All Hallows Eve
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Young MC "Bust A Move"
I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy Halloween! I'm sitting here, answering the door for trick or treaters (only 4 so far, since 5:30 p.m.!) :(

My boys are out with my husband hitting the houses in the neighborhood. I'll post pictures of my little firemen when they get home.

Fiber Twist!
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Cheap Trick "The Flame"
Topic: Show

Wow! I am completely amazed at the turn out for yesterday's Fiber Twist. Yesterday's show exceeded the volume of people compared to other one day shows I've done which have been in existence for 3 or more years (and to be honest, I think they easily compared in turn out to the Wool Tour, which is held in NH every year)! Diane did a fabulous job of advertising; I even saw large full color postcards at Clarkdale Orchards up in Deerfield a few weeks ago, which advertised the Fiber Twist and Cider Day through MassVacation.com.

I met lots of bloggers and list members alike (If I fail to mention you here, give me a shout at Baycolonyfarm @ aol.com and I'll edit this so that you get a mention). Carole and blogless Sharon were some of the first bloggers I met. O.k., so Sharon isn't a blogger yet, but I think she's bound to be soon. Diane was also there. We discussed Rogue and our potential yarns. I'm waiting to see if she made it down to Webs and checked out other possibilities on the way home. Dharia was there, making an appearance after having missed Rhinebeck. She was even wearing the felted mittens she purchased from Leslie Samson back in May at MAS&W. I let her know that Leslie will be coming back in late winter to teach another hats and mittens class. Sandy came by from the NETA list. She is a delightful woman, and I was surprised to learn that we live so close to each other (I'm thinking YEAH! Another knitter nearby!)! She brought her lovely daughter and granddaughter with her; her daughter already knits and it looks like her granddaughter is on her way especially after getting SO excited over being given a piece of fleece from a vendor. ;-) Sandy purchased the Wings Shawl kit in the natural colored yarn. I was wearing my Wings shawl all day, because of the lack of heat in the building and I was toasty warm. People kept coming up and petting me (grin). Cate came by and said Hi, stopping to chat with Deanna and I. She was wearing an absolutely gorgeous shawl spun from Indigo Moon roving. I also got to meet Kathy who's blog I'm a faithful reader of.

And before I forget, I owe Deanna a HUGE thank you for helping me out yesterday. She booth sat for me while I was giving a bunny shearing demo (more on that later) with one of my bucks, Spatlese, who is only 6 months old, but a lovely guy. Deanna also helped me get a bit farther on my sock yarn spinning. She spun up some of the black Border Leicester I was working on at Rhinebeck to go with the Magical Roving I spun. I think I have enough now to ply and start on the socks. :)

Now, the bunny shearing demo was lots of fun. People always ask interesting and intelligent questions when I do these and I had quite a crowd of people watching the demo. Spatlese was the model bunny, lying on his back and side as I was shearing him. What I really like about doing these demos is that it is a chance to educate people on angora rabbit care. Like how the scissors should be held at a 45 degree angle away from the rabbits skin, which helps to prevent cutting the rabbit. Or on how you really need to shear down the rabbits at 90 day intervals, or else you run the risk of wool block. The big one I like to tell people about is how German Angoras need to be shorn, and not plucked. That one always surprises people. Spatlese came home and was happy to see his brother, with whom he shares a cage.

I was exhausted when I got home last night, but also inspired by spending another day with like minded people. The energy the surrounds a person at a show is electric and the sharing and camaraderie is amazing. And I think we taught people some new things and got a few more people hooked on knitting or spinning. And isn't that what it is really all about? :D

Looking for a Fiber Fest this weekend?
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: A-ha "Take On Me"
Topic: Show

See this?



This is where you'll find me tomorrow! I'll be located at the Marketplace, which is at the Guiding Star Grange #1 at 401 Chapman Street in Greenfield, MA. I'll be giving a bunny shearing demo at 1 p.m., so if you are interested in getting a rabbit, or already have an angora rabbit but are afraid to shear it, stop by. I'll be giving tips and showing techiniques to make the shearing go easier for you and the rabbit. :)

And I'll have lots of rovings, including the angora blends and the Magical rovings, the Wings Shawl kits and the angora blend yarn in the booth. If you are interested in a rabbit, you can check out the rabbits for sale page, and see what I have available. I'll only be bringing one bunny with me (but I'll probably bring one that will be for sale), but if you want another one, please let me know and we can make arrangments for delivery.

