Family Camp with Knitting

Two different moods of view from our campsite.


From a peaceful stroll in the early morning.



I took this picture as evidence to Verity's children of How Much Butter she would take when Unsupervised.




Setting up the camp. Didn't get as many pictures as I should have!



Knitting accomplished. I made fair progress on this Swallowtail shawl. It is done now, but I need to rip and bind off again as I bound off too tightly the first time.

A lovely and exhausting vacation with lots of sweet fellowship.....

Tour de Fleece Week 3 Finished Yarns

How My Garden Grows

See the bean patch, Mom B? The beans started blooming this week. And the flower gardens are getting prettier every day.

Tour de Fleece Week 2 Finished Yarns.... including the Mile that Wasn't

This 3 ply Dragonfibers BFL is fiber that I won for the picture that Verity took of me spindling on the first day of the tour. It is destined to become mittens for her, I think.





No, I haven't spun a mile of yarn in a day, and perhaps I don't even have the ability to do so.....yet. But this blue yarn is my first try...... 900 yards of spindle spinning, 300 yards of wheel plying in one day.

Tour de Fleece Week 1 Finished Yarns.

Next week: Can I spin a mile of yarn in one day?

Tour de Fleece Day 3: Shopping Trip

Tour de Fleece Day 1: The Spindle Walk Strategy

How to fit more spinning in my day for the Tour? Combine with my morning walk!







A beautiful start to the Tour and the day!

Dear Winners.....

I haven't forgotten about you! I've collected all the necessary ingredients, and once I put them all together, your packages will be on the way. I plan to post them on Friday, so look for them next week!

Teaching Spindling

Today was my first time teaching a little spindling workshop... I had four fine students, and had such a fun time teaching them! We did have some good times, though from their rapt expressions you might not guess it.



Then there was Francie, who seemed to take an interest in spindles herself.



And I met Maple, whose blog I read regularly. She gave me some lovely soft alpaca clouds to take home. Woot!

All at Cary's serene farm.... where the weather was perfect for spinning on the lawn.

Summer Distractions

May and June have been rife with delightful distractions from the fiber world. Visits from West Coast family and Midwest family brought the balm that comes with seeing loved ones and a bit of chaos too. The kids were able to play with ten of their cousins all total! and I was able to visit with parents and sisters....



Then there is the garden.... after such a long and snowy winter, the garden calls me all day long. I wander around it storing up sunshine and blooms.....



and spiders.



I am the cottage garden type.... my ideal garden is crammed with all manner of plants.... showy flowers, useful herbs, and maybe even a vegetable or two may escape the vegetable plots, or flowers find their way into the vegetable garden...

This is only our second summer here. Last year I was getting to know the soil and the planty residents.... this year I am beginning to fill in. It doesn't look like much now. But now and then I see glimpses of what will be.



Now that the planting and visits are done, there is a little time to savor some fiber.



Balls of spindle spun Yak-Merino waiting to be plied on the wheel tonight.

And some pretty silk to start.

Winners!

Well, it is time to end the contest. I was so surprised by the thoughtfulness you put into your answers! They weren't what I expected, and yet they were very helpful as I design the perfect (or close to it) Yarn Dieter's Snack Pack.

I have decided to take your advice and make the spoil aspect related mostly to the yarn itself. Included with each yarn cupcake will be at least one stunning bead, some handmade and vintage buttons, and a pattern to use them all. Patterns will be included for these small quantities of yarn in knitting and crochet versions. I can't wait for you to see the results!

A tea bag and a small piece of unmeltable candy may be included simply because these items, even if good quality, are inexpensive and will add a nice touch for many customers.... Making an experience that will delight all the senses.

And of course, if these sell.... well, then there will be holiday versions, and themed versions, and souped up versions! The possibilities! Stay tuned.

So the winners (chosen by random number generator for comments that I used) are as follows:

Tom
Vickie
Carla
Ikkinlala

It will take a week or two to assemble your spoil packs....beads and other goodies must be obtained... but in the meantime I will need your address! Carla especially....please leave a comment as to how I can contact you. And Tom, I can't get your profile page to load....

Thanks to you all!

Contest: How would you like to be (a tiny bit) spoiled?

It started when I was thinking about biodegradable packaging for my yarny snack packs.....

It brought me to some clear bags that are intended for packing looseleaf tea.

Tea? Hmmmm.....tea and yarn go so well together..... there would be room in these bags for a few extra treats.....

maybe chocolate? stitch markers?

I could put together an optional extra-indulgent snack pack for spoiling one's self or someone else.....

So what do you think? What should go in a Yarn Lover's Spoil Me Pack?
Do you have sources for such items? Keep in mind that I want to keep the cost low for my customers but the indulgence high.
Tell me your thoughts.... If I end up using an idea (one I haven't mentioned myself, of course!) or source you mention, you win a Spoil Pack for yourself. If more than one person mentions the same idea or source, the winner will be chosen from among the contenders by random number generator.

There will be at least one winner, and there may be several. So jump in!


The contest runs 'til June 10th.

Snack Packs are Back!

But now you can actually see them!

I am thinking a contest is in order to celebrate the re-opening of my Etsy shop, so stay tuned!