Chick Day!

Some things just go with Spring . .. like little chicks. ... . we got a shipment of Barred Rocks and Aracunas.  They are cute as can be.  They are settled in the chicken coop in a big water tank so they are protected from the big girls and the barn cats.  Boy do they have good lungs - you could hear them chirping all the way up at the house as we were getting their light set up.  When they are cold, they are cranky! 

Here are some pictures of the big girls and the little chicks.

BSSG Rug Hooking

What a fun day!  I attended a Black Swamp Spinners Guild event today.  We learned how to Rug Hook from Jan Ryan - from Ryan's Edgy Art - awesome class.  We each got a kit that included our pattern on a piece of linen burlap, an embroidery hoop, a rug hooking hook and handdyed, hand spun yarns in about 5 varieties - all were handspun  and dyed by Jan.  My kit had several shades of pink/plum, then a cable plyed yarn - that had one ply varigated and one green and then a piece of handdyed wool fabric. 

Jan gave us some history, then showed us how to use the hook, gave some pointers and off we went hooking! 

I tried to learn this by myself a few years ago - I wanted to use my handspun yarn - but everyone I asked and all my research showed using just the wool fabric - but in Jan's class we used handspun yarn - just what I was looking for.  I was even able to incorporate some of my yarn in the center of a flower - my summer confetti yarn, which is Montgomery's fleece with orange and pink threads and angelina.  It looks cool.

I will post some pictures later in the week.

Fiber Dyeing Extravaganza Feb 2011

Yet another fun Fiber Dyeing Extravaganza done!  We held a dye day for the Bowling Green Spinning Guild on Feb. 19 and everyone had a great time.  What a great group . .. . .I came home with all my tools and supplies clean and neatly packed with  the help of everyone in the class.  The spinning guild is a great group and I hope to do more with them. 

In April I am going to go to a Rug Hooking class taught by Jan Ryan and then in May, I am planning to go to a spinning workshop at Deb Yeagle's - taught by Patsy Z. 

I'll post pics when I get them - Susan took lots of pics since I was busy. .. .

Rug Weaving Class

Diane and I went to a rug weaving class yesterday in Battle Creek, MI.  The instructor is my friend Kathy Berlincourt - from the Warped Weaver Studio.  This was our second adventure weaving with Kathy.  Last year Diane and I wove some selvedge rugs which came out wonderfully.  This year we wove with rags.  Diane wove a tradition hit and miss rag rug.  The warp was multicolored and the look really changed based on what color weft she used.  I tackled a log cabin weave.  With the log cabin weave, you can alternate weft passes and make it appear as if you have blocks or checkerboard looking areas.  It was quite fun and sorta messes with your balance when you look too closely.  Here are a couple picture of my rug:

This close up really shows the detail.  It is actually woven in a plain weave but the placement of color in the warp make all the difference.  There is a solid stripe down each side.

I am putting the weaving aside for a few days - I need to get some yarn packaged and priced and I need to get my samples braided and my class notes ready to teach a Kumihimo braiding class on Tuesday.

Have a great week!

WEAVING ! ! !!

OMG ! ! !  Now that I have this "new to me" rug loom warped and I started weaving a set of placemats and a table runner. .. .OMG! how I have missed weaving!  Typically, I weave very fine thread items on my 22" harrisville.  The Harrisville loom is half warped with some chenille scarves.  Although, I don't think I will become a full time rug weaver.  . . .the instant gratification is awesome!  The rag strips weave up very quickly.  Below is about 5 minutes worth of weaving!

The table runner and placemats will be about 16" wide finished.  Have not decided the length of the table runner yet.  I would anticipate, however, being completely done weaving the entire set by the end of the evening Wednesday.  I'd weave it all today, except I need to clean the barn before our "big" storm and we're having company for dinner.

From one happy, happy weaver .. . .have a great day!

Winding Creek Fiber Farm: Fiber Farm To do list . .. .

Winding Creek Fiber Farm: Fiber Farm To do list . .. .: "I really should feel fortunate that my 'to do' list involves so many relaxing fun items. .. spinning, weaving, knitting, tending animals. . ..."