So stop by and say Hi! The festival goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (and we close at 4 p.m. sharp so that the grange can have their hall back by 5!). For more information, check out the Fiber Twist.

It looks like I got my wish.....
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: Paul McCartney and Wings "Silly Love Songs" and Pilot "Magic"
Topic: Knitting

But at my kids expense.

All this week I've been feeling rushed, with very little time to myself. Most nights I haven't been home from work until close to 9, and that is after being up since 5 a.m. or earlier.

Tonight we were supposed to head down to the Holyoke Soldier's Home for their annual Halloween party, which we were all looking forward too. But at 3 p.m. today, I got that phone call that every parent dreads; the school nurse calling to say that my oldest son was in her office with a temp of 101.4 degrees. So I head up to the school, pick him up and bring him back home. Yep, he's sick alright. And the nurse already told me he can't go into school tomorrow, even if the fever is gone (which I wouldn't do anyway; few things bug me more than parents sending their kids into school to infect other kids). So we'll be home tonight and all day tomorrow.

However, this little development has given me knitting time. Right after I go outside and bring up wood for the woodstove since it is chilly here!

Now, the question is what to start on? Do I swatch the yarns for the Rogue sweater, or just jump right in on the Flower Basket Lace Shawl? Never mind that I haven't dyed the Alluring yarn yet, I want to start! I guess I'll just reach into the bag and whatever I grab is what I start.

As a side note: I've had a few people ask what I listen too, since I seem to have lots of 80's tunes listed. I usually listen to AOL's Awesome 80's online station, but today, I scanned what was playing on their Super 70's station, and two of my favorite 70's hits were back to back. I just love these songs as they take me back to being a little kid on vacation at my grandmother's house in southern NJ. Ahhh, those were the days! :D

Ooooh, my aching back!
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: The Time "Jungle Love"
Don't forget, Saturday is the Franklin County Fiber Twist in Greenfield, MA and throughout Franklin County at various farms. I'll be vending at the Guiding Star Grange #1 and doing a bunny shearing demo at 1:00 p.m. So stop on by, and say Hi!

No fiber production to report here. None, nada, zero, zilch. So if that is what you are looking for, then you might as well stop reading now. This post is about hard, physical work.

I've been in meetings for the past several days, and last night worked, running an edge bander, which puts the plastic taped edges on melamine. This isn't my full time job, but I do this to help out at my husband's company when they are on a time crunch to get a job done.

Running an edge bander looks way easier than it actually is. It is like playing "Beat the Clock". You need to have the next piece line up to go into the machine by the time the red light turns off. It looks easy. At least I thought it did. Then I actually did it. Ha! There is a lot of exercise in doing this type of labor, something that my body isn't exactly used to. And waking up in the morning with sore muscles, and a sore back is the norm. ;-)

I'm going back there later today to finish up what we started last night. And then tomorrow night is the Halloween party at the Holyoke Soldier's Home, and I promised I'd take my boys to it. If I get the chance, I'm hoping to pick up the knitting needles sometime soon; I'm anxious to be working on a fiber project, not just work. :)

It's nice, but.....
Mood:  rushed
Now Playing: Alice Cooper "Poison"
Topic: Yarn

Yesterday we took a trip up to VT to do a bit of shopping in Brattleboro. There aren't many fiber things happening on Sunday, as Brattleboro's only yarn store is closed on Sundays (which seems to be the *only* day we get up there!). However, I did get to stop in at Green Mountain Spinnery to check out the latest yarn offerings. Mountain Mohair has been mentioned as a nice yarn for Rogue. So I check it out. And the Spinnery even has a slight sale going on; something like 5% off the yarn. But even at $11.15 per skein for selected colors, that makes Rogue into a sweater costing $129. Too rich for my blood at this time. So I think I'll stick to swatching using the Valley Yarns Berkshire and the Cascade 220 for now.

Now I'm off. I have a busy day ahead, with 4 different appointments between 9 and 3 today. What on earth possessed me to set up so much stuff for one day???

