So much to say

So the fair has come and gone and, although we didn't make enough for me to buy that farm I've always wanted, we did meet some great people, make some contacts, and had a good time. It's certainly not the end of the world and we have a whole lot to do in the next few weeks and months.

We did have the good luck to have a happy addition of our third loom to the family. Its a little 24" 4 harness with treadles, but the best thing about it is that it folds up small enough to be put in the trunk (boot, for my other-land friends) of a car. That means that when we set up I can spin while my husband weaves. As if having a third loom wasn't exciting enough.

So? What are we going to be up to? Well, Thursday we are meeting with a representative from "Kentucky Proud." For those of you not from Kentucky, its a state organized guild that helps crafters, farmers, and products made in the state. Its a very very good thing to get into so think about us this Thursday morning and hope for a good "fiber day."

Next, we have an application on the way for The Southern Highlands Craft Guild. Another HUGE guild that has a whole lot to offer its members. Being in ether one of these groups is an honor, but we're going for the gold and hoping for both.

Sometime in September is a fair at near by Shaker Town. Although we wont have to be there (I would like to be) one of our fiber partners will be and our goods will be offered at their booth. We'll be making rugs and baby blankets, I'm sure, for that. *grunt*

Then...yes, there's more, I have two more classes scheduled, one in October and the other in November. A large project to finish for a good friend, if I could only find that perfect material. And I'm designing a knitted cardigan while perfecting my cotton spinning and card-weaving skills. Whew! That's just the things I know about.

One more thing to add. Last night we finally bought the domain name and will have the website going by the start of next week. No only can you see everything made; there will be a way to purchase goods and order for wholesale, info on individual classes and loom repair, and ways to schedule or where to attend demos. Very exciting stuff.

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Busy, busy, busy

Ten more days till the festival and we are plugging along. The classes are over with, for now, and I have one more pattern that Flaggy Meadows wants me to do. I shouldn't be hard since it is a hat that will go with the Scarflet I did for them last month. The hard work is done, I just need to knit it.

I finished the pattern for The Woolery. They really liked it, which is good since I used a completely different style then the Victorian Scarflet and was quite unconventional. I don't know if people know what to think about it, yet. Selling patterns is only one step. To be successful it takes people buying them and the company coming back to you wanting more. CJ wants me to do a book, but I'm hoping that I can sell every pattern I make and never have the chance to do so.

I'll be making a shawl this week from recycled sari silk and black bamboo. I normally can picture what things are going to turn out like in my head, but this one is a shot in the dark. I think it is fulfilling my need to do something a little crazy, just like the Woolery pattern was. At times things become a little too conservative and earthy and I need a little shiny hot pink mixed with black to wake me up. Let's hope it attracts some brave person out there as I'm still on the quest to make my bread and butter from this.


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A Good Day to Dye...

Getting ready for the festival, we dedicated yesterday to dyeing for some twill shawls that we will be making. I tried a different technique because I was "feeling" some variegation in blues and purples. Leaving the skeins in the twist we kettle dyed and the string comes out looking sort-of like tie-dye. CJ's iffy on it, but I think I like it. With a white warp and another blue over dye at the end they might turn out great. It's really hard to tell what will happen with yarn, but that's all part of what I love. I'll have the new stuff on DA around the very end of the week.

I don't get to weave today so I'm feeling a little gloomy. Its such a beautiful day to weave (cool and rainy) and I'm stuck doing something I don't want to in a windowless room. I keep thinking that very very soon I'll get to mess with yarn and fibers people every single day; that gets me through it all. It wont be long.

I'll tell all about my weaving class after the second one Monday. They'll be pictures so I hope you look forward to it.

Be good and be careful.

Visit to the Woolery

Yesterday we were finally able to get out to the Woolery to do a little shopping for equipment. We have been so very busy doing weaving for Flaggy Meadow that we have had little time to sleep and eat let-alone shop. In addition to a new reed for the rigid heddle and a tensioned lazy kate, I was able to get that skein winder that I had been wanting. Beautiful, well built, and soooo useful; now I don't remember what I did with out it!. So far I've only used it to wind balls (which I still do the old fashion way) and I'm assuming that the time saved using it has also saved my hands because they didn't hurt half as much as before. So if I was asked "was it worth it" I would say a resounding, "yes!"

Now we have to worry about the Woodland Art Fair coming up. We have so much to make since our inventory is low. Now we have added the Surino line to it all that list has gotten much longer. Good news is that as I look at it, I come to my senses and it slowly is getting to a reasonable size.

Yesterday, I developed the first of our receiving blanket line. Its a minty green made with the Surino and, oh, so light and soft, and that's not to mention the absolute cute simplicity of the blanket. I have planning for striped and plaid in pink, green, and blue. So adorable.

Victorian Garden Scarflet

Yesterday we had an awesome meeting with Flaggy Meadows Fiber Works and it looks like the partnership is a "go." In addition to our weaving they will be using a knitting pattern I designed for their Surino line of yarn. It will be advailable as a kit and as the individual pattern. It isn't on sale yet, but I will post a link when it does. To the left is an image of the sample I knitted for them. It turned out well and the yarn is so soft and warm (but by no means hot) that everything works perfectly. Hope everyone enjoys it!