BFA and MFA. He has been the recipient of fellowships at YADDO, the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, and the McDowell colony.  He has exhibited both his paintings and sculpture extensively in solo and group exhibitions in Europe, the Middle East and the U.S as part of the Art-in Embassy program.  Lorence’s professional interests include painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, art history, conservation and archeology as well as short films. He has taught at the Layton School of Art, Portland School of Art and the University of Wisconsin. He has had gallery representation in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee and recently exhibited at the Courthouse Gallery in Ellsworth. Lorence now lives in Newcastle, but did have a house and studio on Great Cranberry Isle for over 20 years where he was one of the island group’s 14 artists.

I seem to be dying to dye . . .

and find myself taking new (to me) library books out, and researching new dyestuffs (again, to me) like lichens . . .

Here's a site I found that needs further digesting (once again, by me):

Orchil, the poor person's purple

by Chris Laning

If anyone has any experience with Orchil, I would love to hear from you.

And, here's one on Bloodroot . .

Empowering Basket Makers to Grow Their Own Bloodroot for Dye

Fun in the snow south of us

Thank you so much to several entities for an especially delightful day yesterday in midcoast Maine.

Dandelion Spring Farm/Straw Farm in Newcastle. We've been buying produce, meat and eggs, and wool fleece from Beth for three years. At the weekly Rockland farmers market on Thursdays, She and her crew set up a tempting and bountiful stall, and it's become a must-do favorite. The farm(s) are situated on a rolling stretch of countryside, close to route 1 but enough away to be truly pastoral.

Tamworth is the breed name of these red russet piggies.

Lovely Jersey cows all, so soft and inquisitive.

Yesterday's visit was fortuitous -- weather, light and animals all cooperated, coming together to create a joyful experience for me (sorely needed) . I think the proof is in the porcine, bovine, and ovine faces.

Multi purpose sheep flock associated with a PenBay island flock the farmers also tend to. Their lovely white and chocolate wool has made it into our studio projects, including the raw fleece as well as the beautifully spun 2-ply hanks.

Prior to this pastoral pleasure, I attended a talk by Black Dinah Chocolatier founder Kate Shaffer at the Damariscotta Public Library. She is lovely! And, her words and tastes exquisite. Brought home a Valentine's gift box of heart shaped truffles for my own sweet Valentine, who ultimately agreed to share them. And popped into two art supply shops on Main Street: Attic Heirlooms and ABOCA Beads. All  in all, a very inspiring day.

Learning to Lopi . . . .

The very cool PLY Magazine blog has a guest written post about making Lopi-style singles . . . .

http://plymagazine.com/2016/01/spinning-lopi-singles/.

Must practice! Oh, joy!

PLY's facebook page

Playful Exercises Lead to New Ideas

Flax and Linen in New England

New Group Discovery! Thank you Lisa for forwarding this website: http://newenglandflaxandlinen.org/. (Isn't it a pretty image?)

Okay, now I have to make room for something else in my tiny garden!

Tips you can always use . . .

Episode 1407 – Arm Yourself: Perfecting your knitted sleeves and make your sweater knitting patterns fit their best. Download Barry Klein's free tip sheet for knitting sleeve caps.

Fiber-ing in the Frigid Air

I ventured out to the Rockport Library yesterday and met three lovely ladies at the Tuesday Fiber Group. . . a quilter, two knitters, and me. It was just what I needed. They shared these fun photos recently taken by a Snow Bird friend (somewhere in Florida), who participated in a yarn bombing. They did Matisse proud, don't you think?

The week of St. Distaff Day . . .

http://www.thebookofdays.com/months/jan/7.htm

Back to the wheel, wench! And so I go, happily!

This is my Chef, my Team, my Work, my Joy. Please watch and wonder.

Please watch, it's simply delightful.

Wool Walking out the door . . . shipping day at WW.

Packing up a couple of special packages today. One to London . . . a Nursing Shawl knit with hand spun chocolate Merino wool sourced from historic Gore Place in Waltham MA. They host a fiber fest every spring, and I acquired this fleece on my first visit there, along with capturing some of my most favorite sheep portraits.

 

 

And, a special gift for Hanukkah -- sister to sister -- of four hanks of hand spun (and some hand dyed too) yarn: Swamp Flowers, Grey Skies-Touch of Clearing, Kiwi Grey, and Starry Skies Maine. Thank you so much AL for gift giving through WalkingWool. Hope your Sis has fun. 

Shoulder Seam -- Helpful tips from Berocco

Fibery Sugarplums Danced . . . Down the Stairs

So, the new WW Gallery is a two-story experience, linked by a magnificent Victorian staircase, complete with railings and posts that are of carved wood and quite simply, showstopping. With a little Murphy's Oil Soap, they easily glow with warmth and appeal. At least, that's what we're told by first-time visitors. So, know wonder we were inspired to "Deck the Hall (way)" with handmade fiber items of a petite scale (save for the "Andre the Giant" hand spun, hand dyed and hand knit mittens, that could easily sub for stockings at the fireplace mantel).

Getting ready for Shop Local - Small Biz Saturday . . . this weekend in Rockland.

After the delightful first-time Open House last week, and the constructive responses and feedback received from visitors and friends, we are poised for the start of the 2015 Holiday Shopping Season. We especially want to celebrate Shop Local - Small Business Saturday, November 28. Our hats are off to our local small business neighbors here in the MidCoast Maine region. We are excited to join their ranks!

If you visit us soon, he's a glimpse of what you'll find in store, and in store. . .