Wonderful Sheep

Great animals and you can tell the owners really care for them. Such beautiful animals that give us wool so generously.

Rhinebeck Wool Festival 2011

As my pots of wool sit and simmer in alum/CoT I would love to show you more of the images I took at Rhinebeck.

This woman & her colors in particular has caught my eye for years now but I only just looked her up. She hails from Maine and uses sea water & the sun for dyeing and the colors are spectacular - www.getwool.com - I would love to dye with sea water but the only natural water I have access to is stream and lake water, which I will never take for granted.

There were many natural dyers at the festival and I was thrilled to see all of them. I replenished my stock of Osage Orange and Alkanet & white wool. The white wool would seem boring to some but I can see its potential and I cant wait to get started.

On Saturday it was a madhouse - Filenes Basement Sale (which I have been to in Boston long ago) has nothing on women who love wool. As I saw civilized women being gracious but also have the wild look in their eyes and had to giggle. I knew from experience to just look on Saturday and I dare not even bring my camera out. I did snatch up a few goodies but I saved most of my buying and close browsing for Sunday. The weather held out for the most part - with a wild shower that lasted only 20 minutes on Sunday that had people running for the tents. Luckily I was already in one and stayed dry the whole time. It was cool enough to ware all our hand made wool sweaters and wraps and we all complimented ourselves with smiles and quick hellos. I always have grand ideas of selling there but I never have the quantities needed to handle that much traffic. Some day I might take the chance?

Rhinebeck Wool Festival - is there any other?

I think not! Wool in all its glory and colors that are heaven.

I took my two boys on a wild ride in the camper and saw the festival for two days. It was delightful and the boys had their fun too. Wool by day fires by night (and a little arcade games) thats what memories are made from. The textures and colors were in full glory this year. There were new ideas and wonderful people that were not afraid of sharing.

more later...

My adventures at Rhinebeck Festival

Hi and welcome to my windy October. Gusts of wind are up to 40 miles per hour and its cold! I'm glad that the weather (during the day) held off and were nice and sunny. The festival at Rheinbeck was so much fun. I have lots of photos to share.

This a beautiful wool from a Spinnery in Maine (that I have actually been too!) - It is wind powered and uses plant dyes.  Wonderful colors and really nice people.

These are Romney sheep (I think, if I remember correctly).  People here really love their animals - rightfully so.

This is how one company gets there roving.  Its Merino wool and it was the coolest thing I ever saw - It was at least 100+ pounds worth.

This a painting done in wool - yes I said wool.  Can you tell the size - look at the bottom and see the box.  I think this would stand 5/6 feet tall and did I mention its all wool!

These were the best hats ever.  I love the funk - which isn't too funky like some of them can get.  She wanted $65 for the brown one and I almost bought it... I will have to see if I can do it myself.

I visited with my teachers at Sunbridge - no scratch that - Fiber Craft Studio and managed not to get a photo (sorry).  I did see my great blogger friend Lisa Anne.  So much fun to see you!  I slept in my car in the parking lot (next to all the campers so as not to really be alone) and boy was it cold.  It was down to 30/32 degrees at night and I love my new sleeping bag! 

All this color is just giving me goose bumps!

I really had such a great time walking around and talking with people that had such a close interest and also so creative.  The food was good but expensive and the $2.00 cup of coffee was $1.00 for the hand warmer and $1.00 for the luke warm drink after the first part did its job.  The afternoons warned up quite a bit - in the 50's  so that was nice.  There were several natural dyers and also people that sold the supplies.  Its so nice when you don't have to pay the shipping.   It was however a 4 hour drive - but so worth it.  Below is a photo of a beautiful Cotswold sheep in its harness to get shorn for a judging show.

Baaaa for now - dinner cooking.

Fall days

This past weekend has been a true Indian summer for us.  The leaves are at their peak and the weather is HOT.  70's!  I sat outside all day yesterday.  The boys were not alowed back inside untill the sun went down.  They made it too - lots of digging, stream splashing, leaf raking and general playing.  Its great when you can take the time to be outside for that long.  

I have finished needle felting three snowmen and a Tomten this weekend.  Next weekend I am going to the Rhinebeck wool festival.  I can't wait!!  Of corse I dont need a stich of wool but that is soooo not the point.  

Here is a shot (from last year) of a person that really knows how to display color!

Here are some examples of my 4/5th grade class doing their handworks bags. They really love it and are not wanting the class to end (what every teacher wants to hear).

It will be great to dive into the cross stitch next - I have one that really likes to argue his point and I love testing the waters with him.