....really? REALLY??

Yup....more fiber has found a home!! 

 Back in February Hubby went to stay with his brother who was having surgery....brother took Hubby to visit a friend to get some wood for dulcimers....brother's friend gave hubby alpaca fiber....FOR FREE!!! Hubby brought home wood & fiber....two happy crafters here at The Coop! 

In early March I sent the fiber off to Ohio Valley Natural Fibers for processing. Yeah...that's one of those been there done that projects--I'd rather pay to have it processed now. This was only 2 of the 3 bags we were given (one red, black & white) I'll be packing the other bag up to send off in the next few weeks....obviously there's no rush or need for fiber to spin up!

This week it arrived back home. I wish you could feel this!!!!  It's truly yummy....

The fella who gave this to me had collected fiber from several shearings and only one of those did he have professionally, the rest he did himself with scissors!  SO...needless to say there was lots of waste but I did get back enough to make this gal giddy!!

I know what I'm going to be while camping over Memorial Day weekend!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Leave It To Me...

Okay so this is still about my weekend...besides all the music to enjoy there were nearly 100 vendors at Merlefest.
And guess what I found almost immediately! 

Yep...booth selling fiber!!!  So the yarn/fiber diet suffers yet again!

Hubby found this one of a kind, REALLY cool mug~~

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

The Fix

Today I spent a good portion of the day at the 2nd annual Olde Liberty Fiber Faire...and, of course, had a GREAT time. 

Seeing old friends and ooooogling over massive amounts of fiber and yarn!







Yarn from my pal, David, at Green Dragon Yarn & Fiber (RavLink)

Wool...Wool everywhere!!

Before you ask...yes I did fall off the "yarn diet" wagon again--BUT....it's for the new Grandbaby you see!! 

Since we still don't know the sex of the baby yet I thought this would make a GREAT unisex baby blanket!  Don't you?

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Stashbusting!!

During these slim times I continue to hit the stash for my projects--not to mention the fact that my stash has gotten WAY out of hand. With that said hubby brings me not ONE...not TWO...but THREE HUGE bags of alpaca fleece. More about this later...

The latest finished object is my Holden Shawlette I call "Stardust Wrap" (that's the name of the fiber I spun up for this yarn a couple years ago).  Mindy created a fantastic pattern here...a VERY quick knit!

Of course it's snowing today so I had to show off the shawlette against the freshly fallen snow.

Yes, I love BLUE!!

So....about the alpaca fleece.  On a recent trip to Richmond, hubby was introduced to a friend of his brother's--who happens to have alpacas.  He went there to get wood for dulcimers...he came home with wood AND alpaca fiber.....FREE alpaca fiber--one black, one white and one chestnut colored!!!  I've packaged it up to send for processing, in the time it will take to get it back maybe--just maybe I can make room for it. So now my fleece stash has increased significantly....I'd better get busy!!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Spinning with Balls!

NO...not those kind of balls!! Check this out--spin and get a workout at the same time!!



Boy, Cat Bordhi can come up with some stuff!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Yeah...Like I Need More Fiber!

But I love pretty fiber!!

Yarnahoy's Etsy

....and I love color!!

You can enter her contest too!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!

Soooooo....

....where did I leave off?


On a beautiful Sunday in May, Mom, Hubby and I trekked off to a strawberry farm to pick some of the most beautiful and tasty berries. I made 6 pints of freezer jam, froze 2 gallons and had plenty of strawberries to just simply snack on.

We're looking forward to the upcoming blueberry & blackberry/raspberry picking!

Remember support your local farm, farmers market or CSA!







For Mother's Day I made my Mom a Clapotis from the Recycled Silk I purchased some time back...not quite sure how it would turn out I was quite pleased with the effect the color banding gave on the diagonal...yes it is a bit heavy but Mom says it will serve her well--keeping her shoulders warm and having no trouble being able to wear it with just about anything.




On our Memorial weekend camping trip we had some pretty bad storms during the night time hours that really upset Milo...Rudy slept through it all...but woke to the most beautiful mornings.


....and color inspiring sunsets!


Wouldn't this make some beautiful yarn?!


Yeah, work has been crazy....and I mean crazy! It's unbelievable how one place can totally suck the life out of you--I love running!

I've had a couple of comments (not posted) about me going on my "me trip" -- ALONE! Yes, is it so hard to believe? I guess for some people they don't have the comfort level that I do about venturing out alone. There are 2 places besides here at home that I feel so totally comfortable, because I'm so familiar with the areas that it feels like home...Myrtle Beach and the Great Smoky Mtns.
Back last October Hubby went on a "He Trip" to Kentucky....alone, while I had planned to go to the beach on my "me trip" ALONE but my part of the deal got nixed when the weather turned horrible for a beach trip. So when the winter weather finally broke I decided it was my turn!! With camera in tow I tripped around all the areas I am very familiar with. In fact, I awoke at 5 am one morning to head out into the Great Smoky Mtn parkway on a hunt...for the perfect sunrise. Let me tell you it was COLD...below freezing! I set up my tripod, kept the heat on in the truck and would jump out take a few shots then jump back in to warm up...as I didn't take a coat with me.
What do you think? Was the freezing worth it all??

