Michigan Fiber Festival

This little guy Really wanted to come home with me!  It's a good thing I took my car and not the truck!  The Pygora Goat was featured at the Michigan Fiber Festival this year and boy are they cute.  But alas, I believe I will stick with my little Shetlands and Laverne and Shirley (my 2 Merino ewes).
This was my first year to go to the MFF and probably my last.  Not because it wasn't loads of fun with Lots and Lots of vendors but it was just too far to travel....even for fiber!  My goal was to buy a new spinning wheel.  I have a spinning wheel but I got that bug...you know the one...I need a new wheel...a better wheel...a wheel with more bells and whistles....a wheel that will make me a better spinner....that wheel.  So....lots of dealers to choose from at the MFF.  A Jensen dealer was there.  I can hear you saying, "Uh-Oh".  That is exactly right...uh-oh.  They were BEAUTIFUL..they were all stained and gorgeous and I spun on one...big mistake.  I did not budget for a Jensen.  I'm thinking, "I cannot spend that much money on a wheel...just walk away...just walk away"  I bought it.  I bought the Tina Traveler.  I walked it to my car.  I spent 30 minutes making sure I put it in the car in such a way that it would be safe.  I get back to my hotel and I'm getting it out because my friend and I are going to SPIN that evening on my new wheel.  I set it on the ground and I see a huge scratch on that beautiful walnut wheel!  How in the world did that happen?..I haven't had this wheel 2 hours and I've ruined it!!  I want to cry.  I start looking in my stupid car trying to figure out the culprit that caused the damage.  Nothing...there is nothing.  To make a long story short..the scratch was already on the wheel when I bought it and the dealer was wonderful and took it back with no problems whatsoever.  They thought it was a split in a knot hole and it may have been, but all I saw was a scratch, so I returned it. Unfortunately, they did not have more.

This is a Canadian Production wheel that I ended up buying from a friend of mine.  It is probably from around 1880-1900 but it spins like a dream and I think it looks like a piece of art!  When I got home, I had this waiting on me..

12 bags of Shetland roving and 2 bags of Merino.  It's like Christmas!!  I have to give a shout out to Frankenmuth Woolen Mill in Michigan.  They do an absolutely fantastic job of getting the fleeces clean and the roving is wonderful.  I am going to try to sell some of the roving in the yarn shop I frequent and I came up with this as a packaging idea.

I took a picture of the sheep whose fleece was on display (this was a combined fleece of Laverne and Shirley) and added my farm name and one of my favorite verses..."for He is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under His care."  Psalm 95:7.  We'll see how it goes. 

Spinning Woes

I finally got around to spinning some of my wool from Laverne and Shirley (my Merinos). It is soooooo soft. This is only the first spool from 2 gigantic bags of roving I have in my basement. I still can't get over how much roving I got from 2 sheep! And this is still last years wool so I have that much again in the garage waiting to be sent off.

I have had problems with my wheel not taking the roving and it shows in one of the strands here. It just doesn't have the twist it should. Everyone at my spinning group has looked at my wheel but none of us seem to be able to get it working right. I think I will hold off spinning more until I can figure something out because I'm not very happy with the results and I really want to make this sweater. It is a pattern from Made in Brooklyn by Jared Flood. Aww.....so much roving.....so little time.

Verse of the week

My skills are slowly improving. Above is the scarf I just finished. Learning to knit has been so fun. I love the flexibility it allows you. I spend quite a bit of time sitting in my car waiting for practices to be over and it is a great way to pass the time. I have made 2 hats and the scarf so far and am working of a pair of wrist warmers.

I'm still not sure I enjoy spinning. I am getting better but it takes so long!! Maybe it will get faster as I improve but I can't imagine having the time to spin all my wool. I have to return the spinning wheel on Saturday at my last class so if I decide I want to spin my own wool I will have to buy a wheel. That leads to what kind of wheel? I don't like the wheel I have on loan but it is a loaner and not in the greatest shape. Any suggestions on the best wheels?

I looked out my kitchen window one dreary winter day this month and saw this beautiful bird. Just thought I would share it with you because it is pretty.

I have started reading a new book called The Purpose Driven Life. I have had the book for a long time and am just now getting around to reading it. I'm going to use it and the scriptures it references for my verse of the week for awhile. I hope you enjoy.

Day 1

"It's not about you.

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. "

Colossians 1:16

For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Well, that's pitiful.

Well, it is pitiful..my first attempt at spinning. I took my first class last Saturday and this is what I produced. I'm trying to make myself feel better by calling it novelty yarn..people pay big bucks for novelty yarn! This is definitely going to take lots and lots of practice!