End of July -- dye pot time

First, have to try not to blow a fuse when turning on the hot plates. This is a new location -- a Victorian with lots of charm and am hoping to work on the grand front porch, just where the new gallery and studio entrance will be. Launching WalkingWool Studio & Gallery 'softly' in August, then hoping for a bigger splash this fall.   More later ...

2014 ME Fiber Frolic at the Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor ME

Just under one hour's drive away from home, I finally got to ME's own sheep and wool festival. It's the last one of the season in New England, always the first weekend in June. The fairgrounds are old-time classic, and the drive up Route 17 is bucolic and easy. I'm learning to really love what's called the Inland MidCoast region, rich with farmland, woods, ponds and lakes, and big rolling hills, and all just a short skip back to the sea. Talk about balance.

So, at the Frolic we wandered through the Used Equipment barn, visited with new-to-us vendors and reconnected with old contacts (Hatchtown Farm -- must visit them this summer in Bristol). Also remembered that I've wanted to see Frelsi Farm, home of Icelandic sheep (and sheep dogs???) in Bremen.

My mission was to find some dye plants and peruse the used equipment for any deals. No deals found, but met some lovely folks from Lincolnville, just up the road from Rockland. The woman is . . . the other Lori Shafer. No kidding. She and husband Gerald make Blending Boards, and so another daytrip is in the making. Really a treat to find her/them. Did secure two Japanese Indigo dye plants and planted them straight away. Was given a tip to check out Nezinscot Farm in Turner ME for more dye plant resources. Must find Woad and Madder ASAP.

Looking for more outlets to sell the yarn and dyed fiber. Clementine is opening here in Rockland, and the Coop sells members' handiwork. Will try both this week.

Meanwhile, crocheting up a storm of little flowers for jewelry making, and must renew my library books (again) to learn about diagonal knitting from Ms. Cobey. and more tips from other designers. When I'm not out in the gardens with by neighbors  Heidi and Katrina. We're building a compost bin together out of old pine pallets from the dump. Also learning to keep the roaming cats out of our beds with coffee grinds, citrus peels and cayenne/chili pepper. Seems to be working.

Must not forget to visit New Aim Fiber Mill nearby (Waldoboro?)  this summer, too. And, Hope Spinnery in Hope.

Hmmm. I sound busy.

May fun at the Windsor Fairgrounds

A Lincoln flock

A Boer Goat billy

A Boar Goat nanny

Mystery breed piglets.

Hungarian Fiber Artist . . . just wow!

May is here and so are the fiber festivals, in Maine at least. The weekend of May 16-18 there's a three-day Expo at Windsor Fairgrounds http://www.northeastlivestockexpo.com/.
 That Saturday is a workshop in Bath at Halcyon with Katherine Cobey! Sigh! And, the June Fiber Frolic is early in the month -- soon!
So much to plan for.
Got some great books out of the Rockland Library: Katherine C.'s Diagonal Knitting, and another on "revolutionary" knitting from the center out, written by a guy (will get the name in here shortly).
Looking to get my dye plants growing outdoors soon. Have tried some indigo in peat pots indoors but not sure what will sprout. My new neighbor is a gardener, too, so we should have some fun together this summer.
Signing off with some of my favorite recent shots taken at Straw Farm/Dandelion Spring Farm, Newcastle ME in April on a pretty chilly but sunny day. Really warmed my heart to be there.

Helpful Berocco Video: Crochet a Cable - Genoa Pattern Stitch

Where have you been???
WHERE HAVE I BEEN???

Here's a (hopefully) more than adequate apology in the form of entertaining video and audio.

Post by Linda Steinle.

I promise myself to do better.

Interview with a MidCoast Maine Spinner Superstar

http://www.spinartiste.com/featured-artist-rachel-jones-of-on-the-round-giveaway-mega-hooks-winner

Warm image for the cold weather.

Berroco scarf in handspun yarn from a BASD swap.

Crafting away the days of December . . .

No, this is not one of my projects, but it tells you something about the highly creative community that I have landed in (Mid Coast Maine). 

Meanwhile, I am re-energized around my stash, new fleece I'm washing in my uber-bathroom (it's bigger than any I've had!), and connecting with other crafters. Life is pretty darn great right now.

love this urban farming concept

Moveable Feast: A Pop-Up Farm in Brooklyn by Jeanne Rostaing

She's back!

Getting my fiber on in a big way in recent weeks, now that my day-job working life has slowed down considerably. Learning also to navigate with my fiber stuff through the spaces of my new  home. Yes, we have a very large bathroom, so washing fleece is not so intrusive to our daily needs in that space. Storing supplies is much more of a challenge, and I'm looking to go vertical where ever possible, as we have limited floor space but do have very high ceilings. Found a sunny cozy corner for spinning, and can share the seat with my little guy Igby (= very sweet and comforting). Major questions around heating up the dye pots (in the kitchen???? on the porch via  hotplate and extension cords???? dunno yet). 

Nevertheless, I'm so thrilled to be working with very apropos, local fiber sources, especially Dandelion Spring Farm, which oversees a Maine Island flock, a mix of breeds that has existed on this secret island for a long, long time. The first fleece is turning out to be such a gorgeous snowy white. Have a chocolate brown one as well to work on. Feels  (literally) so good to be back in action.

Dyeing with Dyers Coreopsis | Wild Colours natural dyes

Dyeing with Dyers Coreopsis | Wild Colours natural dyes

Whoa, what's this, a post? Had to save this link. More later!

So Long Gone . . .

Where have I been? More than a little preoccupied with a new biz venture and settling into our new life in Rockland. In May we opened PicassoWhat Gallery, and our lives were totally consumed with its operation. We discovered amazing talents, local and far afield, and made lovely friends in the process. Our new community was generous in its support and encouragement, and we are grateful to all. As the summer season ends, and we close our doors at the current Main Street location, we are regrouping while remaining available by appointment. Here's just a sampling of some of the sights from the last three+ months.