...this would make some pretty yarn too!!

While I was there I did get to visit my friend Nancy at Smoky Mtn Spinnery, but since I'm still on my "yarn diet" I didn't buy anything...but I did fondle a lot of beautiful yarns and fibers!!! She has the best collection of fibers from all over the world! On my last visit to her she let me hold $300 work of vicuna fiber...exactly 1 oz--it felt like air!

I guess I'd better get on with the evening...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Please Mr. Postman

(yes, I am all about music -- If you need the tune click HERE)



Wait oh yes wait a minute Mr. Postman
Wait wait Mr. Postman.
Mr. Postman, look and see,
Oh, yeah, is there a letter large box in your bag truck for me
Please, please Mr. Postman
I've been waiting long, long time...

Look what arrived at my doorstep yesterday!




Back in February I sent off 2 fleeces to be processed, a shetland and the largest part of a merino that I got tired of teasing out (the process is quite meticulous). So, I patiently waited, I really had no reason to be anxious...I have PLENTY of fiber to spin up!



I wish you could feel this--This is the shetland I got from Debbie Dull earlier this spring when I went to (or rather played hookey from work) help with shearing day. 2.5lbs of fibery goodness! I knew it was a beautiful fleece, I just had NO idea of how wonderful it truly is.

...and...drum roll please...

Remember when I went to that merino farm and bought my first fleece (actually I bought a second one later that same weekend)? Well, the method in which the shepherdess suggested I process the fleece was literally taking me forever (now 2 years to be exact).



Washed, double carded and pin drafted into 3lbs of FABULOUS fiber to spin. The fleece had lots of VM in it, I'm REALLY surprised at how clean it came out. There are going to be some small flecks to get out, but very little!

If you noticed the box and are interested I had this process at Ohio Valley Natural Fibers. Last year I sent an alpaca fleece with a friends order and was pleased with how they process it (no, I haven't spun it up yet--remember THIS picture) That's why I'm on a yarn/fiber diet...I have enough to make my own! Though I have recently fallen off the wagon, but I'm back on again...I promise!
OH...and if you decide to send a fleece (or two) to Ohio Valley, be sure and take advantage of their coupon for first time customers, just click the button on the left side of the page that says "Gift Certificate"!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

FO Friday

I'm ashamed to admit it took me almost a year to spin up 4 ozs of fiber...I hang my head in shame...
I started it just before we left for the beach last September, then on October 12th Rudy came to live with us.

But isn't it purty? I have over 5oo yds navajo plied, fingering weight yarn to work with! Hmmmmm....



Now I'm digging through my fiber stash trying to decide which one is next. Decisions-decisions!

My BlogBuddy Robin tagged me for a Meme to list six unimportant things that make me happy. I don't think "unimportant" is a very good word...but these are things that make me feel all warm & fuzzy.

1) listening to birds sing
2) my garden (both flower & veggie)
3) snuggling with Rudy
4) the smell of a campfire (even if it gets my allergies going)
5) sitting by a waterfall or babbling brook
6) the way I feel after I run...invigorated!

I'm supposed to tag six other people. But I'm just going to say "if you feel froggy....jump!" Please let me know if you decide to play along, I'd love to read yours too.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!

These Are The Days~

...I guess I've been saving for, not that I've wanted to, but the fact remains our economy is really, really bad. Scary bad in ways.

This week I found out my hours at work were cut, Hubby's worried about things in his office as well. We both work for neighboring city governments, things aren't looking so good. I got a preliminary look at our City's budget, I only have 2 words...not good. The City of Roanoke is even worse from all the news reports.

SO...all of the fiber/yarn/fabric I've "squirreled-up" for the past...oh, almost 30 years -- is going to be it for a while! I thought I'd been saving it for some great blizzard when we'd be housebound for days...NOT! I truly hope this economy turns around soon, it's not so much that I want to buy yarn or fiber...it's the worry that the income will become non-existent! So many people have lost their jobs, with what seems to be no end in sight...more and more businesses are closing or laying off people. As much as I may complain, I'm SO thankful to have a job.

We're doing a lot to cut back and be more self-sufficient, I've even gone back to the days of clipping coupons!

It's too scary to watch the news these days....

No WoW this week, the cat won't cooperate! But please go over and check out my friend Anita's fur-baby...she's the feature of the week.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!