A wish for the day
Mood:  celebratory

To my wonderful husband, Dale;

May you have a very Happy 44th Birthday! :)

Nothing fibery to report today. Perhaps tomorrow.

What I did today (besides almost sit on the cat)
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Hall & Oates "Family Man"
Topic: Knitting

See this?

I hit Webs today. I needed to talk to Kathy anyway, but I wanted to check out the Berkshire yarn after reading about it first thing this morning in Knitters Review. So between taking coffee to my husband, and visiting my dad, I headed off to Webs.

Yesterday I had asked for comments on yarns that would work for the Rogue, and Teresa suggested several including Cascade 220. So I go into Webs and start looking around. I am directed to the Berkshire and the Cascade 220. Color choices abound with these two yarns. But I decide that I really like the tweedy looking turquoise blue Cascade, so I pick up that. And then get some #5 Addi Turbos for the Flower Basket Lace Shawl pattern (yes I bought another one, which I forgot to add to the photograph), the Yarn Harlot's book "the secret life of a knitter", and some jumbo tapestry needles for sewing in ends (that white yarn in the picture is the Alluring yarn which I will use for the FBS). I leave Webs and head to visit my dad. An hour later, I'm on my way back up to Webs after realizing that I need a crochet hook to start the FBS. So in I walk and get my crochet hook, but also go back to the Berkshire yarn. Yes, it sucked me in. I'm going to swatch that too along with the Cascade 220 and see which one I like best for fabric. The colors I'm equally in love with, although if I do the Rogue in the Cascade, it will look more summery than it is probably intended. We'll see; I might decide that it looks very cool.

I'll keep you posted.

Special Day and Projects Galore!
Mood:  cheeky
Now Playing: Michael Sembello "Maniac"
Topic: Knitting
First off, I want to wish my husband a very happy 9th anniversary! Life has been more colorful with him in it and certainly richer. Dale, thank you for the support you've given to me; it hasn't always been easy, but life without a few challenges would be boring. ;-)


Now, on to fiber!

When Teresa came by on Sunday, she was wearing a Rogue sweater. Now, I've looked at this pattern for over a year now, and lusted after it. But, because I have a fear of complicated projects (I know, I know, I must get over that!), I've shy-ed away from it. But Teresa convinced me that the pattern was so well written, that anyone can follow it and do it well.
So, now I'm on to make Rogue. But my question to readers who have made it is what is a good yarn for this? I know you need an aran weight yarn, and I would prefer a 100% wool one that won't break the bank for me. Cottage Craft has some lovely colors and the yarn is really nice, but even their heaviest yarn might be too light for this. Any ideas that people can send to me on what yarn works best for this, or something that they used and really liked? I'll take suggestions though Friday night, so that I can buy the yarn on Saturday.

And, now that things have calmed down here quite a bit, I'm also thinking of knitting the Fiber Trends Flower Basket Lace Shawl. I've been eying this pattern for a while now; I think I even bought the pattern this summer. But the question was what yarn to use with it? And then I had a "Doh!" moment. The Alluring yarn would be perfect for this! So now I have to find the pattern (or a trip to Webs would also suffice), and figure out how much yarn I'll need. I think I'll dye the yarn too, keeping with a single color, as I think that a multi colored yarn might detract from the pattern a bit too much. I'm thinking that a nice blue color would be good, don't you?

Sock Yarn Anyone?
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: ZZ Top "Legs"
Topic: Knitting

Here is a portion of the yarn that I plied today, from those two bobbins shown yesterday.

I still have 2/3 of a bobbin of the Magical Roving left, but used up 2/3 of the bobbin with the Border Leicester roving. Why? Because the BL roving is a much loftier yarn than the Magical roving, which is really a combed top.

I like the way this is looking when it is plied. I don't mind the barber pole effect, and think that it will make some stunning socks; subtle yet colorful.

Unfortunately, the rest of the black BL roving is in the trailer, packed at the front, so it may be a while before I can finish spinning it up. Two weeks until my last show of the season, which is when I'll actively try to get the roving back out.

Until then, I'll satisfy myself with spinning another Magical roving, this one a cream/orchid/peach combination. And get to work on dyeing silk caps too. :)