Fiber Farm To do list . .. .

I really should feel fortunate that my "to do" list involves so many relaxing fun items. .. spinning, weaving, knitting, tending animals. . .. all very relaxing things. .. . .until I try to do too many at one time.  .. as I am known for doing.

I have finally, finally finished the "Buster Brown" yarn.  It took me 2  1/2 weekends and lots of hours. .. .one ply was very tedious. .. .but  I AM DONE! !  ! and it is BEAUTIFUL!  It has been washed and is drying, it will be weighted, counted, priced and labeled. . .. and then out for sale.  Roxy gets first dibs . . .as she has a shawl already started in this yarn . . and then the rest will be sold either via email, etsy, artfire or the vendor booth.

As you can see, Bruiser was so stressed by this project:

Last week, I had on my to do list . . .finishing warping the rug loom . .. that is where I am headed next. .. .here is a picture of the progress.

I hope where ever you are and whatever you are doing, you are having a wonderful weekend.  I've extended my weekend by a day . . so still have two days left after today. . . hopefully, posting a finished table runner by the end of Monday.

Happy Weaving!

Fibery Weekend

It has been a very, very cold weekend here in NW Ohio, so I spent most of my time inside trying to finish some projects ..  .of course . .. thought I could do more, but here is what I finished.  Lots, and lots of Buster Brown Autumn Leaves yarn and I embelished 4 hats.

Now for some hats . .. .

It's been a long weekend but I am happy to have so much done.  This week I should finish the rest of Buster and the last hat.  I'll post pics when I am done with the last hat - it is a natural Brown Llama with a blue band embellished with Daiseys.

Happy Spinning, Weaving and Knitting this week. .. talk to you soon!

Brrrrr. . . . . . .

Geez!  It looks like it is going to be a really cold day and weekend according to the weather this morning!  I was hoping to get some stuff done around the barn this weekend . ...that might not happen.  I do have a couple projects on my "todo" list this weekend . .. .I am hoping to finish spinning buster for Roxy. ..I have 4 bobbins of buster with"junk" spun and two plain buster bobbins spun . ..tonight should be a good night to ply ..  .I should end up with 8 - 10 skeins of yarn. Once they are done, I will wash them and when they are dry I will pass them on to Mom to count yardage, weight, price and label.

My next project for the weekend is to trim and embellish the 5 felted hats that Mom, Jean and I have knitted recently. . .well one came out more like a bowl (one of mine). .. oh well.  I am working on knitting the roses for a couple of the hats and then I will be ready to embellish them and post them on line and then take them down to Rebecca at S Type Creative here in Defiance.

My third project involves heading down to the basement, to my weaving studio "wanna be" area . .. .to use my "new to me" rug loom .. . . .I have it about half warped . ..the loom, not me, . . .anyway ..  .I have to bring the warp through the heddles, through the reed and then tie on the front beam ...then I am ready to try to weave on the rug loom.. . .I have a rag table runner warped on it right how as a test.. . .once I get it figured out . .. we will move on to denim rugs . .. .Yeah! ! ! ! ! !

I'll post some progess pictures over the weekend :)

Wow! 2011 . .. .is here already!

Let's get serious about this blogging stuff . .. . there are so many fun little things that happen on the farm - I'll try to share more often.

This has been a good weekend on the farm.  I spend some time in the barn yesterday grooming Nigel - one of our rescue bunnies - he was a bit matted . .. even though the temp was cold. . .I stayed warm working with him at the grooming table in the corner of the barn with a cup of hot chai tea . ..

Started today with warm homemade blueberry muffins and hot chai tea. .. .seems the theme of the weekend is hot chai tea . .you'd think it's cold outside!

The crazy chickens were out in the snow today . . .you would think they would not like the snow and usually they do not. . ..but they seemed to be having a blast.

I did get some spinning done. . I am spinning "Autumn Leaves" for my friend Roxy.  She is working on a shawl.  The rovings is 100% alpaca - Buster Brown and some threads thrown in for color.  Here is a picture of Bruiser "helping me" spin . ..and a picture of buster.

Happy Spinning!

 Bruiser                                                                                                              Buster