Melissa's Classes
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: Elton John "The One"
Topic: Class information
Melissa and I talked this past weekend, and thought that it would be really nice for her to teach two sets of classes; one day devoted to knitting and the next to crochet. We both feel that it is a shame that so many knitters view crochet as a dirty word, when it can really enhance a project, or be a gorgeous project all in itself. As you probably know, Melissa has just completed two crochet books; one for beginners called "Cozy Crochet" and the other which will be out in May, called "Cool Crochet", which is a follow up to "Hot Knits" which was released in May 2004. Melissa will have copies of all these books for sale at the classes, and I will have some needles and crochet hooks made by Grafton Fibers for sale then too.

So, here is what we'll have for classes:

Saturday:
Knitting on the Edge: Beautiful Borders: Jazz up your knitting with extra special edge treatments! Discover unusual textured borders, pretty hems, scallops, knitted-in fringe, and more in this hands-on workshop. These additions can transform even simple knits into eye-catching sweaters! 3 Hours, and some homework prior to class

Celtic Cables: Learn how to use basic cabling techniques to create Celtic inspired panels and motifs. (Shhhh, don't tell anyone, but these gorgeous cables are much easier to knit than they look!). 3 Hours, plus some homework prior to class. Proficiency in knitting with double pointed needles in the round is suggested

Sunday:
Crochet for Cowards: Want to learn the basics of crochet? In three short (and fun) hours, you'll have all the skills you'll need to create a beautiful in-class project. 3 Hours

Crocheted Hat Tricks!: Hats, hats and more hats! In this hands-on workshop, you'll create mini-versions of several quick-to-make and fashionable hats. Take the class handout (chockfull of full-size patterns) back home and let the fun begin! 3 Hours

Class fees will be as follows:

$50 for 1/2 day of classes (Saturday or Sunday)
$85 for a full day of classes (Saturday or Sunday)
$160 for the entire weekend!

Prices do not include hotel rooms, but I am in the process of contacting a few select hotels about possible discount rates for anyone that would need to stay overnight. Or if you prefer to book your own hotel room at another facility, I have a large list of phone numbers and addresses for hotels, motels and B&B's in the area.

If you are interested in these classes, please sign up ASAP. In order to bring Melissa in, I need a minimum number of students to run the class, so the sooner we have registrations in, the better off we'll be. :)

Please e-mail me at Baycolonyfarm @ AOL (dot) com for a registration brochure. We also take MC & VISA for class payments. (Yes, I'm a fiber enabler!)

The Great Fleece Race
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: O'Jays "Love Train"
Topic: Fiber
I have a few people that I love to buy fleeces from. One of them is Whitefish Bay Farm out in Wisconsin. Each year, they put their fleeces up for sale, and they sell out in 24 hours or less. If you buy a fleece one year, you have first right of refusal on purchasing that same fleece the next year, provided the sheep is still on their farm.

Each year, I've purchased more fleeces from them than the previous year. Last year it was something like 9 fleeces. This year I think I have ordered 12. Only 3 of my fleeces from last year made the cut this year; Dick e-mailed me and said that he was almost afraid to e-mail me with my reserves from last year because I lost 3/4 of my reserved fleeces! ;-) Well, I more than made up for it, and ordered approximately 10 colored fleeces and 2 white fleeces within 4 minutes of the fleeces going up for sale this morning (yeah, I sat at the computer, refreshing the page for almost an hour so that I didn't miss the sale, and yes, I'm still sane). Some of them I'll have sent directly to Matt and Jamie at Wooly Knob Fiber Mill and others sent directly here for me to process on my own. Dick and Gretchen really know how to skirt fleeces, which too many shepherds don't know how to do. I also own the list FleeceforSale on Yahoogroups, and have seen a few too fleeces filled with burrs, grass and the like, when promised that the breeder knew how to skirt. Skirting takes practice and an eye for knowing what spinners want. I'm fussy; I don't have the time to pick crap out of fleeces. Dick and Gretchen, along with Martha Maxwell of Coneflower Farm and Mary Pratt from NY know how to skirt fleece and all have very nice fleeces for sale.

Anyway, most of these fleeces will be resold later as roving at the various fiber fairs I'm attending this year. Look for lots of natural colors, pewter greys, varying shades of browns, dark greys, blacks and bright whites.

Impatient. Who, me?
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Rant
O.k. So I'm impatient. So sue me. ;-)

I was having some technical difficulties with my old blog, so I decided to start another. I've added more blogs that I read, and more fiber websites, that will hopefully provide new blog viewers with interesting things to read.

I'm in the middle of contractor hell. My personal contractor is wonderful. I think she's great! It isn't her that I'm having problems with, but instead, the contractor who is hired by Lowe's to come and replace our front door. We were there a week ago. We were told that once we paid our $30 for him to come out, he'd call in 48 hours to schedule a time to come out. No call. I waited a week and called Lowe's. They were at a loss as to why he hadn't called. Of course, he called last night (I know they called him to give him the "What for?"). He said he'd be out between 11 and 1 today. So I waited. And waited. And waited. No contractor, so I leave to pick up DS#2 from preschool at 1 p.m. Of course he shows up while I'm out. Tnankfully, my original contractor's employee was here painting and asked him to wait. He did, and we discussed the new door. From the way things move in contractor land, it will be another month or two before that door is in. More waiting. Great.